Secret aspiring comedian Autumn Reynolds is a girl gone…not wild exactly. More like lazy. Since her boyfriend abandoned her in New York City for a bunch of improv groupies she’s had two priorities; sucking the nitrous out of whipped cream cans and making sex comics about her mysterious landlord.Blake hates people—and sunlight—with good reason. Imagine his surprise when he finds himself lusting … himself lusting after his upstairs tenant, a sunny, Australian people pleaser down on her luck. Turns out his ability to terrify with a single scowl comes with an advantage. Autumn seems to like it. A lot. As evidenced by the prisoner-captive comic Blake was never meant to see.
As they embark on a three-date arrangement the rules are clear; filthy, ground breaking sex, no feelings or commitment required. When chemistry is this strong, though, attachment follows. As Blake and Autumn attempt to negotiate their New York romance, their prior histories and secret dreams come to the foreground. How long can these polar opposites remain Captivated, when all signs point to disaster?
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I love love love CAPTIVATED by Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield. It’s everything I ever wanted with a grumpy dirty-talking hero who secretly restores old books. 5 STARS!
With a subtle Beauty and the Beast feel and a powerful writing duo, Captivated isn’t your typical contemporary romance. In fact, suggesting that this book is just steamy would be a humongous understatement. Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield have created some pure erotic goodness, a super sexy, all-consuming novel! But this book isn’t just filthy. It’s multilayered, giving us two characters with well-defined backgrounds and a captivating plot!
If Autumn were sunlight, then Blake would surely be nightfall. He’s a loner, a man of few words. A broody being. The Landlord. But he’s also a book restoring beast of a man and he likes no-one… Well, except Autumn. But Autumn is the other side of the coin. She’s a little tiny thing with a sunny personality who is compassionate to not only people, but animals as well. A vet who secretly aspires to be a stand-up comedian. She’s Blondie and she has a secret. A fantasy that she lives out through her very own prisoner-captive comic with Blake the center of her fantasies.
Then The Landlord sees her comic that he was never supposed to ever, e v e r see and some downright dirty, yet decadent events that were unabashedly salacious and titillating ensue! Blake and Autumn’s chemistry was palpable. They were simply mesmerizing and intoxicating whenever they were together!
Together, DangerBailey is a powerhouse! The writing styles of both authors were blended extremely well. There was not two distinct voices within this novel, but a continuous one that dare I say, captivated me!
One of my favorite romance novels ever. A filthy hot kink, for sure, but surrounding this dirty tale are two characters who were funny, relatable, quirky, realistic and yearning for love in their lives. FLOVED IT.
This dynamic writing duo have given us a smoldering but sweet story! Autumn our heroine came to New York to support her acting boyfriend . Little did she know that she would soon find herself alone. She dedicates her life to her animals she is oh so passionate about her job as a vet .
Blake is the landlord/ superintendent of a apartment building that the lovely Autumn lives in. He has always kept his fascination with her under wraps for heavens sakes she had the boyfriend that so didn’t deserve her. Now the two of them are thrown together by a misunderstanding and they soon realize that they are much too compatible to walk away! Autumn and Blake are quirky funny but oh so sexy. This unlikely couple is sizzling off the pages. The more you dive into their story the more you realize that they bring out the best in one another …a side that neither one new they had starts to emerge! Loved them !!
~~Michele McMullen ~~
4 ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Stars!
ARC provided by the authors in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw that Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield were writing a book together, I knew. I just knew they would write one sexy love story. And if you have read both or one of these two ladies before, you know you are in for a filthy and oh-so-yummy treat because they know how to get down and dirty, if you know what I mean You all know by now I am HUGE Tessa Bailey fan and actually this is my first time reading something by Eve Dangerfield and now I know it will not be the last one. I am captivated!
So, Captivated is a standalone contemporary romance and it is the story between a sassy Aussie called Autumn Reynolds and her grumpy and mysterious landlord Blake Munroe. Autumn has just broken up with her boyfriend of 7 years, the man has cheated and he definitely did a number on her. Autumn dropped her dreams for him and now she is in a city she does not like much, without friends and working in a job she does not fully love. However, she also has this secret.. A secret fantasy involving being captive of her moody and sexy as hell landlord. Well, imagine when said landlord discovers that fantasy (in a very curious way!), especially when he has been attracted to this Aussie lady for the longest time. Things are about to get steamy!
