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Crestwood University #3
Captured Love
Selene Davis has always been known as the confident, carefree one—the friend you could count on for a good time. But beneath her bold exterior, she hides insecurities about her curves and wonders if she'll ever truly be enough. The last thing she needs is to get tangled up with Knox Sanchez, the emotionally unavailable, smoking-hot hockey star who’s made it clear he isn’t looking for anything serious. But despite her better judgment, a one-night stand leaves Selene wanting more, only for Knox to remind her it’s just casual.
Hurt and frustrated, Selene ices him out, determined to focus on school and her job at the library. But when their friend groups overlap, staying away from Knox proves impossible.
Knox knows he should keep his distance. With his demanding schedule on and off the ice and a disastrous breakup that left him emotionally guarded, relationships aren’t on his agenda. But no matter how high he builds his defenses, Selene is the one person who makes him want to break them down.
But she won’t give him the time of day. The more she pushes him away, the more he’s determined to win her over. With nosy friends, unresolved feelings, and undeniable chemistry, Selene and Knox are headed toward a faceoff.
And it will change everything for them, forever.
Hurt and frustrated, Selene ices him out, determined to focus on school and her job at the library. But when their friend groups overlap, staying away from Knox proves impossible.
Knox knows he should keep his distance. With his demanding schedule on and off the ice and a disastrous breakup that left him emotionally guarded, relationships aren’t on his agenda. But no matter how high he builds his defenses, Selene is the one person who makes him want to break them down.
But she won’t give him the time of day. The more she pushes him away, the more he’s determined to win her over. With nosy friends, unresolved feelings, and undeniable chemistry, Selene and Knox are headed toward a faceoff.
And it will change everything for them, forever.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 6, 2025
184 people are currently reading
1247 people want to read
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January 11, 2026
━━━ઇଓㅤ⤸
꒰ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱
𝟑.𝟐𝟓 ✩
🎧꒱ ‘run for the hills’ | Tate McRae
“𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓯𝓽 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮, 𝓘
𝓹𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 𝓲𝓽. 𝓑𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽
𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓼𝓸…𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓮.”
“𝐹𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓈𝑜 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓈𝑒? 𝒦𝓃𝑜𝓍, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓈𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊
𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝒹𝑜 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈.”
“𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽. 𝓘 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷, 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭. 𝓕𝓾𝓬𝓴.”
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
I had such a good feeling about this. Captured Love was really enjoyable for the first quarter. I could see the author’s writing had improved tremendously, and the fmc was super relatable. But then, sometime in the book, it just fell flat and I wasn't enjoying it as much anymore. The writing then felt rushed and there were numerous errors. e.g → [ I nod because words escape me. ] and [ I’m at peace here and his arms. ] It got to the point that I had to pause and reread the sentence because I genuinely had no clue. I know this occurs in a lot of books, but I felt like the writing slacked on top of all the mistakes I found. Now, from the previous books, I wasn’t expecting this mind-blowing phenomenal read. But my hopes were relatively high from how much I was eating up the first 50 or so pages. And although I didn’t love it, there were still some parts that touched my heart.
Let’s talk about one of the main themes in the book: body image ⤸
Body image issues and insecurities revolving around weight is a significant struggle that many women–including myself–deal with on a daily basis. It’s not something that goes away with a flick of the wrist. It affects your mind, makes it difficult to find anything positive about what you see in the mirror, and overall, it’s hard to feel confident when wearing certain clothes. Selene is a perfect example of that. She compared herself to her ‘skinny’ friends and picked apart every little flaw she had. Coming from experience, it can really damage your self-confidence, eating at your mind little by little, forcing you to only see the bad in yourself where you struggle to look past the things that are ‘ugly’ or ‘unappealing’. And that’s exactly what happened with Selene. [ You’re too slow. Too big. You don’t belong here with all the gym rats. Everyone’s probably staring at you jiggling with each labored step. ] - She’d overthink when at the gym, wondering if people were laughing at her, judging her technique and body. Little did she know, everyone was too busy in their own world to care about her. [ It’s not that I don’t like shopping. I do, usually. But lately, every time I step into a dressing room, all I can see are the ways my body doesn’t measure up. The way the fabric is tight across my stomach, the way my thighs look huge in skinny jeans. ] This book and character not only showed the struggles of body image, but Selene’s personal growth as well. I found it uplifting. [ I’m not the same insecure girl I was just a few weeks ago. I’m stronger now, inside and out. ] It was not only beautiful but also comforting to read, knowing that despite all the difficulties, she gained the confidence and belief that she was perfect. That her body, no matter how different it looked to her friends', was perfect just the way it was.
Enough about that, let’s move to the lighter topics ⤸
The romance was alright, to say the least. From book 2, I was expecting somewhat of a grumpy x sunshine, but uh, where was it? Knox was a dickhead at times, but nowhere near as grumpy in his own book as he was in the previous. Other than lacking there, I did quite enjoy seeing how he wanted to change and be better for Selene. Their relationship, situationship, whatever it was, was cute. I thought Knox was charming when he tried, and Selene both relatable and likable, deserving of plenty of love. He wanted to remind her any chance he got that she was beautiful, that her body was perfect despite what she told herself. They just…fit. You could see the changes in Knox, how he was happier both on and off the ice. Selene made such a positive impact on his life, and it was for the better of not only Knox but everyone else around him that was affected by his broody and grouchy moods. I loved the dates/outings they had, adored how Knox was thoughtful when choosing the where to make sure it fit her likings. I didn't, however, like how repetitive the sex scenes were. I found myself uninterested and bored because every single scene was the same.
One of the downs to this book was how unfinished the drama felt.
There was some conflict between Knox's ex-girlfriend and Selene, but the way things ended just felt rushed and like there should've been more to it. Not only that, but there was barely 20 pages left, and every couple in this series only gets one book, so things needed to be resolved in that book. The buildup to that certain scene made it feel like something big might've been about to happen, and then it just...ended. I don't want to go into too much detail, but I hope you get the gist.
Overall, I did like Captured Love, as well as saw some improvements that I was hoping to see throughout the series which is great. Selene has my heart and I related to her on such a deep level, and Knox turned out to be a nice guy. A little disappointed, but I'll accept the loss and take what I got.
꒰ 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: ꒱
Beneath this whole persona, I’m still me. The me that worries about not being enough. The me that wonders if this is all just one big mistake.
“Holy fuck. You’re so beautiful.”
One more set. Push harder. Be better. Can’t stop now.
The word doesn’t actually revolve around me and my insecurities. Who would’ve thought?
“Love Your Body. Every Body is Welcome Here.”
When was the last time I felt this good about myself?
She’s built a wall around herself, one that I’m all too familiar with because it’s the same kind of wall I’ve spent years hiding behind.
She’s beautiful and it still knocks the wind out of me, even after all this time.
“I love you, Selene. And I will do everything I can to protect you and cherish what we have.”
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
let me just share a quote from book 2 ⤸
[ Knox stands there with his arms crossed as if he would rather be elsewhere. Selene leans over to talk to him, and it’s only then that his mood slightly changes. ] i just know there’s going to be some goood grumpy x sunshine-y vibes. knox was actually kind of a dickhead in Penalized Love, but i'm not one to judge before learning about someone's background/story, so i'm holding on to the hope that he's actually a big softie underneath all that frowning. the synopsis sounds really good, with a previous breakup that left knox emotionally guarded, hence the grumpy exterior, and selene having hidden insecurities beneath her open and carefree personality. i can't wait to dive in and see how this one goes. my expectations aren't high, but i enjoyed the previous book, and i want to enjoy this one too.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 9/1/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 10/1/2026
-𝓖
꒰ 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 ꒱
𝟑.𝟐𝟓 ✩
🎧꒱ ‘run for the hills’ | Tate McRae
“𝓦𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓲𝓽 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓯𝓽 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮, 𝓘
𝓹𝓪𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 𝓲𝓽. 𝓑𝓮𝓬𝓪𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽
𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓼𝓸…𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓮.”
“𝐹𝑒𝑒𝓁 𝓈𝑜 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑒𝓃𝓈𝑒? 𝒦𝓃𝑜𝓍, 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝓌𝑒𝓇𝑒 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝑜𝓃𝑒 𝓌𝒽𝑜 𝓈𝒶𝒾𝒹 𝓎𝑜𝓊
𝒹𝑜𝓃’𝓉 𝒹𝑜 𝒻𝑒𝑒𝓁𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈.”
“𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷’𝓽. 𝓘 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷, 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷’𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭. 𝓕𝓾𝓬𝓴.”
꒰ 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: ꒱
I had such a good feeling about this. Captured Love was really enjoyable for the first quarter. I could see the author’s writing had improved tremendously, and the fmc was super relatable. But then, sometime in the book, it just fell flat and I wasn't enjoying it as much anymore. The writing then felt rushed and there were numerous errors. e.g → [ I nod because words escape me. ] and [ I’m at peace here and his arms. ] It got to the point that I had to pause and reread the sentence because I genuinely had no clue. I know this occurs in a lot of books, but I felt like the writing slacked on top of all the mistakes I found. Now, from the previous books, I wasn’t expecting this mind-blowing phenomenal read. But my hopes were relatively high from how much I was eating up the first 50 or so pages. And although I didn’t love it, there were still some parts that touched my heart.
