I was back in Brooklet Georgia and things were far from how they were when I left years ago. Maddison used to be one of the guys, but that was definitely not the case anymore… She had changed and damn if it didn’t make my heart race. With each passing second she began to consume me. Her smile made my knees weak and the way she looked at me took my breath away. She captivated me, but she was … captivated me, but she was forbidden. She was the one girl I had no right to crave.
Things became messy, and fast, but to hell with the consequences…she was worth it.
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Mike and Maddison have been best friends since they were little. They have always felt a connection with one another because they both came into the family by adoption. When Mike returns home after military he is all about being with family and pursuing his medical degree. One day though he finds that his feelings for Maddison have changed but doesn’t know what to do with those feelings. Maddison is confused about what she is feeling for Mike and pushes him away which causes an unintentional hurt within their family. When their fighting feelings comes to a head there is something to be said about the delayed gratification, they put us through. Once they give into their attraction the story takes on this beautiful quality that makes you have the feels. Maddison and Mike have this intense love that is undeniable and romantic. Their whole life they felt this bond from the time they were small because they came from situations beyond their control.
I love the fact that this story was filled friendship and family. A little drama and heartache in the story made it well rounded and bittersweet. It is so great to see the kids all grown up and how we get to see what our favorite couples from their parent’s series are doing. The next generation is always much sweeter and filled with drama. Mike and Maddison’s story will give you laughs, tears, and chemistry of the best kind. It is a fast read and you will not want to put it down. Come and visit the next generation and revisit the couples we loved reading about.
One thing about this author’s books is that you don’t have to read each book in a series to enjoy the book you choose to pick up and let’s not forget that you will fall in love with the story and characters while reading this story. This story truly does Captivate you and will have you reading it in one sitting or day.
Maddison and Mike grew up together and are considered family (though they are not) she was one of the boys. They have always held a connection, but as they got older and once, he returned from overseas things start to blur and quickly. Do they ignore their change in feelings to avoid ruining their friendship or do they explore where this can lead? Love how close this family was and how they saw it! Gave them an excuse for a party, right?! (you must read the book to understand that comment).
Grab those M&M’s and be Captivated by this heartfelt story! Your emotions will be like you are galloping on a horse (up/down) and at times your heart is in throat, but I loved how this ended.
I am in love with this series. The first book I read from CA Harms was Forgiving Reed in the Southern Boys Series and now the kids from that series are all grown up!
Mike and Madison have grown up together as “cousins” but now they are adults they have an amazing chemistry that they try their best to fight since their family might not approve.
But everyone else can see the pull that is between them and they are rooting for them to find the kind of love they all have. The family knows it’s not easy to love someone so it’s important to fight for the love Mike and Madison deserve!
It’s a well written story and it was amazing to see the southern boys characters again! You won’t be disappointed with Captivate!
I am completely blown away by this story and all the emotions that were ripped out of me. Mike and Madison went through a lot. There are many twist and turns. This book was amazing.
I received a review copy of the book before release for an honest review.
Before I begin I want to say that this story was so awesome At times I wanted to throw my kindle as I got a little frustrated with the female lead, Maddison as she tries hard to fight her feelings about her adopted cousin Mike. At a point she even dates another guy but luckily that ends fairly fast and we don’t see that much of that part of the story.
Mike is the male lead and he was absolutely awesome. At the start of the story he is in the military but he gets out and comes home and that is when he starts to have deep feelings for his adopted cousin, Maddison and where the story really starts.
Mike falls very hard and very fast and he chases Maddison but Maddison fights hard because of the cousin relationship. I understood where she came from but at times it also frustrated me. When the two finally get together and I loved how Mike fought for Maddison even as she tried to throw her best friend Raven at him, that’s when I fell in love with this story.
It is not all roses for these two, as something very life changing happens before the book ends and that really made it the awesome book it was and wonderful story. Be forewarned you might shed a few tears along the way.
I just finished Captivate by C. A. Harms and it was utterly fantastic!! I had been wait for Mikes story for while now. Amd I was not dissapointed, it was a roller coaster of emotions all the way through… I went through so many emotions and. Mumbling at my Kindle, then yelling WHY!!! Mikey was a personal favorite from the Southern Boys series.
Mike has just left deployment and is back home for good. Maddison was his best friend and honorary cousin. But more than that there was an intense pull that had them trying to avoid each other because of some preconceived notions that it wouldn’t be good. But life doesn’t work out that way, their pull was stronger.
Then as we got to the ending my heart stopped, and I couldn’t put my book down. I did ugly cry through everything that happened..
Then the ending is was perfect!!
I absolutely love we get the next generation. C.A has a way of pulling you into a storyline. She easily does it with every single book. Instant hook with this one. Mike is deployed when he comes back things have changed . Maddison is even more grown up and things have changed for her. But will these two realize what has actually changed or run from it? Absolutely love the chemistry between these two. Love all the characters and that you get the family feeling in this storyline. I love getting the second generation and can’t wait to get more.
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of a way to describe Captivate is friends to lovers done perfectly. The connection they have, the resistance they put up against the pull between them and the way that resistance crumbles under what is so undeniable. It was all so flawlessly written in a way that really keeps you glued to Mike and Maddison’s story.
Best friends deeply tied together through connections that make them almost like family, these two have known each other most of their lives. Even before Mike returned home he was already beginning to find himself pulled toward Maddison in a way that went beyond friendship, but once he was home for good there was no stopping what these two have together.
I really loved the build up of them falling even more in love with each other. The back and forth along with the hesitation brought on by “what will people think” made their relationship seem much more real. Then you get hit with just how swoony Mike really is and BAM! I guarantee you’ll be a goner just like me.
A great friends to lovers story! The first part of the story felt it drug out a little but once Maddison got her head on straight, the story took a better turn. I loved both characters, Mike especially, as he was so mature, respectful and dedicated to his friends and family. His personality makes for a fantastic male lead and Maddison’s strong, sassy personality was a great complement to Mike. The chemistry was off the charts and the feels were great! Another great addition to the Harms library!
This was a great edition to the Brooklet series! I really enjoy the series this author comes up with. Family and love are the main ingredients to her stories. Maddison was always considered one of the boys and Mike was reluctant to ruin their friendship. Maddison was tired of waiting. Will it be too late?
Thank you for the privilege of reading this book! Well done
Love country boys? Love friends-to-lovers stories? Then this book is right up your alley.
Mikey and Maddison grew up together. They were more than best friends; they considered each other family, “cousins” (no blood relation whatsoever). So years later, feeling the attraction they felt, the connection and chemistry, confused them. How could they feel that way? Well, it was clear to everyone else, BUT them.
Their life-long connection always went beyond friendship, but again, they were the last to realize this. Stubborn souls, those two (even more so Maddy, though).
Once they decided to give in, it was smooth sailing from there, making this a sweet romance that had me fully smiling. My heart did skip a bit with that curveball towards the end but I can say that I am very happy with how CA wrapped everything up.
A great read! Go check it out!
Captivate is Book 2 in author CA Harms’ Brooklet Dreams series and is the second generation of the original Southern Boys series.
This is Maddison and Mike’s story- a friends to lovers romance read. They have been friends forever ( they grew up together since their parents are friends- read the OG Southern Boys series for background on parents) and Mike has just retired from the military. The chemistry is intense between them and the push/pull is definitely there. They put up a good amount of front, trying to pretend that they don’t want each other but soon it falls apart and they succumb to their feelings for one another. How much longer can they pretend that they don’t want each other? Who is going to be hurt when they admit how much they have these deep emotions and feels for one another? Dare they run the risk of diving in and giving in and letting what feel take course and risk their friendship? So many things and people at risk yet two people who are in love. This story has such deep emotions and feels. The love that pours out is powerful and poignant. Keep tissues handy … I enjoyed the characters and the chemistry between the main characters. The secondary characters also helped enchance the story. I can’t wait for book 3.
My Rating: 4.5 stars *******
Such a beautiful friends to lovers story. Mike is hard, yet soft & completely alpha. He is protective of those he cares about & that makes him even more lovable. Maddison has the sweet girl next door vibe, but she has sassy attitude that makes her stand out. A great couple & well written characters that makes you want the story to never end. I was disappointed with the quick ending & wanted to see more of their future. I recommend this book. Told in dual POV.
I am such a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers romance, and Captivate has everything I love about them. It was angsty, sweet, and all kinds of hot!
Maddison and Mike have grown up together, their parents were like family and along with Rhett (From Allure, the first in this series), they have been best friends since birth. So when Mike returns home after years in the military, he is confuse by his new feelings for Maddison. He knows a relationship with Maddison could be disasterous but he can’t seem to stop himself or stay away from her.
I could not put this story down. Harms sure knows how to write a sweet sexy romance that will keep you coming back for more! I can’t wait to see what she brings us next in this series!
Favorite Quotes:
Trouble never looked so good.
This entire thing has been so that you can prove that you hold the upper hand in this relationship… Truth is you’ve always had the power over me… Damn, Mad, you’ve always been the one girl I could never say no to… I’m at your mercy. You could crush me, though I hope you never will.
