Life is a complicated thing, and in this book, Anna Campbell makes sure that even her villains are appropriately complicated. But not, of course, as complicated as the hero.The heroine initially seems a rather simple creature - until she starts to make her way through the maze of her husband's outward actions to find the man inside. He, although complicated, seems unable to see the woman he has married until the final denouement.The villains spend considerably less time in the spotlight, and as a result, are far less developed. on the other hand, how much does an intrinsically evil character need fleshed out? This is the sort of book that will keep you happily unaware of your surroundings for several hours. It ends with a blast of glory, and finally, lets the characters rest peacefully. Lady Charis Weston is on the run. She needs just three weeks to reach her majority and her inheritance. Her evil stepbrothers have other plans for her. They've kept her captive and have physically abused her. Their hope is to get the money for themselves. When they threaten her with rape, she flees and finds herself battered and in a horse stall.When Sir Gideon finds her in the stall his instinct is to protect her. He has his own demons and he thinks perhaps by helping her he can exorcise his past sins. He doesn't fight her on her clear lies and remains rather aloof with her so that she can try to trust him. But Charis trusts no man, even if her instincts say she can trust Gideon and his men. When they reach a destination Charis has chosen at random, she wants to trust Gideon and let her help him, but her pride and stubbornness get in the way and she flees when she gets the chance. Unfortunately she's set upon by drunken ruffians and Gideon and his men are able to save her. When she sees the town folk celebrate Gideon for his ordeals in India, she's even more curious about the man. Luckily her fear of Gideon is over pretty quickly, but it instead turns to hero worship. And he quickly recognizes the traits and wants to extinguish what could lead to heartbreak for the both of them. See, his time in India wasn't the most pleasant. He was tortured for a year in a jail (that's an understatement) and ever since he doesn't like to be touched. He flips out when he's crowded and he flips out when someone tries to touch him. So he realizes he can never be normal and never have a wife and sire children. So having Charis in his home and not being able to touch her is pure torture. But he's a gentleman and human first and foremost so he's willing to protect and do what he can for Charis.There's a lot of forbidden love going on and a lot of temptation. A LOT. When the imminent threat of Charis' brother subsides, it quickly turns into Gideon's problems. Once she realizes she's thoroughly in love with him and he throws herself at him (quite literally) it physically pains him. But he doesn't say why he acts in such a way. So of course, she think the worst - that she completely revolts him. They both share such shame that it takes time for them to reveal certain things. And there are times where you do feel a bit bad and awkward for Charis. Gideon doesn't like the hero worship and says she'll find another man, and it's painful to see her keep getting shut down from Gideon. While she's thoroughly embarrassed by her declarations and his reactions she doesn't let that stop her. This is the second Anna Campbell I've read (the first being Untouched) and what I like are the original dark plots. Her characters are deeply troubled, flawed, gorgeous people. They make mistakes, they learn, they have misunderstanding, they love fiercely and they protect one another. I didn't like this as much as Untouched, but it was still an enjoyable read.
What do You think about Captive Of Sin (2009)?
Although the character development is strong, the middle of this book drags.
—Amu99b
I just can't find another Campbell winner. :(
—Mayelin
