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Captive Bride
The irresistible call of adventure brings lovely Christina Wakefield to the alluring Arabian desert. But fate imprisons her after she encounters Sheik Abu, the strikingly handsome though arrogant adventurer, whom she had known in England as Philip Caxton.
Once Christina had rejected Philip's fervent offer of marriage. But now she is to be his slave -- desperate for the freedoms denied her...yet weakened by her heart's blazing desire to willingly explore her virile captor's most sensuous cravings.
Once Christina had rejected Philip's fervent offer of marriage. But now she is to be his slave -- desperate for the freedoms denied her...yet weakened by her heart's blazing desire to willingly explore her virile captor's most sensuous cravings.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1977
530 people are currently reading
3888 people want to read
About the author
Johanna Lindsey
148 books7,263 followersJohanna Helen Howard was born on March 10, 1952 in Germany, where her father, Edwin Dennis Howard, a soldier in the U.S. Army was stationed. The family moved about a great deal when she was young. Her father always dreamed of retiring to Hawaii, and after he passed away in 1964 Johanna and her mother settled there to honor him.
In 1970, when she was still in school, she married Ralph Lindsey, becoming a young housewife. The marriage had three children; Alfred, Joseph and Garret, who already have made her a grandmother. After her husband's death, Johanna moved to Maine, New England, to stay near her family.
Johanna Lindsey wrote her first book, Captive Bride in 1977 "on a whim", and the book was a success. By 2006, with over 58 Million copies of her books have been sold worldwide, with translations appearing in 12 languages, Johanna Lindsey is one of the world's most popular authors of historical romance.
Johanna's books span the various eras of history, including books set in the Middle Ages, the American "Old West" and the popular Regency England-Scotland. She has even written a few sci-fi romances. By far the most popular among her books are the stories about the Malory-Anderson Family, a Regency England saga.
Johanna Lindsey died on Oct. 27, 2019 in Nashua, N.H. She was 67.
In 1970, when she was still in school, she married Ralph Lindsey, becoming a young housewife. The marriage had three children; Alfred, Joseph and Garret, who already have made her a grandmother. After her husband's death, Johanna moved to Maine, New England, to stay near her family.
Johanna Lindsey wrote her first book, Captive Bride in 1977 "on a whim", and the book was a success. By 2006, with over 58 Million copies of her books have been sold worldwide, with translations appearing in 12 languages, Johanna Lindsey is one of the world's most popular authors of historical romance.
Johanna's books span the various eras of history, including books set in the Middle Ages, the American "Old West" and the popular Regency England-Scotland. She has even written a few sci-fi romances. By far the most popular among her books are the stories about the Malory-Anderson Family, a Regency England saga.
Johanna Lindsey died on Oct. 27, 2019 in Nashua, N.H. She was 67.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 437 reviews
July 2, 2014
This checks my boxes like you wouldn't believe!
V A handsome Arabian male
V Arrogant, dominant prick (a sheik even!)
V Abduction
V Humiliation/degradation
V Great age gap
V Dub con/ non con
V Stockholm Syndrome (?)
V Wonderful reviews
Buddy read with Jenna, Angelica and Rebecka, with much appreciatedmockery moral support from Mammarella.
7/1/14: post buddy read gone wrong
Well then, all my buddy read partners have bitten the dust, so I'm sure no one objects to me DNF'ing at 65%. It looks like I dragged my innocent, unsuspecting friends into another painful disaster with me. I dare not check if any of them has unfriended me...
Fuck. Should've stuck to M/M.
This looked so good! Look at all those 1 star reviews luring us in with the promise of dub con/non con, pedo bear drool, an Arabian alpha Dom and what not. All the elements for a trainwreckalicious old school romance seemed to be present. For example, the author made me squirm with sweet anticipation when she shared the heroine's angsty rape-obsessed train of thought:
Oh man, for her sake I hope she'll at least be raped gently!
Building excitement...
Unfortunately, everything soon spiraled down into long descriptions of the heroine's blond manes, full breasts and otherwise unearthly beauty. This I could handle. I'd put my cards on the hot 'n hairy Arabian dude after all. ...only to discover that he was a brat who stamped on the floor and stormed out of his tent angrily whenever his 17 year old blondie didn't appreciate his naked desire.
When she, all too soon, reluctantly submitted to the hardness between his legs, the deflowering this resulted into was so anti-climatic that even she couldn't be bothered keeping up an air of unwillingness and quickly changed her game plan by crying out "Take me, please!" to have the hero's straightforward humping over and done with. It worked. With more than three quarters of the book to go, the rape-y tension was replaced with "will he kill me and when will he do so?" angst, and it just wasn't the same.
To think that the hero was supposed to make us women swoon and sigh dreamily... I certainly hope the author didn't draw on her own experiences with men. Instead, I'd like to think that she wrote Captive Bride in malicious delight, assuming that her audience of ladies trying to escape the daily grind and their boorish husbands for a few hours, probably wouldn't know better anyway. In which case I'll graciously bow to her cunningness and don't even mind having rewarded that with €€€€€ I'll never get back.
Hell, who am I kidding? 1 star. Because I'm a sore loser.
V A handsome Arabian male
V Arrogant, dominant prick (a sheik even!)
V Abduction
V Humiliation/degradation
V Great age gap
V Dub con/ non con
V Stockholm Syndrome (?)
V Wonderful reviews
Buddy read with Jenna, Angelica and Rebecka, with much appreciated
7/1/14: post buddy read gone wrong
Well then, all my buddy read partners have bitten the dust, so I'm sure no one objects to me DNF'ing at 65%. It looks like I dragged my innocent, unsuspecting friends into another painful disaster with me. I dare not check if any of them has unfriended me...
Fuck. Should've stuck to M/M.
This looked so good! Look at all those 1 star reviews luring us in with the promise of dub con/non con, pedo bear drool, an Arabian alpha Dom and what not. All the elements for a trainwreckalicious old school romance seemed to be present. For example, the author made me squirm with sweet anticipation when she shared the heroine's angsty rape-obsessed train of thought:
Oh God, what is this man going to do with me? Will I be raped brutally first?
Oh man, for her sake I hope she'll at least be raped gently!
Of course -they'd be going into the desert. What better place to rape a woman than the desert - where her screams could not be heard. And there seemed to be several men riding with them. How many rapes would she have to endure before they killed her?
Building excitement...
Unfortunately, everything soon spiraled down into long descriptions of the heroine's blond manes, full breasts and otherwise unearthly beauty. This I could handle. I'd put my cards on the hot 'n hairy Arabian dude after all. ...only to discover that he was a brat who stamped on the floor and stormed out of his tent angrily whenever his 17 year old blondie didn't appreciate his naked desire.
When she, all too soon, reluctantly submitted to the hardness between his legs, the deflowering this resulted into was so anti-climatic that even she couldn't be bothered keeping up an air of unwillingness and quickly changed her game plan by crying out "Take me, please!" to have the hero's straightforward humping over and done with. It worked. With more than three quarters of the book to go, the rape-y tension was replaced with "will he kill me and when will he do so?" angst, and it just wasn't the same.
To think that the hero was supposed to make us women swoon and sigh dreamily... I certainly hope the author didn't draw on her own experiences with men. Instead, I'd like to think that she wrote Captive Bride in malicious delight, assuming that her audience of ladies trying to escape the daily grind and their boorish husbands for a few hours, probably wouldn't know better anyway. In which case I'll graciously bow to her cunningness and don't even mind having rewarded that with €€€€€ I'll never get back.
Hell, who am I kidding? 1 star. Because I'm a sore loser.
December 10, 2008
Suck, suck, suck, suckity suck, suck suck. That's what this book did all the way through. In the 70's, it appears there was a trend for rape or almost-rape romances, where a male was sexier the more dominant he was. Ugh. If someone tried kidnapping me and telling me I would lust after him and I would obey, I'd be guilty of murder in the 1st degree.
December 3, 2024
Reread: 12/3/24
This is one of JL first books, and it shows. This book is a perfect example of an old-fashioned Bodice-ripper. The H falls so quickly for the then he lures her to Egypt, then kidnaps her.
Philip lives in two different worlds. He is half English and half Arab. His Arab side teaches him to take what he wants regardless of whether it's right or wrong. And boy, does he want Christina! Needless to say, he's got an Alpha-male personality.
I probably would have rated this book 3.5 stars, but I've read it too many times over the years to rate it anything below 5 stars. When I'm in the mood for OTT kidnaping plot, this book hits all the right spots for me.
I don't recommend this book if it's your 1st JL book. This one is very different from her other books, which are humorous with fun stories.
&******************************??
Reread: 5/5/22
Reread: 3/22/20
Good! The alpha Male kidnaps the h and brings her into his bed. I don't usually like when "sort of" rape is portrayed as romance, but it works in this story. I can't explain it, but I loved this book.
This is one of JL first books, and it shows. This book is a perfect example of an old-fashioned Bodice-ripper. The H falls so quickly for the then he lures her to Egypt, then kidnaps her.
Philip lives in two different worlds. He is half English and half Arab. His Arab side teaches him to take what he wants regardless of whether it's right or wrong. And boy, does he want Christina! Needless to say, he's got an Alpha-male personality.
