Samurai Captive by Barbara Sheridan is an erotic historical romance.

The year is 1862, and Hannah Connolly never expected her life to turn out this way. Hannah’s mother may have lived on her back, but she didn’t have a choice. Now she wanted more for her daughter. Hannah became a domestic servant, but her employer brought her abroad to Japan. When they were attacked, she was left for dead, but Hannah lived and was sold to a brothel where she is presently up for display for the passersby. Hannah decides to give then something to remember and employs all her skills, and she catches the eye of one very powerful Japanese Samurai, Katsuhiro, who buys her and takes her back to his dwelling. Hannah isn’t compliant with her fate, and this seems to spur not only his, but Hannah’s lust. Secretly, Hannah finds Katsuhiro very attractive, but she has never been one to accept fate without a fight. Katsuhiro has always seen women as malleable, but in Hannah he sees a temptress with a heart of a lion. Unfortunately, anyone not Japanese is seen as a barbarian and not worthy as more than a slave. Katsuhiro’s friend, Sato Masato, sees Hannah as a threat to his friendship and apposes Hannah at every turn. Add to this, the murders of both Japanese, and visitors continue causing panic and terror. Will Katsuhiro and Hannah find a way around the mirage of obstacles to find the murder or will they be separated by more than just their cultures by death?

Ms. Sheridan has developed a story with real-to-life characters based in Feudal Japan. Hannah isn’t a product of her time, and being headstrong and willing to fight for what she wants is foreign to both her world and Katsuhiro’s. Katsuhiro on the surface appears to act like a man comfortable with his life, but in Hannah he sees a woman who will be more than just a doll on display. Hannah is a woman to stand with, fight with, and love to the depths of his soul. Both Hannah and Katsuhiro are strong characters who capture the reader from the start with their unique way of seeing the world and their actions that seem to defy cultural norms. Thanks go to Ms. Sheridan for offering up to the readers another intriguing look into Japanese culture.

Reviewed by: Teresa