Khaotic Ties

by Tacarra, Emmanuel Ingram (Narrator), Lauryn Nichols (Narrator)

Ajoni "Khaotic" Brooks lives his life like any other hustler.

He makes his money, takes care of his family, and stays out the way. He goes above and beyond for the ones he loves, and that very reason is why he has to do a five-year bid. His last weekend as a free man was spent enjoying life and the little freedom he had left. What he didn't expect was for that night to change his forever.

Khatori Lewis is freshly single after finding out her longtime boyfriend has been unfaithful, and with the last person she would expect. Khatori's heartbreak takes place around her birthday, so her sister decides to take her out to forget her troubles. Little does Khatori know that this birthday will always be one to remember.

Khaotic and Khatori cross paths at very pivotal points in their lives. Only they don't know how their meeting will leave them tied in ways that they couldn't imagine. Follow them in this fast-paced yet intense love story of when two lives intertwine with each other.

For mature listeners. A complete list of content warnings can be found on the author's website.

Genres: Audiobook, African American Romance, Romance, Urban, Fiction, Drama, African American

Audible Audio

Published March 11, 2025

Reviews

[Melise]

This was interesting enough, but Khatori was DENSEEEEE—like, not bright and very much a bird. I don’t mind a lil ghetto or a lil ratchet, but boy oh boy, sister was working her 7 brain cells to the BONEEEEE. There were some minor grammar and spelling issues, but they were easily ignored.

Ajoni and Tori meet one night in a club after Tori finds out her man is a cheater. Cool, I love a one-night stand storyline! I try to ignore it, but I don’t like when they don’t use condoms. Like, maybe if this was a girls' trip and she was single longer, okay, whatever. But you’re 34 minutes removed from a previous relationship with a cheater? Baby, you should have more condoms on you than Planned Parenthood, lmao! But that’s just me. We end up with a baby, and Ajoni ends up incarcerated. Five years later, they reunite and IMMEDIATELY GET BACK TO FREAKING WITH NO CONDOM 🫠🫠 You’re hooking up with a man fresh out of prison without protection? Oh baby, you don’t love yourself, cus HUHHHH?? Now the question is, who is the baby daddy? It’s a tie between Mr. Condomless Convict and Mr. Sister Lover, lmao. I get it’s a work of fiction, but if you give your FMC a job that requires intelligence, and she’s strong and independent, why didn’t she learn her lesson? We have a few story villains, but none were noteworthy enough to write about.

Also, while I get her logic after knowing she and Von couldn’t be cordial, she should’ve just told him the paternity was up in the air. Like, what sense does it make to have a man who isn’t kind, considerate, or even dedicated in your child’s life just to say she has a “dad” when the elected party is a scrub? Girl, Leah is better off fatherless, cus all y’all do is argue.

This was an okay lil daytime read for me. Some characters lacked common sense, and their motivations fell short at times. The storyline had potential but lacked a certain level of depth and common sense, so it wasn’t my favorite.

***Also, if your daddy died being a cheater, why would you brush it off and say that’s just the way it is??? Like, is that not scary, lmao? Is that not a fate you wish to avoid???***

[Kameel]

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 Stars

Newly released audiobook narrated by Emmanuel Ingram & Lauryn Nichols

Story was mediocre….I did enjoy Emmanuel narrating romance again

[WellReadRuby]

I enjoyed Khaotic!

Enjoyable read from this new-to-me author! Khaotic and Khatori were a fun pair with an exciting first encounter. I enjoyed their journey to each other and the ex-drama that came along the way.
Looking forward to reading more from this author, as this was a good read in under 200 pages!

[Demetrius]

This was my first read/listen by Tacarra, and I enjoyed it so much! The narrators did an amazing job bringing the book to life. Khaotic was a stand-up dude, and his brother Tae was a total FOOL 🤣. I'm low-key sad that it's over, but I can't wait to see what else Tacarra has in her catalog.

[ReadnliftwithShar]

The audiobook was done well.

['The Book Queen']

I was okay with the story. It was an interesting read. The similar names kept getting in the way of the details. See what you think

[☆bunnybrat_reads☆]

this didn't need to be funny and messy but I was here for it 😂🤭

[Kina M]

full of errors

This book was full of errors as if the author wrote it and just put it out for publishing. No editor or proofreading at all, it was so bad it became disrespectful. There were simple errors, misplaced words, no words where there should have been words, missing words, whatever errors you can think of she had it in this book. I got soooo frustrated while reading. I also didn’t care too much for the MFC nor did I feel like the characters got to know each other to be so in love but hey that’s how these books go now.