I probably would have rated this book 3.5 stars, but I've read it too many times over the years to rate it anything below 5 stars. When I'm in the mood for OTT kidnaping plot, this book hits all the right spots for me.
I don't recommend this book if it's your 1st JL book. This one is very different from her other books, which are humorous with fun stories.
&******************************??
Reread: 5/5/22
Reread: 3/22/20
Good! The alpha Male kidnaps the h and brings her into his bed. I don't usually like when "sort of" rape is portrayed as romance, but it works in this story. I can't explain it, but I loved this book.
June 10, 2012
This book sucks beyond belief! And like it's not infuriating enough plot wise, it goes on and on like a delusional maniac, claiming rape is not rape, abduction is not abduction, coercion is not coercion, and it's totally alright to be kidnapped, held against your will, raped, beaten and humiliated by being someone's sex slave because you know what! It actually is a fairy tale and if your abductor happens to be good looking you will forget all your principles, your scruples, the people you loved and the life you lived, the education you had along with how to use your mind and fall in love with him and then you'll make wonderful babies and live happily ever after.
It was so disgusting really, Chrissy is only 17! and who knows how old the geezer Philip is. He's a work of shite I tell you. A maniacal bastard, who's better off being castrated and then thrown in an asylum or better yet shot dead! And don't even get me started on the characters, it was so stupid and lame. Philip generally scorns and verbally assassinate all the young ladies for being [vain, shallow, simple minded, boring and stuff] but when he claps eyes on Christina he goes love sick [all the while the only thing that is mentioned is how beautiful Christina is and that's all that matters to this dickhead that I refuse to call hero]. No wit, no mind, nothing what so ever and please tell me you don't think slapping a rude man, who's forcing his tongue down your throat calls for someone being a spit fire or too much to handle. News Flash: It's called being normal. Anyone who just stands like a muppet while being assaulted seriously needs a brain transplant. So Christina's reaction was very common and normal it did not make her any different from the rest of the girls. And it hardly spoke of her kick ass personality [her spit fire nature which we rarely see]
Child molestation, a slap and a rejected proposal later, we see Christina and her brother heading to Egypt. Chrissy of course has no idea what a wonderful, romantic fairy tale awaits her in the desert because you remember that pedo Philip from before? turns out he lives an alter life of a Sultan's son and is a glorified barbarian, a thug and a beast. Scenes between the two are so weird [puke worthy actually] I don't know where to begin!
Pedo: You are mine now. And I won't marry you. You'll be my sex slave!
Chrissy: I'll die before I let you rape me!
Pedo: I won't rape you.
Chrissy : whew!
Pedo: Let's go to bed!
Chrissy: NO!
Pedo: *rapes her* See it wasn't rape, because you enjoyed it.
Chrissy: OMG! I'm so disgusted with myself. I totally enjoyed it. [Let me tell you something sista, you're most likely to enjoy sex, specially when the other person has been given a gold medal in debauchery, unless of course you're a tree or a statue.]
I can't tell you how disappointed I was when Philip's enemies weren't able to roast him like they wanted too! Chrissy was such a wuss! She had scissors, I bet she had knives and forks too how the fuck did she not put a fork in one of his eyes, or skewered his heart on a knife? then poured some salt water on him? Gag him and tie him with the dozens of fabric she had? sew his mouth shut with the needles she had? Because I'll tell you what, any girl with half a brain would have done these things.
One almost wonders if she was THAT attracted to him, why did she refuse him in the first place?
Even in the end, all that wuss of a girl did was cry, CRY! CRY! A bloody lot of tears she cried. Punch the sucker in the face! DAMMIT! Stand up for yourself, have a little pride, he sent you packing when you were pregnant with his child, in my opinion he deserves a kick or two right in the balls.
A complete waste of time this book is!
It was so disgusting really, Chrissy is only 17! and who knows how old the geezer Philip is. He's a work of shite I tell you. A maniacal bastard, who's better off being castrated and then thrown in an asylum or better yet shot dead! And don't even get me started on the characters, it was so stupid and lame. Philip generally scorns and verbally assassinate all the young ladies for being [vain, shallow, simple minded, boring and stuff] but when he claps eyes on Christina he goes love sick [all the while the only thing that is mentioned is how beautiful Christina is and that's all that matters to this dickhead that I refuse to call hero]. No wit, no mind, nothing what so ever and please tell me you don't think slapping a rude man, who's forcing his tongue down your throat calls for someone being a spit fire or too much to handle. News Flash: It's called being normal. Anyone who just stands like a muppet while being assaulted seriously needs a brain transplant. So Christina's reaction was very common and normal it did not make her any different from the rest of the girls. And it hardly spoke of her kick ass personality [her spit fire nature which we rarely see]
Child molestation, a slap and a rejected proposal later, we see Christina and her brother heading to Egypt. Chrissy of course has no idea what a wonderful, romantic fairy tale awaits her in the desert because you remember that pedo Philip from before? turns out he lives an alter life of a Sultan's son and is a glorified barbarian, a thug and a beast. Scenes between the two are so weird [puke worthy actually] I don't know where to begin!
Pedo: You are mine now. And I won't marry you. You'll be my sex slave!
Chrissy: I'll die before I let you rape me!
Pedo: I won't rape you.
Chrissy : whew!
Pedo: Let's go to bed!
Chrissy: NO!
Pedo: *rapes her* See it wasn't rape, because you enjoyed it.
Chrissy: OMG! I'm so disgusted with myself. I totally enjoyed it. [Let me tell you something sista, you're most likely to enjoy sex, specially when the other person has been given a gold medal in debauchery, unless of course you're a tree or a statue.]
I can't tell you how disappointed I was when Philip's enemies weren't able to roast him like they wanted too! Chrissy was such a wuss! She had scissors, I bet she had knives and forks too how the fuck did she not put a fork in one of his eyes, or skewered his heart on a knife? then poured some salt water on him? Gag him and tie him with the dozens of fabric she had? sew his mouth shut with the needles she had? Because I'll tell you what, any girl with half a brain would have done these things.
One almost wonders if she was THAT attracted to him, why did she refuse him in the first place?
Even in the end, all that wuss of a girl did was cry, CRY! CRY! A bloody lot of tears she cried. Punch the sucker in the face! DAMMIT! Stand up for yourself, have a little pride, he sent you packing when you were pregnant with his child, in my opinion he deserves a kick or two right in the balls.
A complete waste of time this book is!
May 20, 2013
This was awful! The heroin is weak and the hero (?) is a total mental case!
So let me get this straight. She gets kidnapped, forced into becoming a sex slave and is threatened with a beating, yes I said beating, on a daily biases and she is OK with that? WHAT?
He sleeps right there and she does nothing night after night but cry? Huh? She lies there and let him sleep next to her? The first night I would have bashed him upside the head and he would have been forced to kill me! Thus ending the story right there... What a waist of paper.
Yuck! Did not enjoy this story at all!
So let me get this straight. She gets kidnapped, forced into becoming a sex slave and is threatened with a beating, yes I said beating, on a daily biases and she is OK with that? WHAT?
He sleeps right there and she does nothing night after night but cry? Huh? She lies there and let him sleep next to her? The first night I would have bashed him upside the head and he would have been forced to kill me! Thus ending the story right there... What a waist of paper.
Yuck! Did not enjoy this story at all!
February 6, 2011
I like it its a historical romance and that's how it was back then..I admit he was a little harsh and crass at times but I really did like the ending..
Most historical romance novels were like that and I have read worst with actual rape not nearly raped. if you can't handle this book then you should go for that romance candle light dinner thing like harlequin present books, (not hating on harlequin books I love them). But other than that, I thought the book was good and not bad for Johanna's early work
Most historical romance novels were like that and I have read worst with actual rape not nearly raped. if you can't handle this book then you should go for that romance candle light dinner thing like harlequin present books, (not hating on harlequin books I love them). But other than that, I thought the book was good and not bad for Johanna's early work
June 21, 2012
There was a HUGE sale on Johanna Lindsey books not too long ago — a good number of her backlist was made available in the Kindle format — and I took advantage and bought everything of hers on sale because simply ... I love her books.
So I've been gorging on Johanna Lindsey books the last few weeks/months or so, following the order of books listed on her Wikipedia page. I've been chain reading them when I wasn't working or moving from one city to another, when I lay at night unable to sleep and in need of something to make me forget my own life for a while, so I haven't stopped to review any of them, but then I read THIS book, and I had to take a break and say, "Whoa."
This book was originally published in 1977, so I'm guessing this is one of her first books. I'm also guessing that the flavor of the romance novels back then were very, very different from the flavor of romance novels published today. The romance novels back then were called bodice-rippers for a very good reason, but if they were published today as new material there'd be an outcry. I'll just get right to the point — this romance novel romanticizes rape. The hero rapes the heroine, not just once, but regularly and frequently. I guess what made it OK back then was that the hero is very good looking; he's in total lust with her, and that lust turns to love; and though her mouth says NO, her eyes and body say YES.
I actually heard that phrase once in a '70s sitcom, Three's Company, where one of the male characters is giving another male character advice on how to woo one of the female characters. He tells him that even though she says NO, she really means YES. Good God, if anyone said that today, that person would be slapped for lack of common sense. NO means NO, and that's final. This just goes to show you how stupid our society was in the '70s. Or course, back then, womanizing made a man attractive and sexy; it made him the alpha male.
So this book is about rape, and as if the scenes in the book weren't enough to convince you of that, the word "rape" is also liberally sprinkled throughout the book. The characters love to say the word, too, so it's not just in the narrative but in the dialogue as well. For me, just the word rape in a romance novel is like the N word or the C word — it's just a word that doesn't belong in a romance as it is the farthest from sexy and loving as you can get. And it just treats the whole subject too lightly, as though it were something so very easily forgiven. It seems to condone it as a way to romance someone, when all it really is is violent abuse, plain and simple.
What makes this book interesting and remarkable to me, though, is that it's very reminiscent of E.M. Hull's The Sheik, which was written in 1919. It makes me wonder if it was an influence in Johanna Lindsey's writing. In both books, the hero abducts the heroine and regularly rapes her, and of course, the heroine eventually falls in love with the hero. Utter nonsense, of course, but a fantasy actually entertained by many a few generations ago. Real rape is traumatic and destructive, though, and everyone generally knows that, so if Lindsey had written this today, she could never have gotten it published. Today, a character in a book who rapes is never the hero; he's the villain. So for me, reading this book was culture shock. I was stunned, appalled, and I couldn't believe that it was a Johanna Lindsey book.
It's the first of her books I've read that I don't like.
So I've been gorging on Johanna Lindsey books the last few weeks/months or so, following the order of books listed on her Wikipedia page. I've been chain reading them when I wasn't working or moving from one city to another, when I lay at night unable to sleep and in need of something to make me forget my own life for a while, so I haven't stopped to review any of them, but then I read THIS book, and I had to take a break and say, "Whoa."
This book was originally published in 1977, so I'm guessing this is one of her first books. I'm also guessing that the flavor of the romance novels back then were very, very different from the flavor of romance novels published today. The romance novels back then were called bodice-rippers for a very good reason, but if they were published today as new material there'd be an outcry. I'll just get right to the point — this romance novel romanticizes rape. The hero rapes the heroine, not just once, but regularly and frequently. I guess what made it OK back then was that the hero is very good looking; he's in total lust with her, and that lust turns to love; and though her mouth says NO, her eyes and body say YES.
I actually heard that phrase once in a '70s sitcom, Three's Company, where one of the male characters is giving another male character advice on how to woo one of the female characters. He tells him that even though she says NO, she really means YES. Good God, if anyone said that today, that person would be slapped for lack of common sense. NO means NO, and that's final. This just goes to show you how stupid our society was in the '70s. Or course, back then, womanizing made a man attractive and sexy; it made him the alpha male.
So this book is about rape, and as if the scenes in the book weren't enough to convince you of that, the word "rape" is also liberally sprinkled throughout the book. The characters love to say the word, too, so it's not just in the narrative but in the dialogue as well. For me, just the word rape in a romance novel is like the N word or the C word — it's just a word that doesn't belong in a romance as it is the farthest from sexy and loving as you can get. And it just treats the whole subject too lightly, as though it were something so very easily forgiven. It seems to condone it as a way to romance someone, when all it really is is violent abuse, plain and simple.
What makes this book interesting and remarkable to me, though, is that it's very reminiscent of E.M. Hull's The Sheik, which was written in 1919. It makes me wonder if it was an influence in Johanna Lindsey's writing. In both books, the hero abducts the heroine and regularly rapes her, and of course, the heroine eventually falls in love with the hero. Utter nonsense, of course, but a fantasy actually entertained by many a few generations ago. Real rape is traumatic and destructive, though, and everyone generally knows that, so if Lindsey had written this today, she could never have gotten it published. Today, a character in a book who rapes is never the hero; he's the villain. So for me, reading this book was culture shock. I was stunned, appalled, and I couldn't believe that it was a Johanna Lindsey book.
It's the first of her books I've read that I don't like.
July 6, 2012
suck suck suck suck!!!!!!!!!! this book sucks throughly. The hero was a maniacal bastard,a pedophile and the heroine was a weak,brainless ninny.God this book is just so awful!!! How did writer conceived such horrible idea in her diabolic mind..??? And how can someone read it and like it??? After completing it I was speechless for 30 minutes i could'nt stop fuming about this bad and ugly book. Let me get this straight,Philip Caxton sets his eyes on Christiana for the first time and he is overwhelmed with lust and instead of pursuing her in a gentlemanly way he kidnaps her. He keeps her imprisoned as a sex slave in a desert and he beats her on regular basis,threatens her,rapes her. And that spineless fool christiana endures everything without any protest and all she does is weeping. What the hell???????? She lies there and let him sleep next to her? The first night I would have bashed him upside the head and he would have been forced to kill me! Thus ending the story right there...but no....Our idiotic heroine does'nt do anything instead sleeps next to him every night happily and next morning she is swarmed with guilt because she enjoyed the night with him...and why because the hero was good looking?? What if he would have been an ugly old bastard?? Would she have slept next to him or killed him or herself? Arghh !!!!! I felt like puking after this book. What a waste of paper. After 3 months of torment,physical and sexual abuse she realises that she is madly in love with that insane psychopath,this really dint go well with me.
I really don't understand how can this Johanna lindsey write such novel and how can she present any woman so weak in her novel? No woman in her right state of mind will fall in love with the guy who wil deprive her of her virginity by raping her,this does'nt happen any where not even in the fantasy world.This book is not romantic at all,there's no romance in it,waht little romance it had it was sick and pukeworthy,there's only abusing of a naive and innocent girl by a moron.Infact it's a sin reading such disaster and wasting your time and money. I would'nt recommend this to anyone not even to my worst enemy.
I really don't understand how can this Johanna lindsey write such novel and how can she present any woman so weak in her novel? No woman in her right state of mind will fall in love with the guy who wil deprive her of her virginity by raping her,this does'nt happen any where not even in the fantasy world.This book is not romantic at all,there's no romance in it,waht little romance it had it was sick and pukeworthy,there's only abusing of a naive and innocent girl by a moron.Infact it's a sin reading such disaster and wasting your time and money. I would'nt recommend this to anyone not even to my worst enemy.
April 30, 2022
0.5 Stars
I read this book as a part of the BOTM challenge for HRBC.
Lately, many good reads have come my way, so it's about time that a bad one comes along too. But disagreeable in a single aspect is manageable. What do you do when the book turns out to be completely horrendous?
What in the fucking hell was that? It was one of the worst things I've had the displeasure of reading. This experience has me flabbergasted. I can't even begin to describe how unnerved I am by what I have read. It was my first JL book, and if I touch another Lindsey book with a ten-foot pole, you have my permission to shoot me.
The Epic Moronic Fuckery...
- The writing style was annoying and circular. Let's not forget the many, many historical inaccuracies & the modern language usage.
- The plot made little to no sense. Round and round it went until I was dizzy.
- It felt like a not so charming (*insert HEAVY sarcasm here*) ode to patriarchy, with casual references to domestic abuse and even rape.
- By the time I got deep into the story, it would have been foolish to expect character or plot development, and I was not disappointed, as there was none.
- The main characters were insane, selfish, annoying, and generally disrespectful. Seriously, I couldn't have cared less if they had lived or died. They can both rot happily in hell.
- Romance? Steam? Hahahahaha. Nope.
- Drama, there was a lot of drama. Not good drama, mind you.
- I think I did not hate John Wakefield. Maybe.
- The only thing clear was that none of the characters gave one whit about anyone else and just did what pleased them. Consequences be damned.
My Recommendation
Just don't. Fuck this shit.
I read this book as a part of the BOTM challenge for HRBC.
Lately, many good reads have come my way, so it's about time that a bad one comes along too. But disagreeable in a single aspect is manageable. What do you do when the book turns out to be completely horrendous?
What in the fucking hell was that? It was one of the worst things I've had the displeasure of reading. This experience has me flabbergasted. I can't even begin to describe how unnerved I am by what I have read. It was my first JL book, and if I touch another Lindsey book with a ten-foot pole, you have my permission to shoot me.
The Epic Moronic Fuckery...
- The writing style was annoying and circular. Let's not forget the many, many historical inaccuracies & the modern language usage.
- The plot made little to no sense. Round and round it went until I was dizzy.
- It felt like a not so charming (*insert HEAVY sarcasm here*) ode to patriarchy, with casual references to domestic abuse and even rape.
- By the time I got deep into the story, it would have been foolish to expect character or plot development, and I was not disappointed, as there was none.
- The main characters were insane, selfish, annoying, and generally disrespectful. Seriously, I couldn't have cared less if they had lived or died. They can both rot happily in hell.
- Romance? Steam? Hahahahaha. Nope.
- Drama, there was a lot of drama. Not good drama, mind you.
- I think I did not hate John Wakefield. Maybe.
- The only thing clear was that none of the characters gave one whit about anyone else and just did what pleased them. Consequences be damned.
My Recommendation
Just don't. Fuck this shit.
November 27, 2024
5/5⭐
“Era un hombre muy alto para ser árabe.”
MUCHO MUY IMPORTANTE: Época en que fue escrito y CONTEXTO DE LA NOVELA.
Re Lectura que hice porque quiero guardar mis impresiones de ésta novela que en mi adolescencia AMÉ, y bueno, era la época en que el Síndrome de Estocolmo era algo romántico 😂.
