Cash:I don’t do love. I do sex—because when emotions are involved, love turns into a mess—at least that’s what my parent’s marriage taught me. But then one day, some idiot makes a wrong turn down a one-way street, and suddenly I’m captivated by a woman for the first time in my life. I try to fight it, this pull I feel towards her, but seeing her in other instances just proves that she is … something different. So I surrender, pursue a woman relentlessly and find myself falling until I realize she’s not who she says she is. She has secrets and I have questions, the biggest one being—can we survive the shitstorm that hovers over us as we try to unravel the truth?
Piper:
I’m living a double life. It was the only way my parents could protect me. So when I end up in Emerson Falls, Oregon, the last thing I expected was to meet a man that is just as infuriating as he is captivating. I want to punch him in the junk as much as I want to climb him like a tree. And then I start to fall for him, but he can’t know why I’m really here. No one can. I tread the line of living in the moment and constantly looking over my shoulder—and then the unthinkable happens. My life is threatened and complications arise, everything in shambles as I struggle to process it all—but the biggest question is, will Cash ever be able to accept all the consequences of my circumstances and love me when he finds out the truth?
*Trigger Warning: Fertility struggles
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Captivated does just that.. it’s captivates you from the first page. The story starts off with a prologue that will have you wanting to read the entire book as fast as possible. I honestly think that Harlow James outdoes herself with each new book that she writes. Her characters feel so real to me, that I start to take on their emotions. To me that is what I call an amazing and talented author.
Cash is the town playboy and Piper is new to town. In this book we learn why Cash doesn’t believe in love. We meet Birdie, who is one of the most important people in Cash’s life. She is the perfect mother figure for Cash and puts him in his place. I love the way Cash and Piper first meet and the interactions and banter between the two is perfect. Piper is just what Cash needs in his life. There were many intense moments throughout the book that had me at the edge of my seat with tears in my eyes. And the ending, oh my goodness it made my heart so happy. Harlow includes a bonus epilogue at the end of the book that you won’t want to miss out on.
I received an ARC of this from the author and volunteered to leave an unbiased review.
After reading my first Harlow James just a couple months back, I was excited to find out what was coming next from Emerson falls. And after that prologue..MAN I was sucked in and ended up finishing this in one sitting.
This time it’s Deputy Cash who gets his story. And the woman who steals his heart? Man he doesn’t see her coming.
The writing in this was so quick paced. The steamy scenes were on point. There’s TONNES of drama.
I highly recommend this and this entire series.
I’m very excited to see what comes next from this series and this author for sure.
I have adored every book in this series, but so far this one takes the top spot. The prologue alone rips your heart out and then you have to wait a good portion of the book to find out what happened after that.
First off, Piper. Sweet but sassy. She has a big secret and struggles to let anyone in. We learn pretty quickly what’s going on in her world. She’s one of those female characters that you know you’d love to have as a friend. And Lord knows, she could use a girl gang!
Cash. Big sigh. He’s a ladies man. Witnessed his parents have a terrible marriage and vows to never repeat that. So a new girl every night. No commitment. No feelings. No problem. Until … Piper! I love how throughout the book we peel away the layers of Cash and learn that despite his good looks and his cocky attitude, he has a heart of gold!
I love a book that can make me feel a lot of things and this one sure fit the bill. Early on Cocky Cash – wanted to punch him. Early on Piper – wanted to hug her. At times through the book I wanted to shake them both. I laughed. I teared up. And then throw in the suspense element and I gasped a few times.
And Birdie (& Samuel too) – I adored her. The relationship between Birdie & Cash I think shows you exactly the type of man he truly is. And I think the spunk factor that Piper has can also been seen in Birdie.
This book was soooo good and y’all need to read it STAT! And now I can’t wait to read Luke’s story.
It didn’t take me long to become a fan girl of Harlow James. Ever since she’s been sending me ARC’s I fall more in love with her writing every time. She is so good at pulling you into a story, and keeping your attention until the very end. I received an ARC of Captivated in exchange for my honest review. Captivated is a stand alone novel in the Emerson Falls series.
