Sawyer and Jake, whew! And a dash from Walden and West. It's crazy world we live in and even stranger when you go to a new city while your life is in turmoil with the hopes of connecting with a cousin you've never met but Sawyer is doing it.. well kind of, not really, but she will.
An encounter on the Subway catches Jakes eye but it's two strangers passing in the night. Another one at the station and the chaos starts.
I don't want to give too much away but Sawyer is so funny and fed up with situations all at the same time. Jake's past is coming back to bit him in the rear or with a shot. Solutions need to be made some how to keep everyone safe but it comes with a cost too. a semi- big cost.

Tijan is amazing, this book is full of sass, shenanigans, pain, and happiness and it still leaves you wanting more. I can't wait to see if there is more and how, if it does, involves characters from the first few books. SO good!!

A Captive Situation is the third book in the Kings of New York series. I read this as a standalone, but Im going to have to read the first and second book in the series. As someone who has read and enjoyed Tijan’s books before I was excited to have an opportunity to read this as an ARC, and I wasn’t disappointed. A Captive Situation follows Sawyer and Jake. Sawyer escapes to New York CIty from Montana after she discovers her ex-fiancé cheating on her with her ex best friends. On this trip, she doesn’t expect to met Jake Worthing, a hot grumpy ex cop turned mafia boss on the subway And there second meeting lead to her being kidnapped by Jake after being witness to an attempted hit on Jake. As an avid mafia romance reader, this contained everything that I love about mafia romances: spice, enemies to lovers, suspense, and an morally grey mmc who I want as a book boyfriend, but there was something about this book that differentiated it from all the other mafia romance books that I have read in the past. Reading this book was a fun rollercoaster of emotions. One of the things that I loved in this book was the fact that Sawyer was in her 30s, and I loved her quirky personality. Her family, especially her aunts added lightness and humor in this book, they had me laughing out loud a couple of times. The chemistry between Sawyer and Jake was spicy, and I loved their banter. I will say that it did take me a bit to get into the book, but once I did I was hooked and had to finish it. Im excited to read the next book in the series. Thanks Valentine PR and NetGalley for giving the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion

I started this and wasn't sure what to expect. This is a mafia story, but mildly mafia I would say. I really liked Sawyer but at times she came across a little immature. Loved Jake, my heart broke for him a few times. I thought the minivan screeching into the standoff was a bit over the top, maybe unrealistic, but we don't always read books for the realism. I would've liked some interaaction between Sawyer and Beck with the letter to evict him from her house but nothing seemed to come of that, I also would've liked to have seen Manda come into the picture at some point when Sawyer returned to Montana.

All in all, I really enjoyed this.

I give it about 2.5 stars! It was an okay read. The writing wasn't terrible and the plot was decent. However some of the scene just didnt hit the mark exactly and there were a few plot wholes that baffled me. Although i can see the potential between the main characters.

Unfortunately this book didn’t work for me. The premise had potential: a woman who, after being betrayed by her fiancé and best friend, ends up involved with a man connected to the criminal world. The way the main characters meet is amusing, but also quite far-fetched.

What really made me put the book down was the female lead. Although she’s supposed to be almost 40, many of her actions felt immature and illogical, especially considering everything she’s been through. I just couldn’t connect with her.

The plot also moves too quickly, and I felt it lacked proper development both in the relationship between the main characters and in the emotional depth of the protagonist.

Sadly, this one wasn’t for me.

The plot has potential but there was something missing for me in the execution. The writing and transitions felt choppy. The output was potentially missing context that may have come from previous books in the series because I really didn’t understand what was going on in the beginning. I got the overall sense that this was rushed.

Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.

I really wanted to love this book but it just wasn't for me. There were moments and characters I loved like the banter and the humor through the story. It just took me a bit to get into it since the beginning felt a bit all over the place, but once I did the plot picked up and I started to get into the story. Sawyer's family was hilarious and I am always a fan of insta love stories.

A mafia story about Jake, Sawyer, and her family. There’s a bit too much going on: instant attraction, murders, kidnapping, and loads of family drama. Sawyer’s behavior felt unstable—one minute she’s with him, the next she’s running. Just too much packed into a short book, without much coherence.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for NetGalley.

