Overall Rating: 4.15
Action: 2.0 / Emotion: 3.0 / Romance: 4.5 / Sensuous: 2.0 / Suspense: 2.0 // Historical Flavor: 4.0 // Laughter: 1 / Giggle: 1 // Tears: 1 / Teary: 0

Captive: 4.15:
Since Joan Johnston is a favorite author it comes as no surprise that upon reading Captive, the first book in The Captive Hearts Quartet, for the third time, it was to find it an enjoyable, entertaining, simplistic read.

Hero: 3.50:
Lionel "Lion" Morgan, Earl of Denbigh: Lion came across as the typical lord that is usually featured in Regency Romance Novels -- handsome, well-built, capable, arrogant, determined that things be done his way. He wasn't exactly prepared for the heroine that was dropped in his lap.

Heroine: 2.50:
Charlotte "Charlie" Edgerton: There were so many things to like about Charlie -- her beauty, her friendliness, her sense of equality, her spontaneity, her willingness to help, but her age (seventeen) was reflected in some of her immature actions, which made her a less than perfect heroine.

Secondary Hero: 3.50:
Reeve Somers, Duke of Braddock: Reeve and his story were way under-developed compared to the interest that he generated. Reeve was another typical fascinating alpha lord. Even though his intentions were not honorable, it would have been nice if he had been given more page time in the book.

Secondary Heroine: 4.50:
Lady Olivia "Livy" Morgan: Olivia was another under-developed major secondary character that was incredibly intriguing. It was easy to identify with Livy and wish that she could have spent more time with Reeve in the book.

Story Line: 3.50:
The storyline -- the guardian falling for his ward -- always presents intriguing possibilities and Johnston did a great job drawing the reader into the story with the prologue, but Charlie's juvenile actions were detracting. Were it not for Reeve and Livy and their small sub-romance, the story would not have been as interesting.

Action: 2.00:
As is typical in a Regency Romance, there were not many opportunities to present actions scenes in the book. The story, did, however, move at a steady pace.

Emotion: 3.00:
Johnston is a good storyteller and she was able to connect the reader to the characters enough to bring forth a few tears and laughs. But the emotional connection to the characters was not deeply felt.

Romance: 4.50:
The feeling of romance, the awareness that passed between Lion and Charlie and also between Reeve and Livy was ever-present during the telling of their stories.

Suspense: 2.00:
There was a slight degree of suspense to the story in that {1} would Charlie ever be able to pierce the barrier around Lion's heart, and {2} would Reeve succeed in instigating a duel with Lion.

Sensuous: 2.00:
Johnston did a great job of adding sensuality, passion and heat to the seduction scenes between Lion and Charlotte. However, it was thanks to the romance that developed between Reeve and Olivia that the reader was entertained with the sizzle and spice in a well-written lovemaking scene.

Historical Flavor: 4.00:
Johnston did a great job of taking the reader back to 1814 in England. The historical descriptions, mannerisms and language felt authentic.

Secondary Characters: 3.00:
In most of Johnston's books, she introduces very interesting and well-developed secondary characters that really aid in the telling of the story. In Captive, however, the secondary characters (besides Reeve and Olivia) really didn't stand out in this book.

A more in-depth, detailed, spoiler-ridden review of Captive appears at Wolf Bear Does Books (http://goo.gl/xZO0cG). ( )