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Captivate Me: A Dark Captive Romance
Beauty and the Beast meets Freeform’s Cruel Summer in this dark captive romance. One girl searches for her missing best friend while the other wakes up in a dangerous man’s basement. Both are falling for a man they can’t have . . . CASSIE My best friend is missing, and everyone wants to know what happened to beautiful, perfect Noelle van Buren. But the deeper we get into our search, the closer I get to Theo St. James, Noelle’s boyfriend. Nothing can happen between us. We don’t know if Noelle’s still out there, if she’ll come back someday. Except . . . I can’t seem to stay away. NOELLE When I wake up bound and gagged in someone’s basement, Beau Grayson is watching me. I’ve seen him on my college campus, but I barely know him. He’s beautiful, mysterious, and rumor has it, dangerous. Now, he’s keeping me here, and I have no idea when I’ll get out. If I’ll survive this. Because, against every instinct, I’m falling for him. But who could fall in love with their kidnapper?
272 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2023
521 people are currently reading
5533 people want to read
About the author
Harmony West
8 books1,315 followersHarmony West writes dark forbidden romance. She enjoys her love stories with a side of mystery, twists, and spice.
For updates on Harmony West’s latest releases, visit her website at https://www.harmonywestbooks.com/.
For updates on Harmony West’s latest releases, visit her website at https://www.harmonywestbooks.com/.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
December 11, 2023
Word of disclaimer: I come across pretty harsh in my review(s) of this book. I'm not a hard-ass. Read any of my other reviews and you'll see that I will read and enjoy pretty much anything, and I'll forgive a lot if I have fun. My biggest issue with this book is that I didn't have fun. I kept seeing the potential and being disappointed by the reality. This could have been SO GOOD, and I'm bitter because it wasn't.
FINAL REVIEW:
(Two stars because I reserve one star for books I HATE.)
So, uh, I finished it.
Had to skim the cringey parts though. I had my eyes half-closed because I was getting second-hand embarrassment on behalf of the author. Big yikes.
My initial thoughts stand. There was definitely an idea here but it was poorly executed, which is disappointing. With a hardcore editor and some brutal beta readers, this could've been polished into a much better book. As it stands, it's too juvenile and poorly written to hold a candle to others in its genre.
I liked the plot twist in theory, but it kinda came out of left field and was resolved way too easily. With some proper build up and foreshadowing, it could've been good. It's also never explained how Cassie affords school if she pockets the money the parents give her. She KIND OF tries to deflect police attention off of her but she doesn't do it well or intentionally enough to do anything but make the reader think she's stupid.
There were no healthy female relationships, no mention of the fact these characters were having boatloads of unprotected sex, and much of what happened felt forced or shoehorned in. Again, all of this could've been fixed with good editors. They should've taken one look at Addison and the other girl friend whose name I've forgotten and said "no." The internalized misogyny was dripping from these characters. Also, Noelle and Cassie's relationship made zero sense. There was way too much tell and almost zero show of them being friends. We never see what they're like as besties, only what they're like as enemies, so insisting they love each other felt like the author was trying too hard to convince us.
********
INITIAL REVIEW:
Not rating because I DNFed it. I powered through until Addison was confronting Collin on behalf of Cassie, but then I had to stop. I just can't, dude. The writing is too juvenile, the characters do stuff just to create drama but don't actually think it through, there are no healthy inter-female relationships (or healthy relationships, period), and the plot is unnecessarily convoluted while also being extremely simple. The author pulls all her punches while also trying to convince you she isn't. It's dArK but nothing actually happens. She doesn't even commit to the "best friend's boyfriend" thing because Theo and the blonde whose name I've already forgotten conveniently break up before she's kidnapped. Even the stuff with the brother is softened. The serial killer is a mockery of Zade Meadows - "evil" but only kills child predators, but without any of the charm. Yawn. If you're gonna have a serial killer, make him bad.
The author doesn't show these characters growing attached to each other in stressful situations, they're just all already in love and the only growth they have is with their genitals. On that note, the author is either a virgin or only has vanilla sex and gets all her *spicy* info from romance novels.
I think I'm so disappointed because the idea is THERE. There is something here, something that could be really good, but it just isn't.
Also sis gasps so much that she must be lightheaded by the time penetration happens.
FINAL REVIEW:
(Two stars because I reserve one star for books I HATE.)
So, uh, I finished it.
Had to skim the cringey parts though. I had my eyes half-closed because I was getting second-hand embarrassment on behalf of the author. Big yikes.
My initial thoughts stand. There was definitely an idea here but it was poorly executed, which is disappointing. With a hardcore editor and some brutal beta readers, this could've been polished into a much better book. As it stands, it's too juvenile and poorly written to hold a candle to others in its genre.
