Lady Idra, reserved as she is, cannot seem to adjust to life at High Castle where making friends among the courtiers proves nearly impossible, and she longs for the familiarity of Taisce. The only bright spot is the kindhearted and chivalrous Sir Ahmad, the high prince’s most trusted guardsmen. Yet, just as she begins to untangle the complexities of growing feelings for him, the past resurfaces, ushering in a mercenary’s revenge. And when Idra waltzes into his trap, not even a knight like Sir Ahmad will be able stop him.
Driven by desperation and a love that defies the stormy seas, Ahmad plunges into a wild race against all odds to rescue Idra from her captors. While on the high seas, Idra encounters an enigmatic pirate whose soul craves redemption. As they forge an unlikely bond born of desperation and hope, the pirate battles his sense of unworthiness and an unattainable desire for Idra, blurring the lines of loyalty and the self-preservation that have kept him alive.
In a tale woven of revenge, danger, and unspoken vows, each must discover their limits and where their true hope lies. Will Ahmad’s unyielding determination, a pirate’s desperate bid for absolution, and the hope Idra carries for them all be enough to secure freedom, or will a mercenary’s blinding lust for retribution destroy them all?
About the author
Rachael Ritchey
Rachael Ritchey is a writer of speculative fiction infused with hope. A Christian, Rachael lives and writes from a worldview steeped in grace but aware of the depravity that exists within humanity. Her characters vary from near perfect to terribly flawed, and the lives they live are full of joy, fear, pain, adventure, mystery, hope, despair, and so much more. Her ideal readers are young adults, and she often writes with her own children in mind.
Rachael is the author of THE BEAUTY THIEF, CAPTIVE HOPE, and THE TREASONOUS–the Chronicles of the Twelves Realms, a low fantasy romance fiction adventure series. She has also published an illustrated story book version of The Beauty Thief for children, and “The Forever Door,” a short story in THE CRUX ANTHOLOGY, which is 16 speculative fiction short stories written by 16 international authors. Each story is entirely different and inspired by the cover image of the book.
Her ‘day job’ includes caring for her family, homeschooling her children, and book design for indie publishers and authors. She’s been designing covers and interiors for over seven years and loves the process of building beautiful, professional books.
You can find Rachael at
on Instagram: @RachaelRitchey
on Twitter: @RachaelRitchey
on Facebook: RachaelRitcheyAuthor
or Goodreads: Rachael Ritchey
Our Review
Having read the first book in this series, I thought I knew what to expect in this one, But I was wrong. There is so much more in Captive Hope.
More suspense, more emotion, and more feelings.
The writing is incredible, with so much detail. In truth, it was like watching a brilliant pirate film, one I never wanted to end.
Of course, this story never really ends, as it continues in Book Three, so there will be a lot more fun and excitement to come.
The best part of this story for me was the relationship between Idra and the people she meets. The triangle between Idra – Simon – and Ahmed was beautifully portrayed and incredibly moving.
(altogether much better than The Pirates of the Caribbean)
Jaye Marie and Anita Dawes 
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