Sawyer's journey of heartbreak and escape leads her straight into Jake's world, and their chemistry is undeniable. After a painful betrayal, Sawyer heads to New York and ends up entangled in a deadly situation with Jake, an ex-cop with mafia ties. Their relationship is marked by witty banter, emotional depth, and intense tension, making their dynamic both intense and enjoyable. I was hooked from the start, even though there were moments when I had to pause and process the plot twists. Jake is definitely a standout character, and the suspense kept me on edge. While the pacing could have been smoother, the romance, action, and twists kept me captivated.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the other books that came prior in the series. This book was drama heavy and mafia driven, and I don't think I really bought into the mafia aspect.

Sawyer is an almost bride on the run. She was basically left at the alter, so most of this story has some huge mistrust and betrayal built into it. Screw men, right? Well, she's visiting NYC on a solo trip of misery, and nothing seems to be going right for her. Jake sees her on the subway, a hot mess, and instantly recognizes her when he sees her later that day, still a hot mess. It's a little instalust for their first chaotic meetings.

I like how the story veered right and never stopped switching things up. Jake is into some pretty heavy things with his family business, aka Mafia, and Sawyer gets stuck in the middle of the drama. Their connection is fun, with a lot of give and take, and some unexpected emotions sneak in when the stakes keep getting higher and higher.

I've enjoy some Tijan books, and I think I'll go back and read the first two books in this series to see if it helps tie this crazy fun story into the overall series timeline.

3 Stars

A Captive Situation is book three in Tijan’s Kings of New York series and can be read as a standalone. I have to say this one was not my favorite in the series. Jake is awesome, but I struggled so much with Sawyer. She’s one of the most immature characters I’ve ever read. She acts like she’s a teenager instead of thirty-six. If the author hadn’t mentioned her age, I would have thought she was way, way younger. The first half of the book, I really struggled to keep reading, but the second half things picked up and was able to keep my attention better. Overall, I think this book had potential, but the mark fell short this go around. I usually enjoy this author’s writing style, so I do look forward to what’s next from Tijan.

Angela - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

DNF. This was my first book by this author and I was really excited as I’ve heard a lot about them. But this may not be their best work. The plot had potential but I couldn’t get past how immature the characters were.

This is the third book in the Kings of New York series, but it can be read as a standalone. I read the first two books a long time ago, so I was excited about this one.

Unfortunately, this one fell short for me. I just couldn't connect with the main characters. I felt Sawyer came across much younger than she was and a little unstable at times.

🖤mafia/former cop romance
🖤h*te to love
🖤instant connection, slow burn romance
🖤kidn*pping
🖤morally gray MMC
🖤found family
🖤on the run for their lives

I would still read more by this author.

Thank you, Valentine PR and NetGalley, for the ARC.

I loved the first two books in the series, so I was really excited to dive into this one. But honestly, I struggled to connect with the story at first. I’m a big fan of Tijan’s writing, so I stuck with it—and I’m glad I did, because it did get more interesting and exciting as it went on.

That said, this book felt very different from the first two. Not in a bad way—just… different.

Sawyer is quirky, loyal, and incredibly giving. Her family is chaotic but deeply loving. The strong emotional bonds in her world were touching, though at times it felt like there were a few too many side characters (especially the aunts) pulling focus.

Jake is a more complex and layered character. I liked exploring the moral gray areas he lives in—he’s got scruples, but if you cross him, watch out. The tension and chemistry between him and Sawyer were clear from the beginning, but I never fully felt their connection. Maybe it’s because they’re so different. Opposites attract, sure—but here, the magic just didn’t land for me.

I did enjoy the suspense and mafia drama. That part of the plot kept things moving and added some real stakes.

Overall, this one was just okay for me. Not my favorite in the series, but I’m still looking forward to the next book!

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed A Captive Situation by Tijan. The story started off a bit slow and the heroine, Sawyer, initially felt frustrating due to her long-term betrayal and somewhat immature reactions, but once the plot gained momentum, I was completely hooked. The chemistry between Sawyer and Jake, an ex-cop with mafia ties, is intense and sizzling, and their banter kept the story lively throughout.

