Captive Audience

The Beasts of Belfast #1

by Julie Weaver

As a true crime podcaster, I should be able to spot a monster a mile away.


Wrong.


The moment I lock eyes with Rook O’Connell, I know I’m about to do something reckless. Sharp suit, broad shoulders, and a smile that promises sin. He’s the kind of man who could ruin me, and God help me, I might let him.


One drink turns into a night I can’t forget and a trap I never saw coming. Now I’m bound to an Irish gangster in a fake marriage, and he won’t let me go until I solve the murder that haunts him.


I don’t have a choice. If I want my life back, I have to crack the case. But the longer I spend in his world and in his bed, the more I crave the very man I swore I’d never trust.


And the harder it is to remember this was ever a lie.


Captive Audience is an enemies-to-lovers, forced marriage, dark Irish mafia romance perfect for fans of possessive antiheroes and dangerous obsession.

Tropes:

Lovers to enemies to lovers
Forced marriage
One-night stand with consequences
He falls first
“You’re mine now” energy
Possessive Irish mobster hero
True crime podcaster heroine
Touch my wife and die
Protective stalking
Found family

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Found Family, Crime

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2025

About the author

Julie Weaver is a RWAus Emerald Award winner and author of spicy, action-packed romantic suspense novels.
Her Team Zulu series features morally gray, ex-elite military heroes and the feisty, kick-ass heroines who challenge them.
Get your free Team Zulu Christmas novella here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/hvreeguzny

Find me here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/juliewe...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julie.weave...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulieWeaverA...
Website: https://www.julieweaverbooks.com/

Reviews

[Lira · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝑰’𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑲𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑰’𝒅 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒉 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑰’𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒚𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒂𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒊𝒇 𝒊𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒂𝒇𝒆.”


I love Julie’s books, they’re always so addictive, and Captive Audience is no exception! From the first chapter, I was completely hooked. The premise already grabbed me right away: Asha, a true crime podcaster who should totally know better, ends up getting tangled up with Rook O’Connell, an Irish gangster who is basically walking temptation. One drink turns into one unforgettable night… and suddenly she’s stuck in a fake marriage and helping him solve a murder he can’t let go of. I mean… how was I supposed to resist that setup?

Asha and Rook are just amazing together. I adored both of them, and their banter? So good. Fun, sharp, and full of chemistry — the kind that makes you grin like an idiot while you’re reading!

This book is a little different from Julie’s previous ones because it leans more into the romance and their relationship than into the suspense. And while I wouldn’t have minded a bit more mystery (I’m always here for more twists!), the romance was so engaging that I didn’t even mind the shift in focus.
Honestly, if this book had a thousand pages, I would’ve read the whole thing happily. It’s that addictive, that entertaining, and that easy to fall into. Julie did it again!

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒔 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝑰 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕!

[Jen ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Captive Audience


This was mostly fun, but since I've never been a fan of separation or breakups, I rated it one star lower. 🙃 With some spoilers below.

That said, I've always enjoyed the writing style of this author, so I know I won't have any problems with that. While this one really leaned into the romance side of things, which feels somehow different from her earlier books, it's still pretty interesting.

If readers are into stalkers and morally gray men, look no further; Rook's got you covered. This man is so down bad for her. It's sweet but also a bit deranged if I'm being honest. 😅 But I love me some red-flag guys who are obsessed, possessive, and faithful when it comes to their women. So I don't really care. 😂

Then there's Asha, who's totally a firecracker and could definitely hold her own against Rook. I liked how strong she was. I liked that she's unashamed to be herself whenever she's with him. I just really loved that I've never felt any annoying imbalance between them. Well, except for money, because Rook is freaking wealthy, while Asha isn’t exactly poor but is still trying to make ends meet. But imo, there's nothing more swoony than a fictional man spending his money on his girl, wanting to give her whatever she wants, and that's pretty much what he does for her.

Moving past that, this was very much insta-lust that then became insta-love within two weeks. If readers aren't into that kind of stuff, then they might not like this one. But I looove insta-love, so all's good with me. 😂

There are a few side plots hanging around, but they don't really get much attention. The reveal of who was behind his brother's murder felt pretty anticlimactic. That guy really had it easy, which was a bummer. I was hoping for a bit more torture, but unfortunately, we didn't see any of that.

