My brother’s death was no accident, and the last thing I want is protection from the same mafia boss whose turf war got him killed. But whether I like it or not, I’m now a pawn in this game…
USA Today bestselling author Livia Grant lives in Chicago with her husband and furry rescue dog named Max. She is fortunate to have been able to travel extensively and as much as she loves to visit places around the globe, the Midwest and its changing seasons will always be home. Livia's readers appreciate her riveting stories filled with deep, character driven plots, often spiced with elements of BDSM.
Wonderful story by Livia Grant! This story was gripping from page one and kept me reading intensely until the end! The feud between the Knights and the Bishops has been carried out for years. Matt was caught up in it and paid dearly. His sister Sophie is caught up in her grief, missing her brother so much, but the Nick sweeps in, keeping a promise to protect his best friends sister, and realizes she is a very grown woman. Captured Pawn was such a fabulous story, the characters were phenomenal, and very well written.
'Captured Pawn' by Livia Grant was a fast-paced read for me, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The story opens up with Sophie Locke at the cemetery for her brother Matt's funeral. When Nicholas, aka Nick Knight, Matt's best friend, arrives Sophie is anything but pleased to see him. She blames him and his family for the death of her brother. The graveside service is barely finished when bullets start flying. Rather than argue with Sophie about what needs to be done, she's thrown over his shoulder and they make it to the limo. Sophie believes he's kidnapping her. Nick has promised her brother he'd keep her safe. This isn't a hardcore mafia storyline but there is enough angst, drama, family secrets, and rivalry to make it exhilarating. Emotions are high, chemistry sizzles and the scenes are delectable. I'm hoping this is the beginning of at least a duet and we get Nick's brother's story next.
This was a refreshing read, with plenty of drama and spice as a bonus. Sophie has been through a lot, and I do like heroines to have a backbone and some fight in them, which she has in spades. There's some excellent dialogue between her and the hero. Nick is self-assured, confident, and he takes all elements of his business - including Sophie - seriously. A fabulous read to pass a few hours. Highly recommended!
The first book in a new Mafia series. I am not a huge fan of the genre but I liked this book. It is not really hardcore mafia or dark, it is more of a familiy vete.
I liked the fact that Sophie was smart, talented and very capable. She was better then Nick, who also acknowledges that and was in awe of her. It was good to see that Nick took her serious.
I did feel the ending was a bit rushed. They had a few intense days together with a lot of issues to resolve and nothing really got dealt with.
I really enjoyed this first book in this new series by Livia and it was great that it wasn’t as dark as I have read before but it still held the suspense and intrigue that you can expect from the darker books.. Sophie has just lost her big brother in tragic circumstances but when she is taken by mafia boss and her brothers best friend Nick Knight, but Sophie won’t go with out a fight.. Nick will do anything to keep his best friends sister safe even kidnap her from the funeral when his enemies the Bishops come to get Sophie, but Sophie is no longer the little sister he remembers and the chemistry between them is combustible. This book for me was hard to put down and with the twists and turns and the unexpected I definitely can’t wait to read the next book.
I really love Crime and Mobster Romance and this falls into that category. Also there is little bit of BDSM as the h gets tied up and there is some spanking, there is not a lot BDSM but it is in the story. The basic trope is Sister of Best Friend and I like that. There is a lot of action and there is danger and there is a nice amount of smutty goings on too, I like smutt and if there wasn’t any smutt to speak of I would be disappointed and not give it 5 stars, so you know that there is some smutty stuff going on 😂. There is an HEA and at the end there is a teaser for the sequel and it will have the H’s brother, I am looking forward to it.
I do like surprises! Especially if it is a book by Livia Grant and the first in a series. There's that promise of more... This story is set in the Mafia world, but on the... well, lets call it 'the half-legal-fringe'. All the requisite good guys and bad guys are there, in minute detail!!! And boy, some of the details!! But the central theme for me, is the thin line between good and bad, black and white, right and wrong. And how blurry that line gets in the right - or wrong - circumstances. Can't wait for the other brother.
I like Sophie a lot. She was smart and stubborn. She loved her brother a lot. She's also very resourceful. She manages to escape a couple of time, even if she didn't get very far. And frankly, Nick would've been SOL without her.
Nick seemed a little overwhelmed by Sophie sometimes. He knew what needed to be done, but he just wasn't necessarily ready for a grownup Sophie.
So hard to put down!! Nick and Sophie’s story was compelling, and I’m hoping to see more from this world. Their story takes you on a wild ride. Edge of your seat, fanning yourself, totally absorbed in the twists, and not knowing what will happen next. Fast paced and oh so enjoyable!!
Sophie's brother is dead and Nicholas swore to protect Sophie as a clash of wills and spankings later, she still fights, she shows she's got skills usefull to their goals. Mia Bishop is next for their revenge.
This is the beginning of a new mafia series set in Rhode Island, centering on two rival families whose animosity goes back decades. Here we get Sophie and Nick: he the mafioso who inadvertently got her brother killed; she the innocent pawn he kidnaps to save her from her sibling's fate. Will the hardened criminal and law-abiding locksmith give in to their mutual attraction or will secrets and guilt come between them?
I sort of liked this book -- particularly the fact that it wasn't that "dark." It's true that Nick does hold her against her will and beat her because, I don't know, I guess that's easier than simply communicating honestly with her? But, he doesn't really harm her; he doesn't rape her; and he truly does want what's best for her. For me, this was a relief since I'm not a fan of "dark," but others might be disappointed.
I particularly appreciated three aspects. First, Sophie was brave, intelligent, and skilled. In fact, unusually for this genre, she was much more capable than Nick; to his credit, he respected that. Second, the narrative acknowledges what has always bothered me about these mafia-lite books: the ludicrous distinctions between "good" and "bad" criminals. Finally, the narrative acknowledges what has always bothered me about the Kidnapping Trope: that the kidnapper feels that his victim has no right to be upset and angry ("Yeah, well, I’m sorry. I don’t know what the proper etiquette is when being kidnapped").
Ultimately, though, I felt that the story was unfinished. I know it's the first in the series so I'm not bothered by the fact that certain lines of action aren't resolved; rather, I felt that little was resolved between Nick and Sophie. They had real, organic conflicts to overcome and yet all that had bothered them throughout the entire book is just swept under the rug at the end. I didn't feel that they worked anything out; rather, they simply decided to ignore their differences.
3 1/2 stars. The next book features Nick's brother. That looks darker, particularly for those of us who spend time around 18 year olds and know that legally they may be adults, but emotionally and often physically they are not. Note: You do have to suspend a lot of disbelief regarding Sophie's behavior just after she buried her brother, but compressed timelines are impossible to avoid in these generic books.
**3.5 stars** I’m an avid reader of Ms. Grant’s work. I enjoy her plots and characters. This is the first time she is writing a mafia story. For me it was lite on the mafia spectrum. There was no clear understanding of the hatred between the Knight and Bishop Families, maybe in the next book it will become more apparent. The men talked more like undercover cops that mafia guys. Plus they had loose lips and that’s a big no no in that type of world. I liked Nicholas and Sophie. Sophie is beautiful but also strong willed and very smart. That made her able to standup to the hardships of her life. She’s also brave and courageous. I appreciate that she need not bend over backwards for Nick. But fought has hard as she could to get out of her predicament and stayed sassy and feisty. Nick is head of the illegal side of his family’s business. He takes care and manages the mafia side of things. While he supposed to be dangerous that part of him never shows in the story. The reader gets his likes and kinks in the bedroom, which was hot btw but we never get to see his bad boy side. I appreciated the fact when he found himself over his head he let Sophie take the reins because that was her department of expertise. Their physical interactions are sexy and steamy. But the love part was a bit quick for me. I wish there was more development there. An intriguing start to Ms. Grant’s new series. Looking forward to Nathan’s book.
I didn't realise when I started reading this book, but this is actually book 1 in a new series, and it's the first time I've read a mafia story from this author. Honestly, the dark romance/mafia stories appeal to me less and less so I was pleased when this turned out to be more mafia 'light'. There was acknowledgement that Nick was mafia and involved in criminal activities, but there wasn't the menace and harshness that a lot of mafia stories have. Depending on your preference this may be good or bad. I liked it. I loved the interaction between Sophie and Nick and that she didn't back down to him. Loved that she was skilled and as a result was ultimately more valuable than other characters. There were just a few things that didn't work for me. Firstly, at one point in the story they enter a building and there is a range of sex toys on the kitchen bench. Now, I'm all for sex positivity and de-stigmatising sex toys and their use, but the kitchen bench??!! It also didn't add anything to the story and I found the scene very jarring. Secondly, it ended abruptly. I'd been reading and enjoying the story and kept noticing the end getting closer and closer knowing that there were a multitude of obstacles that had been raised but not resolved in the story. Then it just ended in a whirl of sex fixing everything. I was pleased with the HEA but feel shortchanged. Overall, I liked this book and the characters and would quite happily read book 2.
Although I always enjoy all of Livia Grant’s work, this is one of the first times she has had me chuckling within the first few pages. But then, she just as easily takes Nick and Sophie into very robust and stern acts of discipline. I am not sure which I enjoyed more!
