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Captive #4
Captive Secrets
Fury van der Rhys is the daughter of Sirena, the beautiful Sea Siren, who rode the high seas as commander of a frigate, plundering the ships of the Dutch East India Company. Brandishing her mother's sword, Fury sets sail for the coast of Africa to challenge Amalie, the gorgeous black-hearted pretender to her mother's legacy, and to fight for the tall, dark-eyed Spaniard they both love and have sworn to have....
339 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
445 people are currently reading
577 people want to read
About the author
Fern Michaels
427 books6,531 followersFern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.
Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.
Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation.
READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 8, 2019
So bad. The closest to action is when the hero screws whores in a brothel. As for the hero, he's pathetic. He has been bested four times by different women. He is sadly lacking in hero skills.
So very boring. Same stuff over and over. Yawn. They finally get it on the last fifty pages. It's not a Bodice Ripper, it is a romance hyped up on juice boxes and animal crackers
So very boring. Same stuff over and over. Yawn. They finally get it on the last fifty pages. It's not a Bodice Ripper, it is a romance hyped up on juice boxes and animal crackers
November 4, 2013
Oh my gosh this was the best in the series. An awesome ending. So unexpected, all I could say was wow.
August 7, 2015
Swashbuckling fun and romance with mystery thrown in. Fern Michaels does a wonderful job of recreating the the pirate filled world of the South Pacific. She adds some intrigue with the primary characters Furana (Fury) van der Rhys and Luis Domingo fighting to maintain their identities but wanting to be together in this world of the Sea Siren and her new incarnation - Amalie. Fury thinks she wants to become a nun, but her love for Luis and here beloved Kites (the bird kind), Gaspar and Pilar, keeps here from doing so.
August 23, 2009
You have to admit she names her kids some pretty interesting names.
February 20, 2022
Two people brought together by legendary Sea Siren
Fury, the daughter of Ryan and Sirena is going away to become a Nun. They don't want her to go but that what she feels is her calling. They have a large party for her 20th birthday. This is where she meets Luis Domingo.
He is after the Sea Siren, not knowing that Sirena is the former pirate he is looking for. Luis thinks she is the one who killed his Father. He is out for revenge.
Fury leaves for Java to enter the Covent. But when she gets there she finds out she's not able to enter. Most of the nuns have left to take care of the sick. She goes to her parents home. Juli her housekeeper/confidant knows about Sirena. She goes to see her mother's old ship thinks it's all rotted out after twenty years. But it is in pristine condition.
Amalie, illegitimate daught to Alvarez, has forged papers going after his estate. She was the daughter of a slave who he got pregnant. She decides to get herself a ship and take over the persona of the Sea Siren, but she is ruthless and greedy.
Between Luis and Fury they try to find out who is doing the pirating.
Best part are Fury's pet hawks. Gaspar and Pillar. They will do anything to protect her. They followed her all the way to Java. When she's in danger Gaspar goes to Luis to save her.
When Fury and Amalie sword fight, Gaspar comes to save her. Amalie attacks the bird. And Fury goes wild to avenge the attacks on her beloved bird.
Great story of a love so strong that this two hawks bring Luis and Fury together forever.
Great story by Fern Michaels.
Fury, the daughter of Ryan and Sirena is going away to become a Nun. They don't want her to go but that what she feels is her calling. They have a large party for her 20th birthday. This is where she meets Luis Domingo.
He is after the Sea Siren, not knowing that Sirena is the former pirate he is looking for. Luis thinks she is the one who killed his Father. He is out for revenge.
Fury leaves for Java to enter the Covent. But when she gets there she finds out she's not able to enter. Most of the nuns have left to take care of the sick. She goes to her parents home. Juli her housekeeper/confidant knows about Sirena. She goes to see her mother's old ship thinks it's all rotted out after twenty years. But it is in pristine condition.
Amalie, illegitimate daught to Alvarez, has forged papers going after his estate. She was the daughter of a slave who he got pregnant. She decides to get herself a ship and take over the persona of the Sea Siren, but she is ruthless and greedy.
Between Luis and Fury they try to find out who is doing the pirating.
Best part are Fury's pet hawks. Gaspar and Pillar. They will do anything to protect her. They followed her all the way to Java. When she's in danger Gaspar goes to Luis to save her.
When Fury and Amalie sword fight, Gaspar comes to save her. Amalie attacks the bird. And Fury goes wild to avenge the attacks on her beloved bird.
Great story of a love so strong that this two hawks bring Luis and Fury together forever.
Great story by Fern Michaels.
February 20, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and the issues that Fury had to deal with in this book. Loved the birds and their love, understanding, and compassion for each other as well as Fury. I wish I had stumbled on Book 1 first and had read the series. However, I did enjoy this book as it provided enough of a back story to stand alone.
December 7, 2017
Daughter doesn't become a nun.
Spanish husband of Fury doesn't take as long to win her man as mother with Regan. A bit disappointed Regan and Sirena never make it back to Java. Values. Luis and Fury much happier than Alvrez daughter Amalie and Cato.
Spanish husband of Fury doesn't take as long to win her man as mother with Regan. A bit disappointed Regan and Sirena never make it back to Java. Values. Luis and Fury much happier than Alvrez daughter Amalie and Cato.
April 20, 2018
The only reason this got 2 stars is that the writing is not bad. It's the story that is stupid. It started out okay, but then came the business of the birds, which in itself was stupid. And then the whole pirate business. Dumb, just dumb.
July 13, 2020
Very hard to follow the story
Story was not one I would recommend. It was difficult for me to track the characters .I didn't enjoy this book as much as others by Ms Michaels. I have no desire to read the next book in this series.
Story was not one I would recommend. It was difficult for me to track the characters .I didn't enjoy this book as much as others by Ms Michaels. I have no desire to read the next book in this series.
March 8, 2020
Not really my style.
November 3, 2020
I didn't read the first 3, but I still enjoyed this one!
November 17, 2021
The last book in the series, fury follows in her Mothers footsteps to catch the imposter, and to win Luis
June 29, 2022
A rather slow book for me. The story line is interesting but I found the book to be too detailed.
May 12, 2019
It was action packed...mostly unbelievable action, but action non-the-less. I actually found this one to be quite enjoyable and would recommend for those of you wanting some non-rapey pirate romance.
Read my longer reviews on my blog: http://castoffcovers.blog/2019/05/05/...
Follow my blog castoffcovers.blog
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @castoffcovers
Read my longer reviews on my blog: http://castoffcovers.blog/2019/05/05/...
Follow my blog castoffcovers.blog
Follow me on Instagram and Twitter @castoffcovers
August 4, 2012
I liked this story, but it was so obviously a sequel. I never read the story of Furana's mother Sirena, but this book gives a good overview of what happened previously. However, I feel that *had* I read the first, much of this would be skimmed over.
Want to read
January 28, 2012Got this one today (1-27-12) at the 2nd-hand store for $0.50.
May 16, 2013
This is the last of a series. Not really happy about the ending.
December 23, 2014
This series finished up real nice. I was worried, being that the books were beginning to sound a bit repetitive. Good job Fern Michaels. As always, I look forward to reading more of your books.
July 7, 2015
Great story
I really enjoyed this book with its surprising ending and story of true love between human and animal. I can't wait to start the next book.
I really enjoyed this book with its surprising ending and story of true love between human and animal. I can't wait to start the next book.
April 19, 2016
Did not finish this book. Just can't get into it. Maybe another time.
April 20, 2015
As always, Fern Michaels does not disappoint.
Great adventure story with some romance thrown in.
Great adventure story with some romance thrown in.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews