Captivated

Out of Darkness #1

by Brittany Cournoyer

Ethan Fletcher’s a rising star in the modeling industry, and after landing an ad on a billboard, things were looking up for him. From the outside looking in, he was living his best possible life. No one knows the struggles Ethan faced, or that every night he removed the carefully constructed mask he had to slip on just to face the outside world. However, the camera wasn’t the only thing in love with Ethan’s face.

When the gifts started to arrive, they seemed innocent enough. But, the attention from the fan who called himself The Suitor had Ethan on edge, and when someone important in Ethan’s life goes missing, he knows it’s no coincidence. Receiving no help from the local police, Ethan seeks comfort from a very unlikely source. Together, they find themselves in a race against time to catch The Suitor before Ethan becomes his next victim.

Captivated is book 1 in the Out of Darkness series. It talks about stalking, kidnapping, murder, and mental illness. Captivated ends with a happy for now and is a continuing series. This book is an extremely slow burn with a romance that progresses throughout the series.

Genres: M M Romance, Suspense, Slow Burn, Mystery, Mental Health, Abuse, LGBT

216 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2019

Reviews

[Skirmish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Reaction: https://neverhollowed.com/2019/11/29/...
Rating: 4.5 Stars – perfection is only half a step away

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Well Miss Brittany pulled no punches right from the start in this series and it’s a job well done. What a thriller. It kept you pulled in once you got going and you can’t put it down once you get started. It took just a bit to get started, for me, but like I said, once the ball got rolling, it didn’t stop. A great job.
Triggers, peeps. Kidnapping, murder, stalking, manipulations such as blackmail, beatings, torture,etc. This is not your happy, happy every day average romance. Please be careful.
Ethan has a very hard time with crowds. All he wants to do is get this modeling job done so he can go home and decompress. Things from his past cause him to have severe anxiety and he needs peace and quiet. But it’s hard to get done on time when one of his ‘ co-workers’ can’t get to the job on time. But once he finally gets home, he starts to unwind. Until he gets an unexpected surprise. A huge bouquet of flowers and a very expensive box of candy, with a weird note. Well, the flowers are getting to him and the chocolates he can’t really eat in his line of work, so in the garbage they go. Soon, he gets another unexpected surprise. Ridiculously expensive shoes, that he will never wear. With an even weirder note that is freaking him out. His gets his agent to get rid of the shoes, but now his agent is gone as well. When he calls his co-worker to see if he’s heard from her, it’s time to go to the police. But the police aren’t doing their job. Or this officer isn’t. More and more things are happening to Ethan and his agent is still missing. He’s found a friend in his co-worker, X, and they are trying to get to the bottom. They finally get a police officer who is really doing his job, but it now may be too late. For his agent and maybe himself and X.
You know, having a fear of going outside and being around people is bad enough, but when you have a nut job stalking you, it tends to make life a whole hell of a lot harder. Poor Ethan. He didn’t have any which way to turn. The good thing about all this, is the one person he thought he couldn’t stand or deal with, has actually become a very good friend and helper. With all Ethan is dealing with, he definitely can use a friend. This stalker dude is nutso with a capital N. And with his fingers in so many pies, Ethan has no idea who he can trust or not. He even at one point suspected X. But fear can make you see things and not trust even more so, so I don’t blame the poor guy one damn bit. I don’t think I would have been as nice as Ethan was.
I love how Brittany played The Suitor off, as well. Oh my gah. You don’t even get to know the guy’s name until the very end. He’s a very mysterious dude that everyone seems to fear, because they know what he’s capable of. And that’s another thing. You just think he’s this weirdo stalker, until things start escalating, and then you never quite know what that wacko is going to do. I love it. It keeps you on your toes. It makes the book so much more enjoyable.
I cannot wait to see how this is going to go in the next book. Ethan has got a rough road ahead of him, along with trying to deal with his past to move forward. It won’t be an easy journey, but I am very much looking forward to seeing which way it will go.
A great start to this series. You guys will love it.
http://lovebytesreviews.com/

[Amy Dufera - Amy's MM Romance Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to feel creeped out, read Brittany Cournoyer's Captivated now! Seriously, this is one riveting story that has to be read in one sitting.

In a stellar writing move, the author calls the stalker "the suitor" instead of giving him a name. This completely ups the creepy factor. To say that "the suitor" is one twisted and messed up person is an understatement.

The writing style in general is amazing, with a non-stop pace, and alluring development. The mystery, obsession, and thriller aspects are phenomenal, keeping one intrigued throughout.

There's no romance yet as it's only a developing friendship in this book. As for that friendship, it is beautifully done, with two men who start as enemies and slowly become each other's only support. The author does a perfect job of letting us get to know these two men slowly, and bringing them together.

One notable thing about this story is that as creepy as it is, the gory details are off page. They are there though, and the author doesn't hesitate to upset the reader at all.

As for the ending, it's a happy for now one that leaves me dreading what's gonna happen next. There's no way this author will go from this type of start to a fairytale second book. Yikes. I'm dreading it as much as I'm looking forward to it.

[Mirjam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a real captivated, creepy story. It will pull you in, full force and you will not be able to put it down until you're finished.

When The Suitor sees Ethan's underwear billboard he decides that Ethan is his model and he will have him, soon and sets out to woo his model with expense gifts, delivered anonymously at his door. The Suitor is getting more and more sinister, by upping his ploy horribly and involving people close to Ethan.
With The Suitor's horrendous actions, Ethan and fellow model X grow closer, especially when X starts to understand that there is more to Ethan and his agoraphobia must be a result from his childhood.






The epilogue can be a bit confusing, but I expect we will know more in the next instalment of this series.
This is not a typically romance with a HEA, it has an open ending and I can't wait to see where it's gonna take us! When is the next book due?



Part of the Out of Darkness that must be read in order:

[John Altman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captivated! (OoD Book 1)

Total Rating: 2.8 Stars out of 5
Rating Review Rollout:
(1) Attention Keeper: 3.5 🌟🌟🌟🌙
(2) Digging deep in Character Development: 2.5 🌑🌑🌙
(3) Danger-Drama-Friction-Suspense Fulfillment?: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(4) Edit to Perfection!: 2 🌑🌑
(5) Feeling the Words: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(6) Give me more please factor: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(7) Going with the Flow of the Story: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(8) Grammar Police: 2 🌑🌑
(9) It's all about the Chemistry, baby: N/A
(10) Laugh out loud funny: N/A
(11) Love connection: N/A
(12) Main characters appeal: 2.5 🌑🌑🌙
(13) Plot Worthy: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(14) Show me Entertainment: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(15) Super-Duper-Natural feels: N/A
(16) The Writing speaks for itself: 3 🌟🌟🌟
(17) The Wrap Up of all loose ends in a tidy bow: N/A
(18) Too sexy for my shirt kinda sex: N/A

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

So let me start by saying this book isn’t for the faint of heart or anyone who could be triggered by intense descriptions of anxiety.

The writing in this book is so intense and so well done that I almost felt like I had to stop but then I couldn’t think of putting it down! The writer does such a good job with Ethan and describing his feelings, emotions and anxiety that I felt like I was experiencing them! It was truly wonderful, in depth writing. You can just feel his sense of hopelessness and loss of control and ache for him.

Getting perspective from The Suitor’s POV puts you right in the mind of a sociopath and it’s creepy as hell.

The story is clever and creepy and suspenseful and unfortunately not wrapped up here. It ends on a sort of cliffhanger and I will definitely be reading the next book to see what comes next.

This is not your typical romance as there is zero romance involved. There is the slow formation of a friendship. I guess this would be an example of a really slow burn romance.

I highly book as long as your aren’t squeamish and reading about anxiety is not a trigger for you.

[caroline wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good😀


I received this book by the author and This is my honest opinion.
I've got to say, this is an author that although I've only read 2 books of hers has become a firm lookout read. I love the thrillerness style of this book. Obsession, jealousy, and a man who would do anything to get his hands on the thing he wants and doesn't hold back on preconceived slights from those surrounding his object of desire. We have a model who has his own issues that enquires the help of another model who's his competition to help find his agent who is gone missing. They fall into the sight of the depraved obsessed mind of the suitor.
It was kind of dark and had you on the edge of your seat as the author portrayed what it's like to be the mouse of a sadistic obsessed person as well as giving us insight into said person. Good mystery thriller which just flowed off the page and well developed charactes.

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

dark.. suspenseful.. amazing.. freaky at times.. and all together just an amazing read! this one is a slow burn.. but holy hell the suspense makes up for it.. it was fast paced and the action was wonderful. i loved this!

[Jayne {aka cupcakesandbookshelves} · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was first read from Brittany and it sure won't be my last because Captivated was dark, edgy, full of suspense that definitely scared me at times.... just how I like my books. Man, it was creepy and intense. I LOVED IT.

*Copy kindly given in exchange for an honest review, thank you so much*

[Karolina Cebula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review in English and Polish || Recenzja po angielsku i polsku

*4,5 - 5 stars*
Ethan Fletcher is a promising male model, but only his best friend, who works as his agent, knows that he's struggling with anxiety that doesn't make his life the easiest one. And that is the reason why when Ethan starts to receive some expensive gifts from someone who calls themselves The Suitor, and they are delivered straight to his home, he's terrified and worried that his admirer can be dangerous. That's why when Bea, his only friend, goes missing, Ethan fears the worst. Fortunately, he's not alone with his problem, as he receives help form a person he has never expected to receive it from.

"Captivated" is the first volume of the new series by Brittany Cournoyer entitled "Out of Darkness". The story the author tells us this time is rather simple and I think that to some extent we can predict some events that take place here, but I believe it's not really a problem, as we read it with bated breath. And that's because it's primarily a thriller, but with elements of crime story, so we focus on both the victim and his experiences as the action progresses, and the offender, his crime and its escalation. At this point it is worth noting that although the series has a love story in it, in this volume we don't see it yet. This is undoubtedly an advantage of this book, because thanks to it the author has the opportunity to build the relationship between her characters step by step, volume by volume, and I am sure that the reader will follow Ethan's story with growing interest, waiting for the moment when the man will finally fall in love.

I think that the great advantage of "Captivated" is the fact that we have two main characters here, the offender and the victim, and hence, two narrators and two points of view. On the one hand, we see the everyday life of both men, which additionally gives us insight into their thoughts, feelings, emotions, and this undoubtedly makes this novel all the more interesting. But what is most important, when, in one way or another, their paths cross, we have the opportunity to see the same events from two different sides, or we look directly at the cause and effect relationship which keeps us in suspense. Thus, our field of view is much broader, so we don't wait passively for The Suitor's next step, but to some extent we are involved in his preparations for carrying out his next plan to charm Ethan.

Of course we can't forget about the characters, both the main and the side ones, who are just another plus of this novel, as they are undoubtedly very interesting. Let's start with the fact that their creation often goes beyond the patterns we expect to find here. The best example is Ethan himself, as he's a model, but he's definitely different from what we imagine someone doing this kind of job to be. And that's not all, as he differs from our idea of him as a character in "Captivated" as well, which is really a huge advantage. I will add that I personally love him with all my heart. Other important characters that are different from what we expected are Bea, who cares about Ethan like a mother, and mysterious X, about which we know so little that we can either trust him or not. In the case of The Suitor the character's construction looks completely different, as we actually get what we expect to receive, and therefore a truly dangerous madman who poses a real threat to Ethan. Well, a madman should be crazy, so Brittany Cournoyer really doesn't let us down.

And finally, the real icing on the cake, in other words, the psychological side of the novel. Even if the story presented in "Captivated" isn't particularly unique and unconventional, it is good enough for the author to present in a really good manner the main characters in terms of their psyche. In fact, that's exactly what the creation of Ethan and The Suitor focuses on, and what makes them interesting, unique and unconventional or, on the contrary, conventional while fully meeting our expectations – depending on the character. Personally, I am deeply in love with the way in which the author creates Ethan, because by focusing on his psyche, she makes him a truly valuable, interesting character who is close to a reader, especially if they also struggle with anxiety. Well, this sweetheart deserves all the best!

In summary, "Captivated" is a really interesting, engaging and well-written novel, where each page encourages us to continue reading, and so to the last dot. If you like crime stories, thrillers, books that show the characters' psyche, then "Captivated" is a book for you! I love this novel.

____________________________________

*4,5 - 5 gwiazdek*

Ethan Fletcher jest obiecującym modelem, jednak tylko jego przyjaciółka, będąca równocześnie jego agentem, wie, że mężczyzna zmaga się z różnymi lękami, które wcale nie ułatwiają mu życia. Kiedy więc Ethan zaczyna otrzymywać drogie prezenty od osoby niewyznającej siebie Zalotnikiem, które są dostarczane prosto do jego domu, jest przerażony i obawia się, że jego wielbiciel może być niebezpieczny. Kiedy Bea, jedyna bliska mu osoba, znika bez śladu, mężczyzna obawia się najgorszego. Na szczęście nie jest sam ze swoim problemem, ponieważ nieoczekiwanie pomocną dłoń wyciąga do niego osoba, po której się tego nie spodziewał.

„Captivated” jest pierwszym tomem nowej serii Brittany Cournoyer zatytułowanej „Out of Darkness”. Historia, którą opowiada nam tym razem autorka jest raczej prosta i sądzę, że do pewnego stopnia wydarzenia, jakie się tu rozgrywają możemy przewidzieć, jednak powieść wcale na tym nie traci, ponieważ czytelnik i tak śledzi ją z zapartym tchem. A to dlatego, że w dużej mierze jest to thriller i po części także kryminał, a więc skupiamy się zarówno na ofierze i jej przeżyciach w miarę rozwoju akcji, jak również na przestępcy, jego zbrodni i jej eskalacji. W tym miejscu warto dodać, że chociaż w serii ma pojawić się romans, to w tym tomie jeszcze go nie uświadczymy. Jest to niewątpliwie zaletą tej książki, ponieważ dzięki temu autorka ma możliwość budowania relacji między bohaterami krok po kroku, tom po tomie, i jestem pewna, że czytelnik będzie śledził losy Ethana z coraz większym zainteresowaniem, czekając na moment, w którym chłopak w końcu się zakocha.

Uważam, że ogromną zaletą „Captivated” jest fakt, iż tak naprawdę mamy tu dwóch głównych bohaterów, oprawcę i ofiarę, a co za tym idzie, dwóch narratorów i dwa punkty widzenia. Z jednej strony jesteśmy więc świadkami tego, jak toczy się codzienne życie jednego i drugiego z mężczyzn, co dodatkowo daje nam wgląd w ich myśli, uczucia, emocje, a to niewątpliwie czyni tę powieść tym bardziej interesującą. Co jednak najważniejsze, w miejscach, kiedy to w taki czy inny sposób ścieżki tej dwójki zaczynają się krzyżować, mamy okazję obserwować te same wydarzenia z dwóch różnych stron, lub też patrzymy bezpośrednio na trzymający nas w napięciu ciąg przyczynowo-skutkowy. Tym samym nasze pole widzenia jest na tyle poszerzone, że nie czekamy biernie na kolejny krok Zalotnika, ale stajemy się w pewnym stopniu uczestnikami jego przygotowań do kolejnych planów zdobycia Ethana.

Nie możemy też zapomnieć o samych bohaterach, zarówno tych pierwszoplanowych, jak i pobocznych, którzy również stanowią pewien plus tej powieści, jako że niewątpliwie są bardzo interesujący. Zacznijmy od tego, że niejednokrotnie ich kreacja mija się z szablonem, którego się spodziewamy. Najlepszym przykładem jest sam Ethan, który jest modelem, ale zdecydowanie różni się od naszego wyobrażenia kogoś o tej profesji, a mało tego, całkowicie mija się z naszym wyobrażeniem jego postaci w „Captivated”, co jest naprawdę ogromną zaletą. Dodam, że osobiście kocham go całym sercem, ale o tym napiszę trochę później. Kolejnymi wartymi uwagi, różniącymi się od naszych oczekiwań postaciami są obdarzająca Ethana matczyną troską Bea oraz tajemniczy X, o którym wiemy tak mało, że w gruncie rzeczy możemy, ale wcale nie musimy mu ufać. W przypadku Zalotnika budowa postaci wygląda zupełnie inaczej, jako że tak naprawdę otrzymujemy to, co spodziewamy się otrzymać, a więc prawdziwie niebezpiecznego szaleńca, który stanowi realne zagrożenie dla Ethana. Cóż, szaleniec powinien być szalony, a więc Brittany Cournoyer naprawdę nas nie zawodzi.