Let’s talk about one of the main themes in the book: body image ⤸
Body image issues and insecurities revolving around weight is a significant struggle that many women–including myself–deal with on a daily basis. It’s not something that goes away with a flick of the wrist. It affects your mind, makes it difficult to find anything positive about what you see in the mirror, and overall, it’s hard to feel confident when wearing certain clothes. Selene is a perfect example of that. She compared herself to her ‘skinny’ friends and picked apart every little flaw she had. Coming from experience, it can really damage your self-confidence, eating at your mind little by little, forcing you to only see the bad in yourself where you struggle to look past the things that are ‘ugly’ or ‘unappealing’. And that’s exactly what happened with Selene. [ You’re too slow. Too big. You don’t belong here with all the gym rats. Everyone’s probably staring at you jiggling with each labored step. ] - She’d overthink when at the gym, wondering if people were laughing at her, judging her technique and body. Little did she know, everyone was too busy in their own world to care about her. [ It’s not that I don’t like shopping. I do, usually. But lately, every time I step into a dressing room, all I can see are the ways my body doesn’t measure up. The way the fabric is tight across my stomach, the way my thighs look huge in skinny jeans. ] This book and character not only showed the struggles of body image, but Selene’s personal growth as well. I found it uplifting. [ I’m not the same insecure girl I was just a few weeks ago. I’m stronger now, inside and out. ] It was not only beautiful but also comforting to read, knowing that despite all the difficulties, she gained the confidence and belief that she was perfect. That her body, no matter how different it looked to her friends', was perfect just the way it was.
Enough about that, let’s move to the lighter topics ⤸
The romance was alright, to say the least. From book 2, I was expecting somewhat of a grumpy x sunshine, but uh, where was it? Knox was a dickhead at times, but nowhere near as grumpy in his own book as he was in the previous. Other than lacking there, I did quite enjoy seeing how he wanted to change and be better for Selene. Their relationship, situationship, whatever it was, was cute. I thought Knox was charming when he tried, and Selene both relatable and likable, deserving of plenty of love. He wanted to remind her any chance he got that she was beautiful, that her body was perfect despite what she told herself. They just…fit. You could see the changes in Knox, how he was happier both on and off the ice. Selene made such a positive impact on his life, and it was for the better of not only Knox but everyone else around him that was affected by his broody and grouchy moods. I loved the dates/outings they had, adored how Knox was thoughtful when choosing the where to make sure it fit her likings. I didn't, however, like how repetitive the sex scenes were. I found myself uninterested and bored because every single scene was the same.
One of the downs to this book was how unfinished the drama felt.
There was some conflict between Knox's ex-girlfriend and Selene, but the way things ended just felt rushed and like there should've been more to it. Not only that, but there was barely 20 pages left, and every couple in this series only gets one book, so things needed to be resolved in that book. The buildup to that certain scene made it feel like something big might've been about to happen, and then it just...ended. I don't want to go into too much detail, but I hope you get the gist.
Overall, I did like Captured Love, as well as saw some improvements that I was hoping to see throughout the series which is great. Selene has my heart and I related to her on such a deep level, and Knox turned out to be a nice guy. A little disappointed, but I'll accept the loss and take what I got.
꒰ 𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬: ꒱
Beneath this whole persona, I’m still me. The me that worries about not being enough. The me that wonders if this is all just one big mistake.
“Holy fuck. You’re so beautiful.”
One more set. Push harder. Be better. Can’t stop now.
The word doesn’t actually revolve around me and my insecurities. Who would’ve thought?
“Love Your Body. Every Body is Welcome Here.”
When was the last time I felt this good about myself?
She’s built a wall around herself, one that I’m all too familiar with because it’s the same kind of wall I’ve spent years hiding behind.
She’s beautiful and it still knocks the wind out of me, even after all this time.
“I love you, Selene. And I will do everything I can to protect you and cherish what we have.”
━━━
ᰔᩚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: ꒱
let me just share a quote from book 2 ⤸
[ Knox stands there with his arms crossed as if he would rather be elsewhere. Selene leans over to talk to him, and it’s only then that his mood slightly changes. ] i just know there’s going to be some goood grumpy x sunshine-y vibes. knox was actually kind of a dickhead in Penalized Love, but i'm not one to judge before learning about someone's background/story, so i'm holding on to the hope that he's actually a big softie underneath all that frowning. the synopsis sounds really good, with a previous breakup that left knox emotionally guarded, hence the grumpy exterior, and selene having hidden insecurities beneath her open and carefree personality. i can't wait to dive in and see how this one goes. my expectations aren't high, but i enjoyed the previous book, and i want to enjoy this one too.
𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝: 9/1/2026
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 10/1/2026
-𝓖
March 20, 2025
I have to be honest—this book was a bit of a struggle for me.
When I requested the ARC, I didn’t realize it was the third book in a standalone series. While these books can technically be read in any order, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing a big piece of the backstory. I’m not sure if Knox and Selene appeared in the previous books, but it definitely felt like their history wasn’t fully laid out here, which made it harder to connect with them.
💔 What Didn’t Work for Me:
- I liked Knox as a character, but Selene was frustrating. As a plus-size girl myself, I relate to many of the insecurities she faced, but the way they were written felt superficial and repetitive. Instead of a nuanced exploration of body image, her struggles often came across as just inner monologues—and those were long and overly repetitive.
- The emotional depth I was hoping for just didn’t land. The romance had potential, but I never fully felt the connection between the characters.
✨ What I Did Like:
- Knox was a solid character, and I enjoyed his dynamic within the story.
- The overall premise had promise—I just wish it had been executed differently.
⭐ Final Thoughts:
If you’ve read the previous books in the series, you might enjoy Captured Love more than I did. But as a standalone read, it left me feeling like I was missing too much, and the writing didn’t quite hit the emotional beats I was hoping for.
When I requested the ARC, I didn’t realize it was the third book in a standalone series. While these books can technically be read in any order, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was missing a big piece of the backstory. I’m not sure if Knox and Selene appeared in the previous books, but it definitely felt like their history wasn’t fully laid out here, which made it harder to connect with them.
💔 What Didn’t Work for Me:
- I liked Knox as a character, but Selene was frustrating. As a plus-size girl myself, I relate to many of the insecurities she faced, but the way they were written felt superficial and repetitive. Instead of a nuanced exploration of body image, her struggles often came across as just inner monologues—and those were long and overly repetitive.
- The emotional depth I was hoping for just didn’t land. The romance had potential, but I never fully felt the connection between the characters.
✨ What I Did Like:
- Knox was a solid character, and I enjoyed his dynamic within the story.
- The overall premise had promise—I just wish it had been executed differently.
⭐ Final Thoughts:
If you’ve read the previous books in the series, you might enjoy Captured Love more than I did. But as a standalone read, it left me feeling like I was missing too much, and the writing didn’t quite hit the emotional beats I was hoping for.
February 28, 2025
book 3 in the Crestwood University series absolutely did not disappoint! Just finished reading the ARC of this one and absolutely couldn’t put it down. I really loved that Selene isn’t the stereotypical skinny fmc in a lot of romance novels. She feels a lot more well rounded and relatable. Also Prosecco and Prose sounds like a dream date location! I also really liked Knox’s character development throughout the whole book as well as getting to see more of the friendships with the team and the girls. Definitely recommend picking this one up when it’s released next Thursday!
July 20, 2025
⥼~-✰-~⥽ ☽ ˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊☾ ⥼~-✰-~⥽
Started: 17th July 2025
Finished: 20th July 2025 ✩‧₊꒰ ⊹ ࣪—˚Final thoughts
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ 𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮, 𝙥𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙"
˚ ┊✦ I just can’t fathom how good this hockey romance series is it talks about all serious mental health issues/body image that women and men can go through daily/ diagonisis medical issues this author has written it well I’m proud reader learning about different issues that’s not always spoken about on social media which honestly it should!
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ “𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮,𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙭 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩. 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩”
˚ ┊✦ Selene - Selene killed it in this book honestly despite having her own body image issues she has the most wonderful friends to support her needs to make her feel sexy in herself like that’s the friendship you need in this scenario. I love how the situation with Knox she’s still self conscious but wants to be out there with him but still scared about her weight I just feel so bad for her that she’s suffering like this.
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹.
˚┊✦ knox - Knox… my sweet innocent cocky Knox is there anything this man can’t hold willpower against you you want to hate him so much but he turns so lovable off the ice including when it comes to Serene and about her feelings being there for her he doesn’t care about the consequences with the team as it worked for Levi so well he wants the same thing 😭
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹" "𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛."
˚┊✦ romance +epilogue
The romance I just couldn’t get enough of these two the way they cared for each other and their feelings. There was so many rocky moments for sure I think Knox was one of the major assholes towards serene at the start but knowing more why he is a dick head through out the book explains more why..
there is alot of mental health in this book that goes in so deep with a person through daily life I admired the way the authors writes it just amazing to see which you don’t see a lot of in books.
The one character I hated in this book on the sidelines was Tessa she was the most obnoxious human being especially when it comes to serene being with Knox like leave them be 😭the thing that shocked me the most about Tessa like I did not expect that reveal for what happened like holy shit.!!
When reading this book it’s important to read the authors note when it comes to mental health need to have a good mindset when reading this series!
Book includes:
💘mental health
💘 body shaming
💘 stalking
⭐️5.5
🌶 5.6
🍉⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒
Finished: 20th July 2025 ✩‧₊꒰ ⊹ ࣪—˚Final thoughts
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ 𝙔𝙤𝙪'𝙧𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮, 𝙥𝙤𝙘𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙖. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙙"
˚ ┊✦ I just can’t fathom how good this hockey romance series is it talks about all serious mental health issues/body image that women and men can go through daily/ diagonisis medical issues this author has written it well I’m proud reader learning about different issues that’s not always spoken about on social media which honestly it should!
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹ “𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮,𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙭 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙝𝙪𝙧𝙩. 𝙄 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣’𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙨𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩”
˚ ┊✦ Selene - Selene killed it in this book honestly despite having her own body image issues she has the most wonderful friends to support her needs to make her feel sexy in herself like that’s the friendship you need in this scenario. I love how the situation with Knox she’s still self conscious but wants to be out there with him but still scared about her weight I just feel so bad for her that she’s suffering like this.
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹.
˚┊✦ knox - Knox… my sweet innocent cocky Knox is there anything this man can’t hold willpower against you you want to hate him so much but he turns so lovable off the ice including when it comes to Serene and about her feelings being there for her he doesn’t care about the consequences with the team as it worked for Levi so well he wants the same thing 😭
╭⊹ ₊˚⊹" "𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙛𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙞 𝙘𝙖𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙢 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛."
