Captives of the Night

By: Loretta Chase

Narrated by: Kate Reading

Leila Beaumont is a gorgeous and talented portrait painter trapped in a loveless marriage with her profligate husband, Francis. Though long ago, Francis very much played the hero, rescuing and wedding the orphaned 17-year-old Leila - Francis' more recent hedonistic lifestyle of drinking, drugging and womanizing has not only earned him quite a few enemies in London, but lost him the love of his wife. When Francis turns up dead in the Beaumont townhouse, right after a loud and vitriolic argument with his wife, Leila is seen as the primary suspect, innocent though she is.

Because of Francis' many enemies and victims, government officials instigate a quiet investigation, many of whom fear fallout from Francis' numerous blackmail and extortion schemes. The man they call on - the sexy blue-eyed Comte d'Esmond - is a man of many talents who has spent the past ten years as one of the government's most trusted covert operatives; a man who also has a dark and treacherous past.

Neither Leila, nor Esmond is especially happy to be working together - their relationship is one of intense attraction accompanied by intense resistance. Leila had long ago given up on the idea of love and saw her husband as a means of propriety in London, but now she finds the dangerous Esmond's seductive charm nearly irresistible. But work together they must: Esmond, with a carefully hidden identity that would shock Leila to the core and Leila with her own secrets to keep... It's danger that unites them and it's danger that chains their hearts: Esmond's virility and bold touch enflame Leila's blood...and draw her into the most irresistible intrigue of all...truly passionate love.

©1994 Loretta Chekani (P)2014 Loretta Chekani

A great mystery & love story

The story was entertaining, but the narrator is not my favorite ruining it for me.

Entertaining

This book was a good listen. The story was interesting although it seemed to drag on in the end.

Steamy Story, Poor Narration

This is a great one by Loretta Chase, one of my favorites and imo sizzling steamy hot, but I cannot re-listen to it on Audible. I find Kate Reading's narration extremely grating in this one. She drags out the Conte's voice into a very leaden and annoying drawl that just drags the whole thing into the dumps. I cringe every time the Conte speaks. At the same time she makes Leila excessive harsh and whiney. Both of them come across as depressing Negative Nancy's. It's simply unlistenable.

Which is too bad because also imo this is the hottest of couples. I find the sexual attraction between them off the charts, the build up slow and pleasantly torturous, the culmination explosive. it's a master class in seduction, but you would hardly know from the narration, which fights against the actual content.

Read this one in print. Kate Reading is usually fantastic but this is not her best.

I disliked the heroine. Such an underdeveloped character.

I’m amazed this book has so many 5 star reviews. We are supposed to somehow admire and like Leila, I guess. Why would man like Ismal fall for her? Someone who has traveled the world and been through so much in life, he falls in love with this reclusive woman. She’s not even an interesting conversationalist. Throws temper tantrums all the time. One moment we are supposed to believe she’s all naive and sheltered (has no idea of her husband’s debaucheries), another moment she’s solving a crime with Sherlock’s precision and deep knowledge of human character. I wanted to return the book after 4 hours of laboring with it but I couldn’t so I had to finish it to save the rest of you from this poorly written novel. :-)

Well matched couple investigates murder...

He briefly saw her 10 years prior before her life imlpoded with her father's death. Now her husband is murdered and he is sent to solve the crime.
I liked continuing the story of our leading man introduced in earlier in this series. I liked the window of time that had passed allowing him to evolve.
I liked her strong will though her loathing of her own passion was a bit irritating. I was glad when this plot point was resolved.
This was a good but not great read.

I am spellbound! 5+++

Loretta Chase is a masterful story teller of spellbinding, seductive, and oh so romantic historical romances. Her eloquence with words with slowly burning romance is joy to read. I especially enjoy her ability to paint the picture with her writing of a hero and a heroine who a reader really gets to know and learns to love. Sometimes in spite of challenging issues that shadow the lovers past.

Kate Reading is fabulous reading the story with perfect English accent if the story so demands, her French is impeccable, and her male voice is to die for.

Thoroughly enjoyed this Loretta Chase's book and highly recommend to historical romance readers as 5+ reading material. Best in audible format!

Full of intrigue

While this book is listed as book 2 of the series, I read it as book 4. To me it made more sense considering Beaumont made appearances in both books 3 and 4.

I enjoyed the storyline behind Ismal and rejoiced in his redemption from book 1. Loved the mystery throughout this series. The ending was a nice twist too.

So so

I listened a few times. It’s not as romantic as Lord of Scoundrels. I will probably return this one. The narrator is awesome, though.

Excellent!

Not a typical fluff filled romance, but very very good! The mystery ( I didn't even see what was coming!) was quite a surprise in the end. The characters were bold and clear with colorful personalities which were easy to hear through Kate Readings performance. There is nothing I can say that is wrong with this book. The twists n turns amazed me... I feel like it's not quite a HR with a HEA ending... yet it was such fun!

NARRATOR; Perfect. Kate Reading is awesome! I find not a single element of her performance to be less stellar. Her voices are SO good... and not once did I even notice the narrator instead of the book. As it should be!

CREDITWORTHY? : YES!

HEAT FACTOR: High.

Another great collaboration.

Loretta Chase and Kate Reading are my favorite. I've loved everyone of thier books. I've listened to each one multiple times.