As for the person who was behind Asha's attack, it was also pretty rushed. I needed the guy to suffer more, because his type is the worst scum walking on this planet. I also wished she was able to clear her name, although we didn't really get what happened to her journalism career. I really wanted her to get justice and regain her credibility.

Then the reason for my sudden loss of interest was the separation. For someone who keeps claiming he would never let her go, Rook sure as crap did that so effortlessly. While I do understand that it was because of the guilt that she got hurt and he wasn't able to protect her at that time, I still felt betrayed by his actions. Because wydm he went all through that trouble just to get the girl, only for him to leave her when she finally confessed her love and wanted a real relationship with him?

Asha didn’t hold it against him; nobody really did, but I suppose everyone handles guilt differently. I had a hunch he would leave, but I also hoped at the same time that maybe he'd come to his senses. But nope, he went ahead and annulled their marriage, leaving her with a crazy amount of money and a bodyguard. Does this make sense? Probably to some. But I wasn't rational when I read this, so him leaving her only pissed me off.

Then after 3 months of making both of their lives miserable (because they both were), he finally pulled his head out of his ass. It's quite something actually, considering he chose the exact day when Asha finally decided to accept her friends' invitation and go out with them to make his come back. 😶

If readers are looking for any long-winded apology for his sudden ghosting, they'll be sorely disappointed. They immediately picked up where they left off, as if the past few months had never happened. A few sorrys here and there, and everything was well, and Asha let him waltz back into her life so easily. Am I disappointed? A bit, tbh. But I also get the separation was hell for both of them, so maybe in their heads they thought, "Why prolong the inevitable and not just get back together?" Anyhoo, do what you want with that.

Moving past that, overall, this was enjoyable for me. This has been a good start for a new series, imo. I'm intrigued by the other side characters, and I'm actually looking forward to reading their books.


Book info:
- Forced Marriage
- Kidnapping-ish (??)
- Drugging (sedative)
- Insta-lust/insta-love
- Violence, death, torture
- Mention of SA (past, off page)
- No cheating, OM/OW
- Separation (3 mos)
- No V (they used protection, then didn't, she's on bc)
- HEA (they got married again)


Notes:
- Asha was assaulted 3 years ago, and I think it took her a while to be able to go out. But she eventually managed. Then Rook found out about her podcast a year ago, and since then, he has started stalking and cockblocking her at the same time. 🫣😅
- No V. I'm really glad there's no real info on their past. Ignorance is really a bliss for me at this point. But his cousin mentioned that since Rook's brother got killed two years ago, he has never been seen with anyone else. So I'm going to assume he's been celibate all this time. Because it would be enraging and hypocritical of him to scare away Asha's potential dates so she won't be with anyone else, but he won't do the same.
- There was a scene where Rook came home, and he smelled like a woman's perfume. Asha asked him about it, and he was honest and told her that a woman wanted to give him a lap dance (off page), but he shoved her right away the moment she plopped down on his lap. He said he would never disrespect her that way.

[morganinpages · Rating 1 out of 5]

Literally what was the point of this book???????? I’m actually so mad right now bc tell me why this man who has been absolutely obsessed and possessed with his woman for the absolute WHOLE BOOK up and left her for THREE MONTHS for absolutely no reason. This man stalked her and absolutely doted on her the whole time and literally put a ring on her finger that needs a lock to be taken off, but left her to fend for herself and for what? She told him she loved him, but he left her bc he thought that would be best. I’m just so irritated and mad bc I just wasted so much time on this book. This book was so amazing in the beginning, but towards the end honestly seemed like the author forgot what she was even writing about bc nothing of what happened in the beginning even showed up in the book again. I mean I was waiting for the FMC to start making podcasts again or idk actually research to find out stuff into the MMC’s brothers killing, but none of that happened. It was all brushed to the side even tho that was talked about so much in the beginning and the whole reason these two got together in the first place. And can we just talk about how absolutely rushed and outrageous the whole drugging and kidnapping thing was? I mean really?? And the FMC literally took a bullet for the MMC AND BE STILL LEFT HER!!!!!!! There was absolutely no pivotal moment in their relationship that made it to where you could see a true love and devotion for each-other which is annoying. With how quickly these two humped in the beginning I honestly thought these two would be together for most of the book, but no. Don’t even waste your time reading this book! Avoid at all costs!!!!!!!!!

