Captive Passions: A Novel

I love romance novels. I have probably read over 200, yet this was one of the most horrible books I have ever read. Sirena and her sister get brutally raped. Sirena's sister gets riped open by ONE of the rapists and killed. I, for one, think that it is absolutly sick for anyone to write of such a thing. Futher more the story gets worse when Sirena's husband continues having "affairs" with some other women.

A disgusting book, but if you want to read about rape, abuse, and the degredation of women this book is right up your alley.

The writing team that is Fern Michaels wrote this series back when I was a kid in the 70's. My Mom had all of them and she was way too lax about what romances I read off her shelves, lol. Like most 70's "bodice rippers" reading it isn't for the faint of heart. It's frankly gory in spots, and raunchy, and none of the male characters would make it into my bed let alone my heart but nonetheless it's one of the best written series ever done in the genre IMHO, and yes, in my 40's now, I still have my original copies and I read them once in a while. Even as kid I didn't like the hero much. But I liked her very much and wished we could have a lot more of her story sans him.

Sirena was a prototype character for books like this, only unlike most of the bodice ripper heroines she had half a brain, a lot of guts and real heart. Her only flaw? She loved that triple timing jerk of a Dutchman despite herself. Yeah, a lot of women get abused in this book. But that is the whole point of her crusade/masquerade. To avenge her sister and what happened to her. Without all that violence towards women we wouldn't have a story and it's a good story even if the characters aren't written to modern tastes. Sirena has actually been copied many, many times in the genre, but I still think Fern Micheals did it best.

It's a raw series, and there are some things as a modern woman that I don't like about this series, but for all that I'm fond of the Captive series and I do still think they're a pretty good read even now 35 years later. Actually though to be fair there's no more violence in these books than there is in half the latest romance/thrillers that are on the shelves these days. I mean think about it. They still make bodice rippers. They just don't get called that anymore.

How many secret agent/detective couples are out there in print right now running after some serial killer, yet falling in love and steaming up every other page in the middle of what amounts to a gruesome murder mystery? How many paranormal/normal couples are out in the bayou doing the same while hunting down rogue werewolves intent upon killing everything in sight?

You think this series is violent? You think Sirena is a bit dim when it comes to her choice of monster, um man? Let me tell you all about a little telepathic blond gal called Sookie Stackhouse...wink...

I just finished this book, and am rather amazed that I managed to finish it. I don't believe I've done a book review before, and I probably wouldn't be reviewing this one if I didn't want to be sure I wouldn't pick it up ever again. The hero, Regan, is absolutely unlikeable. The heroine, Sirena, is not that much better but I would have liked her if she had been paired with a better man. As it is, she loses personality points for inexplicably falling for a drunken, philandering, abusive jerk. I enjoy historical romances, but what I don't like is when I really can't see that much of a difference between the bad guy and the good guy! I need to see why the heroine falls in love with the hero... so it would be kind of nice if he had at least a couple redeeming qualities. Even if it weren't for the nasty cast of characters, the flow of the book is somehow... "off" at times. There were several pages where I had to flip back to the previous page because I felt like something was missing, like paragraphs were out of order or an entire page was ripped out. In all honesty, those were probably the points where Sirena was realizing she was in love with Regan, because I just couldn't understand it. I'm sorry to be this negative, but I really did find myself frowning through much of the book. I kept reading just because I thought there had to be a point where Regan would become an admirable man, but it never happened.

In this book the heroine leads a dual identity, a dutiful yet mysterious bride from Spain and a sea pirate known as the "Sea Siren." While I liked the character of the heroine & what a skillful female pirate she was, outwitting all the other males on Java island, I did not like the hero one bit. Now I like an Alpha male but I do not like a hero who, after he is married, keeps his malicious mistress, goes to brothels.... It just did not fare ware with me. Also, the passion between the two main characters was a weak flame at best, he loved the Sea Siren fare more than his shy bride.

I first borrowed this book from my mother in law, years ago, and I couldn't put it down. I eventually bought my own copy, and returned her copy to her. I lost my copy in a fire about 6 years ago and am now ordering it again. During the time I had my mother in laws copy and then my own copy, I lost count of how many times I read it. I love this book. If you love heroes, you'll really love this heroine. Be sure to read all of the series. (I can still smell the salty sea!) This should be a movie!!!

I read this book years ago and loved it. I feel it was one of Fern Micheals best books and wish she would go back to writing historical novels.

I read this book for the first time in 2002. I have read it three times now. I read many books and this is, by far, still my all-time favorite!

Fern Michaels has a FABULOUS series..The Captive Series and all 4 should be put on audiobook. This is an older series but it is the one that started my reading romance novels in the late 70's. Avid audiobook listeners are missing an great series. The series contains CAPTIVE PASSIONS/CAPTIVE EMBRACES and CAPTIVE SPLENDORS/CAPTIVE SECRETS. Captive innocence is NOT of this series.

Great story

Great!!