Tijan’s writing captured the dark, suspenseful atmosphere perfectly, blending family drama, kidnapping, and mafia intrigue with moments of humor and heartfelt emotion. I appreciated the complex family dynamics and the way the story explored themes of trust, trauma, and finding oneself amidst chaos. The supporting characters, especially Sawyer’s quirky aunts, added warmth and levity to the narrative.

While some plot points felt familiar and a few character choices required some suspension of disbelief, the overall experience was engaging and entertaining. The pacing improved significantly after the initial chapters, and the suspenseful twists kept me turning pages. The ending was satisfying, with a hint of more to come in the series.

Overall, I’m giving A Captive Situation four stars. It’s a dark, passionate, and thrilling mafia romance that I’d recommend to readers who enjoy emotionally charged stories with strong characters and plenty of spice.

This was a wild and hilarious ride! We love a feisty slightly delulu FMC over here. Combined with a burn the world down for her MMC? Team Sawyer and Jake forever in this thrilling, but definitely not your typical, mafia romance. This was my first book by this author and let me tell you, did not disappoint. The characters inner monologues, very quippy, slightly crazy, not at all demure 😂

I really enjoyed this third installment in the Kings of New York series, which works perfectly as a standalone. Sawyer’s journey from heartbreak to finding herself caught in a dangerous mafia world kept me hooked from start to finish. Jake’s protective nature and their sizzling chemistry made for an intense and compelling romance. The story strikes a great balance between fast-paced action and emotional depth, with plenty of steamy moments to keep things exciting. What truly sets this book apart is how it blends raw danger with genuine vulnerability, making the characters feel authentic and relatable. The unexpected humor from Sawyer’s family added a lighthearted charm that I appreciated. This isn’t just a mafia romance it’s about finding strength and unexpected connections in the chaos. I couldn’t put it down.

The mix of suspense, romance, and quirky family dynamics makes this a standout read for fans of both mafia dramas and passionate love stories. If you enjoy forced proximity tropes with a side of heart and humor, this book is definitely worth your time.

This is not your typical mafia romance! If you in the mood for humorous antics with spicy natures then this is the book for you. Sawyer is trying to recover from a “wasted” relationship that has gone bad, but on a trip to the Big Apple she gets more than she bargained for as her simple life gets entangled in the web of the mafia. I received an advanced reader copy of this book for free from NetGalley , the publisher and the author and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are my own.
So let me start by saying Sawyer is hilarious ( I act enjoyed her talking to herself) yet a bit of a stalker as she’s overcoming her personal life “crisis.” Her first met up with Jake is probably one of the most unique yet insane introductions that I’ve read in a while. I love that while she thinks of herself as plain and simple she’s so much more than that. She’s funny and sweet with a loving nature, but quite strong and at times fierce , especially when it comes to those she considers family.
Now I wasn’t sure that I was going to like Jake, having met his slightly abrupt self in previous stories and especially with his somewhat higher than others attitude ( maybe the ex-cop mentality was hard to let go at first), but you quickly learn that there’s more to him than meets the eye. While not traditional in any shape, way or form their relationship is actually an nice blend as they each balance the craziness of each other.
This is a bit of a insta romance between Sawyer and Jake with lots of heat,right from the start, and plenty of action, both in the bedroom and with the mafia dealings. This is part of a series so those familiar with the Kings of New York books will be happy to see familiar faces, but the author explains enough so those of you new to it won’t be lost. My only issue was the beginning seemed a bit quick, but dealing with life and death scenarios, it’s not that out of place. 4 stars

