Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Captured With Love

Rate this book
Sometimes, all one needs is a second chance and a leap of faith.

Sarah Wilson had no idea how to get on with her life after the death of her husband. She decided to return to work, hoping that would be her out from all the grief. Little did she know she would bump into her new Chief Experience Officer, Lucas Smith, on day one.

No, it wasn't love at first sight because she annoyed the hell out of him, making him late for his board meeting. Not her fault because he wore the same cologne as her late husband used to, shoving her into memory lane. But no reason mattered as Lucas Smith was a known hardass. She tried to redeem herself in his eyes, but it backfired. Every. Single. Time.

Until one day.
When Sarah told him about her husband, Lucas realized that what he had in the name of a relationship was just convenience. He craved for that true love; he craved for Sarah. But her heart is so occupied with the memories of Noah that there is no place for anyone else. Let alone Lucas.
What he doesn't know is that the veil of indifference worn by Sarah was to hide the fact that Lucas was slowly eclipsing the void in her heart.

383 pages, Paperback

Published August 3, 2022

5 people are currently reading
94 people want to read

About the author

Niharika Bhol

1 book25 followers
Niharika Bhol is a firmware engineer by profession but a writer during her non-working hours (which are scarce, to be honest). She loves to read (anything and everything) and binge-watch Korean drama. When she is not whining and procrastinating, she can be found tuning her guitar and riding her bicycle. CAPTURED WITH LOVE is her debut novel on amazon.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
30 (47%)
4 stars
13 (20%)
3 stars
11 (17%)
2 stars
4 (6%)
1 star
5 (7%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for ~Lizzy's Book Lounge~.
4 reviews6 followers
August 28, 2022
* Warning this text may contain spoilers*

* I received a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review, and I thank her for this opportunity. All opinions are my own. I was not required to leave a review*

I was very excited to read this book! I am a huge fan of romance novels.

Plot: Sarah's husband dies and she is so full of grief, she can't go to work for six months. But her therapist tells her she needs to go work for her son, Phillip. Sarah goes back to work to find a new CEO who is very moody and snappy.
As the story continues, Sarah and Lucas start having feelings for each other. But every time it seems like something is going to happen with them, Sarah is reminded of her husband Noah. This doesn't go well with Lucas so he basically breaks up with Sarah. I didn't really like that Lucas was having feelings for Sarah while already having a girlfriend.
In one particular scene, Lucas leaves his engagement party to go talk to Sarah. That to me was just strange. *spoiler* Lucas, because of a promise he made to his dying mother, wants only to marry his girlfriend, Natalie.
For two years Lucas and Sarah have no communications, Sarah thinks Lucas has married his girlfriend. Ends up, he didn't marry Natalie because he couldn't get Sarah out of his mind.

They meet up, again, because Adam sent Lucas a picture that Sarah took. They have an argument, then basically they tell each other their feelings.

Characters: Sarah was such an amazing character!
Lucas was your moody boss, and at first I didn't like him. Then he grew on me.
Phillip was a great character as well, but he was made, because of the way he talked and thought, to seem older than a six year old.
Sarah's mother was hilarious. It was like she knew that Lucas and Sarah would marry one day.
Adam was Sarah's friend since childhood. I thought it was very sweet that the author was able to convey that they were still friends after such a long time.

Overall, I really loved this book! It was a great read! To be honest I couldn't put it down. I really love books that do that too me.

Author: Niharika Bhol is a very talented author. She does very good with romances and I hope she continues her romance writings.



Profile Image for Darshini.
103 reviews37 followers
September 27, 2022
First of all I'd like to thank the author Niharika Bhol for providing me the ARC copy of her debut novel. My thoughts on this review are purely my own and unbiased.
I'm huge fan of romance stories especially second chance romance. This book is a combination of friends to lovers and second chance romance. And let me just say that Niharika delivered the romance and emotions very beautifully. It was poignant and touched me to my core. The constant push and pull between the leads Sarah and Lucas was done in a correct manner. It was like the textbook definition of slow burn romance. The tension between the characters and pacing of the storyline was natural. It was quite easy to read. Moreover I loved the twists and turns introduced in the book. My curiosity level was very high while reading it. Oh and the constant battle of emotions that Sarah faced felt quite realistic. Also I loved most of the metaphors the author has used in the book. But I'm knocking out few points from my rating because there were many grammatical errors and the description was a bit bland in my opinion. The culture representation in the story also felt a bit unrealistic. So in overall sense I'd like to say that I'm very much impressed by the author's debut novel. And would surely love to read her works in future if she ever decides to write other books.
Profile Image for Niharika Bhol.
Author 1 book25 followers
August 18, 2022
Day one on Goodreads! Phew!
Months and months of planning, writing, and re-writing went into this. And to be honest, every bit of it was worth it. And hence the *****. It was an endearing experience for me to write and read it, and I hope this book brings you that much joy. Do drop in your reviews and comments. They are precious to me!
Profile Image for Angel (๑❛ᴗ˂̵)〜☆.
256 reviews72 followers
September 4, 2022
Started reading this because the author asked me to, this book started off good, in fact I would've given it 4 stars. But I'm uncomfortable with how Lucas cheated on Natalie for more than half the book, tbh I want a side story about Natalie and how she perhaps found the love of her life too who respected and loved her as much as she deserved it.
This story mainly focused on the 2 main characters, I'd have liked it if there was more about the other side characters, such as Lucas's mom Irene, Natalie, Adam, and Sarah's son.
I don't really like Lucas as a human, but I enjoy seeing the love between him and Sarah. There was also the issue with consent and how Lucas took advantage of her whilst she wasn’t in the right state, no matter how much he wanted her, he should've laid her down, given her a cup of warm water, then left.

I did enjoy this tho, so that's why I'm giving this a 3
Profile Image for Gena.
90 reviews36 followers
August 22, 2022
This book was amazing. The romance was cute and it kept me intrigued. Would def recommend.
Profile Image for Reading_addict.
12 reviews
Read
August 28, 2022
Wow, first novel. How exciting, this is definitely going in my TBR list. So good to see an Indian author.
Profile Image for Madhurima ❀.
113 reviews9 followers
August 27, 2022
This book does an amazing job of capturing the sadness and melancholy of one's life when their loved one dies. The bonding between Sarah's son, Phillip and Lucas was so adorable and emotional.

Lucas and Sarah's relationship dynamics is based on miscommunication trope mostly but both the characters are extremely lovable. Lucas is my new favorite book boyfriend btw <3

I personally love books with dual pov and it delivers exactly that!

However, the book could've been shorter. Sometimes it seems a tad bit repetitive. Too many exclamation marks throughput the book, some in inappropriate places. Like why will I use exclamation mark when I'm explicitly mentioning that the character is speaking softly? Phillip is too smart for a 6 years old kid.

Captured with Love is a really beautiful debut novel and definitely a treat for romance readers, especially who are seeking something matured, not-for-teens-only romance.
166 reviews2 followers
September 16, 2022
Have you met anyone whom you detested initially but somehow as the layers of their complex personality revealed a different outlook, you were surprised and also liked them?

This is what happened with Sarah. She kind off didn't like Lucas and his stern face or his stiff jaw. Still she appreciated his help for getting her into her groove. More than that, she was surprised how he bonded with her son Philip.

But, some memories are hard to forget or move on. Will Sarah be able to move on from her painful past and be open to new beginnings ?

What about Lucas and his girlfriend?

Can Lucas come in grip with reality or accept his feelings towards Sarah ?

A beautiful romcom which highlights the essence of life, work and the much needed balance in life. The office scenarios were relatable and I starred to wonder that I should read more books under this genre as I enjoyed this book.

Recommended from my end.
Profile Image for Gabby &#x1f31e;.
328 reviews6 followers
June 23, 2023
“You had my heart captured with love”

There isn’t anything I love more than reference titles in the book!! What a cute debut novel for this author well done!!

Before I continue I would like to state that I was provided with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are mine and mine alone!

This was a cute workplace romance novel that dealt with some hardcore stuff. Sarah had just lost her husband and is basically trying to navigate through life without him. Figuring out what she wants with also trying to be there for her kid. The premise of the story was great. I was really feeling for Sarah I just wanted to give her a hug
Profile Image for stuck_in_a_booksuzy .
312 reviews8 followers
September 7, 2022
"I had to. You had my heart captured with love."