I liked the plot twist in theory, but it kinda came out of left field and was resolved way too easily. With some proper build up and foreshadowing, it could've been good. It's also never explained how Cassie affords school if she pockets the money the parents give her. She KIND OF tries to deflect police attention off of her but she doesn't do it well or intentionally enough to do anything but make the reader think she's stupid.
There were no healthy female relationships, no mention of the fact these characters were having boatloads of unprotected sex, and much of what happened felt forced or shoehorned in. Again, all of this could've been fixed with good editors. They should've taken one look at Addison and the other girl friend whose name I've forgotten and said "no." The internalized misogyny was dripping from these characters. Also, Noelle and Cassie's relationship made zero sense. There was way too much tell and almost zero show of them being friends. We never see what they're like as besties, only what they're like as enemies, so insisting they love each other felt like the author was trying too hard to convince us.
********
INITIAL REVIEW:
Not rating because I DNFed it. I powered through until Addison was confronting Collin on behalf of Cassie, but then I had to stop. I just can't, dude. The writing is too juvenile, the characters do stuff just to create drama but don't actually think it through, there are no healthy inter-female relationships (or healthy relationships, period), and the plot is unnecessarily convoluted while also being extremely simple. The author pulls all her punches while also trying to convince you she isn't. It's dArK but nothing actually happens. She doesn't even commit to the "best friend's boyfriend" thing because Theo and the blonde whose name I've already forgotten conveniently break up before she's kidnapped. Even the stuff with the brother is softened. The serial killer is a mockery of Zade Meadows - "evil" but only kills child predators, but without any of the charm. Yawn. If you're gonna have a serial killer, make him bad.
The author doesn't show these characters growing attached to each other in stressful situations, they're just all already in love and the only growth they have is with their genitals. On that note, the author is either a virgin or only has vanilla sex and gets all her *spicy* info from romance novels.
I think I'm so disappointed because the idea is THERE. There is something here, something that could be really good, but it just isn't.
Also sis gasps so much that she must be lightheaded by the time penetration happens.
September 4, 2023
Captivate me by Harmony West
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* Multiple POV
* Noelle
*Cassie
*Theo
*Grayson 🔥
Noelle wakes up being held captive in a basement not knowing how she got there or why. She realizes Grayson the Colleges Security Guard is the one holding her captive but why? This story follows Noelle, Cassie, Theo and Grayson along with Piper and Addison. Couples are together that shouldn’t be and ones who should can’t. Everyone has secrets but you’ll never see the plot twist coming. This has Beauty and the Beast vibes, suspense and lots of spice 🌶️
This was a great quick read that I devoured and couldn’t put down. Just when I thought Always with you couldn’t be topped Harmony West you did it again! Loved it!
I was given this as an arc for an honest review.
5/5 ⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
* Multiple POV
* Noelle
*Cassie
*Theo
*Grayson 🔥
Noelle wakes up being held captive in a basement not knowing how she got there or why. She realizes Grayson the Colleges Security Guard is the one holding her captive but why? This story follows Noelle, Cassie, Theo and Grayson along with Piper and Addison. Couples are together that shouldn’t be and ones who should can’t. Everyone has secrets but you’ll never see the plot twist coming. This has Beauty and the Beast vibes, suspense and lots of spice 🌶️
This was a great quick read that I devoured and couldn’t put down. Just when I thought Always with you couldn’t be topped Harmony West you did it again! Loved it!
I was given this as an arc for an honest review.
5/5 ⭐️
September 12, 2023
Twisty and turny. I didn’t think I’d love a dual love story situation but it was so well written.
I really loved this entire story line and the characters
Awesome book!
I really loved this entire story line and the characters
Awesome book!
May 20, 2025
This was in my TBR for a while and thankfully I was finally able to read it. Not quite what I expected but in a good way. I throughly enjoyed this book and didn’t expect the plot twist near the end.
September 8, 2023
ARC REVIEW
4.5 ⭐️ 3.5🌶️
The story follows four people, two couples: Noelle, Beau, Cassie, and Theo. Everyone is morally grey, which gets a big “hell yea!” from me! But if that’s not your thing, you probably won’t love this book.
Captivate Me really is a great riff on a modern day Beauty and the Beast story! I really enjoyed this book. The suspense and mystery were there, the spice was good, the *tension* was tensioning! Good work all around! 🖤
Most twists I saw coming (which is fine, I watch/read a lot!) but one really got me good! It was 😚🤌🏼!
This story is about two broken young women, their secrets, and how they heal themselves through their relationships with these men, and ultimately, each other.
Noelle is 👸🌙 (IYKYK)
Beau is 🥵🔪
Cassie is 😤💔
Theo is ⚾️🍰
Tropes!!
Kidnapper/stalker/serial k!ller
Touch her and d!e
Possessive/obsessive hero
Revenge
Villain gets the girl
"I catch you, I 🍆 you"
Friends to lovers
Public spicy time (car, dugout, forest)
If you like dark romance, stalkers, possessive men, resourceful women, secrets and hidden truths, go get this book!!
4.5 ⭐️ 3.5🌶️
The story follows four people, two couples: Noelle, Beau, Cassie, and Theo. Everyone is morally grey, which gets a big “hell yea!” from me! But if that’s not your thing, you probably won’t love this book.
Captivate Me really is a great riff on a modern day Beauty and the Beast story! I really enjoyed this book. The suspense and mystery were there, the spice was good, the *tension* was tensioning! Good work all around! 🖤
Most twists I saw coming (which is fine, I watch/read a lot!) but one really got me good! It was 😚🤌🏼!
This story is about two broken young women, their secrets, and how they heal themselves through their relationships with these men, and ultimately, each other.
Noelle is 👸🌙 (IYKYK)
Beau is 🥵🔪
Cassie is 😤💔
Theo is ⚾️🍰
Tropes!!
Kidnapper/stalker/serial k!ller
Touch her and d!e
Possessive/obsessive hero
Revenge
Villain gets the girl
"I catch you, I 🍆 you"
Friends to lovers
Public spicy time (car, dugout, forest)
If you like dark romance, stalkers, possessive men, resourceful women, secrets and hidden truths, go get this book!!
April 4, 2024
I really liked this - some good twists. I’m not sure how but it managed a HEA for both couples.
April 29, 2024
⭐ 3
🌶️ 3; starts at 47%
🐔™ 65
Spoilers ahead
I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed it, but Cassie and Theo's story just took me out of it. I didn't like Cassie from the get-go so their chapters felt like a slog.
All in all it was a good story, but it could have just been Beau and Noelle and been wonderful, their chapters and their story carried the whole book.
I also felt like there were a lot of loose ends. The story didn't feel right and cleaned up when all was said and done.
I did enjoy it and would read this author again, especially if there are more stories like Beau and Noelle's. 🫠
🌶️ 3; starts at 47%
🐔™ 65
Spoilers ahead
I read this in one sitting and really enjoyed it, but Cassie and Theo's story just took me out of it. I didn't like Cassie from the get-go so their chapters felt like a slog.
All in all it was a good story, but it could have just been Beau and Noelle and been wonderful, their chapters and their story carried the whole book.
I also felt like there were a lot of loose ends. The story didn't feel right and cleaned up when all was said and done.
I did enjoy it and would read this author again, especially if there are more stories like Beau and Noelle's. 🫠
November 6, 2025
dnf 50%
Not one, but two really dumb and shallow couples. An attempt was made.
Not one, but two really dumb and shallow couples. An attempt was made.
August 31, 2023
Captivate Me is a spicy dark romance inspired by Beauty and the Beast and Freeform's Cruel Summer. While Cassie searches for her missing best friend and starts to fall for her boyfriend, Noelle wakes up a captive in a dangerous, alluring man's basement.
You can read Captivate Me for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
If you read and loved Captivate Me, you can order a signed copy on my website. 🖤
If you want to read the first three chapters, you can download an exclusive sample on my website by signing up for my newsletter!
To stay up to date on all my books, you can follow me on TikTok and Instagram.
Captivate Me follows two couples through their four POVs - Cassie, Theo, Noelle, and Beau. Their story is full of suspense, mystery, juicy twists, and lots of spice, but the heart of this book lies in the romance. A friends-to-lovers romance between Cassie and Theo, and a captor/captive romance between Noelle and Beau.
At its heart, Captivate Me is about two young women who are hurting deeply, and the two men who help them heal.
Tropes include:
- Kidnapper/stalker/serial killer hero
- Touch her and die
- Possessive/obsessive hero
- Knife to throat
- Revenge
- Villain gets the girl
- "I catch you, I f-ck you"
- Cinnamon roll love interest
- Friends to lovers
- Public sexy times
- "No one can know about us"
Content warnings:
If you choose to read Captivate Me, thank you for taking a chance on my book! If you are a fan of spicy forbidden romance, I truly hope you enjoy this one. <3
You can read Captivate Me for FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
If you read and loved Captivate Me, you can order a signed copy on my website. 🖤
If you want to read the first three chapters, you can download an exclusive sample on my website by signing up for my newsletter!
To stay up to date on all my books, you can follow me on TikTok and Instagram.
Captivate Me follows two couples through their four POVs - Cassie, Theo, Noelle, and Beau. Their story is full of suspense, mystery, juicy twists, and lots of spice, but the heart of this book lies in the romance. A friends-to-lovers romance between Cassie and Theo, and a captor/captive romance between Noelle and Beau.
At its heart, Captivate Me is about two young women who are hurting deeply, and the two men who help them heal.
Tropes include:
- Kidnapper/stalker/serial killer hero
- Touch her and die
- Possessive/obsessive hero
- Knife to throat
- Revenge
- Villain gets the girl
- "I catch you, I f-ck you"
- Cinnamon roll love interest
- Friends to lovers
- Public sexy times
- "No one can know about us"
Content warnings:
If you choose to read Captivate Me, thank you for taking a chance on my book! If you are a fan of spicy forbidden romance, I truly hope you enjoy this one. <3
May 12, 2025
harmony west NEVER fails to deliver 😩🤲🏼 this literally had me in such a trance. i couldn’t stop reading and at the same time i just didn’t want this book to end 😭 i will forever yearn for harmony’s fictional men !!!
this is a dark captive romance, with multiple povs !! the povs include two couples and four characters — beau + noelle, cassie + theo 💜
ugh how i love campus security and part time serial killer beau 🤭 mans had my legs QUIVERING and wishing i was the one in that basement 👀 am i psycho for that ? probably. i don’t give a flying fuck. this man can get it and he can get it SLOPPY AND MESSY 😍 he kidnaps and unalives those who bring harm to helpless women and children so literally how can you not fall in love with this man !! i knew the moment he showed up all grumpy and broody that i would be so down bad for him 🚩👩🏻🦯
noelle and cass’s friendship at first confused the hell out of me 😬 cass was always in love with noelle’s boyfriend, theo, but she thought she could never be with him because he was noelle’s. cass never grew out of this crush but she’s noelle’s bestie and couldn’t do anything about it. but when noelle goes missing after breaking up with theo, cass finds out he feels the same way about her 🥹
this was such a quick read but at the same time packed with so much details and plot !! it’s such a perfect read to get out of a slump or to mood read 🥰 absolutely loved these couples. harmony did such an amazing job writing each pov and kept the story flowing. literally on my knees for harmony 🧎🏻♀️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
this is a dark captive romance, with multiple povs !! the povs include two couples and four characters — beau + noelle, cassie + theo 💜
ugh how i love campus security and part time serial killer beau 🤭 mans had my legs QUIVERING and wishing i was the one in that basement 👀 am i psycho for that ? probably. i don’t give a flying fuck. this man can get it and he can get it SLOPPY AND MESSY 😍 he kidnaps and unalives those who bring harm to helpless women and children so literally how can you not fall in love with this man !! i knew the moment he showed up all grumpy and broody that i would be so down bad for him 🚩👩🏻🦯
noelle and cass’s friendship at first confused the hell out of me 😬 cass was always in love with noelle’s boyfriend, theo, but she thought she could never be with him because he was noelle’s. cass never grew out of this crush but she’s noelle’s bestie and couldn’t do anything about it. but when noelle goes missing after breaking up with theo, cass finds out he feels the same way about her 🥹
this was such a quick read but at the same time packed with so much details and plot !! it’s such a perfect read to get out of a slump or to mood read 🥰 absolutely loved these couples. harmony did such an amazing job writing each pov and kept the story flowing. literally on my knees for harmony 🧎🏻♀️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
September 4, 2023
3.75
Captivate me was for a lack of better word, captivating. It gave spice, romance, thrill, and mystery. Harmony West does it again. I loved noelle and beau. Cassie is crazy and Theo was dense butttt I loved it anyway. I think authors that write characters that aren’t great people make a book have a more realistic aspect and not just fairytales and rainbows. I love the raw emotion you felt for the ending. Harmony west is an auto read author for me. I will say that Always with you was better in my option but both are great romantic thrillers that deserve to be read and be popular. I did receive this book as an ARC and I am eternally grateful for that but I will always be honest. 🖤💜
Captivate me was for a lack of better word, captivating. It gave spice, romance, thrill, and mystery. Harmony West does it again. I loved noelle and beau. Cassie is crazy and Theo was dense butttt I loved it anyway. I think authors that write characters that aren’t great people make a book have a more realistic aspect and not just fairytales and rainbows. I love the raw emotion you felt for the ending. Harmony west is an auto read author for me. I will say that Always with you was better in my option but both are great romantic thrillers that deserve to be read and be popular. I did receive this book as an ARC and I am eternally grateful for that but I will always be honest. 🖤💜
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 15, 2025
3.5 ⭐
The plot was obvious the rest basically just sex. But I still enjoyed it. It wasn't overly good nor bad.
At first I felt like it tried to be Haunting Adaline or rather the other way around.
The plot was obvious the rest basically just sex. But I still enjoyed it. It wasn't overly good nor bad.
At first I felt like it tried to be Haunting Adaline or rather the other way around.
September 9, 2023
All the ways it connects in the end…..
This book will keep you guessing until the end. The whole story is told from 4 POV and in the beginning and through most of the book, you might think that those POV are not connected or moving to completely different endings. But the twists that lead those road right back to each other are *mind blown*. I have read stories from multiple POV many times and this was anything like I have ever experienced and I loved every second of it.
Noelle - the girl who lives the “prefect” life. She is the prefect daughter, prefect girlfriend, perfect friend and perfect student. But she has a dark secret that no one else knows. When she gets kidnapped, she just might realize that stepping away from that pressure could be the best thing for her.
Beau - the security guard on campus that catches all the girls eyes with his tattoos, muscles and grumpy attitude. His outside job of taking out scum leads him to a job that he thought would be easy, until he realized that feelings might make completing it harder than he thought.
Cassie - the best friend to the perfect girl who also has a crush on her best friends boyfriend for years. She is trying to find out who killed her brother. Now she has to try to find her missing best friend. Without falling harder for her friends boyfriends during their “grief” period.
Theo - Noelle goes missing the same night that they decided to break up mutually, however it did not get out before the news of her going missing. So now he is stuck playing the worried boyfriend while secretly pining over her best friend who is the real girl of his dreams.
Each of these stories is unique and they pull you in, as they develop, you will realize they are far more connected than you ever thought!!! Such an amazing way to write such a thriving story.
-Kayla/Hot.Bookmance
This book will keep you guessing until the end. The whole story is told from 4 POV and in the beginning and through most of the book, you might think that those POV are not connected or moving to completely different endings. But the twists that lead those road right back to each other are *mind blown*. I have read stories from multiple POV many times and this was anything like I have ever experienced and I loved every second of it.
Noelle - the girl who lives the “prefect” life. She is the prefect daughter, prefect girlfriend, perfect friend and perfect student. But she has a dark secret that no one else knows. When she gets kidnapped, she just might realize that stepping away from that pressure could be the best thing for her.
Beau - the security guard on campus that catches all the girls eyes with his tattoos, muscles and grumpy attitude. His outside job of taking out scum leads him to a job that he thought would be easy, until he realized that feelings might make completing it harder than he thought.
Cassie - the best friend to the perfect girl who also has a crush on her best friends boyfriend for years. She is trying to find out who killed her brother. Now she has to try to find her missing best friend. Without falling harder for her friends boyfriends during their “grief” period.
Theo - Noelle goes missing the same night that they decided to break up mutually, however it did not get out before the news of her going missing. So now he is stuck playing the worried boyfriend while secretly pining over her best friend who is the real girl of his dreams.
Each of these stories is unique and they pull you in, as they develop, you will realize they are far more connected than you ever thought!!! Such an amazing way to write such a thriving story.
-Kayla/Hot.Bookmance
September 6, 2023
***ARC BOOK REVIEW***
Name: Captivate Me Author: Harmony West
Rate: 4.75🌟 Spice: 3.5 🌶️
Genre: Dark Romance
⚠️CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS⚠️
“Beasts like me have a thing for princesses.”
“I’m in danger of giving into him. To my own darkest desires.”
“It was like I was never really living until I kissed you.”
~Harmony you did your thing again!!! Left me loving this novel just like your first one. ❣️ The writing was perfect it kept me intrigue, that I did not want to put the book down! There is multiple POVs from the MC. The plot twist is OMG!!! 🤯That unexpected surprise betrayal. Cassie and Noelle are best friends since they were young and now both of them are in college together. Poor Noelle has her life planned out for thanks to get parents, especially her mother. Theo is currently Noelle’s boyfriend. But they act more like friends than an actual couple. Now Cassie in the other hand has been having a huge crush on Theo. Now Beau is a hunk of a bounty hunter. He was hired to kidnapped and kill Noelle for revenge!!!! But who or why would hire him? This is the best plot twist. From betrayal to revealing the truth then for to be forgiven. We even have some assumption of stockholm syndrome in this book! I totally recommend this book.
Name: Captivate Me Author: Harmony West
Rate: 4.75🌟 Spice: 3.5 🌶️
Genre: Dark Romance
⚠️CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS⚠️
“Beasts like me have a thing for princesses.”
“I’m in danger of giving into him. To my own darkest desires.”
“It was like I was never really living until I kissed you.”
~Harmony you did your thing again!!! Left me loving this novel just like your first one. ❣️ The writing was perfect it kept me intrigue, that I did not want to put the book down! There is multiple POVs from the MC. The plot twist is OMG!!! 🤯That unexpected surprise betrayal. Cassie and Noelle are best friends since they were young and now both of them are in college together. Poor Noelle has her life planned out for thanks to get parents, especially her mother. Theo is currently Noelle’s boyfriend. But they act more like friends than an actual couple. Now Cassie in the other hand has been having a huge crush on Theo. Now Beau is a hunk of a bounty hunter. He was hired to kidnapped and kill Noelle for revenge!!!! But who or why would hire him? This is the best plot twist. From betrayal to revealing the truth then for to be forgiven. We even have some assumption of stockholm syndrome in this book! I totally recommend this book.
August 31, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Captivate Me
By: Harmony West
Publication date: September 8, 2023
“One girl searches for her missing best friend while the other wakes up in a dangerous man's basement. Both are falling for a man they can't have ...”
Captivate Me is a suspenseful, dark college romance that follows four different peoples POVs. Noelle wakes up bound in a basement come to find out it’s the dark, mysterious college security guard Beau that’s keeping her captive. Cassie is on the hunt to find out what happened to her best friend and during her search she gets very close to Noelle’s boyfriend Theo.
Let me start off with what I liked about this book:
- [ ] Multiple POVs
- [ ] Beau and Noelle!!! 🤍🤍
- [ ] The twist!
- [ ] The spice ❤️🔥
- [ ] Did I mention Beau?🥵❤️🔥
What wasn’t my favorite:
- [ ] Nothing!! I loved every second of this book!
Thank you to the author Harmony West for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Captivate Me
By: Harmony West
Publication date: September 8, 2023
“One girl searches for her missing best friend while the other wakes up in a dangerous man's basement. Both are falling for a man they can't have ...”
Captivate Me is a suspenseful, dark college romance that follows four different peoples POVs. Noelle wakes up bound in a basement come to find out it’s the dark, mysterious college security guard Beau that’s keeping her captive. Cassie is on the hunt to find out what happened to her best friend and during her search she gets very close to Noelle’s boyfriend Theo.
Let me start off with what I liked about this book:
- [ ] Multiple POVs
- [ ] Beau and Noelle!!! 🤍🤍
- [ ] The twist!
- [ ] The spice ❤️🔥
- [ ] Did I mention Beau?🥵❤️🔥
What wasn’t my favorite:
- [ ] Nothing!! I loved every second of this book!
Thank you to the author Harmony West for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 10, 2023
Captivate Me 📚 Harmony West
5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️
⛓️forced proximity
⛓️love triangle
⛓️friends to lovers
⛓️revenge
⛓️good girl /bad boy
⛓️beauty and the best retelling
“Too bad for the universe, it sent me to hell and I fell for the devil.”
If I love anything it’s beauty and the best, and kidnapping. It’s where my love of dark romance started ( blame Disney okay). So let me tell you, this book is so beautifully done it’s ridiculous. First off you have 4 povs, and they are all laid out perfectly and planned so well. Second the plot twist had me screaming, I was livid. Third, she wrote not only one guy two book boyfriends that are *amazong* if you love beauty and the beast, collage romance, best friends, and mystery run to grab this on ku!
A quick blurb:
Noelle has it all, the boyfriend, the car, the parents, and perfect hair. So I’m lucky to be her best friend right? I love her, and our friendship, we’re sorority sisters, she was there for me when my world fell apart, but she has the one thing I want. Theo, he’s been my best friend, and I dream for the day he’ll be mine but he’s not because he belongs to her, but is it just me or is Theo looking at me while she is looking at the mysterious bad boy security guard beau?
5 ⭐️ 4 🌶️
⛓️forced proximity
⛓️love triangle
⛓️friends to lovers
⛓️revenge
⛓️good girl /bad boy
⛓️beauty and the best retelling
“Too bad for the universe, it sent me to hell and I fell for the devil.”
If I love anything it’s beauty and the best, and kidnapping. It’s where my love of dark romance started ( blame Disney okay). So let me tell you, this book is so beautifully done it’s ridiculous. First off you have 4 povs, and they are all laid out perfectly and planned so well. Second the plot twist had me screaming, I was livid. Third, she wrote not only one guy two book boyfriends that are *amazong* if you love beauty and the beast, collage romance, best friends, and mystery run to grab this on ku!
A quick blurb:
Noelle has it all, the boyfriend, the car, the parents, and perfect hair. So I’m lucky to be her best friend right? I love her, and our friendship, we’re sorority sisters, she was there for me when my world fell apart, but she has the one thing I want. Theo, he’s been my best friend, and I dream for the day he’ll be mine but he’s not because he belongs to her, but is it just me or is Theo looking at me while she is looking at the mysterious bad boy security guard beau?
September 12, 2023
5/5⭐️
4/5🌶️
✨I received a free arc copy of this book.✨
HARMONY. I might love this book more than Always With You.🫢 always the perfect amount of twists and turns to keep you reading.
First things first Cassie…. At first I didn’t like her.. then she grew on me. She definitely needed her redemption at the end is all I’ll say miss harmony! Theo was a sweetheart and while I may not have vibed with their relationship in the beginning I could not deny their chemistry and overall similarities.
Noelle…. I loved her from page 1. Artsy girl who doesn’t think she’s good enough because of all the pressure she’s been under her entire life? Never able to be herself? Give it to me. Beau was crazy but really not a bad guy.. don’t know what that says about me but ya know. I loved these two together and couldn’t get enough of their chapters.
Overall a really good suspenseful stalker/kidnapping dark romance.
4/5🌶️
✨I received a free arc copy of this book.✨
HARMONY. I might love this book more than Always With You.🫢 always the perfect amount of twists and turns to keep you reading.
First things first Cassie…. At first I didn’t like her.. then she grew on me. She definitely needed her redemption at the end is all I’ll say miss harmony! Theo was a sweetheart and while I may not have vibed with their relationship in the beginning I could not deny their chemistry and overall similarities.
Noelle…. I loved her from page 1. Artsy girl who doesn’t think she’s good enough because of all the pressure she’s been under her entire life? Never able to be herself? Give it to me. Beau was crazy but really not a bad guy.. don’t know what that says about me but ya know. I loved these two together and couldn’t get enough of their chapters.
Overall a really good suspenseful stalker/kidnapping dark romance.
February 27, 2025
This book is everything to me. Not only did it get me out of a slump but the plot!! I mean I sat in my bed reading this book at 3 am shocked, anxiety ridden and about to cry over a fictional character revealing a secret about another fictional character. Like that’s crazy. The book was well written, had a good plot and the smut was written in well. Isn’t a super spicy book but it’s enough to keep you entertained among the crazy shit that goes down. The start of the book was a bit hard to get going, just because povs change every chapter and it’s hard sometimes to keep track of who is who but once you learn the main four characters and their personality it’s a great book to follow. It did an excellent job at connecting everything together at the end just when you’re sitting thinking “when is the plot going to get resolved”. I do wish tho that Cassie didn’t end up with Theo. I mean that girl is actually psychotic and the fact that she stabbed a guy and ordered her best friend to be killed and then she just lives this great life?? I mean, sure I guess. Anywho some great mysteries and secrets in there. Would recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2023
✨✨✨✨✨
Captivate Me by: Harmony West
Release Date: September 8, 2023
First I would like to say that I absolutely loved this book! Captivate Me is a dark collage romance story following four people’s pov’s. This story follows Noelle who’s a collage student, who everyone thinks has a perfect life, when she suddenly gets kidnapped. She finds out that she was kidnapped by the mysterious college security guard Beau. Her best friend Cassie try’s to help find her while also grieving her older brother’s death. While Cassie is searching for Noelle she gets closer Theo, Noelle’s boyfriend. This story has kidnapping, betrayal, spice, and suspense!
Captivate Me by: Harmony West
Release Date: September 8, 2023
First I would like to say that I absolutely loved this book! Captivate Me is a dark collage romance story following four people’s pov’s. This story follows Noelle who’s a collage student, who everyone thinks has a perfect life, when she suddenly gets kidnapped. She finds out that she was kidnapped by the mysterious college security guard Beau. Her best friend Cassie try’s to help find her while also grieving her older brother’s death. While Cassie is searching for Noelle she gets closer Theo, Noelle’s boyfriend. This story has kidnapping, betrayal, spice, and suspense!
September 7, 2023
For me this book surprised me. I knew it was somewhat of a beauty and the beast retelling and forced proximity, kidnapped situation, but the suspense! Oh my once that happened I was like “I have to keep reading.” So you have two couples here and the telling is from each of their povs. Which I am used to from Why choose books, but it was somehow a different experience when dealing with two couples. The girls are best friends and Theo is Noelle’s boyfriend and then there is Beau, who will be loved by the dark romance community. There is murder, mystery kind of vibes and it was just an amazing read. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ because of the chair scene… iykyk 🥵
November 23, 2025
This was not what I expected, but it was good. Captivate Me follows two couples. Cassie and Theo and Noelle and Beau. Cassie has had a crush on Theo for years, but he was dating her best friend Noelle. When Noelle and Theo break up, Noelle goes missing, and Cassie has a chance to be with Theo. Noelle is the perfect good girl with very controlling parents. She has a fight with her parents and storms out of the house only to disappear. She is kidnapped by Beau, who is a bounty hunter who was hired to get rid of her. It turns out the perfect rich girl isn't so perfect and is hiding a horrible secret. Things get even more complicated when Noelle starts having feelings for her kidnapper.
August 31, 2023
This book is a work of art.
(See what I did there? — you will once you read this!) I’m not lying; I’m stunned at the brilliancy of the plot line, the characters and their relationships, the story development and everything in between. Can we talk about that plot twist, by the way? True genius. I haven’t read a book like this with a 4 character pov outside of poly. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of this read!!! I read and read and couldn’t stop. A captivating page turner! Thank you, Harmony West, for allowing me to ARC. I’m so grateful!
(See what I did there? — you will once you read this!) I’m not lying; I’m stunned at the brilliancy of the plot line, the characters and their relationships, the story development and everything in between. Can we talk about that plot twist, by the way? True genius. I haven’t read a book like this with a 4 character pov outside of poly. I absolutely enjoyed every moment of this read!!! I read and read and couldn’t stop. A captivating page turner! Thank you, Harmony West, for allowing me to ARC. I’m so grateful!
September 2, 2023
This booked captivated me! Harmony West has a style to her writing that makes it easy to read and I really enjoy her stories!
Captivate Me follows “perfect” Noelle van Buren, her boyfriend Theo, best friend Cassie and her kidnapper Beau. 4 person POV gives you the rundown of Noelles disappearance and Cassie and Theo dealing with the kidnapping and their feelings for each other.
The spice is A+, the plot twist… man the PLOT TWIST!! When I tell you, I had no idea what was coming for me… brilliant!
Captivate Me follows “perfect” Noelle van Buren, her boyfriend Theo, best friend Cassie and her kidnapper Beau. 4 person POV gives you the rundown of Noelles disappearance and Cassie and Theo dealing with the kidnapping and their feelings for each other.
The spice is A+, the plot twist… man the PLOT TWIST!! When I tell you, I had no idea what was coming for me… brilliant!
September 5, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. I have been in a slump for a little while now and Harmony has a way of just pulling you in with her writing. I have already recommended this book to so many people even before I’d finished it because it was amazing. There’s a nice little twist in there which I love! Definitely didn’t see it coming. I had a feeling about certain things but I did not have any clue what was actually coming. I highly highly recommend this book.
September 7, 2023
Oh my god this book , I literally couldn’t put it down. Went into it blind not knowing anything about the author or the book. I don’t want to spoil the story but Noelle is a rich girl whom is in college and her boyfriend whom she’s known her entire life decide to break up she goes missing . Her best friend and friends go searching but don’t find anything. In mean time noelle gets close with her kidnapper. It’s a must read I don’t want to give anything away. Must read. The spice is 3.5 stars.
September 8, 2023
Ok. Wow. At first I was a little overwhelmed. My first Multiple POV book and my first Harmony West book. It took me a minute to get into the book but once I did…HOLY CRAP! Family drama! Suspense!! A little love triangle of sorts!! The twists!! And good heavens the spice!! I would definitely recommend! Hands down will not be my last Harmony west book! I was not expecting the plot twist! My mind is still reeling.
July 28, 2024
Weirdly good
Not what I expected at all. It started almost childish for my tastes then quickly developed into a juicer story. It read well and didn't drag on and had enough to keep the pages turning.
I don't expect the plot twists and although one person was punished I felt the other needed punishing too and was too easily forgiven but hey-ho it can't all be perfect.
A good story,would recommend.
Not what I expected at all. It started almost childish for my tastes then quickly developed into a juicer story. It read well and didn't drag on and had enough to keep the pages turning.
I don't expect the plot twists and although one person was punished I felt the other needed punishing too and was too easily forgiven but hey-ho it can't all be perfect.
A good story,would recommend.
September 3, 2023
Secrets… most of the characters in this book have them. Vigilante justice ✔️spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. Check your TW with this book. I loved the characters and the story. Noelle and Beau definitely favorites. But Cassie and Theo were hot together too. The entire book was intriguing and kept me turning pages and not wanting to put it down.
September 13, 2023
This book was the equal amount of romance, thriller and spice! And let me say again, the SPICE 🌶️🥵 I never would have guessed how this book ends up. It was so dang good!! I LOVED the couples and the character growth with each one person. I fell in love right along with the FMCs and felt heartbreak as well. Can I have both a Theo and Beau in my life?!?!
dnf-0star
November 5, 2024DNF @ 51%
Listen, first and foremost, I am not DNFing because this book is bad. I absolutely adore Harmony West and basically if she writes a hit list, I'ma read it. BUT this one just wasn't holding my attention the way Saint & Sinner, and If You Dare did. I was expecting darker and was in a very DARK romance spiral. This wasn't it for me, but one day I would like to pick this back up! It's great but just not interested in finishing it RIGHT NOW. Hope that makes sense!
Listen, first and foremost, I am not DNFing because this book is bad. I absolutely adore Harmony West and basically if she writes a hit list, I'ma read it. BUT this one just wasn't holding my attention the way Saint & Sinner, and If You Dare did. I was expecting darker and was in a very DARK romance spiral. This wasn't it for me, but one day I would like to pick this back up! It's great but just not interested in finishing it RIGHT NOW. Hope that makes sense!
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