Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher/author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be! I loved it. I will make sure to check out other books by this author. When I requested this I was just intrigued by the concept of it and I loved how it turned out. This story had a great plot and if you have read this and enjoyed it, This was so much. It was such a great story. I would say give this one a try. I will continue to follow this author. Way to go to this author for not letting me down.

I highly enjoyed the narrator of the audiobook. Kept me listening.

Love love love the audio!
A little slow at first but audio makes up for it
Pauses in between chapters way too long
More backstory to side characters especially ex wife. Feels like just fed little crumbs along the way and not the whole picture.
-main FMC seems too juvenile at some points especially for a 27 y/o
-The beginning fantastic, last 30-40% good bones just missing some character tweaks, pacing adjustments, and idk something.

Title: A Gripping Auditory Experience: "Obedience" by Liza Snow

Rating: ★★★★☆

Liza Snow's "Obedience" takes listeners on a thrilling and atmospheric journey through the chilling landscape of psychological suspense. In this gripping audiobook, Snow not only captivates with a haunting narrative but also leverages the auditory medium to enhance the overall experience.

The narration, performed by a skilled voice artist, brings the characters and the eerie atmosphere of "Obedience" to life. The tone and pacing of the reading mirror the tension and suspense in the story, creating a synergy that immerses listeners in the unsettling world Snow has crafted.

The strength of "Obedience" lies in its exploration of psychological depth and the consequences of choices. The author skillfully weaves a narrative that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, questioning the motives and sanity of the characters. The use of sound effects and music subtly enhances the suspense, creating a multifaceted experience that engages the senses.

Snow's character development is another highlight, with the protagonist's internal struggles and conflicts palpably conveyed through the narration. The complexity of the characters adds layers to the story, making it more than a typical thriller and elevating it to a thought-provoking exploration of human nature.

The pacing of the audiobook is well-calibrated, allowing for a gradual build-up of tension and intrigue. The plot twists are expertly executed, keeping listeners guessing and ensuring that the story remains unpredictable until the final chapters. The balance between action and introspection is maintained, preventing the narrative from becoming overwhelming.

While the psychological elements are a strong suit, some listeners may find certain aspects of the plot intense or dark. However, those who appreciate a deep dive into the human psyche and the exploration of moral and ethical dilemmas will find "Obedience" to be a compelling and thought-provoking listen.

In conclusion, "Obedience" delivers a compelling auditory experience that seamlessly combines suspense, psychological depth, and atmospheric storytelling. Liza Snow's ability to leverage the audiobook medium to enhance the narrative, coupled with a gripping plot and well-developed characters, makes this a standout choice for fans of psychological thrillers in audio form.

So this was a very different audio book to listen to... It was presented more like a (Old Time) Radio show, with sound effects and such interjected in some of the heavier scenes, made listening somewhat laughable- whose idea was that? The narration by Daniel Zbel and Rapunzaroo was acceptable for the characters- certainly made the age difference between them more believable as the main female character sounded very young (teenish even- instead of mid 20's as indicated in the story). I enjoyed the description of the aerialist skills. There was enough back story to develop interest in where the plot was moving. However, unnecessary kinky sex that does nothing to endear the characters and bordered on creepy was something I could have done without- especially the heavy breathing and moaning parts spilling over the narration- Really? It's a Cliff Hanger with a very abrupt ending, not sure if I'll give book 2 the same time or attention. Thank you to Net Galley and author Liza Snow for the Audio ARC.

To be honest, I didn't know what this story was about and it somewhat affected the enjoyment, so this is 3⭐s.

This book is about the aftermath of toxic relationships, generational trauma and secret passion in a way. The characters from a university or institute kinda setting where a prestigious circus is presented were born and made. Cassandra Blackstone dreams and works hard to become the protege of her favourite presenter Chandler Moreau. When she got the chance to achieve her dream by becoming his protege trained by himself they became more closer. Despite the considerable age gap between Chandler & Cassandra, they grow a close relationship over their secret passion for the silk aerial & BDSM s*x. All the family politics from Chandler's side as famous circus owners complicate things between them as well as their friends.

This book was a fine read for me but at the point it went towards BDSM s*x thing it was a bit uncomfortable for me. I like a bit of spice in my romance scenes, but with the age gap they had it felt like bit cringy. Other than that the story is interesting enough to read with all the relationship dynamics between friends & foes. I think it was a different type of take on circus-related themed books with a romantic twist. I'm not sure if I want to continue the series, but the twist in the last paragraph was tempting enough to read the next one I guess.