Thank you so so much Niharika Bhol for this ARC.

I have a couple of things to say about this book, good and bad. Let me tell you cried some much in the eplogue.
The cover of the book beautiful loved it, always love a good cover.

Let's start:

Sarah

I didn't have any problem with Sarah, she lossed her husband about 6 or more months ago. But she finally went back to work, as her friend Adam and her mother thought it was time for her to get back into life. She mets Lucas and they don't get along to start off. But anyway she pulls herself back to work.

Lucas, I have so many things to say about him. First off my first thoughts of him was he is a jerk, but he did start to grow on me little by little. When he mets her son, they get along. And her son invits him to a parent teacher conference. Sarah told him he didn't have to go, but he wanted too.
I knew where Sarah's characters thoughts were coming from she didn't want her son to get attracted to Lucas and for her son to get hurt. Especially after be lost his dad.
But Lucas kept on coming to thinks her son invited him too. Which I think Lucas should have listened too, Sarah cause he should have listened to her and stopped.
Then another thing that bugged me was how Lucas wanted to be Sarah's friend which is fine they can be friends. Was how he felt attraction to her and would tell her how he felt, how he liked her. When he was still engaged to Natalie, I feel that he should have broken things off with her when he started to have feelings for Sarah. And I know in one part he said everytime he tried to bring it up, Natalie wouldn't want to listen etc. He should have tried to break things off 100% before going to Sarah and telling her how he felt. Just all the way through the book just felt like he was cheating on Natalie.
Near the end when Sarah was drunk and she rang her friend and Lucas picked up. Took her back to her hotel. I didn't like how he took advantage of her in her situation, she was drunk. And how they didn't talk about what happened, I don't know that bit made me feel ill. Like he is still engaged, you shouldn't be doing that.

I thought this book was well paced, you got to know the characters well. You really felt their emotions through the book, and how it's hard to let go of your loss.

Let's end on a happy note, I was happy with the ending there is some books that end with a very unsatisfying ending. This book wasn't one of them.

3/5 stars

Niharika Bhol I look forward to more of your books in the future!
Profile Image for Syl Sabastian.
Author 13 books79 followers
November 12, 2022
Wonderful, most excellent and wonderful again. Captured With Love delivers everything a romantic love story promises. A most excellent read, and here's why:
Well written, well crafted, and well-developed. Anyone who has ever experienced a romance/love story themselves knows there's an improbability to things and how they happen which defies logic. An improbability which stretches credulity if one had not experienced it oneself.
The challenge for the writer of such stories is to convey that improbability, that incredibleness and to make sure it's plausible. A very tough challenge, especially since this is difficult to believe even when one is experiencing it oneself. Niharika does a most excellent job of connecting all the dots, of providing the appropriate circumstances and situations to ensure there are no leaps of belief, no convenient lazy plot jumps and barely plausible justifications and substantiations. No, it all works most marvellously and the tale carries us along with delight and relish.
Of particular note to me was how quickly the story's promise was revealed, and I initially wondered how the author was going to sustain my interest. But, despite that early payoff the interest was wholly maintained throughout with never a let up. All the twists and turns, struggles and challenges, all flow smoothly and Appropriately. Most excellently done!
A most wonderful novel, hard to believe it's a first. Niharika is a great talent, one to watch. This is not idly said, as I have read thousands of books, a small library, all genres and I am an editor and an author as well, one who pays Attention to the More of matters. This book and story was very well done and I highly recommend it to anyone to read who even has a smidgeon of Romance in their soul. And, the surprise twist at the end, wonderful and fulfilling.
Most well done indeed Niharika! Five stars all the way.
:) <3
Profile Image for Manan.
123 reviews5 followers
September 22, 2022
After reading this book I could feel happening everything truly like hats off to the writer for such creative mind which kept me snared all through the book. I completely cherished the manner in which the author has introduced and depicted everything is simply great. I never felt bored at any point of time and furthermore felt fulfilled like it wasn't missing anything. All in all i totally loved the book. Highly recommended. I am literally craving for more now by the author.
411 reviews6 followers
September 30, 2022
The book captured by love is a office romantic drama.

