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What could be better than reading and loving a book and then finding out there's more? Characters that feel like old friends are off to have more adventures! And it's happening today with a welcome back visit from author Celeste Fenton with the second book in her Mysteries of a Heart series, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle. More suspense, more romance, more mystery and a new twist...Scotland. Join us as we celebrate the launch of this book with a giveaway and an interview with the author.
But before we get to that, here's more about her book:
Two mysteries. One fight for survival. And danger closing in from both sides of the sea.
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, and simmering romance in a story where secrets run deep... and time is running out.
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, and simmering romance in a story where secrets run deep... and time is running out.
Publisher: Independently Published (September 22, 2025)
AISN: B0FNLY4WXK
Print length: 384 pages
Purchase your copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You'll also want to add it to your GoodReads reading list.
About the Author, Celeste Fenton
Celeste Fenton holds an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and has over thirty years’ experience in higher education. Her writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery, a fascination with the complexities of the human heart, and just enough real-world experience to keep things interesting. A widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired professor living in Florida, she weaves imagination with insight to create stories that are both emotionally rich and laced with suspense.
When she’s not writing, reading, or plotting her next twist, she’s often off exploring small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures, much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of friends and family. Her latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.
Website: https://celestefenton.com
--Interview by Jodi M. Webb
WOW: Welcome back, Celeste. We can't wait to hear about your second book Captive Heart at
Brantmar Castle.
Celeste: Jodi, first, thank you for the wonderful blog tour you arranged for Lost Heart in King Manor and now for Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle! Women on Writing (WOW) is an amazing resource and support for writers.
WOW: We do love writers, especially meeting them and getting to know how they work. So tell us, did you plan the Mysteries of a Heart series from the beginning or did it grow from Lost Heart in King Manor?
Celeste: When the idea for Lost Heart in King Manor first started chirping—demanding to be freed from my brain cage—I was only focused on one book. (It was originally titled Mystery at the Manor. Yawn!) But as I got to know Gabby, she made it clear that one-and-done wouldn’t cut it. She had opinions, adventures to survive, and a lot more to say. I just followed her lead—and suddenly, I had a series.
WOW: Some characters just can't be contained in one book. Many of the characters from Lost Heart in King Manor return in Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle. How do you keep them fresh
and evolving?
Celeste: It’s easy to keep the characters fresh because—now, don’t call the help line—I do know they’re fictional… I just don’t tell them that. These characters are growing, learning, making mistakes, finding purpose, falling in and out of love, and sometimes tripping over their own emotions. In other words, they’re human.
Abe Tuff (Abigail) takes a much bigger role in Captive Heart, reluctantly dragged into another one of Gabby’s “adventures.” There are fun and touching moments with the people Gabby and Abe meet in Scotland; Rick and Jay continue their bickering but have to press pause long enough to survive a disaster; Connie’s on her deathbed, Val comes home, Gail and Lola serve up sass, Beth and Roman feed everyone, and Anna—bless her—holds them all together. Whew! There’s a lot going on in Captive Heart!
WOW: That is a lot of drama. But we also enjoy the budding romance (actually, multiple romances). Many authors say romance scenes are hard to write. Do you find them challenging?
Celeste: Oh, absolutely—I was blushing writing my first steamy scene in Lost Heart in King Manor, where Gabby and Rick are in the tunnels and Jay catches them mid-make-out. Hells bells! But Gabby and Rick are in their forties—hello, they’re not exactly innocent—and it felt honest and natural for the moment. Plus, it gave Jay a perfect comedic reaction.
My advice? Don’t write sex scenes for shock value. Make them earn their place in the story. The intimacy should move the characters forward—emotionally, narratively—and feel real, not gratuitous.
WOW: It was enjoyable to read sexy scenes that had a tinge of humor, that gave them such a real feeling. So, two books released and more to come. Did you learn anything while writing Lost Heart that made the books that followed easier to write?
Celeste: I’m a lifelong educator who believes we learn with every breath we take, and writing is no exception. My action beats are stronger now, and the characters have greater depth (they talk to me more—but I’ve learned to put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign in my head at bedtime, though Gabby, Lola, and especially Jay, love to ignore it).
I dove deeper into research—Scotland, planes, tides, COVID, even mass shootings. Every new detail enriched the Captive Heart world and, frankly, taught me a lot about resilience—both theirs and mine.
WOW: If your research is any clue, there are going to be lots of challenges in Captive Heart. You’ve been promoting the Mysteries of the Heart series for several months. Are you tired? No, seriously, what’s your best advice for book promotion?
Celeste: Marketing is the hardest part of being an author. It’s exhausting, endless, and requires strategy. Let me share a cautionary tale: I signed up for a “Feel the Heat” book conference in Tampa, Florida. Perfect, I thought—just a few miles up I-75 from home! When I arrived, I was thrilled to see my table near the entrance. No competition in sight. Then I wandered into the main area and—gasp!—whips, chains, and dungeons. Turns out “Feel the Heat” was code for erotica, not the Florida sunshine.
Moral of the story? Do your research.
Make sure every dollar and every hour you invest in promotion is aligned with your genre, your audience, and your stage of authorship. A debut indie author and a New York Times bestseller have very different needs.
WOW: Book promotion is always an adventure, but your misadventure wins the prize. Maybe Gabby will wander into a Feel the Heat conference in a future book! Do you draw from your life for your writing? Do your travels inspire your writing?
Celeste: Absolutely! I adore exploring—small towns, college towns, big cities—all of it. Travel recharges my imagination, fills my creative well, and helps me craft richer settings and characters. A 2023 trip up the eastern coast of Canada and across to Greenland inspired several key scenes in Captive Heart and the book I’m writing now, Broken Heart at Avalon Chateau, which finds the gang sailing up the eastern coast of Canada!
WOW: I'm looking forward to traveling with Gabby and the gang. But you often travel solo. What's the appeal of traveling alone?
Celeste: Solo travel isn’t for everyone, and for some, it may not be feasible. But for me, it’s freeing. I can go where I want, when I want. It’s liberating, refreshing, and yes, occasionally lonely. But in that quiet, I think deeply, soul-search, and plot without distraction. My limit is about thirty days—after that, I miss my loved ones too much, and I know it’s time to for Gemma and I to head home.
WOW: How is it solo traveling if you travel with Gemma?
Celeste: Gemma is my little Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that is almost always glued to my side. She’s up for almost every adventure and a great sounding board!
WOW: I have three black cats as my sounding board but they are definitely home bodies. If a mysterious millionaire offered to fund a trip anywhere in the world, where would you (and Gemma) go?
Celeste: Oh, what a setup for a novel! Let’s see… I’d pick Tasmania.
Two reasons: I just finished watching The Survivors on Netflix—filmed there, and the locale was absolutely stunning. Coincidentally, my fourth book, Deserted Heart at Crest Edge Villa, takes
place in Tasmania.
It would be the perfect chance for “on location” research. So, if there are any generous millionaires reading this… Hello! Call me! (My editor said not to forget her.)
WOW: And me! After all, it was my question. So tell us what's next. We’ve had a manor, a castle...will there be more Mysteries of the Heart or something new?
Celeste: Right now, I’m laser-focused on Mysteries of a Heart.
The third book, Broken Heart at Avalon Chateau, finds Gabby and the gang in the summer of 2020, sailing on Jay’s not-so-luxurious yacht to Canada to inspect his newly inherited chateau—one that may hold a cache of stolen Nazi gold. Meanwhile, back on Dost Island, Gabby’s daughter Val investigates the murder of the town librarian with Gail, Connie, and Lincoln (Connie’s maybe love interest). Secrets unravel, loyalties are tested, and the group must face their own demons to survive.
The fourth book, Deserted Heart at Crest Edge Villa, takes Gabby and friends to Tasmania, where they investigate the mysterious death of Anna’s half-brother. A letter sends them on an RV trek through the wilderness—but when they become stranded, they must rely on old traditions and each other for survival while being stalked by a sinister presence.
And finally, unless Gabby and the gang have other ideas, Rescued Heart at Water’s Edge wraps the series. Shipwrecked on an uncharted island after fleeing Tasmania, Gabby and her companions must fight the elements—and each other—as strange forces push them to the brink of madness. Only by shedding old grievances and rediscovering faith in one another can they hope to make it home.
WOW: Shipwrecked! What an amazing ending (maybe) for the series. Well, we should let you get back to writing. Someone has to get Gabby off that island.
--Blog Tour Calendar
November 10th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of the second book in Celeste Fenton's Mysteries of a Heart series: Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.
November 11th @ Reading Is My Remedy
Celeste Fenton, author of Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle believes there is Power In the Past. today she tells us how backstory can make (or break) a story.
November 12th @ Just Katherine
Katherine has a review of Celeste's latest novel: Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle. Also, author Celeste Fenton shares thoughts about the power of friendship later in life.
November 14th @ Books R Us
Learn about emotion wildfires with author Celeste Fenton's guest post about Writing Through the Flames of Grief, Anger and Longing.
November 17th @ Chapter Break
Ever wonder about The Frizzy Side of Murder? Celeste Fenton, author of the Mysteries of a Heart series, shares thoughts on blending suspense with romance.
November 19th @ Words by Webb
Need a fun & adventure-filled read? Jodi reviews Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle.
November 20th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Sometimes writing is Too Hot to Handle. Author Celeste Fenton shares The Art (and Awkwardness) of Writing Intimate Scenes.
November 22nd @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Ever wonder about a day in the life of an author? Learn more in today's interview with Celeste Fenton.
November 25th @ Other People's Pets
Novelist and animal lover Celeste Fenton shares five things everyone should know about Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
November 28th @ Your Weekend Care Package
Author Celeste Fenton is a guest contributor with her ideas about the perfect weekend care package.
December 3rd @ Word Magic
Author Celeste Fenton writes about how Creativity Has Gone to the Dogs. Learn about the key influence her dogs have on her writing process.
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle by Celeste Fenton! Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends November 23rd at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day via Gleam and follow up via email. Good luck!
Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle Giveaway
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