“Enjoy using your hands now, little blonde girl. You won’t always have them. I’ve got a rope with your name on it.”
Oh man.. OH MAN. Holy mother. This novel pours the heat on every level. This duo of authors surely knows how to burn our Kindles with all that filthiness! I mean, I knew this would be dirty. I love Tessa’s writing to pieces and I’ve read many good things about Eve’s too. But these two ladies together? EXPLOSIVE! As you can imagine, Tessa wrote that delicious and dirty hero and Eve wrote the funny and sassy heroine. This book is funny as hell, it’s hotter than hell and it will grab your full attention from the very start. And yes, sometimes that kink got a little bit much to me but it was impossible not to melt with all that hotness and chemistry between this couple.
They were both in this together. Deep. Autumn needed to be a prisoner and his desire to give her everything made him crave the role.
It’s mine.
She’s fucking mine.
I also love a good pair of main characters and Autumn and Blake did not disappoint at all. Autumn is the funniest person, she actually wants to be a comedian and she definitely has the talent! She also is a smart and lovely woman who will make it impossible for Blake not to fall in love with her. And yes, let talk about Blake because.. Gah! I love Tessa’s heroes and he is no exception. He is so dirty. He definitely is a big, bearded, protective alpha and I loved him from the very beginning. Who does not love a closed man who peels all his layers when his soul mate appears and turns his world upside down?
“You made me want to be in the sun again. You made me want to be the one who… gave you the sun.”
Therefore, I am rating Captivated with 4 STARS because it surely was a great first novel by this amazing duo of authors. I hope this is the start of many more releases by them because I loved this couple, this story, the emotions and the explosive chemistry between Blake and Autumn. If you are a fan of super hot contemporary romances or of either (or both!) of these ladies, be sure to check this book out!
Autumn is just a really awkward person at times, “I—oh. Shirtless. You’re that way.”Autumn gave a rapid shake of her head, blonde hair catching in the crease of her lips. “Did you…Have you gone anywhere near your pants yet?” Blake doesn’t handle his jealousy well, “Blake drained his whiskey in a single swallow and banged his glass down. “I have no interest in seeing that little p***k. This involves you and me, Blondie. We’re going back to my house. I’m going to show you what I consider consolation.” I liked this book, Autumn had some strange fetishes that Blake didn’t mind help fullfuling.
Two of my favorite authors wrote a book together?! Hell. Yes.
First off, Blake is my grumpy, hermit dream and I think about him at least once a week. I normally don’t dig alphas, but I’ll make an exception for him. What’s fascinating about this book is you could tell who wrote which part – Blake’s chapters and all the filthy talk is definitely Bailey’s doing, and Autumn’s chapters and all the slightly off-center humor is all Dangerfield.
With that said, not a big fan of Autumn but maybe that’s just a personal take. Not a fan of her immature, irresponsible personality (although, I do understand what led her to be like this) or the scenes with her stand-up act, and a lot of the dialogue made me physically cringe. “Fun size” as a pet name? No thanks.
I loved this on my first read, but got more mixed on the subsequent re-reads. I do like parts of this book – hi, Blake – but as a whole it’s tough. I’d give it 3.5 (rounded up to 4) out of 5.
THIS book is everything I need in my life. My all-time favorite book!
Such a fun, steamy story! The big grumpy one is sweet on the sunshine one… and they get it on and it’s hot AF. They also help each other heal and grow as people and stuff, but OMG is this hott!
A new to me author, Tessa Bailey has earned herself a fan!
Autumn, or Fun-Size, is far from home and alone after splitting with her boyfriend. And crushing on her landlord.
Blake, or Beast, has decided to be somewhat of a recluse because of past events. But he’s lusting after his tenant, unbeknownst to her.
What happens when they discover each other?
Captivated is one of those “don’t judge it by its cover” types of books. It may look like it’s going to be a slightly steamy, kinda dirty read……But holy shit this book was FILTHY and I was living for it!
