Captivation Creek

A Small-Town Romance (The Haven Brothers, Book 5)

He’ll help her solve a mystery, but they can’t risk their hearts.

A devastating injury ended Theo Haven’s pro-football career, but he’s made a good life for himself in his hometown. The high school teacher and football coach might be single, but that’s by choice. And his work bestie, Penelope? She’s one of the best parts of his job, but they’re just friends. No, really. Not the sort of friends who are secretly pining for each other or destined to hook up. Just… friends.

Art teacher Penelope Fallbrook is stuck in a rut. When a locally renowned artist dies suspiciously, she channels her restless energy into amateur sleuthing. Who better than her best friend Theo to help her search for the truth?

When Penelope’s life comes crashing down, Theo is there, picking up the pieces and offering a place to stay. Best friends become roommates, and living one room away might be too much temptation. As they dig deeper into the mystery of the artist’s death, secrets unravel. Are they searching for a murderer? Or uncovering the work of a serial killer? And Penelope might be in danger of becoming the next victim.

Author’s Note: a fun twist on friends-to-lovers with work besties turned roommates turned lovers. A murder mystery, small-town shenanigans, feuding senior citizens, binge-worthy suspense, and a charming couple who will steal your heart. Captivation Creek can be listened to as a stand-alone.

©2026 Claire Kingsley (P)2026 Claire Kingsley

🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

A fantastic read! Theo is totally swoon. Penelope is adorable and strong. The best friend banter and actual friendship is amazing. Nice mature characters with no unnecessary drama! Best friends to lovers, small town, mysteries, no 3rd act break up!

Small town romance with suspense!

Captivation Creek is small town, workplace romance with a murder mystery to solve. Theo and Penelope were the sweetest, I loved their friendship and loved seeing it develop into so much more. I loved the way that Penelope was there for him and unlike people in his past and showed him that. Claire does the small town charm so good and makes it impossible not to fall in love with her characters. I love a good murder mystery thrown in and loved the twists and turns as they investigated. Theo and Penelope jumped to my new favorite couple of the series.

Vanessa Edwin and Alastair Haynesbridge narrate this story in dual and brought these two characters to life. Vanessa always does so good at embodying the characters she plays and makes you feel their emotions. Alastair is still fairly new to me and I loved his portrayal of Theo, he brought his sweet caring and protective sides to life. The story and narration was great, thank you to Claire for an alc and I’m so excited for the final installment of the Haven brothers series.

Obsessed!

I absolutely loved Theo and Penelope’s story. I’m a sucker for friends to lovers and this one had me grinning the whole time. The suspense was also so well done! The narration was phenomenal and really made the story even better. I can’t wait for book six!

Fearless | Fierce | Forever

Captivation Creek delivers everything I love about Claire Kingsley- deep emotion, irresistible chemistry, and characters who feel wonderfully real; but with the added thrill of suspense that keeps your pulse racing from start to finish.
The romance is beautifully layered: tender, electric, and full of vulnerability. But woven through it is a gripping undercurrent of danger that raises the stakes and makes every moment between the characters feel even more urgent and meaningful. Theo and Penny have a connection that isn’t just swoony, it’s forged in trust, courage, and high‑pressure moments that reveal exactly who they are at their core.
The narration is exquisite, and adds another dimension to the captivating story.
The author balances heart and suspense with effortless precision. The emotional beats land hard, the twists are satisfying without overshadowing the love story, the pacing keeps you hooked straight through, and you’ll never see the villain coming!
It’s the perfect blend of heat, heart, and danger, a romantic suspense that leaves you breathless in all the best ways.
A captivating, emotionally rich thrill ride that proves love is worth fighting for.
Five enthusiastic stars from this reader!

We got pranks

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Claire Kingsley gives us a lovely best friends to more, featuring two individuals whose lives are very different.

With Theo, we observe a family that offers him infinate love and support, which empowers him to seriously consider a significant life changing decision

On the other hand, Penelope, who lacks any support system, is looking at her own life carefully. After much reflection, she makes a difficult choice herself, only to face a test of her resolve hours later. Fully aware of the challenges ahead, she remains committed to her decision.

We get a better understanding of who Theo Haven truly is. Although he's mentioned often, we never really got a full picture until now. His feelings about why he doesn't date are truly heartbreaking, and on top of that, his biological father's actions add to his pain, no wonder he has barriers.

Penelope is truly endearing. I love that she embraces her true self and refused
to let Sean turn her into someone else. She recognizes the issues in their relationship, the changes she dislikes and took steps to address them; instead of settling for convenience.

There are many subtle references to all of Claire’s works. Melanie casually mentioning burning down a house, hearing someone loudly clear his throat, then turning to greet Firefighter Bailey. Reminding us how Penelope and Levi know each other, harking to the moment she was introduced in this series.
The suggestion of burning the bedding hints at the Miles’ family tradition of burning mattresses.
When Penelope visits Salishan Cellars; for her painting class and mentions the ocean beach she loved as a child as inspiration for her artwork, it feels like a nod to Jetty Beach.
The appearance of 'billionaire Shepherd Calloway, his wife, Everly’ was truly enjoyable.
And finally, the stories of Theo and Pen's little pranks on coworkers plus Theo offering Grandma Colleen advice on how to get back at Uncle Maury Haven at the Senior living village remind us that while the true feud may be over, the playful spirit is alive and well in Tillikum.