I'm not usually one for slow burn, but the couple in this book needed to take their time and I love that it was written in a way that truly respected that. I really felt for both Tyler and Holly in their individual plights and can't imagine being in their shoes. The author did a great job of making that feel very palpable and emotional without it feeling overly dramatic or cheap. I loved Feather, Zac & Anna too but if I ever meet Holly's parents in the streets, I'm throwing hands, I gotta say.

Review scheduled to be posted on Instagram on 4/12/24 at 4 PM ET.

Edit: Updated IG review link below.

This is incredible work by Carian Cole. This is definitely a standalone and to me I don't really even consider it in the "series" with Torn.

This covers heavy topics. FMC Holly has been repeatedly SA during her years of capture. She needs to re-learn what the world is like while also working through a ton of trauma. Similarly the MMC has been isolated for years in his own way with his own past to deal with. At first they seem like an unlikely couple but that is where Carian's mastering of the slow burn comes in. I am not usually a fan of slow burns but it makes so much sense for this book.

This is under dark romance but the actual relationship is the bright spot in it all and at the end it is a soft spot to land.

If you are a fan of Jennifer Hartmann this would be a good book for you.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for this eARC! Happy re-release, I love the new covers.

I can't envision not cherishing a Carian Cole book. She simply has this extraordinary talent that generally arrives at the profound openings of my heart. She never neglects to tear it separated before she sorts it back out in the most perfect romantic tales possible.
A blast of stars wouldn't be enough after what I've quite recently perused. You would should be dead inside not to feel a large number of feelings perusing Tied. I just paused my breathing the whole time and wanted for a blissful consummation. A tormented hermit who saves the 'young lady in the opening'. This was a disastrous story at its best. A lot of liquor required...
I needed to be liable for lighting an inclination in a spirit comparably desolate and broken as my own.
Six levels of partition. A little 5-year young lady hijacked, saved by her Ruler 11 years after the fact. But he is similarly as broken she. At the point when Holly is saved from the pits of misery, rather than being greeted wholeheartedly, her folks rush to move to a regulated office. Yet again unfit to adapt to the injury, all things considered, Holly is separated from everyone else. The main thing that keeps her rational is realizing she will be one day rejoined with her sovereign.

Tied by Carian Cole is an emotionally gripping tale that delves into themes of trauma, redemption, and the unbreakable bonds of love. At its core, it's a tragic story of a child abduction, saved by a scarred man who becomes her unlikely savior.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of the complexities of human connection in the face of adversity. Tyler, a man shunned by society due to his own trauma, finds solace and companionship in Holly, a woman unafraid to see beyond his scars. She’s also been dealt a crappy hand in the “thankful found family” market. Their journey together is poignant and powerful, weaving a narrative that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned.

While Tied falls into the category of dark romance, it distinguishes itself by prioritizing the depth of its characters and storyline over steamy encounters. Tyler and Holly's relationship is built on trust, understanding, and mutual support, making their bond all the more compelling.

As I reflect on the story, I am struck by its beauty and resonance. Cole's masterful storytelling draws readers into a world where love triumphs over darkness, leaving an indelible mark on the heart. Tied is a testament to the enduring power of hope and connection, and a book that I will continue to revisit in my thoughts.

I am grateful to NetGalley for providing the opportunity to delve into this enthralling tale.

LOVED.

I started this one before dinner and stayed up late to finish it. It's been a bit since a book captured me like that.
I am so glad I didn't give up on this series after the first book (age gap just isn't my jam) because aye yaya, LOVED this one!

I adored this story. It was heartbreaking, beautiful, and painful all at the same time. The author did a fantastic job with showing how people have these perceptions of people that don’t always add up. through both characters, we see them learn to let go slowly and also heal. The only reason it wasn’t a 5 for me was the epilogue felt unnecessary. I also wanted Ty to have more growth

Oh, how I wanted to love this book. I love a good emotionally heart-wrenching romance, but this just didn't hit the mark for me. I really liked the blurb and thought that the storyline would be right up my alley, unfortunately I just didn't care for the writing or feel connected to Tyler and Holly's story the way that I was imagining I would.

PLEASE read trigger warnings before going into it. Your mental health matters. I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Carian Cole for an arc copy of this book. I have read several of Carians book before and just like the others this one didn’t disappoint either. This is a gut wrenching story between Holly, and Tyler both who have traumatic pasts and a lot of scars to break through. He saved her but he doesn’t feel worthy of her. He is scared that he will ruin the one who’s willing to see past his outter self. This book was an emotional one and had me crying way more than I was definitely expecting to, it broke my heart and put it back together again. Their story together is heartbreaking but beautiful and I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy. I absolutely recommend reading this

An emotional read from start to finish. Please read the trigger warnings for this one. I had a hard time with this one at first simply for the abuse Holly received. It was heartbreaking and I was choked up the entire time. This was a beautiful story of two broken people putting each other back together again. I don’t really have words for how I feel about this one other than it is a must read for those that can get past the triggers. We all have scars but some of them are visible and finding someone to love you with your scars is something special.

What a great addition by this author. Cole knows how to give us age gaps, good steam, and some stormy backgrounds.

This one has some solid trigger warnings but it was so worthy of the read.
Thanks to Forever pub for letting me get to know Tyler better after his intro in Torn.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
🌶️🌶️

“and the words from the books inside seeped into my dreams, saving me little by little, telling me not to give up hope."