[Paige · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

It would have been a 5+ star read if not for the third act break up and three month separation. I absolutely HATE when the MMC breaks up with the FMC for her own sake to protect her. It’s literally such bull crap and it almost ruined this book for me. The ending was also a little rushed when he finally came back and it just ended with them in bed together.

I did like both of the characters. They were both really great. I honestly loved Asha so much. Great FMCs are hardly written anymore because for some reason women writers love writing awful women characters but Asha was soo likable and one of my favs in a very long time.

Rook was great as well. He was a man obsessed. So possessive with touch and die vibes. So many “my wife” moments. I loved that he had been obsessed with and stalking her for about a year. He talked about how they had been in a one sided relationship that she knew nothing about. The man knew everything about her even down to her menstrual cycle lol. And he sabotaged every date she had set up for the past year.

No OW drama aside from him coming home smelling my perfume and having glitter on him. He conducted some business in a strip club but assures Asha that he pushed off the girl trying to sit on him. I liked that he never thought or spoke about his sexual past and we learn from his cousin that he’s been celibate since his brother died about 2 years ago.

I loved the secondary characters except for the boy crazy Daisy. She actually annoyed me. But all of the guys and Orla were great and I definitely want to read about them. I’m most interested in reading about Finn because aside from the MCs he was my favorite character.

SAFETY & TW

No cheating
No true op drama
Third act break up (almost ruined the book for me)
Forced marriage (by MMC)
FMC drugged (by MMC)
Past SA (on FMC not by MMC)
Lost loved ones
Torture (on FMC by others and on others by MMC)
Murder
HEAish (marriage was annulled but are engaged again)

[Roxy Lance · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a fast read for me, because it lacked depth.
Asha is kidnapped by Rook and almost immediately accepts her situation and starts falling for him. I really wish there would have been more of a fight and resistance. It made me mad, that she was just going along with the situation.
I also hated, that he called her “pet”. It seemed to be in a derogatory way and was just so random and ill-fitting. Asha also never says anything about it or questions that nickname. He does use the term “love” as well, which I found cute.
The plot seemed a bit rushed at the end. She is looking for the “Soul Collector” and it’s a big mystery who that person is. Therefore I expected this big search and hunt, but then he just shows up and kidnaps Asha. He reveals himself (it’s this random dude from the Russian bratva) and is also immediately killed. It was such a letdown.

But what made me give this book only two stars and is annoying me the most is the ending…
After Asha takes a bullet for Rook and he nurses her back to health he decides to just leave her, because he thinks it’s easier to lose her on his own terms, instead of losing her through outside forces. Ok, I get that. What I hated was, that he left her for three months. No contact, no sign of life, nothing.
She has the biggest heart break ever and is grieving deeply and then he shows back up and she takes him back immediately. Like literally immediately…right that second!! He goes down on one knee, ask her to marry him again and she says yes. They even talk about having kids five seconds later.
There was no groveling or anything. She seemed to have no self respect throughout the whole book and all their relationship struggles are brushed of or are ignored.
Oh and btw, the whole relationship-love situation happens in 4 months… and he is gone 3 of those.

So yeah, if you want some light, easy, shallow mafia romance, then this is an easy filler book and quick read.