Sawyer is in New York for different reasons, but the main one is she needed to escape the catastrophe that was her previous relationship. She spent too many years on a man that was not loyal and a bid dirtbag, but she has plans in her mind and yet those seem to go sideways. She is a hot mess through the majority of this book and when Jake first meets her, he legit thinks she is a lunatic. Jake has had his fair share of horrible things happen to him and more is yet to come, but he wasn’t prepared to have Sawyer being a part of it and they are forced to spend time together which intensifies their attraction. This story was intense and I enjoyed the mafia aspect of it, the family dynamic was a lot to take in. At times Sawyer and her family were too overwhelming and tried to steal the show which I didn’t think we needed, but other times I enjoyed the crazy aunts. I loved Jake with his broody attitude because he was sick and tired of taking orders, but Sawyer made some very questionable decisions that had me wondering if she wasn’t truly certifiably insane which annoyed me. She is 36 years old and acting as if she half that age at times. Overall, I loved the twists and the way that Jake handled everything.

2.5 stars

Mafia
Instalust
Lots of kidnapping


Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. Sawyer is 36 but I would believe 18 more. Her boyfriend got her best friend pregnant so she's running away to find a cousin in New York she's never met before and ends up in loads of trouble. I think she's kidnapped 3 times?! throughout this 1 short book. Twice by our MMC even.
Their chemistry is non existent and I honestly was hoping they didn't end up together in the end and something else happened. The story was very choppy and repetitive.

I did enjoy the narrators and thought the audio itself was enjoyable and fast paced.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for access to the ALC + ARC

Dark romance has never really been my thing, including mafia romance, but the way Tijan writes it? I've always loved it, I can never put them down, no matter how dark, how twisted, she writes these tropes in a way that I will eat them up and rate them five stars. Tijan is the one who I would try any trope, even ones I otherwise wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole, and I love when I find authors I can trust.

Jake repeatedly kidnaps Sawyer to save her life, and she continues to not believe the risk of being killed so it's a fun game of cat & mouse, stalking, and more that is inherently so fun! Jake is in the middle of a massive mafia family war when his family puts a hit out on him, and a new crime boss is trying to take over.

One thing I loved about this book is that Sawyer's family is the crazy, fun, elders from a small town book and I gotta say, I'd love to see Tijan write a romantic comedy because she'd excel at it! I loved how crazy they were and the lengths they would go to save Sawyer. This book kinda left off on a cliffhanger so I cannot wait to see what comes in the next book!

This book is very typical Tijan. If you are already a fan, then you will like this book. It rounded out the series for me but book 2 was the best in my opinion.

Fun Facts/tropes: This is a mafia romance with forced proximity, touch her and die, anti-hero vibes (anti-hero may be a little redundant given its mafia but Jake is objectively a bad dude.

The pacing: Fairly decent pacing for this one. I feel like you really need to read the other two to really understand this book but it is pretty action packed from the beginning.

The characters: Sawyer is pretty great. I love her. She is going through something and really lets the stuff happening to Jake sweep her up. If she wasn’t in a hard place, I doubt this book would have worked because the plot is wackadoodle in the best way. Jake is a pretty standard grumpy, tortured mafia guy. If you are looking for lines he won’t cross, you won’t find them.

Sawyer’s family is minorly annoying, mostly because I was interested in seeing more of Jake and Sawyer. But I understand why they did what they did. If I had a family member I thought was in crisis, I would fly across the country too.

The romance/relationship: We start off the first chapter with insta-lust for both characters which is the only way a high tension plot works because you have to have something driving the relationship. Do I think people are in love at the end of a book that takes place over the course of a week, probably not, but I def enjoyed the ride. But they are both strong characters and I loved the push and pull of them trying to establish boundaries.

The future: I’m not sure if I want what could be the fourth book of this series. The MMC would probably be the villain of this book and he was a terrible asshole. But Tijan took great pains to say he was super-hot and his presumptive love interest is a really interesting character. I’ll probably still read it if it happens lol.

This is book 3 in the Kings of New York series but
I was easily able to pick up and read as a standalone and my first read by Tijan.
The premise of this book - a bold romance about two people wrestling with emotional trauma, thrown into a deadly--and heated--power dynamic when the mafia comes after them both.
I found this story to be action packed and spicy! ! loved the heavy family dynamics and the strong personalities.
I may have yelled no!! Once or twice at some of the decisions, much like I have while watching a movie. I appreciate how quick paced the story was and the clean ending.

𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗄𝖾𝖽 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖻𝖾𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀! 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗆𝖾𝗍 𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗋𝗎𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝖺 𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗎𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗂𝖼 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗂𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗇𝗈 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗎𝗇𝖽𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗇𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗌𝗎𝖼𝗁 𝗉𝖺𝗂𝗇 𝗆𝖺𝖽𝖾 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝖾𝖾𝗅 𝖺𝗅𝗈𝗇𝖾. 𝖠 𝖼𝗋𝖺𝗓𝗒 𝗆𝖾𝖾𝗍 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 𝗍𝗎𝗋𝗇𝖾𝖽 𝗂𝗇𝗍𝗈 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗒 𝗌𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄. 𝖣𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝗐𝖺𝗂𝗍 𝗍𝗈 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌!
#𝗍𝗂𝗃𝖺𝗇 #𝖼𝖺𝗉𝗍𝗂𝗏𝖾𝗌𝗂𝗍𝗎𝖺𝗍𝗂𝗈𝗇 #𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 #𝖽𝖺𝗋𝗄𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 #𝗆𝖺𝖿𝗂𝖺 #𝖿𝗈𝗋𝖼𝖾𝖽𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗑𝗂𝗆𝗂𝗍𝗒 #𝗏𝖺𝗅𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗉𝗋

A Captive Situation by Tijan has a gripping and emotionally charged storyline. This one follows Sawyer who finds herself in a city far from home, trying to escape the heartbreak of seeing her best friend marry her college sweetheart. The betrayal from them both really cut Sawyer deep and she struggled with it.

She finds herself riding the subway, seemingly on the verge of a breakdown. I did find this rather unusual, given she was expecting people to break out into song. I was quite surprised when I found out her age. Her behaviour was that of someone who was much younger.

It is on the subway that Sawyer sees Jake. Right away she is intrigued. I did find their insta-attraction a bit unusual, but I did push through.

Tijan's writing style is unique, with vivid descriptions and a strong sense of atmosphere that brings the story to life. She weaves a tale of love, danger, and suspense as the protagonist becomes entangled in a series of events that lead to her being kidnapped by Jake.

The way in which she was kidnapped also, felt a bit odd. Sawyer finds herself in the police station after stalking a cousin she has not yet met. This is where she runs into Jake again and his cousin.

The chemistry between Sawyer and Jake is palpable, and their interactions are filled with tension, humour, and undeniable attraction. The plot is fast-paced and full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged.

Overall a decent read for readers of contemporary romance and romantic suspense.

A fun, mysterious, romance! Sawyer and Jake had an interesting meeting. From there, these two struggle to navigate the situation they are in.

I loved this book. I love how Jake and Sawyer met. And everything that happened after was hilarious. Poor Sawyer goes to New York for one thing and ends up entangled in something else completely.
Sawyers family is something else. The way Jake describes them is hilarious. The way Sawyer’s family text is out of control. Jake’s cousins are exactly how he describes them. The things he says to his uncle when he’s trying to get answers is something else.
I love how things heat up instantly, all the action and every twist and turn.
I highly recommend this book.

A Captive Situation by Tijan continues her King of New York series about warring mafia families. Jake Worthing is an ex (dirty) cop and de facto head of the Worthing mafia family, and he is begrudgingly (and temporarily) allied with the other two local mafia families. While picking up his cousin from the local precinct, he meets Sawyer, a tourist who has come to the city to escape after her fiancé dumped her for her best friend. To make herself seem less pathetic, she's also in town to try to connect with a cousin she's never met, to try to mend the rift in her family, only she wound up in a police station after a semi-public meltdown. But now there's a problem--Jake has a bounty on his head, and after she's seen with him, her life is now in danger, too. So Jake does what any good mafia boss would do in that situation--kidnaps the beautiful woman for her own safety.

Is it dark? A little. Violent? Sure. But it was just as addicting, propulsive, and sexy as the first two books. If you love mafia romance, this series is a must read. I've loved every installment.