The wild American wilderness is no place for an elegant English governess On the run from a brute of an aristocratic employer, Eleanor Morgan escapes from England to America, the land of the free, for the opportunity to serve an upstanding Charles Town family. But freedom is hard to come by as an indentured servant, and downright impossible when she’s forced to agree to an even harsher … even harsher contract–marriage to a man she’s never met.
Backwoodsman Samuel Heath doesn’t care what others think of him–but his young daughter’s upbringing matters very much. The life of a trapper in the Carolina backcountry is no life for a small girl, but neither is abandoning his child to another family. He decides it’s time to marry again, but that proves to be an impossible task. Who wants to wed a murderer?
Both Samuel and Eleanor are survivors, facing down the threat of war, betrayal, and divided loyalties that could cost them everything, but this time they must face their biggest challenge ever . . .Love.
more
I absolutely loved this novel!
As usual, the author offers a read with dramatic turns and grand challenges.
My favorite Michelle Griep book! The Captive Heart is an action-packed, compelling, page-turning, romantic adventure story with strong, interesting, well-developed, multi-dimensional characters. Ms. Griep’s vivid descriptions bring to life the sights and sounds of the Carolina frontier. Her remarkable imagery impacts the reader’s senses and emotions. One of my favorite images from the book: “Wading to the bank, she deflated onto a rock and closed her eyes trying to think. Trying to pray. But too much anger, disappointment, humiliation—too many emotions even to name—pelted her like kicked gravel. So, she sat, a statue. A hard piece of granite, one with the rock.” Powerful imagery! I highly recommend this book.
Touching drama of life and love in Colonial Carolina
The characters certainly draw you right into their lives and struggles. I loved the humor woven into this compelling story of honor, duty, and forgiveness. Beautifully written and a page turner for sure.
I have loved everything that I have read by Michelle Griep and The Captive Heart is no exception. If you have never read anything by this author, you owe it to yourself to read this one. It is a fantastic read. She takes the reader to the rough frontier of the Carolina’s. The descriptions of this time in history make you feel you are right there with the characters…… Samuel is a ruggedly handsome man who has lost his wife and needs a mother for his little girl, but he has secrets. The heroine, Eleanor, fled England and endured hardships along the way only to be an indentured servant or wife to Samuel. This book takes you on a ride from one adventure to another. It is most definitely a page turner and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves history and romance……… I was given this book by Netgalley for my honest opinion, which I have given.
I loved this book. Hooked from the first paragraph. The story of Eleanor and Samuel opens ones eyes to life in the Carolina back country looks like and feels like. So very well done. Highly recommend.
Passion, danger, a land on the brink of war! Michelle takes the passion just as far as I want any Christian fiction love story to go. This is definitely a book for more mature readers, with a touch of innuendo, but nothing overly explicit. The passion of these two runs deep! Filled with danger and secrets I didn’t want to put this book down, and when I had to I couldn’t wait to pick it back up. As a matter of fact, when I reached the last sentence I wanted to start all over at the beginning and read it again!!!!! I LOVE how spunky Eleanor is, and while I thought Samuel needed to work on his communication skills I still loved him! LOL! Plus those sub characters! 😀 LOVE THEM!!! They leave you longing for more books with them at the fore front!!!! I personally wish there had been a few more prayers from the characters, but love the addition of what’s woven in. This is a GREAT journey filled with love, loss, joy, sadness, shocks, twists, passion, history, Faith, laughter, and SO much more!
Songs: “Worth It” by Francesca Battistelli, ”
Songs etc. May be changed and/or added in the future. ~ASC
Jeremiah 29:11
~ASC
*I received this book from Barbour for the purpose of reviewing it. This in no way affected my opinion and the above are my true thoughts and feelings about The Captive Heart. ~ASC
“Love is not really a mystery. It is a process like anything else. A process that requires trust, effort, focus and commitment by two willing partners” Elizabeth Bourgeret
English governess Eleanor Morgan fought off her employer and managed to retain her virtue. The scratch marks on his face left her in no doubt that she would leave his house as soon as possible. His wife assured her that the Duke… yeah, he was aristocracy… in his anger, would insure that she never worked in England again. The Duchess had an acquaintance in the colonies and she gave Eleanor money for the voyage and a letter of reference. Eleanor now understood why there had been so many governesses. This was not his first infraction.
When the ship arrived at the colonies, Eleanor was horrified to learn her money and letter were gone. She and two other women had become close during the voyage and they were the last to leave the ship. Eleanor’s future employer had not come to claim her. Since she was unable to pay for her voyage, that put her in debt to the ship’s captain. He then sold her as an indentured servant to pay for his troubles.
Backwoodsman Samuel Heath needed someone to care for his two-year-old daughter Grace. The only way propriety would allow Eleanor to go with Samuel was for her to marry him. She finally agreed to a marriage in name only and he agreed that he would not touch her… unless she asked.
Samuel had many secrets and he was the type of man that didn’t discuss his feelings or his thoughts with anyone… including his new wife. This was a Beauty and the Beast type of story. He had long hair, full beard and scars that he didn’t discuss. Many times, he was referenced as a beast… by himself, by others and by Eleanor. She was a beautiful innocent that didn’t know her own worth. Her mother had died and her father, in this story, was not a nice man. She went into service after he tried to sell her virtue to pay his debts. Yeah, real nice guy. This left Eleanor with problems of self-worth and trust issues. If you can’t trust your own father… just saying.
You need to know going in that this story is a faith-based story with a Christian theme throughout. It only hinted at being preachy in a couple of places and the rest was each person relying on a strength beyond themselves and crying out in times of stress or distress. Not everyone was a Christian and not all were redeemed. Friendships, loyalty, forgiveness and restoration were powerfully written into the story line.
The many trials our couple went through was unrelenting. Just when you thought they would have their HEA something else would happen. We have two people from two different worlds and the clash was loud and painful. Eleanor was ripped from the parlors and schoolrooms of England to the back country of the Carolinas. She couldn’t cook, and everything she put her hands to nearly cost someone their life. The rules were different in the backwoods and she had a hard time adjusting.
This was wild country, full of bears, Indians, wild men, rough women, frontier towns, and frontier laws. This was the 1770’s political climate and unrest against the harsh treatment of the English toward the colonies and the ensuing Indian unrest. And caught right in the middle of all this was the budding relationship between Samuel and Eleanor.
This was a really informative story as we watched the ebb and flow of the political climate and how the early forefathers stood their ground against oppression. Many scenes were horrifying in their brutally… man-against-man, man-against-nature, abuse of power, rogue bear attacks, murder and jealously. Samuel eventually told Eleanor his back story and she told him hers. This was so hard fought. Samuel was an honorable man who did what needed to be done to protect his family and he only wanted to live his life. There were times when Eleanor didn’t understand why he did what he did. And, Samuel wasn’t always forthcoming with the answers she needed. This was hard to read. However, through it all, their faith got them through to the end. It was a good story.
Rating: PG-17: clean story, descriptions of violence… this was wild country and they don’t fight pretty in the backcountry.