˚┊✦ romance +epilogue
The romance I just couldn’t get enough of these two the way they cared for each other and their feelings. There was so many rocky moments for sure I think Knox was one of the major assholes towards serene at the start but knowing more why he is a dick head through out the book explains more why..
there is alot of mental health in this book that goes in so deep with a person through daily life I admired the way the authors writes it just amazing to see which you don’t see a lot of in books.
The one character I hated in this book on the sidelines was Tessa she was the most obnoxious human being especially when it comes to serene being with Knox like leave them be 😭the thing that shocked me the most about Tessa like I did not expect that reveal for what happened like holy shit.!!
When reading this book it’s important to read the authors note when it comes to mental health need to have a good mindset when reading this series!
Book includes:
💘mental health
💘 body shaming
💘 stalking
⭐️5.5
🌶 5.6
🍉⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒˚.⋆🍉⋆⭒
March 5, 2025
Thank you to Love Notes PR for this arc and my honest review in response!
I loved this book! I’m often drawn to books with curvy fmc’s even if it’s scary sometimes because you never know how it will be portrayed.
Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🧡 Found Family
🤭 Reformed playboy
🏍️ Bad boy with a soft side
❤️🩹 Insecure, curvy heroine
🥰 Friends-to-lovers with a twist
🛏️ One night stand
Selene is mid sized and portrays herself as being confident but hides her insecurities often. There was alot of moments that hid hard for me (and are possible trigger warnings for people with body image issues). Emery perfectly captured how it feels to have a body that doesn’t fit the norms. From struggling to go to the gym out of fear of being judged, to dreading going shopping because you don’t fit into the popular clothes. Selene was an amazing fmc and I love her so much.
“Holy fuck. You’re so beautiful.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
”I never do.”
Knox was a complex character and even if I genuinely disliked him at the start. THAT MAN KNOWS HOW TO GROVEL. I was ready to forgive him way before Selene did and am I glad that she was so strong about it. Also… Knox being the whole “talking you through it” had me flustered.
“That’s it, baby. Just like that.”
“There it is. I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
“Let go, baby. Give me one more.”
Their relationship made me smile nearly all the way through. The banter was perfect! The cute dates, meeting the family… It was definitely a feel good book. I’m happy the communication between Knox and Selene was healthy and none of that miscommunication trope stuff.
And the spice?! Oof, the motorcycle scene had me blushing and fanning myself and was definitely my favourite scene🔥🤭
This is definitely a 5 ⭐ read for me and I can’t wait for the next book!
‼️ Spoiler tropes ‼️
❤️ HEA
😍No third-act-breakup
😒Small OWD with an ex girlfriend wanting mmc back but no cheating or miscommunication about it and he shuts it down FAST!
I loved this book! I’m often drawn to books with curvy fmc’s even if it’s scary sometimes because you never know how it will be portrayed.
Tropes:
🏒 Hockey Romance
🧡 Found Family
🤭 Reformed playboy
🏍️ Bad boy with a soft side
❤️🩹 Insecure, curvy heroine
🥰 Friends-to-lovers with a twist
🛏️ One night stand
Selene is mid sized and portrays herself as being confident but hides her insecurities often. There was alot of moments that hid hard for me (and are possible trigger warnings for people with body image issues). Emery perfectly captured how it feels to have a body that doesn’t fit the norms. From struggling to go to the gym out of fear of being judged, to dreading going shopping because you don’t fit into the popular clothes. Selene was an amazing fmc and I love her so much.
“Holy fuck. You’re so beautiful.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
”I never do.”
Knox was a complex character and even if I genuinely disliked him at the start. THAT MAN KNOWS HOW TO GROVEL. I was ready to forgive him way before Selene did and am I glad that she was so strong about it. Also… Knox being the whole “talking you through it” had me flustered.
“That’s it, baby. Just like that.”
“There it is. I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
“Let go, baby. Give me one more.”
Their relationship made me smile nearly all the way through. The banter was perfect! The cute dates, meeting the family… It was definitely a feel good book. I’m happy the communication between Knox and Selene was healthy and none of that miscommunication trope stuff.
And the spice?! Oof, the motorcycle scene had me blushing and fanning myself and was definitely my favourite scene🔥🤭
This is definitely a 5 ⭐ read for me and I can’t wait for the next book!
‼️ Spoiler tropes ‼️
❤️ HEA
😍No third-act-breakup
😒Small OWD with an ex girlfriend wanting mmc back but no cheating or miscommunication about it and he shuts it down FAST!
March 8, 2025
captured love is a sweet, lighthearted hockey romance with emotional moments discussing themes of sensitivity; such as body issues and emotional vulnerability. both subjects can be difficult to overcome, but eventually become easier to deal with. I absolutely adored the relationship between selene and knox and can’t wait to see what happens next in the crestwood university series, with the love story of willow and blaise!
March 19, 2025
These two had SO much chemistry, and we love a book-loving FMC! I really loved how Selene’s story focused on body positivity, and I appreciated Knox’s growth (love when a man learns and grows from his actions!!!). I wish the plot line with Tessa had been drawn out a little more because personally, I love a little drama with a jealous ex. I will absolutely be reading the next book in this series!
Thank you to Love Notes PR for this eARC!
Thank you to Love Notes PR for this eARC!
June 15, 2025
Omg I completely forgot to mark it as finished and write a review, I'm soo sorry girl 😂🩷.
This was my first ARC after getting onto Emery's ARC team and I really enjoyed it!
The book is fast paced and it's very easy to get into. Also the writing style is very nice and pleasant and made the whole reading experience better.
I really saw myself in Selene sometimes. I also struggled with being curvy and the negative image that you have of yourself. It was a beautiful journey that I too got to experience while reading.
Sometimes I felt like I missed the passion between Knox and Selene (but I also haven't read the previous book so maybe that's the reason) so that's why I can't give it 5 stars BUT I did enjoy myself!
AND OMG THE LIBRARY SCENE?! 🥵🥵
Who doesn't love a fast paced hockey romance?! 🥰
Thank you soo much for this opportunity, Emery! Can't wait for Willow's and Blaise's story next! 😏
This was my first ARC after getting onto Emery's ARC team and I really enjoyed it!
The book is fast paced and it's very easy to get into. Also the writing style is very nice and pleasant and made the whole reading experience better.
I really saw myself in Selene sometimes. I also struggled with being curvy and the negative image that you have of yourself. It was a beautiful journey that I too got to experience while reading.
Sometimes I felt like I missed the passion between Knox and Selene (but I also haven't read the previous book so maybe that's the reason) so that's why I can't give it 5 stars BUT I did enjoy myself!
AND OMG THE LIBRARY SCENE?! 🥵🥵
Who doesn't love a fast paced hockey romance?! 🥰
Thank you soo much for this opportunity, Emery! Can't wait for Willow's and Blaise's story next! 😏
March 6, 2025
Captured Love ARC Review
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Captured Love by Emery Paige from LoveNotesPR, thank you so much!! 🧡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5
content warning: “mentions of body image and insecurities, some violence (not between the heroine and hero)”
“exactly what i said. from the moment we met, i knew there was something different about you, picosita. something that drew me to you like a magnet. even when i tried to push you away, i couldn't stay away for long.”
i absolutely love everything emery writes! her characters are easy to fall in love with and the storylines are so fun to read. i was very fortunate to have been an arc reader for the first book in this series and have yet to read the second (i will definitely be reading it sometime this month) but i never once felt confused or found it hard to follow along with the characters/storyline! it was so easy to fall in love with the main characters in this story. once i started reading, i didn’t want to stop!
selene and knox were so adorable together! they have my whole entire heart, i honestly could’ve read 10 more chapters about them! it was so special getting to see their growth as individuals and being able lean on each other for support as a couple. getting to see knox slowly let his walls came down the more time he spends with selene and selene becoming more confident and seeing how amazing she was in her own body was do heartwarming. every interaction between them was sweet and they will forever hold a special place in my heart.
i will now be waiting not so patiently for willow and blaise’s story!!! once again thank you so much to lovenotespr and emery paige for providing me with this arc 🧡
i was very fortunate to receive an ARC of Captured Love by Emery Paige from LoveNotesPR, thank you so much!! 🧡
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️.5/5
content warning: “mentions of body image and insecurities, some violence (not between the heroine and hero)”
“exactly what i said. from the moment we met, i knew there was something different about you, picosita. something that drew me to you like a magnet. even when i tried to push you away, i couldn't stay away for long.”
i absolutely love everything emery writes! her characters are easy to fall in love with and the storylines are so fun to read. i was very fortunate to have been an arc reader for the first book in this series and have yet to read the second (i will definitely be reading it sometime this month) but i never once felt confused or found it hard to follow along with the characters/storyline! it was so easy to fall in love with the main characters in this story. once i started reading, i didn’t want to stop!
selene and knox were so adorable together! they have my whole entire heart, i honestly could’ve read 10 more chapters about them! it was so special getting to see their growth as individuals and being able lean on each other for support as a couple. getting to see knox slowly let his walls came down the more time he spends with selene and selene becoming more confident and seeing how amazing she was in her own body was do heartwarming. every interaction between them was sweet and they will forever hold a special place in my heart.
i will now be waiting not so patiently for willow and blaise’s story!!! once again thank you so much to lovenotespr and emery paige for providing me with this arc 🧡
March 6, 2025
3,5⭐️
Captured Love is a solid addition to the Crestwood University series, giving us Selene and Knox’s story—a college hockey romance with a friends-to-lovers twist and a reformed playboy who is all in for his girl. The book picks up right where Penalized Love left off, but from a different POV, which made for a seamless transition in the series.
I really connected with Selene’s struggles with self-worth and body image, especially her hesitation around the free weights at the gym—it felt so real and relatable. Knox was a great support system for her, but I wish we had gotten more of his backstory. It felt like parts of his history and their friendship before this book were glossed over, making their shift from friends to something more feel a little rushed.
That said, the Prosecco and Prose date and their tiny book club for two were absolute perfection! And as always, the friendships—both between the hockey guys and the girl gang—were such a highlight. I love how this series continues to showcase strong, supportive friendships alongside the romance.
While I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to Captured Love as I did to Penalized Love, I still enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of sports romances with tight-knit friendships and a sweet, steady hero, this one is worth reading!
Captured Love is a solid addition to the Crestwood University series, giving us Selene and Knox’s story—a college hockey romance with a friends-to-lovers twist and a reformed playboy who is all in for his girl. The book picks up right where Penalized Love left off, but from a different POV, which made for a seamless transition in the series.
I really connected with Selene’s struggles with self-worth and body image, especially her hesitation around the free weights at the gym—it felt so real and relatable. Knox was a great support system for her, but I wish we had gotten more of his backstory. It felt like parts of his history and their friendship before this book were glossed over, making their shift from friends to something more feel a little rushed.
That said, the Prosecco and Prose date and their tiny book club for two were absolute perfection! And as always, the friendships—both between the hockey guys and the girl gang—were such a highlight. I love how this series continues to showcase strong, supportive friendships alongside the romance.
While I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to Captured Love as I did to Penalized Love, I still enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of sports romances with tight-knit friendships and a sweet, steady hero, this one is worth reading!
March 6, 2025
Welcome to the 3rd book in the Crestwood University series! A series of standalone interconnected stories that can be read on its own.
Selene Davis is an extroverted, life of the party type girl, but deep down she's hiding a lot of insecurities and struggles to see herself as "enough". She had spent many a days texting Knox Sanchez, the hockey player dreamboat with the reputation of casual flings and nothing serious. Despite being warned by her friends, she goes to Knox's one night, even if it ends up being a casual one night of fun. Unfortunately, despite her mind being blown, Knox lacks all decorum and rudely kicks her out. Determined to move on and never interact with Knox again, she returns to her life of studying, her late night library job and her bestie. But it seems Knox has different things in mind after all.
Knox has been rattled. He has spent his college career keeping things casual and never serious. With the pressure of wanting to make it to the professionals in hockey and his painful past of an ex, the last thing he ever wanted was to want, more, but something about Selene has snaked its way under his skin. He know's he's messed up with her, but he wants a second chance and he's willing to do anything to get her back.
While I know this is a series of standalone, it's actually important to the story if you read Penalized Love first, as this couple meets during Ash and Isla's story. I felt like we didn't really get any beginning to Knox and Selene, we start with a hook up. Where we are sort of told about how they met and what's been happening with them instead of being fully shown. I also found Selene's reaction to Knox after they did hook up to be confusing, she knew he was a casual guy, she even stated she'd be fine with one night but then she's suddenly so mad when that's true? I was also fully confused about her wants when she agreed to give Knox a chance again, how she explained she wasn't ready for a relationship but then proceeded to explain the things she wants, which is a description of a relationship.
However, I could relate to Selene's struggles and insecurities. Her struggles when it comes to public demonstrations of exercise and of her body image hit home for me. Especially when she went shopping with her friend Isla and your worries about the clothes being shown to you, that your friend thinks would look great but you are so untrusting of your body that you second guess and want nothing more than to not be trying on clothes. This scene hit the hardest for me and was so relatable.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I just wish there was more to it. I wanted to get Knox and Selene's beginning. The conflict they keep bringing up is Knox's ex, she's the reason he doesn't trust enough for a relationship. But for someone who is supposed to be causing strife she's just sort of, not there? and finally brought in toward the end of the book which is "resolved" in a page or two.
I loved the friendships and found families that are established through this series, the guys are clearly a tight night group on and off the ice. The girl group is also fantastic. They clearly support each other and provide comfort and a push when needed. The friend relationships are well established and bring some light hearted moments outside of the couples throughout. I'm excited to see how it grows as the series progresses.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Emery Paige for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
Selene Davis is an extroverted, life of the party type girl, but deep down she's hiding a lot of insecurities and struggles to see herself as "enough". She had spent many a days texting Knox Sanchez, the hockey player dreamboat with the reputation of casual flings and nothing serious. Despite being warned by her friends, she goes to Knox's one night, even if it ends up being a casual one night of fun. Unfortunately, despite her mind being blown, Knox lacks all decorum and rudely kicks her out. Determined to move on and never interact with Knox again, she returns to her life of studying, her late night library job and her bestie. But it seems Knox has different things in mind after all.
Knox has been rattled. He has spent his college career keeping things casual and never serious. With the pressure of wanting to make it to the professionals in hockey and his painful past of an ex, the last thing he ever wanted was to want, more, but something about Selene has snaked its way under his skin. He know's he's messed up with her, but he wants a second chance and he's willing to do anything to get her back.
While I know this is a series of standalone, it's actually important to the story if you read Penalized Love first, as this couple meets during Ash and Isla's story. I felt like we didn't really get any beginning to Knox and Selene, we start with a hook up. Where we are sort of told about how they met and what's been happening with them instead of being fully shown. I also found Selene's reaction to Knox after they did hook up to be confusing, she knew he was a casual guy, she even stated she'd be fine with one night but then she's suddenly so mad when that's true? I was also fully confused about her wants when she agreed to give Knox a chance again, how she explained she wasn't ready for a relationship but then proceeded to explain the things she wants, which is a description of a relationship.
However, I could relate to Selene's struggles and insecurities. Her struggles when it comes to public demonstrations of exercise and of her body image hit home for me. Especially when she went shopping with her friend Isla and your worries about the clothes being shown to you, that your friend thinks would look great but you are so untrusting of your body that you second guess and want nothing more than to not be trying on clothes. This scene hit the hardest for me and was so relatable.
Overall, I did enjoy this book, but I just wish there was more to it. I wanted to get Knox and Selene's beginning. The conflict they keep bringing up is Knox's ex, she's the reason he doesn't trust enough for a relationship. But for someone who is supposed to be causing strife she's just sort of, not there? and finally brought in toward the end of the book which is "resolved" in a page or two.
I loved the friendships and found families that are established through this series, the guys are clearly a tight night group on and off the ice. The girl group is also fantastic. They clearly support each other and provide comfort and a push when needed. The friend relationships are well established and bring some light hearted moments outside of the couples throughout. I'm excited to see how it grows as the series progresses.
Thank you to Love Notes PR and Emery Paige for the ARC, all opinions are my own.
March 20, 2025
Thank you @lovenotes.pr for the arc❤️
This is the story of Selene and Knox, as a hockey romance this was really cute. Like really cute.
Selene is a bold, fun and loving girl. Inside she hides her insecurities. She is scared to work out in public. (So we get a cute scene with a workout together.)
I loved that she started going and her journey here.
Knox plays hockey and had a lot of pressure. After a one night stand with Selene he kicks her out and put his walls up. Scared of his feelings.
However he wins her back and continue to show he is there for her.
I loved this book and will pick more books of this writer. 4stars
This is the story of Selene and Knox, as a hockey romance this was really cute. Like really cute.
Selene is a bold, fun and loving girl. Inside she hides her insecurities. She is scared to work out in public. (So we get a cute scene with a workout together.)
I loved that she started going and her journey here.
Knox plays hockey and had a lot of pressure. After a one night stand with Selene he kicks her out and put his walls up. Scared of his feelings.
However he wins her back and continue to show he is there for her.
I loved this book and will pick more books of this writer. 4stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2025
When I was reading the previous book, I already saw glimpses of the beginning of Knox and Selene's relationship. How it evolved from a one-night stand was just so cute. Knox really knows how to get his grovel on.
I just feel so bad for Selene. She already felt so bad about herself, and then being rejected after having a one-night stand?! I would not get out of my bed for days.
Also, why is Tessa still causing trouble? Did she not learn her lesson in the previous book?
Overall, this book was a fun, quick read and I could not put it down.
Thank you Emery Paige and LoveNotes PR for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.
I just feel so bad for Selene. She already felt so bad about herself, and then being rejected after having a one-night stand?! I would not get out of my bed for days.
Also, why is Tessa still causing trouble? Did she not learn her lesson in the previous book?
Overall, this book was a fun, quick read and I could not put it down.
Thank you Emery Paige and LoveNotes PR for the e-ARC. All thoughts are my own.
March 7, 2025
oh. my. god. i need a Knox Sanchez in my life now!! this book was the perfect enemies (sort of) to lovers plus hockey romance and it was *chef’s kiss*. the motorcycle. the library. any where else too 🥵🥰
March 7, 2025
two cute cuties <3
March 19, 2025
obbbsessed !! knox 🧎♀️ i love them there banter their chemistry was everything !!
March 8, 2025
I didn’t love this one as much as I thought I would since I loved Asher and Isla’s book. I didn’t feel the chemistry between Knox and Selene and there was no tension between them. I just wanted a bit more but overall it was a decent book.
March 10, 2025
This is a 3.5⭐️ review
I’ll start by saying that I haven’t read the previous two books in the series, but I’ve read enough hockey romances to usually piece together the context. While I understood that Knox and Selene had an initial friendship followed by a one-night stand, I was hoping for more insight into their bond before that moment. If you haven't read Penalized Love, Captured Love jumps in quickly, and as a result, the chemistry between Selene and Knox didn’t fully land for me—it felt more told than shown.
Selene’s struggles with self-image and her discomfort with public exercise really resonated with me, making her a relatable character. However, I found it difficult to fully engage with the book. It’s an easy read, but the author emphasizes that the characters "challenge" each other, and I didn’t really see that dynamic. Their relationship felt surface-level, with little development before the sudden declarations of love. The female friendships also felt somewhat forced, with dialogue that didn’t flow naturally and lacked the depth of true best-friend dynamics.
Knox is initially portrayed as the classic bad boy, but his character arc felt a bit inconsistent—he comes across as dismissive for a few chapters before suddenly becoming completely devoted to Selene. Perhaps this dynamic is better established in the second book, but within Captured Love, it didn’t fully resonate. Additionally, he frequently mentions feeling overwhelmed, and I wasn’t sure if the author was subtly hinting at struggles with anxiety. If that was the intention, I would have liked more clarity and depth in exploring that aspect of his character.
