Captain

Morgan Brothers #2

by Lauren Rowe

From, Lauren Rowe, the USA Today and International bestselling author of The Club Series and Ball Peen Hammer comes a sexy standalone Captain.It wasn’t the way this kind of story was supposed to go . . .Insta-love isn’t supposed to turn into insta-hate. But that’s exactly what happened when the hot-as-hell dreamboat I met in a bar turned out to be a lying, cheating scumbag-player-douche looking for nothing but a little side action. Jerk.And he has the nerve to call me a liar and a “sociopath”? Assh*le.And now, three months later, through a mind-blowing series of events I couldn’t have predicted in a million years, it turns out my boss is marrying his sister in Hawaii and I’ve got to play nice with him for an entire freaking week. Okay, sure, I’ll put on a happy face this week and act like I’ve never even met the jerk before--did I mention his sister is marrying my boss?--but that doesn’t mean I’ll like it. And it certainly doesn’t mean I’ll stop secretly hating the cocky bastard’s guts. Because I do.I hate him. I really do. I just wish my brain would explain the situation to my body . . . because every time he flashes that panty-melting smile at me, it takes all my self-restraint not to jump the bastard’s hot-as-f*ck is a full-length, standalone sexy romantic comedy about Ryan Morgan (one of four Morgan brothers introduced in The Club Series). This book is a standalone book in The Morgan Brothers Series, a spin-off of THE CLUB SERIES, and can be read as a complete standalone. The Morgan Brothers books are intended to be read in any order. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.*For fans of Ball Peen Hammer, please note Captain features Ryan Morgan and takes place one year before the events of Ball Peen Hammer, but can be read before or after that book.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Audiobook, Rom Com, Humor

466 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2017

About the author

USA Today and internationally bestselling author Lauren Rowe lives in San Diego, California, where, in addition to writing books, she performs with her dance/party band at events all over Southern California, writes songs, walks her dogs, and spends time with her family and friends.
Much to Lauren’s thrill, her books have been translated all over the world in multiple languages and hit multiple domestic and international bestseller lists. To find out about Lauren’s upcoming releases and giveaways, and to check out loads of bonus material, sign up for Lauren’s emails at www.LaurenRoweBooks.com.
Lauren loves to hear from readers! Send Lauren an email from her website, say hi on Instagram @laurenrowebooks, and/or come by her Facebook page by searching Facebook for “Lauren Rowe Author.”

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Ich meine - WOW. Eigentlich hab ich das Buch nur aufgeschlagen, weil ich den Titel total dämlich und lustig fand. Ich hab auch nur den Klappentext und die ersten Seiten gelesen, weil ich das Buch belächelt habe - aber dann hat mir die Story ganz schnell die Leviten gelesen!! Plötzlich habe ich dieses Buch mit dem dämlichen Titel tatsächlich GEKAUFT. Und es war SO SCHÖN und so lustig und hatte so viele Fangirl-Momente! Hab dauernd gekichert und kleine Schreie losgelassen weil die Story einfach so genial ist. Das einzige was mich gestört hat, war die schmutzige Sprache in den Liebesszenen. Ich mag das nicht. Da schüttelt es mich jedes Mal, wenn ich über Wörter wie „Pussy“ oder „Klit“ stolpere. Aber es waren keine ausschweifenden ellenlangen Rammelszenen. Man hatte so liebevolle Charaktere und (omg wow ich schreibe grade eine Rezension, die länger ist als drei Zeilen!?) einfach geniale Situationen. Das ist verrückt, ich mag keine Liebe auf den ersten Blick, weil ich das einfach dämlich finde, ich mag den dämlichen Titel des Buches nicht und ich mag keine hardcore erotischen Wortschätze. Dämlich. Und trotz allem ist es für mich ein 5-Sterne-Buch. Es hat einfach mein Herz genommen und mich verzaubert. Das sagt hoffentlich alles, was ihr wissen müsst. Lest. Dieses. Buch.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars



Oh my goodness, I seriously can’t get enough of these Morgan brothers! I loved the first book in this series, but this was even better! Seriously, I’m so excited to read them ALL! 



Ryan Morgan meets the love of his life one night at a bar. It’s totally insta-love but he doesn’t even care. He knows this girl is the one. A few things happen and she gets away from him. Ryan spends months looking for his mystery girl, and he finds her where he least expects to. But what happens when she works for his new brother in law and now apparently hates him? He has to get her to change his mind.

Ryan Morgan aka Captain Morgan is such a great hero. He’s misunderstood by Tessa, but he has such a heart of gold and after a while, she starts to see it too. I loved Ryan and Tessa’s chemistry and I didn’t even care that it was instalove. I was so hooked on this story.

“Fuck anything else I used to think was beautiful. You’re the only thing.”

I listened to the audiobook of Captain. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Lauren Rowe does the most amazing job narrating her own books! Holy smokes, I loved how she voiced Tessa. John Lane also did a great job voicing Ryan. I can’t recommend checking out the audiobooks enough!

Captain was hilarious, it was heartwarming, it was a bit angsty, and it really hit the spot for me! I am so flipping excited to listen to Ball Peen Hammer next! Bring on Keane! 


[Olga therebelreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not what I expected, but so much better! I loved it! It was funny and sweet, and had the perfect ending. Yes, Ryan was a man whore, but he was so loveable and when he realized he had feelings for Tessa he immediately stopped whoring it up. He was a one woman man and I loved it. You could see how from the beginning they had this easiness around one another. I felt a wide variety of emotions while reading this book and I love when a book/author can do that to me.

Ryan instantly won me over. He was very kind to Tessa and so funny…Tessa on the other hand...I loved her character right from the start. She was smart, strong, independent and loyal… They were both such amazing characters. The insta-love fully worked for me, it didn’t bother me because the author created an actual bond between the main couple. These two went from fighting..to flirting...to being in love in no time at all.. They were just so freaking cute together!

And my god this book was sexy!!! There were scenes where I was just fanning myself and drooling lol. The lust was magnetic, the attraction was heart-stopping and the love was uncontrollable. If you want to read something refreshing, sweet, and really funny, if you crave the heart pounding and if you read to escape then I highly recommend this book!


In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 4/5 | Steam 5/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 4/5 | Darkness 0/5 | Humor 4/5 | Secondary Characters 4/5 | Drama-Conflict 4/5 | Mystery 0/5 | Twists 4/5 | Pacing Steady | Action 3/5

[alka · Rating 4 out of 5]

14 sept, 2021.

dearest morgan family,
please adopt me.

with all the love,
me.

[• Lisa • · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUR CAPTAIN AND T-ROD STARS.

"Insta-love isn’t supposed to turn into insta-hate."



One of the things I love most about being apart of this crazy book community is that I'm never short of ideas of what to read. When I saw one of my fellow addicts posting about this book, my interest was piqued and I have to say that I'm glad my romance book radar hit the jackpot this time around. Compete with a gorgeous cover, winning romance and hilarious antics - 'Captain' has won a little bit of my heart. And it'll certainly be one of those books thats not easy to forget about.



What did I love?
Where do I start? There was so much about this book that I enjoyed. Firstly, I have to talk about how much I enjoyed this authors 'voice'. Lauren Rowe has such a way with words, her laid back 'real' feel to her writing is so entertaining to read. I'm really impressed with her stamp of originality which is so hard to find in the romance reading community. This author really knows how to bring her characters to life and is a real genius at setting the scene. At times I felt like I could have grabbed my own Piña colada and sat down next to her characters at the beach bar. I was wholly transported into the story and fully enjoyed the ride. Once I'd gotten into the flow of the story (and who was related to whom), I loved the family/friend involvement in the story telling. It really added a special vibe to the book and made for some comedy romance story telling. The erotic scenes were well played out and for someone who can take or leave the extra steam in a romance I never once felt like those parts were overdone or unnecessary. This story had over the top bits, silly moments, heart felt 'talk' and plenty of the sexy and all of the above combined together convinced me of the love story between the main protagonists. Yes, I've been won over and I have zero qualms about it. To those of you (like, me) who have never opened up a Lauren Rowe book I'd urge you to give one a try, I doubt you'll ever look back.

Why not five?
Let me start by saying that I really, really enjoyed this book. It had some real shining moments where I was grinning from ear to ear and could not have been happier about finding myself transported into this story. However, it took me a little time to find that place. This author has created a whole plethora of secondary characters, nicknames and inside jokes. As a consequence of that for the initial part of my reading time I was a little lost. It took me some time to settle into this novel and find the balance between enjoying the story and navigating myself around all the additional information, but once I'd found my groove I have to admit that I was completely won over by Lauren Rowe and her writing prowess. I'm always on the lookout for discovering new authors to read and I'm glad to say that once I got to the end of this romantic soirée I knew that I was hooked on getting my next 'Rowe' fix.



Final thoughts ...
If you like your erotic reads to be combined with hilarious then you won't go far wrong with this book. I had no idea what to expect from this book other than a tasty looking cover and I'm so pleasantly surprised at how much I've enjoyed my time spent with this authors writing style. I have no doubt that existing fans of Lauren Rowe will be queuing up to read this next release, and equally I have zero doubt that those readers will be falling in love with 'Captain'. To Lauren Rowe, thank you for thinking outside of the romance box and creating a story that is as original as it is comical and romantic, I can now proudly call myself a fan. To my fellow readers, go and enjoy ... kisses.

[Bree Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Reread May 2023**

--


Oh Captain, my Captain… I cannot tell you how freaking lucky I am that I won this book. Not only is the physical copy gorgeous (love that cover and it’s the perfect size for a paperback), but the content proved something I didn’t think possible: insta-love can absolutely work!

First, story time:

Several months ago I kept hearing about Ball Peen Hammer and how great it was. Fast forward a few months to October and I’m excited to see that Lauren Rowe is attending Shameless Book Con in Orlando. I knew immediately that I was going to buy Ball Peen Hammer at the convention. (Signed copy! What!)

When I finally made it to LR’s table, however, Ball Peen Hammer was sold out. When I started (kinda) fake crying, she told me that she was doing a giveaway for Ball Peen Hammer and Captain. I didn’t realize that Captain actually takes place, timeline-wise, before Ball Peen Hammer, so I immediately entered the giveaway with the intention of just buying the ebooks when I got home.

Well, later that I day, I find out that I won!

Another twist of fate: I got completely knocked on my ass with the flu a few weeks after I got the books in the mail and ended up devouring both in a day each as I slowly died in bed.

I will warn you that these books are a sort of spin-off from LR’s The Club series (which I haven’t read). I really wish I knew this before reading these books only because you can tell that several of the characters in Captain and Ball Peen Hammer have great back stories from that series.

I’m kind of stickler about reading a series (even spinoffs) in order according to the timeline, and I wish the descriptions were more clear about this. That is literally the only downside of this novel.

I absolutely fell in love with all of the characters, the writing style, the steam, the laughs, and the storyline.

As I mentioned before, I’m not typically a huge fan of insta-love, mostly because I tend to ask a lot of character and relationship development, and insta-love rarely allows for me to really get into the characters and the relationship between them. I want the attraction to be believable… to be shown and not told.

Somehow LR had me invested in the characters and their budding relationship essentially through only a conversation that takes place at a bar. I was right there with Tessa and Ryan through every bantery word.

Another thing that LR managed to convince me I’d been previously wrong about was my annoyance with simple misunderstandings that tear two characters apart. Typically that has me rolling my eyes, however, she made the misunderstanding almost unpreventable.

The hate-to-love trope was also starting to get old for me, but this book refreshed it in an unexpected way.

This review will be a novel if I go through everything I loved about it, but one last thing: the relationships between the Morgan family members is so like my own and LR nails the interactions so well. I’m such a sucker for familial relationships done well in books.

If you’re looking for a sizzling, hilarious insta-love romance done right, you’ll love Captain.

(PS: you know I love an author when I use initials instead of their name. Please see: MZ = Mariana Zapata)

Audiobook Performance: 5 Stars
You might be wondering why I have an audiobook performance rating when I read the paperback book… the reason is because I also listened to the audiobook. That’s how much I loved it.

As if LR wasn’t talented enough, she also reads her own audiobooks and kicks so much ass at it. I love knowing that when she’s reading it, it sounds exactly as it is intended. She also chose such a great reader to accompany her with the performance. John Lane’s deep voice is so swoony and perfect for Ryan!

This book is part of the Audible Romance Package AND Kindle Unlimited. THERE IS NO GOOD REASON NOT TO READ IT IF YOU HAVE EITHER OF THOSE SUBSCRIPTIONS! #rantover

♥ Read the full review on my blog: In Love & Words ♥

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so adorable. I am devouring this series and loved Ryan's character. All of the Morgan brothers are adorable and super sweet to the women they love. For this book, the romance goes from instant infatuation to hate to lust to love and I could not put this book down. I will say, like with most Lauren Rowe books I read, it was a bit insta-lovey at the end, but I love this family and these characters and can't wait to read the next book!

[Denisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 *unpopular opinion here*


Everyone loved this book more than the previous one and found the characters amazing and awe-inspiring and lovely and...


I can't say I liked this book that much. Only reason I'm still giving it 3 stars (ish) is the humor, it was still pretty funny (although the previous one was much better).
The characters acted weird and I didn't like them too much. The plot was typical, nothing different than all the other romance books out there. Thank God for the pretty good writing, or I would have ended DNFing this one.

[maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Petition to become a part of the Morgan family.


Ryan is my favorite Morgan brother so far after reading the first three books.


These are such comfort reads. They have the perfect balance of fun yet meaningful and I feel like Lauren Rowe's books will always make me smile.


I think I'm going to read all of Lauren Rowe's backlist

[Natalie ~ The Biblioholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

After falling in love with Colby in Hero and then Zander in Mister Bodyguard, I knew that I had to get to know all of these characters as soon as possible. They were just too special to miss. Too awesome to be passed over. Too incredibly funny not to enjoy more and more laughs with.

Honestly, I thought that this story would be a no-brainer. Five stars like the rest of them and on to the next. And it would have been if it was about Ryan, the rest of the amazing Morgan family, and their equally phenomenal friends and family. However, I had to endure Tessa and she was a hard pill to swallow.

Burned by love, Tessa didn't need much to push her into believing that Ryan was pretty much like every other lying, cheating, scumbag of a man. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary... despite the many people who loved and respected him... despite how he carried himself... despite how obvious it was that he was a great man... she treated him like garbage. She was disrespectful, mean, and ugly to him. She went above and beyond to treat him like dirt while continuing to sleep with him.

Thankfully there were plenty of high points to this story to enjoy. Every moment with the Morgans was a delight and a half. The family (oh Peenie), the friends, the sweet and hilarious conversations and hijinks made this story amazingly entertaining. I loved Ryan so much and I look forward to seeing him again as I continue to read about his brothers.

[Lauren Rowe]

"Captain is full of delicious chemistry, nonstop laughs, and HOT sexy times - the perfection combination to make an unforgettable romance!" A.L. Jackson, NYT & USA Bestselling Author

#oneclick today:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2hRKQfV
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2AswPNx

[✰ Bianca ✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa and Ryan meet in a bar. Insta-attraction. One might almost say Insta-Love!
But after some weird circumstances (aka misunderstandings/lies, or rather, not-yet-had-the-opportunity-to-tell-facts) that insta-like turns into insta-hate!
But that's unfortunately not the last they've seen of each other!
Because .... his sister is marrying her boss in an epic marriage-event in Hawaii!
That means a week in paradise with a person you can't stand to look at. But also a person you can't NOT look at, because there's still that same insane attraction happening.



So what happens when you have to spend a week in a dream location with the other half of your soul - who you kinda hate? Will they be able to resist each other? Or the better question is ... HOW LONG will they be able to resist this mega-attraction?

READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT ☺

══════════════════════





I have to admit that I only read Lauren's first Club books, I just didn't have the time for the rest of them...yet. And I didn't read Ball Peen Hammer! So I missed a lot of what happened to all those couples and brothers and sisters and best friends! BUT, of course you don't have to have read those books to understand what's happening here. But I also hate that - which is just me being weird, but I always want to have read every book that slightly connects in the right order. ☺ But you really don't have to know those other books!! This is a complete standalone. Perfectly understandable without the others!

Anyway.
This is Ryan and Tessa's book.
And they're sooo adorable!
Tessa only went to that bar as a favor to her bestie Charlotte, because Charlotte thought that Tessa needed to get back on the horse again! Horse being a man, of course. Because since her break-up with her cheating ex, nine months ago, Tessa hasn't so much as kissed a guy!!
And Ryan....
He broke up with his crazy girlfriend of two months. Just today - the day of the bar-meet with Tessa.
And it's kind of love-at-first-sight for him. He wants nothing more than to find THE ONE. The one to fall hopelessly in love with, marry, have children with.
Isn't he the most adorable dream-guy????



And then they meet and everything Ry ever hoped for was THIS close to happening, but then... grrrrr!
This could've been a Happy End story after only a few chapters. But of course they didn't tell each other everything they should've told each other!
But Hawaii is calling ... second chance at that happily ever after!
But now they kind of hate each other.
TOO funny for the reader to witness!

Funny (Ry's brother Keane is mostly responsible for the hilariousness of this book!!!), adorable, very erotic and all that in this beautiful location? Perfect Romance!

If I had to find something I didn't much like? As mentioned before - the fact that SO many people in here already had their stories told maybe? And I haven't read some of them. Which is halfway my fault, halfway Lauren's for not putting ALL of those books officially in the club series on goodreads!☺
And the second thing...some characters share weird expressions. Like Oopfh. It's ok if siblings do that, but not strangers in a book. That's an expression the author uses privately and it shouldn't be used by different characters in my opinion. Details ;)
Another thing - once someone starts talking in this book, they won't stop!!! There are way too many too long monologues in here. I sometimes didn't care for those - some of them were scenes from other books, stories, anectdotes you might already know et cetera.
Also, the cover?? While very sexy. That's not Ryan. This guy looks like a mechanic or a race-car-driver! The tattoes are perfect, but the clothes? A bit weird! ☺
BUT ...

CAPTAIN was such an adorable and sexy romance! Sparks galore! Hilarious siblings! The most beautiful locations a romance novel can have: Seattle & Hawaii ....
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Ryan - this one is MINE - ALLLL MINE!!!!

♡ ♡
♡ ♡

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every once in awhile, a book comes along that steals your heart and mind and catapults you into a state of pure bliss.

Every once in awhile, a book comes along that infiltrates so deeply, that you know you'll have a hard time getting over it.

Each and every book we read holds a countless number of different reasons why we love them so much. I honestly can't sit here and explain all my reasons for loving this book because it would take too long. What I will say is, that I have just finished a book, that undoubtedly has become one of my favorites of all time!

My love for Lauren Rowe honestly knows no bounds. From the very first book I read of hers back in 2015 to this, her 10th book, my love and adoration for her and her words has only grown. Each and every book Lauren releases shows development. Each book shows an enhancement in her writing and an enhancement in her storytelling.

Throughout this whole book Lauren captivated me, consumed me and left me in a state of pure bookworm bliss.

Captain, tells the story of Ryan Morgan and Tessa Rodriguez. As a huge fan of the Club Series, you can imagine my delight when I found out Ryan was getting a book of his own. (Please note Captain is a full standalone and you do not need to have read any previous Lauren Rowe books).

Captain was not what I expected it to be at all. It was SO. MUCH. MORE. Anyone who knows me will be aware of how much I love tension and angst in the books I read, so in all honesty I wondered how Captain would deliver what I love so much. But it does. OH MY GOSH! It does!

Initially our amazing characters blaze hotter than the largest fire with an undeniable insta-love connection. That insta-love will make you smile and swoon and start off the butterflies deep in the stomach. From there Captain develops into a deep, intense enemies to lovers  romance that ticked all my boxes. And then some. Those butterflies up and morphed into eagles flapping around inside me causing havoc to my senses in the best possible way.

Ryan and Tessa are HOT. They ooze sex and seduction, rawness and intensity, love and passion. Prepare to fan yourself. A LOT!

And while we're on the subject of preparation… prepare to laugh, huge belly laughs. Prepare to smile, ridiculously large cheesy smiles. Prepare to swoon at Ryan for all his sweet, sexy alpha goodness.  Prepare to get mad, as the delicious tension pushes all your buttons while we follow the journey. Prepare to fall in love, with two beautifully flawed people. Prepare to FEEL, the love, the passion, the connection and the chemistry.  Just prepare for EVERYTHING because that's what you'll get! E-VERY-THING!

With Captain we also see beloved characters from previous books, if I hadn't already read the books previously, meeting the characters in this book would really make me want to go back and read them all. Since I have read them though, it was an amazing experience to catch up and get to know characters, that I already loved, better.

I'm pretty sure I had a chemical reaction to this book, an out of this world experience while reading. I became obsessed. Possessed by words and feelings and two epically charismatic characters. Ryan Morgan has well and truly commandeered my ship and will forever rule as my all time favourite Captain!

[Ⓐlleskelle - That ranting lady ッ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, light and hot but a little repetitive for this picky reader!
I enjoyed the push and pull between T-Rod and Ryan until the point it began to feel like a never-ending cycle.
I enjoyed both characters a lot, Ryan Morgan definitely had my full attention—hello Captain— and I really like a strong driven heroine and T-Rod didn't disappoint, she ran the show here. Both had a helluva lot chemistry and their never ending push and pull did offer some steamy moments as well as a few laughs.

First time reading this author and I've had a few issues with her use of brackets during dialogues. Not sure if it meant the person was openly saying these things as an aparte or if it was internal dialogue meant for the reader? Confusing.

As for the plot? Well, this was a light read where some hot guy runs after his soulmate and that's pretty much it. Nothing wrong with that, it was a light and steamy read and I enjoyed it.

More reviews and book talk at :

You can find me here too ☞

[Shayna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ADORE these characters! I had SO MUCH FUN reading this one! Sexy, hilarious, and just downright DELICIOUS! I NEVER wanted it to end!

Move out of the way Jonas Faraday. Take a hike Josh Faraday. Get to steppin' Keane Morgan. There is a new ALPHA taking over and his name is Ryan Morgan. The captain is in ladies and he is ready to SWOON the Hell out of you!

"No more 'thinking about it.' No more 'processing.' You're mine. All week long it's me and you and no one else and that's all there is to it. You got that?"

I gotta tell you, I am SO FREAKING GIDDY over this man, it's absolutely ridiculous! Ryan and Tessa were just PERFECT together! The banter between these two was on point and I just couldn't get enough! Lauren Rowe brings these characters to life in such a unique way. She gives them their 'voice' and they just steal my heart! It feels like I've been waiting so long for another dose of Lauren Rowe's writing that when it showed up on my iPad, I squealed like a little girl.

"I've got no choice but to love you."