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This was tough, definitely a lot of red flags to go around with the age gap and teacher/student relationship. Aside from that, the pacing was all over the place; moments of suspense but then times where nothing happened for chapters. And I understand that the book is meant to be in a series, but the ending was so abrupt I thought I missed something. I just found myself not really caring about any of the characters. A lot of the dialogue was really uncomfortable and definitely not how real people would talk or even act. It felt like I was getting a very specific fantasy idea from the author and she just ran with it. The audio production was fine, I just wish there was more commitment to one form or another - it was jarring to have the background sound effects the first couple times without realizing that’s what it was. I’d rather it be all the time or just words.

Holy cow what a steamy ride! I had the pleasure of reading and listening to Obedience by Liza Snow. This is book one in the Ties that Bind series and I am fairly certain she just unlocked a new twisty kink.

This series follows a student/teacher romance in a delicious slow burn with acrobatic flair. Chandler and Cassandra are characters I found easy to adore. Their flawed nuances are easy to relate too and their backstory adds a thrilling suspense to the narrative.

The audiobook is narrated by Daniel Zbel as Chandler and Rapunzaroo as Cassandra. Wow. I mean.... hot diggity damn y'all! While I enjoyed the overall voice and tone of each narrator, the additional background noise sequences made this one just sexy as hell. Oddly thats a first in my erotic audios too. Very well done on the background story enhancing effects.

The storyline was well crafted and kept me intrigued. I was not expecting mafia elements (I went in blind) and for me those are typically my last choices in dark romance since they tend to feel repetitive. Hands down, Snow made something darkly unique with this book and I absolutely loved that. I was engrossed in the suspense and waiting for the next move.

A wonderfully done series starter that I highly recommend to my dark steamy romance lovers. Check this one out! If you enjoy romantic suspense, forbidden love, slow burns, dark secrets and mafia!

thank you to netgalley for the advanced listening copy of Obesdience. This was an interestingly done audiobook between multiple narrators. It sounded a little rough but was not bad.

Do you like Cirque de Soleil???

This is a perfect book for you!

It’s a taboo romance between a professor and his student, obviously an age gap. And lots of mystery!

LOVED the male narrator, I’m 50:50 with the female narrator. Honestly, just a personal preference, but she sounded too young??

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This is not usually the genre I would choose to read but it was a pleasant surprise. I picked this book based on the cover and title alone so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I enjoy the age gap trope but it felt like the plot was shallow. I did enjoy getting to know the characters. The audiobook I think made me enjoy this more.

Cassandra Blackstone, haunted by her parents' tragic death, strives to become an aerialist. Training with her idol, Chandler Moreau, ignites a passionate connection. The audiobook version of Obedience is a unique experience, blending voices and incorporating music and sound effects. Rapunzaroo and Daniel Zbel deliver exceptional performances as Cassandra and Chandler. As a non-romance reader, I found their age gap and student-teacher dynamics tastefully portrayed. The suspenseful plot keeps you engaged, though many questions are left unanswered. Obedience's sudden ending sets the stage for the sequel, Discipline. The audiobook is a credit-worthy treat for fans of captivating storytelling!

The narrator Daniel Zbel, Rapunzaroo did a really good job telling this story. This was my first circus book and I wasn't disappointed . Liza Snow's writing will draw you in and take you onto a journey that will let you wonder every single character's real intention. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to listen to something a little different.



Thank you NetGalley and Liza Snow Romance for allowing me to listen to this ARC for my honest opinion.

This story of a man devoted to his craft of aerial silk performance art as a performer and instructor by day and also as a Shibari (Japanese knot tying) artist in a club by night seemed intriguing, but quickly felt uncomfortable. Chandler and Cassandra seemed so far apart in age, yet both so immature at times. I found them both somewhat unlikable, butthe descriptions of the silk performance and the practice necessary was very interesting. The story is obviously meant to continue into another book, but I'm not sure if I'll follow through to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

First off, this audiobook was so impressive with the addition of background music when it is applicable to the story and this felt like I was listening to a play and I LOVED it. It really added to the listening experience.

I really enjoyed the story itself because I loved how the romance was intertwined with the thrill of Chandler’s past and family mafia ties and how it intercepts with Cassandra’s past. This book had lots of Fifty Shade of Grey vibes, but it was still a good story. I loved the circus element and cannot wait to continue this series.

While I recived this book through an ARC, This book quickly became one of my favorites. I ADORED the depiction of shibari and how the author tried to keep it accurate to the community.