Publicado en 1977 en inglés, 1993 en español y en el 2017 se cumplieron 40 años de su publicación. Johanna Lindsey fue una experta en protagonistas caprichosas, rebeldes y ésta fue SU primera novela que publicó. Ambientada en la primavera del año 1883, época victoriana, con una excelente escritura, investigación referida al mundo árabe, las descripciones del interior de una tienda sin ser densa, sumado a las diferencias entre tribus del desierto y sus conflictos tribales, repito: EXCELENTE. Ahora, los personajes: SON TODO LO QUE ESTÁ MAL a día de hoy (y que yo en su momento amé al jeque Philip🤣) Che, reconozcamos que veinte años atrás soñabamos que un jeque nos secuestre (🤌) y era una época en que no se publicada tanta novela romántica. Entonces veías una novela romántica con ésta portada (QUE AMO) con una sinopsis así de fuerte yyyy… Yo me enamoré. Pero ahora no. De hecho, leía un par de capítulos seguidos y no soportaba a ninguno de los personajes🤣
LA NOVIA CAUTIVA ES LA HISTORIA DE UN SECUESTRO con una lucha que nace del odio y termina en amor. Ella tiene 18 años y si mal no recuerdo, él le saca una diferencia de quince (15) años.
Paul Caxton tiene un hermano que se llama Philip Caxton, a quien no comprende porque si bien había sido un niño silencioso y retraído, la convivencia con su padre los últimos años no había mejorado su actitud. Philip se mostró descontento desde su regreso a Londres, un año antes, para asistir a la boda de Paul. Éste había tratado de convencerlo de que permaneciera en Inglaterra, con la esperanza de que Philip acabara casándose, se asentara y formase una familia. Pero Philip se había convertido en un bárbaro después de vivir tanto tiempo con su padre en el desierto. Philips es un hombre rico en Inglaterra, pero en el Cairo, es Abu, jeque de una tribu. O sea: Philip es un hombre que sabe acomodarse al país de su madre (Inglaterra) con los modales y sus costumbres, y a su vez, es un salvaje en la tierra de su padre.
Sí, es cierto que es un personaje MUY masculino, fuerte, atractivo y moreno. Insisto: En su momento me enamoré de éste hombre, pero hoy con ésta relectura y con casi 40 años, me reí y sentí nostalgia de éste tipo de novelas que han marcado un hito en la historia del género. Y no, ésta vez NO me enamoró.
Y del otro lado tenemos a Christina Wakefield que vive con su hermano John en una mansión. A Tina le gusta cabalgar, leer; viaja a Londres para asistir a fiestas, reuniones sociales y comidas, no es una dama en apuros, no está en el mercado matrimonial y, lo que ella ama es el campo. Y es en una de esas fiestas en la que “su belleza encandila a todos los hombres”, entre ellos a Philip, quien ni bien la ve, su imagen femenina queda grabada para siempre en la mente de él. “¡Parecía una visión! Nunca hubiera creído que una mujer podía ser tan bella. Los cabellos eran una reluciente masa dorada de rizos y algunos mechones sueltos le cubrían parcialmente el cuello y las sienes. Tenía la nariz recta y angosta y los labios suaves y seductores, como hechos para ser besados. Llevaba un vestido de satén azul zafiro oscuro. El escote permitía entrever los pechos suaves y redondos, y varias cintas celestes destacaban la cintura angosta. Era perfecta.”🤣.
La cuestión es que Philip se acercará a Christina y haciendo uso de sus buenos modales le propone matrimonio, a lo que ella rechaza porque de él escuchó “que ese hombre ha insultado a todas las bonitas jóvenes que su hermano Paul Caxton le presentó. Es inhumano el modo de despreciarlas, un individuo de costumbres raras. Ya sabe... la clase de hombres que no se interesa por las mujeres”.
Y como desde su comportamiento como hombre rico y caballeroso no lo consigue, lo hace desde su lado salvaje que es donde mejor se siente: la secuestra y la hace su esclava y amante llevándola al desierto donde no existen las reglas de la sociedad inglesa. Él se ha criado como un jeque árabe del desierto y consigue todo lo que quiere porque siente por ella una pasión desenfrenada, cosa que a él le irrita porque siempre se había enorgullecido de la serenidad de sus propias reacciones frente a las mujeres.
rodillas, y vestía una camisa y pantalones anchos con el ruedo asegurado por las botas, le habló en perfecto inglés y se volvió para mirarla”, Christina se le afloja la mandíbula porque no puede creer lo que ven sus ojos. Y a partir de aquí comienza una serie de aventuras que llevará a que ella se enamore y le perdone todo, entre escenas cargadas de pasión donde Tina dice odiarlo pero cae muy fácilmente en la seducción de su captor🙄, hasta que la aparición de terceras personas conseguirá separarlos. ÉL JAMÁS la viola. En una carta que Christina escribe a su hermano John lo deja en claro: “John, te ruego que no me juzgues con dureza porque no pueda evitar lo que mi corazón siente por este hombre. Haría lo que fuera por él. Por favor, compréndeme y perdóname si te hice sufrir. Sabes que no lo habría hecho intencionadamente. Me deseaba y me tomó. Y como dice él, es la costumbre de este país, y ahora yo lo amo y lo deseo más que a nada. Trata de comprender mi situación.” SI, YA SÉ, HOY ESTO se considera violación.
Para ir cerrando porque si es por mí sigo con mi intensidad😆: Por otro lado, él de caballero no tiene nada y se lo repite varias veces: es autoritario y como es jeque y se tiene que hacer respetar ante su tribu, es violento; Sin embargo, en Londres él sabe comportarse, bah, lo hace porque se siente obligado ser civilizado. Abu sabe que Christina está acostumbrada a ser libre, a cabalgar y no la enamora de la forma que derrita a la lectora del género romántico, por el contrario, Christina cuando vuelve a la civilización tiene todos los síntomas del Síndrome de Estocolmo. Ya que lo menciono, tengo que citar a “El Árabe” de E. M. Hull, del cual Johanna Lindsey prácticamente plagió dicha obra porque “La novia Cautiva” es prácticamente igual, con algunas diferencias en los personajes. Ese libro de Hull es muy mencionado por Florencia Bonelli porque a ella la inspiró para escribir “Lo que dicen tus ojos” una historia de amor entre una argentina y un jeque llamado Kamal Al-Saud.
Conclusión: RECOMIENDO QUE LEAN “La novia Cautiva” pensando en el contexto histórico porque es una historia llena de pasión en el desierto de Egipto, entre las dunas, que repito, la descripción es magnífica. Yo NO volvería a leer “El Árabe” y sí, LES RECOMIENDO ya que lo nombré, al libro de Bonelli: “Lo que dicen tus ojos”.
“Era un hombre muy alto para ser árabe.”
MUCHO MUY IMPORTANTE: Época en que fue escrito y CONTEXTO DE LA NOVELA.
Re Lectura que hice porque quiero guardar mis impresiones de ésta novela que en mi adolescencia AMÉ, y bueno, era la época en que el Síndrome de Estocolmo era algo romántico 😂.
Publicado en 1977 en inglés, 1993 en español y en el 2017 se cumplieron 40 años de su publicación. Johanna Lindsey fue una experta en protagonistas caprichosas, rebeldes y ésta fue SU primera novela que publicó. Ambientada en la primavera del año 1883, época victoriana, con una excelente escritura, investigación referida al mundo árabe, las descripciones del interior de una tienda sin ser densa, sumado a las diferencias entre tribus del desierto y sus conflictos tribales, repito: EXCELENTE. Ahora, los personajes: SON TODO LO QUE ESTÁ MAL a día de hoy (y que yo en su momento amé al jeque Philip🤣) Che, reconozcamos que veinte años atrás soñabamos que un jeque nos secuestre (🤌) y era una época en que no se publicada tanta novela romántica. Entonces veías una novela romántica con ésta portada (QUE AMO) con una sinopsis así de fuerte yyyy… Yo me enamoré. Pero ahora no. De hecho, leía un par de capítulos seguidos y no soportaba a ninguno de los personajes🤣
LA NOVIA CAUTIVA ES LA HISTORIA DE UN SECUESTRO con una lucha que nace del odio y termina en amor. Ella tiene 18 años y si mal no recuerdo, él le saca una diferencia de quince (15) años.
Paul Caxton tiene un hermano que se llama Philip Caxton, a quien no comprende porque si bien había sido un niño silencioso y retraído, la convivencia con su padre los últimos años no había mejorado su actitud. Philip se mostró descontento desde su regreso a Londres, un año antes, para asistir a la boda de Paul. Éste había tratado de convencerlo de que permaneciera en Inglaterra, con la esperanza de que Philip acabara casándose, se asentara y formase una familia. Pero Philip se había convertido en un bárbaro después de vivir tanto tiempo con su padre en el desierto. Philips es un hombre rico en Inglaterra, pero en el Cairo, es Abu, jeque de una tribu. O sea: Philip es un hombre que sabe acomodarse al país de su madre (Inglaterra) con los modales y sus costumbres, y a su vez, es un salvaje en la tierra de su padre.
