Review: Captive: An emotionally and compelling story of love, loss, happiness, and peace
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 29, 2014
Blue or pink.. one line or two lines..yes or no..positive or negative...plus or minus.... the end result of a pregnancy test can either determine future mommy, happiness, sadness, relief, or disappointment. For Kate Ryker, what if the result is what you least expected after so many disappointment and heartbreak. Does it make you a bad person?Captive by Brenda Rothert is the second installment of the Fire and Ice series. This book chronicles the life of Jason and Kate Ryker as they survive the many ups and downs of married life.  So if you haven't read Bound, then stop, go and one-click it. It is highly recommended that you must read the first book before reading Captive since it picks off where it last left off in Bound where Ryke and Kate are now married two years later.There comes a time in every couple's life where they must decide if they want to expand their mini family of two or not. For Jason and Kate, they knew that they wanted a family. So when Kate got pregnant, the couple was so excited. They couldn't wait for the new bundle of joy that was growing inside of Kate. After what she went through in Bound, Kate finally found happiness with her husband and pregnancy. Well that all changed one horrible night. For any pregnant woman, the worst nightmare became a reality when Kate had a miscarriage.Not once but two times Kate lost a baby. The heartbreak, emotional and physical loss became so unbearable for Kate that she fell into a state of shock and depression. As any loving husband, it broke Ryke's heart to witness and see his wife so down and lost. If he could burden and shoulder all her problems, he would happily do it. When Kate became distant and fearful of getting pregnant again, their married life was in this state of in between. Kate found herself focusing more on work and Ryke buried himself with his hockey career. The only place he could take out his frustration was on the ice. The once lively and spirited Kate that he loved was missing.After what seemed like an eternity for Ryke, he began to notice a little spark of light and hope in Kate's eyes when she wanted to start a family through adoption. Ryke, being the loving husband, he supported his wife's decision for adoption. He, too also wanted a family and knew that they both will love this child as if their own.  At a good place in their marriage, Kate and Ryke finally rekindled and ignited their love and passion for each other.Ryke was at an all time high career wise with his team and Kate was over the moon with their plans for adoption, but there was one slight bump the couple at least expected. Kate knew she didn't want to get pregnant again after two miscarriages but here she was staring at a pregnancy stick that read PREGNANT. For some women, they would have been thrilled and call it a miracle but with Kate, she was battling with her emotions. Could she go through with the pregnancy? What if she has a miscarriage again? Her plan for adoptions would no longer be an option since she was pregnant. The internal battle that Kate goes through is what draws and captivates the readers. It is a REAL as it can get when describing what most women with fertility issues goes through.  The struggle of can you do it again...the what ifs...and if it was meant in the cards for you to be a mom.When Kate tells her Ryke of the pregnancy, the first reaction of Ryke was disappointment. Not disappointment in his wife is pregnant but hurt that she didn't tell him right away. For Ryke, he wanted nothing more than to be a dad. With Kate being pregnant, she busies herself with work and befriends a little girl in one of her sessions.  When the reality sets in that she's a couple of months into her pregnancy, hope begins to set in with Kate but there still that lingering fear buzzing in the back of her mind.  What can I say about Ryke but I absolutely adore and love him.  Yes there were times he got frustrated with Kate and her reasons, but he was always there to support her. He showed her how much he loves and cares for her. The man would gladly sacrifice his life for Kate.  As Kate and Ryke starts this new journey in their lives, there are uphill battles that they must face. Through this roller-coaster called life that is filled with many twists and turns, the best thing about this couple is that they did it together. There was never a time where one wanted to get off but instead they held onto each other and never let go. They may not have a perfect life but the most important thing that Kate and Ryke learned was that they did it together.Captive is one of those emotional books for me.  Personally, this book captured as real as it can get of what women with fertility issues goes through. Life is not full of rainbows and roses once you get married. Marriage is a testament of two people who are willing to love to each other for better or for worse, through sickness and in health, and for richer or for poorer. Ryke and Kate was a prime example of a couple who loved each other very much. When Kate and Ryke first met each other they were bound by their grief and loss and now their love and trust with each other held them captive as united front.  I thank Ms. Rothert for deciding to write Captive and allowing her readers to witness the love Kate and Ryke had for each other. I highly recommend everyone to read Captive because it truly captures the true essence of real love.