This is a romantic story in the Mills and Boon vein and I have to admit at once to not being a fan of this particular genre.
The author, Cynthia Harrod-Eagles, states in the foreword that this book was originally written early on in her career and has now been re-published with a different title. This would explain why the youthfulness of the writing is so evident. From her vast output, she has obviously developed as an author since this book was first launched.
The plot is a predictable one. A young woman, Emma, gives up her work as a teacher, to take the job of governess to a little girl badly in need of attention and care. Her charge, Polly, is the youngest daughter of a wealthy family who lives in a stately home, with all the trimmings of an upstairs/downstairs existence. The father is a boorish, self-made man who is seldom at home. It is a dysfunctional family, to say the least. His wife, we are told, is genuinely upper class, but shown to be inadequate both as a mother and as a person. There is a spoiled and unpleasant older daughter, twin boys, who are away at school, and then the eldest sibling, Gavin. From the outset, he is quite obviously going to be the hero, with all the necessary trappings - very handsome, aloof, and of course, drives a smart sports car. As with all romantic novels Emma and Gavin start out hostile towards each other but it is not difficult to guess how things will turn out. Halfway through the book, there is a kidnapping of Emma and Polly and the rest of the book deals with their rescue. This is by far the best part of the story and keeps you turning the pages to find out whether they will be rescued.
The problem with this type of book is that the characters are stereotypes. Nobody is drawn in any great detail, not even the hero and heroine. This is frustrating. For instance, I would like to have known what turned the mother into such a monster.
There is plenty of dialogue and very little description, which means it is a quick read.
For those who like romantic fiction, it will probably prove enjoyable, but I am afraid it is not written well enough to afford more than three stars.
Jane
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

I’ll be honest – when I first requested this one, for some reason that escapes me, I hadn’t appreciated it was a contemporary romance. You don’t have to spend much time on this blog to appreciate that isn’t one of my go-to genres – however, the mistake is entirely mine and there was a period, longer ago than I care to recall, when I regularly read and liked these books. So I summoned up the Ghost of Higbee Past to read this one with unjaundiced eyes – and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Fortunately, this novel isn’t just about the relationship between Emma and Gavin, or the obstacles that seem to loom between them in the way of miscommunication that tends to cause such havoc in romance novels. There is also a far more sinister aspect to this book and once that plotline kicks off, the whole book nocks up a gear. However even before all that, I found this book had won me over as Harrod-Eagles writes with verve and an enthusiasm for her protagonist that is catching. Emma is fun to be alongside with her dry, often funny observations on her own life and those around her.

This meant that when she is put in danger, I really cared. The head injury she suffered actually properly incapacitated her – a pleasant change in book-based adventures where severe concussion is often shrugged off after a couple of hours’ rest. Having looked after someone in that state, I can testify the effects can linger for weeks and months and no one is in a fit state to continue rampaging around just a day after being struck hard on the head.

The climax to this story had me staying up later than I should to find out what happens next – and although I won’t pretend it was a huge shock, this turned out to be a thoroughly entertaining, well written book that I recommend to fans of romance fans who like a twist of adventure. While I obtained the arc of The Hostage Heart from the publisher via NetGalley, this has in no way influenced my unbiased review.
8/10

As the author states, this is a very early work. I think I will keep that in mind.

The story moves along nicely, but we aren't really given any insight to the family until the end. They are all such different characters but very shallow from the little we know about them and their motivations.

The kidnapping was believable but the ending just was not. The story was moving along nicely and then it was suddenly all tied up and left me scratching my head.

I have heard that her later books are good so I'll definitely give her another read.

Netgalley/Severn House  Nov.1,2017

A little romance, a little mystery. The Hostage Heart by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has little in common with her more accomplished historical novels like The Morland Dynasty or her excellent Bill Slider detective series, but it is an interesting look at the author's earlier efforts.

From the Author's Note that precedes the novel:

"This book is the work of a very young me; but it's the product of an energetic, enthusiastic and optimistic self in what seemed a simpler world, and I'm very pleased to see it back in print. If you know my later books, I hope you will uncouple your expectations, and just enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it."

There is something touching about Harrod-Eagles' attachment to the works that helped shape her into the author she is today. I loved the section of the Author's Note where she says that when she ran out of pony novels at the library, she had no choice but to write her own, and "Between the ages of ten and eighteen I wrote nine pony novels."

Read in August; blog review scheduled for Oct.

NetGalley/Severn House

Mystery/Romance. Nov. 1, 2017. Print length: 224 pages.

4.5 stars

The Hostage Heart is a great book that kept my attention from beginning to end. The plot is engaging and the characters are well described and interesting. Cynthia Harrod-Eagles wants you to care about these characters, and she does a good job making that happen.

Emma Ruskin leaves her teaching job to become a nanny for the youngest child, Poppy, of a wealthy upper class family, the Ackroyds. From the beginning, she discovers that they are an extremely dysfunctional group. Poppy's mother is disinterested, her father is rarely at home, and her sister is a spoiled teenager. The only one who seems to care about Poppy is her older brother Gavin, the eldest son. Sparks fly between he and Emma, but she thinks he's way out of her reach.

On the night of a large house party, Poppy and Emma are kidnapped and held for ransom. They are both frightened and not sure if the ransom will be paid. Will they be rescues, or will the kidnappers kill one or both of them?

I highly recommend this book. It was an entertaining and satisfying read.

Thanks to Severn House Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.