Beloved Captive

Title: BELOVED CAPTIVE
Author: Kathleen Y’Barbo
Publisher: Barbour Books
2008
ISBN: 978-1-60260-230-4
Genre: Inspirational/historical

Emilie Gayarre grew up with luxury, but when she was old enough, she left home to work as a teacher on the island of Fairweather Key. However, now her father is possibly dying, and Emilie, as well as her sister, have been called home. As Emilie’s sister couldn’t make the trip, Emilie went alone, but once at her father’s side she learns that her luxurious life was all a lie. In fact, a stigma attached to her birth could steal any hope for a happy future.

Caleb Spencer wants a career in law. But as a career naval officer, he is instead trying to redeem the shadows in his past. When he learns that another sailor takes a shot that was intended for Caleb, he is awed that someone else would be willing to die for him.

Sparks fly when Emilie and Caleb meet, but with his past and her secret more is at risk than just Caleb’s career. Is it possible for Emilie and Caleb to release the ashes of the past and make a new life under truth?

BELOVED CAPTIVE is the second book in Ms. Y’Barbo’s Fairweather Key series, but it easily stands alone. I enjoyed getting to know Emilie, though some of her memories of her family mansion were quite difficult to read about. Still, Emilie seemed to be a favorite among the servants with everyone glad to see her, in spite of the secrets that most of them probably knew. Caleb was a bit harder for me to get to know and some of the dialog in his point of view was stiff, and not easily followed.

As a whole, BELOVED CAPTIVE, while not my favorite of Ms. Y’Barbo’s books, still was a very good read, and I enjoyed getting to know the Fairweather Keys, as well as the characters. Don’t miss the first book in the series Beloved Castaway as well as this second book, BELOVED CAPTIVE. Risk, Romance and Redemption set in the Florida Keys. $14.95. 318 pages.