The push/pull between the main characters was everything! Ms. Rowe has no freaking filter and that is what I absolutely LOVE about her. This is one romance that will stay with you long after the last page has turned. These unforgettable characters will take their place in your hearts and never let go. It's hilarious. It's charming. It's intoxicating. It's unforgettable. I can't wait to see what Lauren Rowe comes up with next!

[KceeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Rowe is back, and she's again written one of the sweetest and most hilarious reads published in the history of RomCom!



Ryan Morgan is not looking for a one night stand. He thinks that he's getting too old for that. Being quite established in his job, all he wants to complete his life is a stable relationship. But you know how funny fate works sometimes, right? Just when he thought that he already found the girl he's looking for, the gods played with his destiny in the craziest way. The girl he thought he was crushing on? Oh well, she wasn't who he thought she is.

Tessa Rodriguez has been mending her broken heart for a year. The last thing she has in mind is to be in a serious relationship again after the painful event her ex put her through. One night, she thought she's moving on after meeting this super hot and incredibly smart guy in a bar. He seems so genuine, but something happened that made her realize that most guys lying bastard like his ex, including Ryan Morgan.

So, Captain here is the second spin-off from The Club series. This book follows the story of Ryan Morgan (Kat Morgan's older bro) and Tessa Rodriguez (Josh Faraday's OTT hot assistant). This is an enemies-to-lovers book that contain the steamiest sex scenes! The push and pull between the H and h will surely drive you nuts! It's a light and very adorable read!

Though kinda lengthy than your usual reads I'm sure, you'll never notice it. You'll enjoy every second with Ryan, T-Rod, and the rest of the gang. Never read in public places, I'm warning you. It's either people will think you're cray-cray or you'll pass too much gas because of trying to hide your laughter!



If you're not familiar with Lauren Rowe's writing, all I can say is she's one of the very few authors who captured my romcom loving heart. Her characters were not written to merely entertain readers, they feel so... alive. They talk to their readers and capture hearts. The laughter while reading Lauren's books is more genuine because it feels like you are laughing with your family. When they're hurt, the pain is felt right through the core, too. Lauren's books, they make you feel at home.

It feels so great to be back in this little bubble Lauren Rowe created. A world filled with amazing characters that I have learned to love so much, and I am so sure that you will, too!

Now my problem is, how long will I wait for the next Morgan book?? Lauren, answer me, lady!!

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Morgan brothers are the best! They are such a wonderful family and so funny, and I absolutely love the nick names everyone gets. This is Ryan Morgan and Tessa's story (Tessa aka Teresa aka Samantha aka T-Rod Lol). This is pretty much instant love to instant hate. Also, I love the narrators in this series. Lauren Rowe narrates her own books, along with John Lane. Tessa meets Ryan at a bar one night pretending to be a Flight Attendant named Samantha. They have instant chemistry...but then something goes down to make Tessa absolutely hate Ryan's guts with a flaming passion. Tessa works for Josh Faraday, who happens to be the person Josh's sister, Kat, is going to marry. Josh and Kat are getting married in Hawaii, so Tessa is forced to deal with Ryan the entire time in Paradise. The PowerPoint Presentation at the end was my favorite scene. So swoony and funny at the same time!

[Bindi Boo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

THIS WAS SO GOOD!

Talk about a completely original plot...I've not read a plot line like this. This book is a standalone however other characters from other books clearly make appearances. I have only just discovered Lauren Rowe, will be adding her books to my TBR for sure. GREAT writing, perfect pacing, sweet humour and those sexy times....gosh, i may have spontaneously combusted!

I'm normally not a fan of insta-love/attraction, always looking out for those slow burns...but this one worked for me. It had an element of both if i think about it. Started of insta-everything however ended up being a slow burn as the main characters learn more about each other. I absolutely ADORED the time the main characters spent meeting the first time. It felt so darn real and the emotions were so palpable. I felt the same tingles Tessa did and don't even get me started on Ryan. That man is someone i might actually conjure up in real life if i had voodoo skills. Intelligent, sexy, sweet, loves his family, looking to settle down, funny, sexy...did i say sexy?!

In a jist: Ryan and Tessa meet in a bar, they then part, only to meet again at a wedding...with so many cute twists and turns! I loved the secondary characters and cannot wait to catch up on all the other books. This one was a clear winner, HIGHLY recommended!

[Elmarie Pieterse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Macaroons!!!!! Break out the RUM and bag yourself a CAPTAIN ladies!!!! Wow wow wow Lauren has done it yet again!!!!! She's taken me on a journey of pure happiness and joy throughout this book!!! There were scenes in here that was sooooo HAWT that seriously left me breathless!! I had so many laugh out loud moments throughout the book cause with the Morgan clan you just can't help it they are all hilarious and just a breath of fresh air!!! If you have read her previous books you'll get reacquainted with all of your favorite characters and it was soooooo good to see them all again but if you haven't and it's your first read don't worry as this is a standalone and it will still feel as if you are meeting them for the first time!! Cause that's how well this book is written!!!! You know what is soooooo great about this book for me personally and even if you haven't read any of the other books you can totally pic this book up and read it without feeling damn have I missed something somewhere cause I don't have a effing clue who this dude or gal is.... so that's why I say this book is so well written cause you feel connected to all of the characters, not just the main characters cause every damn character in this book plays a huge role in there lives and each one of them are unique in there own way and you fall in love with ALL OF THEM cause you just can't help it. Hahahaha and Omg if people don't pick up Ball Peen Hammer if they haven't read it yet after Captain then there is seriously something wrong and not just Peenie but the rest of Laurens books cause C'MON you just HAVE TO MEET the rest of the gang and get there back story!!!! So for me this book was AMAZE-EFFING-BALLS!!!! Then CAPTAIN RYAN MORGAN oh my soul he just went and stole my heart this guy is every girls dream!!! He's funny, smart, sexy as hell and is the most loyal person you'll ever meet!!!! Then you have Tessa sweet sweet Tessa lol oh how I adore her with her funny side and the bit of insecurity she has but still she will fight for what she believes in and she'll say what's on her mind!!! This book was EVERYTHING you want in a book.... Sexy, funny, well written, heartwarming and all the different emotions you'll want in a book!!!! And of course I have to say the BEST COVER EVER!!!! C'mon just look at it.... it's to die for!!!! Wow Lauren Rowe I'm completely blown away by this book. Totally my favourite read of this year!!!!

[Luetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain, my Captain.

Are you kidding me?

The passion in this book could melt a frozen heart. ❤

First off, when Lauren Rowe finally released who she was writing about, I was thrilled. I enjoyed the glimpses we got in Ball Peen Hammer of this Morgan boy, and wanted more. And did Lauren ever deliver.

Ryan is deep, AND funny. He's a little bit of everything, and is definitely that full package. The lengths he goes to to find what he is searching for is something you can only find in a book. Do men like this exist in real life? Lauren sure makes you think so. If not, Ryan is perfect book-boyfriend material.

And Tessa. T-Rod. I cannot talk about this book and not talk about her, but I can't say too much without spoiling. She's wonderful. she's confused. She doesn't want anyone to get hurt. And she's loyal.

This will be one I read again...and soon.

[Giorgia Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much dialogue.
Everyone was talking to everyone else, using way too many words and bad jokes and horrible nicknames.
Everyone was in everyone else’s business too which was my personal nightmare.
Hero lied too much, innocent lies and omissions, but those are the things I hate the most about a character, when they’re not upfront about everything. I couldn’t really stand the hero nor the heroine tbh.
I didn’t like how the hero was portrayed to be with women at the beginning of the book. Especially when he was on a date with a nice woman who he kept calling by the wrong name. It wasn’t funny.
Heroine was a wishy washy and had major personality issues.
I didn’t like anything about this book.
It just wasn’t my thing.
The humour was horrendous, the plot was lacking, and the chemistry was lukewarm.

[Carmen Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit I am an idiot. I got to 5% before I put together that this is related to Ball Peen Hammer. I had a sneaking suspicion that I know Peen but I had to check and now I am twice as excited. I had to get my grabby hands on it just knowing it was Lauren Rowe and reading the blurb but now I am super excited to dive on in.

Well the good news is my excitement wasn’t wasted. This book was awesome. I was so hooked from the first page I really didn’t want to put it down. Which isn’t really surprising since I already knew I loved Lauren Rowe’s writing and I know her characters are well written and always make me love them from the beginning. And as I got further into this book and met all the amazing side characters it just made me desperate to find the time to read all of their stories.



Tessa was unique but real and I instantly felt like she was someone I would want to hang out and have a few drinks with. She was maybe a little closed off and defensive for a while, but it was completely understandable considering everything that she had been through. Luckily for her Ryan was entirely up for the job and he put one hundred and ten percent into winning over his girl.

The chemistry between Tessa and Ryan was off the charts hot and I could feel the sexual tension with every interaction. Ordinarily misunderstandings and miscommunications and half truths and dramas and the like drive me insane but they absolutely made this story and kept me madly flipping pages to see how and when everything was going to play out.

I seriously loved this book and I think if I had read the other books this would be a 5 star book for me but in saying that not having read them didn’t take anything away from the story it has just made me desperate to scour through all of Lauren Rowe’s titles to see how many characters cross over. So I am off to do that now.

Check out my reviews here

[Misha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me. Corny and one-dimensional and boring. Lots of telling, not showing. Lacked the layers and nuances that make stories feel real. You know what I mean? None of it felt real— it had shitty reality TV vibes.

I didn’t believe Tessa and Ryan’s random declarations of soul-altering love AT ALL. I didn’t understand the central conflict of the story AT ALL. I think it was that Tessa is a Virgo…? No, I’m literally not kidding. Read it and you’ll see.

Also, why is this funny—

“Say my name.”
“Ryan.”

Lmaooo

(Lauren Rowe also claimed that Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You was reggaeton, so that sums up the level of caucasity present in this novel.)

—

I’ve read a lot of LR’s books. Some of them, I love. Some, I absolutely don’t. I’m not mad about it. You win some, you lose some.

—

Now. This may just be a personal issue, but it bothered me enough to share.

At the 92% mark, we’re hit with this scene: Ryan’s sister invites Ryan’s crazy ex to his and Tessa’s engagement party (without telling her what the party is for and allowing her to think that Ryan was single) so they can blindside and humiliate her and force her to see Tessa’s “big-ass ring”.

Excuse me, what? That’s such UGLY girl behavior. It left such a bad taste in my mouth. It holds absolutely no weight within the context of the story— it’s just this tiny scene that’s meant to be funny— but it turned me off so much.

It doesn’t matter that the ex was “crazy”— just enjoy your fucking engagement party, what do you gain from ambushing and embarrassing someone else? Parading a man in front of another woman, implying that you beat her in some competition, is such embarrassing, unattractive behavior. Ryan’s sister is a weird bitch. She’s not the extroverted Fun Girl™️ she thinks she is.

Also, they brought this scene up again later in bed. Ryan commented on how hot it was that Tessa was a bitch to his ex in front of him. Embarrassing. High school behavior.

[Trish Kitty Taylor ***narniaandbeyond*** · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm bursting with happiness, grinning like a fool & basically in a state of absolute bliss having just finished CAPTAIN by the super talented Lauren Rowe. From start to finish I have laughed, snorted, sighed, shouted & flat out panted my way through this book. Ryan & Tessa pulled me in & kept me beautifully entertained for the entire time I was on board their crazy train. I was gutted when it came to end & know these two will be on my mind for a while to come.

So, without further ado - Who are the stars of the show??