Sophie is a strong, independent and thoroughly sassy young woman who owns and runs a Security Company. She has just been forced to bury her loving brother, Matty. Nicholas is a partner in a shady corporation. He had promised Sophie’s dead brother to care for and protect her when necessary. Because of a feud with a rival gang, it is imperative that Nicholas take Sophie to his compound to keep her safe. At first she is angry until she is asked to help retrieve stolen documents and they get to know each other better. Will she work with Nick to complete this task?
I am finding it difficult to use my words to describe Livia’s entrancing words and ideas. This story is extremely alluring and totally captivating. I loved every single interaction between Sophie and Nick, and I HIGHLY recommend this book. Read it and enjoy.
I liked that Sophie had a skill set and was intelligent. She was a little over the top emotionally to me. I could understand her being upset, in pain, and confused about what was going on with Matt.
I hate it when the h lashes out at people with barely contained emotion. Slow your roll and try to find out what is going on before you start attacking people.
Sophie and Nick did have rather explosive chemistry, but I liked the part of the book when Sophie started to chill. I thought she and Nick worked well together. I also liked the way she handled herself with Angela.
The beginning of the book started out shaky for me, but morphed into a level of smoothness as Sophie found her footing. I also thought the secrets revealed were pretty interesting. I am looking forward to Nathan's story. I would give this 3.75 stars.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
A riveting read, loved the character interactions and the scenario, riveting read This was a splendid read I loved the interaction of the characters and the actual scenario of this simply riveting read, I guarantee that like me once you begin reading you will not be able to put this book down. Nick has been responsible for keeping his best friend’s sister Sophie safe, he has always been quietly interested in her but has kept well away however, when he is forced to put his foot down he is surprised at the fight she puts up to get away from him. Nick acknowledges her strength and fight and the interaction and the relationship between them grows you will fionid yourself rooting for these characters. I assure you that you will love every moment of this book it is simply a fantastic read. I voluntarily received and review an Advanced Reader Copy I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the great writing.
“How she had gotten under my skin, I had no idea.”
First let me say, the blurb is very misleading. This is not a dark mafia romance. It’s more of a mafia suspense romance. There was a real plot with lots of action and despite Nick being a sadist, he wasn’t as intense as I expected.
I really enjoyed the story. Sophie was very feisty. She and Nick had great chemistry and were totally believable together. My only real complaint is that it was kind of short. I would have liked to see more of their relationship growing.
The Epilogue is actually a sneak peek of the next book, Knight Takes Bishop, which is going to be Nathan’s story. I love the play on words and predict it will have even more action than this book did. Also, Nathan is a much more intense man than younger brother Nick. He very much needs to be humbled by love and the right woman. I can’t wait!
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Is there any genre this author can’t write? When I heard she was going to write a Mafia style story I just couldn’t wait to read it! And boy was it worth the wait! Nick and Sophie’s story was full of intrigue, suspense, lust and even quite possibly love. Both these characters worked their way deep into my heart. Nick is committed to taking care of Sophie because of an oath he took. But never expected her to be the sassy spitfire that she is. She is full of fire and that’s what I loved most about her. When she meets Nick, she wasn’t sure what to make of him. He’s all alpha and so very sexy and dominant. Could she handle a man like him? Only time will tell.
This story will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions of which you will never want to get off. Their chemistry and scenes are so sizzling my kindle about burst into flames! Everyone needs this story in their life!!
This is a new series from Livia Grant - the Knights of Rhode Island against the Bishop family should be very interesting!!! Sophie Locke's her brother Matty in a car accident. Unbeknownst to her he was embroiled with the Knight family and their side business when she is taken from the cemetery . Sparks fly the moment they meet and keep them focused on attaining their common goal. Together they are powerful but will circumstances tear them apart? Dramatic, suspenseful story with the perfect mount of angst that will keep you guessing until the end. I loved Nick and Sophie's characters and a glimpse of Nathan Knight has me intrigued on what's next for this fierce family! I volunteered to review this story.
Livia Grant’s Captured Pawn was a nice drop to my kindle. I love a good mafia romance and, as I’ve come to expect from Ms. Grant’s stories, she manages to give us two entertaining characters placed in difficult circumstances and makes them flourish. Of course, it helps that these two have good chemistry and the underlying story really makes for good entertainment. I really like Nick. He a good mix of slightly dark and tortured, which always works well for me. At times, I wasn’t as enamored of Sophie, but at the same time, I could understand her actions and need to fight him while still grieving for the loss of her brother. With the overall story arc left a bit open, I’m excited to see how that continues. Fun, entertaining read.