Sarah Jane was still mourning the loss of her husband when Lucas Smith came along into her life. Just like the cover page suggests, they bumped into each other on their way to the office.

Though their first meeting was awkward, soon a friendship develops between them. Though Sarah didn't wanted to be his friend or wanted nothing to do with Lucas, her boss, he was persistent.

How and why is something which is beautiful to read in this book.

Though Lucas was irritating with his attitude and know it all demeanor, one cannot help but fall in love with his nature. Sarah was someone who seems timid but very strong and for what she faced in her life, she held her chin up and paved her way into the world.

Their lobe story or their journey towards love is something I enjoyed reading. Though I'm not a believer of love at first sight, this book gave me a new perspective about it. For a debut author, this book was well penned. I liked Adam and he is someone I would love to have in my life. I can say that it's a great read for anyone looking for a nice romantic story after a hectic weekend. Looking forward to read the authors upcoming works and wish her all the best in her endeavors.
566 reviews4 followers
September 17, 2022
Are relationships complicated or do we make them complex ?

I guess humans and their emotions are too complex to wrap our heads around them. No wonder heart plays a major role in these matters. The protagonists of the book Sarah and her boss Mr. Smith too have one such relation.

Emotions and feelings are telling them that they have a connection but circumstances urge them to stay apart.

What will win in the end ?

How will the heart convince the mind to humble itself in front of love?

A wonderful story told vividly. A page turner for me.
Profile Image for Sravanthi  V.
230 reviews6 followers
September 30, 2022
They say that we can love only once or that we will be lucky to find that one great love which will fill our hearts to the brim that we won't ever be able to feel anything for anyone.

This is what happened with Sarah. She lost her husband Noah and she had shut herself from the outside world. But for the sake of her little son Philip and her nagging but caring mother, she decides to take the first step of her reentry into the world after several months.

Though she didn't like sympathy, little did she expect scoldings on the very first day of her return to the office. Then started her tug of war with her new boss - Mr. Smith ( Lucas ).

Though both Lucas and Sarah were confused about their feelings for one another, yet they didn't express has each was embroiled in their own issues.

When they wanted to, they felt its too late. Read this romantic drama which will make you surely swoon over the plot and the moves each one makes. A perfect read for a rainy day with a cup of hot chocolate and extra marshmallows.

Recommended.
69 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2023
Some love stories begin with a fight or a misunderstanding.

They say that the first impression is the best impression. Whoever said that should read this story of Lucas and Sarah.

They both are opposites but yes. Again, opposite attract but they repelled one another.

But how long could they stay away or hate one another ?

This is a great office love story and the protagonists characters are articulated well by the author.

Do read this book to enjoy it for yourself.
Profile Image for Jason Newman.
Author 4 books41 followers
January 18, 2023
This is the story of Sarah, a widow who returns to work after compassionate leave, and Lucas who she runs into in an elevator in her first day back at work and their first encounter is an angry one. Slowly but surely they develop a fondness for one another and as you read you wonder if that fondness will become infatuation.

Several other people are involved as possible romance blossoms between the two, Sarah's son Philip who has a likeness for Lucas in a father figure way, and her best friend Adam who can't stand him, after all he is the Company director of where they work. Not to mention Sarah's mother, whom she and Philip live with.

Each chapter is told in first person, alternating from the points of view of Sarah and Lucas. I thought this was a great way to get the story across as they try and work out where they stand with each other. Will they fall in love and end up together? You'll wonder what's with all the messing about, but nothing's ever simple that's worth a read, and this romance novel certainly is.
1 review
August 18, 2022
Romance of the year
Oh My God! I had no idea that a debut novel will be this good. It was an immersive experience. Especially the dual POV. It's always amazing to read a romance novel from a guy's point of view. I am really happy that I found this gem.
Profile Image for Sarah.
100 reviews47 followers
August 18, 2022
The story was filled with ton of emotions , Love , friendship and forgiveness.The pace was good not too slow or fast.
Sarah and Lucas had so much passion and love.
LUCASSSS My God he's ughhhhh perfect perfect perfect . I love how he was with Philips in the starting chapters and How patient he was with Sarah eventhough she pushed him away and hurt him so many times . He loved her so much that he denied his dying mother's last wish .
God I literally had tears in my eyes in the end while reading Noah's letter It was the best And it was the closure Sarah never knew she needed.
Overall it was a great Read .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
239 reviews4 followers
September 18, 2022
The law of attraction- I guess it's an enigma of its own. We never know how and when we fall for someone. Agreed that the relationship may not be the same always. The feelings differ but the beginnings are something which makes us nauseous in love and sent flutters in our tummies.