Autumn is recovering from a recent break up with her slimy cheating boyfriend, and in doing so she creates drawings of her and the Landlord fulfilling all her kinky captive fantasies.
Blake, the Landlord, has been lusting after the little Australian blonde since they first met. So imagine his surprise when he finds a drawing of them getting hot and heavy. He agrees to help her live out her fantasies but she has to go on three dates with him. And the story takes off from there.
Blake is a brooding, old book repairing, intimidating, hulk of a man. And he pairs perfectly with Little Miss Sunshine.
Captivated had me laughing, blushing, and smiling. It was an great read and I highly recommend it!
Overall rating 4 stars
Steaminess 4 stars
Two of my favorite authors got together and wrote this hilarious, sexy, dirty book, and I’m about to fangirl all over it. Autumn has the fantastically witty, OTT heroine vibe that Eve Dangerfield does so well, and I got that deep, emotional pull that I love about Tessa Bailey’s romance, the feeling that the hero loves the heroine so deeply and completely. It’s dirty in all the right ways – definitely the best book I’ve read this year.
I love a grumpy, growly, bear of a hero and that is exactly what I got in Blake. He’s shut himself off from his past, from the sun, and from life. The first hint of light is when he sees Autumn. Even as he watches her through his peep hole, he doesn’t realize that there will come a time that his watching will be a part of what he shares with her.
This is a bit darker in read due to the kink these two share. However, once their trust begins to grow the darkness begins to lighten up. The conflict for this couple did not come from outside sources but from each of them having to handle their past and how they make decisions in the present because of it.
While I enjoyed the story of Autumn and Blake, there was a lot of introspection that I felt just bogged this story down. Too much of it was on repeat and I found myself skimming quite a bit of it. The steam level here is scorching especially if this touches on a kink you may enjoy reading about (title should give you a clue). And as always Tessa Bailey gives us a dirty talking hero that will have you drooling down your chin.
Overall, this was an okay read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to someone who likes this content.
Dual POV
Secret Desires
This is my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last! I love the exploration by strong characters of secret sexual desires that may not be within the social norm. I loved both of the characters, I loved their journey to find a fulfilling sexual relationship, their chemistry was hot! Great read!
This story is a little strange, an aspiring comedian Autumn (which doesn’t happen till towards the end) and a recluse Blake.
Autumn has a kinky side and thinks Blake is the man who can fulfill this side of her. She likes to role play, her fave being an abductee and taken against her will.
She fantasizes about him taking her roughly and she fights against him. I did find it weird this innocent aspiring comedian like it kinky and rough.
I’m not sure if I buy it, however, the sex scenario and role play are hot AF. Some parts were too drawn out for me like pages and pages of the same scene and not really adding anything to it.
I did love the way Blake encouraged her to live her dream because her ex didn’t. Even though some part were weird and a bit farfetched they were really a great couple.
* ARC PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW *
I don’t know who suggested for Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield to combine writing forces, but it was ingenious. Their combination is like a modern day version of Merlin and King Arthur. Except, one is a “filth wizard” and the other is a kinky queen. With that being said, if you never read a book by either ladies, be ready to have the band-aid ripped right off. There’s HOT stuff in this book!
Captivated is a modern day version of Beauty and the Beast, with kink. The story curves along the line of taboo, but wickedly sexy. Blake, the landlord, is a stoic, introvert, broody man with a crush for his sexy tenant. Autumn, the sexy, petite, Australian (Ah, yes. Every scene involving Autumn, I read in my imaginary Aussie accent.) is looking for her place in the crazy city of New York. She’s the light to Blake’s dark. When a missed rent payment brings them together, their world collide into another sexy dimension.
I loved this book. Eve’s kinky brain mixed with Tessa’s dirty world was a cocktail worth indulging in. It was equally sexy and funny as well as heartwarming. I’m a fan of taboo stories, so this truly worked for me. This is a definite must read, especially if you like kinky fairy tales.
Autumn Reynolds is over living in New York City. Feeling abandoned after moving with her boyfriend only to be cheated on, she has no desire to leave her apartment and face the city she loathes so much. Drinking, being a slob and resorting to drawing up a few harmless fantasies here and there, she is content to spend her last moments in the city, before moving home to Melbourne, by avoiding it completely.
Blake Munroe is a recluse of the highest order. When the sunny Australian moves into his apartment building, he can’t help himself from watching her from afar. But, when he finds out how much she likes his attention, things are about to get a whole lot hotter and dirtier….
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I loved this book so much! I laughed so freaking hard at this super sexy and brilliantly written story, and when it ended all I could think about was wanting MORE.
Autumn was just the sort of refreshingly quirky character that is impossible not to fall in love with. Adorable and hilarious, with some secret fantasies that she inadvertently shares with the perfectly right person, this book takes scorching sex to a whole new level.
Blake was the proverbial beast, preferring to not interact with many people, he is happiest working from home and being in a state of constant seclusion. Until Autumn. Upon his realization of just how accurately he can deliver on her fantasies, Blake is more than happy to help Autumn out, but only if she agrees to dating him first…
While the sexual role play between them couldn’t be any more perfect, Autumn and Blake soon realize that they fit together really well, outside of the bedroom (or against a wall). But, with the clock ticking to Autumn’s eventual move back to Australia, will they both end up too deep in their roles to let their true feelings be known…
Read. This. Book. Seriously, though. I couldn’t get enough of this collaboration, I loved the story, the humor, the characters, the hot, hot, hot sex and just absolutely EVERYTHING about it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.
Lusty, hilarious, and emotional, this was a great book from two writers who’s work I always enjoy. If you’re after a stand-alone contemporary romance with a hell of a bang, this is your book!
Captivated was a deliciously sexy read that had me all tingly! Sometimes when two authors get together to write a book together you can kinda tell where each one starts as leaves off. Captivated was completely flawless that I honestly forgot it was two different authors. They blended seamlessly together. The whole book had me in three constant emotions, happy, sappy, and freaking turned on.
Blake and Autumn were just so amazingly sexy together. Blake the man who is huge and unintentionally intimidates everyone around him. Blake the man that is the most emotionally complex character that I’ve ever read. He’s got so much doubt and insecurity running through him yet is still able to pull off the sexy, aloof, blunt persona. He’s an enigma, a sexy one at that. Autumn is hilarious. She surprised me with her constant positivity. She put her dream on hold for a dickweed. Then, through Blake, sees she has so much worth. Both of them pull out the amazing sides to each other and help each other flourish.
Captivated is the complete trifecta of a great story. Humor, a bit of angst, and a lot of romance. I really hope we see Blake and Autumn again. I also hope we see this author pair up again as well!
“Enjoy using your hands now, little blonde girl. You won’t always have them. I’ve got a rope with your name on it.”
Super HOT! Super SEXY! Super ALPHA! I loved EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF IT! Autumn and Blake were EVERYTHING! The only thing on my mind after I finished absolutely DEVOURING this book was…I WANT MORE!
The wonderful Tessa Bailey and Eve Dangerfield have come together to bring us readers a scorching HOT read that is both steamy and absolutely hysterical! There are so many LAUGH OUT LOUD moments and so many MAKE ME BLUSH moments, there was no way in hell I was ever putting this book down. It became my bible for two nights in a row, and let me tell ya, there wasn’t anything heavenly going on between these two at all! HOT DAMN! Just thinking about a few scenes…it makes me want to experience it all over again!
I don’t believe these two have ever written together, but I hope they read all of these amazing reviews and then they absolutely MUST write together again VERY SOON! I’ve loved Tessa’s writing since she started and Eve Dangerfield is brand new to me, but put these two talented authors together and you get some amazing sexiness in CAPTIVATED!
Autumn will make you do a couple of spit-takes for sure! She’s bold, sassy, and says WHATEVER is on her mind. She is a rambler, but coming from her, it’s hella adorable…and Blake thinks so too! Blake on the other hand, is her exact opposite. His past has turned him into a gruff, growly, and sexy loner who almost never leaves his home. Autumn doesn’t like that all so she is determined to yank Blake out of his self-imposed shell and bring him into the light. Through that almost impossible process their connection and their adoration towards each other grows deeper by the day, until one day, they realize they never want to let go.
Happy reading, my friends! You are going to FALL SO HARD for Blake and Autumn!