Well, this was my first Tijan read but it certainly will not be my last. I felt that this novel started off very very slow, but then picked up. Jake and Sawyer were a couple with many obstacles in their way.
He fell for her very quickly from their first meet. It took her a while. This book is definitely a worthwhile steamy read. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75 rounded up

A captive situation is book 3 in the kings of New York series. This book takes us on a journey with both emotions, thrills and laughter.

Our FMC, Sawyer is in New York, having fled Montana, after she got dumped by her fiance for her best friend, who was now having his baby. While in Ny she meets Jake.

Jake, our MMC, is an ex- cop. Jake, was a dirty cop and is still not over his brothers death. His family is Mafia and his whole family want him in charge. Jake runs into sawyer, after first seeing her in subway, but runs into her again at the police station while dealing with his cousin.

I found this book a whole lot of crazy. Mafia, instant lust and every thing in between it was just like this whole chaos. Don't get me wrong it was kinda crazy in a good way, like spicy but just not my favorite by this author

Captive Situation by Tijan is a gripping read that definitely keeps you hooked. From the very start, the tension is palpable, and the author does an excellent job of building suspense throughout the story. It’s an intense, high-stakes romance that explores the dynamics of power, control, and vulnerability, which makes for a compelling (albeit often intense) reading experience.

The characters were well-developed, and the chemistry between the main characters was undeniable. Their relationship evolved in a way that kept me invested in their journey, even when things got complicated or emotional. Tijan doesn't shy away from exploring some darker themes, which adds layers to the story, but it can feel a bit overwhelming at times.

One of the highlights for me was the unpredictability of the plot. Just when I thought I had figured things out, a new twist would be introduced that would make me rethink everything. However, there were moments when the pacing slowed down a little, and I wished for more action or a bit of breathing room between the intense moments.

That said, if you're a fan of dark, emotional romance with complex characters and high drama, Captive Situation will definitely satisfy. It’s a book that pushes boundaries and keeps you engaged from start to finish. It’s definitely a story that sticks with you, even after the last page.

3.5 stars

A Captive Situation starts off in an interesting place, but quickly sucks readers into the story. While it is not necessary to read the prior books in the Kings of New York series, it is certainly helpful for context, and to get a better sense of Jake as a character. That said, I think this is probably the weakest story in the bunch, but was still a good vehicle to push all of the characters from the series as a whole forward.

One of the things I appreciate most about Tijan as a writer is the way that she sometimes infuses neurodivergent-coded characters into her books. While not always labeled (or perhaps intended to be read) as such, heroines like Sawyer definitely operate a little outside of what is considered neurotypical. And I, for one, am here for it!

Though the initial chemistry between Sawyer and Jake felt a little forced, I quickly found myself invested in it and interested to see how their story unfolded. I think I would have benefited from a refresher from the previous books before diving into this one, but it was still a fun ride!

SUCH A FANTASTIC READ!

This is a well paced, witty, and excellent read. I am a huge fan of this author's books, especially their mafia ones. I really enjoyed Jake and Sawyer so very much. These two had quite an interesting adventure, and I was so here for the ride. Very much loved!

3.5 Stars!

A Captive Situation is the third book in the Kings of New York series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel.

I'll be the first to admit this book started off a bit odd and slow for me. I was intrigued by Sawyer and Jake, and their meet-cute was anything but typical, but Sawyer was an absolute HOT mess. She ran to New York to escape the mess that her life had become. And just when she thought things couldn't get any worse, they did. She finds herself tangled up in quite the mess that will put her heart on the line once again...

A Captive Situation is a chaotic, steamy, wild ride. The characters are odd, yet intriguing. Jake is 100% alpha male and is the definition of trouble. Sawyer...yeah, I wasn't too sure what to think of her in the beginning, but she completely won me over in the end. Jake and Sawyer had chemistry in spades, and the steam oozed off the pages. They were the definition of Insta-Love, but weren't afraid to walk through fire for one another.

Which brings us to Sawyer's family. I had the BIGGEST love/hate relationship with them. Their hearts were in the right place, and they most certainly entertained me with their antics, but their meddling also frustrated me to no end. And let me tell you, Sawyer's family has no shortage of drama.

Overall, I thought this book was an entertaining read. It started off slow, but once the story found its groove, it hit the ground running and never looked back. A Captive Situation is filled with drama, romance, and everything you'd expect from a Mafia Romance. It's got twists and turns to keep you on your toes and steam that will leave you fanning yourself. I will warn you that this story does have a satisfying ending, but it does end with a slight cliffhanger. Will we get another book with Sawyer and Jake OR is this just a tease for the next book??? Only time will tell

If you're a fan of mafia romance and chaos, you'll definitely want to get your hands on this book!

A Captive Situation is the third book in the Kings of New York series, but it works well as a standalone if you haven’t read the first two. If you’re already a fan of this world or of Tijan’s writing style, you’ll likely enjoy this one too.

The story started off a bit slow for me, and it took a little while to get into the pacing. That said, things picked up in the second half and kept my interest more. Jake and Sawyer have a solid dynamic, and Sawyer in particular was a standout curious, layered, and interesting to follow.

This series overall is entertaining and has a strong fan base for a reason. While this wasn’t my favorite of the bunch, it’s still a decent addition. A fun, fast read if you’re in the mood for a darker romance with a touch of suspense.

I haven't read the other books in the series, so this works as a standalone. Tijan is always the queen of drama in her stories - there's plenty of quickly paced plot in this story to keep readers intrigued, though the lead characters veer on unlikable at times (it's CRAZY to me that Sawyer is meant to be 34 as she seems very immature at times!). The plot does get a bit too crazy at the end, but that said, the chemistry was great, and Tijan's prose is perfectly Tijan as usual

Obsessed as usual. Jake’s descent from cop to mafia was fun to watch, and the family dynamics are always complicated whether it’s mafia or a regular family. Didn’t know I needed this book in my life until I read it

“You’re not a woman a guy leaves. I know that much.”

This book was so entertaining. I cannot even begin to describe how many times I laughed at the utter ridiculousness of Sawyer and her family and Jake took it in stride.

Sawyer literally just got out of an 18 year relationship when she finds out her fiancé was with her best friend and got her pregnant. The first time we meet her, she’s on the subway in New York trying to meet her cousin for the first time. On said subway, she sees Jake for the first time. Jake is an ex-cop with family times to the mafia, in which he does not want to be in either worlds anymore. He finds out that there’s a hit on him, and the rest just snowballs from there.

When I tell you Sawyer was a hoot, I mean. This woman just made me want to keep reading. That crazy family of hers too. That real love what they have. I love how she tried to tell Jake what to do, that was highly entertaining. The chemistry these two had, though, chefs kiss. Sawyer also does not know how to get a story straight to tell to save her life, literally.

Jake, though, was everything a trained cop/mafia man should be: crazy, possessive, very good at unaliving people and taking care of what’s his. He deems pretty early on that Sawyer is his lol. Loved his nicknames for her and the fact that she loved my little lunatic the most should tell you the dynamic in this relationship.

I loved this book, simple put. It’s a dark romcom with suspense and a great plot.

Well that was a bit more bonkers than what goes for “usual” in this series hmm?

I was so hyped for another installment in the Kings of New York series, it has become a favorite of mine. But this one was bit too crazy even for me.

Jake was awesome, I thought he fit perfectly alongside Trace and Ashton. Jake is a bit more “normal” but definitely has the dark side as well. He also has that always choose his woman thing no matter what. Loved that. Sawyer, oof she was just all over the place for me. It was hard for me to believe she was a woman who threw away 18 years of her life in some ho hum hollow relationship but she’s also a crazy lunatic who doesn’t bat an eye at people being killed in front of her and having screaming matches with known murderers. Just didn’t make sense to me so it was really hard to grasp her as a character and actually like her. Now her family was entertaining as hell but that whole side plot could’ve been edited down a bit too.

Overall I was really pleased to see Trace and Ashton again even though things are sideways now but I’d have to say this wasn’t my favorite book in the series. I’m hopeful Tijan will bless us with more, we can’t have the series end just like that! Thank you so much to Montlake for gifting me this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars on this one

This is the third book in the Kings of New York interconnected world. but it can easily be a standalone. If you've enjoyed the other two books then I definitely think that you'll enjoy this one. This one started out a bit slower for me, but then the pace picked up quickly. Jake and Sawyer were great. Sawyer is a curious and interesting character. This is a fun series for sure. If you're a fan of Tijan then you'll enjoy this one.

A big thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for my honest review.