Sí, es cierto que es un personaje MUY masculino, fuerte, atractivo y moreno. Insisto: En su momento me enamoré de éste hombre, pero hoy con ésta relectura y con casi 40 años, me reí y sentí nostalgia de éste tipo de novelas que han marcado un hito en la historia del género. Y no, ésta vez NO me enamoró.
Y del otro lado tenemos a Christina Wakefield que vive con su hermano John en una mansión. A Tina le gusta cabalgar, leer; viaja a Londres para asistir a fiestas, reuniones sociales y comidas, no es una dama en apuros, no está en el mercado matrimonial y, lo que ella ama es el campo. Y es en una de esas fiestas en la que “su belleza encandila a todos los hombres”, entre ellos a Philip, quien ni bien la ve, su imagen femenina queda grabada para siempre en la mente de él. “¡Parecía una visión! Nunca hubiera creído que una mujer podía ser tan bella. Los cabellos eran una reluciente masa dorada de rizos y algunos mechones sueltos le cubrían parcialmente el cuello y las sienes. Tenía la nariz recta y angosta y los labios suaves y seductores, como hechos para ser besados. Llevaba un vestido de satén azul zafiro oscuro. El escote permitía entrever los pechos suaves y redondos, y varias cintas celestes destacaban la cintura angosta. Era perfecta.”🤣.
La cuestión es que Philip se acercará a Christina y haciendo uso de sus buenos modales le propone matrimonio, a lo que ella rechaza porque de él escuchó “que ese hombre ha insultado a todas las bonitas jóvenes que su hermano Paul Caxton le presentó. Es inhumano el modo de despreciarlas, un individuo de costumbres raras. Ya sabe... la clase de hombres que no se interesa por las mujeres”.
Y como desde su comportamiento como hombre rico y caballeroso no lo consigue, lo hace desde su lado salvaje que es donde mejor se siente: la secuestra y la hace su esclava y amante llevándola al desierto donde no existen las reglas de la sociedad inglesa. Él se ha criado como un jeque árabe del desierto y consigue todo lo que quiere porque siente por ella una pasión desenfrenada, cosa que a él le irrita porque siempre se había enorgullecido de la serenidad de sus propias reacciones frente a las mujeres.
rodillas, y vestía una camisa y pantalones anchos con el ruedo asegurado por las botas, le habló en perfecto inglés y se volvió para mirarla”, Christina se le afloja la mandíbula porque no puede creer lo que ven sus ojos. Y a partir de aquí comienza una serie de aventuras que llevará a que ella se enamore y le perdone todo, entre escenas cargadas de pasión donde Tina dice odiarlo pero cae muy fácilmente en la seducción de su captor🙄, hasta que la aparición de terceras personas conseguirá separarlos. ÉL JAMÁS la viola. En una carta que Christina escribe a su hermano John lo deja en claro: “John, te ruego que no me juzgues con dureza porque no pueda evitar lo que mi corazón siente por este hombre. Haría lo que fuera por él. Por favor, compréndeme y perdóname si te hice sufrir. Sabes que no lo habría hecho intencionadamente. Me deseaba y me tomó. Y como dice él, es la costumbre de este país, y ahora yo lo amo y lo deseo más que a nada. Trata de comprender mi situación.” SI, YA SÉ, HOY ESTO se considera violación.
Para ir cerrando porque si es por mí sigo con mi intensidad😆: Por otro lado, él de caballero no tiene nada y se lo repite varias veces: es autoritario y como es jeque y se tiene que hacer respetar ante su tribu, es violento; Sin embargo, en Londres él sabe comportarse, bah, lo hace porque se siente obligado ser civilizado. Abu sabe que Christina está acostumbrada a ser libre, a cabalgar y no la enamora de la forma que derrita a la lectora del género romántico, por el contrario, Christina cuando vuelve a la civilización tiene todos los síntomas del Síndrome de Estocolmo. Ya que lo menciono, tengo que citar a “El Árabe” de E. M. Hull, del cual Johanna Lindsey prácticamente plagió dicha obra porque “La novia Cautiva” es prácticamente igual, con algunas diferencias en los personajes. Ese libro de Hull es muy mencionado por Florencia Bonelli porque a ella la inspiró para escribir “Lo que dicen tus ojos” una historia de amor entre una argentina y un jeque llamado Kamal Al-Saud.
Conclusión: RECOMIENDO QUE LEAN “La novia Cautiva” pensando en el contexto histórico porque es una historia llena de pasión en el desierto de Egipto, entre las dunas, que repito, la descripción es magnífica. Yo NO volvería a leer “El Árabe” y sí, LES RECOMIENDO ya que lo nombré, al libro de Bonelli: “Lo que dicen tus ojos”.
March 25, 2010
God awful!
The only good thing about this book is that it was an excellent example of what NOT to do when writing romance. Since I'm writing a romance series right now, it helped me to refine my ideas on good technique.
More specifically, this book uses Overwhelming Lust, something that I am growing more and more disgusted with. Physical attraction in romance is necessary but not sufficient. Lust becomes overwhelming when it is shoved down my throat in such a way that I can't even truly believe that it's happening. I have never felt this more strongly than in this book. I just don't believe that you're going to get turned on by a guy that kidnaps and rapes you. Not gonna happen, even in a fantasy world.
Or to put it another way, that which brings them together is wayyyy out of balance with that which keeps them apart. In good romance novels, these two are in a sort of shifting balance, a bit like a dance, coming together and then slipping further apart.
I wanted these two to break up. Knowing that this was not going to happen in an HEA romance, I gave it up and am one to better things (hard to imagine I could find something worse).
I don't recommend this to anyone.
The only good thing about this book is that it was an excellent example of what NOT to do when writing romance. Since I'm writing a romance series right now, it helped me to refine my ideas on good technique.
More specifically, this book uses Overwhelming Lust, something that I am growing more and more disgusted with. Physical attraction in romance is necessary but not sufficient. Lust becomes overwhelming when it is shoved down my throat in such a way that I can't even truly believe that it's happening. I have never felt this more strongly than in this book. I just don't believe that you're going to get turned on by a guy that kidnaps and rapes you. Not gonna happen, even in a fantasy world.
Or to put it another way, that which brings them together is wayyyy out of balance with that which keeps them apart. In good romance novels, these two are in a sort of shifting balance, a bit like a dance, coming together and then slipping further apart.
I wanted these two to break up. Knowing that this was not going to happen in an HEA romance, I gave it up and am one to better things (hard to imagine I could find something worse).
I don't recommend this to anyone.
December 15, 2008
This is one of the first Johanna Lindsey books I read. It was magic. It was also my first official sheikh book. Ever since I have had a weakness for sheikh romances. I can't even count how many times I read this book. It's been a while but I remember being absolutely transfixed by the writing and the storytelling. It's very romantic, if you don't mind captive situations and forced seduction. I loved the reunion in England and how that plays out. Definitely one of my all time favorites.
December 30, 2019
This is Johanna Lindsey’s first book so it’s not the best example of her writing, but I still found it entertaining in spite of the flaws.
For example, some of the dialogue came across as too melodramatic even if it was lively. I also didn't like both protagonists in the beginning either. Christina is haughty to the max, while Philip is too arrogant for his own good. Both create their own problems to an extent. (Which is true for most fictional characters, but fits these two especially.) That arrogance I mentioned? It bites Philip in the ass later, and drives the central conflict of the story.
The biggest conflict some readers will have, though, relates to forced seduction. For me, it depends on the context. Christina ultimately consents to and receives pleasure from the act, so she doesn't suffer physically. No, it's her emotional journey that's the most turbulent.
Finally, there’s also no real exploration of why they fell in love. If one can set aside their aversion to insta love and bodice rippers, then this romance might work.
For example, some of the dialogue came across as too melodramatic even if it was lively. I also didn't like both protagonists in the beginning either. Christina is haughty to the max, while Philip is too arrogant for his own good. Both create their own problems to an extent. (Which is true for most fictional characters, but fits these two especially.) That arrogance I mentioned? It bites Philip in the ass later, and drives the central conflict of the story.
The biggest conflict some readers will have, though, relates to forced seduction. For me, it depends on the context. Christina ultimately consents to and receives pleasure from the act, so she doesn't suffer physically. No, it's her emotional journey that's the most turbulent.
Finally, there’s also no real exploration of why they fell in love. If one can set aside their aversion to insta love and bodice rippers, then this romance might work.
April 2, 2012
Love that she got her characters out of England, but it still has a huge pet peeve of mine. The title should have given it away, but I'm sorry, the following just doesn't work for me:
I must have you.
No!
I'll make you want me. (Proceeds to grope and fondle the girl while she half struggles, half goes Oh my I'm being kissed! What big hands you have, grandma.)
No! Stop! You can't do this. I don't want this.
Yes you do.
...then it varies, but essentially you get to the gist of it... hop on pop or I chase/beat you until I can have you. You'll be shamed in the morning and hate me; but you secretly enjoyed it, which will make you hate yourself even more. Then you'll fall madly in love with me, but I won't realize it until one of us is hurt and almost dies. At that point we'll get all mushy and confess that rape was great because it brought us together and we'll all live happily ever after.
BULLSHIT!
I must have you.
No!
I'll make you want me. (Proceeds to grope and fondle the girl while she half struggles, half goes Oh my I'm being kissed! What big hands you have, grandma.)