Oh, ladies let me tell you about Captain Ryan Morgan. The front cover paints the perfect pic & truly this man is what my Ultimate Book Boyfriend looks like. He's the whole shabang & gawd could I spend an eternity exploring this perfectly sculpted body. Inch by inch. But hold your horses, because that's not all... He is so much more than top draw eye candy, this man is loving, passionate, caring & so damn loyal it's ridiculous - I really could spend the same eternal time exploring his tender heart & beautiful soul too.

He is the Captain of the Morgan clan & oh how I love his role in this crazy beautiful family. Raised by the BEST momma & surrounded by such life affirming love his whole life, he is a man not scared to show his feelings for those that mean the most. He isn't afraid to show vulnerability or bare his soul which I adored. There is nothing sexier than a pure alpha being confident in the man on the inside as well as the outside.

Now you need to meet T-Rod aka Tessa. This girl could be my spirit sister, because our stars align perfectly & oh how I love her quirky traits. She is feisty, sexy & super smart, loyal to a fault & a good bit stubborn. She's had her heart broken & isn't in rush to repeat that, so up comes the walls & defense mechanisms come into force & boy does this girl know how to dig her heals in.

However, once you peel back the layers, there is wanton lil creature waiting to explode & hell did I love her hard. I loved her passion, her sexuality & how she went against her inner conscious to throw caution to wind & live in the moment. I loved her hard, flaws & all. Her inner battle against her insecurities & her inner crazy was super endearing & made her so much more real & oh so perfect.

How were the feels & storyline?

Captain is like ike sunshine on a rainy day.- it made my heart soar & my soul smile. I loved how their passionate journey of instalove / instahate played out. From the moment, they drew the battle lines & threw themselves into winning sed war, they owned me. The banter was hilarious, with some truly classic one liners & don't get me started on the sexual tension - because seriously, I'm talking combustible panties, exploding ovaries & cold showers ..

I loved the way their relationship developed. As the whole story unfolded it was like unwrapping two special bundles at Christmas. Because even though they hated with such raw passion & desire, it was only when their hearts opened & souls were bared, could I see the real beauty in how they gave love but received it too. Sigghhh talk about gooey & beautiful.

How was the writing?

In true Lauren style she whisked me away to place I never wanted to leave. She has the ability to make me FEEL like I'm right there in among it all, loving & laughing with every single character, for it's not just the main Stars that lead this book, it’s the role of all the side characters too, that are written so damned well, that you can't picture the book without them. They add depth, beauty & some very special tender moments that tugged on my heart big style.

The Morgan Family is my ULTIMATE FANTASY FAMILY. I seriously want to marry into this crazy crew. Omgah they are infectious in so many wonderful beautiful ways. I love how Lauren has developed these and has truly made each one of them truly unique, letting their personalities shine bright. But if that wasn't enough I got the whole crew I’ve come to love, all showing me sides I'd not seen before, adding more colour & magic to an already spectacular read. For me it was like going home.

Would I recommend it to my Bestie??

Erm I've already recommended it lol. Yes. Captain is a book you can lose yourself in so easily & effortlessly. It's laughter & loving in the best of ways. Even though it is a standalone, I’d say why not read about some of the other characters I know you are going to fall in love with in this story!!! They are SPECTACULAR.

5 Loving, Lusty & Laugh out Loud Stars

[Madonna Blackburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain by Lauren Rowe

Since 2015 when Lauren Rowe first stormed onto the literary scene, I have looked forward to that time of the year when we hear Lauren say 'I am writing'. Because these 3 words mark the countdown to the release of a book that I know will undoubtedly become a favourite for the year as well as becoming a treasured part of my library collection.
Captain is Lauren's brand new STANDALONE novel and I first have to mention the cover...OMG! Favourite cover right there!
Those tattoos give a kickstart to the enquiring mind & allows us a sneak peek into the delicious character that is 'Captain' Ryan Ulysses Morgan.
This latest creation introduces us to 2 emotionally charged characters in Ryan Morgan & Tessa Rodriguez.
Lauren is a master at delivering characters that exude genuine feeling & emotion & the connection that burns between Ryan & Tessa is palpable & all consuming. Tessa & Ryan seduce us with the raw intensity of their passion & to say that their love is hot & explosive is an understatement.
Ryan's alpha tendencies will melt you & leave you thirsty to experience him in a very personal way. And Tessa...oh Tessa...you beautifully flawed, quietly  dirty woman, you are a model for woman everywhere to look up to & you are one of my fav heroines.
It would not be a Lauren Rowe book if it did not include Lauren's unique signature style & humour & boy did it deliver with this. I literally had a smile on my face for the majority of this book & her secondary characters ( who you will know & love if you have read any of Lauren's previous books....however, you do not need to have read any previously and I will guarantee you it will be a most entertaining surprise for you if you haven't) are some of the most endearing, lovable & downright funnist people EVER! I belly laughed so many times throughout this story.
Lauren puts as much thought into her supporting cast as she does in her main characters & the depth & sincerity that she delivers, is her major strength as an author.
I do love a good musical playlist that enhances my experience while reading & Captain has (although small) one of the most thought provoking & captivating playlists around. Lauren knows her way around music & this shows in her selection of songs....they are not random choices. The music, alongside her words, makes this story come alive.
Inside the pages of this book you will encounter the most entertaining group of characters you will ever have the pleasure of meeting and I promise you that from the first turned page, they will change the outlook on your day.
I loved this book & I guarantee that you will too.
5 HUGE stars ⛧⛧⛧⛧⛧

[Jacquie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Rowe is an absolutely genius storyteller and with Captain she has really outdone herself!! I am going to TRY and articulate everything I am feeling about her next BESTSELLER!!!

This book takes you on an INCREDIBLE, hilarious, SWOONY journey through Ryan Morgan and Tessa Rodriguez's emotional, funny and at times, heart-breaking love story! Lauren writes in such a way that you FEEL all the angst, all the love and yes...all the chemistry (and let me tell you, the chemistry between these two is OFF-THE-CHARTS HAWT!!!)