This is what happened with Mr. Smith aka Lucas Smith. He was head over heels attracted to Sarah. Her voice, her skin, her beauty, her work ethics and everything about her was attractive.

However, did Sarah feel the same about him ?

It's easy said than done to take a relationship forward or even to begin it when there are so many strings attached. This is what happened in Sarah and Lucas case. Its an interesting love story and I felt it as a wholesome read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nora.
927 reviews16 followers
August 29, 2022
I recieved an arc from the author, who I'm congratulating on a great debut omg!!
Anyway let's talk about luke and Sarah who i liked both as separate characters but not together (something felt off) until we neared the end. Working with grief is hard and personally i think it was captured beautifully. He fell first and he fell harder god bless Luke, he tried so much and i loved him for it.
also luke and philip were cute, like how he tried to be there for philip always? Insane actually. Don't know where my boy went in the epilogue but it's fine.
Felt a bit distant at times but it wrapped up so nicely <3
leaving you with this quote from the book because it made me feel things.
"I want to tell her that I don’t resent her, that I can’t, even if I want to." <3
Profile Image for Bookswithavinish.
1,708 reviews48 followers
October 12, 2022
"Captured with love" by Niharika Bhol is addictive and fascinating contemporary romance novella. Which revolves around " sarah" who lost her husband " Noah" a few months back and after lots of dilemma , she joins her office back. And where she meets Mr. smith who is new CXO of the company, A strict , particular and a young handsome lucas meets sarah . who is mother of philip. Is sarah ready to give love a second chance? Will lucas accept no from sarah? This book is filled with lots of drama , romance and entertainment.

I like the way author expresses the emotions, Moreover the way in which author introduces and depicted the entire plot and characters is amazing . Every love story is full of hurdles and obstacles and this one also has their own topsy - turvy situation . I liked the complexity of the story , the pain and the love looks natural in story.

Author has done a wonderful job in capturing the sadness and meloncholy of life, I personally admire the idea of second chance in love life. After all everyone has the right to be happy after leading a tough phase in their lives. The only problem I found in this book is length of the novella , I personally felt author goes into lot of description in some places , which isnot required.

The relationship between the characters in this book are well defined by the author. From philip's bond with lucas, Adam and sarah and sarah's mother is relatable and joyous to read. All the characters are well developed by the author . And If you are someone who enjoys reading light romance with lots of twists and turns , then I must recommemd this book to you .

The cover of the book is captivating and fascinating ,it completly goes well with the theme and concept of the book .the langauage of the book is lucid and descriptive and a smooth flow of words with different layers of themes and perspective makes our reading experience mind- blowing .

Must read❤❤
Profile Image for A.
398 reviews164 followers
August 27, 2022
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: .5
HFN
Arc exchanged for an honest review
(Cheating trope: Lucas (H) has a girlfriend who he plans to marry. They have a long distance relationship but he still dates her while he develops feelings for Sarah (h). He is only with the girlfriend because he feels pressured.)

This was a cute workplace romance. I like how the author tackled Sarah's mourning. It was frustrating when Lucas wouldn't break things off with his girlfriend but I can understand why he felt pressured. One of my favorite sub-tropes is when the h's child gets attached to the H. So it was nice seeing that here.

My one complaint is the writing style was very formal. It made it hard for me to get into the story during the beginning. But I eventually caught on and it flowed from there.

