Bound

by Anji Van Aken

It has been four years since Pier sailed away from Opal, the only woman he ever loved. Memories of her haunt him, even in faraway California, where he lives with his son. When a mysterious call draws him back to Malta, he discovers a town under siege by tyranny and finds Opal on the brink of madness, despairing over a letter she received from France. Determined to settle old debts and free the town, Pier also hopes to win back Opal’s devotion. However, when he agrees to take Opal back to France to confront her past, he is faced with his feelings for a woman he may not fully understand—one who is torn between the life she abandoned and a future with him.

This is the third and final book in the Pier + Opal series.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 14, 2025

Reviews

[Priyanka Jain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound is a breathtaking conclusion to the Pier & Opal series, intense, passionate, and deeply moving. After four years apart, Pier and Opal’s reunion is charged with longing, heartbreak, and the weight of unfinished business. Pier’s return to a Malta under tyranny, combined with Opal’s struggle with despair and her haunting past, makes this story both gripping and unforgettable.

What I loved most is how Anji Van Aken balances romance, suspense, and emotional depth, Pier’s devotion, Opal’s vulnerability, and the larger fight for freedom all weave together seamlessly. The stakes feel higher than ever, and the love story more fragile yet more powerful because of it.

This finale is everything you’d want: closure, intensity, and characters that linger in your heart long after the last page. A must-read for fans of historical romance and emotional sagas.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Powerful and Emotional Finale

Bound is a gripping and heartfelt ending to the Pier and Opal series and it pulled me in from the very first page. Pier’s return to Malta after four long years is filled with emotion as he faces memories he never escaped and a love he never forgot. I felt the weight of the town’s suffering and Opal’s deep struggle as she fought through fear and heartbreak. The journey back to France brings powerful moments of truth as Pier tries to free the town and reclaim the woman who shaped his life. Their bond felt raw and real and every step of their story shows the cost of love and courage. This finale delivers a beautiful and satisfying close to their journey.

[Diane Avenoso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Destiny can be fought, but surrender is sweeter in this case. Book 3 weaves characters from the first two books through an ancient story of regret, confrontation, acceptance, and love. Our fears and worries usually don't manifest, and we are stronger than we imagined.
Humans are messy. Once we accept that in others and ourselves, we can get on with our destiny.
This book feels like a love story that is both personal and relatable to anyone who is lucky to be human.