Lovely writing, but ....: (2010-05-02) 
Gideon is a true Tortured Hero. Charis (love the name!) is a beautiful mistreated heiress on the run. A been-there, done-that plot, made interesting by the lovely writing. However, Gideon is too noble, too good, too kind, yada yada yada. Charis is too pure, too good, too kind, yada, etc. Both of them tired me out with their emotions soaring one minute, plunging the next. I wanted to shake them and send them out in search of more durable plot. Lots I couldn't believe. And I tried but couldn't see Gideon as beautiful and highly attractive. I simply couldn't see him at all.

deeper than your average romance: (2010-02-14) 
It's really 4.5 stars rather than 4. Usually, I find heroine who falls too quickly for the hero to be weak. But in this case, Charis's love for Gideon did not make her weak, instead it made her a really strong female lead. Gideon was a wonderful hero with real demons that he must over come with Charis's help. AC does a great job in showing how this happened. The only thing I didn't love was the struggle scene towards the end of the book. Without giving anything away, it suffices to say that it was a little cliché. Overall, a fun and engrossing read.

Original and lovely: (2010-02-02) 
What I loved most about this novel is something sadly lacking from most Regency and historical novels: a damn good reason for the characters to struggle to get together. Gideon's past is so horrific that he suffers from PTSD. Even though he's drawn to Charis, he can't overcome the images from his year-long imprisonment and torture. What keeps me from giving this a perfect 5 stars was the rather irritatingly perfect heroine...Gideon, wounded hero that he is, simply finds salvation in her perfect love. If she'd been a little less cliche, the book would've been a home run. Oh, and there's one love scene that's so excessive that I was giggling through it. Really, Ms. Campbell...four times? But overall, a wonderful read and a very memorable hero.

Great characters, bad everything else: (2010-01-27) 
I really wanted to like this book and I had that feeling even more as I got to know the main characters. But, there was way too much angst and self-berating and internal dialogue and very little movement of the plot. Plus, there was a disturbing lack of PLACE. The book is supposedly set in the Regency era but other than a reference to riding in carriages and some clothing styles, I could not get into the spirit of the book. I'm not suggesting the author should get as detailed as Dickens in describing characters and environment but some attention to the setting is very useful. Again, the characters were really intriguing and the heroine is one of the more appealingly straightforward heiresses I've encountered in romance novels. But, it's not worth the purchase.

Captive of Sin-A Joyfully Recommended Title!!: (2010-01-27) 
Lady Charis Weston is in a desperate situation. She is England's wealthiest heiress and she must stay out of her stepbrothers' grasp for three more weeks, when she comes into possession of her fortune. Though she's able to escape her tormenters, Charis is battered, bruised, and nearly frozen with cold when an unlikely savior crosses her path.

Throughout England, Sir Gideon Trevithick has been hailed as the Hero of Rangapindhi. Yet Gideon does not wish to be anyone's hero. His torture in Rangapindhi has left him with scars, and the external ones are the least of his problems. All Gideon wants to do is retreat to his childhood home and isolate himself from the world. His journey home takes an unexpected turn when he discovers a beautiful woman who is clearly in danger. Unable to leave her, Gideon is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Charis safe, including marry her. But though he's captivated by Charis, Gideon swears that after their wedding night, their marriage will be in name only. If only Charis would accept that...

Now Gideon's facing a battle unlike any he's been through before. But with Charis as the one facing off against him, losing has never been so tempting. For the cost of this war is his heart, and the prize a love and a passion that could heal the most debilitating of wounds and bring both conquered and conqueror joy that could last a lifetime.

Anna Campbell's gorgeous prose shines in this touching tale of love, desire, and overcoming the odds. Captive of Sin is a sweeping journey with a hero and heroine that will capture your heart and not let go. Charis has become one of my favorite heroines of Ms. Campbell's. She's intelligent and kind, but what's more, she possesses the will to survive, to outwit her scheming stepbrothers and the ugly plans they have in store for her. Her strength of character is constantly tested and Charis always comes out on top, which makes me admire her all the more. She needs every bit of that strength to break down the walls Gideon has erected around himself. He has endured torture beyond what most men could live through, but his imprisonment has left him with an incapacitating weakness that makes him believe, with everything in him, that he will spend the rest of his life alone. He broke my heart and I loved him for his courage and honor, though he would likely not acknowledge those characteristics in himself. It's with the most noble of intentions he tries to push Charis away, but I loved even more that she does not accept that, that she does everything she can to help him. The passion between Charis and Gideon burns strong and hot, but what makes Captive of Sin stand out is how memorable its protagonists are for their bravery and their love for one another.

Ms. Campbell never fails to entertain, and Captive of Sin is no exception; it's as captivating and deliciously sinful as its title suggests. Ms. Campbell is a force to be reckoned with, in all the best ways. Her writing is powerful and her characters vast, varied, and intriguing. I look forward to reading many more novels by the tremendously talented Ms. Campbell.


Shayna
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed