Declan: Captured Series Book One

by A. Riebold

Cassie Baker grew up having a shitty life. The only reprieve being her high school boyfriend that ghosted her right before graduation. Now almost three years later, she's moved on, but her shit luck has continued. Now she's homeless and without a job when she runs into a hot stranger in a bar she doesn't realize is there for her...

Declan Walsh is the lead of the Irish Mafia in Boston when he's approached by someone with a debt they aren't willing to pay. They are willing, however, to offer him their stepdaughter as payment. He just never expected to have a connection with her right away, or that his brother already knows her...

'Everything you want in one book. The hot guys, an incredible woman, I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down.' Heather D.

‘This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you mutter the phrase at the end of every chapter, “just one more chapter.”’ Jen T.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance

279 pages, ebook

First published October 31, 2022

Reviews

[Caryn Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great storyline mafia romance! Hooks you right from the beginning. Strong female character. Definitely worth the time, couldn’t decide which character I loved the most or was cheering for the most! Impatiently waiting the next installment 😄

[Sonja Huyser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This bookjust blew me away. My first read for this author and just...WOW...could not get enough, was even mad at myself for finishing the book...awesome plot, Hot and spicy, why choose, badass chick, emotional and heartwarming...all this in 1 book...In my to mafia books ever.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Ash for this ARC!! This is the 2nd book I have read by her and I have loved both of them.
A bad ass FMC is always a fav for me and Cassie is definitely that! Declan is a mafia why choose romance… yes please!!
The men.. 2 brothers and a bodyguard 🥵. There is no ⚔️. It’s a forced proximity and praise kink.
Cassie’s step dad owes the mafia a lot of money and he makes a deal with them. Cassie is his payment. But there is a past connection between Cassie and one of the brothers.
Always check TWs! If you like mafia and why choose I highly recommend this book and the spice is so good!!
5/5🌶
5/5⭐️

[Kolleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

FMC: Cassandra Baker
MMC: Declan Walsh
MMC: Patrick Walsh
MMC: Lucas

5 Star Review
4 Spice

I started this book and finished in less than a day. I could not put it down. The is a why choose mafia romance. This is NOT a slow burn. We get right into it and I loved it.

Starts off with a strong FMC who ends up having a 1 night stand. Unbeknownst to her the 1 night stand is with her ex-boyfriends brother who is also the head of the Irish mafia. She runs into both of them at her new job at a night club he owns. We come to find out she is the center of a mafia war. This has a great plot, character development and spice. The relationship between FMC and MMC Declan is an insta-love feel.

This is an incomplete series.

Book 1 leaves off with a cliffhanger so be ready. I will absolutely read the entire series. OBSESSED!


CHECK TRIGGERS

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking for a story with a fantastic plot, easy to follow, and to completely lose yourself in… this is the book for you. I could not pry myself away from this book. The spice level was phenomenal, but it was the way the characters just grab you that makes you want to keep reading. I cannot tell you how excited I am for book two. I’m still in a book rut trying to find something that compares to this.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of reading this book. ITS SO GOOD. The plot thickens, the writing is clean.The dynamic between the two brothers and Cassie and Luke is SPICY 🌶️ 10/10 would recommend. I read this book in 2 days! I can’t wait to see where the author takes this series!

[Alysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I loved this book so so much! I'm not normally a dark romance girly but this might be the beginning of a very long journey! I am so excited for the next book and can't wait to see how the story progresses!!!!

[Karrie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything that you could ever want. It has spice, drama, and mafia. If you like strong men and even stronger woman, this is the book you want to read.

[Sabrina Eubanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes:

💜💜💜Why Choose
🖤🖤🖤Second Chance Romance
💜💜💜Sassy Heroine
🖤🖤🖤Mafia Romance
💜💜💜'Touch Her and Die' Vibes
🌶️🌶️🌶️Spicy Times Are 🔥🔥🔥

FMC: Cassandra 'Cassie' Baker
MMCs: Declan and Patrick Walsh (brothers), Lucas Gallagher (bodyguard)

Imma do my best NOT to put in spoilers but I really, really enjoyed this book!

It starts off with our Heroine, Cassie, working as an exotic dancer and just trying to make ends meet. She loses her job because of her creeper stepfather (I say he deserved what he got but that's me...) and that's just the start of her bad night.

To make matters worse, she loses her apartment and then her stepfather makes a deal with the Irish Mafia to give an unsuspecting Cassie over as repayment for his gambling debts.

But this deal leads Cassie down the path to not only her past but her future as well. There are some crazy twists and turns along the way, but if you just hang on for the ride, I know you'll love it (even with the cliffy at the end!)

Just remember to mind the triggers and keep in mind that this is NOT a slow burn, so if that's your thing you should probably skip this one. I personally like mine as a medium burn (I'm too impatient for a slow burn haha) but this fast burn had me hooked from the jump!

Can't wait for book two!!!

[A. King · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even reading an accent makes this reader's heart go pitter patter! I probably shouldn't judge a book based on that, but if I'm being honest, putting it in there is just one more tidbit that makes it *good*. Just my opinion of course, but if someone is from somewhere, they ought to sound like it, right? Right!

This is probably one of the best mafia stories I've read lately, and I've read quite a few. When "the boss" comes in to take over and meets a sassy, sweet hearted woman who somehow manages to throw him for a loop, we all know we're going to root for him to win her over in the end.

Even if he goes about it the WRONG WAY ENTIRELY.

I feel like this is something that gives us a reason to see it as believable. because not everyone is going to know how to win a woman over. Not without being a mind reader. For as simple as we feel like we are, we're also very complex. We want freedom, but we want to feel safe too. We want to feel powerful, but a powerful man at our back is also very... very enticing.

Can Declan win Cassie over by being what she needs or is he going to bulldoze her over in all his mafia glory? ;) Wait and see!

[Dara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite my low rating, I do really enjoy the idea of the plot. The story was paced well and I liked how all of the characters grew throughout the book. However, it could use some editing, okay… a lot of editing. I can overlook small mistakes and it won’t affect my rating too much, if at all but, it got to be so noticeable I was like what did I just read? and had to go back and read it again to understand what they actually meant to say. The point still hits so overall it’s fine. The beginning was a bit of a challenge though.

So you might be thinking, why did you keep reading? Well, the plot was actually good, that’s why. Also, I’m a sucker for a why choose mafia romance, what can I say.

The FMC was so good, love her!!! Cassie knew exactly what she wanted and wasn’t going to let anyone tell her differently. She was easy to get attached to and makes you really want her to have the world. Her sass to everyone is so funny and really lightens it up.

Cassie and Lucas’s relationship is my favorite! Declan and Patrick say some questionable things but I guess they’re okay too..

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ash has made me cry, yet again. I will hands down, SHOUT from the roof tops: This is how you write a damn book! I am attached to her characters, i am drawn in from the beginning, devouring these books in 1 sitting because i can't put them down! (unless i have to sleep....but what is sleep?) If you love a good plot, amazing character development, and ALL the emotional rollercoasters you could imagine, read her books.

Declan: Mafia, MMMF, Why Choose... Spice, a plot that will rip your heart out, and an ending that will leaving you with your jaw to the floor...

[Zen · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Declan came home from Ireland to take over the family business, never in his wildest dream would he have thought that a sassy, independent, and emotionally unavailable woman would break through his walls.

Alone and doing the best she can, Cassie is a no-nonsense, tough-as-nails woman who is barely 21! She has had a rough go at life with her mother dying, a horrible stepfather, and the love of her life disappearing.

Little does Cassie know that Declan plans to make her his. She can go willingly, or Declan may do what he wants and take her!

[Niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

She is having a crappy day and it only seems to get worst the long it goes on. When she heads to the bar to drink her troubles away at least for a little while the last thing she expects to find is a hot guy that follows her the the bathroom. He is also the last person she expects to see as the owner of the new bar she is working at, and especially does not expect to find out that his brother is the one that ghosted her. This is a 3 book series, so this does end in a cliff hanger.

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

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Cassie thought losing her exotic dancer job was the worst that could happen just wait till she finds put her atepfathers sold her to Declan tp pay his gambling debts off akd it brings her face to face with her past in Patrick, Declans brother, as well as bodyguard Lucas, and this is just the beginning! Well written steamy hot, ajd that cliffy has you wanting more!.

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

[Eli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had no idea this was part of a series when I first picked it up, but I'm glad it is!
Cassie is a lucky lady. The brothers adore her and worship her, but of course, the Bratva always has hiccups.
Her past and present collide to create a trio that dreams are made of.
But Miki may be known to ruin dreams....
Totally recommend this book! If you love bratva and mafia and RH, this will be totally up your alley!

[c_g.77 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great Mafia Romance

I really liked this. It was a quick easy read. The story is a typical Mafia romance plot line. It wasn’t over the top. Declan is hot. I wasn’t madly in love with this book but you really can’t go wrong with it. It’s a delicious appetizer for more that I’m sure will come.

[Amy H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first book

I was sucked into this story from the beginning. I love the FMC. She is strong and has survived a lot on her own. I also love that while being tough she doesn’t lose the feminine qualities like some characters do. The men in the story are amazing. They each offer something different. The story and plot had me guessing the entire time. Book 2 here I come!

[Brittany Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5⭐️

I enjoyed the book. Some parts could have been a bit better (jumping from prospective to prospective, it lost me a little bit from time to time and I had to go back and reread a few pages), but overall it’s a good read. If you enjoy mafia boss romances, give it a shot.

[Mati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book and an ARC after reading it in Kindle Vella and even reading it the second time with the updates it was so good !!! The chemistry 👏🏻, the spicy🌶️ and the plot 🤩all 5 stars can’t wait for the rest of this series!

[Heather Angeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

This man…. If I can have a version of him for myself! Even though he may be otherwise “engaged” to a horrible woman, he finds Cassie… while not the most conventional way but it’s a shock to his system and vows to do everything he can to keep her!

[brenda hurley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book I kept turning the pages. It was well written and i loved the characters. I can't wait to read more from this author and I recommend this book.

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

[Mattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much!! I could not put it down! I read it in 3 hours! It had me so captivated and I am still hooked! I'm already ready for the next book!

[Kelli Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. Loved the characters flew through the book.

[Jessica Maag · Rating 5 out of 5]

the spice!!!!

Mafia ✅
Spice ✅
Plot ✅
Why Choose ✅
Badass female main character ✅

A quick and fast paced read that is well written and deliciously spicy!

[Loves2 Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a good why choose mafia book. Liked the cliffhanger

[Valentina 🦋 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️