I would give this 3 stars there were lots of parts that I loved, it was fast paced and the mmc was so attentive throughout, I personally found it very insta lust/insta love which wasn't a fave. It was a mafia romance but definitely not dark compared to a lot of books I've read. I also really liked the narrators of this audiobook

I received the audio book ARC and enjoyed it even though I wasn’t a fan of the male narrator. He didn’t give off the vibes for a mafia boss voice. I did enjoys the audio book pacing and the female narrator. I enjoyed the dual POVs but I didn’t like how they started each POV before the “present time” of the past chapter. It was a bit confusing.

The miscommunication troupe popped its head in and I usually don’t like it, but it pushed the plot. The second miscommunication about Andrew is a bit annoying. And Ava’s crash out and then ability to cope so quickly with her brother’s death was a bit frustrating for the development of her character. The sister Bella, trying to get Ava to replace was really confusing to me, and I wish we could have seen that plot develop more. Was Bella jealous, working with their father or just a very terrible sister? I also wasn’t a huge fan of the epilogue, I think it was sweet they tried to court, but wish they would have done it longer to be more efficient with it. Overall, this book wasn’t your typical dark mafia and did not remind me of Ana Huang.

I

5⭐️ 2🌶️ 5🎧 This book had me in a choke hold from the very first chapter. It was an emotional roller coaster that had me laughing, crying, and feeling ALL the emotions and saying ““oh sh*t” many times! Please check the trigger warnings, there are some heavy topics discussed.

Ava was a strong character who was set on living her life on her terms, not her father’s or the man he arranged for her to marry and I loved her for it! Nick was head over heels for Ava from the moment he saw her and he was so great at not letting her forget it or think she wasn’t worthy of attention or love. They went through some very difficult situations in such a short amount of time and I am so happy they found their HEA!

This is my first time listening to Jack Calihan and Allie Shae and they did a great job bringing these characters to life!

📚 Book Review 📚
TIES THAT BIND | Nicole Knight
⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️️
Publication Date: 9/7/2021
Narrator: Jack Calihan and Allie Shae
Genre: Mafia Romance

Themes:
- Mafia Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- Arranged Marriage

Overall: 3/5
A mafia romance with an arranged marriage romance.

Plot: 3/5
The plot was good. It had a strong start, an "eh" middle, and an unexpected ending and epilogue.

Characters: 3/5
I love how fiesty the FMC is, but wanted a bit more "touch her and die" energy from the MMC.

Humor: 2/5
A couple of funny moments, but it was a bit too dark (emotionally) to be comedic.

Spice: 3/5
These two hit it off in the spice department. Hot. Open door M/F.

Narration: 4/5
The narration was great. The voice actors worked well together, and their diction and tone are great.

#TiesThatBind #NicoleKnight #JackCalihan #AlllieShae
#Audiobook #NetGalley
#romance #romancereader
#EnemiestoLovers #mafia #mafiaromance #arrangedmarriage
#HeFallsFirst #ForcedProximity #TouchHerandDie #Spice #HEA
#book #books #read #reading #reader #reviews #bookreview #bookreviews #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Ties That Bind Us was dramatic, trope-heavy, and totally over the top — but honestly, that’s kind of the fun of it. Yes, it leaned hard into the clichés (hello, mafia romance checklist), and there were moments where I wished for a bit more depth or polish. But once I gave in to the chaos, I couldn’t stop listening. Nick and Ava had great chemistry, the banter was solid, and the audio narration really brought it to life. It’s not flawless, but if you’re in the mood for an intense and far fetched escape, this one delivers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 stars
Rated R for language, violence, sexual content, and adult themes.

I went in expecting a decent mafia romance and came out obsessed. It had that gritty mafia edge I didn’t even know I needed.

This book surprised me in the best way. Ava is a total firecracker, and Nick Caponelli? Whew. That man has no business being that bossy and that hot. The enemies-to-lovers tension? Chef’s kiss. Add in an arranged marriage and rival mafia families? Yeah, I was hooked.

I listened to the audiobook, and narrators Jack Calihan and Allie Shae were so good. They brought the heat, the angst, and all those intense family dynamics to life.

Highly recommend if you love:
• Forced proximity
• Banter with bite
• Forbidden romance energy
• Alpha males who fall hard
• FMCs who don’t back down

Already counting down until the next in the Caponelli saga!

Ties That Bind Us was a quick and fun mafia romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. I haven’t read a lot of mafia romances, but I think it’s interesting and a subject matter that I’ll continue to explore. I loved both of the main characters and the story was simple to follow while holding my attention throughout. This was my first book by Nicole Knight and I look forward to reading more from her. I listened to the audiobook and both of the narrators did a wonderful job. 💖

I would like to thank Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

My official rating of this book is 4.5 stars and it kills me to say that. It VERY easily could have been 5 stars, but there are 2 things in this book that can be very triggering for readers. The FMC is a recovering addict and there is an on page relapse. Later, she gets pregnant and has a car accident related miscarriage. The lack of trigger warnings, particularly for such common triggers, is unacceptable and the only reason this is not a 5 star read.

I just finished the audiobook and wow, I couldn’t stop listening. If you’re into enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriage drama with that dark, irresistible mafia edge, this one’s definitely for you. Think Ana Huang meets L.J. Shen with a little extra danger and heat.

Ava Moretti is fierce and stubborn in all the best ways. Total mafia princess vibes with a mind of her own. And Nick Caponelli? Whew. Intense, commanding, and impossible not to fall for once you hear that voice. The narrators nailed the chemistry between them, it was electric. That one-night-stand-turned-rival-families-turned-arranged-marriage twist? Yeah… I was hooked.

The story has just the right mix of steamy scenes, emotional moments, and action to keep it moving. I especially loved how Ava struggled with choosing between love and loyalty. It felt real without slowing the pace.

Why not 5 stars? A few scenes felt a bit over the top or a little rushed, but honestly, the narration and the story were so gripping I barely noticed.

Overall, it’s a super entertaining listen, dramatic, sexy, and totally addictive. Can’t wait to dive into the next audiobook in the Caponelli saga!

Ties That Bind Us
Written by Nicole Knight
Narrators: Allie Shae & Jack Callahan

4.5/5 ⭐️ ; 3/5 🌶️
Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Age Gap, Mafia, Enemies to Lovers, One Night Stand, Secret Identity

This was my first introduction to Nicole Knight and I absolutely enjoyed the ride. The story starts out with Mafia princess Ava trying to outrun her family expectations and past trauma when she meets Nick- heir to the rival family legacy… only they agree to a one night stand… and neither has any idea who the other is… but they share one night together before Ava slips out—seemingly undetected.

Nick however is obsessed with finding out who his mystery woman is… and it’s all too convenient that they both have family obligations to fulfill that just so happen to bring them back together....

The story was great and the narrators brought the banter, chemistry and passion to life.

Thank you @Dreamscape_Media for the opportunity to listen to an ALC of this audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Nicole Knight's Ties That Bind Us introduces readers to a steamy, action-packed mafia romance. Ava Moretti, a headstrong mafia princess, finds herself in an arranged marriage with Nick Caponelli, a rival family's heir. Their fiery dynamic and the high-stakes world they navigate make for an enthralling listen.

Highlights:

🔥 Intense Chemistry: The push-and-pull between Ava and Nick keeps the tension high.

🎙️ Engaging Narration: The audiobook brings the characters and their world vividly to life.

🕵️ Intriguing Plot: The blend of romance and mafia politics adds depth to the story.

Conclusion:

A captivating start to the Caponelli saga, perfect for fans of dark romance and complex characters.

If you like erotic drammatic mafia books, this one is for you!
I enjoyed the book overall even though it was quite predictable at times and the tropes were too many and a bit all over the place. Ava was very whiney and sometimes I quite disliked her, but Nick was lovely…the perfect mafia lord.
I would recommend this to everyone looking for a light read that doesn’t need much concentration.

This book was amazing. i was pulled in right from the start. the chemistry between the FMC and the MMC are off the charts. absolutely fabulous storyline. and the spicy scenes just yummy. The narrator truly brought the characters to life.

What started out as a one night stand quickly becomes an arranged marriage with 2 people on rival mafia groups.
A union to mend the rift and combine forces against a rival Russian mafia group.
Ava and nick defeat every odd thrown at them including their own families and fight tooth and nail to protect themselves and their love.

This starts out as a forbidden love, turns to an arranged marriage.
A perfect example of family are who you choose not the one you’re born into!

This was a very different read to my norm but I did enjoy it.
The spice is only 🌶️1/5 it’s pretty much a fade to black so if your looking for that you won’t get it here it’s wholly plot driven

The narrators was great and they worked perfectly!

Thank you netgalley and dreamscape media for the arc in exchange for an honest review

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️

The beginning started off good. I enjoyed how they met and the build up to the arranged marriage. I was initially interested in this book because I have been wanting to read a mafia romance for a while now and it’s been a long time for me. In my opinion the mafia aspects seemed to be background noise for the plot, I did not find it prominent. I did think the romance was sweet. There were times where the MMC would scold or yell at the FMC because of her addiction, which then brought me out of the romance. I understand that the author was trying to put out the feeling of him being protective but in my opinion it did not translate like that for me. One plot point that I disliked fully is that the author mentions a real criminal organization in the book. I personally don’t like that especially since this is a romance book.

I listened to the audiobook. I enjoyed the female narrator a lot. I think she did an amazing job. I think the male narrator did a great job as well.

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

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Okay, this book got me. If you’re into mafia romances with a twist, Ties That Bind Us hits different. First off — he falls first (yes please), and it all starts with a one-night stand that spirals into so much more.

The MMC? Not your typical hot-headed mafia don. He’s calm, kind, and honestly the most emotionally mature mafioso I’ve read. Total green flag energy.

Now the FMC… she did trigger me at times. I won’t lie , but she eventually came around. Her growth made it worth sticking through the rough patches.

Heads up: this one’s got some heavy stuff ,baby loss, drug use, and some real emotional pain. It’s not light, but it is powerful.

My only gripe? The ending felt a bit rushed, and the FMC’s family storyline needed more closure. I’m seriously hoping for a follow-up because there’s definitely more to explore.

Overall, I devoured this. If you’re into emotional mafia reads with a unique dynamic and a soft-hearted don, add this to your list ASAP. 💔🔥


❤️shaye.readss

I think I listened to this for 15 min and kept spacing off, so I DNF. The female narrator just couldn't keep my attention and from what I did hear it wasn't what I thought it would be from the description. I appreciate the chance at the ALC, but it just was not my cup of tea. Maybe I'm better off reading this one rather than listening to it.

1 ⭐️

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7600818132 Honestly I should have DNFed this but finished it so I could give a review since this was an audio ARC!

I enjoyed the audio the narrators were great. I’m a sucker for dual narration. It flowed nicely too just didn’t enjoy the story.