This one had me hooked from the start. Sawyer and Jake’s story was action packed and intense. They had such good banter and instant chemistry. This mafia/forced proximity/hate to love romance was so good. I enjoyed these characters so much. Four stars

I love it when I start the month with a good book! And after this brilliant story, all the other stories in June will have very big shoes to fill 🤭

Jake and Sawyer’s story will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions, doubled by the suspense and action filled tempo, everything makes this book absolutely addictive!

If you read this book you will meet Jake, an ex cop turned Mafia boss, who is equally dangerous, possessive, alpha, burn-the-world-to-protect-his-lunatic, tender and swoon worthy. Then you will have the light of his eyes, Sawyer, that is a feisty and sweet and so strong, a little lunatic that is perfect for the third king of New York.

I loved to discover the crazy warm family of Sawyer, that rallied at her side with a fierceness and determination only true family can do. And getting to see the other characters from the series was an extra bonus. It got me missing them and their stories.

I highly recommend this book and series. If you have to choose one book to read this month, get this one! It is a fantastic read!

FMC Sawyer moves to NYC after discovering that her long time boyfriend has been cheating on her with her best friend. She meets a policeman named Jake with Mafia ties and gets caught up in some trouble when she witnesses someone trying to kill Jake. An opposites attract, Mafia romance with an HEA.

I don’t know if I took too much time between this series or I just wasn’t into this story as much as i was for the other two.

I felt lost for a lot of it in my own mind. Going back and forth on how I felt about the characters vs how the whole story line was flowing. Maybe at a different point I would have liked this more :(

This wasn’t my fav of the group but still a good story overall.

Gritty, Intense, Spicy and Sensational!!

Oh wow!
This was pure entertainment.

Sawyer has gone to NY to connect with a cousin she does not know due to a mysterious family rift. But it could also be that she is distancing herself from her ex-fiance, and ex-boss who has impregnated the woman he is cheating with (Sawyers ex-best friend) Yes, that’s a lot!

Jake is from a mafia family, but a NYC cop - or was. He is picking up his cousin from the station, who needs to go to rehab, when he sees Sawyer who was pulled in for lurking around her cousin's office. THey end up traveling together and a target on Jake is suddenly also on Sawyer. He takes her, for her own protection.

Both these characters have a complex and interesting back story and are incendiary together. Many levels to this story making the reader's journey compelling, exhilarating, and hilarious. Fully satisfying.

*Mafia
*Bad Boy/Good Girl
*Enemies to Lovers
*Anti-hero
*Bodyguard
*Opposites Attract
*Touch Her and Die

Tijan’s “Kings of New York” series is my first time diving into mafia romance, and I’m all in for it. “A Captive Situation” is the third book, but it works really well as a standalone—Tijan does a great job summarizing what you missed from the previous books.

Jake is a former cop now stepping into what seems to be his rightful place as the head of his family’s “business”.

But that decision turns his life upside down when he unexpectedly brings Sawyer into the mix by “having to” kidnap her more than once. Sawyer’s a gal from out of town with a bucket list of New York City adventures—she’s looking to shake things up and start fresh after her long-term boyfriend cheats on her with her best friend.

It’s a fast-paced story packed with action, new side characters—some of whom are quite hilarious—and plenty of hot, close moments between Sawyer and Jake. They’re opposites who really attract, and their differences only make you root for them more. Their proximity sparks the sexual tension you crave, even amid the serious mafia drama.

If you know me, you know I also love the bromance among these mafia guys—how they hate each other, depend on each other, and then go right back to hating each other again. I loved seeing Tracy and Ashton again; they’re a hoot!

Good read. I enjoyed this book, it is part of the Kings of New York series. This is Jake and Sawyer's story. While this book is considered a standalone, I think a reader would benefit from reading the previous books. I recommend the book even as a standalone. It has an HEA. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

A Captive Situation is a standalone in a series, that being said I haven't read the others and felt like Ai was missing out on some character backstories but I was able to follow along just fine.
It was a little slow to start, but once it did, it was absolute fire.
Loved the insta-lust, and Swayers inner monolog brilliant! Jake is absolutely delicious. A fun read!