Right from the first page this book will suck you in. Your going to immediately want to know more, and you won’t be able to put it down until you get the answers your looking for. I love that these books are so much more than romance. They make you laugh, they make you swoon, and they keep you on the edge of your seat.
A man like Cash is the type that sinks their touch into your soul, leaving you completely changed by their presence.
When I read book two I remember messaging Harlow and telling her that Cooper was one of the best book boyfriend I’d read in a while. I messaged her again with Captivated. Cash was amazing. He is definitely my favorite, so far. I have high expectations that Harlow will deliver, yet again, another fantastic book boyfriend in her next book, but he can be my favorite for now.
Cash was fantastic. Sure, he was a bit of a man whore, but I didn’t mind all that. He was young, and he was having fun. He didn’t set out to hurt people intentionally, and women knew who he was when they got involved with him. I loved that as soon as he laid eyes on Piper he knew she was something special. He wanted to be a better man, and he didn’t fight himself over it. I think that was a true testament to the kind of man he was.
“Everyone has a part of them they reserve for only a select few to see. Maybe Piper is one of those people that deserves that part of you.”
I was immediately intrigued with Piper. I knew she was keeping some secrets and I was dying to find out what they were. She was a mystery, and there’s nothing I love more then trying to unravel a mystery about a character. Even though I knew she had something going on in her life that we didn’t immediately have the answers to, I had no trouble falling in love with her. Regardless of what she had went through she was still headstrong. She didn’t let anyone walk all over her, and she wasn’t afraid to tell it like it was. Hands down one of my favorite Piper scenes is when she interrupts a “date” Cash is having. When you read it you will understand.
One of my favorite things about this series of books is all the supporting characters. I love that they all make appearances in each book, and I love the bond and banter that they have with one another.
Also, Birdie is like one of my favorite book characters. She was sassy, and I loved all the scenes that had her in them. I also wanted to go to the store and buy some Cheez It’s while reading the story.
Sometimes people surprise us in the most unexpected ways.
Once again Harlow James delivers a 5 STAR worthy read. She knows how to tell a story, and she knows how to tell one well. She kept me intrigued from the first page, and held my interest until the last page. I always look forward to reading a new book of her’s and I can’t wait to see what she has planned next.
What a ride! If you like small town romances, sexy police officers, and suspense that keeps you on the edge of your seat, check out Captivated.
Cash Williams didn’t have the best example of love growing up. He’s vowed that he won’t ever be the relationship guy, he’s more of a hit and quick it kind of dude. However one day, thanks to her breaking the law, he meets Piper Davis. There is something about Piper that draws Cash in and he can’t seem to stay away. He decides to pursue her, but that’s easier said than done.
Piper Davis doesn’t have the greatest opinion of Cash. He’s arrogant and cocky, and thinks he’s a gift to woman, but she can’t deny there is something about Cash that has her interested. However her life is anything but normal, and falling in love with someone is not part of her carefully laid out plans. You know what they say about best laid plans though don’t you? When the truth of what Piper is really doing in Emerson Falls is revealed, will Cash be able to look past the lies?
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars because it was truly amazing. I loved Cash in the second Emerson Falls book, and Harlow James made him even better when he got his own book. I love that we got to see a different side of Cash, a softer side if you will. He knows he’s hot, but he also has the sweetest heart. And Piper, she was exactly the type of girl that Cash needed. She’s not afraid to put him in his place and she has a heart of gold. This book was amazing, and I was drawn in from the very beginning. I laughed, I cried, and everything in between. I am so ready for the next book!
This book is an incredible contemporary romance read, there are elements of suspense and angst combined with a heavy does of make your Kindle melt, swoon worthy romantic moments.
Deputy Cash Williams gives new meaning to the phrase ‘Sexy Man in Uniform’, he’s all that and a box of Cheez It . From big old man whore to slave to love – How the mighty womanizer Cash has fallen. But it’s a nosedive off of the tallest cliff that he would willingly take over and over again.
Piper is a beautifully complicated woman. Driven to succeed she has worked hard at becoming a nurse and loves helping people, her caring nature also has her doing volunteer work in a retirement facility. She is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside but there is even more to her than meets the eye – Piper is hiding from her past, a past that she can’t seem to escape from.
