Review: Captured by Love by Jody Hedlund

July 10, 2014

Title: Captured by Love
Author: Jody Hedlund
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 384
ISBN: 978-0-7642-1049-5
Publication Date: July 1st, 2014

Synopsis:
Michigan Territory, 1814

A voyageur and a young woman swept up in a time of upheaval and danger discover firsthand the high price of freedom.

The British Army has taken control of Michilimackinac Island and its fort, forcing the Americans to swear an oath of loyalty to the crown in order to retain their land. Pierre Durant is a fur trader who returns after being away from the island for years, only to find the family farm a shambles and those he cares about starving and at the mercy of British invaders.

Torn between the adventurous life of fur trading and guilt over neglecting his defenseless mother, Pierre is drawn deeper into the fight against the British--and into a relationship with Angelique MacKenzie, a childhood friend who's grown into a beautiful woman. She now finds herself trapped by the circumstances of war and poverty, and the cruelty of her guardian, Ebenezer Whiley.

As tensions mount and the violence rages on, Pierre and Angelique must decide where their loyalties rest and how much they'll risk for love.
Review:
When I hear that Jody Hedlund has a new release coming out, you better believe I count down to the day I get it into my hands. I discovered Jody's books last year and I read everyone of them that was currently out. Each story is unique, but there is one thing that carries through to each book, her fantastic story telling ability. Jody Hedlund brings you back in time to these wonderfully crafted settings.

Captured by Love lived up to my expectation for bringing forth a story that is full of wonderful historical details and an enchanting love story. I will say, without giving anything way, that I disagree with some fellow reviewers who saw this as a story with a love triangle. I saw it as a struggle of a young woman who loves one, but wants to also keep a promise to another. Angelique is a girl who is haunted by who her mother was and has it thrown in her face daily by her stepfather, she wants to prove to him and to herself she is nothing like her mother. So it was more of a personal struggle then love triangle.

Angelique has a hard life, but she does her best with her circumstances. The era was portrayed realistically. In modern thinking, it is easy to question why Angelique made some decisions, but then this story isn't set in our time, so her options are limited. I liked that realistic feeling of that. It offered another layer to this wonderful story.

Pierre, what a fantastic lead. He was that handsome and gallant lead that is just easy to like. He isn't without his struggles. He is still trying to overcome his past mistakes that haunt him and kept him from his family so long. We get peeks to who he was before his change, but who is now in this story is a strong lead who offered a wonderful strength that Angelique needed in her life.

I enjoyed Miriam, Pierre's mother. Even though she had her own trials, she was a bright spot for Angelique and offered that soothing motherly touch she needed. I wish however that another secondary character was in the story a little more, Lavina, the daughter of the commander of the fort. When first introduced, I thought she would play another part, but she ended up being something else entirely. I wish her character could have been expanded on a little more to gain a better feel.

I really enjoyed this story. I devoured it in just a few hours over the course of two days.

Too Read
4 out of 5

About the Author:
Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of The Doctor's Lady and The Preacher's Bride. She won the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, the 2011 Award of Excellence from the Colorado Romance Writers and was a finalist for Best Debut Novel in the 2011 ACFW Carol Awards. Currently she makes her home in central Michigan with her husband and five busy children. She loves hearing from readers on Facebook and on her blog at JodyHedlund.com.





Thank you to Bethany House, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.


4 comments

  1. Love triangle? Say wha? I'm with you - I don't think it was at all. Great review! Can't wait for December and her next one!

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  2. Great review...and I agree no love triangle here. Just a woman trying to do the right and honorable thing. Loved this read!

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  3. Jamie, Yes, I've read a couple of reviews on GR's and I was like....uh, no! I loved how the romance played out in this one. And you are not alone! Her lighthouse series looks good.

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  4. R Merr, Thanks! Yes! I loved how she wanted to be honorable even though it could have been easy to do what she wanted, she decided to do the right thing.

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