Na koniec prawdziwa wisienka na torcie, czyli zaplecze psychologiczne powieści. Nawet jeśli przedstawionej w „Captivated” historii nie cechuje szczególna oryginalność, to jest ona w zupełności wystarczająca, aby autorka w naprawdę dobry sposób mogła przedstawić nam głównych bohaterów pod kątem ich psychiki. Tak naprawdę, to właśnie na niej skupia się kreacja Ethana i Zalotnika, to ona czyni ich interesującymi, wyjątkowymi, oryginalnymi, bądź też szablonowymi i dlatego spełniającymi w pełni nasze oczekiwania – w zależności od tego, którą postać bierzemy pod uwagę. Osobiście jestem wręcz zakochana w tym, w jaki sposób autorka buduje Ethana, ponieważ skupiając się na jego psychice, czyni z niego bohatera naprawdę wartościowego, interesującego i bliskiego zwykłemu czytelnikowi, tym bardziej, jeśli on również zmaga się z różnego rodzaju lękami. Cóż, ten słodziak zasługuje na wszystko, co najlepsze!

Podsumowując, „Captivated” to naprawdę interesująca, wciągająca i dobrze napisana powieść, w przypadku której każda strona zachęca nas do dalszego czytania, i tak aż do ostatniej kropki. Jeśli lubicie kryminały, thrillery, książki, które ukazują psychikę bohaterów, to „Captivated” jest tytułem dla Was! Ja uwielbiam tę powieść.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: An ARC was provided by the author via LesCourt ARC Team.

Brittany Cournoyer was a new-to-me author going into this Out of Darkness series starter, and Captivated was indeed one heck of an introduction to her writing. For the record, the romance in this novel is hinted at more than anything else, so if you're someone who prefers having high level of romance in their books, then this may not be for you. HOWEVER, if you're a reader who loves stories that keep you on your toes and appreciate good writing and their books to have mystery and suspense, then give this book a whirl because it had that and then some.

I was certainly impressed with the author's writing, having shown her ability to weave the sort of story that had me captivated--pun intended!--from start to finish. Ethan was a fascinating main character, as was the highly mysterious but ultimately very creepy "The Suitor". Another character who grabbed my attention was X, a fellow model but Ethan's rival and someone who, surprisingly, becomes a source of support as the whole stalker angle plays out.

This IS a continuing series, so the romance is supposed to develop as the series goes forward, and I'm curious to see how the recurring characters will develop alongside that as well. Captivated gets 4.5 stars. ♥

[Teal Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I I could give more than 5 stars I would! It is THAT good!

Captivated by Brittany Cournoyer is the first book in the new series, Out of Darkness. This brilliant book is filled with mystery and suspense, a very slow burn romance, and deep topics such as obsession and mental illness. This book whets our appetite for what I believe will be an amazing ongoing series, so dont expect a happily ever after in book one, but you wont be left unsatisfied.

Ethan is a model who's star is rising. Unfortunately his image on a billboard captures the attention and obsession of "the suitor". We get to see through Ethan's eyes the fear, the anxiety... all the emotions of the prey. I also like the evolution of the relationship between Ethan and X.

I love how the story is told through different perspectives to include "the suitor"/stalker. It definitely amped up a creep factor to the reading experience. To see the dark thoughts and actions.

The story draws you right in and keeps your interest. Well written, well plotted and just overall outstanding. Had some twists and turns in there. I can not wait to read more.

I received an advanced reader's copy of the book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation.

[Thais · Rating 3 out of 5]

So... I don't know. I'm conflicted.

It was well written story, beautifully narrated by Kenneth Obi, but it wasn't a romance. I knew before handed it would be a slow burn, but there is nothing to burn here, there is no romance, zero, nada.

Up until 20% of the book, I was thinking the main couple would be Ethan and The Suitor (the stalker), because I couldn't see anyone else in Ethan's life up to that moment. And Then, another character slowly appear and we see a friendship beginning. This part was fine, was actually the best part of the book, the way they got friends. But ends there, unfortunately. The 3 main characters (yeah, The Suitor got a POV so he was one of the MC's in my humble opinion) stayed two dimensional, we don't actually know much about them.

So while I liked the story and it kept me entertained for the most part, it felt lacking.

I don't have much to say about the narration. I like Kenneth Obi for the majority of his works and this is one of them. He knew how to make different voices and intonations for the 3 MCs, his narration was clear and with all the right pauses, it didn't feel rushed or anything.

I was given this audiobook as part of a huge giveaway by the narrator. No review was expected of me.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a well written and interesting story! The stalker trope has been done many times but this is the first time that I've ever seen their POV being written, it was creepy and yet so intriguing as to this person's way of thinking!
Ethan is the young man who suffers with anxiety anyways and things only get worse when he starts receiving gifts with no idea where they are coming from. Things gradually get worse and his one bright spot is fellow model, X, who becomes a friend and big source of support. There is a bit of mystery around X as he refuses to tell his actual name or family.
Brittany has given us such a fascinating story in the way she has written it. Whilst we read from the POV of the stalker, no clues are given as to who the person actually is. There's a huge mix of emotions with reading the different sides of the coin in this book. Fear and anxiety along with glee and adoration. Definitely keeps your attention and need to continue to the end.
Definite recommendation, especially for those who love to read from the darker side of a story. Looking forward to seeing how the story progresses in book 2.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Cathy Brockman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I had heard a lot about this and was so excited to listen.
The suitor is creepy as hell. I loved how the author calls him the suitor instead of giving us a name. I also loved how he was a main character and we got his POV too. the story is well written and suspenseful.
Ethan has his own issue as he hates crowds and getting out in public. The suitor sending him gifts makes it worse. He finally lets X a model he has worked with in the past close since he needs food and would like more puzzels, but the disappearance of his agent has him out of work and money.
I loved the slow development between X and Ethan and that in this book it is mostly friends only.
I can't wait to see what the next book brings.
Kenneth Obi gave the suitor just enough creepiness but also made him seem like a real person as well. I love how he adds excitement and character to a story and I think he really adds something to this book so if you can get the audio, do!
There are emotional triggers: obsession, stalking, abductions, beating, murder. But this is mostly off-page and handled well but if these things bother you tis isnt for you it is a very dark story)

[Lindsay Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calling all mystery/suspense/thriller/whodunnit fans! This is the book for you. This is a fabulous book for those who like dark and complex reading. There is no romance to be found in this book though it is alluded to. This is a chilling story of a model that is being brutally stalked by a stranger. The book is told from each character’s point of view which is unique. Over the course of the book we see the stalker progress from initial fascination to obsession. The further the book goes along the more sadistic it becomes. This is a fabulous book but be warned, this is not your typical romantic suspense it is a dark stalker/thriller book and is very graphic both on and off page. The more books I read by this author the more impressed I am. I agree with you Brittany Cournoyer, you have such a gift for writing gritty thrillers with an element of romance rather than sticking to contemporary romance or paranormal books. I am honored to have been selected to read your books first! Congratulations on a fabulous start to a new series and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was different from what I was expecting, and by that, I mean a lot better.

Ethan is an interesting character, with lots of issues to, on top of all of them, having to deal with a stalker. And that is just the beginning.

And when his agent and only friend B disappears, he finds an unexpected ally in his colleague X to help him looking for her and dealing with a less than helpful police department.

The antagonist is creepy as hell, and my only complaint is the excessive amount of times that the words 'The Suitor' appear. But really, the man is insane.

There is no romance in this story, not even a hint. Ethan and X are just getting to know each other in the middle of a very stressful situation. They are constructing a friendship. Will that become something different in the future? Maybe, but I wouldn't be annoyed if they kept being simply friends.

I don't know when the next book will come, but I really want to read it :P

Kenneth Obi does an excellent job with the narration.

[Edga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lurid and ghoulish story in parts, you could almost smell the blood during the grisly bits. Not that I'm complaining, I like a good murder/mystery and this one certainly hit the mark. Ethan is very well written. He clearly has mental issues, which are dealt with sympathetically by the author. As a character, I found him particularly well written.

I enjoyed reading the book as it was told from two points of view, both the intended victim and the 'baddie.' I have to admit though that I didn't find The Suitor that convincing as said baddie, I thought he was a little clichéd and formulaic. Hence, the 4 stars.

I did enjoy the story as a whole though. I am not one to give spoilers in my reviews, so I will summarize by saying if you are a fan of a good thriller, you'll like this book. It does end on a cliff hanger of sorts, but also sets up the next book nicely.

[Dorothy L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark but...Captivating

Found out about this book from an IG friend who is the cover model for the book. Love you Joe Madden. Dark and disturbing as the storyline is, it was too good to put down. The budding friendship between Ethan and X was predictable, but welcome at the same time. A couple of faux faux got past the proofreading..breeches instead of breaches for instance, but overall, well done. POV chapters really let you into the mindset of the characters and gave good perspective, but I wished for just a chapter from Bea and X instead of their stories only through the other people. Looking forward to the next installment. Worth the time if you like dark subject matter.

[Alison Edmunds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I alternatively listened and read chapters of Captivated. It is one of those stories that took me a couple of chapters to get into but once I did, I couldn't stop until I finished the whole book. Ethan and poor Bea are both beautifully drawn and sympathetic characters. The attention to detail is superb and this is carried through into a believable plot. X is very intriguing and I can't wait to find out more about him. The Suitor is an amazing creation, and I actually had a (very) little empathy for him on occasions!

The narration by Kenneth Obi is excellent. Always clearly spoken, the different voices suit the characters perfectly. The fear is Bea's voice felt real and the many facets of The Suitor's personality are eerily portrayed.

[Sarita Chapdelaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gripping thriller with some very intriguing characters as well as having dual POV's including the stalker's which makes this book so interesting. It did start out a bit slow but the storyline is great and I like how dark and twisted this story is. There are a lot of surprises along the way as Ethan struggles to solve the mystery surrounding his friends disappearance as there are so many obstacles put in his way including his own issues. This creepy, dark, intense and sometimes terrifying story captured my attention and I look forward to reading the next book in this new series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[RACHEL REED · Rating 5 out of 5]

Story : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Narration : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️


This is book 1 in the series and can be listened / read as a standalone.

This one has a few triggers as it includes stalking, kidnapping and violence.

So read through the warnings before heading into this one.

I didn't know what to expect when I ventured into this one. But I was definitely pleasantly surprised.

The storyline runs a bit dark and is super engaging.

The characters were well fleshed out and real The narrator performed an enthusiastic audio delivery and narration.

I absolutely loved listening and reading this one.
It was a psychological and gripping journey for sure.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome start to a new series. Ethan and X are brilliant complex characters that grab you right from the start. This story is a mix of everything you could want with twist and turns thrown in. Not everything is as simple as you think with The Suitor, and Ethan deals with deep struggles trying to come out the other side. Love the slow burn romance/friendship building, the duel perspectives and the creepiness of the stalker. It felt realistic and flowed naturally with each chapter pulling you in more. Can't wait for the next. I voluntarily reviewed an 'Advance Author’s Copy' of this book.

[Essie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know....
Ofcourse this was well written but this wasn’t a romance and that dissapointed me. I love a suspense read but for me it also needs to have some romance.
I didn’t like the fact that half of the book was taken up by The Suitor’s POV. He stayed very two dimensional. Same with Ethan, I would have loved to getting to know him better.
Because of the high ratings this must be a case of ‘It’s me, not the book’. It was probably my expectations. They were wrong.
Don’t know if I will continue this series.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cournoyer does it again! Dark and heart pounding, Captivated is truly a book that cannot be put down. I found the plot to hold my attention and left me wondering what would happen next. Her villain is very haunting and darkly engaging. X and Ethan are characters that jump off the page and give off a full range of emotions for the readers. Well worth it and I really enjoy this side of Cournoyer's writing.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this story is from multiple points of view. That not only do you get to see inside Ethan's mind - an insecure, frighten man who has a history of panic and not dealing well with people - but you get to see in the actions and background of The Suitor. This is definitely not a romance but a mystery and psychological thriller. Although this book has an ending that could be the finish of this book, I'm very intrigued by the to be continued...

[L.D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspense and Terror

The Suitor is an obsessive and dangerous man who has set his sights on Ethan, a gorgeous model. The Suitor is obviously a narcissistic psychopath who believes Ethan belongs to him. In his quest to charm and possess Ethan, The Suitor instead traumatizes him. Ethan finds comfort from his budding relationship with X another fellow model.

Overall Rating: 3 Stars. The suspense and tension were well done and the writhing was solid. I hope the series continues.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark compelling story

I loved the split POV, seeing the story through the eyes of both the stalker and the stalked. I was drawn in from the start of this story if fear and obsession, I couldn't put it down. I absolutely cannot wait to see what the next book has to offer.

*I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book *

[Lisa White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Total mind f**k outstanding

Wow!!!! what can I say yet another outstanding book from brittany Cournoyer yet so completely different from anything she's done before, keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end loved it can't wait to see what's next. Highly recommended read

[Jan van Es · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book totally “Captivated” me from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down! Yet I still managed to read a little bit day by day or I should say, “night by night”. As much as I love Reading, I don’t want to superspeed(read) through it and finish in one day.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR “RENEWED”

Absolutely LOVE Ethan and X! #Ethx #Xethan