Captive Hearts

A Persuasion Variation

By: Kelly Miller

Narrated by: Alan Aldersley-Byrne

Length: 10 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Will Captain Wentworth realize too late that he has a second chance at love?

With a successful naval career and a fortune to his name, Frederick Wentworth receives a hero’s welcome from his sister’s neighbors.

One person, though, presents a source of vexation. Years earlier, Miss Anne Elliot had reneged on her promise to marry Wentworth, revealing a significant character flaw. Yet Anne’s unmarried state at the age of seven and 20, her altered demeanor, and her resolute avoidance of Wentworth raise questions that gnaw at his composure.

In this Regency variation of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, the captain follows the advice of a respected new friend and reexamines the agonizing circumstances of his bitter break from Anne, reaching a novel conclusion. But before he can act upon his new resolve, a dire twist of fate threatens Anne’s life.

©2022 Kelly Miller (P)2022 Kelly Miller

A Butterfly in Amber

A Regency romance for lovers of Jane Austen, particularly her final novel Persuasion. Kelly Miller artfully gives the tale freshness and vitality through her revisions. I especially liked that the author chose to have Anne rather than Laura suffer a concussion while in Lyme on a visit, a stroke of brilliance. Hearing the story through the voice of Capt. Wentworth proves an excellent choice as the reader thus empathizes with his thoughts as he wades through the muck of the mess he made of his relationship with Anne in the past. Captive Hearts proves a perfect title for this story of Anne and Frederick, whose love once seemed doomed, like a butterfly in amber, never able to fly free. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Let me Persuade you...

Kelly Miller's writing is like the best cup of hot cocoa - it's delicious, divine, delightful, and it's exactly what you want to relax into after a long day. This book is a charming romp through Persuasion, full of longing, magical little character moments and clean, sweet, satsifying romance. I smiled os often while listening to it that my husband kept asking me what on earth I was reading!
Get this one. You won't regret it, I promise.
The narrator is also wonderful, his voice is warm and inviting.
'Scuse me, I'm gonna go listen to this one again.

A Sweet Persuasion Variation

Excellent narration and performance by a new-to-me narrator, Alan Alsersley-Byrne. Very well done. If you loved this book, which I certainly did, you’ll also love the audiobook. Highly recommend.

Book review:

really enjoyed this Persuasion retelling, enticed with the addition of Fitzwilliam and Elizabeth Darcy. While their inclusion is brief, a question posed by Darcy to Wentworth has life altering consequences for the dear couple of this story.

I still disliked the characters I disliked in the original work, but there are redemptive qualities in some that were able to warm my heart a bit towards them.

The imagined love for others, a life-threatening accident and, the reckless deceit of a scoundrel, all add an element of angst to the story. The dialogue flows well and the endearing words of Anne and the Captain held back for years are at long last expressed to one another.

The writing is excellent as in all Kelly Miller books. It’s such a joy to read well-structured sentences and proper grammar. I highly recommend this book to Persuasion fans.

Beautiful Regency Romance very well narrated

Listening to this book was the purest joy! The narrator does a great job and once again Kelly Miller proves that she's the queen of Regency Romance Austen Variations.
I recommend this book to all Regency Romance and Jane Austen Fans!

5-star story with impeccable narration!

I am a hardcore fan of classic lit and a bit of a stickler when it comes to contemporary variations, but Kelly Miller pulled it off with amazing five-star flare in Captive Hearts. Several times, I forgot that this was a book written in modern day.

The love story between Frederick and Anne has all the makings of an Austen classic, but with Miller’s own style and spin that will consume you. The supporting cast of characters – everyone from Anne’s sisters to her father to friends of the family – all fit in step with the 19th century expectations. Captain Wentworth himself is to die for!

The narration by Alan Aldersley-Byrne is sublime. His voice will lull you into a relaxed state and gels perfectly with the tale Miller wove. Every sentence and bit of dialogue was related to a T.

I believe lovers of romance will embrace this variation, regardless of whether or not they’ve read Austen. And if you’re already a lover of classic lit, the mystery and surprises Kelly Miller adds to this story will definitely keep you entertained. A big round of applause for Miller and her narrator!

Loved this Austen-level romance!

I was tempted to write a review for Captive Hearts with all the linguistic flourishes perfectly employed by the author, but alas! I despair that I ever imagined my ability to do so could rival that of the talented Ms. Miller.
(See what I did there? 😊)
This is the first time I’ve listened to a novel-length audio book, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was very pleased with the narrator. Further, Miller writes excellent dialogue, well-researched period and place details, and an marvelous Downton Abbey-level soap opera. If you enjoy a good historical-fiction romance, you’ll love this book.
Thank you to the author for introducing me to her work!

Wonderful twists

This author has a fantastic way of adding twists, and as the story unfolds, I feel certain she won’t come through with connecting the dots, but she never fails. Beautiful prose and a wonderful understanding of human nature. I love her books!

A literary enchantment with a gripping romance.

Every Kelly Miller book is a literary enchantment, and this Austenesque variation delivers the same charisma.

A Regency second-chance romance with modern “Sense and Sensibility,” CAPTIVE HEARTS is an elegant adaptation of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION. Frederick Wentworth, a wealthy naval captain, and Anne Elliot reunite after Anne had refused to marry Frederick in the past. The split was heartbreaking for both, and in their second courtship, they must overcome past pain, doubts, and misunderstandings to rekindle their romance while finding each other again after years apart.

Frederick’s heartache and anguish from the rejection brew tension with Anne, who has her own sorrow, regrets, and desire for invisibility. Themes of redemption and rediscovery abound in this classic tale rendered in Miller’s glowing style with her own fresh interpretation, and Alan Aldersley-Byrne’s narration is a perfect match for this gripping romance.

With Regency culture and mannerisms, beloved characters in new experiences, passionate confessions, and page-turning suspense, CAPTIVE HEARTS is vital reading for Austenesque fans.

* I received a free audiobook from the author, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Captivating

If you are a period romance fan, this book will be right up your alley!
Such a great story about the one that got away! It keeps you wondering if they’ll finally get the happiness they both want together! Highly recommend!

Interesting story with poor narration

A good narrator is critical to the success of an audiobook. Unfortunately, the narrator for this story did NOT do it justice. Persuasion is my favorite Austen story, but I could not finish this variation. I will read it instead.