No! Stop! You can't do this. I don't want this.
Yes you do.
...then it varies, but essentially you get to the gist of it... hop on pop or I chase/beat you until I can have you. You'll be shamed in the morning and hate me; but you secretly enjoyed it, which will make you hate yourself even more. Then you'll fall madly in love with me, but I won't realize it until one of us is hurt and almost dies. At that point we'll get all mushy and confess that rape was great because it brought us together and we'll all live happily ever after.
BULLSHIT!
July 19, 2019
Una historia entretenida, pero demasiado estereotipada para mi gusto. Como además el argumento se basa en que ninguno de los personajes principales reconoce sus verdaderos sentimientos, todo transcurre entre un mal entendido y otro, lo que termina cansando, sobre todo porque el final tampoco reivindica tanta espera, bastante soso y corto. Las escenas íntimas, que podrían haber aportando algo más de emoción al relato, tampoco destacan.
Quizá se deba a que es la primera novela de esta autora tan consagrada, por lo que no descarto leer alguno de sus otros libros en el futuro.
Quizá se deba a que es la primera novela de esta autora tan consagrada, por lo que no descarto leer alguno de sus otros libros en el futuro.
June 3, 2023
I now know why this has so many negative reviews. But I must say that the writing style is too good, I am almost tempted to buy this author's other works just beacuse of the writing. Ridiculous, I know right.
Where do I even start with the story??? It's so meh, the typicality doesn't even bothers me, there are far more horrendous things, and I didn't know to laugh or to bawl my eyes out.
Where do I even start with the story??? It's so meh, the typicality doesn't even bothers me, there are far more horrendous things, and I didn't know to laugh or to bawl my eyes out.
April 30, 2023
A half baked bodice ripper.
The matter with JL is that her heroines are often very unpleasant bordering on real bitches. This one is the queen of all bitches.
She’s a 18 yo lady but hasn’t an ounce of sweetness or grace around her.
She’s spoiled, selfish, hard as nails, shallow and even rude and insensitive.
She doesn’t care for op feelings, it’s only and ever her.
She has a friend who’s in love with her but she decides to go to l’ondo for her season since she doesn’t love him, and he will be there waiting for her to come back after she had her fun anyway. Very sweet and caring really.
In London she’s a party girl and flirts with every man around and when the hero tries to court her and proposes she rejects him brutally. Without a thought for his feelings or for his pride.
I don’t know what the hero found in her except her extreme physical beauty.
She’s awful. I hated her and hoped that she suffered.
The hero is half Arab so this explained the reason why he is cruel and vindictive.
Because he’s half savage. Ahem.
Then there’s the bodice ripper part that is when the hero, who’s basically some sort of Lawrence of Arabian since he’s tall and handsome as a British man would be but cruel and savage as Arabian men are ( omg), kidnaps her and tells her she’s going to be his sex slave.
Oh yeah.
I couldn’t muster an ounce of pity for her since she’s really a nag and the fact that she immediately succumbs to his seduction didn’t help me feeling empathic to her.
No, nope. She wants him but she doesn’t want to want him.
Because.
There’s no real explanation for her hate for him. Yes, he kissed her forcibly in London but she could have been much more polite and delicate instead of humiliating him and being rude.
So for some weeks she becomes his slave but it seems to me she was very willing and even if he spanks her once I didn’t really felt any angst, because most of the times she deserve throttling.
He really is besotted with her, planned all the kidnapping and seduction part and even if he didn’t immediately propose to her a second time ( she deserved it) he wanted to keep her forever.
Then her utter inconsistency comes out and she falls in love with her because while he wasn’t good enough for her when he behaved like a lord he’s good enough now that he treats her like his property.
Ok, each one their own.
When his brother tells her that the hero wants her yo go back to her brother because he wants to get married to another woman she’s really hurt and spends all her time pining for her.
Of course she’s also pregnant and decides to have and keep his child.
The truth is that hero’s brother wanted the ransom that heroine’s brother promised to have the heroine back, so when the hero is back, his brother tells him the heroine left him.
One year later he finds out she’s got his child and he wants her back, he never forgot her and he was going to marry her when she left him.
Some more weeks of drama with ow and om before they can talk and confess their love.
I found the book very unsatisfactory because the heroine was too nasty to be pitied and the hero was not evil enough. He was actually a poor scorned man who wasn’t able to move on from an unpleasant bitch.
He’s very immature and ludicrous and she’s simply unpleasant.
The story wasn’t that bad but full of stereotypes and old school ideas.
The matter with JL is that her heroines are often very unpleasant bordering on real bitches. This one is the queen of all bitches.
She’s a 18 yo lady but hasn’t an ounce of sweetness or grace around her.
She’s spoiled, selfish, hard as nails, shallow and even rude and insensitive.
She doesn’t care for op feelings, it’s only and ever her.
She has a friend who’s in love with her but she decides to go to l’ondo for her season since she doesn’t love him, and he will be there waiting for her to come back after she had her fun anyway. Very sweet and caring really.
In London she’s a party girl and flirts with every man around and when the hero tries to court her and proposes she rejects him brutally. Without a thought for his feelings or for his pride.
I don’t know what the hero found in her except her extreme physical beauty.
She’s awful. I hated her and hoped that she suffered.
The hero is half Arab so this explained the reason why he is cruel and vindictive.
Because he’s half savage. Ahem.
Then there’s the bodice ripper part that is when the hero, who’s basically some sort of Lawrence of Arabian since he’s tall and handsome as a British man would be but cruel and savage as Arabian men are ( omg), kidnaps her and tells her she’s going to be his sex slave.
Oh yeah.
I couldn’t muster an ounce of pity for her since she’s really a nag and the fact that she immediately succumbs to his seduction didn’t help me feeling empathic to her.
No, nope. She wants him but she doesn’t want to want him.
Because.
There’s no real explanation for her hate for him. Yes, he kissed her forcibly in London but she could have been much more polite and delicate instead of humiliating him and being rude.
So for some weeks she becomes his slave but it seems to me she was very willing and even if he spanks her once I didn’t really felt any angst, because most of the times she deserve throttling.
He really is besotted with her, planned all the kidnapping and seduction part and even if he didn’t immediately propose to her a second time ( she deserved it) he wanted to keep her forever.
Then her utter inconsistency comes out and she falls in love with her because while he wasn’t good enough for her when he behaved like a lord he’s good enough now that he treats her like his property.
Ok, each one their own.
When his brother tells her that the hero wants her yo go back to her brother because he wants to get married to another woman she’s really hurt and spends all her time pining for her.
Of course she’s also pregnant and decides to have and keep his child.
The truth is that hero’s brother wanted the ransom that heroine’s brother promised to have the heroine back, so when the hero is back, his brother tells him the heroine left him.
One year later he finds out she’s got his child and he wants her back, he never forgot her and he was going to marry her when she left him.
Some more weeks of drama with ow and om before they can talk and confess their love.
I found the book very unsatisfactory because the heroine was too nasty to be pitied and the hero was not evil enough. He was actually a poor scorned man who wasn’t able to move on from an unpleasant bitch.
He’s very immature and ludicrous and she’s simply unpleasant.
The story wasn’t that bad but full of stereotypes and old school ideas.
August 25, 2016
I love Johanna Lindsey!! I hate Captive Bride!! I thought the dialogue was silly and contrived, the plot was very simplistic and the few romance scenes were not so much 'romance' scenes as they were 'rape' scenes. With each 'romance' scene I got more and more angry with the story and just wanted to scream at Lindsey "WHY?!! Why did you write this? How could you have written this tripe, but also written wonderful, romantic stories like Gentle Rogue or Tender Rebel?"
Thank goodness her writing has grown and improved since this book was published in 1977, otherwise, today she would be an unknown writing failure who probably would have ended up being forced into an office job because writing wasn't paying the bills, and never would.
Thank goodness her writing has grown and improved since this book was published in 1977, otherwise, today she would be an unknown writing failure who probably would have ended up being forced into an office job because writing wasn't paying the bills, and never would.
September 8, 2021
Johanna Lindsey is one of my favorite historical romance authors so I'm biased.
Plus this one was her first book so I will cut her some slack.
The stalker hero was too rapey for my tastes and the heroine was a little bit annoying and childish.
Plus all those stereotypes about Arabs just didn't do it for me.
Plus this one was her first book so I will cut her some slack.
The stalker hero was too rapey for my tastes and the heroine was a little bit annoying and childish.
Plus all those stereotypes about Arabs just didn't do it for me.
May 1, 2022
I don't really know what to say about this book... I think all the characters annoyed me immensely... sadly, it was like that, maybe not John and Kareen but they are very secondary characters.
I think the characters persona were not well built, they were extremely superficial, not at all profund, it seems all they do or did wasn't well thinked by the actor, I don't know how to explain, it was just shallow, superficial...
The male character was arrogant and authoritarian, he was english enjoying the perks of being an arab sheik and decide when it was for his advantage to use the habits of his tribe with a english female. I don't know who irritated me more if Phillip or Christina, but definitely she!!!!!!!!!! Christina was a english girl, well educated, treated by her family as equal with her brother, maybe that made me dislike her even more, the way she lets Phillip dominate her with so few effort, with love or no love, that didn't work for me.
