This book was incredible. I listened to audio and thr narrator voices fit their characters well. I giggled, I cried, I wanted to murder her father myself. Would absolutely read again

Overall this was an enjoyable read. Many parts felt cliche and just a bit too tidy as far as family issues the two families are fighting about. Nick, as great as he is, was almost TOO kind and sweet? Especially for a mafia romance. Ava just almost too easily trusting of Nick, which was fine but like I said, the plot just seemed almost too easy.

Thank you netgalley for this audio book in exchange for my honest review. I recently finished this audio book 'The Ties that Binds us' by nicole knight, honestly it was just okay. a mafia enemies-to-lovers story that originally gained popularity on Wattpad, and while it had some entertaining moments, it ultimately left me feeling underwhelmed. The tension between the main characters had potential, but unfortunately, the chemistry felt forced at times. I expected more depth, especially given the intense backdrop of crime and betrayal, but the plot often leaned too heavily on clichés and predictable tropes. the narrators did a great job yet Some of the dialogue felt awkward, and a few of the emotional moments fell flat, lacking the emotional weight I was hoping for.

Ties That Bind Us is a deliciously intense dive into the world of mafia romance, and Nicole Knight's debut absolutely delivers. From the very first page, I was hooked by the sizzling chemistry between Ava Moretti and Nick Caponelli. The fact that their families are enemies only makes their connection that much more addictive.

Knight does an excellent job balancing steamy romance with high-stakes tension. Ava is a fierce, independent heroine with a sharp tongue and a wounded heart, while Nick is the perfect brooding alpha—dangerous, loyal, and surprisingly vulnerable. Their arranged marriage trope is executed with real emotional stakes, and I loved watching them push past resentment and history to find something real.

The dual POV gave great insight into both characters, and the dialogue crackled with intensity. I only wish the mafia plotlines had been a bit more fleshed out. At times, it felt like the romance took over completely, and I was craving a little more danger and depth in the underworld politics.

Still, this book is a must-read for fans of enemies-to-lovers, arranged marriage, and morally gray love interests. Knight’s writing is sharp, sensual, and addictive—I’ll definitely be reading the next book in the Caponelli saga!

Second in command of one of the most powerful Mob families in the city Nick Caponelli is one half of the unwanted arranged marriage ordered by his father to protect his family from the growing
threat from the Russians.
the problem is he’s already gone for a mystery woman he had a one night stand with weeks ag0.
turns out he’s marrying her sister..

Tropes include: one night stand,, arranged marriage,, enemies to lovers and more.

So hot. Such a fantastic book. Loved it so much. Devoured it in one sitting. Thank you for letting me read in advance. Stalking this author now.

Book: 3⭐️
Audiobook: 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!

Ties That Bind Us was my first-ever mafia romance, and it was definitely an entertaining introduction to the genre. The story pulled me in right away—it’s fast-paced, dramatic, and filled with chemistry. I really liked Ava and Nick as characters; their dynamic was fun to follow, and I was rooting for them throughout.

While it didn’t completely blow me away (just a personal preference!), I still found it very enjoyable. It had all the elements you’d want in a steamy, enemies-to-lovers romance with some emotional depth and twists along the way.

Where it really shined for me was the audiobook—I’d give it 4 stars. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the story and emotions to life, and it made the whole experience even more immersive.

If you’re a fan of Ana Huang or L.J. Shen, or just curious about the mafia romance genre, this is a great one to check out—especially in audio format!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Ties That Bind Us by Nicole Knight is a steamy, twist-filled mafia romance that had me hooked from the very first page. Ava Moretti and Nick Caponelli are electric together—fiery, stubborn, and full of chemistry. I loved how their accidental one-night stand spiraled into something so much more complicated (and dangerous) thanks to their family ties and the tangled web of mafia loyalties.

This book definitely doesn’t shy away from the spice—it’s fairly smutty, but in a way that still keeps the plot front and center. The steamy scenes don’t overshadow the tension, drama, or character development, which I really appreciated. There were some twists I didn’t see coming, and the pacing kept things moving without ever dragging.

And best of all? It had a satisfying happy ending—something I always hope for in books like this, especially with such high emotional (and literal) stakes.

A strong start to what looks like a promising series. I’ll definitely be picking up the next book in the Caponelli saga!

Audiobook review
Ties That Bind Us by Nicole Night

DNF at 40ish percent. I enjoyed the premise of the book however I could not get over the way the family addressed her drug use. Especially how her sister pushed her.

🤍 mafia romance
💍 arranged marriage

Ava Moretti is a mafia princess and has been raised by her father to be arranged to marry to a mafia king. Ava didn’t want this life for herself and was doing everything her father didn’t want her to do. But if she kept this up she would be married off to someone her father chose so she went on a date with someone to show she was more serious.

On her night out she met a gorgeous stranger and ended up spending the night with him instead of her date. This stranger asked her to stay till the morning but she left when he fell asleep. Ava kept on seeing the stranger at parties or other gatherings. Then she learned that the stranger was Nick Caponelli, the future don of their enemy, the Caponellis, and her husband.

I really enjoyed this mafia romance. There was always something happening in this book, so there was never a dull moment. I loved Ava and Nick and their connection.
If you like mafia romance or the arranged marriage trope, I would recommend this book.
I listened to this as an audiobook and the production was great. The narrators were really good and easy to understand.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Friends.. I think I need to give this one 2.5 stars, but I can't round it up to 3.
I had a tough time with this one, and I wanted to love it based on the description.
I think for me, the book just tried to do too much. Too many tropes wrapped into one book. Maybe if they had been interwoven a bit better, I would have enjoyed it more.
Our FMC, Ava, got on my nerves. I hate to say it, but she did.
MMC, Nick, was a bit better than Ava. I felt this character was a bit better developed.
I have enjoyed the mafia romances I have read in the past, but I swear, other than saying that they were mafia, I did not get the feeling of a mafia romance. There just wasn't much drama, destruction, power, or conflict in the context of mafia romance. It all just fell flat for me.
Nick was the best part of the book, but he alone was not enough to save the book.
The structure was also difficult. Because I wasn't able to be super engaged, I felt that it was hard to decipher who was saying what, which made me have to re-read, and I hate having to read something more than a few times in a book. The pace was also off for me, but I think that had more to do with formatting. It made it feel clunky. Just not a big fan of the writing. I think maybe because this is an ARC, there is still some editing to do.
Overall, just not a book for me.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.
Happy Reading!

This is everything I crave in a dark romance—intense, forbidden, and laced with danger. Set against the backdrop of two rival mafia families, this story delivers a blend of passion, betrayal, and loyalty that had me hooked.

The chemistry between the main characters crackles on every page. Their relationship is messy, raw, and so emotionally charged it made my heart race. Nicole Knight doesn’t hold back—she dives deep into the complexities of love born in the midst of violence and secrets, and she does it with stunning precision.

Now, I have to say—the male narrator’s voice in the audiobook didn’t quite land for me. It lacked the edge and emotional depth I was hoping for, especially for such a layered, tortured character. But honestly? The story was so good, I powered through and didn’t let it take away from the experience.

This book is dark romance at its best—dangerous, beautiful, and impossible to forget. If you love enemies-to-lovers stories with serious stakes and sizzling tension, must-read.

4.5/5
I LOVE a good mafia romance. I just ate this up. It was the perfect amount of spice, and exciting drama. I do think it was a bit longer than necessary

This is the first book I have read from this author. This was an arc book and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the ease of this book. The characters Ava and Nick went through great development and showed each other who they truly were through the story. If you like mafia romance then you will like this one. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

I was absolutely hooked from the start! Enemies-to-lovers plus marriage of convenience plus mafia? Yes please! Ava and Nick’s relationship is sharp and spicy! When I say I devoured this book let me tell you I listened in one sitting! I was intrigued the whole time, needing to know what happens next once the chapter ends.

Overall this is a beautifully written, emotionally resonant story about family, identity, and the power of forgiveness. Nicole Knight crafts complex, relatable characters and explores deep themes with honesty and grace. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after the last page. I couldn’t put it down!

ARC review Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Mafia romance and all that comes with it. Secrets, agendas, spice, alliances and lots of twists and turns. The second half of this book picked up the pace in a way i did not see coming. Really enjoyed it!

This is a Mafia romance. I am usually not into Mafia romance, but this one was so good it might have just changed my mind.

Two Mafia families, enemies, bind together with an arranged marriage. Loved it! 5 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

🥀𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞
🖤𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
☠️𝐌𝐚𝐟𝐢𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 story took me on a wild rollercoaster ride, and I savored every moment of it. Eva Moretti finds herself in a one-night stand with a charming stranger, only to discover that her father has arranged for her to marry him - the enigmatic Nick Caponelli, future Don of the Caponelli dynasty.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 the main characters were a little chaotic, I found their story addictive. The family drama and unexpected plot twists kept me hooked from the very beginning through to the end of the audiobook.

🎧𝐓𝐡𝐞 dual narration by Jack Calihan and Allie Shae brought the story to life beautifully. This is the first time I've listened to them and it won’t be the last!

𝐈𝐟 you're a fan of mafia romance mixed with plenty of juicy family drama, then this is the perfect story for you. Huge thanks to 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐊𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 and 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 for providing me with this audiobook. All opinions expressed here are my own.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟐𝟓⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 𝟑/𝟓🌶️
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟒.𝟓🎧

***I received this book through NetGalley***

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
⭐️ Mafia romance
⭐️ Arranged marriage
⭐️ One night stand turned into more

Triggers:
⭐️ miscarriage
⭐️ mafia related violence / death off page
⭐️ off page parental abuse

I really enjoyed the journey that Nick and Ava took us on! Their chemistry was amazing. Watching their story unfold really was a fun read. There were so many emotions throughout the book. Both nick and Ava grew individually while also growing as a couple as well. I highly recommend this book.

The drama!!! This book was like a soap opera in book form and it was wonderful. There was so much going on that there wasn’t a moment of boredom. The characters were fantastic and Nick was perfect.
The narrators were great and embodied their characters perfectly. The pacing was great and the voice acting was really good.