This was a really fun read that I enjoyed. The storyline flowed well, the plot was interesting. It was a dark read but I do enjoy these darker reads sometimes.

This was one of those books that I picked up and kind of legit thought I was going to hate it. But funny enough I loved this one.... or two as it seems. I loved the characters and the spice and the story. It had great banter between the characters and the miscommunication thing didn't irritate me at all so that was nice. I think for this one it all fit the dark story and I can not wait for more from this author.

I absolutely love the concept of this story, especially with its two captivating Mafia romances!

Book 1:
The way the main characters meet is truly engaging, and the transformation of a life debt into marriage is brilliantly crafted. The development of their feelings and the depth of their relationship are expressed with clarity and finesse. I particularly enjoyed the MMC’s possessive and protective nature, showcasing his unwavering devotion from the very beginning. The moment he chooses his wife over his father? *Chef's kiss.* Plus, the cliffhanger ending leaves you eager for more!

Book 2:
The plot thickens with the unhinged, passionate brother abducting the enemy's daughter—now that’s what I call enemies-to-lovers! I appreciated how the MMC wrestles with his feelings, allowing readers to journey with him until his realization hits. His loyalty and obsession for the FMC are palpable; he wants to send her away, even after choosing her over his own brother.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Captive." If you’re a fan of Mafia romance, enemies-to-lovers, or captor/captive dynamics, this book is definitely for you!

Arc Review:
Overall Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Rating: 3 🔥🔥🔥

‘Captive’ is a 2-in-1 book with two connected stories about two ruthless brothers Angel and Omar Castillo, sons of the current leader of the Castillo cartel and their two stubborn captives Emma and Lyse. ‘Captive’ was originally released as two separate books the first book in the series was ‘Vicious Heir’ and the second book was ‘Brutal Enforcer’ from the ‘Castillo Cartel’ series, both books are dark mafia romances with strong and well written plots that are packed with emotions, spice, engaging characters, and some twist and turns.

‘Vicious Heir’
Tropes:
- Dark Mafia Romance
- Message Courier x Mafia Heir
- A Life Debt
- Kidnapping
- Forced Marriage
- Enemies To Lovers
- Controlling Alpha Male
- Spicy
- Dual POV

When Emma thought she was hired for a simple delivery of giving an envelope to a man named Angel, she has no idea that she is actually walking in on an attempt on his life. When shots are suddenly being fired at the club she’s supposed to make her delivery at she spots a gun aimed at this stranger and pushes him aside therefore saving the mafia heir, Angel Castillos life and now he owes her a life debt. Emma didn’t want to be anyone’s saviour she just wanted to heal after her mothers passing, but she atleast thought the man would be thankful she saved his life but he seems more mad at her then anything and how does he repay her by kidnapping her. Emma is now imprisoned while they do a background check to make sure she isn’t working for the enemy, when Emma’s background check comes back clean she thinks she’s free to go but now she’s a target. Angel is now forced to honour the life debt by his father, his father is forcing him to marry Emma this way she’s safe because no one would go after his wife or else it would be war plus it doubles as a punishment for Angel because he allowed a woman to save his life.
Emma learns very quickly that the man she saved is a very dangerous man, he threatens her life but yet she’s forced to marry him. Emma and Angel can’t deny their chemistry and as much as Angel tries to fight it he develops feelings for Emma all while Emma is trying her best to be a good wife as future matriarch of the family. As they both find themselves getting along and with their connection growing along with Emma getting pregnant some people aren’t so happy about their new found closeness and now danger is approaching. Can Emma and Angel survive? This story ends with a cliff hanger and picks back up in ‘Brutal Enforcer’.

‘Brutal Enforcer’
Tropes:
- Dark Mafia Romance
- Enforcer x Mafia Princess
- Rival Families
- Enemies To Lovers
- Arranged Marriage
- Kidnapping (Captive x Captor)
- Forced Proximity
- Innocent Fiery FMC x Brutal MMC Who’s Heart Awakens Only For Her
- Spicy
- Dual POV

Two mafia families have been battling with each other for years now and it’s resulted in the head of the Castillo family, Angel Castillo fighting for his life after an ambush. Angels wife Emma is pregnant and is not taking the news of her husband conditions well, Angel and Omar’s sister Lily is also concerned about Emma her blood pressure is unstable and that could seriously harm the baby. Omar is Angel’s brother, he’s also the enforcer of the family and is known as “The Beast”. Omar is looking for revenge on Angel’s behalf, and is now on a war path of chaos and destruction and Omar’s got one main target the Roja family. Omar makes his attack during the head of the Roja family’s daughter engagement party. The attack leaves a few members of the Roja family dead and if that wasn’t enough seeing he’s got the opportunity standing right in front of him, he kidnaps the head of the Roja family’s daughter, Lyse. Lyse has never had a choice in her own life, so when she was told her father had arranged a marriage for her with a man who was way older, she begged instead to become a nun and her father nearly killed her only reason she is still alive is because of her mothers begging. Now Omar has her locked up on his family’s island while he tries to negotiate with Lyses family and fiancé. Omar tells Lyse and her fiancé that if he doesn’t clean up the mess with the police in seven days then Lyse is as good as dead and to make sure everyone gets the message Omar ends up taking Lyse to the edge of the water we’re he drops her in he watches as she fights the water and tries not to drown but it’s no use Lyse can’t swim Omar is debating on whether or he’s going to save her but he can’t leave her he ends up rescuing her and then he takes her back to the house we’re he takes care of her. Omar’s feelings about Lyse start to change and he realizes that he actually feels a great lot for Lyse but she’s the enemies daughter how will he ever tell his brother Angel. But Omar’s not the only one who is having a change of heart. After Lyse discovers that her father is not bothered about his daughter being returned, and her fiancé also lost all interest in getting her back she comes to realize that she has been treated way better by Omar, his family and his staff then she’s ever been treated in her life then it hits her she thinks she could actually be in love with Omar. But the tension is still high between Lyse and Omar’s families, will these two ever get their happily ever after? You’ll just have to read this book and find out.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for letting me read an advanced readers copy of this book I really enjoyed my time reading it.

OH MY GOSH!! This was such a good mafia read. The fact that it was a two-in-one made it even better. The tropes are some of my all-time favourite and I really enjoyed the plot and writing style of this author. Emma saving Angel had me so giddy because I knew that it was going to get so good. Obsessed mafia men just do everything better. The ending had me shook, I'm so glad the second book was there and I didn't have to wait. because of that CLIFFHANGER!! SOOO GOOD. The second book would have to be my fave. A kidnapped MFC, a brother out for revenge, this had enemies to lovers and all of my fave mafia book tropes.

If you like:
- Dark Mafia Romance
- Enforcer x Mafia Princess
- Rival Families
- Enemies To Lovers
- Arranged Marriage
- Kidnapping
- Forced Proximity
- Controlling Alpha Male
- Spicy
- Dual POV

Give this a read:)

I enjoyed this duology so much. I requested because of the synopsis, and I was no disappointed. The author did a great job in both to keep it action pack on on your toes while delivering the spice that was just perfect! The chemistry alone will get you! I really enjoyed this, and I can't wait for more. It is all that you would expect and more in a dark mafia romance. I recommend this one to the romance lovers!

Thank you Net Galley ARC and Relay Publishing

The mafia romance duology "Captive" is over all a intriging, captivating and action-packed story.

There's defently some troupes I did'nt like in the "Vicious Heir", but can't really explain without spoilers ;)
The second part "Brutal Enforcer" was more up my ally. It's like a beauty and the beast retelling, with all the mafia romance you need. The chemistry and banter was defently better in this one.

Over all I liked the dark mafia romance story and the spice was spicy - and that's what you except.

Vicious Heir ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Brutal Enforcer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This is a mafia style book where he is a proper t**t and she is far too submissive. I didn't like it but I can see it being a favourite for many!