[Hailey Goshert · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ 2.5🌶️ very unique plot for a mafia romance, which is hard to do and pleasantly surprising for someone like me who feels like they've read every possible storyline in this genre.

these characters were so easy to get wrapped up in. both facing their own traumas, but also neither of them willing to back down from their goals and what they feel is most important. Asha was a spitfire, which is always appreciated in an FMC. and while Rook was frustratingly hard headed and OTT at multiple points, he had very valid reasons for acting and thinking the way he did. i thought both MC's were fleshed out well, and still alluring even when you wanted to reach through the book and punch them for their decisions at times.

my one gripe with this was the conflict at the end. i thought it was too dragged out and then resolved a little too quickly considering how long us readers sat in limbo thinking "OH MY GOD GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND BE TOGETHER". other than that, i thought the story was captivating and all of the characters introduced only make me want to devour more of the future stories that will take place in this world. this was my first book by Julie and along with highly recommending, i think i might go back and read some of her backlist if they're anything like this!

[Hollie Loffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC copy and OH MY GOD I devoured this book, I couldn’t put it down. I loved all the characters and the story line was just brilliant. If you’re into your mafia, possessive mmc’s then this is the book for you. I need the next book now!!!!

[eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

p e r f e c t i o n

[Buffy ❤️‍🔥💀 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words can’t fully describe how much I enjoyed this book… honestly I went in to it not expecting much but was pleasantly surprised by the storyline and how much I loved both the MMC and the FMC

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get it here:
Amazon US * Amazon UK

[Gaia · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

Let’s say it together… “if Julie writes it, we’re going to read it”… ahhh now I feel better… okay let’s talk business!!!

I honestly don’t know how she does it every single time, but every MMC she writes is pure perfection! I said what I said and stand by it!

Rook is amazing… well okay yeah in more than one occasion I was a little bit frustrated with him, but it’s okay… it happens… right?! Also what can you say to him when you see how completely obsessed and in love he is with Asha?!

And how could he not?! I mean Asha is a bad ass! I yelled at her through my Kindle multiple times to tell her to stop lying to herself and to us when she said that she wasn’t in love with Rook (yeah yeah… Li(e)za Minelli) but I loved her so much.

And the side characters?!?!?! I need a book with Aiden as the MMC asap! Ehm ehm… Julie 👀👀👀

I had so much fun reading it and the fact that my best friend was ARC reading it as well was amazing… you should see our chat 🤣

I can’t wait for the next books 🤩!

[Emma Roden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie Weaver WHO ARE YOU ? WHY HAVE I NEVER HEARD OF YOU BEFORE ?? WHY YOUR WRITING IS SO ADDICTIVE ??
okay, so first I’m sorry for all the screaming and all.
This book was so good, I absolutely LOVED the FMC
and OBVIOUSLY also loved the MMC. I loved their story and the intrigue. The writing, have I told you already about the writing ? Yeah it was so smooth, so easy to read and I devoured this book in a day.
I will def be reading more of her books (Zulu is next in my TBR)

[Kass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooked from the beginning, I loved this so much I couldn't put it down! The obsession and protective nature he has for Asha is just chef's kiss.

[Jenn O'Leary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.....where do I start? I have been waiting to read Captive Audience by Julie Weaver and she did not disappoint!
Julie hooked me from the start, and I did not want this book to end.
Ryan ‘Rook’ O’Connell is a tattooed, bad boy Irishman who is full of charm, and he is obsessed with Asha ‘Inferno’ Sparks, a true crime podcaster.
The chemistry and banter between these two is off the charts. I could not get enough of this book.
If you like dark romantic suspense, with obsessed, morally grey MMC's and sassy, strong FMC's then you need to read this book!

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good until it wasn't. I can't believe I took a week to finish this. To be honest, I really loved the plot of this book and I actually had enjoyed Rook and Asha initially, but then this book just dragged on and took a nosedive. I would've rated this book 4 stars initially, but after that shitshow that was the climax and how backwards that fallout was, I'm confident in saying I'd give this a 2-3 star, but probably a 3.

What I loved about this book was that Rook by the start of this book was stalking Asha for about 378 days and his brother had died a year before that (so 2 years by the start of the book). I also loved that he was essentially celibate by the time his brother died and until present time, as mentioned by his cousin Orla. There was no OW drama and there was no OM drama as Rook had driven away all of Asha's prospects, making her single.

I ATE UP THAT wedding, no matter how illegal or crazy it was. Even though Asha was unconscious by Xanax after their ONS, I just could not deny I ate up how down bad obsessed Rook was and how much I ate that up. He really zeroed in and embraced the "my wife" trope quick, and this man never fell short of doing whatever to please his girl, whether it was killing her harasser who got her blacklisted, gave her a whole new podcast studio, bought her extravagant gifts and provided funds for shopping sprees, and even saving a girl who she was trying to locate from her kidnapping to human trafficking.

What really didn't do it for me was the dragged out middle (which was just a lot of back and forth on her end) and the total switch up after the Russians kidnapped Asha an injured her. I can't believe after the middle of the book, Asha's whole passion for podcast was just never touched on again and even after Rook leaves her, she just gives up podcasting altogether.

AND THIS MAN. How dare he be this obsessed with her and so willing to stalk, bug, and watch her, only to then abandon her under the context of "protecting her" and "letting her go," then going off the grid in Ireland for 3 months. I can't even believe he abandoned her after all that and annulled their marriage, and then decided to come to his senses after and claim her back.

This book would've been so so good if the middle and later part of the book didn't happen the way it did and they kept the first half of the book, which was what really had be engaged and invested. I loved Rook a lot more than Asha, as her personality was just being a murder mystery podcaster, and even then that was soon scrapped from her character to only replace her as this SAH mob wife. Shame this book had so much potential to be a great read for me, but it wasn't bad by any means, just mediocre or mid to me.

[Bookish_Bloom2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I don’t even know where to start!!

This story had all the tropes you could want—spice, tension, heart, and an actual plot that keeps you hooked. The writing is incredible, and I honestly can’t believe I hadn’t discovered this author sooner.

By the halfway mark I was already thinking about how to get this book into everyone’s hands. It’s absolutely one of my top reads of 2025, no question. If you’re looking for a book that gives you everything and more, this is it!!!

[ang · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- first five star read of the year and i am so obsessed with asha and rook!! one of my top mafia romances ever
and i already want to reread!

“You’re my queen,” he murmured, skimming his mouth over mine. “The only one I’d kneel for. Because as much as I own you, you own me, too. Body and soul.”

[Mora · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7~4⭐️

[Samia · Rating 5 out of 5]

'twas a fine read but i'd have loved to read/ find out more about asha's podcast. really enjoyed reading about those bits

[zainab · Rating 3 out of 5]

what the helly did i just read in a day

[Rew · Rating 5 out of 5]

10⭐ bloody stars for this.
im smitten ..julie u did it again
well done ..
hooked from the first chapter the banter between these two is outta this world
one of the best irish mafia romance I read lately i was happy to see a bit of the team zulu again



♦️I’m going to pick a fight with my soon-to-be-deceased husband.”
‎
♦️‎“Hello, pet.” I sneered.
“Don’t Hello, pet me.”
‎Aidan laughed. “Oh man. The pair of you makes so much sense now.”
‎
‎
⭐‎When everything clicked with Asha that Rook is behind every man who ghosted her.. things got wild...
‎‎He was definitely a cock blocking son of a bitch🤣🤣🤣
‎
♦️‎*"He wasn’t a monster. He was a man gutted by grief. It didn’t erase the manipulation or the lies, but when I saw Rook’s actions through his eyes, they made a little more sense"
‎
‎
‎The spicy scenes were perfect specially the one after she got tipsy with Orla and Rook came was chefs kiss🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼🤌🏼

[Blue]

MMC left the FMC for no reason and came back without grovel

[Antrea Ahha · Rating 2 out of 5]

i'm sorry but if a fucking man forces me to marry him, brings me into a life full of danger, makes me fall in love with him, I take a shot for him, and then he leaves me with annulment papers and 50mil THROUGH A FUCKING NOTE... I'm sorry bro but i'm moving on as fast as a fucking arrow flies to a target. GOODBYE! You'll find me on a beach sipping cosmos somewhere... MEN, BE GONE... And she forgave him in a millisec.. Nah brooo goodbye!