While this wasn’t a slow burn, it still felt incomplete. I wanted more depth and emotional weight to the story, as well as a stronger resolution—especially since the ending faded out rather than delivering a satisfying conclusion. I don’t mind books in a series intertwining, but I prefer clear distinctions between storylines rather than one book bleeding too much into another, as happened with Penalized Love and Captured Love. Overall, this was an okay read, but I wanted more.
I’ll start by saying that I haven’t read the previous two books in the series, but I’ve read enough hockey romances to usually piece together the context. While I understood that Knox and Selene had an initial friendship followed by a one-night stand, I was hoping for more insight into their bond before that moment. If you haven't read Penalized Love, Captured Love jumps in quickly, and as a result, the chemistry between Selene and Knox didn’t fully land for me—it felt more told than shown.
Selene’s struggles with self-image and her discomfort with public exercise really resonated with me, making her a relatable character. However, I found it difficult to fully engage with the book. It’s an easy read, but the author emphasizes that the characters "challenge" each other, and I didn’t really see that dynamic. Their relationship felt surface-level, with little development before the sudden declarations of love. The female friendships also felt somewhat forced, with dialogue that didn’t flow naturally and lacked the depth of true best-friend dynamics.
Knox is initially portrayed as the classic bad boy, but his character arc felt a bit inconsistent—he comes across as dismissive for a few chapters before suddenly becoming completely devoted to Selene. Perhaps this dynamic is better established in the second book, but within Captured Love, it didn’t fully resonate. Additionally, he frequently mentions feeling overwhelmed, and I wasn’t sure if the author was subtly hinting at struggles with anxiety. If that was the intention, I would have liked more clarity and depth in exploring that aspect of his character.
While this wasn’t a slow burn, it still felt incomplete. I wanted more depth and emotional weight to the story, as well as a stronger resolution—especially since the ending faded out rather than delivering a satisfying conclusion. I don’t mind books in a series intertwining, but I prefer clear distinctions between storylines rather than one book bleeding too much into another, as happened with Penalized Love and Captured Love. Overall, this was an okay read, but I wanted more.
March 2, 2025
*Thank you to Emery Paige for providing me with an ARC, I greatly appreciate it!
4.5⭐️/ 3🌶️
Emery Paige is back again with the latest book in this amazing college hockey romance series! Each book has been great, filled with lovable characters, humor, found family, depth, and a variety of personalities with each character. When I saw that Knox and Selene were going to be the next couple in the series, and read a bit of the synopsis, it was given I HAD TO READ THIS! Knox was the bad boy on campus, known to all as the one night type of guy, not down for any relationships, just hook ups, and all about hockey. Selene was sassy, a mix of outgoing, but also enjoyed her nights staying in with her girls, and seemed confident but actually dealt with some inner insecurities. Knox and Selene’s story picked up right after the ending of the previous book, and if you’ve read it, then you’ll know that Selene and Knox had an…intriguing start. Anyways, Emery Paige brought Knox and Selene’s story to life by highlighting aspects of their relationship as they went from one night stand, friends to lovers. Emery Paige knows how to write a captivating and immersive book that once again I felt like I was right alongside the characters!
Something about the bad boy trope always has me thinking, “but I can change him!” Haha. No really though, the bad boy trope is one that I don’t read often, but when I do it’s certain parts of it that make it so much more enjoyable to read. Knox was a bit of a mystery to me from the previous two books, but little by little I was able to glean how he really wasn’t all that “bad”, and actually had a soft side to him. The soft side coming through whenever Knox was around Selene. Knox had his fair share of hookups, but his time with Selene was entirely different than really made me feel seen by her. As much as Knox was initially scared to feel the things he felt for Selene, he then realized he couldn’t stop thinking about her and wanted to spend more time with her. Knox the resident bad boy/ player became a reformed player once Selene became the object of his affections!!!
Selene may have seemed like she was all sass and confident, but even the most confident person deals with insecurities and fears. Selene dealt with body image insecurities and feeling like she didn’t have the “ideal” body type. Also, check the content warnings before reading as some of the content talks about body image, etc. Selene try as she might, still dealt with her insecurities throughout the story, but it was one that gradually lessened as she became more comfortable and confident with herself. The thing that really made me happy was seeing certain moments in which Selene felt sexy or beautiful in how she dressed herself or even doing things for herself to boost her confidence. With Selene’s insecurities, she felt daunted by going out and trying on clothes at stores, but when she found something that she loved on her, it was like a happy moment because everyone deserves to feel amazing in their body regardless. Aside from that, Selene also had to contend with his growing attraction with Knox. While Knox and Selene had somewhat agreed to a no strings attached hookup, there was still the growing tension and feelings between them. Again, as much as Knox tried to do a casual thing with Selene, it became clear that things between were not in fact casual.
OMG! This book was SO GOOD! I mean, the previous book hinted at Knox and Selene’s connection, but oh my, reading their story was just addictive and I couldn’t stop reading! Seeing Knox go from a total player to someone who wholeheartedly wanted Selene just for himself and did the sweetest things for her was the ultimate green flag for me. Plus, Knox pretty much became a fan favorite for me, and dare I say, my ultimate favorite MMC within this series! (Gasp) but seriously Knox deserves all the love and adoration for being a great MMC, and an amazing book boyfriend. Selene’s growth over the course of the story grew in the way she became more confident, more comfortable with herself, and embraced her sexuality and gradually moved away from her insecurities. Obviously, Selene’s insecurities didn’t disappear completely, but they became more of a background thought as Selene started to see how amazing she was in her own body, and found ways to help her feel good about herself. Seeing the rest of the friend group was great like Hailey, Levi, Asher, Isla, and even hinting at the next couple in the series *wink, wink. Overall, Emery Paige did a wonderful job illustrating Knox and Selene’s relationship! The romance was sweet, hot, meaningful, and absolutely couldn’t get enough of it! Definitely recommend reading this book as well as the others as they each have amazing characters and they’re just great books to read!
4.5⭐️/ 3🌶️
Emery Paige is back again with the latest book in this amazing college hockey romance series! Each book has been great, filled with lovable characters, humor, found family, depth, and a variety of personalities with each character. When I saw that Knox and Selene were going to be the next couple in the series, and read a bit of the synopsis, it was given I HAD TO READ THIS! Knox was the bad boy on campus, known to all as the one night type of guy, not down for any relationships, just hook ups, and all about hockey. Selene was sassy, a mix of outgoing, but also enjoyed her nights staying in with her girls, and seemed confident but actually dealt with some inner insecurities. Knox and Selene’s story picked up right after the ending of the previous book, and if you’ve read it, then you’ll know that Selene and Knox had an…intriguing start. Anyways, Emery Paige brought Knox and Selene’s story to life by highlighting aspects of their relationship as they went from one night stand, friends to lovers. Emery Paige knows how to write a captivating and immersive book that once again I felt like I was right alongside the characters!
Something about the bad boy trope always has me thinking, “but I can change him!” Haha. No really though, the bad boy trope is one that I don’t read often, but when I do it’s certain parts of it that make it so much more enjoyable to read. Knox was a bit of a mystery to me from the previous two books, but little by little I was able to glean how he really wasn’t all that “bad”, and actually had a soft side to him. The soft side coming through whenever Knox was around Selene. Knox had his fair share of hookups, but his time with Selene was entirely different than really made me feel seen by her. As much as Knox was initially scared to feel the things he felt for Selene, he then realized he couldn’t stop thinking about her and wanted to spend more time with her. Knox the resident bad boy/ player became a reformed player once Selene became the object of his affections!!!
Selene may have seemed like she was all sass and confident, but even the most confident person deals with insecurities and fears. Selene dealt with body image insecurities and feeling like she didn’t have the “ideal” body type. Also, check the content warnings before reading as some of the content talks about body image, etc. Selene try as she might, still dealt with her insecurities throughout the story, but it was one that gradually lessened as she became more comfortable and confident with herself. The thing that really made me happy was seeing certain moments in which Selene felt sexy or beautiful in how she dressed herself or even doing things for herself to boost her confidence. With Selene’s insecurities, she felt daunted by going out and trying on clothes at stores, but when she found something that she loved on her, it was like a happy moment because everyone deserves to feel amazing in their body regardless. Aside from that, Selene also had to contend with his growing attraction with Knox. While Knox and Selene had somewhat agreed to a no strings attached hookup, there was still the growing tension and feelings between them. Again, as much as Knox tried to do a casual thing with Selene, it became clear that things between were not in fact casual.
OMG! This book was SO GOOD! I mean, the previous book hinted at Knox and Selene’s connection, but oh my, reading their story was just addictive and I couldn’t stop reading! Seeing Knox go from a total player to someone who wholeheartedly wanted Selene just for himself and did the sweetest things for her was the ultimate green flag for me. Plus, Knox pretty much became a fan favorite for me, and dare I say, my ultimate favorite MMC within this series! (Gasp) but seriously Knox deserves all the love and adoration for being a great MMC, and an amazing book boyfriend. Selene’s growth over the course of the story grew in the way she became more confident, more comfortable with herself, and embraced her sexuality and gradually moved away from her insecurities. Obviously, Selene’s insecurities didn’t disappear completely, but they became more of a background thought as Selene started to see how amazing she was in her own body, and found ways to help her feel good about herself. Seeing the rest of the friend group was great like Hailey, Levi, Asher, Isla, and even hinting at the next couple in the series *wink, wink. Overall, Emery Paige did a wonderful job illustrating Knox and Selene’s relationship! The romance was sweet, hot, meaningful, and absolutely couldn’t get enough of it! Definitely recommend reading this book as well as the others as they each have amazing characters and they’re just great books to read!
February 27, 2025
📚ARC Review – ‘Captured Love’ by Emery Paige📚
📖 Releases March 6
•Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🚨Contains spoilers🚨
“To those who’ve been forced into a box just to fit in:
To hell with that.
Never dim your light.
Never doubt your worth.”
– This is still on my wall.
I’m not great at expressing myself, but I’ll try to say everything I can. First off, this book—just wow. The moment I got the email with my copy, I started reading and didn’t move from my seat all day. The characters and their stories took a special place in my heart. They were written so well, with such depth and raw emotion, that every struggle felt real. I already knew from Emery’s previous books that her writing has something unique, but this book just confirmed it for me. And yes, I’m writing this through tears right now.
Let’s start with Selene—strong, brave, and someone I deeply admire. No matter what, she never gives up, never backs down, and holds her head high. Like I told Emery, I see myself in every little detail of Selene’s character, except for one heartbreaking difference—she has Isla, and I have no one. This story (to me) perfectly captures how someone can withdraw inward, how much pain can be hidden behind a seemingly normal exterior. It’s a reminder to pay attention to those around us because we never truly know what someone is going through—and sometimes, the ending isn’t a happy one.
Now, let’s talk about Knox. At first, I was so ready to slap him because… no comment. But as the story unfolded, I saw his layers, his struggles, and the weight he carried. He wasn’t just a hockey player who didn’t care—he was someone trying to figure himself out. And when he finally came to his senses, realized what was truly important, and fought to show Selene how beautiful, smart, and unique she is—I was so proud of him.
One thing I absolutely loved was how even the side characters had their important moments in the story. They weren’t just there as background fillers—they had depth, their own struggles, and their presence made the story feel even more real. Seeing the OG couples again also made me so happy! It felt like coming home to old friends. And the found family aspect throughout the whole book? Perfect. The way these characters support, love, and stand by each other is something so special, and it added an extra layer of emotion to the story.
In the end, seeing both Selene and Knox overcome their doubts and struggles to find their happy ending was everything. I can’t wait to see what Emery has in store for the next couple because, at this point, I already know it’s going to be amazing.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and hope you love it as much as I did. And honestly, I’m heartbroken that I won’t be able to attend the event to see Emery in person. But I hope that one day, I’ll have the honor of meeting this incredible woman who, through her books, keeps me going and don’t do something stupid.
Random thoughts while reading:
• Blaise is the definition of a supportive friend.
• I did not see the Tessa thing coming.
• The little letter? Absolutely adorable 🥺.
• The shopping break and Isla’s understanding—pure warmth.
• Trying to drown out thoughts with movies or books… yeah, I know that feeling.
• Willow is the sweetest.
• You have no idea how long I was waiting for them to meet at that gym 😂.
• The place for the ‘outgoing’? Such a thoughtful touch.
• Scorpio baby 🥹.
• “Yeah, yeah. We’re all one big, happy, murderous family.” 😂.
• ‘Picosita’ is officially my new favorite word 😄.
• That talk with Knox’s mother was so needed.
• The little speech at the rink? My heart.
• I hated Tessa in the last book, and nothing has changed. And that notebook?? I had my suspicions, but still—shocked.
✨Favorite quotes:
Too many to count.
📖 Releases March 6
•Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🚨Contains spoilers🚨
“To those who’ve been forced into a box just to fit in:
To hell with that.
Never dim your light.
Never doubt your worth.”
– This is still on my wall.
I’m not great at expressing myself, but I’ll try to say everything I can. First off, this book—just wow. The moment I got the email with my copy, I started reading and didn’t move from my seat all day. The characters and their stories took a special place in my heart. They were written so well, with such depth and raw emotion, that every struggle felt real. I already knew from Emery’s previous books that her writing has something unique, but this book just confirmed it for me. And yes, I’m writing this through tears right now.
Let’s start with Selene—strong, brave, and someone I deeply admire. No matter what, she never gives up, never backs down, and holds her head high. Like I told Emery, I see myself in every little detail of Selene’s character, except for one heartbreaking difference—she has Isla, and I have no one. This story (to me) perfectly captures how someone can withdraw inward, how much pain can be hidden behind a seemingly normal exterior. It’s a reminder to pay attention to those around us because we never truly know what someone is going through—and sometimes, the ending isn’t a happy one.
Now, let’s talk about Knox. At first, I was so ready to slap him because… no comment. But as the story unfolded, I saw his layers, his struggles, and the weight he carried. He wasn’t just a hockey player who didn’t care—he was someone trying to figure himself out. And when he finally came to his senses, realized what was truly important, and fought to show Selene how beautiful, smart, and unique she is—I was so proud of him.
One thing I absolutely loved was how even the side characters had their important moments in the story. They weren’t just there as background fillers—they had depth, their own struggles, and their presence made the story feel even more real. Seeing the OG couples again also made me so happy! It felt like coming home to old friends. And the found family aspect throughout the whole book? Perfect. The way these characters support, love, and stand by each other is something so special, and it added an extra layer of emotion to the story.
In the end, seeing both Selene and Knox overcome their doubts and struggles to find their happy ending was everything. I can’t wait to see what Emery has in store for the next couple because, at this point, I already know it’s going to be amazing.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and hope you love it as much as I did. And honestly, I’m heartbroken that I won’t be able to attend the event to see Emery in person. But I hope that one day, I’ll have the honor of meeting this incredible woman who, through her books, keeps me going and don’t do something stupid.
Random thoughts while reading:
• Blaise is the definition of a supportive friend.
• I did not see the Tessa thing coming.
• The little letter? Absolutely adorable 🥺.
• The shopping break and Isla’s understanding—pure warmth.
• Trying to drown out thoughts with movies or books… yeah, I know that feeling.
• Willow is the sweetest.
• You have no idea how long I was waiting for them to meet at that gym 😂.
• The place for the ‘outgoing’? Such a thoughtful touch.
• Scorpio baby 🥹.
• “Yeah, yeah. We’re all one big, happy, murderous family.” 😂.
• ‘Picosita’ is officially my new favorite word 😄.
• That talk with Knox’s mother was so needed.
• The little speech at the rink? My heart.
• I hated Tessa in the last book, and nothing has changed. And that notebook?? I had my suspicions, but still—shocked.
✨Favorite quotes:
Too many to count.
March 14, 2025
Selene Davis, a psychology major at Crestwood, is a party animal and a self-assured friend who keeps her weaknesses hidden. Beneath her confident façade, however, she battles feelings of inadequacy regarding her body and her curves. After a passionate one-night stand that leaves her wanting more, she soon learns that Knox Sanchez, the moody, emotionally distant hockey player, is not ready to give her what she deserves. Determined not to be just another passing fling, she distances herself, but their intertwined social circles make it impossible to stay away.
Knox has spent years guarding his heart after a painful breakup, and relationships are the furthest thing from his mind. But no matter how hard he tries, Selene is the only woman who makes him want to break his own rules. The more she pushes him away, the stronger his desire to fight for her.
Emery Paige's "Captured Love" is a steamy, emotionally charged romance that has everything fans of the genre want: irresistible chemistry, tension-filled banter, and a heartfelt journey of self-acceptance and love. The chemistry between Selene and Knox, where they go from hating each other to being unable to live without the other, is to die for. The novel has a high spice level, but it is well worth the time spent reading. Selene's struggles with her body image and her belief that she would not fit into Knox Sanchez's perfect world add emotional depth to the story, and Knox's ability to reassure her of her insecurities had me swooning.
There was nothing I disliked about this book except the frequent sex scenes, which felt like they were distracting from the overall story line.
"Captured Love" is a must-read for fans of sports romance and strong heroines who refuse to settle. It features undeniable tension, swoon-worthy moments, and a fiery love story that will keep you hooked. I give it four out of five stars for all of the reasons listed above.
Knox has spent years guarding his heart after a painful breakup, and relationships are the furthest thing from his mind. But no matter how hard he tries, Selene is the only woman who makes him want to break his own rules. The more she pushes him away, the stronger his desire to fight for her.
Emery Paige's "Captured Love" is a steamy, emotionally charged romance that has everything fans of the genre want: irresistible chemistry, tension-filled banter, and a heartfelt journey of self-acceptance and love. The chemistry between Selene and Knox, where they go from hating each other to being unable to live without the other, is to die for. The novel has a high spice level, but it is well worth the time spent reading. Selene's struggles with her body image and her belief that she would not fit into Knox Sanchez's perfect world add emotional depth to the story, and Knox's ability to reassure her of her insecurities had me swooning.
There was nothing I disliked about this book except the frequent sex scenes, which felt like they were distracting from the overall story line.
"Captured Love" is a must-read for fans of sports romance and strong heroines who refuse to settle. It features undeniable tension, swoon-worthy moments, and a fiery love story that will keep you hooked. I give it four out of five stars for all of the reasons listed above.
March 2, 2025
This is Book 3 of the Crestwood University Series!
I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰
Selene Davis is the life of the party—the bold, fun-loving friend who never lets insecurities show. But deep down, she wonders if she’ll ever be truly enough. One night with Knox Sanchez, the smoldering-hot hockey player with a reputation for keeping things casual, only proves her fears right. What was unforgettable for her? Just another night for him. Determined to move on, Selene focuses on her studies and library job, vowing to keep Knox out of her life.
If only it were that easy.
Knox is used to keeping his emotions in check. Between the pressures of hockey and a painful past, he has no interest in relationships. But Selene isn’t just anyone—she’s the one woman who gets under his skin, the one who makes him rethink everything. And now that she’s ignoring him? He can’t stay away.
Forced into each other’s orbits thanks to their overlapping friend groups, Selene and Knox find themselves locked in a slow-burning battle of wills—one full of undeniable chemistry, unresolved feelings, and electric tension. The more Selene pushes him away, the more Knox fights to prove he’s all in. But will it be enough to convince her to take the risk?
Captured Love delivers the perfect mix of tension, longing, and swoon-worthy romance. Emery Paige creates two incredibly relatable characters, each navigating their own vulnerabilities while being drawn together by something neither of them can ignore. With banter, emotion, and just the right amount of spice, this story will have you hooked from the very first page.
If you love grumpy/sunshine pairings, hockey romance, and a heroine who refuses to settle for less, Captured Love is a must-read. It’s emotional, addictive, and guaranteed to leave you swooning.
I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰
Selene Davis is the life of the party—the bold, fun-loving friend who never lets insecurities show. But deep down, she wonders if she’ll ever be truly enough. One night with Knox Sanchez, the smoldering-hot hockey player with a reputation for keeping things casual, only proves her fears right. What was unforgettable for her? Just another night for him. Determined to move on, Selene focuses on her studies and library job, vowing to keep Knox out of her life.
If only it were that easy.
Knox is used to keeping his emotions in check. Between the pressures of hockey and a painful past, he has no interest in relationships. But Selene isn’t just anyone—she’s the one woman who gets under his skin, the one who makes him rethink everything. And now that she’s ignoring him? He can’t stay away.
Forced into each other’s orbits thanks to their overlapping friend groups, Selene and Knox find themselves locked in a slow-burning battle of wills—one full of undeniable chemistry, unresolved feelings, and electric tension. The more Selene pushes him away, the more Knox fights to prove he’s all in. But will it be enough to convince her to take the risk?
Captured Love delivers the perfect mix of tension, longing, and swoon-worthy romance. Emery Paige creates two incredibly relatable characters, each navigating their own vulnerabilities while being drawn together by something neither of them can ignore. With banter, emotion, and just the right amount of spice, this story will have you hooked from the very first page.
If you love grumpy/sunshine pairings, hockey romance, and a heroine who refuses to settle for less, Captured Love is a must-read. It’s emotional, addictive, and guaranteed to leave you swooning.
March 20, 2025
Captured Love is a captivating and steamy romance that beautifully explores personal growth, vulnerability, and the complexities of love. Selene Davis is the epitome of confidence, yet beneath her bold exterior, she struggles with insecurities about her body and her worth. A one-night stand with the emotionally unavailable hockey star, Knox Sanchez, leaves her wanting more, even though Knox has made it clear he's not looking for anything serious.
Knox, a reformed playboy and a man with a guarded heart, is determined to keep his distance from Selene. His past heartbreak and demanding hockey career make him hesitant to commit, but despite his best efforts, Selene gets under his skin. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and as Selene pushes him away, Knox becomes more determined to win her over.
The story shines with its emotional depth, showcasing how both characters grow throughout the book. Selene’s journey of self-acceptance and embracing her curves is powerful and relatable, while Knox's gradual opening up shows his true vulnerability. The push-and-pull of their relationship keeps the tension high, and the emotional payoff is immensely satisfying. Their relationship had me grinning from start to finish! The banter was spot on, and the cute dates and family moments added such a sweet touch. It was definitely a feel-good read.
The supporting characters add humor and warmth to the story, contributing to the theme of found family. Their close-knit friendships create a sense of community that enhances the romance.
Captured Love is a heartwarming and steamy romance with a perfect mix of emotional depth and sizzling chemistry. It’s a story of personal healing, breaking down walls, and discovering that love can change everything. Fans of friends-to-lovers and bad boys with a soft side will adore this book.
Knox, a reformed playboy and a man with a guarded heart, is determined to keep his distance from Selene. His past heartbreak and demanding hockey career make him hesitant to commit, but despite his best efforts, Selene gets under his skin. The chemistry between them is undeniable, and as Selene pushes him away, Knox becomes more determined to win her over.
The story shines with its emotional depth, showcasing how both characters grow throughout the book. Selene’s journey of self-acceptance and embracing her curves is powerful and relatable, while Knox's gradual opening up shows his true vulnerability. The push-and-pull of their relationship keeps the tension high, and the emotional payoff is immensely satisfying. Their relationship had me grinning from start to finish! The banter was spot on, and the cute dates and family moments added such a sweet touch. It was definitely a feel-good read.
The supporting characters add humor and warmth to the story, contributing to the theme of found family. Their close-knit friendships create a sense of community that enhances the romance.
Captured Love is a heartwarming and steamy romance with a perfect mix of emotional depth and sizzling chemistry. It’s a story of personal healing, breaking down walls, and discovering that love can change everything. Fans of friends-to-lovers and bad boys with a soft side will adore this book.
March 31, 2025
3.5⭐
Captured Love is the third book in the Crestwood University Series, featuring a college hockey romance between a reformed playboy and an insecure FMC. Knox, the MMC, is the brooding campus bad boy known for casual flings but had a painful past that made him emotionally distant. Selene, the plus-size FMC, is a bold, confident, and fun-loving woman, though she struggles with body image insecurities deep down. The story progresses from a one-night stand to a happily-ever-after.
It was a nice and easy read. I enjoyed the sizzling chemistry and tension between the couple, and their banter kept me hooked. The character development was strong with Selene’s journey toward self-acceptance and Knox’s emotional growth. Selene embracing her body and realizing her worth was genuinely inspiring. It was also great to see Knox working through his emotional walls to give Selene a real chance at love. His journey to get over his past and open his heart was heartwarming and his groveling was really satisfying. Their supportive friend group also added a wonderful dynamic to the story.
However, while I liked the book, something about the story felt incomplete. There were a few things that felt off or underdeveloped. For instance, the book starts with their hookup, where we're told they have some sort of friendship, but this isn't shown or developed, which made it hard to connect with their bond at first. Selene’s reaction after their one-night stand also didn’t quite make sense to me—she seemed fine with it being a one-time thing but was later hurt, which left me confused. Also, there was a bit of ex's drama but the drama was not really there and it was resolved at about 96% of book but even that felt rushed and unsatisfying. Moreover, the ending also felt little abrupt to me, which lowered my overall rating.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, I just wanted a bit more depth and detail in some areas. I’m still interested in reading the first two books to get more context and am excited for the next book in the series!
Thankyou @emerypaige and @lovenotespr for providing the ARC.
Captured Love is the third book in the Crestwood University Series, featuring a college hockey romance between a reformed playboy and an insecure FMC. Knox, the MMC, is the brooding campus bad boy known for casual flings but had a painful past that made him emotionally distant. Selene, the plus-size FMC, is a bold, confident, and fun-loving woman, though she struggles with body image insecurities deep down. The story progresses from a one-night stand to a happily-ever-after.
It was a nice and easy read. I enjoyed the sizzling chemistry and tension between the couple, and their banter kept me hooked. The character development was strong with Selene’s journey toward self-acceptance and Knox’s emotional growth. Selene embracing her body and realizing her worth was genuinely inspiring. It was also great to see Knox working through his emotional walls to give Selene a real chance at love. His journey to get over his past and open his heart was heartwarming and his groveling was really satisfying. Their supportive friend group also added a wonderful dynamic to the story.
However, while I liked the book, something about the story felt incomplete. There were a few things that felt off or underdeveloped. For instance, the book starts with their hookup, where we're told they have some sort of friendship, but this isn't shown or developed, which made it hard to connect with their bond at first. Selene’s reaction after their one-night stand also didn’t quite make sense to me—she seemed fine with it being a one-time thing but was later hurt, which left me confused. Also, there was a bit of ex's drama but the drama was not really there and it was resolved at about 96% of book but even that felt rushed and unsatisfying. Moreover, the ending also felt little abrupt to me, which lowered my overall rating.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read, I just wanted a bit more depth and detail in some areas. I’m still interested in reading the first two books to get more context and am excited for the next book in the series!
Thankyou @emerypaige and @lovenotespr for providing the ARC.
March 3, 2025
“I’m here because I can’t stop thinking about you. Because bad decisions make good stories.”
Is this year my 20th college reunion year? Yes! Do I still love a good college romance? Also yes! It honestly always makes me relive some of the fun my husband and I had when we started dating (I was a sophomore when we met). I got the chance to review Captured Love as an ARC, and as I downloaded it, I realized it was the third in the series, which ended up being fine- you can read it as a stand-alone.
This book follows Knox and Selene as they decide to hook up and everything that comes after. Knox is a star on campus with a terrible reputation, and Selene is a fun girl who is intrigued by him, though she has some hesitations when she compares herself to the girls that regularly throw themselves at him at parties.
This is my first Emery Paige book, but I don’t think it will be my last! She writes with humor and depth, and not to be nerdy, but I love the seamless way she includes little details in her narratives. This book has dual POV and is written in first person which I also love.
I read this book on the heels of another book that had a big focus on body image, and though I do really appreciate and agree with everyone finding their self-worth, a part of me was like oh no, not again! That’s not fair to Selene though, and Emery Paige did a good job with the topic and the character development.
Themes
🧡 College Hockey Romance
🧡 Bad Boy With a Soft Side x Insecure Heroine
🧡 Reformed Playboy
🧡 Friends To Lovers (with a twist)
🧡 One Night Stand
Genre: Sports Romance
Spice: Spicy!
Rating: 4 stars
Series or Stand-Alone: #3
Thanks to @lovenotes.pr and @authoremerypaige for the ARC copy! This is my honest review.
Is this year my 20th college reunion year? Yes! Do I still love a good college romance? Also yes! It honestly always makes me relive some of the fun my husband and I had when we started dating (I was a sophomore when we met). I got the chance to review Captured Love as an ARC, and as I downloaded it, I realized it was the third in the series, which ended up being fine- you can read it as a stand-alone.
This book follows Knox and Selene as they decide to hook up and everything that comes after. Knox is a star on campus with a terrible reputation, and Selene is a fun girl who is intrigued by him, though she has some hesitations when she compares herself to the girls that regularly throw themselves at him at parties.
This is my first Emery Paige book, but I don’t think it will be my last! She writes with humor and depth, and not to be nerdy, but I love the seamless way she includes little details in her narratives. This book has dual POV and is written in first person which I also love.
I read this book on the heels of another book that had a big focus on body image, and though I do really appreciate and agree with everyone finding their self-worth, a part of me was like oh no, not again! That’s not fair to Selene though, and Emery Paige did a good job with the topic and the character development.
Themes
🧡 College Hockey Romance
🧡 Bad Boy With a Soft Side x Insecure Heroine
🧡 Reformed Playboy
🧡 Friends To Lovers (with a twist)
🧡 One Night Stand
Genre: Sports Romance
Spice: Spicy!