Sophie Locke was a woman who just lost her brother to a car accident while he was working for his best friend, a member of a Mafia family. She resented that Nick Knight even came to his funeral, blaming him for Matty's death...but Nick had promised her brother to take care of her, if something happened to him...Sophie didn't agree, escaping when Nick "kidnapped" her to his estate...and wouldn't let her go until he knew she wasn't in danger...but a rival is threatening the Knights, and though they do some illegal transactions, no drugs like the Bishop's...but can Sophie believe Nick and find out who set her brother up??? You will need to read this story to see what happens...I voluntarily read this book through an Advanced Reader Copy.
I loved this story, it had a little of everything. Family, sorrow, intrigue, secrets, promises, sizzling scenes, a sassy heroine who was so strong even when she was at her most vulnerable and who has a valuable skill set as well as a sexy hero who knew how to dominate her. There is also a brother who seemingly is cold and distant, but who loves his brother and admires Sophie’s spitfire attitude. The story has several elements including death, betrayal, revenge, an intro to BDSM, safe cracking, and of course a happy ending as well as a teaser into the next book which looks to be as exciting as Captured Pawn.
We meet Sophie at her brothers graveside. When Nicholas Knight, the man whose family she deems responsible for Matts death, shows up she is not impressed. She is less impressed by his pledge to “take care of her”. But when bullets fly from the Bishop contingent, she finds herself sequestered at the Knight Compound.
Nick needs to keep Sophie safe, and find a mole in his organization. Sophie wants to get back to her family security business, as she is the only family left to run it. Danger, intrigue, and surprising revelations make for an interesting story.
***** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book *****
Sophie is mourning her brother's death when she sees Nick at the funeral. She blames Nick for her brother's death as he worked for Nick's criminal enterprise. But Nick had promised Matt that he would look after Sophie, and she has become a target for his enemies. He takes Sophie home with him for her safety but she keeps trying to escape.Nick realises that she is no longer a little girl while he is punishing her for her escape events. Will Sophie forgive him?
I loved this story and I don't normally like mafia style stories.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sophie's brother has died and as soon as he is buried, Nick whisks her away against her will. Nick believes he is protecting her but Sophie wants no part of it. And the battle of wills begin. This is relatively quick read and the emotions run the gamut from anger, hate, distrust to attraction, trust and ultimately love. Sophie is a sassy spitfire and it seems to get her into trouble more often than not. Nick is aloof and private but determined in his goal to protect the sister of his best friend. A very enjoyable read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A new author for me. This is a decent mafia read. Fast paced and compelling. I wouldn’t have minded a few more pages but it was a decent length. This story revolves around Sophie and Nick. Sophie is Matt’s sister - Nick’s best friend. Nick is a bit not exactly likeable - he’s overly domineering and mercurial. Nick is shocked that Sophie put’s up a good fight when he tries to manhandle her. Nick looks at her with some respect for her creativity and tenacity. When her brother, Matt dies, we learn a lot more about their relationship and what’s going on although I did have several questions at the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I loved this story! Sophie is a strong, independent character who has dealt with a lot of crap in her life, the most recent is the loss of her brother. Nick is the one she blames for her current heartbreak, and she's not about to give him any breaks just because Nick was her brothers best friend. She knows him too well and her anger is all consuming. There's a fine line between love and hate, though, and the chemistry between these two can't be denied. This is a dangerous world, and Nick will do what he can to keep Sophie safe, but that doesn't include keeping her safe from him. Their love story is explosive, their chemistry is electrifying, and their passion is hot enough to burn.
Loved the intensity. Sophie is a spitfire to Nick's aloof persona. He's also got a sense of humor, including his HR threat. They will have to team up to start to erase a threat to both their families and the awe that he has when she shows her specialty is wonderful. She's also very brave, standing up to Nick and his brother, especially at the pool, she open's Nick's eyes to things he had not considered. It's an explosive read and pulse wrenching for sure. I love this couple.
Another amazing book by Livia Grant Captured Pawn is Nick and Sophie’s story Nick lost his best friend Matt ho was also like a brother to him. He promised Matt that he would take care and protect his little sister Sophie. Sophie was at the cemetery saying goodbye to her brother and as she was leaving she ran into the man she accused of killing her brother. Nick kidnaps Sophie for her protection and she fights him every step of the way. I won’t give anything away but all the mayhem and chaos that sounds them will want you turning page after page.
Sophie is grieving her brother Matty's death, Nick is his best friend who promised to look after her. For her own safety, he whisks her away from the cemetery to the sound of gunfire. The Knight's have been in a long standing feud with the Bishops. Unbeknownst to Sophie--her family has long been part of the Knight's organization. This tale takes you through emotions, battles, heat, and violence--and it grips you to see what the outcome is. Love it, love the characters, and cannot wait for the next one--foundation laid in the epilogue. Another great read from Ms. Grant!