The Duke's Captive

This book was incredible- raw, dark, so many strong tortured pieces of the story. I couldn’t put it down. You know how some books are just stupid, steamy scenes and then a boring story?! This was not. I think it’s important to read A Notorious Proposition first to get the background of Ian. Although that book isn’t as captivating as this one, it’s helpful none the less. I didn’t want this book to end. I loved the diary entries at the start of each chapter. And the love scenes were so real feeling. This book might have been better than Winter Garden which up until now was my favorite Adele book! I only wish this story had an Epilogue- I hate when they don’t give the closure of the family...

Yes it comes close to crossing the line, but the originality and intensity are worth it. I am frankly surprised by the negative reviews. Must all romance be cast in the same mold? I think this one will be not be easily forgotten.

As other readers stated, this book involved some dark, gritty, difficult material. That being said, I thought it was a good read. It was frustrating to not know exactly what had happened to Ian most of the book, but that was eventually resolved. It did show how some people can connect under extremely tough circumstances including imprisonment, torture etc., although the extent of his memory loss was disturbing at times, especially in relation to Viola. It appeared to me that the memory loss included some symptoms of PTSD and was not all related to the drugging, hence his ability to remember as the book goes on. Viola does try to do the right thing given very tough circumstances of her own. I gave it points for getting me more emotionally involved than most romances and for her daring to write such an unusual plot.

In 1856 young widow Viola Bennington-Jones was married for about eleven months when her spouse Baron Cheshire died several years ago. She has one objective in life; being the best momma to her four year old son John Henry though she loves to draw and is quite good at it. However, her comfortable world as an aristocratic single mom raising a baron abruptly ends at a gala. There she sees Ian Wentworth who has returned to London as a wealthy Duke seeking revenge against those who drugged and held him captive, starting with Viola. He flirts with her while pretending he is unsure when they met and commissions her to paint his portrait. .He plans to also go after her sisters who incarcerated him as well. Her biggest fear is he will remember what happened between them as she conceals a secret from him. This is an entertaining refreshing Victorian romance in which his captivity five years earlier makes for a brisk read. Viola and Ian are an intriguing gem of a pairing as each cooks up a humble love pie but that delicacy may not be strong enough to overcome their previous encounter. Harriet Klausner