The whole story was basic, without substance, without something to unite everything, anyway, not my kind of book not because it's a kind of Bodice Ripper but because I think it wasn't well written.
(Read for April 2022 BOTM#2 for HRBC)
I think the characters persona were not well built, they were extremely superficial, not at all profund, it seems all they do or did wasn't well thinked by the actor, I don't know how to explain, it was just shallow, superficial...
The male character was arrogant and authoritarian, he was english enjoying the perks of being an arab sheik and decide when it was for his advantage to use the habits of his tribe with a english female. I don't know who irritated me more if Phillip or Christina, but definitely she!!!!!!!!!! Christina was a english girl, well educated, treated by her family as equal with her brother, maybe that made me dislike her even more, the way she lets Phillip dominate her with so few effort, with love or no love, that didn't work for me.
The whole story was basic, without substance, without something to unite everything, anyway, not my kind of book not because it's a kind of Bodice Ripper but because I think it wasn't well written.
(Read for April 2022 BOTM#2 for HRBC)
March 14, 2022
This book is one the books chosen for April’s BOTM trope Around the World for HRBC. It takes place in England and Egypt. The h is Christina Wakefield an English Miss. The H is Phillip Caxton half English half Arab. His mother was English and his father an Arab Sheik who kidnapped his mother taking her to live in the desert. She bore him two sons after he married her. She couldn’t take to the climate and he let her go home with her two sons. She was a wealthy heiress so her son’s were denied nothing. Phillip went to seek his father in Egypt eventually finding him in the desert. As he was the oldest he became the next Sheik. By this time he had another brother by another woman who died. His name was Rashid. Phillip lived amongst his father’s people but returned to England to visit his brother and check on his estate. He met Christina Wakefield and fell for her. He asked her to marry him after two days. She said no. She went home with her brother John to Wakefield their estate. John a lieutenant in the British Military was given orders to ship out to Egypt. Christina went with him. On the first night they had arrived Christina was kidnapped and taken to the desert by Phillip Caxton aka Abu a Sheik in a Bedouin tribe. He kept her captive and slept with her. She hated him and hated herself for desiring him. They had a love hate relationship for about 3 months until she was kidnapped by another Sheik to lure Abu to find her. The old Sheik had a vendetta against Phillips father Yasim whom had recently passed away. He was going to sell Christina into slavery or collect the reward money for Christina her brother John was offering for her return. He knew Phillip would look for her. He tied Phillip up and planned to let him die a slow death in the sun. One of the old Sheiks men let Phillip and Christina go. They went back home and they were never happier. They both knew they loved each other. Rashid came to her with a note from Phillip saying he wanted her to go away as he had tired of her. She didn’t believe at first and wanted to hear it from Phillips own lips. Rashid said he was planning on marrying Nura a tribal woman who wanted Phillip. Christina was convinced he told the truth so he took her back to her brother and collected the reward money. John was happy to have her back. John had met his future bride an officer’s daughter Karen. Christina discovered she was 3 months pregnant and told John. She went back home to Wakefield in England to have her baby and raise it herself. John would follow her 5 months later. Her next door neighbour and childhood friend Tommy asked for her hand in marriage. She refused him daily. Her old nanny found a place with her sister at another home so she could get away from Tommy as he was driving her mad. The house happened to be Phillips estate. She had the baby there. John came back bringing his bride Kareen and Christina took her baby Phillip back to Wakefield. Phillip travelled back to Britain after trying to find Rashid but never found him. He planned to sell his estate and travel to America and forget Christina as everywhere she was England and Egypt reminded him of her. He was heartbroken when she left him. He intended on asking her to marry him before Rashid intercepted. When he came home he found ou Christina had his baby so he went to Wakefield to see his boy. He knew he still wanted Christina but when he arrived she just accepted Tommy’s marriage proposal to make everyone happy. He stayed hoping she would change her mind. John knew Christina loved Phillip but didn’t interfere. Tommy became enraged when he found Phillip in the bedroom watching Christina bathe. He threatened Phillip leaving the house. He came back with two pistols and pointed them at Phillip and said he would kill their son baby Phillip. Christina moved in front of the pistol to save Phillip. She was grazed but didn’t die. Tommy was charged and sent to jail. Christina lied in bed asleep for 3 days. When she awoke her brother reassured her both Phillip junior and Phillip senior were fine. Phillip told her he loved her and she said she did too. They were married and a year later expecting their second baby.
I didn’t really enjoy this story that much. It didn’t seem like a traditional historical romance. I didn’t think there was a proper British background. The part about the Egyptian desert tribes could have been authentic. The love scenes were not very descriptive compared to the immense attraction they shared.
I didn’t really enjoy this story that much. It didn’t seem like a traditional historical romance. I didn’t think there was a proper British background. The part about the Egyptian desert tribes could have been authentic. The love scenes were not very descriptive compared to the immense attraction they shared.
August 9, 2011
I recall reading "Captive Bride" and feeling so disappointed and disturbed with it, I wanted to return it to the bookstore.
I liked "Silver Angel," another "sheikh/harem captive" romance by Lindsey, so I thought I'd enjoy "Captive Bride" as well. Overall tone and style couldn't be more different in the two books. Captive Bride is a basic rape romance without merit. The hero desires the heroine and attempts to court her properly. When she rebuffs him, his solution is to kidnap her and install her as his slave/mistress in his desert stronghold. He rapes her continuously throughout much of the book, but since they both experience erotic attraction to each other it's "okay."
The problem I had with the storyline is that I didn't find the hero appealing or truly seductive. He came across to me as borderline psychotic and abusive. Even for a bodice-ripper era work, it was bad. I saw no redeeming qualities in the hero.
I've read bodice-rippers that played off decently. This isn't one of them.
I liked "Silver Angel," another "sheikh/harem captive" romance by Lindsey, so I thought I'd enjoy "Captive Bride" as well. Overall tone and style couldn't be more different in the two books. Captive Bride is a basic rape romance without merit. The hero desires the heroine and attempts to court her properly. When she rebuffs him, his solution is to kidnap her and install her as his slave/mistress in his desert stronghold. He rapes her continuously throughout much of the book, but since they both experience erotic attraction to each other it's "okay."
The problem I had with the storyline is that I didn't find the hero appealing or truly seductive. He came across to me as borderline psychotic and abusive. Even for a bodice-ripper era work, it was bad. I saw no redeeming qualities in the hero.
I've read bodice-rippers that played off decently. This isn't one of them.
April 18, 2021
THIS was written by Johanna Lindsey?! Color me shooketh. This reads like the typical, "bad" Bodice Ripper that people who hate on the sub-genre love to reference. In fact, I feel like I had to dumb myself down to read it and not roll my eyes or smack my forehead at every page.
What's ironic here is that I've always loved Johanna Lindsey titles and have known her as an author of epic, sweeping romances. However, this specific story is very removed from that. Truth is that had I read this book before any other Johanna Lindsey title, I probably wouldn't have picked up any of her other books.
Goes to show that even authors I love have had rough starts until they found their groove. Had to DNF this one at 63% read because it was just too cartoonish for me.
What's ironic here is that I've always loved Johanna Lindsey titles and have known her as an author of epic, sweeping romances. However, this specific story is very removed from that. Truth is that had I read this book before any other Johanna Lindsey title, I probably wouldn't have picked up any of her other books.
Goes to show that even authors I love have had rough starts until they found their groove. Had to DNF this one at 63% read because it was just too cartoonish for me.
July 11, 2022
3.5 stars Bodice Ripper
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2016
Lindsey’s 1st Book: A Classic Bodice Ripper with a British Desert Sheik
I have read many by Lindsey and consider myself a fan. But not all of hers garner 5 stars, and this, her first book, is one that does not. While it is well written and will hold your interest, it is a historical romance without history or historical details. (I only knew it was Victorian because late in the book she gave the date of 1885, which means it begins in 1884.)
Set in England, Egypt and the desert, this is the story of Christina Wakefield whose brother brought her to London for a brief season when she was 18, following their parents’ death. There she enchanted many suitors who would claim her as wife, but she wanted none of them, preferring her freedom instead, at least for a while. However, one suitor, the enigmatic Phillip Caxton, the son of an English mother and a desert sheik, would have her as his. When she rejects his rather hasty proposal of marriage, he arranges for her brother to be sent to Egypt and then kidnaps her and carries her off to his desert camp where he keeps her as his woman.
For most of the book, Christina was a “too stupid to live” heroine who manages to remain clueless when a normal woman would be gaining insight. Abducted and raped (no matter his finesse), she makes excuses for her captor whom she has come to love. A series of misunderstandings, coupled with treachery, will keep them apart.
Lindsey’s next book, published in 1978, the year after CAPTIVE BRIDE, was A PIRATE’S LOVE and it’s another bodice ripper but much better written. Lindsey went on to write books like HEARTS AFLAME (my favorite of her Viking trilogy and a keeper) and many others that have influenced the genre.
I have read many by Lindsey and consider myself a fan. But not all of hers garner 5 stars, and this, her first book, is one that does not. While it is well written and will hold your interest, it is a historical romance without history or historical details. (I only knew it was Victorian because late in the book she gave the date of 1885, which means it begins in 1884.)
