Captured by the Viscount by Wareeze Woodson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It is the year 1802 and Lady Isabel Carlyle is a twenty one year old woman on a mission to restore her possessions as well as those not her own, she is hoping to reclaim her family jewels and return some important bonds at the same time, it is a risk, but one she hopes can finally free her from her current living situation. Viscount Matthew Paul Rutherford is in a bind of his own, in order to find relief from his current living situation, he has to find a bride before the month’s end, however, he hasn’t had much luck so far, his last two betrothed suffered from fatal accidents before their nuptials, so he is losing hope now of ever finding one.

As Lady Isabel heads towards the empty residence of Viscount Matthew, she is soaked to the bone thanks to the dismal weather she has walked through, but she is determined to see her errand through to the end, so she approaches under the cover of darkness and manages to avoid the patrol of the guards and levers open the door of his study. As she quietly enters, she locates her missing jewels but just as she is about to place the bonds into a drawer in the large desk, when the inner door opens and she comes face to face with the Viscount who it appears is home earlier than expected and pointing a gun straight at her heart. As he approaches her, she is paralysed with fear, but as he empties the bag she was holding of her belongings, she considers escape, however, soon realises that it would be a fruitless endeavour and would probably only get her killed sooner. The Viscount is less than impressed with this little thief and intends to make it known, but when she replies that he hasn’t the right, he mirthlessly laughs and states that he would normally call the constable and have her arrested at this point, however, he is quite taken with her looks and fiery countenance, but when she explains why she was there and the circumstances behind it, he does not believe her.

As the Viscount considers the position he is in, he considers the young woman and as she tells him more of her story, he is more inclined to believe that she is a liar and a thief, but when she professes her innocence yet again and asks him to let her go, he considers his options and while doing this, he takes her up to a room in the house and binds her to a bed, after removing her wet clothing and says he will return shortly. While he is gone, Lady Isabel tries desperately to escape from her bonds, however, she is unable to and just causes herself more harm, but her mind cannot stay still and she goes through all her options over and over again and as unlikely as it seems this is actually a better option for her. After a while, the Viscount returns and gives her a choice, either she marries him, or he calls the constable and she will be sent to the city’s gaol, she is full of disbelief that despite being a sensible person, she has been put into this position and she sees no way out of it, but will she agree to marry the Viscount and try to make him see the sense in what she is saying, or will she risk the gaol and the life it will lead to? This is a historical romance with an element of the unexpected as the story develops and the characters draw you into their lives and encourage you to follow them through trials and tribulations until the conclusion is reached.

Reviewed by @roxsannel

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