(ARC Review)

It’s been a while since I last read a mafia romance, but this book is everything I could have asked for and more. It touches difficult topics such as drug addiction, emotional abuse, physical abuse, grief, and violence. Nicole Knight manages to take these matters and incorporate them into an amazing story. I truly enjoyed Ava and Nick’s love story. I couldn't have asked for a better ending.


Ava Moretti is known for her rebellious behavior. Behind the party girl act, she only craves love and support from her father. She will do anything to make him proud. But will she agree to an arranged marriage?

Nick Caponelli is next in line to take over the Caponelli mafia. He is strictly all about business and his upcoming role as Don. But don't let that fool you. Nick Caponelli is a player. His good looks and piercing green eyes can take you by a storm. That is until he and Ava cross paths.

What began with a meaningless one-nightstand ended in a much more complicated relationship. One wanted more while the other wanted to get away.

I enjoyed this book! Lots of drama and high emotions. It was fast paced and the characters were enjoyable. Looking forward to book 2!

This was a great book! It was just what I wanted in a mafia book. The story was entertaining and the romance was so good!

This was a rough one to get through for me. I wasn't super engaged with the characters, some of the wording was wonky, and there were parts that needed further editing.

This had all the makings to be an amazing book for me, rival families, surprise engagement, possessive MMC, but it fell flat. I didn't feel the chemistry between the two, and I was just hoping for more. I almost DNF'd, but I wanted to power through to finish it. The ending was good though.

3.5 rounded to 4 - overall, I liked this book just fine. I liked the main characters and the way they initially met. Their love story was a good one that ended w their happy ending. I think my biggest issue was the mafia side of things. I don’t know what I expected or even what I wanted but I felt like there was something lacking in that aspect. For me, it felt like you got some of the mafia story and then it would wrap up as you expected it to.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ebook ARC.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Nicole Knight for this ARC and allowing me the opportunity to review this book.

I would like to state upfront that I did DNF this book at 25% as it wasn't a good fit for me as a reader.

I was initially drawn in by the blurb and I liked the premise of Nick and Ava meeting accidentally for a mind-blowing single night, then later being reunited by a fated agreement between their respective Mafia families in a forced proximity style romance. I liked the way things starting off with a nameless one-night stand, however I felt their chemistry was shallow and unconvincing. The depth of their connection could be enhanced by elaborating on some of the moments that occurred that night. For example, it's mentioned in passing that they bonded over shared family pressures, TV shows, and sharing their wildest fantasies during their one night stand, however being able to share in those moments as they actually happen would have allowed me to connect better with the characters and make their chemistry feel a bit more convincing. I enjoyed some of the banter between the friends in each of their groups, however I found the dialogue a bit too juvenile for my personal tastes and feel this book may be a better fit for slightly younger NA readers.

I loved this so much and binged it in one sitting! I couldn’t put it down! It was fast paced and kept you engaged the entire time!

I absolutely loved Ava and Nick together and their chemistry was outstanding! I was immediately hocked from the from the first chapter. Their story starts with a one night stand, Ava sneaking out before Nick wakes up, and Nick spending weeks searching for her.

If you love….
- Dual POV
- He Falls First
- Found Family
- Mafia Romance
- Feuding Families
- Arranged Marriage
- One Night Stand
- Protective MC

Please check the trigger warnings as this book does have some tough topics.

Thank you to Nicole Knight and Wattpad for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

Basic mafia romance. The second half of the book is better than the first half. Overall, it’s an okay read. Feels like characters, mainly the siblings, are a big deal in the first half but then basically are forgotten and some resurface at the end.

Netgalley eARC

DNF @51%. This wasn’t for me. I will say that I did like their first night together and their first interaction. They exchanged no names and no info about each other.

I know that this was originally a wattpad story, but the writing was very young and slow for me. I like my mafia romances a bit darker and this was lighter. The mmc was down bad for her, and is not the typical broody and intense hero we usually see in other mafia romances.

You could definitely feel the Wattpad vibes in this one but I did like the MMC a lot! The FMC wasn't my favorite but wasn't the worst either. Lots of mafia action which I love in my mafia books. I appreciate that the two MCs never separated for very long and made up in a lot of their fights pretty quickly.

Mafia arranged marriage, betrayals and secrets everywhere, family angst, murder and assassin's, and maybe somewhere in there love and a bit of romance and steam. A number of mafia tropes woven in, but they work and create a fast moving and addictive story. If you like mafia romance this is worth it.

A promising start with this mafia romance. It has good pacing and plot and all the mafia goodness. I like it and would like to see more from this author.

When law student Ava meets Nick at a bar, sparks fly...too bad they both hate commitment and their fathers are rival Mafia dons...and he is keeping a big secret from her.

I LOVE an arranged marriage fic, so this was an incredibly fun read. I couldn't put it down and recommend it to anyone looking for something fun and fresh to get through the holidays with.

If there's a marriage of convenience with mafia? I'm going to eat it up and this book was so good!

Nick and Ava are my favorites. I loved their dynamic and Nicole Knight's writing. It was addictive, steamy and hard to put down. I was hooked from the first chapter and wanted more! From a one night stand to being arranged to be married? The tension was delicious. The plot was engaging, thrilling and addictive. It was so much fun to read their relationship within the mafia lore and how he is with her. Despite their mafia world, he's so sweet and caring and adoring to her. I couldn't love them more. It's such a great story and I loved their dynamic. I would've read 1000 pages more of them and I cannot wait to read more by Nicole Knight!

This book was excellent! It was wonderfully written, and I couldn't get over the ending. I loved every second. Nicole Knight you wrote a beautiful story.

Ties That Bind Us is a thrilling dive into the mafia world, blending high-stakes suspense with an arranged marriage trope that sizzles with tension and attraction. Ava Moretti is the fiery mafia princess who meets her match in Nick Caponelli, the heir to her family’s sworn enemy. A chance encounter turns into an intense night, but when family duty calls, Ava is faced with a life-changing decision: to marry Nick and navigate a world where loyalty and love are constantly at odds.

Nicole Knight skillfully weaves suspense with romance, creating undeniable chemistry between Ava and Nick that grows from tension to respect and love. Their relationship is as complex as the world they live in, full of power struggles, loyalty tests, and the constant threat of danger. This slow-burn romance captures the push and pull between love and duty, with just enough spice to make it irresistible without overshadowing the emotional depth.

For fans of mafia romance, Ties That Bind Us is a promising start to the Caponelli saga—a suspenseful, passionate journey of love, family loyalty, and the choices that shape us.

Thanks to NetGalley and W by Wattpad Books for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

This was so good! Mafia meets rom-com. The beginning was so good that I feared it would slowly fizzle out by the end, but it didn’t. The storyline kept my attention the whole time, and I literally read this in one sitting. Definitely would recommend!

This is the first book I have read by Nicole Knight and it certainly wont be the last. I am a sucker for steamy mafia romance books, throw in an arranged marriage? Yes, please!!

This was everything I was hoping for when I think of a mafia romance, filled with drama, secrets, violence, and feuding families. And of course, romance. I loved that Ava and Nick met and had a genuine connection before they even knew who the other person was. The initial fiery chemistry between them continues throughout the book, and I mostly do like them together. Nick is very protective and supportive of Ava, but some points in this he gave me the ick. Like his stalker-ish tendencies in the beginning when Ava was pretty clear that she wanted to be left alone, and then breaking down a door to get to her when she told him she needed space. Very big, very gross, problematic actions that I wish weren't included because if not for that he would be a pretty great MMC. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This was a good read! I really enjoyed the different characters and the story was well written. I would definitely recommend!