Ryan TOTALLY and COMPLETELY made me fall head-over-heels in love, to such a degree that I found myself wishing I had a Captain Morgan of my very own (and I'm not talking about the brand of rum here, folks!) Ryan is the complete package...wickedly funny sense of humour, SUPER sexy, extremely easy on the eyes (as are ALL of the Morgans ;) ), is totally devoted to his family and friends, and knows EXACTLY how to please a woman (not JUST in bed...or wherever), is loyal, loving and did I mention he's SUPER SEXY??!! PHEW...give me a minute...

Now Tessa, is a lovely young woman who has had some unfortunate luck in the love department and has some real trust issues that Ryan will have to overcome if he has any hope of getting his heart's desire! But until that happens, the thigh-slapping funny, drama-filled, insanely sexy road to their HEA will alternately have you wiping tears of laughter from your eyes and fanning yourself (many times!)

I LOVED reading about the whole Morgan and Faraday clans, plus the side characters from The Club series! You don't need to read that series to truly enjoy this book, but I'm betting you'll WANT to after reading this entirely entertaining and delightful story! A 6 ⛧⛧⛧⛧⛧⛧ read for me!

[Margaret Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

 ho ho and a bottle of YUM!

What can I say about Captain to do it justice? 
It just purely and simply made me feel good, and I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading it.
The mix of old and new characters was awesome.

[Sabrina McVeigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you find a unique set of characters or a book series that you just can't walk away from. They will always stay with you and you even find yourself going back for a visit from time to time.
This is exactly how I would describe the Faraday/Morgan family. They come from the mind of the brilliant best selling author Lauren Rowe.

Everyone is so unique. They are laid back, fiercely protective and will do anything for you. This family has a thousand of hilarious stories. all are one of a kind and that includes Ryan aka Captain. who is without a doubt, my absolute favorite guy ever....SWOON!

Ryan is the one with the master plan. He has everything figured out and is just waiting for the right time to go forward. He's also the one to love with everything he has and will do whatever it takes to get what he wants. He's pretty determined and maybe a little stubborn. Everything seems to be falling into place except for one thing. He hasn't been lucky in love. He hasn't found the one he's searching for. that is until he meets the one woman who makes him question if instant love actually exists. His soul and his heart are telling him they do but sometimes we have to down several paths before we end up right where we need to be.

Tessa has wanted to find love for her entire life. Every girl loves fairy tales and always wants her life to end up like that. but life and fairy tales are completely different. fairy tales don't have boyfriends who break their heart and make them lose all trust in men. so with love taking a back seat for a while tessa puts all her focus into work. that is until one night where she does something completely out of the ordinary. and you know they say sometimes its best to take the road less travelled..because you never know where you'll end up. fate and destiny have a tricky way of showing us exactly what needs to happen.

Lauren Rowe knows how to deliver a killer story! They are always far from the ordinary. Each one has something a little different. There are parts where you will laugh out loud, hold your breath, cry your eyes out but the greatest one of all is when everything comes full circle.

I am a die hard Lauren Rowe fan and I look forward to every single book she writes. i can honestly say captain is MY FAVORITE!!!!! it was amazeballs!!!!!
don't pass on this book and prepare your heart for the captain!

[Carol Ann Doveatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. This. Book. The emotions. The feels. I was prepared to love this book, as I have loved the previous nine books written by Lauren Rowe, However I not only Love Captain, I adore Captain! and this book has become a part of my soul. Lauren writes with such flair, and humor, that I found myself out loud laughing and smiling throughout the entire book, along with some tears and swearing! Her characters are so well developed, you feel as if these people are alive and your friends, and you could talk to them right now. The story immerses you into the world of the Morgans and Faradays, and it is a fabulous world to be in. While this is Ryan Morgan, and Tessa Rodriguez's story, the entire clans make an appearance, and I was so happy to visit with all of them. You can read this book as a stand alone, and meet everyone, however you will want to get to know all these fabulous characters in Lauren's previous books. Since this is a romance, there is romance; Hot, sweaty, steamy, extra sexy, panty melting, sighing Loving romance that is so delicious to read! I just cannot say enough about the writing style, and the attention to detail that Lauren possesses. Every character, every piece of the story is so well thought out and so well written. Which is why all of these characters leave such an impression with me. I did not want this story to end! This Book is why I read. To be a part of another world that I can completely become a part of is heaven for me, and to find one that speaks to me, and stays with me is so very phenomenal. I thought Ball Peen Hammer would always be my favorite, however Captain Ryan Morgan not only stole my heart, he imbedded into my soul. Peen will always be special, yet Ryan just took the romance and the love to a whole other level. I am forever grateful that Amazon told me a few years ago that if I liked the book I read, I might like Lauren Rowe's The Club, and oh how right they were!!! The Club started me on this great book journey, and I can only hope that Lauren has many more fanatabulous stories to tell. Thank you for letting me be a part of Captain!

[Kirha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Captain my freaking Captain!



Lauren Rowe you have topped your last book and I didn't think that could even happen. If you loved Ball Peen Hammer, then you will LOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVEEEEEE this one.



Firstly the hilarity of this story was off the chain. Yes I said off the chain. The author has a magical way with words that makes everything funny. If she were to write a book about paint drying, then I bet it would be the funniest thing ever. I mean seriously, I was brought to tears by some of the situations that these two characters got themselves into.



And holy mother of god I can't even explain to you with words how hot the chemistry was between Tessa and Ryan. I'll instead use a series of gifs to get my point across on goodreads







If you're reading this on Amazon then picture volcanoes erupting or an atomic explosion...THAT wouldn't even come close to the hotness that happened in this book.

It was great seeing the rest of the Morgan clan and some of the other characters from The Club Series which by the way, if you haven't read yet, you should get on it.

I absolutely and wholeheartedly loved this story and want more of the Morgan clan. Strike that, can I join this family because they freaking rock.




Five stars