P.S. I had to come back and add this, because I forgot in my original review. Why didn’t anyone think it was wrong for this girl to basically pin a baby on this man? She obviously knew she didn’t know who the daddy was, and the excuse of “I never told you this was your baby” was stupid. Although he may not have been the best father, that is no excuse to let him think it was his baby, and then play victim when he reacts after 5 years. I was confused and waiting for someone ANYONE to tell her about herself in that situation. It never happened. This is totally separate from how he acted like a creep and obsessed over her. I understand wanting to get him dealt with because of that. But the whole baby situation was dumb and mishandled because she wanted her baby to have some kind of father 🤦🏿‍♀️🤦🏿‍♀️.

[Sheronda]

This was so good. Loved Khatotic and Tori. The side characters were hilarious. Little Leah was the cutest.

[DeAijah]

3.5 star

This was a good book, loved the amount of drama and the personality of the characters. I enjoyed the plot.

[Wind]

3.5🌟🎧 This was a mess! Tori and Khaotic had a one night stand and 5 years later paths are crossed again and Tori has to let Khaotic in on something. Because of that they go through a few bumps aka Tori’s ex and Khaotic’s bird but in the end they get their HEA.

[Shalana]

Fresh from a break up with her cheating ex, Tori meets Khaotic at a club, they have a night of fun, she ends up pregnant without knowing anything but his street name. While she's raising her daughter, Khaotic is doing a 5 year bid.

Khaotic gets out and they meet again at the club, have another night of fun and Tori tells Khaotic he may be the father of her kid. May be because Tori doesn't know. Could be Khaotic or her cheating ex who has assumed her kid was his for the last 5 years.

Decent plot, filled with enough drama to keep you engaged. Khaotic was ready to be a dad and naturally assumed the role. Minor grammatical and spelling errors. But I would definitely read from this author again.

[Brisace]

Tacarra gave us a man who’s loyal, fine, and got that real protector energy, and baby, I folded right along with Khatori. Their connection was so intense and natural, it felt like fate... or a little birthday magic. It’s giving love at the wrong time but with the right person. It's fast-paced but never rushed.

[thebookcritic_]

good story, needs editing

I love a secret baby. This was entertaining. I really enjoy this authors stories but the writing needs to be edited.

There were a few times the author had the wrong character’s POV in places.

[Imani]

Had some questionable moments but I had fun💀

[Ashanti Burton]

3.5 ⭐️. Started reading cuz I heard it was a good lick back trope. Tori just recently broke up with her boyfriend Javon after finding him with his step sister. Shortly after a birthday celebration and a night at the club ended with her in the arms of Khaotic. This is Khaotic’s last night of freedom before he turns himself in for a five year bid. They both leave lasting impressions in more than one way. Now Khaotic is back and he’s here to claim what’s his. This was an enjoyable read. A lot of grammatical errors so if you’re one of those readers that hates it you won’t enjoy. Otherwise I would recommend.

[Goddess’ Smut Library 🩷]

3.5⭐️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Joni & Tori were a love connection from the start! Joni was a man and a father first! He was a provider, protective, caring, and a loving family man! I do think that Tori was wrong for her deception, but sometimes you do what you think is right at the time.

[Picky Readz]

I picked this up as a quick read and to try a new author, but the story felt unbelievable from start to finish. Tori’s choices were frustrating, especially letting her ex believe they shared a child for 5 years, which made his reaction after the DNA results understandable. Ajoni’s character came across as basic, and I’m tired of the same “boss-type man gets the good girl and dominates the relationship” storyline . Overall, the plot didn’t add up for me and Tori’s poor decisions made her hard to root for.

[Monique]

Sometimes you just need a nice little quick and messy read and this was that. I did this as an audiobook and I think that’s what made it so enjoyable for me. Both narrators really brought this story alive. Tori & Ajoni stayed with the shits and I loved it🤣Even though he was supposed to be a villain, I did somewhat empathize with Von because Tori was a bit deceitful in how she moved regarding the paternity of her child. “I never said you were the father.” But you just let him think that was his kid though. Coulda had that man take a paternity test as soon as you had the baby. Especially because Von wasn’t a good father anyway, why would you want to keep him around? Girl bye. At any rate I enjoyed Tori & Ajoni as a couple, and I loved the side characters (Rasheeda, Mesha, Gigi, and Jontae).

[mellie_reads]

Whew! This book was spicy, funny, wild, sweet, short, ghetto, messy, and downright insane and I loved every second of it. I didn’t always know what was going on, but I was laughing, I was shocked, I was confused, I was flabbergasted. And that spice? Immaculate. This man was putting it down whether he was eating or slanging his thanging. They would’ve had to use the jaws of life to pry me off him.

Now let’s talk about the narrator, Emmanuel Ingram. Rent was due, and it showed. The sound effects? The growling? The slurping? The moaning? He needed that check like he needed air, and he delivered. He ate. He ate down.

This was my first time reading anything by Tacarra, and I need more. If all her books are this fun, this messy, this chaotic, and this unapologetically Black…..I’m sold.

[Taylora Jay]

NONSTOP

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

khatori and khaotic are officially one of favorite couples of urban contemporary/african american romance books. the passion, the longing, khaotic being absolutely gone COMPLETELY over tori made me want a khaotic 2.0 for sure.

they were meant to be—tori’s fiery personality to ajoni’s calm menacing personality 🙂‍↕️

a must read for sure if you like fast-paced, he falls first, surprise pregnancy love story!

[Brandy Smith]

🔥🔥🔥

NEW BOOK BAe Khaotic I love it was here for it Yea he had to put Tori and her place like a true Alpha man should but with respect and that's the kind of man you want. The one's that can tell you what to do ,cause they can tell you what to do if you know you know

[Dai Burton]

This been on my TBR for a minute and I’m mad i waited so long to read it. Khatori was so sophistirachet and i loved every minute of it. Khaotic was on demon time this entire book. Waiting for those results had my pressure up.

[EricaLenise]

I enjoyed this book but I had higher hopes for this read from the way it started. The ending fell flat for me.

[Tazja Lewis]

Baaybeeee…Khaotic was not playing about Khatori. I loved how Tori wasn’t really wild but she had hands too and wasn’t about no disrespect. I hope we get a book about Khaotic’s crazy ass brother.

[Smoke]

Chile just not for me. He was dumber than a box of rocks 😂😂✋🏾

[Rise]

This story lives up to its name in the best way, and the audiobook experience made it even more immersive. Tacarra delivers a gritty, emotionally charged story where loyalty, love, and survival are constantly at odds. The chemistry between the leads is intense, layered with tension, trust issues, and unspoken feelings that keep you locked in.

The narration adds depth to the story overall, though the FMC’s voice occasionally came across as a bit childish, which felt slightly off considering her life experience and the fact that she’s a mother. A more mature tone there would’ve made her character feel even more grounded. That said, the emotional moments still landed, and the messy, real choices carried weight.

The pacing stays solid, blending street drama and romance without feeling rushed or overdone. If you enjoy audiobooks with high stakes, complicated relationships, and a touch of chaos, this is still a strong listen.

[L. Boogie]

Why did a section straight repeat. Had me thinking I was tweaking at first.

Eww I hate that Tori let JaVon claim her daughter instead getting a DNA test like a grown up. Why have that type of man in Leah’s life if it’s not necessary. Plus that means this trifling (step) sister fucker is in Tori’s life as well.

And she’s fighting some girl every time she sees her but not the man that supposed to be her committed bc of 3 years… I’m really not like Tori

She’s so disgusted by him but took his bday gift. She should have said no thank you

If you got pregnant on you your 24th bday and it’s five years later how are you celebrating your 27th. Another discrepancy/error. If there are a few more of these I’m going to stop reading.

Wait so Joni knew Meesha’s name but not Tori’s

Leah can’t be 5 because they met 5 years ago. Another age error or typo

Tori please. “If we’re being completely honest, I never said that Leah was his…he just naturally assumed.” BUT you let him. Never said it might not be so he could take a test. Never said no to visitation and support. Never said no to her calling him daddy. So to let that dumb shit come out your mouth is crazy. I hate women that do shit like that

I will say Joni took the news very well

Tori talking about it’s not right or fair to Khaotic and Leah
to not do a test and just leave things as Von being Leah’s father. BUT it wasn’t right or fair to let Von and Leah think Von was her dad. Now she’s saying he’s tripping? I don’t like Tori. She needed to tell him while she was pregnant and have that test done when Leah was born. She made her fuck up everyone’s problem. Now Von might lose a daughter and his mom a granddaughter

Eww not Von being a douche the very next chapter. I know it’s the authors way of trying for redemption of Tori. It I still don’t like her.

Tori fighting and arguing in front of Leah on a regular is the ghetto *Nene voice*

Yeah I made it the whole book not liking Tori. I liked Joni off and on. This story is meh. 2.5 but rounding to 3

[OnceUponAStorybook]

This was such a fun quick read.

Khaotic didn’t play about Tori and I ate it up 😍 Love how he just got out of jail but he still had motion 😩

I loved how it also wasn’t dragged out with Tori telling him he may have a kid.

Tori got on my nerves when she wouldn’t give him the benefit of the doubt all because of her trust issues but I’m glad they worked it out.

Love the plot, the spice was really good and I just loved the chemistry between our main characters.

[Princess Queen]

This was actually really really good! Like really really good! The storyline was great! I'm glad that he was able to come home and get his HEA with his new family.
I actually felt bad for Von, while he didn't go about it the right way, learning that you were basically used for five years is hurtful.
this was my first read by this author and I think I'm gonna dive into her catalogue a little bit!