Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle - A Guest Post, Review, & Giveaway

I'm pleased to welcome Gabby Heart to Cozy Up With Kathy today. You can find Gabby on the pages of the Mysteries of a Heart series by Celeste Fenton. CAPTIVE HEART AT BRANTMAR CASTLE is the second book in the series.

 

Gabby Heart on Curiosity, Courage, and Accidentally Falling for the Dangerous Option
By Celeste Fenton

If you’d asked me a few years ago what I wanted out of life, I would have said something sensible.

A quiet routine. Family. Familiar faces. Predictable days. Work that I love. The occasional buying trip through New England. Certainly not any adventure that involved criminals, hidden tunnels, or people trying to kill me.

I was very committed to being safe.

In Lost Heart in King Manor, I lived a life that was comfortable and contained. I ran Ocean Current, the family gift shop, with my mother. I illustrated children’s books. I taught art. Basically, I stayed in my lane. And I certainly didn’t go looking for trouble—unless you count poking around family secrets that probably should have stayed buried. (In my defense, they started it.)

Somewhere along the way, something shifted. I discovered my inner Miss Marple!

By the time Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle begins, I’ve stopped pretending I’m not drawn to mystery. I like the puzzle. The chase. The way pieces fall into place when you pay attention. I don’t seek danger for the thrill of it—but I won’t lie and say the adrenaline doesn’t wake something up in me.

There’s a moment, when you’re chasing answers, when fear and excitement blur together. That moment? I live for it now. (I also complain loudly while doing it. Growth doesn’t mean silence.)

That same shift happened in my love life.

In Lost Heart, Rick felt like the obvious choice. Safe. Steady. Protective. The kind of man who makes you believe nothing bad will happen as long as he’s nearby. And after years of dealing with emotional baggage, that kind of safety was appealing. Like ordering a decaf at 3 in the afternoon and passing on dessert.

Rick and I made sense. Everyone agreed. I agreed.

But “makes sense” and “sets your pulse racing” are not always the same thing.

Enter Jay.

Jay challenged me from the beginning. Intellectually, verbally, emotionally. He didn’t try hard to impress me—he assumed I’d keep up. Which was irritating. And compelling. Like ordering an espresso spiked with bourbon and a slice of blueberry pie. With whipped cream.

He also has blue eyes that make it very difficult to think clearly. Or breathe. Or remember what I was saying. Add electricity to the mix—literal electricity, metaphorical electricity—and my hair frizzes like I’ve stuck my finger in an outlet. It’s very undignified.

It’s not just attraction with Jay (though, let’s be honest, there’s plenty of that). He pushes me to step forward when I tend to retreat. We meet in the middle—usually with banter, occasionally with sparks, and sometimes with me pretending I’m calm while my pulse is spiking.

By Captive Heart, I’m learning that trust isn’t something you either have or don’t—it’s something you practice. To choose what feels true instead of what feels safe. I’ve learned—sometimes painfully—that challenge doesn’t mean danger for danger’s sake. Sometimes it means growth. Sometimes it means stepping into the unknown because staying still would be the real risk.

That realization didn’t come easily. I made assumptions. I misread situations. I let fear narrate when I should have asked questions. Trauma has a way of convincing you that pulling back is wisdom.

Sometimes it is.
Sometimes it’s just fear in a better outfit.

Jay never demanded anything from me. He waited. He showed up. He stayed present even when I pulled away. That kind of patience is its own kind of courage.

And when I finally stopped running—from danger, from mystery, from love—I realized something important: I don’t want a life that’s merely comfortable. I want one that challenges me to be brave. Curious. Alive.

So now I investigate. I ask questions. I step forward instead of back. Not just in the next mystery. I do it now when it comes to love, I’m learning that the safest choice isn’t always the one that feels calm—it’s the one that asks you to grow.

If that means mystery, intrigue, and a little danger?
Apparently… I’m in.

