Captivated

Dare to Risk #4.5

by Danielle Pays

Needed: one fake boyfriend for the holidays

This holiday season, Macy must make a choice. Marry a man she detests to save her family's company or fake date the man she secretly wants in order to escape her fate.

Garrett has wanted Macy since college, but he made a promise that he wouldn't touch his best friend's little sister. But now that she is being pushed to marry another man, Garrett knows this is his last chance.

Now he has to convince Macy he is the one for her. As long as her brother doesn't kill him first.

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Novella, Holiday, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Short Stories

85 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2020

About the author

Danielle Pays writes romantic suspense with twists and a hint of humor. When not trying to write her characters into some kind of trouble, she can be found chasing her dog or annoying her kids. Unless the sun is out. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and if the sun comes out, it is a requirement to go outside before it hides again.

Reviews

[Jamoz23 · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars. This is absolute unbelievable nonsense.
OMG. Garrett isn’t man enough to tell his friend he wants to date his sister and he can’t be honest with Macy. He came across as a jerk instead of admitting he’d wanted to be with her for years.
Can’t believe Macy put up with all her father’s crap, even accepting a marriage to try to save her father’s hide.
Really didn’t like Macy’s family at all. Even the mother was gutless after finding out the truth.
And then to go there for Christmas dinner. WTH.

Read in the anthology LOVE IS COMING TO TOWN.

[C. Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

So when I heard Danielle was writing this I got super excited especially since we were left wondering what happened with Garrett and we get to find out.

Grab a glass of wine, a few tissues and a blanket because once you start this you won’t be able to put it down. 🖤🎄❤️🎄🖤

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/6/2022)! 🎁

[Alejandra Guerrero · Rating 1 out of 5]

OMG, everyone was horrible here! Garret was a spineless idiot, though I guess he was perfect for Macy, because she couldn’t stand out for herself at all. Her father was a total narcissist, her mother a doormat, and her brothers were toxic too. The oldest was an aggressive, meddlesome asshole, and I can’t understand how everyone just let him hit Garret multiple times and did nothing to stop him. Garret included (God, he was so passive!), because “he was just being protective”. He was controlling, violent and abusive, that’s what he was. Her younger brother was enabling her father, and covering up for him, and didn’t move a finger to save Macy because he needed his ass covered for enabling his father. Everyone emotionally manipulates and abuses Macy, but all she’s concerned about is her doormat of a mother not speaking to her father? Hell, she should be worried she hasn’t left his ass after all he did! There’s no way dad isn’t abusing mom in some way. Not with the shit he was willing to put Macy through to cover his ass. And based on the “epilogue”, which is some completely unrelated stuff with other characters, everyone in town is horribly toxic too, so why on Earth would I want to read anything else by this author? This was very triggering. It was super short, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to finish this infuriating shitshow posing as a romance. If I could rat this lower than one star, I would.

[Stox4story · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rejection Hurts … what a tangled web we weave

What price love? There are many kinds of love … a father’s love, romantic love and protective love of a brother or sister. Poor Macy. For her, love has a price, a very high price. She has loved from afar for many years, but to no avail.

Her brother’s best friend, Garrett, captured Macy’s eye when she was 14. Her schoolgirl crush was strong but she kept it too herself. A few years later she makes her move on that ‘friend’ and was rebuffed.

But did he really reject her? Sometimes the truth is hidden. Sometimes it’s easier to live a lie to maintain relationships. Macy’s brother is protective, sometimes too protective, but that is nothing compared to her father’s form of protection. Daddy sells her out …. literally, all to cover his backside.

So now, the real question is … will Garrett be strong enough to go against the odds and beat them?

👁OBSERVATIONS:

… This is a quick easy read that holds your interest.

… I’m not a big fan of detailed intimacy. It’s easy to get the gist of the story without all that. Thus I found myself skimming/skipping over those parts.

… Okay, daddy comes through in the end, but what he was willing to do to save his own skin is a big no, no. And actually, it was Jackson, not daddy, who found the way to put a noose around Chad’s neck.

… I was wanting Garrett to come on strong against Chad…. not necessarily with fists but with shrewd ‘gotcha’ moments that expose Chad for the snake he is. Would prefer seeing Garrett showing up at the BIG EVENT ready, willing and able to upset the applecart.

I received an advance copy of Captivated and freely leave my thoughts and opinions. Now I’m headed to my library to read Deceived by this author. It’s a romantic suspense which is among my favorite genres.

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I've come to expect from Danielle Pays, this story is very well written. I loved the beginning, plenty of detail and pulled me in right away. Probably due to the novella format, it just seemed to wrap up too quickly and easily. I would have like the story to be a little more fleshed out, perhaps even brought out to novel length. Overall, though, a good quick read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Garrett and Macy's story. This is a best friend's little sister romance that has been simmering for years. A chance to claim a fake relationship gets the ball rolling for more. The chemistry between these two characters is anything but fake and they are not fooling anyone. This was a great holiday season story. Enjoy!

