Willing Captive

by Alexa Riley

Leo has inherited a laundromat from a distant uncle she never met. With only warnings from her mother not to get involved, she doesn’t have much to go on. But it turns out that running the new business is mind numbingly boring. Her secret daydreams of the laundromat being part of the mafia and becoming the wife of a kingpin start to fade away… until Mattia shows up.

Mattia is in the middle of handling business when he looks up to find Leo pointing a can of pepper spray at him. No one in this town threatens him, let alone a woman half his size. He can’t let her find out who he truly is, but for some reason, he can’t stay away.

Over the top? And then some! This mafia romance is less about being dark and more about being ridiculous. Have some fun with us as we follow these two into their happily ever after!

First published June 1, 2026

About the author

Alexa Riley is two sassy friends who got together and wrote some dirty books. They are both married moms of two who love football, donuts, and obsessed book heroes.

They specialize in insta-love, over-the-top, sweet, and cheesy love stories that don’t take all year to read. If you want something SAFE, short, and always with a happily ever after, then Alexa Riley is for you!

Feel free to follow us each on twitter @smut_sasshole & @SassNSmut

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Willing Captive, Leo (Leonora) inherits a laundromat from a distant uncle she never met—her mother didn't interact with that side of the family. She sees it as an adventure, a way to get out of her small town. Once there, she realizes it wasn't quite the adventure she was thought it would be. The laundromat reminds her of something out of a mob movie and the fact that her uncle, Antonio Rossi, seemed to have a name that "a gangster would have" had her daydreaming that the business was part of the mafia she'd read about and saw in movies. But day in and day out, nothing.

Then one evening a man runs into the laundromat chased by a very handsome and sexy man who coldcocks him. Leo pulls out her pepper spray and takes the sexy man "hostage." Their story proceeds from there with funny twists and sexy turns, and a little mafia drama tossed in.

This is the second book in the Captive series (no series page currently on GR). This book links to the first-in-series, Innocent Captive, via the heroes. The mafia bosses are cousins (though neither appear in the other's book). I usually like these fluffy insta-love stories. They usually have OTT (over-the-top), jealously possessive and protective heroes with the objects of their desires and always have a satisfying HEA. This one I loved (4.5 rolled down to 4)! And, it's all because of the heroine, Leo (Leonora). She was hysterical! The humor was fantastic. What she thought and the things that came out of her mouth kept me reading just to see what would happen next. I wasn't disappointed. The spice, too, was good. ;o) Maybe I was just in that frame of mind for it, but this is one of the best I've read by Alexa Riley in a long time. I may try tracking down an audio version, maybe on their Read Me Romance podcast??, to see if it's as good.

As noted in the description, "Over the top? And then some! This mafia romance is less about being dark and more about being ridiculous. Have some fun with us as we follow these two into their happily ever after!" It's so true.

Note: The author offers a bonus epilogue from Mattia's POV via Patreon. I have not read that.

This book was not complimentary. I am reviewing it of my own free will because the book, or the experience of reading it, moved me to do so. All thoughts and opinions are mine and are biased only by my experience(s).

#Alexa_Riley; #Insta-love; #Mafia_Romance; #Humor;

[Maca_DVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo lei hace un tiempito y se que me gusto

[Elaine G · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Naomi Ruiz · Rating 1 out of 5]

Leo y mattia.

[Jamies · Rating 5 out of 5]

quick fun over the top read. loved it!

[Julsinthebooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Esta historia es tan surrealista que todo el tiempo quedo como WTF.

Eso mismo la hace malísima por lo absurdo. Lo mejor es que te lo advierten, pero WTF.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible, me desespera muchísimo la protagonista.