Overall, this was a solid debut by the author. The romance was cute and sweet. The characters were frustrating at times but it just made them more realistic. And the author tackled some very heavy topics.
520 reviews5 followers
September 16, 2022
Captured with love title and the coverpage were both captivating and I had to read it. The story is about a widowed mother Sarah who is mourning the death of her husband Noah. The unexpected death and to think that it occurred because of her devastated her. Yet, she had to live for her son Philip who was six year old.

Determined and nudged by her mother and friend Adam, she rejoins office after many months. However, first day is a rude shock to her. Her new boss, " Mr. Smith " is not at all impressed by her. He even expresses his displeasure openly in the meeting.

The story is how a strict boss who is almost engaged slowly falls for Sarah. But will Sarah accept Mr. Smith ?

The story is lucid and it was a quick read, though it's a 400 page book. I loved the language, the plot and the characters. Though I'm not impressed with Smith in the beggining, slowly he grew on me. Overall, a good read.
Profile Image for Ann Birdgenaw.
Author 10 books122 followers
February 11, 2023
Great debut novel about grief and healing from Niharika Bohl. Sarah is trying to come to terms with being a single mom after the unexpected death of her husband, Noah. Her best friend and confidant, Adam is the only one who knows the level of her pain; but he encourages her to come back to work and ‘get on with her life’. To complicate matters there’s a new CEO (Chief Experience Officer) at work who immediately clashes with Sarah even though there’s something compelling about Lucas; (possibly that he wears the same cologne as Noah). Well written, the story grabbed me from the beginning but felt a little too drawn out after a while. With too many twists and turns for Sarah and Lucas to go through to get to the inevitable hook-up. Enjoyable office rom-com with interesting characters and a likable main character who struggles to mend her broken heart and pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Well done!
67 reviews1 follower
September 17, 2022
Did you even feel attracted to someone and couldn't keep your emotions in control?

This is precisely what happened with Sarah and Lucas Smith. Sarah and Lucas share a boss-employee relationship. However, sparks fly. But both try to control the fire burning within them for each other.

Both don't have answers to the questions raised in their mind. Why are they feeling for each other?

Both Sarah and Lucas are committed in their own way.

What does fate or attraction or love have in store for them?
I liked the banter between both Sarah and Lucas. Both are attracted but still try to play it low.

The best character is Adam. I wish everyone has a friend like Adam in their lives to love, care and comfort in times of need and otherwise.

Good book
Profile Image for Jenny Writes.
1,304 reviews18 followers
February 2, 2023
Lucas Smith was the New boss in town. On the first day of his office, he met Sarah. He bumped into her in an elevator.

It was Sarah's first day of office after the death of her husband. She had a lot going on in her plate.

Both Lucas and Sarah got on a wrong foot in their very first meeting.

But love will find a way right?

This is the story about how Sarah and Lucas fall in love with one another.

It's a office rom com one has to die for. The ending was the most beautiful one I read so far.

The author penned the characters perfectly. Overall, it's my favorite romcom and I would recommend it to one and all.
113 reviews1 follower
September 30, 2022
book " Captured with love " was pick over the weekend. I absolutely loved the story and the characters in it.

The blurb of the book is " Sarah is a single mom and has her mother and son Philip who stay with her. She has a best friend Adam who absolutely adores her.

Her life was perfect but a disaster struck and it shattered her peaceful life and heart.

She never imagined to find the broken pieces or to be it whole again. However, a young boss was newly appointed into her office. He was rude and upfront. He never took no for an answer. They hated one another but in that dislike, there was some attraction.

An attraction they couldn't stop or control. What happens is a cozy romantic story which made me turn the pages in quick succession and I'm happy at the end.

A wholesome story and looking forward to read many more in the near future.
Profile Image for A. Claire Everward.
Author 4 books63 followers
December 14, 2022
This is a good story. An incredibly sweet story that I can actually see as a movie. It’s romantic, it’s spicy, it has a heartbreaking background and two characters who are slowly built into what they can be and then they find each other.
There were some elements in the book that I would have changed, if only because, they give the wrong message. Since it was already mentioned in other reviews, I won’t mention it again. It’s not the quality of the story, it’s things that in today’s world I wouldn’t give them approval. Without them, this story is a great office romance story.

Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.