[Camryn Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

#ᴀʀᴄʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡ
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: 5★


ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ -

OH MY GOSH, This freaking book! I was basically crashing out the whole book loll, from the first chapter 1 was definitely hooked. Their relationship was just chef kiss, the turns and twists that was happening had me on the edge of my seat. And the push and pull!? love angst and the spice was also just amazing


Tropes 🎀

Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
He Falls First
Forced Proximity
Forced Marriage
True Podcast FMC x Irish Mafia
Found Family


Thank you Julie for giving me this arc 🖤

[Anastasia ⋆｡☽˚｡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes:
🖤Enemies to Lovers
🖤Forced Proximity
🖤Forced Marriage
🖤Stalking
🖤Possessive MMC
🖤Feisty FMC
🖤“Who hurt you?”
🖤Mafia Romance

This was exactly what I needed to get me started this year! I missed reading romance books with possessive and unhinged men. 😭😍

It would have been a 5+ star read if not for the third act break up and three month separation. I absolutely HATE when the MMC breaks up with the FMC for her own sake to protect her. It’s literally such bull crap and it almost ruined this book for me. The ending was also a little rushed when he finally came back and it just ended with them in bed together.

Julie Weaver had me hooked from the very first page with this story, Captive Audience definitely held me captive, and reading into the very small hours.
Asha Parks had been a journalist until she was unceremoniously dismissed, she now ran a true crime podcast, she was known as "Inferno", she worked undercover, uncovering crime, she had a dedicated following because she was good at what she did.
Wealthy Rook O'Connell was Irish mafia, answering only to one man. Rook was obsessed with Asha, she may use a disguise, but he knew who she was, in fact he knew everything about her and now he needed her help but how could he persuade her ?
On a drunken night out with her friends, Asha was goaded by them to approach the ruggedly handsome, tattooed stranger, a stranger who was staring at her, little did she know that her life was about to change forever.

After a steamy, torrid one night stand with the sexiest man that she had ever met, Asha woke up in a strange room................and with a wedding ring on her finger.

I love both these characters, Asha is feisty, sassy, she is not afraid to stand up to the man that has grown men pleading, and crying, before he ends their miserable lives.
Rock has worshipped Asha from afar, he had stalked her, but now she was his, albeit for a short time, he knew that she would fight him all the way, he looked forward to it, he loved a challenge.

My rating: 4.5/5 stars.

More detailed review here: SOON

[Emma (emjbookshelf) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Weaver builds two people who feel raw, layered, and impossible not to watch collide.

Asher is a standout: strong in quiet, resilient ways, constantly navigating fear, instinct, and the need to survive without losing herself. She grows sharper and braver with every chapter, and you can feel her agency strengthening even in the darkest moments.

Rook is intense, calculating, and absolutely dangerous, but Julie gives him this underlying complexity that peeks through in the smallest gestures. Those glimpses of vulnerability and conflicted loyalty make him magnetic, even when you know you shouldn’t trust him.

Together, they’re electric. Their dynamic is full of charged moments, shifting power, unexpected tenderness, and emotional depth that builds slowly and deliberately. Watching them unravel each other, sometimes gently, sometimes explosively, is what makes the story so addictive.

If you love dark mafia omance where the heart of the book is the characters themselves, Captive Audience delivers completely.

[Amara F · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I was given this book as an eArc but my review is based solely on my own thoughts and opinions*

This is a great mafia book. Has all the things I love, deranged man with slight stalking tendencies who is obsessed with his woman, only she can get him in his knees type of a scenario. All the “mine” moments. This has got to be one of the mafia books I liked most this year.

Surprisingly, it didn’t feel long. It’s a long book but I devoured it, could not put it down. The banter is fun, maybe a little too many HR jokes haha, it got redundant but I loved their snarky comments and conversations.

I wanted an epilogue, like 6 months later, her podcast is up again and doing well, etc etc kind of a thing.

One of my fav lines:

"I swore if the doctor told me you were gone, I was going to follow you to the afterlife and trade my soul for yours. I'd wreak havoc in the underworld until I pissed off death so much that he'd give me what I wanted."

4.5 stars

[Heather Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely incredible! I finished it in 24 hours. I haven’t done that in a long time.

[Genevieve Sweeney · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Marguerita☽︎⸆⸉ · Rating 5 out of 5]

just so AMAZING