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Binds That Tie
A new book from New York Times Bestselling Author Kate Moretti
Big Al's Books & Pals 2015 Readers' Choice Award Winner
Love ties. Murder binds.
Maggie never felt as though she belonged until Chris Stevens showed her what true happiness meant. Ten years into their marriage, miscarriages and infidelities have scarred them both. Despite their perfect-couple image, Maggie can’t look at Chris with anything but resentment. When a charismatic stranger offers the opportunity for a little harmless flirtation, she jumps into the game.
But charm soon turns to malice, and a deadly split-second decision forces Maggie and Chris onto a dangerous path fraught with secrets, lies, and guilt. With no one else to turn to—no one she dares trust—Maggie will ultimately learn just how binding marital ties can be.
Big Al's Books & Pals 2015 Readers' Choice Award Winner
Love ties. Murder binds.
Maggie never felt as though she belonged until Chris Stevens showed her what true happiness meant. Ten years into their marriage, miscarriages and infidelities have scarred them both. Despite their perfect-couple image, Maggie can’t look at Chris with anything but resentment. When a charismatic stranger offers the opportunity for a little harmless flirtation, she jumps into the game.
But charm soon turns to malice, and a deadly split-second decision forces Maggie and Chris onto a dangerous path fraught with secrets, lies, and guilt. With no one else to turn to—no one she dares trust—Maggie will ultimately learn just how binding marital ties can be.
340 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2014
260 people are currently reading
1756 people want to read
About the author
Kate Moretti
12 books1,627 followersKate Moretti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and a dog. She’s worked in the pharmaceutical industry for ten years as a scientist, and has been an avid fiction reader her entire life.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
She enjoys traveling and cooking, although with two kids, a day job, and writing, she doesn’t get to do those things as much as she’d like.
Her lifelong dream is to buy an old house with a secret passageway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
May 20, 2014
Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. No other consideration was offered, expected or received.
This book is ... wow! It was almost impossible to put this book down. The suspense was intense. The storyline powerful. Some of the twists unexpected. The use of flashbacks was smooth, creative and informative. And with an ending that ...
Maggie and Chris have been married for some time and have been - unhappily may be too strong a word, but it will work for this - married for the last two years, ever since Maggie caught Chris cheating on her. One night, while out with friends, she meets a guy and they flirt. The next day, he texts her and they begin, what she feels is harmless, flirting for a couple of weeks. At the same time, she comes to the conclusion that she wants to make her marriage work ... and that is where everything goes wrong.
While doing the interview with Kate yesterday, she said something that really caught my attention: "With Binds That Tie, I wrote fairly unsympathetic characters." I had actually been wondering about whether that was her intention. You see, there's Maggie and Chris, Miranda and Jake, Logan ... and then several side characters, including two police officers, a judge, people they work with, and a short-stayed cell mate. At first I liked Maggie (sort of) and took issue with what Chris had done to her, which made me not really like him. Then I met Miranda (Maggie's older sister) and Jake. Now, Miranda made a few choices that I did not agree with, but I sympathized with her, especially the one part in the story where Maggie hasn't seen her in awhile and the first thing she does is notice all of Miranda's physical imperfections (this is how my sister is). Jake seems like a likable guy, but you realize in those flashbacks I spoke of earlier that he has his moments of not-niceness. He does seem sincere, though, in wanting to help his old friend and his sister-in-law out of this situation, but here comes another flashback, which leaves you with this bad taste in your mouth, wondering if you can trust him at all. And then there's Logan, the guy that ends up murdered - he seems like an interesting guy, a typical full-of-himself guy you would meet at a bar, but then he turns out to be terrifying. As the story progresses, I end up liking Chris, but being irritated with him for his stupidity, and disliking Maggie more than I disliked any of the other characters.
I really like the flow of the story. There are very few slow moments, so you're on the edge of your seat pretty much the whole book, once the that night in their house happens. When the cops knock on the door, you panic with them. It's well done, especially the way she doesn't switch point of view, but switches the narrator's focus to different characters, letting you know who in the chapter title.
There is actually so much that I want to say about this book, but I am not the one to go and give too much away, so, go up there to the top, press the little linky thing that takes you to Amazon or B&N or wherever it is that you buy your books from, purchase the book, read it, and then come back to me and we'll talk. :)
This book is ... wow! It was almost impossible to put this book down. The suspense was intense. The storyline powerful. Some of the twists unexpected. The use of flashbacks was smooth, creative and informative. And with an ending that ...
Maggie and Chris have been married for some time and have been - unhappily may be too strong a word, but it will work for this - married for the last two years, ever since Maggie caught Chris cheating on her. One night, while out with friends, she meets a guy and they flirt. The next day, he texts her and they begin, what she feels is harmless, flirting for a couple of weeks. At the same time, she comes to the conclusion that she wants to make her marriage work ... and that is where everything goes wrong.
While doing the interview with Kate yesterday, she said something that really caught my attention: "With Binds That Tie, I wrote fairly unsympathetic characters." I had actually been wondering about whether that was her intention. You see, there's Maggie and Chris, Miranda and Jake, Logan ... and then several side characters, including two police officers, a judge, people they work with, and a short-stayed cell mate. At first I liked Maggie (sort of) and took issue with what Chris had done to her, which made me not really like him. Then I met Miranda (Maggie's older sister) and Jake. Now, Miranda made a few choices that I did not agree with, but I sympathized with her, especially the one part in the story where Maggie hasn't seen her in awhile and the first thing she does is notice all of Miranda's physical imperfections (this is how my sister is). Jake seems like a likable guy, but you realize in those flashbacks I spoke of earlier that he has his moments of not-niceness. He does seem sincere, though, in wanting to help his old friend and his sister-in-law out of this situation, but here comes another flashback, which leaves you with this bad taste in your mouth, wondering if you can trust him at all. And then there's Logan, the guy that ends up murdered - he seems like an interesting guy, a typical full-of-himself guy you would meet at a bar, but then he turns out to be terrifying. As the story progresses, I end up liking Chris, but being irritated with him for his stupidity, and disliking Maggie more than I disliked any of the other characters.
I really like the flow of the story. There are very few slow moments, so you're on the edge of your seat pretty much the whole book, once the that night in their house happens. When the cops knock on the door, you panic with them. It's well done, especially the way she doesn't switch point of view, but switches the narrator's focus to different characters, letting you know who in the chapter title.
There is actually so much that I want to say about this book, but I am not the one to go and give too much away, so, go up there to the top, press the little linky thing that takes you to Amazon or B&N or wherever it is that you buy your books from, purchase the book, read it, and then come back to me and we'll talk. :)
September 28, 2016
The characters and relationships in "Thought I Knew You" and "While You Were Gone" were so "real". But, this story was implausible and I don't believe that any of the relationships in this book would have ever coexisted. Each character was completely self absorbed and self serving. Read the others! Skip this one!!
January 31, 2017
This is NOT at all like Gone Girl. The characters had absurd motivations and acted in no way like basically intelligent people would act. If the main character hadn't made a ridiculously stupid decision at the beginning of the book (for no real reason), the rest of the book wouldn't have even existed. Unlike Gone Girl which is disturbingly clever and elegantly laid out -- this book plods along with one nonsensical scene after another. I barely made it through.
February 25, 2015
http://www.chicklitcentral.com/2015/0...
Two other books included in this review.
Two other books included in this review.
September 28, 2016
So many different aspects of this novel. Marital love vs first love, forgiveness of self and family, how far you would go to protect someone you love. So much going on but not over kill. Could not put it down. Absolutely loved it. Would love a follow up or prequel or story from another character
May 29, 2014
(Edit: After I wrote my review of this book, I went through and read all of the other reviews. It is my practice when I write a review about a book not to read other people's opinions/reviews until I am finished writing my own. At the time I wrote my review a few hours ago, this book has ALL 5-Star ratings except 1 4-Star, as that part you cannot help but miss seeing. All of us who have written these reviews do not know each other, to my knowledge, (I do recognize one name, though) yet we all have rated this book separately from one another as a 5-star book! Why? Because this book is worthy of the 5-star rating! You may be thinking, "Oh great, yep, another book with all 5-star reviews, yeah, right, something's up." No, there is nothing up except for her brilliance in writing suspense. This book is TRULY a 5-star book, which I swear by it with my word! Kate Moretti can WRITE! This even shows with her previous book, 'Thought I Knew You', which blew us out of the water and has just now hit the New York Times Best Seller list the week of May 25th, 2014, and now this book, Binds That Tie was just released in March, and is on the same par as her last book! She can write suspense with brilliance! Please accept my rating for this book as being completely true and honest. If it were possible to rate this book any higher, I would. Kate Moretti is an author to keep your eye on and gobble up ALL of her books! That is the hard part, waiting for her next book! Thank you, my edit is over.)
My Take:
5+ Stars!
Kate Moretti CAN WRITE! She really pulls us immediately into this this couple's flawed lives and marriage. Maggie's husband, Chris, has even spent time in prison in the past. Maggie is a selfish person, and Chris has quite a few problems prison didn't fix. Once the stage is set, something happens, it starts a negative string of events that go from bad to worse. Now we are thrown into the thick of the suspense immediately!
One night Maggie goes out to the bar, The Hut, with her friends. She meets a man there, and is having a little fun flirting around. A little of it never hurt anyone after all, but it gets much worse than that. This man becomes obsessed with her. She can't shake him off her trail, and she doesn't want Chris to find out about him because it was harmless. Complications, complications, severe complications arise. Lies start, issues arise, things happen that get out of control, police become involved, Chris gets thrown back in jail because of his previous record, a pre-trial starts, etc., and all for a crime that he did not commit, In fact, there is no crime, or at least nothing that proves there was a crime. The Prosecutors still try fishing to pin something on Chris. Maggies starts to get tired of it all, and feeling as if she doesn't even want to support him anymore after just a few days of this pre-trial, and she has her reasons. Chris gets angry at Maggie. Very angry.