There’s no way Piper or Cash knew what was in store for them when they first met. Both, for very different reasons were not looking for love and at first tried hard to ignore their attraction to one another. But you can only ignore a burning flame for so long, before it explodes into something bigger, brighter, hotter.
Watching Cash and Piper fall hard and fast for each other and navigate their way to a beautiful happily ever after makes this book a Five Plus Star read. TBR and enjoy and remember: Love is like a bag of Scrabble tiles, you never know what you’re going to get!
This book was truly a special kind of amazing. It the third installment of the Emerson Falls series. And I just Love they way Harlow James can keep us enticed in the series. Whether it be the plot, the characters chemistry, her writing. It all ties in together to give us such a great, spectacular even, series. Piper and Cash are an interesting couple, between Cash’s playboy like mindset and Piper’s sweet but take no bs attitude, it certainly makes for not only an interesting dynamic, but one of my favorite kinds. Piper hides secrets, ones that could turn Cash away from wanting her. I highly suggest reading the book to find out! James certainly has a way to keep the reader in suspense. I know I was on the edge of my seat throughout certain parts in the novel. I can’t wait for more!!!
I had every emotion when reading this book in the best way. I was sad, happy, overwhelmed, and so much in love with Cash and Piper. I didn’t know if Cash would ever find his match but oh he found it when it came to Piper. A lot of books make where the guy has all the secrets but in this books Piper has them all and for good reason. Sharing those secrets is something that she cannot just share with anyone. But when I say Cash has met his match I mean it and the chemistry and steaminess between these 2 is so hot that I thought it might melt my iPad while I was reading.
Book 3 in the Emerson Falls series by Harlow James is one you don’t want to miss. When she told me I might have a new favorite couple in this series and they would steal my heart she wasn’t joking. On to book 4!
h: Piper
H: Cash
(Dual POVs)
Cash pulls Piper over when she is going the wrong way on a one-way street during a festival. Soon after, Cash pays Piper a visit in the ER and he lays his playboy charm on thick! Cash is relentlessly after a date with Piper, but Piper doesn’t fall quickly for his game and is concerned with the reason behind her fleeing her hometown.
This book had all the feels, just like Harlow James promised! Intrigue Fear Sorrow Happiness Love Hot n Bothered At first, Cash makes you kinda hate him with his manwhore ways, but he slowly weasels his way into your heart. This book could’ve easily ended sooner than it did, with Cash and Piper simply making up, but I love that the author continues the story to address a sensitive health issue; infertility.
Favorite quotes:
One moment, I want to ball tap him and lecture him about how disrespectful he is- and the next, I have dirty dreams that wake me up in a sweat, in which he shows me all the skills his reputation suggests he has perfected. -Piper
”Relax, sweetheart. Let me in- not just to your body, but everywhere,” -Cash
Captivated is book 3 in the Emerson falls series. It can be read as a stand-alone but you will enjoy it more if you read the previous books.
This is the story of Cash and Piper.
Cash works as a deputy police officer in Emerson falls. He is a notorious player, he knows it, everyone knows it. He doesn’t believe in love, has never had a serious relationship and not even gone on a date. But the day he stops Piper for going in the wrong direction on a one way road he is immediately charmed by her.
“I’m star-struck. My chest feeling like a truck just slammed into me and cracked a rib. This woman is gorgeous. Not just hot, but strikingly beautiful, angelic even.”
Piper arrives at Emerson falls looking for a fresh start and a place to feel safe after running away from problems back home and starts working as a nurse in the local hospital.
Cash and Piper cross paths a few times. He tries to seduce her but unfortunately for Cash his womanizer ways get in the way every time. Oh Cash, bless his soul he is really taken with Piper but things start to change once he opens himself for Piper to see sides of him not many people have seen before.
This story is full of suspense and mystery too. It got me hooked from the prologue and I just couldn’t put it down. The development of the story towards the end had me in tears and their HEA was so well deserved. It was great to see Olivia and Clara too and I’m so looking forward to Luke’s book! That epilogue was a great tease