Captive Bride

Rating:
Summary: I'm not sure whether...
Review: As my title states, this is difficult. To credit Johanna, for a first novel, it was quite amazing. I have never read a book that invoked such hostile feelings within me towards Philip and pity towards Christina. And I read a review from someone who loved the book and seemed to think that because they were in Arabia, it meant that the spanking scene was not degrading. Let me just point out (if someone already hasn't) that Philip was raised in England as a gentleman and spent most of his life there. His character seems to contradict itself throughout the book. I did enjoy the last half much better than the first. However, I found the character of Philip very difficult to warm to, even at the end. He was written to be a very pushy and arrogant man, probably intentional, but he didn't change even when he realised his love for Christina. I did find this book hard to put down, but I have to say that if this were a real life story, Christina would be in for a tough marriage where her husband would be telling her what to wear, where she may go and what she may do. And she probably wouldn't even realise it. It did seem to me that although Philip may love her, he is a selfish person and would suffocate her personality as he did throughout the book. I am sorry, but I dispise men- and women!- who are all me,me,me. And that discribes Philip's character perfectly. In his own words: "It's what I want that matters" (sorry if I've misquoted) Please, Christina, pick up those scissors again! Seriously, though, it's a love/hate book and I will definately be keeping it on my shelf as much as it annoys me. Sign of a brilliant writer. I gave it four stars because although I didn't really like it, the writing flowed, the dialogue was excellent and her writing voice was strong and unwavering. It made me feel, whether good or bad doesn't actually matter, but the very fact of it makes me believe that it does desever those stars. If the character of Philip improved a little more, at least when they were back in England, I would have given it top marks. A very good bad book.

Rating:
Summary: Guilty Pleasure
Review: I first read this book in the early 80's. This was the first romance novel I had ever read, and I enjoyed it very much. I still enjoy re-reading it (and many other Lindsey books). To anyone who might have read other reviews that refer to rapes and spankings within this book and decided not to read it, give it a chance. Remeber, this book was written in the 1970's, when rape fantasies were very common among women. (Apparently the reason for this is that so many women at the time were exploring the sexual revolution and still working through their 'nice girls don't enjoy sex' mind-sets. Rape fantasies (emphasis on the word fantasy - these women didn't want to actually be raped) allowed women to fantasize about sex without having to take responsbility for having sexual urges; as long as they were 'taken against their will' they didn't have to feel dirty or bad for enjoying what they were fantasizing about). Just keep in mind the contex of the times in which this book was written and give it a go. Though Christina does initially fight Phillip, she comes to love him in the end. You can argue Stockholm Syndrome (a victim brainwashed into befriending her captor: think Patty Hearst) or you can say that Lindsey was writing a book that was appropriate to the sexual climate of the day. Isn't there anyone else out there who has ever had a single fantasy about being 'taken' by a dark handsome stranger? If so, I think you'll like this book because that's the core of it. The title is 'Captive Bride' for goodness sake - I wonder what some outraged reviewers were expecting to find here? It doesn't say 'Willing Bride' does it? I loved this book when I first read it - sexy, naughty, escapist fun. I still like it today, though it is now considered a politically incorrect read. That makes it a guilty pleasure for me, but a pleasure nonetheless.

Rating:
Summary: Guilty Pleasure
Review: I for one loved this book, I loved the way it was written, the characters, everything! Okay I'll admit that the spanking part was indeed degrading to women but I don't think it took anything away from the story. I highly reccomend this book and all others by Johanna Lindsey.

Rating:
Summary: eh...
Review: I just finished collecting all of Johanna Lindsey's books and picked this one up to read despite the bad reviews because I wanted to read all her books, even the ones that are not as good.

And... well... I did find it to be a good story I guess... the plot had a lot of potential, BUT I read it through and didn't find myself caring much for any of the characters. They had absolutely no depth.

It was written almost in a rushed way with barely any communication, conversation or in-depth storylines. It didn't make me laugh, cry or feel for Christina and Phillip in any way.

I knew that I probably wouldn't love the book since it was one of her earlier works, but truth is that I didn't even like it a little bit. I was just trying to get through it.

I hated Philip, even from what little I learned of him. I really didn't understand his nastiness or what motivated him. I didn't feel that he loved Christina, but only wanted her for his own selfish reasons, not caring in the least that he had taken her from everyone she loved and that she was grieving about this.

Christina hated Philip in the beginning and I just could not understand what on earth changed her feelings to love... He didn't seem worthy of her love or her respect. It didn't seem very realistic at all.

Anyway, I'm glad I read it because it is one of Johanna's and I will read the rest of her books because I know she has some great ones in the collection. It is kinda hard to believe that the same author wrote this and Prisoner of My Desire... What a difference!