I’m eighteen and still a virgin. I’ve never even kissed a guy unless you count little Jimmy Jones slobbering on my cheek in the fifth grade. But even then, Rhett threatened to beat him up when he found out, and he and my daddy have made sure no other boy has come within a foot of me since. At this rate, they’ll be doing a remake of the 40 Year Old Virgin, starring yours truly.
I felt for the girl, I truly did, because Reed and Rhett were for sure gonna drive her insane for years and years to come. But the guy had my most sympathy; I just hoped whoever she ended up with, he was strong enough to survive.
My Review:
Angst and conflict are not my friends – I find them extremely tiresome. As such, the first half of this book was a tedious slog for me, but it was worth it to get to all the good stuff found in the second half. I was just about to give up when the stubborn girl finally stopped playing games and regained her facility for sassy and mischievous taunting. Thank the goddess of ink, I was growing increasingly concerned that Ms. Harms had lost her mojo, but she redeemed herself with delicious slices of sizzle and playful levity. Written in my favorite dual POV, the storylines evolved slowly with many of the same lively cast of irreverent and endearing characters found in Allure. Mike was simply delectable.
This is the second book in this series, and is Madison and Mike’s story. These two have been best friends forever, and now Mike is back in town after having retired from the military. There is an undeniable explosive chemistry between them, but will they be able to move on from friends / lovers? No spoilers; this is one of those stories which just needs to be read, you will not be disappointed! This is a well written flawless story, which had a tad angst, which all had me totally captivated throughout this addictive page turner, and I look forward to reading more from this author, whose work I recommend for all.
•Second Generation of those sexy Southern Boys•
Captivate is Book #2 in CA Harms’ Brooklet Dreams series and is the second generation of the original Southern Boys that I loved reading about so much. Each is an absolute stand-a-lone within the series, and is told in my favourite dual POV.
It is a beautiful and passionate Friends to Lovers story where Rhett’s (from Book #1, Allure) best friends realise that their feelings of friendship have morphed to attraction, and it was something neither had prepared for, nor knew how to deal with. Especially with the complication that they had grown up as family, or rather, cousins. The tiny but significant fact that there was no blood ties didn’t seem to mitigate the feelings of the forbidden in regards to any romantic relationship between them, so this made it a slow burn romance that was a little more on the sweet side that some of CA Harm’s other books.
In my mind, it showcases Ms Harms ability to inspire every reaction for her readers from the singeing of corneas from our eyes with scorching heat, to the charming of our hearts with sweet words of soul ensnaring words of love from our very gorgeous and tattooed ex-military book boyfriend. Mike is everything that you would want in your own man.
It was hard not to get frustrated with Maddison’s reluctance to deepen the relationship with Mike, and hell, I totally understood their need to want to take on any person that the other dated, because I wanted to smash everyone as well! Mike and Madd needed to have their heads butted, and the poor unfortunate who dared a relationship with either of them was due for some fallout as well!
It is only once they can get past the possible embarrassing stigma of family ties and accept the risk of their friendship changing forever that they can truly move forward with the relationship that always seemed to be on the cards. And I loved seeing the amazing families that our original couples created, be there for each other and our romantic couple. 4 Stars
The second book in the Brooklet Dreams series will mesmerize and captivate you from the absolute start. A friends to lovers story that will have Mike and Maddison confused, consumed and making mistakes that will have them wasting time and not only hurting each other but people that are close to them. Captivate will have your anxiety levels high and your heart in your throat as these two dance around their feelings. Their story will have your pulse racing and at times you will be an emotional mess. A love story that will have you holding your breath and scared to look away. The chemistry and connection between these two emits from the pages like an electric current. Captivate is affecting, passionate and nothing short of heartwarming.
CA Harms is a go-to author for me and I was so excited to be back in Brooklet for this spinoff! Mike and Madison’s story is EVERYTHING! I think this one was a little more angsty than I am used to from CA Harms, but I loved every second of it! I cannot say enough about this book, but I don’t want to give anything away either! GAH! FIVE STARS!!
One of the best friends to lovers books EVER!!!!
Maddison and Mikey were the best of friends, they even considered each other cousins. BUT what happens when you grow up and you see each other in a different way..Only your embarrassed. She/he is my cousin how could I feel THOSE feelings? BUT there is no blood between them. Maddison’s Step father is Mike’s “mother’s” brother, so maybe it’s ok.
Then let’s not forget the fact that Mike joined the service. And every time he came home on leave he came back even stronger and he has INK!!! Double the sexy.
I loved how things happened between Mike and Maddison. Her even trying to date a coworker so maybe she could get over Mike. I have to say one of my favorite scenes in this book was when Mad and Raven got into a drunk fight. They always say your true feelings will be said with enough liquid encouragement.