Review: His Captive by Diana Cosby

Sandy M’s review of His Captive by Diana Cosby
Historical Romance published by Zebra on 1 November 2007

The hero and heroine in this book have one of the best battle of wills. One that leads to doubt and vulnerability for both characters right up to the bitter end. She vexes him constantly and at the same time tames him with her love, while he shows her that not all is fair in war, but honor and loyalty are what make a man.

Nichola is a woman who has had to run things since her brother took over after the death of their parents. Griffin does nothing but drink and whore around, leaving her to deal with the responsibilities he should be taking care of. They are out of money, out of heirlooms to sell, and Nichola is ready to hand the reins back over to the baron. Before she can do so, however, Griffin is off again and luckily for him it’s perfect timing. Unluckily for Nichola, the timing couldn’t be more off. She is suddenly face to face with a dangerous-looking man in her home.

Even from this moment, Nichola is a heroine to be reckoned with. She might be frightened with a stranger breaking into the castle and who seems to know its secrets, but she never backs down and never lets him see her fear. Because her brother has left again, it is Nichola who is taken captive by the handsome Scot who intends to hold her for ransom. You have to love a woman who doesn’t give up and tries to escape her captor at every opportunity. And this is a heroine who uses her brain, bides her time, and makes good use of every advantage.

Of course, the handsome Scot, Alexander, is just as strong, just as determined, and spurred on by loyalty to his country. He is taken with Nichola from the very start, would love to have her in his bed, and it takes every ounce of self-control not to give in to those desires — and not to tie her up and gag her to keep her from making his life miserable her with escape attempts. She does give him a very hard time during their journey to his home where his brothers are awaiting his return with the baron, so he has even more vexation ahead of him when they learn who his captive really is. He has to get there first and that captive is determined not to get there at all, but this time Alexander wins this particular battle. Nichola is thrust among people who view her as the enemy. Alexander has promised to protect her, but little does he know where the danger to Nichola will truly come from.

As much as I liked the trouble Nichola dished out to Alexander and their clashes of stubbornness, I also enjoyed the interaction between Alexander and his brothers. You can feel the love and respect they have for one another and you experience how they kid and joke around with each other. Unfortunately, you also see how war can eat away at those who are dealt swift and terrible blows by their enemies, as Alexander finds out at the hands of someone he loves and trusts. Nichola discovers the same but in a totally different way.

In checking the author’s website, it’s nice to see she’s continuing the story of the MacGruder brothers and Duncan’s story, His Woman, will be out in December. His Captive is a very good start to a series that can only get better with each book.

Grade: B-

From the back cover:
STRANGERS

With a wastrel brother and a treacherous former fiancé, Lady Nichola Westcott hardly expects the dangerously seductive Scot who kidnaps her to be a man of his word. Though Sir Alexander MacGruder promises not to hurt her, Nichola’s only value is as a pawn to be ransomed.

ENEMIES

Alexander’s goal is to avenge his father’s murder, not to become entangled with the enemy. But his desire to keep Nichola with him, in his home—in his bed—unwittingly make her a target for those who have no qualms about shedding English blood.

LOVERS

Now Nichola is trapped—by her powerful attraction to a man whose touch shakes her to the core. Unwilling and unable to resist each other, can Nichola and Alexander save a love that has enslaved them both?

Read an excerpt here.