Captive Heart Review

Captive Heart     

Author: Tali Spencer

Publisher: Resplendence Press

American release date: January 31, 2013

Format/Genre/Length: Novel/ Fantasy/Romance/226 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 When Prince Lorant kidnaps his potential bride, Adora of Uttor, rather than going through the proscribed courting ritual, all hell breaks loose. Her brother, Emperor Gaspar Leonnte, isn’t about to stand for that, and he declares war on Sebboy.

Princess Julissa of Sebboy has led a sheltered life, among her many siblings and her parents. She knows that someday she’ll be married off for the good of the country. But things at home are not what they seem, including the way Lorant abominally treats his captive bride and no one stands up for her, and the unwarranted harsh treatment meted out to her brother Petraeus.

The imminent arrival of Uttoran forces sends the royal family scattering in different directions. Julissa is sent off with her timid cousin Aurelia, who is as gentle as they come but has been treated badly by men in her life and fears them. Unfortunately, the two young women find themselves deserted and captured. Through misleading circumstances, Julissa finds herself in Emperor Gaspar’s bed—and despite herself, she finds herself drawn to him. He doesn’t seem quite the beast he’s been painted to be. Can she reconcile her growing feelings with the duty she owes to her family? And can ill-chosen words, spoken in anger, tear them apart before they’re barely begun?

This book drew me in from the beginning. Julissa is a great heroine—she’s lovely, brave, and open-minded. And I loved that she isn’t your typical thin as a rail heroine. She has curves, and she is beautiful with them. Gaspar is everything one could ask for in a leading man—handsome, sexy, brave, intelligent, just, and hot-blooded. I loved every scene between these two, whether involving sex or not. Their give and take crackles with the exploration of initial attraction, despite their perceived circumstances, and the sex is hotter than hot.

Ms. Spencer has a way with words that conveys a great deal in a smooth, flowing style. She kept me guessing until the very end what would happen. There is sex, drama, suspense and more. This is a book I would happily read again, a definite keeper for my book shelf.

I can’t wait to read the second book in the Pride of Uttor series, which is m/m. A great start to what I anticipate will be a great series.