Captive Bride

Its about a Christina who's been kidnapped by Phillip who wants to take her as his mistress in a deserted foreign land. The half way through the book was guided by lust (at least in my opinion) then when christina was pregnant was my only happiness untill she gave birth, and then philip finds out. From that then is good until the story ends.

The Captive bride is no that bad but no that good either so i recommend you give it a try.

As a writer, I appreciate reading someone's earliest works. This book is Johanna Lindsey learning how to write heroes. It's OK, it's not perfect, you can see some of the later feistiness her characters have. Good read for cheaps, way better than a lot of crap out there.

The reason why I bought this is because this reminds me so much of my teen years. I first read this when I was 13 (my classmate way back in high school loaned it to me) and was enthralled by it. Now, more than 13 years after, I wanted to read it again and remember why I was so fascinated by it. As soon as I got my copy, I realized how different my taste was. The scenes in this book are too dramatic and the characters' reactions were too over the top. Example, instead of describing the character as being impatient, at times, the author would say they character was shouting. Totally inappropriate. The reactions were too severe and extreme.

Nevertheless, I still Loved the plot. I have to give it to her, this was her first book (I think?), having published this in the 1970's. I have read her other works and those were definitely a lot better, as far as characters' descriptions are concerned. Still, the PLOT and STORY OF THE CAPTIVE BRIDE IS STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

As others have mentioned, this is a first book and does not reflect the same caliber of writing as later books by Johanna Lindsey. Philip Caxton, the supposed "romantic interest" and "hero" (I use the words "romantic interest" and "hero" very loosely) is not in the least likeable. To call him a Neanderthal is an insult to Neanderthals. His behavior is supposedly explained by having to live with two different cultures since is the son of an Englishwoman captured by a Sheik. I don't see how that could make someone so vile. In England he is known as Philip Caxton and in the Middle East he is known as Sheik Abu. When he first meets Christina (in England) he is overly aggressive and arrogant. After Christina, a young innocent woman, rejects his overly obnoxious advances, he decides to kidnap her and make her his slave. It just gets worse from there on with more abusive and arrogant behavior. I can't help but wonder if the heroine, Christina, isn't suffering from Stockholm syndrome, when she falls in love with this jerk. I never saw any significant redemption of Philip. In fact, toward the end of the book, Christina asks him if he is jealous of another's attention. In typical Philip Caxton/Sheik Abu style, he denies being jealous but then states that he will "beat the daylights out of "Christiana is she looks at another man. With all the issues related to spousal abuse I hate to see a character as vile as Philip Caxton portrayed as anything other than a brute. But, this was written in 1977 --- before some of the modern sensitivies about abuse.

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.

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.

The Beautiful Christina Wakefield wants to visit London to see the town and its beauty ,she wasn't looking for a husband but she had her share of feverous suitors claiming love and wanting marriage just after a day with her. So when yet another suitor by the mane of Philip Caxton wants her hand in marriage she refuses and walks away thinking that it is the end of that. Sorely she was wrong.
After her brother gets orders to go to Cairo as soon as possible Christina plans on traveling with her beloved brother. And in the still of the heated desert night Christina is stolen..

Philip Caxton leads two lives one in England and one with his desert tribe in the mountains of Egypt. At the first sight of Christina he knows he wants her but she refused to marry him so he makes her his , his way , by stealing her in the dead of night and taking her to his camp. He rather live with her hatred than not live with her at all.

Such misleading reviews. If I had read theses first I wouldn't have pick up the book. But as always I am entitled to my opinion, as others are to theirs.
You either hated the book or loved the book and I can see a lot have stated their hate for Captive Bride. I may be alone in liking this book .
But this book was written well I love JL's writing style quick to the point no endless drawn out plot, kidnaping, fighting, hate, then love Although I could of done without the kidnaping but this was the year 1883 and they did thing different back then As for the cruelty I didn't see anything that stuck me as cruel yeah Philip threaten to beat her but that was the custom of his tribe he never beat her he spanked her once and even then he felt bad for making her cry.
I saw the love develop and although you and I would see kidnap/ love different than Christina and Philip they Loved each other they wanted each other they desired each other

To sum this up give this book a chance it may just surprise you

No wait. Make that middle school. I have NEVER read worse published prose than this in my life!!! I've read (and even been emotionally invested in) romances that involve rape and repeated miscommunication at some point, but this crap?
Apparently Ms. Lindsey has lots of fans... I can't imagine why unless they just like having a go to author who keeps churning out books. Granted, all the books of hers I've read so far have been better than this one, but all her stories suffer from the same problem. The cause and effect problem. That is, there is no logical correlation between event A and event B.
The characters go on disliking each other but lusting after each other for the first half of the book, and then all of sudden one day they realize they love each other (and of course they never tell the other). There is no reason for them to love each other - no kindness, no understanding, no common interests. But good ole lust prevails. What bull.
I'm still puzzling over why on earth Phillip HAD to have her after only meeting her once... and why she decided she loved him when all they shared was sex... and not even tender or affectionate sex. Weird. Don't waste your time with this. I would recommend something better by Lindsey, but... you're really just better off finding a better author anyway. There are many, but one worth checking out is Rexanne Becnel. Her stuff isn't new, but it's good historical drama with plenty of angst with none of the C-E (cause-effect) crap.