Rating: 4 stars
Series or Stand-Alone: #3
Thanks to @lovenotes.pr and @authoremerypaige for the ARC copy! This is my honest review.
March 9, 2025
Once it was Baseball stars and then it was Football and now currently, we are in a sports romance era where Hockey Players are all the rage. As someone who used to play Hockey in school, I have been enjoying these reads and I have always wanted to personally see an ice hockey match. Though I am not much of a sports person these days, I still love reading about them. Captured Love had captured my attention as the main female character Selene worked as a student librarian. This however was the extent of excitement for me with this book as I love my books with a bit more grit and that goes for the romances too. Maybe someone who will give it back to the main male character just as good like Elle Kennedy's characters or someone who has gone through a just as tragic or even more tragic life like Ava Harrison's characters. Captured Love was what I would classify as a YA romance as it really was a sweet romance with not a lot of substance to it. Even Selene working in the library wasn't exactly a bookish character which is what you expect with working in the library and this comes from someone who is a former librarian. Selene has been texting with Ice Hockey player Knox who is a bit of a playboy and she sleeps with him. He acts all cold afterwards and she freaks out and gets angry and Knox must win her back. We also saw a little interfering from an ex-girlfriend but this storyline was pretty much brushed over which I had wished for maybe a stronger jealousy storyline like she freaking stalked them and all she had to do was say sorry and leave like WTF. Moving on, if you are wanting an introduction to the world of Ice Hockey or wanting a soft light romance read, then Captured Love by Emery Paige is the read for you and this book can also be read as a standalone like I did.
March 6, 2025
𝐓𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐱 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐧: 𝐓𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭. 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬!
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵, 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵. 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘹 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞.
𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰���𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰.
𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐈’𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞. 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞.
𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘹 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.
𝐈 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐱, 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘯, 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥. 𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘈𝘙𝘊, 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬!
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥, 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵, 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘹 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵. 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘹 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐞’𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐞.
𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦. 𝘐 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦. 𝘐'𝘮 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘰���𝘧𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰.
𝐈 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐈’𝐦 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐞. 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐞.
𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘹 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘦'𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬, 𝘐 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘏𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳.
𝐈 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐱, 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠. 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.
𝘌𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘻𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘶𝘯, 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥. 𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘶𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘩𝘦𝘳.
March 2, 2025
If you're looking for a cute, fast and easy read Captured Love is for you 🙃 This is book 3 in "The Crestwood University" series by Emery Paige.
This was my first book by Emery Paige and I actually really enjoyed it and overall it was a 3.5 for me. Even though this is the 3. book in the series I didn't feel like a missed a single thing and had zero confusion about the other characters, since her books are mainly focused on the couple of the book.
The things I liked in this book was mainly the communication between our FMC Selene and our MMC Knox - who I now absolutely adore - and how grow their confidence together and as a couple 😊. I also loved Knox's family and all of their friends even though we don't see much of them, sadly.
I did wish though that I could have maybe read a prologue about how they met instead of just throwing it all into their story from the start. I also whised that there were more scenes where Selene "looked down on herself" for Know to then help her build confidence, and since I know a lot of people feel this way it is a way to show that once you find the right person it's easier to love yourself and try to escape your bubble and try new things, but that is just my opinion.
I would have also loved to know more about Selene and her family and whised to see more of their friends and hockey. But above all that I liked it and was so happy to get an opportunity to read their story 🧡
Thank you so much Love Notes PR and Emery Paige for providing my with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by Emery Paige and I actually really enjoyed it and overall it was a 3.5 for me. Even though this is the 3. book in the series I didn't feel like a missed a single thing and had zero confusion about the other characters, since her books are mainly focused on the couple of the book.
The things I liked in this book was mainly the communication between our FMC Selene and our MMC Knox - who I now absolutely adore - and how grow their confidence together and as a couple 😊. I also loved Knox's family and all of their friends even though we don't see much of them, sadly.
I did wish though that I could have maybe read a prologue about how they met instead of just throwing it all into their story from the start. I also whised that there were more scenes where Selene "looked down on herself" for Know to then help her build confidence, and since I know a lot of people feel this way it is a way to show that once you find the right person it's easier to love yourself and try to escape your bubble and try new things, but that is just my opinion.
I would have also loved to know more about Selene and her family and whised to see more of their friends and hockey. But above all that I liked it and was so happy to get an opportunity to read their story 🧡
Thank you so much Love Notes PR and Emery Paige for providing my with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 7, 2025
Selene ist unsicher, was ihren Körper angeht und es fällt ihr schwer sich auf jemanden einzulassen. Doch dann lernt sie auf einer Party Knox kennen. Den Hockey Hottie mit dem gewissen Ruf. Doch Selene lässt sich drauf ein und beginn mit Knox zu schreiben bis sie sich entschließen ein bisschen zwanglosen Spaß zusammen zu haben. Doch direkt danach behandelt Knox Selene wie eine weitere Bettgeschichte. Das Hin und Her verletzt Selene. Doch irgendwie bekommt Knox Selene nicht aus dem Kopf und obwohl seine letzte Beziehung nicht gut endete entscheidet er sich diesmal zu kämpfen.
Captured Love ist Band 3 der Crestwood University Reihe, kann aber unabhängig von den anderen Teilen gelesen werden. Allerdings sind die Jungs rund ums Crestwood Hockeyteam so umwerfend, dass ihr alle Teile lesen solltet. Ich muss ganz ehrlich sagen: Ich habe Selene bereits in dem Moment abgöttisch geliebt in dem ich gelesen habe, dass sie eher curvy ist und nicht die Standard schlanke Protagonistin die es sonst halt immer gibt. Und als jemand der selbst mehr als genug auf den Rippen hat, hat mich das wirklich begeistern können. Zumal ich mich so gut mit Selenes Selbstzweifeln identifizieren konnte. Und ich liebe es mit wie viel body positivity Emery Paige an diesen Teil von Selene herangegangen ist. Dazu Knox als wundervoller Gegenpart der so viel Witz, Lockerheit und Charme in die Geschichte bringt. Die Liebesgeschichte hat mich total begeistert und mitreißen können. Dazu gibt es ordentlich Spannung die ich so klasse und interessant fand und dann am Ende aber leider etwas enttäuscht darüber war wie schnell das Ganze dann abgehandelt war. Da fehlte mir hier und da mehr Input.
4/5 ⭐ und ich freue mich jetzt schon so sehr auf Band 4, denn hui lag das jetzt schon eine Spannung in der Luft zwischen den nächsten Pärchen. 😍
Captured Love ist Band 3 der Crestwood University Reihe, kann aber unabhängig von den anderen Teilen gelesen werden. Allerdings sind die Jungs rund ums Crestwood Hockeyteam so umwerfend, dass ihr alle Teile lesen solltet. Ich muss ganz ehrlich sagen: Ich habe Selene bereits in dem Moment abgöttisch geliebt in dem ich gelesen habe, dass sie eher curvy ist und nicht die Standard schlanke Protagonistin die es sonst halt immer gibt. Und als jemand der selbst mehr als genug auf den Rippen hat, hat mich das wirklich begeistern können. Zumal ich mich so gut mit Selenes Selbstzweifeln identifizieren konnte. Und ich liebe es mit wie viel body positivity Emery Paige an diesen Teil von Selene herangegangen ist. Dazu Knox als wundervoller Gegenpart der so viel Witz, Lockerheit und Charme in die Geschichte bringt. Die Liebesgeschichte hat mich total begeistert und mitreißen können. Dazu gibt es ordentlich Spannung die ich so klasse und interessant fand und dann am Ende aber leider etwas enttäuscht darüber war wie schnell das Ganze dann abgehandelt war. Da fehlte mir hier und da mehr Input.
4/5 ⭐ und ich freue mich jetzt schon so sehr auf Band 4, denn hui lag das jetzt schon eine Spannung in der Luft zwischen den nächsten Pärchen. 😍
February 4, 2026
This one was okay. I liked the involvement of side characters throughout the book. I liked seeing the other couples and their development. The story starts basically at the end of the second book (when Isla and Asher catch Selene leaving Knox’s room). Again, I think this book did a good job of setting up the next book (especially at the end - Willow and Blaise) and even hinting at the fifth book (Jade and Wilder - FINALLY!!!).
I liked that Knox helped Selene build some confidence and to love her body more. I like that he celebrated her little wins with her and made her a priority in his life.
I will say, I think this one was a bit spicier than the last two.
The whole Tessa plot almost felt unnecessary and irrelevant. I thought it was a great plot twist to have Tessa be Knox’s high school ex that apparently caused him a ton of emotional damage that turned him into an “I don’t do relationships” guy. However, we never got the full story of what happened. In the last book and this book they made it such a big deal, “the ending of that relationship caused him to almost lose everything” and it is the reason for why he is the way he is. He has a scar from where things went bad. But like, they never gave a recount of what happened. He never shared the story. Then in the “big confrontation” Selene says Tessa cheated on Knox. There were just too many plot holes and I feel like the story line was missing a lot of details and was added in there to cause drama. It just seemed so unnecessary.
Overall, okay and a quick read. Most likely won’t read again.
I liked that Knox helped Selene build some confidence and to love her body more. I like that he celebrated her little wins with her and made her a priority in his life.
I will say, I think this one was a bit spicier than the last two.
The whole Tessa plot almost felt unnecessary and irrelevant. I thought it was a great plot twist to have Tessa be Knox’s high school ex that apparently caused him a ton of emotional damage that turned him into an “I don’t do relationships” guy. However, we never got the full story of what happened. In the last book and this book they made it such a big deal, “the ending of that relationship caused him to almost lose everything” and it is the reason for why he is the way he is. He has a scar from where things went bad. But like, they never gave a recount of what happened. He never shared the story. Then in the “big confrontation” Selene says Tessa cheated on Knox. There were just too many plot holes and I feel like the story line was missing a lot of details and was added in there to cause drama. It just seemed so unnecessary.
Overall, okay and a quick read. Most likely won’t read again.
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