Gwen’s review of The Captive Heart (The Border Chronicles, Book 3) by Bertrice Small
Historical romance released by NAL Trade 7 Oct 08

Those of you who know me know I cut my historical romance teeth on Bertrice Small and Roberta Gellis.  Both authors occupy a special place in the bookcase in my heart.  Now, imagine my frustration and disappointment when I pick up one of their recent books and discover my tastes have completely changed!  I felt like wailing, “Say it ain’t so, Joe!”  So here is not so much a review of the book as a review of how my tastes have changed. 

Now, I’m not completely naive.  I know Small is Queen of Purple Prose.  What I didn’t realize was how completely amethyst, violet, lilac, heliotrope, and royal her purple could be.  My notes on this book say it all, “GAH! Purple prose x 100.  semen = “love juice” HAHAHAHA!!” I had a very difficult time keeping a straight face thru the love scenes.  Sometimes I just plain laughed myself silly.  Now, I know this makes me seem like I’m not a fan.  I am a fan!  I just have grown to prefer more straight-forward language in romance novels.

My next note says, “Unnecessary historical details x 50.  Ridiculous plot twists x 10.  Meandering plot. Wandering story arcs. All strung together like a grade school construction paper chain – one that’s been put together with clumpy, smelly school paste, dull blunt nose scissors, and a kindergartner.”  I think I must have been having a bad day.  Anyone who knows Small’s writing knows she writes in these big sweeping story arcs that encompasses not only her characters’ story, but the story of the times.  I guess I’ve come to better appreciate a more intimate story – one that stays focused on the lead couple and their immediate environs.  I have history reference books for the bigger picture – I don’t want my romance novel to be one.

What all this boils down to is I have changed.  Not significantly, but enough that I’ll leave the Small’s to my hazy, pleasant memories and stay focused on what I like now.

I can recommend this book to fans of Small’s writing.

Grade: D no, C  no D  okay C

Summary:

The year is 1461, and the winds of war rage across England, uprooting Alix Givet, the daughter of Queen Margaret’s physician, and the rest of Henry VI’s court. Alix’s plight becomes bleaker still when, out of duty to her queen, and to her ill, widowed father, she’s locked into a loveless marriage to a cruel Northumbrian. But when her luck changes, Alix has another chance to flee-this time to save herself. Escaping north over the border into Scotland, she throws herself at the mercy of a dark and brooding laird who might provide the everlasting love of her dreams-if she can warm his cold heart.

No excerpt found on author’s or publisher’s site.

Other books in the series: