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Held Captive

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He took me captive. Then he claimed my heart.When Sean O’Connell’s men captured me, I feared he would torture me to get information on the bratva I’d infiltrated. But the most powerful Irish mob boss in New York had other ideas.He cooked a delicious dinner for me... and warned me that he would take me over his knee if necessary. Then when I made it necessary, he did exactly what he’d promised me he would.I should hate him, not hope he’ll do all sorts of things I shouldn’t want from a man like him...

278 pages, Paperback

Published November 6, 2023

81 people are currently reading
35 people want to read

About the author

Ellie Drake

2 books16 followers

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5 stars
111 (58%)
4 stars
53 (27%)
3 stars
19 (10%)
2 stars
2 (1%)
1 star
5 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Betsy.
100 reviews3 followers
January 2, 2024
Seriously one of the best I've read in this genre

Feisty non-stupid heroine, strong and not emotionally stunted H, good story and satisfying ending. I'm just sad that Ellie only has one book out! I never write reviews and I'm picky. I loved this book.
Profile Image for Arin Baur.
587 reviews11 followers
November 22, 2023
This book is very entertaining in my opinion I really enjoyed it the characters are incredible to get into the story! The main female character is a strong woman who speaks her mind no matter what also cares a lot about people getting their stories told will go as far as it takes to make things right! The main guy character is strong head who seems like the one of worst kind of person ever but you’re in for a surprise among other things. This book if full of mystery, crime thriller in way, action packed and a lot of tension between the characters among so much more! There are so funny moments with lots of sass that is kinda shocking with situations that it happens around. You can definitely feel the chemistry alongside trying to stay enemies. Unpredictable ending for sure I thought it would end with a cliff hanger but luckily it doesn’t. I love this book and plan on keeping it plus read more by this author this book feels like it could be a movie in my opinion. I want more but I do some topics that could be difficult for some readers so please be cautious with that said if your for a amazing kinda romantic in some ways dark hot mafia book that impossible to put down. This is a great choice couldn’t turn the pages fast enough plus the roommate is something else I want someone like her in my life!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Assh.
934 reviews1 follower
November 12, 2023
Sean O'Connell et Roxanne Johnson

Chef de la Mafia irlandaise et journaliste indépendante.

Interessant.

📖
Il m'a fait prisonnier. Puis il a réclamé mon cœur.

Lorsque les hommes de Sean O'Connell m'ont capturé, j'ai eu peur qu'il me torture pour obtenir des informations sur la bratva que j'avais infiltrée. Mais le chef de la mafia irlandaise le plus puissant de New York avait d’autres idées.
Il m'a préparé un délicieux dîner… et m'a prévenu qu'il me prendrait sur ses genoux si nécessaire. Puis, lorsque je l'ai rendu nécessaire, il a fait exactement ce qu'il m'avait promis.

Je devrais le détester, sans espérer qu'il fasse toutes sortes de choses que je ne devrais pas attendre d'un homme comme lui.
📕



🖋

Le visage enfoui dans mon téléphone, je ne remarque pas le mur de briques dans lequel je marche.

Tombé sur mes fesses, je lève les yeux et ma mâchoire touche le sol. L’homme le plus grand et le plus effrayant que j’ai jamais vu se tient là et me regarde. Alors que mon regard descend, je comprends pourquoi je pensais qu'il était un mur de briques – il pourrait tout aussi bien l'être. Un solide bloc de muscles depuis ses larges épaules jusqu'aux pieds, la colère qui jaillit de ses yeux bleu foncé suffit à faire fondre la pierre.

"Regarde où tu vas la prochaine fois. Fille maladroite. Son fort accent irlandais ne parle pas tant que le commandement. Je suis trop choqué pour être aussi indigné que je le ferais normalement. Avec un dernier regard, il se retourne et continue sa propre course.

Je le regarde partir, étendu sur l'herbe mouillée, me demandant pourquoi je suis à la fois en colère, terrifiée et excitée.


.

.


Je croise mes mains sur mes genoux et me concentre sur elles. Inspire, expire. Rappelez-vous pourquoi vous êtes ici. Le visage de Nicole me vient à l'esprit. Nicole monte avec moi. Nicole, avec ses bottes aux genoux, débarrassait les stands avec moi, riant si fort que nous ne pouvions plus respirer. Nicole dans la salle d'examen de l'hôpital. Nicole lorsque l'infirmière lui a remis les antibiotiques et le contraceptif d'urgence. La vie a quitté ses yeux bien avant que je retrouve son corps.
Je regarde Dimitri contourner le SUV et monter de l'autre côté. Il a créé vingt-deux Nicoles. Au moins. C'est la raison pour laquelle je suis là.

🖋
Profile Image for Kay Folks.
413 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2023
Read in one go, couldn’t put it down!

The perfect mix of everything with a story that grips you.

Rocky is a freelance journalist on the tail of a story. She takes a false ID to work for the Bratva in order to uncover who is behind the deaths of numerous young women. She is then kidnapped by the Irish mob where Sean agrees to help her.

I normally avoid stories where a character is a journalist as they tend to annoy me. Rocky didn’t, I absolutely loved her character. So well written and a true strong woman. And Sean is the perfect mix of hard mob boss who is soft with her. He doesn’t try to change or control her which I loved.
I wish more authors were this good at writing a strong female character, who is actually strong, consistent and doesn’t crumble or cave.

Rolls on the next books! (Pretty please 🤞🏻)
35 reviews1 follower
November 23, 2023
Excellent

This book was great. Lots of action, bloodshed, the characters are relatable in their conversations, they don’t have unnecessary angst. The story just goes smooth and nonstop- it was really good. Loved it.
1 review1 follower
November 20, 2023
Strong female but 100% woman

Refreshing to read a story where the female is strong, powerful, smart and can hold her own but still be a woman. I would read more by this author.
194 reviews
November 20, 2023
Great Story

I absolutely loved this wonderfully written and steamy dark Irish mafia romance. It has a fantastic and well developed storyline. A must read!
2 reviews1 follower
November 15, 2023
first time author

This is the first book I have read by this author, the development of the characters was amazing. I loved the MFC and laughed more times than I can count. The storyline had other characters that were developed in a way that a series can follow. I hope that the next book will be with Tasha, Thebes t friend. And maybe down the road a spinoff with the Russians and Italian side.
13 reviews2 followers
November 15, 2023
Fantastic heroine

The best character I've read about in a long time. Strong brave and witty. Read the book in one sitting. Up until 4AM. Glad I'm retired. Looking for more books by Ellie Drake.
18 reviews
December 2, 2023
Highly Impressed

For this authors first book, she did any amazing job. Writing and publishing are never easy. I was engaged from the very beginning. Loved the characters and their chemistry. Rocky is strong & sassy. Sean is your typical mafia hero who is a big old softie for his woman. Can’t wait to read other books by Ms. Drake. I hope we get a series out of this with the head of the Italians and Russians.
2 reviews
May 26, 2024
Fun Read

I really enjoyed the characters. The lead female character was brave and had a lot of heart. She was a fighter when it mattered. I am ready for the next book.
108 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2023
NOT USUALLY INTO MAFIA OR BRATVA STORIES, BUT...

It's unusual for me to read anything Mafia or Bratva related, but this book interested me when I read the blurb. The writing and story line was good, I really liked Rocky and her spunky attitude. Looking forward to reading about the head of the Bratva.
1,737 reviews12 followers
November 11, 2023
A super steamy adult romance. Great, well developed, characters and a few twists and turns along the way. A great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Gladys.
14k reviews162 followers
November 12, 2023
I liked Sean and Rocky's story. Darkness, drama, emotion, intensity and steam make a lush and enticing combo that did not disappoint.
Profile Image for Leisel.
750 reviews4 followers
November 28, 2023
Dark, Dirty & Delicious!

A new Author for me to check out and extremely pleased with her dark and delicious Mafia romance story telling. Loved the characters and really quite an emotional ride that left me thoroughly sated through both the drama and humorous moments throughout, definitely with each new page I simply wanted more from both the plot and characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Marty Decker.
5 reviews
November 11, 2023
Irish mob

Loved the strong female character Rocky and Sean the mob boss who let her be herself and didn't want to change her.Love more stories with other characters in the book
Profile Image for Cody Marie Phoenix.
1,090 reviews7 followers
November 7, 2023
Ole Sean moves kinda fast there! While I liked the characters, especially the friendship between Roxanne and Tasha, The storyline itself was good, something typical for a mob-mafia story, but good. I just felt like parts of the story moved to fast.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,059 reviews5 followers
November 8, 2023
Held Captive



I’m always a little anxious when starting with a new writer but can honestly say, that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the story and the characters. I highly recommend this writer and look forward to reading more from her.
509 reviews9 followers
November 15, 2023
Held Captive: A Dark Irish Mafia Romance by Ellie Drake. This is Sean and Rocky's story.
Sean O'Connell Head of the Irish Mob and Roxanne (Rocky) a talented journalist with a degree from NYU and edits romance novels to help with the finances. Rocky shares a two bedroom apartment with her best friend Tasha, they met at NYC. Rocky is investigating a story about human trafficking, because so many young women are turning up dead. Rocky gets help from her friend Pierre with fake ID, he changes her name to Rebecca Jackson. She gets a job working for Dimitri Popov the head of the Russian Bratva in New York. Rocky starts out as a server in his club Glisten, then Dimitri wants her as his personal assistant. Dimitri is cold and terrifying. Not to be trusted. Rocky ends up being Sean O'Connell's prisoner. She is treated very well. Sean wants her to be kept safe from Popov, because if he finds Rocky he would more than likely try to get information from her about the Irish Mob. This is an exciting book about the Russian and Irish mobs. Ellie wrote an exiting page-turner and I look forward to more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for ltfrom bc.
542 reviews5 followers
November 11, 2023
I have to state up front that this is the first book I have read by this author. I am always leery with new authors as I am more often disappointed than not. I am happy to say that I quite enjoyed this story and I will definitely read more of her books in the future. This book had great characters. Although I think at time Rocky has no self preservation genes as she tends to jump right it and to heck with the consequences and the just know that is going to come back and bite her. Luckily for her, she has a strong mate in Sean. He is not willing to let her run wild as she searches for the story. And he is firm - her backside can confirm that. But it was still a very enjoyable story. It had a good plot, lots of mystery and suspense and a great connection between Rocky and Sean. Very enjoyable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
343 reviews9 followers
August 9, 2025
Really good

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Darkness: 🩶🖤
Ending: HEA
Epilogue: Last chapter gives a snippet of a happy future

4 Stars: I really enjoyed the story line and It's unique and a great concept. I will definitely continue the series and look into more books by this author.

🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 - Frequent spicy and detailed scenes throughout. Deliciously naughty. Steamy. Obsessive. Kisses that can be felt for days. Mild D/s, 3D’s dark, delicious, and dirty.
Profile Image for Nate.
24.1k reviews19 followers
November 21, 2023
I enjoyed Sean and Rocky’s book. It was an intriguing, fun read. And am voluntarily leaving this review.
Profile Image for Heather.
564 reviews
January 10, 2024
HC

While I think Rockys plan to go after the Bravta was stupid, I cannot argue with the results being Sean.
Profile Image for Secretary.
410 reviews10 followers
January 7, 2024
I came back on the 1/7/24 to review this book I finished on 12/15/23 and tbh I hardly remember any of it. I remember enjoying it at the time that I was reading it, but not enough to stick with me.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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