Captured

by Helen Kirkman

Book Overview

A princess of defeated Mercia, Rosamund had lost all hope of a future, until she stumbled across a chained Mercian prisoner. Drawn by Boda's brutal strength and the defiance in his closed fist, she... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373772378
• ISBN13: 9780373772377
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Hqn
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

4.5 Blue Ribbons from Romance Junkies!

In 876 A.D. in Wareham , England , survival of the fittest is the anthem of the day and no one knows this more than Rosamund. A political prisoner traded by the rules of Mercia, she has spent the last three years in captivity learning how to survive and blend her appearance to fit her needs. She lives for the day she can escape her harsh captors and return to Mercia . Tripping over a chained prisoner during the chaos of an invasion, Rosamund wagers his life and her charms on five throws of the dice. Just seeing his fist tightly closed, even when unconscious, assures Rosamund that this cataleptic man just may be her salvation to freedom. Boda reaches consciousness and overhears the voices of both the man that chained him and an unknown woman. Realizing that he now seems to be the prisoner of the woman, Boda remains quiet and listens. His capture and predicament were planned and while Boda desires his beautiful mistress, his mission is not yet complete. The ties of his loyalty are evident in everything he does, and Boda suspects Rosamund's loyalties are just as fierce. The two lovers come together in a harsh time where pleasure is fleeting. Both yearn to trust the other, but war and deep emotional scars get in the way. Will their love transcend the harshness of their lives, or will it be hard to hold on to? Helen Kirkman swept me away with CAPTURED. I was not prepared for the utter and complete fixation I would experience with the time period, the characters, and the storyline. Rosamund is a caregiver and a consummate actress. Having no choice but to camouflage her true self for safety reasons, Rosamund craves Boda's touch. Boda, just as covert, does his best to resist the charms that Rosamund offers, but to no avail. The love of a lifetime proves too hearty for this seasoned warrior and the end result is magnificent. I have to read more from this author. Her grasp on the culture, activities, and climate of 876 England is impressive. She reeled me in, held me enslaved, and my imprisonment was oh so sweet. Don't miss CAPTURED, it is definitely a keeper.

Fascinating Dark Ages tale

In 876 Wareham, England, Mercia Princess Rosamund flees as the West Saxon army of foolish rival King Ceolfrith marches to destroy what is left of her side when she sees the iron chained man. Knowing what it is like to be a prisoner, having been incarcerated for three years by the Danish Viking army, she wants to help him if he still lives, but fears delaying her mission: insuring her sister Merriwen reaches Exeter safely. She takes a chance on her freedom by gambling for his ownership and wins. Boda recovers and knows he lives due to Rosamund's nurturing. As they fall in love, she wonders if she can trust this warrior, who her younger sister adores like a safe older brother, but he is a mercenary who hides his true mission from the siblings he cherishes. More a historical fiction of the events of the Dark Ages in which the Vikings used the squabble between two rival Saxon rulers in Mercia than a romance, fans will appreciate the depth of the story line. Rosamund is a brave person willing to risk death or captivity if it means Merriwen is safe. Boda is a former slave and "chained hell-thane" who finds his profession suddenly interferes with his desires. Helen Kirkman captures the attention of those readers who prefer transportation to the ninth century with the romantic subplot serving as a secondary support to the intrigue. Harriet Klausner