Thank you to the Author and the PR company that gave us readers and whomever the opportunity to read this 3rd book of this series.

Jake Worthing a dirty cop and in the mafia mmets Sawyer in the train station and lets just say the attraction sparks of course. But holy moly do the situation for the two turn up. Sawyer is caught in the middle and now they are both collateral damages. They are now being hunted by the Mafia. Can they fair the streets of New York? This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed reading this bad boy and highly recommend reading this book and this sereis.

This was an entertaining read!

Little angst, little action and suspense, a lot of steam... it was a great combination that made for a fun read.

I enjoyed the storyline and writing and would definitely recommend this read to others.

A spec-freakin-tacular must read! This is smart, sexy, there are bullets flying, intrigue, a really hot dirty cop/mafia king, a surprising number of kidnappings, a woman who came to New York looking for a cousin and a little time to regroup and leaves with confidence, sass, and a piece of her heart left back in a crummy warehouse, and a family that is all about fierce protectiveness, that’s loud, brash and throws a romcom vibe straight into a truly fantastic mafia read and god damn does it work. It just feels fresh and fun as it’s making your thighs clench, your morally grey loving heart pound with satisfaction, and your insides straight up liquify at how far Jake is willing to go for Sawyer, and it absolutely should not be missed!
I can’t even describe how much I loved this read. It has it all, it’s all incredibly well done, and it just hits in every category; charm, humor, spice, danger, great characters, found family, blood family, mine, it’s all right here in a book with a plot that sucks you in, tugs a few heart strings, throws a few did not see that coming twits your way, and some really great character growth. Sawyer and Jake will both surprise you as you make your way through the story, just being way more than what you first expect, finding pieces of themselves and new facets that take them from the girl Jake needs to protect to the one who he’ll always protect because he loves her but has a few tricks up her sleeve, and gives Jake a clarity in his life that he needed more than he knew, I love them together. But the seesaw between brutal mafia read and invasion of the overbearing aunts, pure brilliance, it sounds like it shouldn’t work but it more than works, and it gives this book a unique feeling when you’re reading that makes you love it even more. Can’t recommend this one enough

This book was pretty ok. A mafia, forced proximity, chaos and danger throughout this book.Sawyer is fresh out of a break up with her cheating fiancé who got her best friend pregnant. She meets jack while on her way to meet her cousin and things take off from there. It’s a fast paced book I love their chemistry together.

I love Tijan’s writing, so I was excited to read this one. It took me a little longer to get into it, but oh man once I did I couldn’t put it down! I love Sawyer and Jake‘s relationship. The chemistry between them were instant… If your like me and love mafia romance, laughing, and spice you have to read this one!

The story started out a bit odd and slow but started to pick up as it started to pull you in. It’s full of angst and emotion. I enjoyed the chemistry and the characters. The storyline will keep you hooked. It’s entertaining read and looking to reading more.

I am a huge fan of anything Tijan writes. A Captive Situation is part of her Kings of New York series and can be read as a standalone. Here we have Jake and Sawyer, two strangers who find themselves in a captive situation.  Sawyer’s life has recently been upended as her ex and her ex best-friend are getting married. Now in New York, the last things she expects meeting an intriguing man, witnessing something she should not have and being kidnapped.

Sawyer is not in a good place. She thought a change may be just what she needed, but Jake was not on her bingo card. Jake was protective, arrogant and determined. Their connection was on the insta side, but it was also steamy and fun watching them interact. Jake is finding hew new normal in the mafia world and what that means. Their journey was captivating and had me at the edge of my seat.

Happy reading!

A Captive Situation is the 3rd book in the Kings of New York series. This is a dark mafia romance and may contain some content that may be sensitive to some so please check the trigger warnings before reading. Sawyer finds herself in New York City to find a a cousin she has never met before, trying to fix a rift in her family all while running from her own issues. Sawyer finds herself in dangerous situations, one right after the other, with a stranger she is drawn too. Jake finds himself in a position he doesn’t want and on the wrong side of a contract. Will Jake be able to keep himself and Sawyer safe? Will they be able to fight their attraction or will they succumb to it? Enjoy this emotional rollercoaster full of ups, downs, heartache, growth, discoveries and spice!!! Fantastic addition and can’t wait to see what comes next!!!

4.5/5 Stars

Tijan never misses, and A Captive Situation is another hit. Book 3 in the Kings of New York series, this one can definitely be read as a standalone—but longtime readers will love diving back into this intense, suspenseful world. This book brings us mafia, kidnapping, and romance—all the chaos, drama, and chemistry you'd expect from a Tijan story.

I’ve been eagerly waiting for Jake and Sawyer’s story since it was announced, and it did not disappoint. Jake is the perfect grumpy, morally gray ex-cop—possessive, protective, loyal, and a total alpha-hole. Sawyer is all sunshine and sass, even while recovering from a brutal betrayal by her ex and best friend…and being kidnapped by Jake. But honestly, it worked out for her—the instant attraction between them was undeniable, and her nickname “Little Lunatic” was spot on. Sawyer was super relatable and easy to root for, and I have to say, I wouldn’t mind being kidnapped by Jake either.

Their banter was hilarious, their chemistry electric, and the spice? Absolutely fire. Bonus points for Sawyer’s outrageous, hilarious aunts—they were a riot.

The ending totally blindsided me—and that cliffhanger?? Please tell me we’re getting a book 4! I need more from this world.

The Captive Situation is the third book in the Kings of New York series but can be enjoyed as a standalone. Jake and Sawyer are an unconventional pairing, yet their chemistry makes for a gripping dynamic. Their journey is marked by peril and tension, creating a push-and-pull relationship that keeps readers hooked, rooting for them to find their happily-ever-after.

Sawyer is a fascinating character—despite her age, she retains a sense of naivety that leads her to react unexpectedly in high-stakes situations. But Jake understands her in a way no one else does. Their early interactions are laced with hostility and sharp banter, masking the undeniable attraction simmering beneath the surface.

Jake embodies the morally gray hero—intense, ruthless, and fiercely protective. He keeps his emotions locked away, but Sawyer manages to pull out a softer side in him, making him determined to shield her at any cost.

Brimming with heart-stopping suspense, passion, and danger, The Captive Situation is a compelling read with complex characters. Jake and Sawyer’s enemies-to-lovers arc unfolds with drama and deep emotion, keeping readers on edge as the story hurtles toward its breathtaking conclusion.

NGL, I’m a big fan of Jake… Sawyer, is a little more complicated, but I do appreciate her and think she provides a nice foil for Jake and allows Jake to do Jake things… They just work. That said. Jake is the sort of antihero here. He’s the ‘good guy’ who really isn’t. He’s historically been a fence sitter, and I’m not even going to say some of the stuff that goes down, but things are about to get even more complicated in NYC. Sawyer is the small-town girl with the cheating ex. She’s been ‘done wrong’ and needs a chance to reset and reconnect. Her path crossing with Jake’s was kismet, and the two were just inevitable. I love that he was drawn to her and also wanted to protect her. She is the catalyst that pushes him to choose who he is and where his loyalty lies… And it also forces others to do the same. Sawyer’s whole family was a *vibe* I was here for. The bombs that were dropped left me eager for Kings #4.

I usually really enjoy Tijan's work, but A Captive Situation left me feeling more confused than captivated. The story was incredibly fast-paced and intense—almost overwhelmingly so—but I found myself struggling to connect the dots, especially at the beginning. To be fair, I jumped into this book without reading the first two in the series, so that might have played a role in my disorientation. Still, I felt like I was constantly trying to catch up, and that made it hard to fully invest in the characters or their journey.

Sawyer, the FMC, read much younger than she was supposed to be, which made it difficult for me to connect with her perspective. And Jake—he felt like three different people throughout the book. His personality and motivations shifted so much that I had a hard time understanding who he really was or what he stood for.

The story didn’t really start to pick up for me until about halfway through. By then, I had already checked out emotionally. The mix of insta-love, hate, and intense trauma didn’t land for me this time. I wanted to care more, to feel more, but it just didn’t click.

I know Tijan can deliver emotionally gripping and complex characters—I’ve seen it before. But this one didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Maybe I would’ve felt differently if I had read the first two books, but as a standalone experience, I was left more frustrated than fulfilled.