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garrett and Macy have been attracted to each other for years but Garrett had made a promise to her brother to stay away from her. The story pulls us in with lust/love, suspense and secrets.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BusyM3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read that will keep you reading to see what will happen next. The characters are likeable, have great chemistry. The story flows well. A great read to read on a quiet afternoon for a little me time.

I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Carol Peake · Rating 5 out of 5]

What better way to celebrate the holidays than getting together with your true love.
Garrett has always had feelings for Macy but due to her big brothers protective streak could never act on them.
Now he has to step up to save her from a forced marriage.
A great love story you will not be able to put down

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

okay

An okay read but felt that the plot and reaction of family members to the threat was far fetched. The romance was going along nicely till the brother interfered on several occasions and end was rather abrupt. Was just okay

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It appears that Macy has it all.  She graduated college and went to work in her father's firm.  She makes a good living in the family business and owns her own home.  Now her father wants her to marry his business partner's son and expand the business to Europe.  Garrett has known Macy most of her life.  He is her brother's best friend.  He has been crushing on Macy since college but out of respect for his best friend, he has never acted on those feelings.  Macy has been pining for Garrett since she was fourteen but he's always made it clear that she is like a little sister to him.  Now the two must pretend to be dating to keep her father from pushing an unwanted marriage on her.

This book is so much more than a fake boyfriend trope.  It has some completely unexpected plot twists.  The heat between Macy and Garrett is obvious but the tension radiating of Luke, Macy's older bother makes things difficult.  I like that Macy's family is close but yet still have their drama just like any family.  In then end, Macy was able to count on her brother's to have her back.  I like Garrett didn't give up without a fight.  He did everything he could to prove to Macy his feelings are real.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ronel Olver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fast paced romantic page turner with secrets, lies, betrayal with a well-deserved HEA. The characters are well developed and the plot and story line are filled with twists and turns and revelations. Macy is forced to marry her fathers business partner's son Chad to save the family, her father literally sell her regardless of her feelings, but this time Macy starts to dig in her heels and refuses to go quietly even though she loves her family. When Garrett and Macy get together again to pretend to be a fake couple to avoid this forced wedding emotions, chemistry and lust starts to muddle the waters and fake turns into real very quickly. I enjoyed how both grow as individuals as well as a couple

Macy always thought that her true love Garrett rejected her years earlier as a teenager, Garrett has always had feelings for Macy but never pursued it because of his respect for her brother Luke, his bestfriend. Secrets and betrayals come to light and the emotions and feelings leave both Garrett and Macy reeling. I loved the book, excited to read the next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Liberty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man. Those romance novella covers are ridiculous. This is the fourth Christmas novella in the anthology I purchased. And I liked it better than the last two I read. Somehow it was both a second chance romance AND fake dating which are a couple of my favorite tropes. Then there’s the family drama and rich people drama. It was all a lot of fluffy, junk food style reading fun. But overall it’s just too over the top for me. It was like two rich mob boss style families who blackmail each other. Not actually mob boss families, but basically. It was a lot. I preferred the family drama over everything else. Also, the only way Christmas came up in the book at all was that it made it so people had events they had to go to. Which was kind of annoying for someone who truly loves the holiday season and Christmas in particular. As far as the romance goes, I did feel like there was a little bit of pining and some stuff from the past that they had to get over. But overall I wasn’t 100% into it.

Overall, I gave the story 3 stars. I would give the romance 2.75 stars. And the Christmasiness of the novel gets a sad, wilting 0.25 poinsettias.

[Suzanne Houser · Rating 4 out of 5]

Danielle Pays has combined two of my favourite romance tropes (brother's best friend and fake relationship) in a very entertaining, sweet and steamy novella. Garrett has had a thing for his best friend, Luke's, little sister for years, but when Luke warned him off back in college, he promised to stay away. But when Macy needs a fake boyfriend to keep her father from marrying her off in some business arrangement, Garrett steps in. But when one night of deceiving her parents turns into a weekend - surrounded by Macy's entire family, including Luke, PLUS the man she is supposed to marry - a whole series of entertaining hijinks occur, including both Macy and Garrett realizing they each wish their fake relationship was real. Macy and Garrett have electric chemistry, and the added drama of her family (both Luke's reaction to his best friend, and the entire reason she is being forced to marry Chad) make this a very enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Santa bring them what they both want.....each other under the tree in nothing but a bow

I had picked this book up last year and somehow it got lost in my Kindle. So when I found it and remembered what it was about I dived right in, as I do enjoy Danielle's writing style. This story is a fun way to get your feet wet in the holiday books and it is filled with all sorts of presents and fireworks. I really loved this story as it is a great blend of drama, longing, secrets. family, friends, complicated relationships, love, romance, business and some smexy fun. Even though this book came out in 2020 it is still a fantastic read for any year.

I received a copy of this book and am leaving my honest review. My opinions are all my own.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author thru Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving my review. This short love story involves Garrett and Macy. He is going to break his promise to her brother. It seems that no matter how hard he tries or the time that has past, Macy is his. They have always had a chemistry between them. She finds herself in a bad spot of being roped into a marriage she does not want. Garrett is going to be her knight no matter what everyone else wants. I thought this was a great short story in the Dare To Risk books. I was happy that they got their happy ending

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivated is the story of Macy and Garrett who have been secretly attracted to each other but he never acted upon it out of respect for her brother who is Garrett's best friend. When an unwanted arranged marriage between Macy and her father's business partner's son appears on the horizon, Garrett steps up as Macy's fake boyfriend to save her from the situation. This well written book has well developed characters and a plot with drama, unexpected twists, and steamy attraction. I recommend this great read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Esme Greiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Macy has had feelings for Garrett, her brother's best friend, since she was 14. Garrett always made it clear to her that she was like a sister to him even though he's had a crush on her since he was in college and she got older. Years later Macy's father is trying to get her to marry for the sake of business so Garrett steps in to help her by pretending they are dating. Deep down he really wants to make her his, he's waited long enough. Will they finally have their chance at a happy life together?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[September Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have completely read these in the wrong order but it didn’t cause me to be confused or anything. I read her other novella “Deceived” first and I really enjoyed it so I saw Garett was in this one and just had to read it. I truly loved Luke in the novella “Deceived” but I wanted to climb through the book and knock him on the head in this however by the end of the book I was over my mad spell with him. However Luke and Macy father is a real piece of work. This was a very sweet heartwarming novella in which you were rooting for the couple the whole way.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brother who needs his nose punched and a father who needs a stern wake-up call. Macy and Garrett had feelings for each other years ago, but Luke, Macy's brother, had warned Garrett off. Family interference, fake boyfriend, blackmail and forced marriage all take place leaving my chest constricted with worry. Never fear, Danielle Pays knows how to leave you happy with the ending.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

[AND 1515 · Rating 5 out of 5]

and1515
Macy was his best friend's sister so he'd always kept his true feelings for her under lock and key.
But then the perfect opportunity literally lands in his lap and his not about to let it pass him by.
Macy seriously couldn't believe her father was trying to wreck her life so she tried to out maneuver him however her plans nearly fell through but then Garrett step up to the plate trying to help her.
Now all Garrett needed was to prove he was the only one for her and plenty of faith.

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, Garrett and Macy, loved the chemistry between as it was explosive. A very hard won journey for them to be a couple, with many obstacles in their way from over protective brothers, to interfering dads and smarmy business associates. Loved that Garrett didn’t give up and made the big play for what he has always wanted Macy.

I am voluntarily leaving a review for this book that I received free.

[Cathylynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrett has loved Macy forever, but she is the little sister of his best friend. Things go south and Macy needs a boyfriend to get out of a marriage she is being pushed into. Garrett and Macy and the bond and spark between the two is undeniable and it is written so well. The story line was good and the story flowed, it is a shorter story than most. I really enjoyed the book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning, dazzling love story. When Macy kisses Garrett, her brother’s best friend and he says we can’t, with tears in her eyes she slams the door. But she doesn’t realize exactly what he means. There’s no way he thinks of her as a sister. Garrett needs to convince Macy that his heart is true and that he only has eyes for her. True love does come to those who wait, and Macy and Garrett have been waiting for too long. Now is his chance and he needs to take it. An exquisite love story.

[Anna M_82 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great brothers best friend to lovers book. Garrett and Macy has liked each other for years but her older brother has held Garrett back. Macy is going to be forced to marry the son of her dad’s business partner so they fake a relationship. Misunderstandings happen and things fall apart. Read it to find out their ending. Great story and lots of steam.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Macy is very likeable. She is strong and caring while still being vulnerable. Garrett is hesitant even when he is sure and loyal and protective. Their banter is fun and witty and confounding at times. The second characters are meaningful and thoughtful and evoke their own set of emotions. The writing is easy and well done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love or honor... Feeling for each other are mutual, but neither Garrett and Macy act on it, until Macy is force into marriage by her father. Unable to stay silent, Garrett takes the step to make Macy his. This is a perfect addition to the series, filled with some drama, a bit of a twist and passion that will heat up the room. Great addition to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story. Macy and Garrett have quite the chemistry together. While Garrett is loyal to Luke, I wonder if he should’ve really been more forthcoming/assertive. There were some twists in this romance, which made it entertaining and enjoyable to read.

I received a free advanced review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest opinion..

[Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this is a novella so the story doesn't drag on and being that Garret and Macy's chemistry has been building for years, it's not totally unexpected that it would move quickly. It's sweet, sexy, with the little bit of the forbidden. It's perfect to sit back and relax and escape life for a while.