...but for all the wrong reasons.

The characterization of this book is so bad; I don't even know where to begin. The heroine is completely unbelievable, so perfect that she can't be human - in fact, the first few chapters are devoted to showing us just how wonderful she is, with marriage proposals flying all over the place and constant exclamations over her beauty, intelligence and vivacity coming from the other characters. You want to smack her by the fourth chapter. The hero is no better, going through extreme mood swings in the space of a couple sentences; one moment he's joking, then screaming; angry and abusive, then loving and remorseful...it goes on and on. All the characters are the same. The heroine's brother, upon meeting the man who kidnapped his "beloved" sister and held her captive for months, is threatening to kill him one second and inviting him to stay at their house the next. The heroine's childhood sweetheart spends the whole book fighting bitterly for her love, then three pages before the book ends decides she's better off with the hero and goes off to let them live "happily ever after." I had to keep reading - it was so bad, it was entertaining.

I understand that this book was written almost thirty years ago and probably intended for a very different audience. Also, this was the author's first book and perhaps she got better with practice, though I can't say since this is the only book of Johanna Lindsey's that I've written. That being said, however, I feel that you'd best avoid this book if you're looking for a believable romance.

I really enjoyed this book even if it was written the year i was born. I believe it was done right for her firdst book. Evesn if it took me 39 years to read it but I done it less than two days time. I really enjoy her books it keeps you on the edge of your seat to see what is coming next.

This could have been a steamy sexy book. But Lindsey opted to write a more Correct verison. I doubt that most female slaves in the Arabian empire were treated quite so well. Philip is the typical Arabian raised male, arrogrant, overbearing, and by our standards rude. He thinks all women such be kept in bed. Christina is a spoiled rich girl that has never had anyone tell her know. The clash of these to could have been powerful and erotic. It ends up being the same old story.

'Captive Bride' really is no different than any of Bertice Small's books, where the heroine is kidnapped by a man of Middle Eastern descent and forced to have sex with him in a foreign country. But I will say this: people have compared this book, 'Captive Bride' to Ms. Lindsey's second one, 'A Pirate's Love' and there simply is no comparison. The plots are similar but there is a very big difference. Our heroine in Captive Bride, Christina Wakefield, is more what I would call 'forcefully seduced'. And she actually decided that she wants to be with Phillip, the lame hero, by halfway the book. But the heroine in 'Pirate's Love', Bettina Verlaine, didn't want to stay with her rapist/hero, Tristan, until she was almost too big carrying his baby, conceived through repeated rapes(heck Tristan was raping Bettina even when she was early in her pregnancy!). Christina, for the most part, got into the love making with Phillip once the act started. Bettina was held down every time, didn't look forward to any sex acts at all and much of her time was occupied in trying to think of ways to either escape Tristan or his unwanted attentions.

The real problem with 'Captive Bride' is that it was hard for me to see how Christina came to love Phillip. The Phillip character has no real personality or charisma at all. I came away from this book thinking Christina, and the child she conceived by him, would be better off without hero in their lives at all.

I have read almost all of Johanna Linsdey's books and this one was just as good as all of the rest! I loved this book. I can't believe everyone didn't!! I will admit that the beginning is kind of rushed, but, after the first few chapters, I couldn't put it down. I read it in one evening!! I love Lindsey's work and own almost all of them! This is a keeper and I will more than likely read it again and again!!

Wow this book was absolutely horrible. I noticed that in a lot of Johanna Lindsey's earlier books the narration is flat, the characters two-dimensional, the men are barbarians, and the women insipid, and completely moronic for all of their amazing beauty (and they are all incredibly beautiful *rolling eyes*). Her first book is no exception. This book was horrible. Phillip only made me hate him more as the book progressed, I never liked Christina but became so annoyed with her by the end that I couldn't take it. Half way through the story I got online to see what the reviews of the book were, and most were horrible. At more then one point in the story I actually threw the book I was so irritated. This is story telling at its worst!

If it was possible to give Captive Bride zero stars I would without question do so. I don't recall ever reading a book in which I was so enraged. I am not going to waste time explaining the plot since countless others have done so. I have so many problems with this book I don't know where to begin. Captive Bride does nothing but glorify rape.It gives the message that when a woman says no, it ok to ignore her because in the end she will really enjoy herself. The heroine in this book is also treated as a slave , beaten, threatned, and repeatly degraded by the hero(yeah right). This book gives the message that it is acceptable for men to go to any lenegth to get what they desire, but the most digusting thing is that the heroine would come to love this man. I think if this was a true story it would be said that the heroine was suffering from stockholm syndrum. A side from all that the book is poorly written and flat throughout most of it. I normally love Joanne Lindsey, but all I want to do is forget Captive Bride.