Set in England, Egypt and the desert, this is the story of Christina Wakefield whose brother brought her to London for a brief season when she was 18, following their parents’ death. There she enchanted many suitors who would claim her as wife, but she wanted none of them, preferring her freedom instead, at least for a while. However, one suitor, the enigmatic Phillip Caxton, the son of an English mother and a desert sheik, would have her as his. When she rejects his rather hasty proposal of marriage, he arranges for her brother to be sent to Egypt and then kidnaps her and carries her off to his desert camp where he keeps her as his woman.
For most of the book, Christina was a “too stupid to live” heroine who manages to remain clueless when a normal woman would be gaining insight. Abducted and raped (no matter his finesse), she makes excuses for her captor whom she has come to love. A series of misunderstandings, coupled with treachery, will keep them apart.
Lindsey’s next book, published in 1978, the year after CAPTIVE BRIDE, was A PIRATE’S LOVE and it’s another bodice ripper but much better written. Lindsey went on to write books like HEARTS AFLAME (my favorite of her Viking trilogy and a keeper) and many others that have influenced the genre.
January 8, 2017
Dos estrellas para la primera novela de esta autora, publicada en 1977. Aunque la historia a priori parecía interesante, no me han gustado ni los derroteros de la historia ni los diálogos entre los personajes ni la manera en que la autora soluciona las situaciones. Es verdad que la novela romántica, y esta autora también, ha evolucionado desde entonces, pero he leído novelas escritas en esa época con tramas mucho más interesantes y mucho mejor escritas.
Una pena ya que no me ha servido para disfrutar de una buena novela "clásica". Quizás es un problema de traducción, no lo sé.
Una pena ya que no me ha servido para disfrutar de una buena novela "clásica". Quizás es un problema de traducción, no lo sé.
November 7, 2021
O poveste de dragoste complicată, asemănătoare cu scenele din Tom & Jerry. Romanul de față ne arată până unde este în stare să meargă un bărbat pentru a o avea pe cea care i-a furat inima. Nu e vorba de iubire, cel putin nu la început, ci despre o obsesie, o poftă trupească împletită cu dorința sălbatică de a domina.
Autoarea schițează un tablou al comunităților nomade de arabi, însă acest strat nu este foarte solid și exploatat. Ne este prezentată situația femeilor care sunt tratate ca niște obiecte; violență arabilor care jefuiesc caravanele; discrepanța dintre viața nomadă și bogăția familiilor londoneze. Peisajele mirifice intră în contrast puternic cu întinderea vastă a deșertului, ce poate fi un loc periculos dacă îl străbați de unul singur.
Personajele sunt destul de plate, acțiunile lor, ca povestea în sine, fiind previzibile. Sunt niste simple convenții, arhetipuri, cu schimbări de atitudine mult prea bruște ca sa fie plauzibile. Philip, eroul nostru ocupă celebra funcție a seducătorului, a Din Jianului care vrea să posede, fără să-și asume sentimente mai profunde. Este un om superficial, un tiran uneori, care poate totuși suferi. Este conducătorul unui trib de arabi, ceea ce îi pune pe umeri i responsabilitate mare, pe care o abandonează din când în când pentru propriile sale interese.
Christina este obiectul seducției, femeia ideală pe care toți bărbații o doresc și din cauza căreia recurg la gesturi extreme. Conștientă de atuurile ei feminine, protagonista noastră, ce da dovada de o încăpățânare extraordinară, este o pradă greu de prins, asta până apare în peisaj Philip. Cei doi au o relație asemănătoare cu cea dintre Elizabeth și Darcy (Mândrie și prejudecată), ceea ce ne creează o imagine clară a finalului. Însă povestea lor este mult mai palpitantă și mai condimentata, având în vedere că sunt doua caractere puternice care se atrag și resping în aceeași măsură.
Nu pot sa spun că am fost atrasa de personaje sau de acțiune. Povestea este cat se poate de simplă și obișnuită, ceea ce o face o lectură rapidă și relaxantă, dar are o doză de suspans care nu mi-a făcut să mă plictisesc. Vă recomand romanul tuturor celor care apreciați relațiile de dragoste cu năbădăi.
Autoarea schițează un tablou al comunităților nomade de arabi, însă acest strat nu este foarte solid și exploatat. Ne este prezentată situația femeilor care sunt tratate ca niște obiecte; violență arabilor care jefuiesc caravanele; discrepanța dintre viața nomadă și bogăția familiilor londoneze. Peisajele mirifice intră în contrast puternic cu întinderea vastă a deșertului, ce poate fi un loc periculos dacă îl străbați de unul singur.
Personajele sunt destul de plate, acțiunile lor, ca povestea în sine, fiind previzibile. Sunt niste simple convenții, arhetipuri, cu schimbări de atitudine mult prea bruște ca sa fie plauzibile. Philip, eroul nostru ocupă celebra funcție a seducătorului, a Din Jianului care vrea să posede, fără să-și asume sentimente mai profunde. Este un om superficial, un tiran uneori, care poate totuși suferi. Este conducătorul unui trib de arabi, ceea ce îi pune pe umeri i responsabilitate mare, pe care o abandonează din când în când pentru propriile sale interese.
Christina este obiectul seducției, femeia ideală pe care toți bărbații o doresc și din cauza căreia recurg la gesturi extreme. Conștientă de atuurile ei feminine, protagonista noastră, ce da dovada de o încăpățânare extraordinară, este o pradă greu de prins, asta până apare în peisaj Philip. Cei doi au o relație asemănătoare cu cea dintre Elizabeth și Darcy (Mândrie și prejudecată), ceea ce ne creează o imagine clară a finalului. Însă povestea lor este mult mai palpitantă și mai condimentata, având în vedere că sunt doua caractere puternice care se atrag și resping în aceeași măsură.
Nu pot sa spun că am fost atrasa de personaje sau de acțiune. Povestea este cat se poate de simplă și obișnuită, ceea ce o face o lectură rapidă și relaxantă, dar are o doză de suspans care nu mi-a făcut să mă plictisesc. Vă recomand romanul tuturor celor care apreciați relațiile de dragoste cu năbădăi.
April 30, 2022
In the 90’s I’ve read several novels of Johanna Lindsey. I think this is Johanna Lindsey’s worst.
In other reviews I read this is rape. I don’t really consider it rape. He asks for her permission before he enters her body. She could have said no, but she asked him to proceed. It’s a forced seduction like in vintage Helen Bianchin HP’s.
One of the things that made me dislike this story, is that he says to another woman who is infatuated with him that he desires her the way he desires the h. He knew the h could hear him, so he did that on purpose, but you don’t play with both women’s feelings like that.
In other reviews I read this is rape. I don’t really consider it rape. He asks for her permission before he enters her body. She could have said no, but she asked him to proceed. It’s a forced seduction like in vintage Helen Bianchin HP’s.
One of the things that made me dislike this story, is that he says to another woman who is infatuated with him that he desires her the way he desires the h. He knew the h could hear him, so he did that on purpose, but you don’t play with both women’s feelings like that.
March 18, 2022
I really enjoyed this book! This author is definitely one of the best. This one broke out of the traditional mold and I enjoyed it. Plot 8.5(1-10) steaminess 6(1-10)
September 11, 2016
Ugh. Worst piece of crap ever put into print and called a book. It's not like you read these books to find literary greatness, but you at least expect to be amused, entertained. You should be sighing in disbelief and shaking your head at the silliness, but you shouldn't want to kill yourself every 5 words.
A complete failure on behalf of Lindsey, who has written some other, much more entertaining books. This is also clearly one of those "stick to what you know" cases (here: stables, manors and minimal cultural commentary). Her historical melodramas may not be very historically correct, but their historical and cultural incorrectness isn't in your face all the time. This was just beyond-all-belief-bad, with a sassy 19th century heroine (argh, I'm so sick of the sassy heroines) who claims men and women are equals in England in the 19th century (let's just pause and laugh at that for a while...), who seemingly cannot dance society dances, yet who sews with the speed of lightning (perhaps those woven materials of hers have magical no-unraveling characteristics and don't require their probably 4 meters of hems to be secured? Or is she making pencil skirts?) and who is miraculously inclined towards cultural relativism and immediately shows her understanding towards Arab culture in order to not offend. RIGHT.
DNF at 50%, because it was that or death. (I read the Russian translation, which is godawful.)
A complete failure on behalf of Lindsey, who has written some other, much more entertaining books. This is also clearly one of those "stick to what you know" cases (here: stables, manors and minimal cultural commentary). Her historical melodramas may not be very historically correct, but their historical and cultural incorrectness isn't in your face all the time. This was just beyond-all-belief-bad, with a sassy 19th century heroine (argh, I'm so sick of the sassy heroines) who claims men and women are equals in England in the 19th century (let's just pause and laugh at that for a while...), who seemingly cannot dance society dances, yet who sews with the speed of lightning (perhaps those woven materials of hers have magical no-unraveling characteristics and don't require their probably 4 meters of hems to be secured? Or is she making pencil skirts?) and who is miraculously inclined towards cultural relativism and immediately shows her understanding towards Arab culture in order to not offend. RIGHT.
DNF at 50%, because it was that or death. (I read the Russian translation, which is godawful.)
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