I received this book as an ARC.

I found the premise of the story interesting and the characters complex enough to keep the plot engaging. I really liked that it was a 2 for 1 story so we didn’t need to wait anything 😊

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Captive by Bella Ash is a dark and sultry dive into the brutal world of mafia romance. With a setup brimming with tension, betrayal, and high-stakes passion, it delivers on its promise of an enemies-to-lovers story that will satisfy fans of the genre. However, while the novel has its moments of intrigue and spice, it sometimes leans too heavily on tropes without fully exploring the emotional depth needed to elevate the story.

The dual POV structure is a strength, giving readers insight into both the fiery, innocent FMC (female main character) and the brooding, brutal MMC (male main character). Their perspectives provide an intimate look at their evolving dynamic, which starts with hostility and grudging respect and grows into undeniable attraction. The enemies-to-lovers arc is steamy, though at times the shift from hatred to passion feels abrupt, missing opportunities to build a more gradual and satisfying emotional connection.

The mafia backdrop is dark and gritty, setting the tone for the novel’s high-stakes drama. The themes of captivity and forced marriage add layers of tension, and Ash doesn’t shy away from exploring the power imbalances and moral gray areas that come with these tropes. However, while the premise is compelling, the world-building and motivations behind the rival families feel underdeveloped, leaving the larger stakes of the story somewhat murky.

The life debt and captive-vs-captor dynamic provide plenty of opportunities for heated exchanges and raw vulnerability. The FMC’s fiery personality contrasts well with the MMC’s cold, commanding demeanor, leading to some explosive interactions. That said, their character development often feels overshadowed by the spicy scenes, which, while engaging, could have been more impactful if paired with deeper emotional exploration.

While Captive embraces its darker elements, some readers may find the depiction of certain power dynamics unsettling. The forced marriage and kid****ing aspects are staples of dark romance, but their portrayal here feels more surface-level than nuanced, occasionally veering into uncomfortable territory without fully unpacking the emotional ramifications.

The pacing is uneven, with moments of intense action and passion interspersed with slower sections that feel repetitive. The rival families’ feud, a key plot point, lacks the detail and complexity needed to make it feel truly compelling.

Overall, Captive is a solid read for fans of dark, trope-heavy mafia romances who prioritize steamy chemistry over narrative depth. While it doesn’t break new ground in the genre, it delivers on its promises of spice and tension. Readers looking for a more nuanced exploration of the darker themes or fully fleshed-out world-building may find themselves wanting more, but those seeking a quick, intense escape into a dangerous and passionate world will likely enjoy this ride.

Captive by Bella Ash is a captivating and thought-provoking romance novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Its raw emotional intensity, complex characters, and exploration of darker themes make it a powerful and immersive read. While it may not be for everyone, it will undoubtedly resonate with readers who are drawn to intense, character-driven stories about survival, love, and personal transformation.

Two amazing books that hook you immediately. The first one introduces you the mafia family and a woman who ends up with a life debt for saving the leaders life. Little did she know what that would do to her life. The first book ends in a cliffhanger that you can read the second book to see what happens. A great set to read for anyone who loves suspense with strong alpha leads.

A spicy Mafia tale that's entertaining? YES! This book by Ash was enjoyable and I liked how it incorporated most of my favorite tropes. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thankyou to netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a review. I loved this companion series, this is two books in one and they are just brilliant. Two captive romances and mafia, couldn't ask for more. Highly recommend to anyone who loves mafia like myself.

I rounded up to a 4. It was a fun book but not exactly my style. It's spicy but the spice scenes move quickly. I also had a hard time finding chemistry beyond they thought the other was good looking. Although it wasn't for me, it was still entertaining and I enjoyed the pacing of the story. I think I would have liked it more if more things were more believable but I looked at it like a fantasy mob story and with that I can say it was appealing and entertaining. I also enjoyed the tropes like forced marriage so that also was a fun part of the book for me.