Rating:
Summary: A Captive Bore
Review: I love Johanna Lindsey novels and have read them all, but I must admit that "Captive Bride" really sucked. In fact, it is worse than "A Pirate's Love," which is pretty damn terrible, but at least "Pirate" is so terrible it's funny. "Captive" didn't even have a spark of wit, intentional or otherwise.

So what is wrong with "Captive Bride"?

1. For starters, it took me a week to read it. A week! In contrast, I read JL's superb "When Love Awaits" in 3 hours. I even read "A Pirate's Love" in 2 days, and I thought that was pushing it. But a week?!? The first few chapters of "Captive" are VERY boring. Most of it is spent on stupid dialogue like Christina asking the servants for a bath or in dumb topics like brushing her hair or getting dressed. Nothing of interest happens until Philip steals her in the middle of the night and drags her halfway across Egypt to be his love slave.

2. All the characters are wooden, with perhaps the exception of Tommy, who surprised me by screaming like a baby in the end. JL can't even keep her characterization straight. For instance: one second, Philip claims he won't marry, the next he's proposing the moment he meets Christina. Hmmmm. And WHY does Christina weep over the old sheik's death? I didn't notice anything worthy about him. After all, he was all for Christina being kidnapped. And she likes him????

3. "Captive" is a first novel. That's not to say all first novels suck. But I'd hazard a guess that if someone tried getting this published today, they'd be laughed at - if the editor ever made it past reading the first three sentences.

I strongly urge you to NOT read "Captive" unless you are dead set on curing insomnia. If you are new to Lindsey novels, then I would suggest you read "Savage Thunder," "Once A Princess," "Warrior's Woman," or "A Heart So Wild." Or, if you need a good Arab romp, read Lindsey's "Silver Angel," about an Englishwoman sold into a harem. You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: A Captive Bore
Review: I love Johanna Lindsey novels and have read them all, but I must admit that "Captive Bride" really sucked. In fact, it is worse than "A Pirate's Love," which is pretty damn terrible, but at least "Pirate" is so terrible it's funny. "Captive" didn't even have a spark of wit, intentional or otherwise.

So what is wrong with "Captive Bride"?

1. For starters, it took me a week to read it. A week! In contrast, I read JL's superb "When Love Awaits" in 3 hours. I even read "A Pirate's Love" in 2 days, and I thought that was pushing it. But a week?!? The first few chapters of "Captive" are VERY boring. Most of it is spent on stupid dialogue like Christina asking the servants for a bath or in dumb topics like brushing her hair or getting dressed. Nothing of interest happens until Philip steals her in the middle of the night and drags her halfway across Egypt to be his love slave.

2. All the characters are wooden, with perhaps the exception of Tommy, who surprised me by screaming like a baby in the end. JL can't even keep her characterization straight. For instance: one second, Philip claims he won't marry, the next he's proposing the moment he meets Christina. Hmmmm. And WHY does Christina weep over the old sheik's death? I didn't notice anything worthy about him. After all, he was all for Christina being kidnapped. And she likes him????

3. "Captive" is a first novel. That's not to say all first novels suck. But I'd hazard a guess that if someone tried getting this published today, they'd be laughed at - if the editor ever made it past reading the first three sentences.

I strongly urge you to NOT read "Captive" unless you are dead set on curing insomnia. If you are new to Lindsey novels, then I would suggest you read "Savage Thunder," "Once A Princess," "Defy Not the Heart," or "A Heart So Wild." Or, if you need a good Arab romp, read Lindsey's "Silver Angel," about an Englishwoman sold into a harem. You won't regret it.

Rating:
Summary: Um...
Review: Okay, I must admit that the only reason I read this book was because of my own guilty pleasure. It was OK I guess. I really enjoyed the desert scenes betwee Philip abd Crissy. And dispied what anyone else says, I loved the part where he had to spank her. I don't think I'd mind getting spanked by him my self ;)

I wouldn't want to read this book again. This wasn't too much of a page turner for my liking.

Rating:
Summary: TERRIBLE!
Review: This book is TERRIBLE and a big disappointment after reading Ms. Lindsey's terrific Mallory series.

I agree with many others who have reviewed Captive Bride that the rapes and spankings really make this a terrible book!

Rating:
Summary: not too bad
Review: This was one of the first romance novels that i read and so i got quite hooked up. I muz say that it has certain entertaining elements like the adventure, the setting, etc. But now, after reading many other books, i find that this one is juz a typical romance like others: gorgeous hero&heroine, an unoriginal plot (Lindsey let her heroines be abducted and raped in many of her works!!), a big misunderstanding , the main reason of which is that those people juz can't open their mouth to admit their love. The characters are not so believable, Christina can easily fall for Phillip despite his brutish behaviour and foul temper. I cant help but feel that she falls bcoz of his good look and great sex, perhaps a teenage girl with crazy romantic notions may be a more suitable heroine.
On the whole this book is not so bad. juz keep in mind that u r reading a typical romance book, not an outstanding one.