And Celeste Fenton—if you’re listening—am I done with Rick? Is it Jay? I think it’s Jay… right? I’m okay with that. More than okay. I’m putting my trust in you.

Just don’t ask me to crawl through anything with snakes. Or spiders. Or climb anything too tall. Or anything slimy. And please don’t promise I won’t shiver when Jay looks at me with those damned blue eyes. Some growth takes time. 

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Review

CAPTIVE HEART AT BRANTMAR CASTLE by Celeste Fenton
The Second in the Mysteries of a Heart Series 

Gabby Heart and her best friend Abe are excited to be in Scotland and staying in an honest to goodness castle! Sure it's business, Abe is working on a new Children's book series and Gabby is getting inspiration for her illustrations, but it's also an exciting girls trip packed with fun and snacks. Unfortunately it's 2020 and the world has something else planned for them. Rumors of a plague confuse them, but the escape of two prisoners from a nearby prison is more worrisome, especially after they discover a dead body on one of their ramblings. Meanwhile, back home, teenaged boys are going missing and COVID has begun to rear it's ugly head. When news arrives that family members have COVID the women are desperate to return home, and friends have a plan for their return, but criminals, fanatics, and even COVID itself have plans as well.

 

A castle with creepy sounds, more than one desperate rescue attempt, relationship drama, and plenty of sex make for lots of excitement around every corner in CAPTIVE HEART AT BRANTMAR CASTLE. Gabby has become a bit of an adrenaline junkie with a penchant for solving puzzles. She's also unexpectedly become a dog person and I love little Darcy! The bickering, the camaraderie, and the care these people show for each other and their community stand out to make this book special. So much so when something unexpected happens near the end of the book I was absolutely stunned! 

 

There are lots of characters and even though I had read the first book in the series I had difficulty remembering exactly who some of the characters were, as well as their relationship to each other. There are also several subplots and therefore lots of moving pieces. I questioned the necessity of some, but grudgingly came to see their purpose. 

 

Even after finishing the book, my mind is back in the early days of COVID-19. I was an essential worker, so I was still going to work, driving on almost deserted roads, staying away from everyone afterwards. I say this just to prepare readers who may be triggered.

 

Fast paced, jaw dropping, and with enough humor to balance the excitement CAPTIVE HEART AT BRANTMAR CASTLE is a thrilling read.

 

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 Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle: Mysteries of a Heart Series by Celeste Fenton

About Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle

Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle: Mysteries of a Heart Series
Cozy Mystery - Romantic Suspense 2nd in Series
Setting - Dost Island (off the coast of Massachusetts) and the Scottish Highlands
Publisher: ‎ Independently Published
Publication Date: ‎ September 22, 2025
Hardcover Print Length: ‎ 305 pages Paperback Print Length: ‎ 389 pages

Gabby Heart travels to a remote Scottish castle with her best friend, Abe—a bestselling children’s author—expecting misty views, historic charm, and quiet time to plan their next book series. But Brantmar Castle holds more than ghosts of the past. When the women are taken hostage, Gabby must rely on her instincts, her resilience, and the help of men who may not deserve her trust to survive. Meanwhile, on Dost Island, young residents are vanishing without a trace. As those left behind scramble for answers, unsettling clues emerge—leading to a dark motive no one could have predicted. From the storm-swept highlands of Scotland to the rocky shores of New England, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle blends mystery, emotional grit, simmering romance, and humor, in a story where secrets run deep... and time is running out.

Two mysteries. One fight for survival. And danger closing in from both sides of the sea.

A slow-burn romantic suspense with an edgy cozy mystery twist peppered with humor, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle is perfect for fans of strong women over 40, amateur sleuths, brooding men with buried secrets, and adventure in small seaside towns and exotic locales hiding deadly truths.

About Celeste Fenton

My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense.

When I'm not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.

Author Links: 

Website https://celestefenton.com  

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/stores/CELESTE-FENTON/author/B0F5HTW7RK  

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@CelesteFentonWrites  

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575815274859  

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/celestefentonwrites  

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@celestefenton?lang=en  

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-fenton-33811a357/  

X https://x.com/CFentonWrites  

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/celeste_fenton/  

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/1923908781  

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N

Lost Heart in King Manor - An Interview & Review

I'm pleased to welcome Celeste Fenton to Cozy Up With Kathy today. Celeste writes the Mysteries of a Heart Series. LOST HEART IN KING MANOR is the first book in the series and was released earlier this year.

Kathy: In LOST HEART IN KING MANOR we meet Gabby Heart. When her mother has a health crisis Gabby discovers family secrets and a deadly agenda. Have you ever had to take care of a family member with health issues? Have you ever unearthed family secrets?

CF: Yes to both. Caretaking teaches you patience, resilience, and that sometimes the best medicine is a well-timed laugh. As a mother of twin boys, one or the other often had scrapes and bruises, but fortunately neither had serious injuries or illnesses. My late husband had a few surgeries that we got through together. As for family secrets—let’s just say I had a challenging childhood and learned early on that real life can be every bit as twisty as fiction. The difference is, in fiction, I get to decide how the story ends… and no one minds if I add a few dramatic gasps or saves. 

Kathy: Gabby teaches art and runs a gift shop. Aside from writing, do you create art?

CF: When I was younger, I sewed and quilted. When I retired, I took drawing lessons. And now here is my guilty little secret. I do paint by numbers!! People think I have done them freehand. Do I disabuse of their assumption? Maybe. 

 

Kathy: You published your debut novel later in life. How has age impacted your road to publication?

CF: You know...I believe in that old saying...make lemonade out of lemons. On the plus side, I have a lot of life experience to draw from. Both the joyful and the painful. All material for “well, that’s going in a book someday.” But, on the challenging side, I time is racing by, so I don't want to waste a second of it. I don’t waste time chasing what’s trendy. I write the stories I want to tell… and I do it before I forget them. 


Kathy: What first drew you to mysteries?

CF: Ah...I've always loved a puzzle. As a kid, I devoured Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. I like the challenge of digging up the clues buried in plain sight. 

Kathy: Do you write in any other genres?

CF: I consider my writing to be a mystery and romance combo. My sweet spot is romantic suspense with a cozy mystery heart. But I also think the women’s fiction genre slips in. 

Kathy: Tell us about your series. 

CF: The Mysteries of a Heart Series follows the journey of Gabby Heart, a sharp-witted (and sometimes sharp-tongued) illustrator with an uncanny knack for stumbling into adventures of a lifetime and secrets worth killing for. Each book unravels a new mystery while deepening the emotional ties between characters. 

Kathy: Do you have a favorite character? If so, who and why?

CF: Gabby, of course. She's smart, her life is messy, she's scared of love, but still secretly yearning for it. A close second is Jay Laird. He’s infuriatingly charming, maddeningly cocky, and yet surprisingly vulnerable. He’s also the kind of character I love to write banter for—because he always thinks he’s winning… until Gabby gets the last word. 

Kathy: Did you have a specific inspiration for your series?

CF: My love of small, close-knit communities—where everyone knows each other’s business, but still shows up when it matters. It’s a place where gossip travels faster than Wi-Fi. And, I'll confess that the idea of ACHE came from a conversation I overheard while standing in line at the grocery store, and another conversation at a coffee shop. Not that I make a habit of eavesdropping!

Kathy: What made you decide to publish your work?

CF: When my husband passed away in 2021 I realized that time was flying by. I also realized that I had been letting fear (of rejection and failure) hold me back. I didn’t want to look back one day and regret not trying. Stories were stacking up in my head, and I had too many post-it notes with ideas all over the house. 

Kathy: If you could have a dinner party and invite 4 authors, living or dead, in any genre, who would you invite?

CF: That was a hard question!! If I have to pick only 4, I'll go with: Agatha Christie (her cozy style and twisty endings, plus I want to know the real reason she disappeared for a few days), Nora Roberts (genre-bending genius and great sex scenes), Jane Austen (for sharp wit and social commentary and more about Mr. Darcy), and M.C. Beaton (because her humor could cut glass and she’d probably start the best gossip). We’d have mystery, romance, and wickedly funny conversation over dessert.

Kathy: What are you currently reading?

CF: Just finished ATOMIC CITY GIRLS by Jane Beard and just started PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION by Emily Henry.

Kathy: Will you share any of your hobbies or interests with us?

CF: Sure! Reading of course! In addition to the paint-by-numbers, I like escape rooms, playing Canasta and Hand and Foot, and my current project is creating a digital scrapbook for each year of my grandchildrens' life.

Kathy: Name 4 items you always have in your fridge or pantry.

CF: Coffee (of course!), half-n-half for the coffee, blueberry preserves (I'm addicted), and bread and butter pickles.

Kathy: Do you have plans for future books either in your current series or a new series?

CF: Oh yes! CAPTIVE HEART AT BRANTMAR CASTLE - Book Two in the Mysteries of a Heart Series – will be released on September 22. And BROKEN HEART AT AVALON CHATEAU will be released in late winter/early spring of 2026.

Kathy: What's your favorite thing about being an author?

CF: Hearing from readers who tell me my book gave them an escape, made them laugh or comforted them when they needed it most. 

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Review

LOST HEART IN KING MANOR by Celeste Fenton
The First in the Mysteries of a Heart Series 

Dost Island is a quiet scenic location off the coast of Massachusetts. It's the home to King Manor and the enclosed ACHE, the Adult Care and Health Enclave complex, a rehabilitation center that also does research on elder care. After Gabby Heart's mother suffers some disturbing issues then falls and breaks her hip, her doctor recommends she goes to ACHE to recover. After a tour of the mansion turned retirement center the women agree. After all, it's not permanent. But not everything is as it seems at King Manor. As a hurricane is set to hit the island Gabby finds herself  at ACHE along with a good looking neighbor and annoying new office mate. Despite the attraction to both men, Gabby's more concerned for her mother's altered mental state and the odd things happening to other residents. Will the hurricane obliterate the mansion or reveal its dark secrets?

LOST HEART IN KING MANOR is an intriguing story that's part mystery and part romantic suspense. With wit, a healthy dose of sarcasm, and self confidence Gabby is a likable protagonist, even though she tends to ramble on and on when telling a story. I appreciate her long term friendship with Lola and Abe. The guys, both Rick and Jay, can be annoying. Very annoying. Jay's method for getting what he wants was a dead turn off for me and even Rick was problematic. Neither was any match for Lavanda, however. Ultimately, it's a novel of growth for Gabby. Letting go, letting in, and expanding to see who she really is.

There was a lot of excitement and I wasn't sure who to trust! I really liked how the history of the manor played a vital role. A few things did bother me, however. A main problem was the visitor in the hospital. A major thing, yet Gabby drops it and doesn't address it. It eventually is reintroduced near the end of the book, but it was driving me bonkers that she didn't look further into the situation at the start. Other things also happened and I couldn't understand the point, like teenaged Luke coming to ACHE during the hurricane.

Danger, excitement, and a bit of lust reside in LOST HEART IN KING MANOR. Check out the mysterious goings on and relationship issues in the first book in this riveting new series. I look forward to seeing what's in store for Gabby next!

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Author Links:

Website

https://celestefenton.com

Amazon Author page

https://www.amazon.com/stores/CELESTE-FENTON/author/B0F5HTW7RK

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@CelesteFentonWrites

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575815274859

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/celestefentonwrites

TikTok

https://www.tiktok.com/@celestefenton?lang=en

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/celeste-fenton-33811a357