This review is for the audio version of Obedience and I have to say the narration was great, along with the special effects background noises. I love to listen to books that are narrated in this style because I find it a completely immersive experience. At times the male narrator was a bit too dramatic, it just sounded unrealistic, but other than that it was awesome.

I feel torn on how to rate this book because the description sounded very exciting and mysterious, and the promise of a great romance. But in reality the book was a bit boring for me, the bad guys weren’t really that bad, the male supposedly “alpha male” was actually weak, and the mystery has yet to be explained. I understand now that this is book one, but the ending is a complete cliffhanger and leaves zero resolution.

Maybe all the buildup in book one will be worth it for book 2, but I won’t be reading it to find out.

The audio was interesting, with dual narration for the two main characters, speaking at times as if having a conversation and music randomly added based on what was being discussed. The female narrator was great, she did a good job of bringing Cassandra to life, full of naivety and sincerity. The male narrator was a little flat and lacking in emotion, making it hard to relate to or like him as a character. I will say that I found it off-putting how the narration was done during the sex scene, with the male narrator narrating the events but with the female narrator randomly moaning in the background. Not my favorite.

The book dived into the BDSM obedience sexual stuff pretty fast, even before the real foundations of the character were developed. We had no idea who the characters really were yet, but we knew they were attracted to each other and enjoyed a little kink. Keep in mind that this could be classified as a "forbidden romance" since it is between a professor and a student. If you are looking for a very steamy book, be aware that the first actual sexual encounter did not occur until almost 60% into the book, instead most of the book was just building angst.

To be honest, the book was so slowwwwww, so many possible moments that were drawn out and could have had potential but instead just became boring and I just wanted the book over. The thing was is that nothing actually happened, many topics and events were hinted at, but nothing really occurred on page

I LOVED this audiobook! It didn’t take long for me to be completely immersed in the listening experience. I really enjoyed the narrators and especially liked to listen to the narrator of Cassandra. With the addition of background music, it really tied the whole story together!

I went into this book blind…really only knowing it was about a silk aerialist and her teacher. It sounded interesting enough in the NetGalley description. So needless to say, this was my first book that involved Shibari (Japanese rope bondage) and I really felt like it was done in a way that it didn’t overtake the story but it also was the perfect introduction for someone who had never heard of it before. I really enjoyed the cast of side characters, the setting of the circus and entertainers and the circus school. Also, it had a bit of a mysterious element to it and it ended on a cliffhanger that has kept me thinking about it and waiting for the next book in this series.

I highly recommend this one!

From the description and tags, I thought this would have a lot more steamy scenes. Even the prologue seems promising, but then nothing happens for the first half of the book. Chandler is hot and cold with Cassandra to the point that I didn't even want them to get together. If he's going to throw her out of his apartment after inviting her over, forget it.

The sort-of mystery involving Cassandra's uncle and Chandler's father wasn't that interesting until everything exploded in the final quarter of the book. Maybe if the sex and mystery had been more spread out across the whole story and ramped up more, I would have enjoyed it?

I did like that the audiobook was dual narration. It's my favorite style and helps pull you into the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Liza Snow Romance and NetGalley for the copy.

So much of this book falls well outside my comfort zone. If I had explicitly known that I was embarking on an age-gap, teacher-student, BDSM novel, I probably would have passed. However, I’m happy I didn’t.

What doesn’t work about so many “rich older guy that is a control freak in the bedroom” stories is that the guy is a profoundly flawed psycho (see: Twisted Lies and Fifty Shades). That’s not what this book is, and somehow all of those tropes I think are so <ugh> actually work in the context of this story.

Cassandra is awarded a scholarship to attend the premier training school for circus performers and to study under Chandler Moreau, whom she has admired her entire life. Cassandra and Chandler are taken with each other immediately, initially for their shared passion and talent in their aerial silk performances and later a more profound attraction and connection through erotic hobbies. Although this is usually where a book loses me, the precision and control required in their jobs naturally translates to a desire for power in other aspects of their lives. What I enjoyed about this is that, although this whole BDSM storyline is there (a lot, geez), it doesn’t define their relationship or power dynamic outside of the bedroom.

The most exciting part of the book is unraveling the connections between Cassandra and Chandler’s families. As the story evolves, it moves from a romance with a hint of mystery to a thriller with a side of romance. Unfortunately, much of the mystery/intrigue is left unresolved, and I assume it will be addressed in a future book.

The audiobook version was a cast narration with special effects. The male narrator was excellent. However, I wish the female narrator’s voice sounded slightly more mature to match the 40/25 age gap of the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Liza Snow for the opportunity to review this audiobook in exchange for my honest review!