Okay, I liked the first book but I LOVED this book. I was hooked pretty early on, ate it up, left no crumbs, and now I can't get this story out of my mind. Carian Cole does such a wonderful job creating characters and stories that you can really feel and understand. Tyler and Holly must be protected at all costs. I haven't wanted to fight for a fictional character so much in a while. If you're looking for something that really gets you in your feels and spice isn't super important, this one is it. I love me some spice, but the beauty of the story meant a lot more to me. It was a perfect fairytale for two very damaged people. Immediately adding it to my faves.

"How bizarre. How stalkery. How romantic."

Age gap
Soul mates
Broody cinnamon roll MMC
Slow burn
Traumatic pasts
Grumpy/sunshine-ish

“I can almost believe this girl could love me, scars, damage, ugliness and all . And oh, how ferociously I would love her back if given the chance .”

Tied is a dual POV slow-burn age-gap romance. The story focuses on Holly, a young woman who was kidnapped as a child and held in the woods for years, and Tyler, the scarred reclusive man who saved her. They reconnect when she is a young adult and form an unlikely friendship that becomes more.

Some of the themes are darker, but the story itself is beautifully done! Holly is naive and lacking in real-world experiences but she’s tough and determined to heal and create a life for herself. Tyler has his own issues to work through, but he’s really good for her and to her.

⚠️ CW/TW ⚠️

Discussion of past physical and sexual abuse, drug use, and serious injury

Read dates: 03/16/2024- 03/17/2024
Goodreads review: 03/17/2024
Instagram review: 03/18/2024
Blog review: 04/30/2024

This book was so much better than the first one! 2 people who have not had the best lives, yet find love and comfort in each other in a world that does not accept them. I love Holly and Tyler's story. I loved how gentle and understanding they were each other, even when the truth came out.

I had a hard time rating this one. I would like to give it 2 and a half stars. It was a really slow and sad beginning and the entire concept of the book is a little much for me. A girl is kidnapped as a child and she falls in love with the man who saves her who has been obsessed with her ever since. Due to her being kidnapped she has a very childish mentality that is consistent throughout the whole book which makes her being in a sexual relationship uncomfortable for me.

This dark romance is book 2 in the All Torn Up series, and it was just... wow. I could not go through with book 1, but I'm so glad I tried book 2 anyway! They are interconnected standalones, so I did not feel like I had missed anything. I just don't know what else to say, it was amazing! If you loved Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann, you will definitely love this. Do check the TW before going in, as this is really heavy, but it was perfect.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book ended up with this rating due to the tears that I shed at the end by the absolute beauty of the story and wrap up.

I would also like to note that this book is heavy due to the events that the character endured as a child while kidnapped.

With that said…

Holly- kidnapped at age 5. Kept in a basement, sometimes in an outdoor hole. Always believe someday her prince would come. When Holly is rescued and eventually put back into limited society she must learn to be brave, heal, and realize she is finally allowed to make decisions for herself.

Tyler- The scarred hermit. The pariah. Only slinking around at night, with a dark and twisted past. Something magnetized him to Holly and not just for the obvious reason. Will Tyler allow himself happiness or continued darkness?

Together these twin flames heal each other in ways no one but them could possibly understand.

The broken beauty and the beast. Can fairy tales for the broken and damaged really come true?

Tied is a good fit for readers who enjoy stories about healing, redemption, and unlikely romances between a tortured hero and a resilient young woman.

3.5/5 Stars

Thank you to Forever for providing me with both a digital and physical arc to read.

I had zero expectations for this book after dnfing book 1 within the first chapter. But I did enjoy this book and I do plan on eventually retrying book one. This book was dark, romantic, and a journey of healing for both our main characters. The only reason I don’t have this as a 4 is because there were some unresolved issues between our FMC and her family that I would have loved to see and that may be in the additional chapter that will be in this book at release but my copy did not have that so I am not sure.

Holly was kidnapped at 5 years old but 11 years later she manages to escape and finds Tyler Grace who saves her from the man who kidnapped her. She’s waited years to finally find her prince charming and when she finally finds him, she is put into a facility for traumatized children to learn how to function like a person in society. 2 years later she finally has some freedom and meets her prince charming again who is a recluse, covered in tattoos, and doesn’t seem to speak much. Holly was warned away from Tyler but she can’t fight the draw she has to him and sees who he truly is.

I liked Holly and Tyler’s relationship in this and I loved seeing both of them go through a lot of healing before the end and then accept each other’s trauma. I also really appreciated that while they met when she was 16 and he was likely 19 they don’t meet again until she is 18/19 and is an adult. I really liked their healing journey, the only thing I wish we saw more was them healing their relationship with their families as especially Holly’s relationship is a big issue in the big and felt unresolved. I also enjoyed the slow progression of intimacy between them as with everything Holly went through it made sense for the book.

I did enjoy this one and I would recommend it as you can read it as a complete standalone from book 1. It is dark so check your trigger warnings before diving in.

DNF, I thought it was going to be interesting enough. But, I can’t get past the fact that they met when she was a kid and him a grown adult.

3.5 stars.

I enjoyed "Tied" by Carian Cole much more than "Torn." I like the idea of a story like this, even if it is difficult to digest because it's so dark. It's about two people who have been broken and broken down by life finding solace in one another, building themselves back up, together. I think these characters worked well together on paper, and I enjoyed reading about their journey to find happiness together. This book has a lot of pining and angst, elements that are done well. I appreciate that Cole takes the time to expand upon both Tyler and Holly's backstories. It doesn't feel as "shocking for shock's sake" as "Torn" did. As I mentioned, this is another dark romance with many difficult elements, so check the TWs before you read. I don't have a lot to say about this book, but I think it's a decent book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Carian Cole, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.