This author's writing is SO good, she even includes details that other authors may forget to fill in.
For instance, the following: "The jury deliberated for a day and a half. When they filed back in, Jake gave Chris a quick nod."
That last sentence! How often would an author write in the detail, painting the picture between attorney and client? You don't get to read little details like that all that often, if at all! This does not add to the length of the book, either. This is what I am talking about! It's the little things. Her writing is amazing!
Oh, JUST READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret all of the twists, the turns, the suspense, surprises you never see coming, and the lies. This book keeps you on your toes the entire time trying to figure out just what is happening, who is responsible for what, and why? What about the marital ties which hold Maggie and Chris together? These are all the binds that tie! I received this book for FREE from the Publisher, Red Adept Publishing and the author in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, [...] Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
My Take:
5+ Stars!
Kate Moretti CAN WRITE! She really pulls us immediately into this this couple's flawed lives and marriage. Maggie's husband, Chris, has even spent time in prison in the past. Maggie is a selfish person, and Chris has quite a few problems prison didn't fix. Once the stage is set, something happens, it starts a negative string of events that go from bad to worse. Now we are thrown into the thick of the suspense immediately!
One night Maggie goes out to the bar, The Hut, with her friends. She meets a man there, and is having a little fun flirting around. A little of it never hurt anyone after all, but it gets much worse than that. This man becomes obsessed with her. She can't shake him off her trail, and she doesn't want Chris to find out about him because it was harmless. Complications, complications, severe complications arise. Lies start, issues arise, things happen that get out of control, police become involved, Chris gets thrown back in jail because of his previous record, a pre-trial starts, etc., and all for a crime that he did not commit, In fact, there is no crime, or at least nothing that proves there was a crime. The Prosecutors still try fishing to pin something on Chris. Maggies starts to get tired of it all, and feeling as if she doesn't even want to support him anymore after just a few days of this pre-trial, and she has her reasons. Chris gets angry at Maggie. Very angry.
This author's writing is SO good, she even includes details that other authors may forget to fill in.
For instance, the following: "The jury deliberated for a day and a half. When they filed back in, Jake gave Chris a quick nod."
That last sentence! How often would an author write in the detail, painting the picture between attorney and client? You don't get to read little details like that all that often, if at all! This does not add to the length of the book, either. This is what I am talking about! It's the little things. Her writing is amazing!
Oh, JUST READ THIS BOOK! You won't regret all of the twists, the turns, the suspense, surprises you never see coming, and the lies. This book keeps you on your toes the entire time trying to figure out just what is happening, who is responsible for what, and why? What about the marital ties which hold Maggie and Chris together? These are all the binds that tie! I received this book for FREE from the Publisher, Red Adept Publishing and the author in exchange to read and write a review about it. It is NOT required for this review to be either positive or negative, but of my own honest opinion. "Free" means I was provided with ZERO MONIES to read this book nor to write this review, but to enjoy the pure pleasure of reading it. I am disclosing this information in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, [...] Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
December 9, 2015
Thanks to Red Adept Publishing and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an unbiased review. Binds That Tie turned out to be much more than I had expected. It went from failed relationship exploration to courtroom drama to psychological thriller. The way I felt about the main characters at the start changed 100% by the end of it all. And I loved that ending. If you need likable characters in your books in order to enjoy the story, you may not fully appreciate Binds That Tie. However, if you like authentic, multi-layered but deeply flawed individuals caught up in a tense story about covering up the events of one fateful night, then I would highly recommend this. The plot was delightfully unpredictable, and I enjoyed the way the past was brought into the story to reveal more details about the characters' relationships with one another and why they were acting the way they were. The complicated relationships between the husband, the wife, the wife's sister and the brother-in-law (who is also the defense lawyer) were really intriguing and a really strong point of this book. This was my first book by Kate Moretti. I enjoyed it so much I've added some of her other publications to my wish list straightaway.
November 9, 2014
This taut psychological thriller is a master class on writing complex characters. Maggie, her husband, Chris, Maggie's brother-in-law, Jake--heck, all the characters in this book--jump off the page. They have good qualities, which may or may not redeem them, they have bad qualities, which may or may not be their downfall. They act selfishly at times, or with hubris, or in the best interest of someone they love, who might not love them as much as they hoped. Or deserve.
They are, in other words, complicated. And real.
And as if that weren't enough (it would've been for me), the plotting is agile and precise. We know what has happened--it's spelled out right away--but we don't know what Maggie, Chris and Jake will do at each turn. Okay, I thought I knew. Twice. No, three times. Okay, (coming clean here) four times. And I was wrong. What fun!
You know the expression that easy reading is hard to write? THIS book.
They are, in other words, complicated. And real.
And as if that weren't enough (it would've been for me), the plotting is agile and precise. We know what has happened--it's spelled out right away--but we don't know what Maggie, Chris and Jake will do at each turn. Okay, I thought I knew. Twice. No, three times. Okay, (coming clean here) four times. And I was wrong. What fun!
You know the expression that easy reading is hard to write? THIS book.
March 26, 2015
Binds That Tie is absolutely a 5 star novel. I don't normally read commercial suspense, but this book has definitely influenced my future To-Read shelf. It was so tense that several times I found my own heart racing. I wanted to poke my head into the book and holler at these characters. As mentioned in another review, the first place Moretti soared was in these incredibly faceted, flawed, conflicted characters. Not to stop there, Moretti went on to spin a story so twisty that I could not, for the life of me, figure out what was going to happen. Every time I thought I was close, there was another hairpin turn. This sensation never ceased, not even on the last page. This was my first Moretti novel, the first of many.
March 30, 2014
This second novel by Kate Moretti is AMAZING. I love Gillian Flynn and Moretti's writing and plot-twisting reminds me so much of her books. This page-turning, plot-twisting story will grip you from the very first word and make your jaw drop at the end. I highly recommend this well-written, enticing novel. The complicated relationships of the main character with everyone around her are so intriguing and Moretti really does a great job of building a love/hate relationship towards her. The dialogue is well thought out and completely believable. I felt like I was there. Highly recommended read.
June 12, 2014
'Binds That Tie' by Kate Moretti
From reading Kate's first novel, I know that she is a writer with a great future. Happily, this second novel confirms all my expectations and exceeds them easily. This is an exciting tale, well told, intriguing, with lots of layers to keep us guessing right up to the very end. Seriously, Kate, I hope there is to be a sequel.
A very good book! I recommend it highly. I can't think of any other superlatives that would fully explain how I feel about it.
Fran Macilvey, "Trapped: My Life With Cerebral Palsy" :)
From reading Kate's first novel, I know that she is a writer with a great future. Happily, this second novel confirms all my expectations and exceeds them easily. This is an exciting tale, well told, intriguing, with lots of layers to keep us guessing right up to the very end. Seriously, Kate, I hope there is to be a sequel.
A very good book! I recommend it highly. I can't think of any other superlatives that would fully explain how I feel about it.
Fran Macilvey, "Trapped: My Life With Cerebral Palsy" :)
January 3, 2015
Hooked from first page
Can a psychological thriller get any better than Binds That Tie? I foolishly began reading the book at 10 pm, was physically trembling within two hours and pulled an all-nighter to unravel this delicious mystery. I had considered Gone Girl to be the contemporary gold standard for this genre, but Kate Moretti has, in my opinion, outdone Gillian Flynn with this book. Kudos to both women, who kept me enthralled with their wickedly brilliant stories.
Can a psychological thriller get any better than Binds That Tie? I foolishly began reading the book at 10 pm, was physically trembling within two hours and pulled an all-nighter to unravel this delicious mystery. I had considered Gone Girl to be the contemporary gold standard for this genre, but Kate Moretti has, in my opinion, outdone Gillian Flynn with this book. Kudos to both women, who kept me enthralled with their wickedly brilliant stories.
July 31, 2016
Binds that tie by Kate Moretti is a mystery and thriller read.
Love ties.
Murder binds.
Maggie never felt as though she belonged until Chris Stevens showed her what true happiness meant. Ten years into their marriage, miscarriages and infidelities, have scarred them both. Despite their perfect-couple image.
Very good read.
I liked the story and the characters.
Bit slow but I read it all, the way.
4* from me.
Thanks to netgalley for the arc.
Love ties.
Murder binds.
Maggie never felt as though she belonged until Chris Stevens showed her what true happiness meant. Ten years into their marriage, miscarriages and infidelities, have scarred them both. Despite their perfect-couple image.
Very good read.
I liked the story and the characters.
Bit slow but I read it all, the way.
4* from me.
Thanks to netgalley for the arc.
July 26, 2016
An emotionally upheaval of a story with characters who jump right off the page. Painful, honest and tense with emotion, you'll find what each of them will do for "love". The backflashes were seamless adding more depth to the present and the flips and turns will keep you on your toes. Very nicely done and I'll be looking for more from this author.
February 5, 2016
Psychological suspense at its finest. BINDS THAT TIE kept me engrossed through every twist and turn. I appreciated Moretti’s clever writing style and the psychological components in this tense, page-turner. Highly recommend!
October 14, 2018
Horrible characters and ridiculous story!
April 30, 2019
This book confused me. It had so much potential. I just can't figure out why the author had the characters do the things they did...
This book isn't just about murder or relationships. It's about deceit. Every character in this book is deceitful and dishonest with themselves and each other. It just didn't work for me. I couldn't tell what was up and what was down. There is no hero of this book. Not one character is likeable.
I think the biggest villain in this book is Maggie. She is so vapid and self absorbed, I didn't feel sorry for anything life threw at her. Not single thing. I felt a little bad for Chris, in the beginning. But again, these characters...
And what was with that ending? It completely ruined a book that drug to begin with. Had it been a more believable and appropriate ending, it could have saved the book.
This book isn't just about murder or relationships. It's about deceit. Every character in this book is deceitful and dishonest with themselves and each other. It just didn't work for me. I couldn't tell what was up and what was down. There is no hero of this book. Not one character is likeable.
I think the biggest villain in this book is Maggie. She is so vapid and self absorbed, I didn't feel sorry for anything life threw at her. Not single thing. I felt a little bad for Chris, in the beginning. But again, these characters...
And what was with that ending? It completely ruined a book that drug to begin with. Had it been a more believable and appropriate ending, it could have saved the book.
September 19, 2014
Katie Moretti’s Binds That Tie tells of Chris and Maggie Stevens, whose marriage has been tested over the years, over extramarital affairs and miscarriages. They share a complex past riddled with infidelities and feelings torn asunder; their marriage has been tested and, as far as Maggie is concerned, it has been found wanting. Desperately. When Maggie, at the end of her rope and insatiable with the need for attention, entertains the harmless flirtations of a stranger on a night while out on the town with friends, she unwittingly sparks a chain reaction that will plummet her life into the deepest, muddiest terrain it’s ever encountered; and she’ll take not only her marriage, but her closest and most complicated relationships with her. Maggie and Chris will be tied together, not by the bonds of matrimony, but by the conspiracy to cover up a murder. And as they try to find a way through their dangerous circumstances, new and old feelings will arise, and the battle lines of love and truth will be drawn.
While I found in Binds That Tie the palpable drama and unexpected twists I had been hoping for, the uniqueness of Moretti’s story and the singularity of her characters take the novel to an even fresher, more complex territory. Both Maggie and Chris harbor staggeringly complicated personal struggles, and the narrative practically vibrates with the energy of their sometimes dark, sometimes desperate natures. Maggie is at times fiercely devoted to her own agenda, and she seems far less concerned with the consequences of her actions than readers might expect her to be. There’s something unapologetic about her need for attention and her need for love – even if she might hurt others in her quest to achieve it. As the complexities of her relationships with her husband, her sister Miranda, and her brother-in-law Jake are revealed, the reader is swept up into an unflinchingly suspenseful story of trusts forged and shattered. Likewise, Chris is at once well-meaning and quietly dangerous, physically intimidating with a need for control. While Chris and Maggie are capable of some pretty unlikable deeds, and they make some unlikable decisions, the apex of the novel’s appeal is the way that they themselves don’t fit steadily into the category of being unlikable. It’s always an act of daring when an author writes characters with an unsympathetic bent, but even unsympathetic characters can reach out and grab the reader when they’re emotionally drawn. There’s a humanness to Maggie and Chris that kept me riveted to their story, desperate to know how it all worked out for them – and if they would indeed be a “them” by the final page.
Moretti’s prose has a way of feeling exciting and new as it weaves through the convoluted workings of Maggie and Chris’s story. Her writing is smart and poetic enough to render extra touches of drama without feeling contrived. She also reveals the twists of the story in layers, explaining the unfolding circumstances gradually; her execution allows her reader to feel in the dark just long enough to excite an insatiable curiosity, but briefly enough to avoid leaving us in confused impatience. From the sweeping drama of the courtroom to the heart-rending emotional drama of a marriage fraught with struggle, Moretti beautifully captures the unprecedented ups and downs of her characters’ lives and their deeply human needs and emotions. Binds That Tie is a superb story from a deeply compelling voice in fiction.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on September 19, 2014 at LiteraryInklings.com. A copy of the book was provided for the purpose of review.)
While I found in Binds That Tie the palpable drama and unexpected twists I had been hoping for, the uniqueness of Moretti’s story and the singularity of her characters take the novel to an even fresher, more complex territory. Both Maggie and Chris harbor staggeringly complicated personal struggles, and the narrative practically vibrates with the energy of their sometimes dark, sometimes desperate natures. Maggie is at times fiercely devoted to her own agenda, and she seems far less concerned with the consequences of her actions than readers might expect her to be. There’s something unapologetic about her need for attention and her need for love – even if she might hurt others in her quest to achieve it. As the complexities of her relationships with her husband, her sister Miranda, and her brother-in-law Jake are revealed, the reader is swept up into an unflinchingly suspenseful story of trusts forged and shattered. Likewise, Chris is at once well-meaning and quietly dangerous, physically intimidating with a need for control. While Chris and Maggie are capable of some pretty unlikable deeds, and they make some unlikable decisions, the apex of the novel’s appeal is the way that they themselves don’t fit steadily into the category of being unlikable. It’s always an act of daring when an author writes characters with an unsympathetic bent, but even unsympathetic characters can reach out and grab the reader when they’re emotionally drawn. There’s a humanness to Maggie and Chris that kept me riveted to their story, desperate to know how it all worked out for them – and if they would indeed be a “them” by the final page.
Moretti’s prose has a way of feeling exciting and new as it weaves through the convoluted workings of Maggie and Chris’s story. Her writing is smart and poetic enough to render extra touches of drama without feeling contrived. She also reveals the twists of the story in layers, explaining the unfolding circumstances gradually; her execution allows her reader to feel in the dark just long enough to excite an insatiable curiosity, but briefly enough to avoid leaving us in confused impatience. From the sweeping drama of the courtroom to the heart-rending emotional drama of a marriage fraught with struggle, Moretti beautifully captures the unprecedented ups and downs of her characters’ lives and their deeply human needs and emotions. Binds That Tie is a superb story from a deeply compelling voice in fiction.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on September 19, 2014 at LiteraryInklings.com. A copy of the book was provided for the purpose of review.)
April 25, 2014
Grab some TUMS for this one! Talk about twisted relationships, deceit, betrayal and messed up characters! Binds That Tie by Kate Moretti goes to the top of my list as “Never Saw THAT One Coming!” endings. Complicated lives, broken marriages, broken dreams, living nightmares, it’s all here. A broken heroine who one can feel for, but not necessarily like, has had huge heartbreaks in her past, but she has focused only on what has happened TO HER and selfishly condones her own transgressions until they threaten to topple her already unsteady world. When a spurned fling arrives at Maggie’s house, drunk and menacing, she makes a decision and follows through with dire consequences to the life she doesn’t even want. Steve, Maggie’s husband, is a man with a prison record already, takes the fall for a crime he did not commit, will he go to jail to protect Maggie? Will their tangled web of lies entrap them both? Does Maggie deserve Steve’s sacrifice or has he left himself an out if it looks like he’s going to jail?
Right out of the gate, Kate Moretti drops us into a dark world, filled with jagged edges. She has created characters with immense holes in their characters, yet, at times, they actually give you what you want from them. Steve is not an angel, but he seems to have misguided honor and after making some incredibly foolish mistakes, is dealing with the consequences. Maggie is so wrapped up in Maggie, she is extremely difficult to like, her actions (plural) are not justification for her past pain. Jake, while an amazing attorney who steps up when needed, has a past with Maggie that flames to life, temporarily. Did I mention he is married to Maggie’s sister?
Hats off to Kate Moretti for making me cringe, shake my head in disbelief and be unsure of who to root for! I could NOT put Binds that Tie down, I was in such a twist emotionally over how I wanted this to end. The reader must decide if justice is served or if a reckoning is coming. A real nail biter, head banger and shocker all around!
I received a copy as part of the Binds that Tie Tour & Giveaway coming to Tome Tender May 21, 2014.
Publication Date: March 26, 2014
Publisher: Red Adept
ISBN: 1940215269
Genre: Adult Romantic Mystery/Murder/Intrigue
Print Length: 307 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Right out of the gate, Kate Moretti drops us into a dark world, filled with jagged edges. She has created characters with immense holes in their characters, yet, at times, they actually give you what you want from them. Steve is not an angel, but he seems to have misguided honor and after making some incredibly foolish mistakes, is dealing with the consequences. Maggie is so wrapped up in Maggie, she is extremely difficult to like, her actions (plural) are not justification for her past pain. Jake, while an amazing attorney who steps up when needed, has a past with Maggie that flames to life, temporarily. Did I mention he is married to Maggie’s sister?
Hats off to Kate Moretti for making me cringe, shake my head in disbelief and be unsure of who to root for! I could NOT put Binds that Tie down, I was in such a twist emotionally over how I wanted this to end. The reader must decide if justice is served or if a reckoning is coming. A real nail biter, head banger and shocker all around!
I received a copy as part of the Binds that Tie Tour & Giveaway coming to Tome Tender May 21, 2014.
Publication Date: March 26, 2014
Publisher: Red Adept
ISBN: 1940215269
Genre: Adult Romantic Mystery/Murder/Intrigue
Print Length: 307 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
November 29, 2015
This was so not what I was expecting to read! I can't believe it has only one review on Amazon UK and I am so glad I can hopefully now spread the word about this fab book! I received a copy from netgalley recently but this book has actually been out since 2014 and is the authors second book.
I love a good twisty relationship drama and Binds That Tie is a fab example of that genre. Maggie and Chris are a married couple where things have started to fall apart and their relationship exists in a no man's land of betrayal and resentment. A brief flirtation with a man in a bar leads Maggie to commit a crime that shocks her and Chris to the core. Chris takes control of the situation but this just seems to make things worse and he finds himself locked up, away from Maggie.
This starts as a relationship dilemma which then unfolds into a courtroom drama. Initial sympathies for characters end up being turned around unexpectedly! I felt sorry for Maggie who is dealing with her husband's affair, her childless life and her sisters betrayal. But as things evolved, my sympathies changed. By the end I wasn't sure I even liked her! Or many of the other characters so it shows the brilliance of Kate Morettis writing that I still actually cared what happened to them!
I am certainly going to looking for more of Kate's work in the future.
I received a copy of the book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
I love a good twisty relationship drama and Binds That Tie is a fab example of that genre. Maggie and Chris are a married couple where things have started to fall apart and their relationship exists in a no man's land of betrayal and resentment. A brief flirtation with a man in a bar leads Maggie to commit a crime that shocks her and Chris to the core. Chris takes control of the situation but this just seems to make things worse and he finds himself locked up, away from Maggie.
This starts as a relationship dilemma which then unfolds into a courtroom drama. Initial sympathies for characters end up being turned around unexpectedly! I felt sorry for Maggie who is dealing with her husband's affair, her childless life and her sisters betrayal. But as things evolved, my sympathies changed. By the end I wasn't sure I even liked her! Or many of the other characters so it shows the brilliance of Kate Morettis writing that I still actually cared what happened to them!
I am certainly going to looking for more of Kate's work in the future.
I received a copy of the book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
February 1, 2016
To say I didn't see that ending coming is often one I experience in reading books, but Kate Moretti's heartpumping denouement in Binds That Tie was brilliant! This novel portrays Maggie, her husband Chris Stevens locked into a murder that is twisted into so much horror, that starts off with a bang on the head from a crystal vase. What happens from here on kept me not wanting to put this book down till the end!! There are many betrayals, love and lovers pasts, that kept me shifting my thoughts and feelings about the characters. Maggie's sister Miranda and her husband Jake are keeping their own secrets and betrayals which are part of the ties that bind all of them together in amazing necessary ways. The plot moves swiftly along with clues dropped here and there, but one I waited for took a long time...but it was there. My feelings of how I felt about each character shifted with each points of view, and surprised me at times, changing my perspective. The mystery, the suspense of how will Maggie or Chris deal with the cover up of the crime and the ramifications for each is striking as each new insight is revealed. The courtroom drama adds its own clever insights and clues. This is a must read for lovers of suspense, a real psychological thriller, its remarkable, I loved it and am still thinking about the ending!
August 1, 2014
Did I enjoy this book: Oh Yeah, I definitely enjoyed it, and so will you. I read the book in one day. I couldn’t put it down. It’s a fascinating mix of murder mystery and psychological thriller. Moretti goes to great lengths to develop her characters in a way that you understand their motivation and don’t hate them for doing hurtful things.
The story has suspense from cover to cover. The pacing is perfect. You don’t reach a point in the book where you want to flip forward to just find out the ending. You keep turning one page at a time to find out what’s next.
Moretti creates a unique story and writes it well. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Would I recommend it: Yes. I think it would make a great book for fans of just about any genre. There’s romance, crime, internal and external conflict, even questions of morality that would have a book group discussing, “What would I do in that situation?”
As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Books.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/07/re...
The story has suspense from cover to cover. The pacing is perfect. You don’t reach a point in the book where you want to flip forward to just find out the ending. You keep turning one page at a time to find out what’s next.
Moretti creates a unique story and writes it well. It doesn’t get any better than that.
Would I recommend it: Yes. I think it would make a great book for fans of just about any genre. There’s romance, crime, internal and external conflict, even questions of morality that would have a book group discussing, “What would I do in that situation?”
As reviewed by Belinda at Every Free Chance Books.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://everyfreechance.com/2014/07/re...
June 9, 2014
Wow. What a ride.
Thrillers are often described as plot driven because the plot is the most important part of the story. Character development matters, but not as much as in other genres. Binds That Tie almost felt character driven, yet was still clearly a thriller. The main characters, Chris and Maggie Stevens, along with some of the more important second-tier players, have current problems, past histories, and a few skeletons that have been shoved into the dusty corner of the closet. The characters are complex and their characteristics, especially their past, drives the story more than in the typical thriller.
The twists and turns of the story kept me guessing as events start to spiral out of control and just get worse and worse. I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen or what I wanted to happen as I struggled with some questions. When is the right thing wrong, and really, what is the right thing here?
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
Thrillers are often described as plot driven because the plot is the most important part of the story. Character development matters, but not as much as in other genres. Binds That Tie almost felt character driven, yet was still clearly a thriller. The main characters, Chris and Maggie Stevens, along with some of the more important second-tier players, have current problems, past histories, and a few skeletons that have been shoved into the dusty corner of the closet. The characters are complex and their characteristics, especially their past, drives the story more than in the typical thriller.
The twists and turns of the story kept me guessing as events start to spiral out of control and just get worse and worse. I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen or what I wanted to happen as I struggled with some questions. When is the right thing wrong, and really, what is the right thing here?
**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **
January 6, 2017
Maggie and Chris' relationship is pretty much over--it's been 2 years since he cheated on her, and she's still seething inside. However, instead of divorce, Maggie goes for revenge--and I'm not talking about meeting men at bars or sleeping with her ex--I mean calculated, cold revenge.
Maggie is a psychopath, meaning she has no empathy (but is able to fake it), and can organize her "revenge" in a way that she isn't implicated in the original crime (bribing an informant), and yet leave clues that only Chris would understand.
Her new life is a "beard." Despite the children and husband, Maggie would still have no guilt at disappearing. However, she plays the mommy/wife role very well (again, a talent of psychopaths--they have no empathy, but they're incredible at faking it).
The one thing that didn't make sense to me was Chris' character. Supposedly Maggie met him in college, but yet his mannerisms and thought processes really don't give off an air of a college graduate.
Three stars because the plot was solid, and because I hated Maggie.
Maggie is a psychopath, meaning she has no empathy (but is able to fake it), and can organize her "revenge" in a way that she isn't implicated in the original crime (bribing an informant), and yet leave clues that only Chris would understand.
Her new life is a "beard." Despite the children and husband, Maggie would still have no guilt at disappearing. However, she plays the mommy/wife role very well (again, a talent of psychopaths--they have no empathy, but they're incredible at faking it).
The one thing that didn't make sense to me was Chris' character. Supposedly Maggie met him in college, but yet his mannerisms and thought processes really don't give off an air of a college graduate.
Three stars because the plot was solid, and because I hated Maggie.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2015
Late one night, Maggie kills a man. She lets him into her house because he threatens to expose their flirtation to her sleeping husband. When she rebuffs his sexual advances, he tries to strangle her, then to rape her. She cracks his skull with a crystal vase. Maggie’s husband, Chris, possessing a bad history with the police, insists they cover up the killing.
Then the fun begins. The police come around the next day, after learning that the dead man had told multiple people at a bar the previous night that he was headed to Maggie’s house. They arrest Chris for murder. Maggie brings in her flashy defense-attorney brother-in-law, Jake—who was her first love. Trust between Maggie, who is at home, and Chris, who is imprisoned, shatters to pieces, with devastating consequences.
...read the rest of this review on UndergroundBookReviews(dot)com!
Then the fun begins. The police come around the next day, after learning that the dead man had told multiple people at a bar the previous night that he was headed to Maggie’s house. They arrest Chris for murder. Maggie brings in her flashy defense-attorney brother-in-law, Jake—who was her first love. Trust between Maggie, who is at home, and Chris, who is imprisoned, shatters to pieces, with devastating consequences.
...read the rest of this review on UndergroundBookReviews(dot)com!
March 8, 2016
Compelling, twisty story
When the story begins, Maggie is struggling with her husband's infidelity and her inability to have children. While her marriage is crumbling, she meets Logan at a bar, and they begin a harmless flirtation, until Logan's true colors begin to show and Maggie becomes frightened. Then, one night she makes a fateful decision with tragic consequences for herself, for her husband, and for Logan. This story takes so many twists and turns as Maggie comes to grips with decisions she's made in her past, wrongs that have been committed against her, and her lingering feeling for her sister's husband. Maggie us a fascinating character, with so many layers that the reader will never be able to guess what she'll do next. This is a fascinating story that kept me up all night, wanting to find out how it all turns out.
When the story begins, Maggie is struggling with her husband's infidelity and her inability to have children. While her marriage is crumbling, she meets Logan at a bar, and they begin a harmless flirtation, until Logan's true colors begin to show and Maggie becomes frightened. Then, one night she makes a fateful decision with tragic consequences for herself, for her husband, and for Logan. This story takes so many twists and turns as Maggie comes to grips with decisions she's made in her past, wrongs that have been committed against her, and her lingering feeling for her sister's husband. Maggie us a fascinating character, with so many layers that the reader will never be able to guess what she'll do next. This is a fascinating story that kept me up all night, wanting to find out how it all turns out.
March 18, 2017
I must have read a different to most of the other reviewers. I couldn't see any point to the whole story. It was just unlikeable people doing really dumb shit, and then just digging themselves in even deeper. The supporting cast of Miranda and Jake, so-called best friends, were so ambiguous and 'off'. Of course the police were going to figure it all out eventually so I struggled to find any suspense or drama (or even interest) in it. I only gave it the second star because the ending marginally lifted this rather dull, sordid little tale.
April 9, 2014
I was hooked from the beginning..... Binds That Tie is a real page turner, full of sympathetic and flawed characters struggling to make their relationships work, but who end up being their own worst enemies. The plot has enough twists and turns to keep the reader hanging on right up to the very end. Ms Moretti's style of writing is fluid and easy to read. I look forward to reading more of her work.
March 8, 2015
I loved it!!
This was the first book I read by this author. I enjoyed it . So much I immediately paid to download her other book. I love her writing style, her plots.... unusual stories written in such a way that you absolutely have to keep reading to find out how it is going to end!
This was the first book I read by this author. I enjoyed it . So much I immediately paid to download her other book. I love her writing style, her plots.... unusual stories written in such a way that you absolutely have to keep reading to find out how it is going to end!
April 4, 2016
Great book! I could not put it down. I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved the ending of the book. I can't wait to read more of Kate Moretti's novels. I definitely recommend reading this book.
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