I have read several Johanna Lindsey novels that I have enjoyed, and this was not one of them. I couldn't stomach the spanking that she felt she deserved for being bad, and the other instances of punishment. This man was not a hero a woman should run to, but should run from.

The characters in this novel are the best thought out of all of her novels. She is one of my fravorite authors and I hope that she writes more of them. In the Captive Bride the Characters made me laugh and cry, and have hope in all of mankind. JOHANNA LINSEY RULES!

This was an excellent book, especially considering that this was Lindsey's first. Philip Caxton is definitely mean, and the spanking scene a bit humiliating, but Lindsey can pull anything off. And this is one that you just can't put down.

My friend recomend that I start reading Johanna Lindsey books and I saw this one and read it. I haven't read too much of her work, but I thought it was good, a few parts were a little stupid, but overall I enjoyed it.

Ok, I'll admit its not my favorite Johanna Lindsey book. It was still a worthwhile read. If the spankings and rape annoys so many people, they can skip those parts like I do. It was written over thirty years ago, so people need to realize that things were a little different back then. For a first book, I give it two thumbs up and I suggest people stop whining about how degrading it is and look at the big picture instead of the miniscule details. The rape and the spanking are not the greatest parts of the story, but they help us realize what kind of person Phillip was and how he changed throughout the book. Lindsey has better stories, but this one is no where near the horrible book some people proclaim it to be. Choose for yourself, but realize that a book is more than it's details. It is a story that is built upon those details to create a final product that leaves a sense of satisfaction in the reader and should be a fond memory.

Johanna Lindsey is my favorite romance novelist; I have read many of her books, my favorite being Warrior's Woman, and have not yet been disappointed. I thought this story was really good especially when you consider that this was her first novel. I was really surprised when I saw all of the bad reviews that were given. If you had read many of her books you would know that Johanna Lindsey likes to write about cultures where women are not treated as the equals of men. There are many that did not like this novel because of some of the things that happen to Christina. However, you have to keep in mind that the story takes place in a time long ago when the men were dominant and women were treated and thought of much differently than we are today. Philip may seem a bit harsh and insensitive at times but you have to remember that he is part of a different culture with different traditions. I think his behavior helps us understand what kind of person he was and allows you to appreciate his transformation as the story progresses. In the end I was very pleased with this book. I thought it was a very exciting and captivating work of romance. If you like historical romances and can be open minded than I would really suggest you give this book a try, I know you will enjoy it.

Readers accustomed to today's romance standards may be quick to judge this book harshly. I urge readers to remember this book's place in the history of romance. It is not a new release. It's a classic from Lindsey's early years, the years of the bodice ripper, and if you can't handle that, don't read it. It's a portrait of popular fiction of another era, one that I loved back then, and still look back at fondly.

Other good uses for this book is: doorjamb, kindling, moping up a wet spill, shred it for kitty litter, tear out the pages and use them while cleaning your windows for that streak-free shine. I must be fair and mention that this is one of her first novels. It shows. She could probably re-write it again with her skills now as a writer and come up with something better.

This book is the epitome of true passion and eroticism, it opened my eyes. It has everything from lust to betrayal and love to hate. My very good friend let me borrow the book for two days, making me promise to return it. I read it in one day, AB-SO-LU-TE-LY could not put it down. Good writing, good caracters. Give it a try, please...

There are many that did not like this book, however, I liked it. Considering the fact that the book takes place in a time and place long ago, before women's lib, what were these readers expecting? I think it would be a bit bizarre if I read a book like this that did not have dominant male characters. In the end I got exactly what I expected.

I read this book way back in college and absolutely loved it. It did have some shocking pages such as rape, being held against will and enslavement. It showed that she grew to love her capture and he grew to love her. They actually have a connection together and you see the romance blooming from day one. The over all tell of this story is that a women wants to be loved by her capture, she wants that strong dominent guy to take charge, be her saver. Granted the way he does things is unauthordox but she shows he strength that way, and I would not change anything about the book. To all the liberated women who hates this book, that is because you need to let go and let a man take charge sometimes.ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd

I read this book way back in college and absolutely loved it. It did have some shocking pages such as rape, being held against will and enslavement. It showed that she grew to love her capture and he grew to love her. They actually have a connection together and you see the romance blooming from day one. The over all tell of this story is that a women wants to be loved by her capture, she wants that strong dominent guy to take charge, be her saver. Granted the way he does things is unauthordox but she shows he strength that way, and I would not change anything about the book. To all the liberated women who hates this book, that is because you need to let go and let a man take charge sometimes.ddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd