What do you think?
"Marry me or watch your company burn." That's how Axel Pierce—my biggest rival and brother's best friend—proposed our fake engagement.
Some call him a corporate shark.
I call him the devil in a three-piece suit.
Too bad he kisses like an angel and touches me like he means it.
Now every staged dinner feels like foreplay.
Every public appearance tests our control.
And every night I'm left
Is this elaborate charade really about saving our companies...
Or is there something else he's trying to claim?
From International & Amazon Top 25 Bestselling Author Kathy Lockheart, BOUND is a fake engagement billionaire brother’s best friend romance with enemies-to-lovers banter, a prank war, and a dangerously possessive alpha hero.
✔️ Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry
✔️ “Who Hurt You?” Vibes
✔️ “Touch Her and Die” Energy
✔️ Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero
✔️ Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice
Standalone. Binge-worthy HEA.
Trigger Please visit the author’s website for the full list.
Some call him a corporate shark.
I call him the devil in a three-piece suit.
Too bad he kisses like an angel and touches me like he means it.
Now every staged dinner feels like foreplay.
Every public appearance tests our control.
And every night I'm left
Is this elaborate charade really about saving our companies...
Or is there something else he's trying to claim?
From International & Amazon Top 25 Bestselling Author Kathy Lockheart, BOUND is a fake engagement billionaire brother’s best friend romance with enemies-to-lovers banter, a prank war, and a dangerously possessive alpha hero.
✔️ Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry
✔️ “Who Hurt You?” Vibes
✔️ “Touch Her and Die” Energy
✔️ Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero
✔️ Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice
Standalone. Binge-worthy HEA.
Trigger Please visit the author’s website for the full list.
454 pages, Paperback
First published December 11, 2025
About the author
Kathy Lockheart
27 books1,243 followers★ Amazon Top 25 bestselling author ★
Kathy Lockheart is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author and Kindle Unlimited All-Star of Suspenseful Romance novels. Her books—which have a unique blend of emotional elements typically found in women’s fiction and the romance and danger elements found in romantic suspense—contain themes that include dark romance antiheroes, enemies to lovers alpha tropes, and forbidden romance angst. When she’s not writing, you can find her silently cursing the person who put fluorescent lights in dressing rooms.
SINNERS AND SAINTS
Crash
Power
Bound
Doubt
Trust
VENDETTA DUET
Secret Vendetta
Silent Vendetta
CROSS DUET
Crossfire
Crossover
SECRETS AND THE CITY
Deadly Illusion
Fatal Cure
Lethal Justice
Grave Deception
Join Kathy’s VIP Team ➜ https://kathylockheart.com/join-my-vi...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kathy...
Main links ➜https://kathylockheart.com/mainlinks
Facebook➜ http://bit.ly/LockheartFB
Website ➜ www.KathyLockheart.com
Instagram➜ https://www.instagram.com/kathy_lockh...
TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@kathylockhear...
Kathy Lockheart is an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author and Kindle Unlimited All-Star of Suspenseful Romance novels. Her books—which have a unique blend of emotional elements typically found in women’s fiction and the romance and danger elements found in romantic suspense—contain themes that include dark romance antiheroes, enemies to lovers alpha tropes, and forbidden romance angst. When she’s not writing, you can find her silently cursing the person who put fluorescent lights in dressing rooms.
SINNERS AND SAINTS
Crash
Power
Bound
Doubt
Trust
VENDETTA DUET
Secret Vendetta
Silent Vendetta
CROSS DUET
Crossfire
Crossover
SECRETS AND THE CITY
Deadly Illusion
Fatal Cure
Lethal Justice
Grave Deception
Join Kathy’s VIP Team ➜ https://kathylockheart.com/join-my-vi...
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kathy...
Main links ➜https://kathylockheart.com/mainlinks
Facebook➜ http://bit.ly/LockheartFB
Website ➜ www.KathyLockheart.com
Instagram➜ https://www.instagram.com/kathy_lockh...
TikTok ➜ https://www.tiktok.com/@kathylockhear...
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 476 reviews
December 1, 2025
Overall, I'd give this book 4 stars, it was a super easy read with a lot of fun pranks!
Likes:
*The visual from the car prank will live rent free in my head for years to come, I laughed so hard at this
*I really liked the deep dive into what it means to be a social media influencer
*The sexual tension between Axel and Dakota
*Sinners and Saints group chat
Dislike:
*Influencers have no business being at a business deal, that was dumb
*Axel being a man-child at times
*I wanted more insight into Knox from both Axel and Dakota's POVs
*Dual POV, 1st person
*Brother's best friend/Best friend's sister
*Fake dating
*Forced proximity
*Romantic suspense
Format: ebook
Thank you to Kathy Lockheart and VPR for the arc!
Instagram | nerdslovebooks
Likes:
*The visual from the car prank will live rent free in my head for years to come, I laughed so hard at this
*I really liked the deep dive into what it means to be a social media influencer
*The sexual tension between Axel and Dakota
*Sinners and Saints group chat
Dislike:
*Influencers have no business being at a business deal, that was dumb
*Axel being a man-child at times
*I wanted more insight into Knox from both Axel and Dakota's POVs
*Dual POV, 1st person
*Brother's best friend/Best friend's sister
*Fake dating
*Forced proximity
*Romantic suspense
Format: ebook
Thank you to Kathy Lockheart and VPR for the arc!
Instagram | nerdslovebooks
September 2, 2026
4 stars — chaotic, sassy, and stupidly fun between the bad
This book doesn’t just start — it detonates with the same energy as a PR scandal wearing a three‑piece suit and a smirk.
Axel Pierce — Dakota’s biggest rival, her brother’s best friend, and the devil who probably has a lawyer for every day of the week — shows up with a plan so chaotic it should come with a hazard sign:
A staged engagement.
Not for romance.
Not for business synergy.
But to make it look like he wasn’t sniffing around the governor’s wife.
Sweetheart, the sass, the audacity, the political mess, the HR violations — I had to put the book down and wheeze.
Dakota is a menace in heels.
Axel is a menace in tailored wool.
Together they create the kind of romantic disaster that makes you laugh even while everything is on fire.
And then?
We meet the ex.
The ex who is:
unhinged
dramatic
allergic to boundaries
one emotional wobble away from staging a TED Talk titled “Why I Deserve Her Back”
the human embodiment of “sir, please calm down”
Every time he appeared, Dakota’s soul visibly left her body.
Axel’s jealousy?
Sweetheart, it could power a small regional airport.
But the real comedy gold?
The brothers‑by‑choice.
These men show up like a chaotic support group formed through trauma, loyalty, and poor impulse control.
Their banter?
Unhinged.
Their timing?
Impeccable.
Their ability to roast Axel while hyping Dakota?
Chef’s kiss.
I cracked up more than once — the kind of laugh where you have to put the book down because your lungs need a moment.
The fun between the bad is elite — the prank war, the petty rivalry, the “I hate you but also please do that again” energy.
Dakota tries to out‑sass Axel and he responds like he’s been waiting his whole life for someone to challenge him.
Axel’s vibe is:
Touch her and die.
Look at her and die.
Think about hurting her and I will ruin your life, your legacy, your future houseplants, and possibly your soul.
Sir, please.
People are trying to have lunch.
The enemies‑to‑lovers tension is thick enough to spread on toast.
The forced proximity is basically emotional torture.
The chemistry is so intense it could cause structural damage.
And beneath all the chaos?
There’s heart.
There’s vulnerability.
There’s that “who hurt you?” energy that makes you want to wrap Axel in a blanket and then smack him for being dramatic.
Why 4 stars?
Because it’s fun, chaotic, dramatic, and the banter — especially with the brothers‑by‑choice — is genuinely hilarious.
It balances the darker moments with pure comedic gold.
A solid 4‑star fake‑engagement romantic disaster — sharp, funny, messy, and absolutely bingeable if you love morally‑grey billionaires who communicate exclusively in threats, longing stares, and sass that could cause property damage.
Dakota is the chaos.
Axel is the storm.
The ex is the unhinged weather event.
And the brothers‑by‑choice?
Sweetheart, they’re the comedy relief we didn’t know we needed.
This book doesn’t just start — it detonates with the same energy as a PR scandal wearing a three‑piece suit and a smirk.
Axel Pierce — Dakota’s biggest rival, her brother’s best friend, and the devil who probably has a lawyer for every day of the week — shows up with a plan so chaotic it should come with a hazard sign:
A staged engagement.
Not for romance.
Not for business synergy.
But to make it look like he wasn’t sniffing around the governor’s wife.
Sweetheart, the sass, the audacity, the political mess, the HR violations — I had to put the book down and wheeze.
Dakota is a menace in heels.
Axel is a menace in tailored wool.
Together they create the kind of romantic disaster that makes you laugh even while everything is on fire.
And then?
We meet the ex.
The ex who is:
unhinged
dramatic
allergic to boundaries
one emotional wobble away from staging a TED Talk titled “Why I Deserve Her Back”
the human embodiment of “sir, please calm down”
Every time he appeared, Dakota’s soul visibly left her body.
Axel’s jealousy?
Sweetheart, it could power a small regional airport.
But the real comedy gold?
The brothers‑by‑choice.
These men show up like a chaotic support group formed through trauma, loyalty, and poor impulse control.
Their banter?
Unhinged.
Their timing?
Impeccable.
Their ability to roast Axel while hyping Dakota?
Chef’s kiss.
I cracked up more than once — the kind of laugh where you have to put the book down because your lungs need a moment.
The fun between the bad is elite — the prank war, the petty rivalry, the “I hate you but also please do that again” energy.
Dakota tries to out‑sass Axel and he responds like he’s been waiting his whole life for someone to challenge him.
Axel’s vibe is:
Touch her and die.
Look at her and die.
Think about hurting her and I will ruin your life, your legacy, your future houseplants, and possibly your soul.
Sir, please.
People are trying to have lunch.
The enemies‑to‑lovers tension is thick enough to spread on toast.
The forced proximity is basically emotional torture.
The chemistry is so intense it could cause structural damage.
And beneath all the chaos?
There’s heart.
There’s vulnerability.
There’s that “who hurt you?” energy that makes you want to wrap Axel in a blanket and then smack him for being dramatic.
Why 4 stars?
Because it’s fun, chaotic, dramatic, and the banter — especially with the brothers‑by‑choice — is genuinely hilarious.
It balances the darker moments with pure comedic gold.
A solid 4‑star fake‑engagement romantic disaster — sharp, funny, messy, and absolutely bingeable if you love morally‑grey billionaires who communicate exclusively in threats, longing stares, and sass that could cause property damage.
Dakota is the chaos.
Axel is the storm.
The ex is the unhinged weather event.
And the brothers‑by‑choice?
Sweetheart, they’re the comedy relief we didn’t know we needed.
December 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Book #3 in the interconnected Standalone Series " Sinners & Saints"
🗣️ Dual POV
💥 Check Trigger Warnings
🖤 M/F
This was my first book by Kathy Lockheart, so obviously first in this series that I have read. I didnt feel like I missed anything by not reading the other books, there was a sufficient amount of background provided to who the other characters in the friend group were and how they intertwined.
This was Axel & Dakota's story, but it really intertwines with Knox and pieces of his story since Axel is Knox's best friend and Dakota is Knox's sister. It kinda threw me off, because we dont really know Knox and we dont get the background that I wish that we did about why he is in prison. We get enough to understand some things but not enough to scratch the itch needed. I am sure it will come, but it was enough to be annoying especially knowing that the next book is Ryker & Faith and not Knox's.
Axel can be a huge man child, but I did like Dakota. I liked her revelations as things clicked into place for her the further she got away from her ex. Thats not to say that I didnt want to slap her upside her head every time she cared about Matthews feelings or wanted to reach out to him and talk even after he kept showing her his true colors.
I do appreciate that once Axel gets his head out of his ass, he makes it his mission to show Dakota just how much she is worth. I also appreciated how much he loved her from afar. I dont agree with his stupid reason for being a jackass to her, but without that we wouldnt have this whole story 🤷♀️
Anywho, if the vibes and tropes below fit your needs, I recommend giving this book a try. It was well written/edited, with an engaging story.
Vibes:
✅ Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry
✅ "Who Hurt You?" Vibes
✅ "Touch Her and Die" Energy
✅ Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero
✅ Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice
Tropes:
🖤 Fake Engagement
💚 Forced Proximity
🖤 Rivals to Lovers
💚 Billionaire
🖤 A Prank War [🎀 🐱 IYKYK]
💚 Brother's Best Friend
🖤 Possessive Alpha Hero
💚 Tension, Banter & Spice
🖤 On Page Bro Chat
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
📚 Book #3 in the interconnected Standalone Series " Sinners & Saints"
🗣️ Dual POV
💥 Check Trigger Warnings
🖤 M/F
This was my first book by Kathy Lockheart, so obviously first in this series that I have read. I didnt feel like I missed anything by not reading the other books, there was a sufficient amount of background provided to who the other characters in the friend group were and how they intertwined.
This was Axel & Dakota's story, but it really intertwines with Knox and pieces of his story since Axel is Knox's best friend and Dakota is Knox's sister. It kinda threw me off, because we dont really know Knox and we dont get the background that I wish that we did about why he is in prison. We get enough to understand some things but not enough to scratch the itch needed. I am sure it will come, but it was enough to be annoying especially knowing that the next book is Ryker & Faith and not Knox's.
Axel can be a huge man child, but I did like Dakota. I liked her revelations as things clicked into place for her the further she got away from her ex. Thats not to say that I didnt want to slap her upside her head every time she cared about Matthews feelings or wanted to reach out to him and talk even after he kept showing her his true colors.
I do appreciate that once Axel gets his head out of his ass, he makes it his mission to show Dakota just how much she is worth. I also appreciated how much he loved her from afar. I dont agree with his stupid reason for being a jackass to her, but without that we wouldnt have this whole story 🤷♀️
Anywho, if the vibes and tropes below fit your needs, I recommend giving this book a try. It was well written/edited, with an engaging story.
Vibes:
✅ Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry
✅ "Who Hurt You?" Vibes
✅ "Touch Her and Die" Energy
✅ Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero
✅ Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice
Tropes:
🖤 Fake Engagement
💚 Forced Proximity
🖤 Rivals to Lovers
💚 Billionaire
🖤 A Prank War [🎀 🐱 IYKYK]
💚 Brother's Best Friend
🖤 Possessive Alpha Hero
💚 Tension, Banter & Spice
🖤 On Page Bro Chat
December 21, 2025
Admittedly not my favorite of the series. Axel was funny in the first two books and provided the comedic relief in books that were otherwise very heavy. In this book, however, he was simply a grade A jerk with very few redeeming qualities. The whole storyline seemed far-fetched with the viral video making them a target and putting his business at risk of collapse. The plot twist was very easy to figure out, and the story just felt contrived.
Looking forward to Ryder and Faith’s story in 2026.
Looking forward to Ryder and Faith’s story in 2026.
September 6, 2026
This series has quickly become my hyper fixation. I can't stop, won't stop talking about this series. And I fear I will never stop recommending it til everyone and their mom reads this series.
I don't know what Kathy put in this series but it has to be crack because as soon as I pick up one of these books I straight inhale it and Bound was no different. I was really looking forward to our goofy playboy Axel's story. And it did not disappoint. Now I will say, this was not my favorite in the series thus far but I did still very much enjoy it.
Before I get into why it wasn't my favorite, I want to touch on the positives. I absolutely loved Axel and Dakota's banter. Axel is Dakota's older brothers best friend who she has had a secret crush on while growing up. Only for Axel to be a little bit of a jerk to her which created this hate to love situation. But the real reason why Axel was a jerk was because Dakota was strictly off limits. So in an attempt to move on from Dakota, Axel because the playboy that we grew to love with witty text banter in the first two books. I truly love a book with forced proximity when the two main characters "hate" each other because it provides great buildable tension that eventually snaps. Chefs freaking kiss!
Now I will say, I felt like the beginning started right where book two left off, which is great if you have read this series in order. But if you have not and this is one you pick up as a standalone, you may feel like you are missing some key components to the story. I also felt like the chemistry between Axel and Dakota at the beginning wasn't super strong and I was unsure if their relationship would be believable. I also felt Axel wasn't his normal goofball self that we saw through text messages in the first two books which I was really wanting to see translated on page. Don't get me wrong he is a goofball and you do see that periodically throughout different dialogue settings but Axel is was more broody in Bound then I expected.
The plot had me fully sucked in like the rest though. This series with their slightly morally grey characters and a bit of suspense is one of my favorite elements of this series. I am also sucker for an interconnected standalone series. I did listen to Bound in audio and I devoured it! Bound is narrated in DUET by Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon. Both did a fabulous job with narrating the story and bringing it to life. I will say though, Erin sometimes with her narration almost slurs her words in a sensual way when she narrates which isn't my favorite but it didn't take away from the audiobook for me.
I am rating this book 4.5 stars. Rounded it up to 5 for the narration!
*I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Kathy Lockheart and Must Love Audio for the ALC for Bound in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.
I don't know what Kathy put in this series but it has to be crack because as soon as I pick up one of these books I straight inhale it and Bound was no different. I was really looking forward to our goofy playboy Axel's story. And it did not disappoint. Now I will say, this was not my favorite in the series thus far but I did still very much enjoy it.
Before I get into why it wasn't my favorite, I want to touch on the positives. I absolutely loved Axel and Dakota's banter. Axel is Dakota's older brothers best friend who she has had a secret crush on while growing up. Only for Axel to be a little bit of a jerk to her which created this hate to love situation. But the real reason why Axel was a jerk was because Dakota was strictly off limits. So in an attempt to move on from Dakota, Axel because the playboy that we grew to love with witty text banter in the first two books. I truly love a book with forced proximity when the two main characters "hate" each other because it provides great buildable tension that eventually snaps. Chefs freaking kiss!
Now I will say, I felt like the beginning started right where book two left off, which is great if you have read this series in order. But if you have not and this is one you pick up as a standalone, you may feel like you are missing some key components to the story. I also felt like the chemistry between Axel and Dakota at the beginning wasn't super strong and I was unsure if their relationship would be believable. I also felt Axel wasn't his normal goofball self that we saw through text messages in the first two books which I was really wanting to see translated on page. Don't get me wrong he is a goofball and you do see that periodically throughout different dialogue settings but Axel is was more broody in Bound then I expected.
The plot had me fully sucked in like the rest though. This series with their slightly morally grey characters and a bit of suspense is one of my favorite elements of this series. I am also sucker for an interconnected standalone series. I did listen to Bound in audio and I devoured it! Bound is narrated in DUET by Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon. Both did a fabulous job with narrating the story and bringing it to life. I will say though, Erin sometimes with her narration almost slurs her words in a sensual way when she narrates which isn't my favorite but it didn't take away from the audiobook for me.
I am rating this book 4.5 stars. Rounded it up to 5 for the narration!
*I would like to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Kathy Lockheart and Must Love Audio for the ALC for Bound in exchange for my honest thoughts, opinions and review.
April 13, 2026
1.5 stars
Yeesh, I'm going to rain hell on this book.
I did not enjoy this book at all. Pretty much hate reading this one since I want to read the next book in the series. And I believe this is MY problem since I think some of you might enjoy this more than I did. I just don't like half-assed FAKE RELATIONSHIP trope. It really a dumb trope for me. Never at any point, I felt the high stake why they have to fake the whole thing up.
Plus, this book was so damn preachy about self-love and the social media personas. It drone on and on about loving your real true self and yada yada... It made me cringe af. I'm sorry, maybe I was not in the right mood for this. It feels too gimmicky and that's how much I was not enjoying the book.
I don't think the book should focus that much on the self-love preach and more onto the external conflict. Especially when you didn't delve deep into the internal conflicts both of our main characters faced during their childhood years and make us feel the pain as they did. And let's not talk about the reason why our guy distanced himself from her at that one point. It was half-assed, I'm sorry.
The whole book was just a huge disappointment for me. This could've gone a better way if they fleshed out the characters more or just cut off some of the scenes. 👎
Yeesh, I'm going to rain hell on this book.
I did not enjoy this book at all. Pretty much hate reading this one since I want to read the next book in the series. And I believe this is MY problem since I think some of you might enjoy this more than I did. I just don't like half-assed FAKE RELATIONSHIP trope. It really a dumb trope for me. Never at any point, I felt the high stake why they have to fake the whole thing up.
Plus, this book was so damn preachy about self-love and the social media personas. It drone on and on about loving your real true self and yada yada... It made me cringe af. I'm sorry, maybe I was not in the right mood for this. It feels too gimmicky and that's how much I was not enjoying the book.
I don't think the book should focus that much on the self-love preach and more onto the external conflict. Especially when you didn't delve deep into the internal conflicts both of our main characters faced during their childhood years and make us feel the pain as they did. And let's not talk about the reason why our guy distanced himself from her at that one point. It was half-assed, I'm sorry.
The whole book was just a huge disappointment for me. This could've gone a better way if they fleshed out the characters more or just cut off some of the scenes. 👎
September 19, 2026
Oh wow this one had it all!! I’m a bit in love with this series and I’m loving the chance to discover each book as the audiobooks are released.
This book seriously had my full attention from the first chapter! It had everything! Dakota and Axel had the best banter. There was so much chemistry between these characters even though there was a bit of enemies to lovers vibes going on.
I giggled at points. Had to fan myself a bit from the spice at other points. And held my breath during the epically delicious suspense!
Totally enjoyed every moment of this one.
This duet style audiobook was brilliantly performed by Erin Mallon and Lance Greenfield. Like I’m not kidding, I was obsessed with the narration in this one. So freaking good. Erin and Lance played off of one another so perfectly.
If you want a spicy audiobook with fun banter and suspense, look no further! Check this out.
Thanks to Kathy, Must Love Audio and Lyric Audiobooks for the ALC. My review is honest and all thoughts are my own.
This book seriously had my full attention from the first chapter! It had everything! Dakota and Axel had the best banter. There was so much chemistry between these characters even though there was a bit of enemies to lovers vibes going on.
I giggled at points. Had to fan myself a bit from the spice at other points. And held my breath during the epically delicious suspense!
Totally enjoyed every moment of this one.
This duet style audiobook was brilliantly performed by Erin Mallon and Lance Greenfield. Like I’m not kidding, I was obsessed with the narration in this one. So freaking good. Erin and Lance played off of one another so perfectly.
If you want a spicy audiobook with fun banter and suspense, look no further! Check this out.
Thanks to Kathy, Must Love Audio and Lyric Audiobooks for the ALC. My review is honest and all thoughts are my own.
September 7, 2026
The tension between Axel and Dakota was thick from the very beginning. They acted like they couldn’t stand each other, but you could tell it wasn’t exactly hate because the chemistry between them was impossible to miss. Fake dating finally forced them both to realize there was so much more beneath the surface.
I absolutely loved these two together and couldn’t get enough of their banter! I especially loved watching Axel become so protective of Dakota and seeing how far he was willing to go to keep her safe. Their dynamic was everything, from enemies who constantly pushed each other’s buttons to something so much deeper.
Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon were the perfect voices for Axel and Dakota. They completely nailed their chemistry and brought their entire journey to life, from the initial animosity to the undeniable connection between them.
I’ve been loving this series, and this one is no different!
Thank you, Kathy Lockheart and Must Love Audio for the ALC.
I absolutely loved these two together and couldn’t get enough of their banter! I especially loved watching Axel become so protective of Dakota and seeing how far he was willing to go to keep her safe. Their dynamic was everything, from enemies who constantly pushed each other’s buttons to something so much deeper.
Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon were the perfect voices for Axel and Dakota. They completely nailed their chemistry and brought their entire journey to life, from the initial animosity to the undeniable connection between them.
I’ve been loving this series, and this one is no different!
Thank you, Kathy Lockheart and Must Love Audio for the ALC.
Currently Reading
October 24, 2025Available now!
Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: http://bit.ly/3IVB7VM
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Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
Amazon: http://bit.ly/3IVB7VM
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/470Ygy6
Read
January 14, 2026Note to self:
Axel is the manwhore of all manwhores. Every other manwhore just looks down to Axel to mimick his sleazy behaviour. I actually feel sorry for Dakota to end up with such a specimen.
Anyway, avoiding this book like The Plague, since I hated his ass in Book 1 and then hated his ass even more in Book 2. If Crass and Vulgar had a baby, it would be named Axel. 😏 💅
ok enough with my ranting. I feel bad because I love Kathy Lockheart and I adored books 1 and 2 but a filthy manwhore is just not my cup of tea. ☕️ (Never understood why they're romanticised in romance when in real life women would be giving them a WIDE berth).
Axel is the manwhore of all manwhores. Every other manwhore just looks down to Axel to mimick his sleazy behaviour. I actually feel sorry for Dakota to end up with such a specimen.
Anyway, avoiding this book like The Plague, since I hated his ass in Book 1 and then hated his ass even more in Book 2. If Crass and Vulgar had a baby, it would be named Axel. 😏 💅
ok enough with my ranting. I feel bad because I love Kathy Lockheart and I adored books 1 and 2 but a filthy manwhore is just not my cup of tea. ☕️ (Never understood why they're romanticised in romance when in real life women would be giving them a WIDE berth).
September 23, 2026
Oh my goodness! These books just keep getting better and better! I am consumed by this series and cannot get enough.
This is the third book in this series and my favorite so far! I absolutely loved Axel and Dakota. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. It had me laughing so hard at times there were tears in my eyes. The Sinners and Saints group chats are my favorite and get me every time! The suspense in this one was next level. The last like 40-50% had me on the edge of my seat and I could not listen fast enough to see what was going to happen.
Axel is a goofball at heart, but he was a bit more broody in this book then he has been in the previous books. I didn't mind this because of the contents and plot of the store. Dakota is this strong, fierce and genuinely good person and she might just be my favorite FMC. The things that she has overcome in her life and then to finally get her HEA had me cheering her on and fist pumping the air for her.
The plot of this book had me hooked from chapter 1. The suspense, tension and twist and turns had finding every spare moment that I had to listen so that I could find out what was going to happen. It was so freaking good.
I did listen to this one on audio. It is duet narration by the amazing Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon. They both were fantastic and definitely brought this story and these characters to life. I highly recommend the audio, not just for this book but for the entire series (at least up to this point). I am so excited for the last two books to be in my ear holes, especially after that jaw dropping epilogue!
Read if you love:
-Billionaire brother's best friend
-Fake engagement
-Forced proximity
-Jealous, obsessive, protective hero
-Prank war
-Banter
Thank you to Must Love Audio and Kathy Lockheart for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. I am having the best time with this series and I will be recommending it for years to come!
This is the third book in this series and my favorite so far! I absolutely loved Axel and Dakota. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. It had me laughing so hard at times there were tears in my eyes. The Sinners and Saints group chats are my favorite and get me every time! The suspense in this one was next level. The last like 40-50% had me on the edge of my seat and I could not listen fast enough to see what was going to happen.
Axel is a goofball at heart, but he was a bit more broody in this book then he has been in the previous books. I didn't mind this because of the contents and plot of the store. Dakota is this strong, fierce and genuinely good person and she might just be my favorite FMC. The things that she has overcome in her life and then to finally get her HEA had me cheering her on and fist pumping the air for her.
The plot of this book had me hooked from chapter 1. The suspense, tension and twist and turns had finding every spare moment that I had to listen so that I could find out what was going to happen. It was so freaking good.
I did listen to this one on audio. It is duet narration by the amazing Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon. They both were fantastic and definitely brought this story and these characters to life. I highly recommend the audio, not just for this book but for the entire series (at least up to this point). I am so excited for the last two books to be in my ear holes, especially after that jaw dropping epilogue!
Read if you love:
-Billionaire brother's best friend
-Fake engagement
-Forced proximity
-Jealous, obsessive, protective hero
-Prank war
-Banter
Thank you to Must Love Audio and Kathy Lockheart for the ALC in exchange for my honest review. I am having the best time with this series and I will be recommending it for years to come!
September 17, 2026
Bound is book 3 in Kathy Lockheart's Sinners and Saints series. It can be read as a stand alone, but better read as part of the series.
For fans of:
✔️ Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry
✔️ “Who Hurt You?” Vibes
✔️ “Touch Her and Die” Energy
✔️ Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero
✔️ Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice
Duet narration with Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon was as usually fantastic.
Dual POV 1st person
This book has it all. You have suspense, romance, banter, and spice. Axel and Dakota have a unique relationship starting out. Dakota's brother has been Axel's friend since college. The banter between them at the beginning is hysterical. While they seem like they hate each other on the surface, we eventually find out the truth.
I have really enjoyed this series as well as Kathy's other audiobooks.
Thank you to Kathy and Valentine PR for the ALC.
For fans of:
✔️ Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry
✔️ “Who Hurt You?” Vibes
✔️ “Touch Her and Die” Energy
✔️ Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero
✔️ Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice
Duet narration with Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon was as usually fantastic.
Dual POV 1st person
This book has it all. You have suspense, romance, banter, and spice. Axel and Dakota have a unique relationship starting out. Dakota's brother has been Axel's friend since college. The banter between them at the beginning is hysterical. While they seem like they hate each other on the surface, we eventually find out the truth.
I have really enjoyed this series as well as Kathy's other audiobooks.
Thank you to Kathy and Valentine PR for the ALC.
September 10, 2026
So apparently Kathy Lockhart has decided that my weakness is emotionally constipated billionaires who are secretly OBSESSED with the woman they insist they cannot have. BOUND gave me Axel and Dakota, and these two were a walking disaster from the SECOND they were forced into each other’s orbit. They bicker. They push each other’s buttons. They “hate” each other. They are forced to live together. They have to fake an engagement. And underneath ALL of that? Years of forbidden attraction and feelings neither one wants to admit.
Axel was such an interesting surprise for me because I knew him as the charming, goofy billionaire playboy from the earlier books, but here we get a much more intense side of him. Broody. Jealous. Possessive. Protective. Slightly ridiculous STILL, but in a different way. He definitely steps into the leading man role here in a way that I didn't expect. Once he finally stops fighting what he feels for Dakota. Watch out. Touch her and I'll ruin you to the EXTREME.
I really loved Dakota’s journey. She has spent so much time presenting this polished, perfect version of herself that she has almost forgotten the woman underneath it. Watching her start to understand that she doesn't have to be perfect to be worthy of love was really beautiful. Honestly, I was a bit turned off by the premise of her being an influencer and wasn't sure I'd connect with her or that she'd have depth, but she was great.
And then there’s the FRIEND GROUP. THE BRO CHAT. I laughed SO MANY TIMES. These men are completely unhinged, but their loyalty to each other and to Dakota is everything. Their group dynamic is one of my favorite things about this entire series.
Was this my favorite book in the series so far? No. I wanted a little more of Axel’s goofy personality (honestly that part of him almost disappears, and I read book 4 right after and it was a little jarring to see side character axel version again), and I REALLY wanted more answers about Knox because apparently Kathy Lockhart enjoys leaving me with questions I desperately need answered. The story is also very connected to the previous books, so I definitely recommend reading this series in order. This one in particular jumps right into some stuff. But did I still inhale this book? Absolutely.
I'm loving the Sinners and Saints series so much. SO bingeable and love the balance of romance and suspense/drama. Give me the morally gray billionaires, possessive heroes, chaotic friendships, ridiculous banter, suspense, and enough unresolved sexual tension to explode, and I'm here.
And the duet audio with Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon? FANTASTIC. I devoured this one on audio. Lance was so good as Axel and brought his energy to the performance, and Erin is always reliably expressive and engaging. These audios have been SUCH a good time.
Audio: 4.5
Book: 4
What to expect
🖤 Fake Engagement
💚 Billionaire Hero
🖤 Brother's Best Friend/ Best Friend's Sister
💚 Rivals to Lovers
🖤 Possessive, Protective Alpha Hero
💚Forced Proximity
🖤 Prank War
💚 Slow Burn but spicy
🖤 Bro Chat
💚Who Hurt you?
🖤 Touch Her and Die
💚Suspense
Axel was such an interesting surprise for me because I knew him as the charming, goofy billionaire playboy from the earlier books, but here we get a much more intense side of him. Broody. Jealous. Possessive. Protective. Slightly ridiculous STILL, but in a different way. He definitely steps into the leading man role here in a way that I didn't expect. Once he finally stops fighting what he feels for Dakota. Watch out. Touch her and I'll ruin you to the EXTREME.
I really loved Dakota’s journey. She has spent so much time presenting this polished, perfect version of herself that she has almost forgotten the woman underneath it. Watching her start to understand that she doesn't have to be perfect to be worthy of love was really beautiful. Honestly, I was a bit turned off by the premise of her being an influencer and wasn't sure I'd connect with her or that she'd have depth, but she was great.
And then there’s the FRIEND GROUP. THE BRO CHAT. I laughed SO MANY TIMES. These men are completely unhinged, but their loyalty to each other and to Dakota is everything. Their group dynamic is one of my favorite things about this entire series.
Was this my favorite book in the series so far? No. I wanted a little more of Axel’s goofy personality (honestly that part of him almost disappears, and I read book 4 right after and it was a little jarring to see side character axel version again), and I REALLY wanted more answers about Knox because apparently Kathy Lockhart enjoys leaving me with questions I desperately need answered. The story is also very connected to the previous books, so I definitely recommend reading this series in order. This one in particular jumps right into some stuff. But did I still inhale this book? Absolutely.
I'm loving the Sinners and Saints series so much. SO bingeable and love the balance of romance and suspense/drama. Give me the morally gray billionaires, possessive heroes, chaotic friendships, ridiculous banter, suspense, and enough unresolved sexual tension to explode, and I'm here.
And the duet audio with Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon? FANTASTIC. I devoured this one on audio. Lance was so good as Axel and brought his energy to the performance, and Erin is always reliably expressive and engaging. These audios have been SUCH a good time.
Audio: 4.5
Book: 4
What to expect
🖤 Fake Engagement
💚 Billionaire Hero
🖤 Brother's Best Friend/ Best Friend's Sister
💚 Rivals to Lovers
🖤 Possessive, Protective Alpha Hero
💚Forced Proximity
🖤 Prank War
💚 Slow Burn but spicy
🖤 Bro Chat
💚Who Hurt you?
🖤 Touch Her and Die
💚Suspense
September 26, 2026
3,5☆
The group chat is peaaaaak. And the catmobile😭
The group chat is peaaaaak. And the catmobile😭
December 2, 2025
#Review: *Bound* - Kathy Lockheart - ALC [18+]
4.8/5✨
3/5🌶️
Because of a photo Dakota has taken and has posted online, everything changed for her and the man she loathed. How so? Well, both their images had suffered after that moment and the only way to fix everything was to pretend to be a couple. But those feelings inside them have never disappeared, even if they weren't exactly in the best place. Will they be able to stick to their deal and not get hurt in the end? Well, things were definitely going to get super complicated, and not just because of their feelings, but because there was an invisible threat that was jeopardizing what they had, real or not.
As usual, Kathy knows so well how to capture my attention!😍 I loved that we had that gradual change of dynamics in the story, transforming that enemies to lovers status into something really beautiful, very sweet and addicting. Axel may have looked like one of those grumpy, serious guys, but that was only a mask because he was trying his best to hide what was, in fact, present in his heart. And that was a pretty heavy task for him. Dakota had to figure out how to be in such a close proximity to this man, when she had all those feelings, which almost bursted out of her.🤭
Their fake relationship was really captivating to follow, especially because of all that suspense which accompanied the love story. It was so intriguing to see how everything unfolded and to keep guessing who was the villain of this book. For sure a super thrilling read, one which entranced my attention and kept me on my toes! I loved it!
OMG!!! Erin Mallon and Lance Greenfield made that tension, bickering and loathing even more delicious and funnier!! I had such a great time listening to them and see how these two started to doubt the feelings they started to have inside. So, so GOOD!! I loved every second of this and I'm glad that I've discovered a new narrator to me, which is Lance Greenfield, who of course has done an amazing job with impersonating Axel's broodiness 🤭. Erin Mallon is already one of my favorite female narrators, always loving her performances and the way she is able to express in the bestest way the character's feelings. That's exactly what she did with Dakota, being able to feel everything that was happening in her mind and heart.
Thank you so much Valentine Pr and Kathy for accepting me for this ALC! It is incredible and soo much fun to listen to! 🥰
✨Tropes
▫️Rivals To Lovers
▫️Fake Engagement
▫️Romantic Suspense
▫️Billionaire
▫️Heroine In Danger
▫️Forced Proximity
4.8/5✨
3/5🌶️
Because of a photo Dakota has taken and has posted online, everything changed for her and the man she loathed. How so? Well, both their images had suffered after that moment and the only way to fix everything was to pretend to be a couple. But those feelings inside them have never disappeared, even if they weren't exactly in the best place. Will they be able to stick to their deal and not get hurt in the end? Well, things were definitely going to get super complicated, and not just because of their feelings, but because there was an invisible threat that was jeopardizing what they had, real or not.
As usual, Kathy knows so well how to capture my attention!😍 I loved that we had that gradual change of dynamics in the story, transforming that enemies to lovers status into something really beautiful, very sweet and addicting. Axel may have looked like one of those grumpy, serious guys, but that was only a mask because he was trying his best to hide what was, in fact, present in his heart. And that was a pretty heavy task for him. Dakota had to figure out how to be in such a close proximity to this man, when she had all those feelings, which almost bursted out of her.🤭
Their fake relationship was really captivating to follow, especially because of all that suspense which accompanied the love story. It was so intriguing to see how everything unfolded and to keep guessing who was the villain of this book. For sure a super thrilling read, one which entranced my attention and kept me on my toes! I loved it!
OMG!!! Erin Mallon and Lance Greenfield made that tension, bickering and loathing even more delicious and funnier!! I had such a great time listening to them and see how these two started to doubt the feelings they started to have inside. So, so GOOD!! I loved every second of this and I'm glad that I've discovered a new narrator to me, which is Lance Greenfield, who of course has done an amazing job with impersonating Axel's broodiness 🤭. Erin Mallon is already one of my favorite female narrators, always loving her performances and the way she is able to express in the bestest way the character's feelings. That's exactly what she did with Dakota, being able to feel everything that was happening in her mind and heart.
Thank you so much Valentine Pr and Kathy for accepting me for this ALC! It is incredible and soo much fun to listen to! 🥰
✨Tropes
▫️Rivals To Lovers
▫️Fake Engagement
▫️Romantic Suspense
▫️Billionaire
▫️Heroine In Danger
▫️Forced Proximity
September 14, 2026
This series is such a fun ride and at this point, I am foaming at the mouth for the last two books! From the very first chapter, Dakota and Axel's chemistry is absolute FIRE. They are the epitome of rivals to lovers in the book world!
Rivals to lovers
Brother's best friend
Fake dating
Forced proximity
Possessive and obsessed MMC
So much banter!
Axel has always had a thing for Dakota, but stayed away and became a bit of a jerk to her, because she is completely off limits.
Now they find themselves in a fake relationship that is sparking flames from the very beginning. Their line between hate and love is so thin.
There is a lot of drama and suspense in this book that brought a great added layer of depth to these characters and their journey to a HEA!
Lance Greenfield & Erin Mallon perform this audiobook in duet narration, and as always, these characters killed it!
Rivals to lovers
Brother's best friend
Fake dating
Forced proximity
Possessive and obsessed MMC
So much banter!
Axel has always had a thing for Dakota, but stayed away and became a bit of a jerk to her, because she is completely off limits.
Now they find themselves in a fake relationship that is sparking flames from the very beginning. Their line between hate and love is so thin.
There is a lot of drama and suspense in this book that brought a great added layer of depth to these characters and their journey to a HEA!
Lance Greenfield & Erin Mallon perform this audiobook in duet narration, and as always, these characters killed it!
December 2, 2025
✨ARC Review✨
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️
I opened this book thinking I was ready. Bound is the third book in the Sinners and Saints series and boy did she bring it with this one!
One of my favorite things about Kathy’s book is every single time I open one of her books, I fall in love with it! The twists in this book had me on the edge of my seat and giggling out loud so often! Then the banter between Axel and Dakota. FREAKING HILARIOUS! The car with eye lashes made so much more sense.
Axel and Dakota’s dynamic was addictive from POWER. Watching Dakota shed her armor piece by piece was completely gorgeous. Then we got to see Axel go from ruthless businessman to a man who would burn the world down for her. He challenged her in all the right ways. pushed her to believe she was worthy. Which in turn made their connection that much better.
Then the boys group chats? If you need a good laugh and just fun, read those! They had me cracking up! I eat it all up each time. It’s one of my favorite things about this series. They can joke and give each other a hard time then flip the switch and be there for each other without question.
What to Expect:
💍Brothers Best Friend
💍Fake Engagement
💍Prank War
💍Forced Proximity
💍Touch Her And Die
💍Who Did This To You
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️
I opened this book thinking I was ready. Bound is the third book in the Sinners and Saints series and boy did she bring it with this one!
One of my favorite things about Kathy’s book is every single time I open one of her books, I fall in love with it! The twists in this book had me on the edge of my seat and giggling out loud so often! Then the banter between Axel and Dakota. FREAKING HILARIOUS! The car with eye lashes made so much more sense.
Axel and Dakota’s dynamic was addictive from POWER. Watching Dakota shed her armor piece by piece was completely gorgeous. Then we got to see Axel go from ruthless businessman to a man who would burn the world down for her. He challenged her in all the right ways. pushed her to believe she was worthy. Which in turn made their connection that much better.
Then the boys group chats? If you need a good laugh and just fun, read those! They had me cracking up! I eat it all up each time. It’s one of my favorite things about this series. They can joke and give each other a hard time then flip the switch and be there for each other without question.
What to Expect:
💍Brothers Best Friend
💍Fake Engagement
💍Prank War
💍Forced Proximity
💍Touch Her And Die
💍Who Did This To You
September 5, 2026
4.5 stars! I am absolutely loving this series on audio! Bound is performed in duet by Erin Mallon and Lance Greenfield and I couldn’t stop listening to these two. They brought this book to life and the banter between Dakota & Axel was literally perfect! The tension between these two was THICK from the start…but not surprising since they’ve ‘hated’ each other for years. And the prank wars….I literally was dying at some of them! I cannot wait for more of this series to come out on audio to devour them as well!
What to expect:
💚fake dating/engagement
💚enemies to lovers
💚forced proximity
💚brother’s best friend
💚touch her & die
💚prank wars
💚possessive alpha hero
Big thank you to Must Love Audio and Kathy Lockheart for the opportunity to listen to an early copy of this audio!
What to expect:
💚fake dating/engagement
💚enemies to lovers
💚forced proximity
💚brother’s best friend
💚touch her & die
💚prank wars
💚possessive alpha hero
Big thank you to Must Love Audio and Kathy Lockheart for the opportunity to listen to an early copy of this audio!
September 17, 2026
📖🎧 Bound
Kathy did it again! This series has me in an absolute chokehold and hanging on every word!
Bound was a special one- not only did it have an enemies to lovers romance with fantastic character development, but the suspense plot was so well done. Kathy also dives headfirst into how social media can make you feel like your value is connected to how perfect you are. The female main character struggles with social media, authenticity, and perfectionism. I think her story will resonate with so many! There were also some unhinged group texts, a prank war that had me giggling, and found family that has me addicted to the series.
Don't miss this one!
Here's what you can expect:
💚 Billionaire Hero
💚 Influencer Heroine
💚 Brother’s Best Friend
💚 Fake Engagement
💚 Who Hurt You
💚 Touch Her and 💀
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 Prank Wars
💚 Unhinged Group Text
💚 Spice
📚 Book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎧
Audio: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥Spice Rating: ❤️
🎧 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼...
Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon narrated this audiobook in duet style narration and I ate it up. They were fantastic.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺, 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘓𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯!
Spice Rating
🤍 clean romance
💗 closed door/ fade to black
❤️ spicy content (a few detailed scenes)
❤️🔥 explicit, play-by-play (major part of the plot)
🖤 graphic, more than vanilla
Kathy did it again! This series has me in an absolute chokehold and hanging on every word!
Bound was a special one- not only did it have an enemies to lovers romance with fantastic character development, but the suspense plot was so well done. Kathy also dives headfirst into how social media can make you feel like your value is connected to how perfect you are. The female main character struggles with social media, authenticity, and perfectionism. I think her story will resonate with so many! There were also some unhinged group texts, a prank war that had me giggling, and found family that has me addicted to the series.
Don't miss this one!
Here's what you can expect:
💚 Billionaire Hero
💚 Influencer Heroine
💚 Brother’s Best Friend
💚 Fake Engagement
💚 Who Hurt You
💚 Touch Her and 💀
💚 Forced Proximity
💚 Prank Wars
💚 Unhinged Group Text
💚 Spice
📚 Book: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎧
Audio: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🔥Spice Rating: ❤️
🎧 𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼...
Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon narrated this audiobook in duet style narration and I ate it up. They were fantastic.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘺, 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘈𝘓𝘊. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯!
Spice Rating
🤍 clean romance
💗 closed door/ fade to black
❤️ spicy content (a few detailed scenes)
❤️🔥 explicit, play-by-play (major part of the plot)
🖤 graphic, more than vanilla
August 19, 2026
3.0 |
September 16, 2026
🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶🌶🌶
Thank you Kathy Lockheart, Must Love Audio, and Lyric Audiobooks for this ALC 🫶🏻
Tropes
💚 Brothers Best Friend
💚 Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry
💚 “Who Hurt You?” Vibes
💚 “Touch Her and Die” Energy
💚 Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero
💚 Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice
Sinners and Saints Book 3
This series just keeps getting better, and Axel and Dakota might be my favorite couple yet 😍🔥
The tension between these two was off the charts from the very beginning. Their prank war had me laughing out loud, and the banter was absolute perfection 😂💖
Axel and Dakota acted like they couldn't stand each other, but the chemistry was impossible to ignore. The fake dating trope was done so well, and watching Axel go from constantly pushing Dakota's buttons to being fiercely protective of her had me swooning 🥹❤️
Dakota is an absolute badass, and Axel never stood a chance. Between the group chats, hilarious inner thoughts, nonstop tension, and just the right amount of suspense, I completely devoured this book ☕📚✨
If you love billionaire romance, fake dating, enemies to lovers vibes, and top-tier banter, this is a must-read. Kathy never misses, and I can't wait for the rest of this friend group to get their happily ever afters ❤️🔥
🎧 Narrated by Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon. These two were fantastic together. Their voices fit Axel and Dakota perfectly, bringing the humor, chemistry, and emotion to life. I was completely glued to my headphones and never wanted to stop listening 🎧💕✨
🌶🌶🌶
Thank you Kathy Lockheart, Must Love Audio, and Lyric Audiobooks for this ALC 🫶🏻
Tropes
💚 Brothers Best Friend
💚 Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry
💚 “Who Hurt You?” Vibes
💚 “Touch Her and Die” Energy
💚 Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero
💚 Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice
Sinners and Saints Book 3
This series just keeps getting better, and Axel and Dakota might be my favorite couple yet 😍🔥
The tension between these two was off the charts from the very beginning. Their prank war had me laughing out loud, and the banter was absolute perfection 😂💖
Axel and Dakota acted like they couldn't stand each other, but the chemistry was impossible to ignore. The fake dating trope was done so well, and watching Axel go from constantly pushing Dakota's buttons to being fiercely protective of her had me swooning 🥹❤️
Dakota is an absolute badass, and Axel never stood a chance. Between the group chats, hilarious inner thoughts, nonstop tension, and just the right amount of suspense, I completely devoured this book ☕📚✨
If you love billionaire romance, fake dating, enemies to lovers vibes, and top-tier banter, this is a must-read. Kathy never misses, and I can't wait for the rest of this friend group to get their happily ever afters ❤️🔥
🎧 Narrated by Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon. These two were fantastic together. Their voices fit Axel and Dakota perfectly, bringing the humor, chemistry, and emotion to life. I was completely glued to my headphones and never wanted to stop listening 🎧💕✨
January 1, 2026
Rating: 1.5
Spice: 2/5
Tropes:
🔍 Romantic Suspense
💍Engagement of Convenience
🛡️ Protective Hero
🚫 Forbidden Romance
Review:
This was a disappointing third installment in the Sinners and Saints series. I wasn’t expecting literary gold—I was expecting another fast-paced, thrilling, over-the-top, soapy read. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me on several levels.
So much of the story felt either wildly unrealistic and blown out of proportion or half-baked and underexplored. Axel’s intense hatred of social media and influencers, while understandable on a surface level, felt oddly disconnected from his actual trauma. Given his mother’s story, it would have made far more sense for him to have deep aversions to wealth, excess, or alcohol. Instead, all of that pain seemingly manifests as rage toward “fake people,” which felt contrived. Adding to that, his father is barely addressed at all— The absence of clarity made Axel’s backstory feel incomplete.
Dakota’s struggles made slightly more sense but still stretched believability. I could understand how her brother’s conviction and the attention surrounding it caused her to feel neglected and pushed her toward perfectionism.
The fake engagement plotline was another major issue. I never expect fake dating or marriages of convenience to be fully realistic, but the catalyst here—a taboo photo posted online—felt like an egregious stretch. How often do influencers actually make headlines unless they’re truly massive? Dakota isn’t really described as an Alix Earle-level celebrity, though that may have been the intent.
What I liked:
The spice was… fine. Not her best, but serviceable. Other than that, there were some genuinely funny moments. I fully lost it when she rented the Hello Kitty car—that scene alone is the reason this book is getting 1.5 stars instead of one. And despite all the problems, the plot did move quickly. Even with the countless holes and unrealistic elements, I was able to read it fast.
Overall, this book left me more annoyed than entertained. I’ll probably still read Ryker’s story, but after this installment, my enthusiasm for the series has definitely taken a hit.
Spice: 2/5
Tropes:
🔍 Romantic Suspense
💍Engagement of Convenience
🛡️ Protective Hero
🚫 Forbidden Romance
Review:
This was a disappointing third installment in the Sinners and Saints series. I wasn’t expecting literary gold—I was expecting another fast-paced, thrilling, over-the-top, soapy read. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me on several levels.
So much of the story felt either wildly unrealistic and blown out of proportion or half-baked and underexplored. Axel’s intense hatred of social media and influencers, while understandable on a surface level, felt oddly disconnected from his actual trauma. Given his mother’s story, it would have made far more sense for him to have deep aversions to wealth, excess, or alcohol. Instead, all of that pain seemingly manifests as rage toward “fake people,” which felt contrived. Adding to that, his father is barely addressed at all— The absence of clarity made Axel’s backstory feel incomplete.
Dakota’s struggles made slightly more sense but still stretched believability. I could understand how her brother’s conviction and the attention surrounding it caused her to feel neglected and pushed her toward perfectionism.
The fake engagement plotline was another major issue. I never expect fake dating or marriages of convenience to be fully realistic, but the catalyst here—a taboo photo posted online—felt like an egregious stretch. How often do influencers actually make headlines unless they’re truly massive? Dakota isn’t really described as an Alix Earle-level celebrity, though that may have been the intent.
What I liked:
The spice was… fine. Not her best, but serviceable. Other than that, there were some genuinely funny moments. I fully lost it when she rented the Hello Kitty car—that scene alone is the reason this book is getting 1.5 stars instead of one. And despite all the problems, the plot did move quickly. Even with the countless holes and unrealistic elements, I was able to read it fast.
Overall, this book left me more annoyed than entertained. I’ll probably still read Ryker’s story, but after this installment, my enthusiasm for the series has definitely taken a hit.
September 10, 2026
This series just gets better and better! I am obsessed with Dakota and Axel . The animosity between these two is so entertaining. She is such a badass, and he can’t help but to fall for her. Between the group chat, prank war, the banter and hilarious inner thoughts, insane tension and chemistry, suspense that had me on the edge of my seat, and Kathy’s witty writing, I couldn’t put this down!
The audiobook is narrated in duet by Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon - their voices complement each other in the best ways and fit the characters so well! I lost track of time, I was completely locked in and binged hard.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇢ billionaire • Chicago setting • romantic suspense • morally gray hero • fake engagement • enemies to lovers • brother’s best friend • possessive alpha hero • forced proximity • dual POV • spice
Thank you must love audio and lyric audiobooks for the advanced copy!
The audiobook is narrated in duet by Lance Greenfield and Erin Mallon - their voices complement each other in the best ways and fit the characters so well! I lost track of time, I was completely locked in and binged hard.
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 ⇢ billionaire • Chicago setting • romantic suspense • morally gray hero • fake engagement • enemies to lovers • brother’s best friend • possessive alpha hero • forced proximity • dual POV • spice
Thank you must love audio and lyric audiobooks for the advanced copy!
December 7, 2025
Somehow, it didn't surprise me that Axel would protect me from any bully. Even if that bully was me.
You know it's a fan-bloody-tastic book when you've got 3,294,694,183 quotes and highlights all over it, which happens to every single installment in Kathy's Sinners and Saints series so far, and Bound is no exception.
What I love most about this series is that though all of the characters are interconnected, each book can be read as a standalone, so you can easily pick up whichever catches your eye. The third book, Bound, follows Axel and Dakota, two childhood besties thanks to Dakota's older brother and Axel's college best friend, Knox, who is currently locked up in prison due to murder, and how they reconnect after years of avoiding each other like the plague for unknown reasons. To my surprise, it turns out that both of them have been secretly protecting each other from being hurt in life, and their mutual pining completely melts my heart!
Just when I'm convinced that Axel is incapable of loving someone else with all his playboy image and happy-go-lucky personality, he ends up being one of the most thoughtful & (over)protective boyfriends I've ever met and learning how far he's willing to go for Dakota is the proof of ultimate love itself. *watery heart eyes* In true Kathy's fashion, the story will not be perfect without a dash of dark romance; thus, the mafia threat here totally keeps me at the edge of my seat and has me hold my breath the entire time. It is THAT intense, guys. And don't get me started on the PLOT TWIST at 95% of the book...I mean, yeah, I kinda have this sixth sense instinctual feeling towards Dakota's psychotic ex, but still, HE gives me chills through and through.
Anyways, needless to say, Bound is a must read just like the first two books in this series. Axel and Dakota's story will make your heart feel so full and at the same time, getting to spend quality time with the whole Sinners and Saints gang and their respective girls is the cherry on top. I feel like I've known these guys my whole life and how I wish I could be a part of them in reality. Better yet, we'll get to see more of Ryker and Faith in the next book, Doubt, coming in early 2026, so stay tuned!
***Massive thanks to Kathy for generously providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
January 19, 2026
The writing was everything.
The banter was so freaking good.
The pranks made me laugh out loud (kitty car!!)
✅Playboy vs. barely-any-experience
✅ Fake dating
✅ Brother’s best friend
✅ Kidnapping by the villain
✅ OM drama
That said, I just can’t give this 5 stars because I cannot deal with the playboy trope anymore.
You’re telling me this man has been in love with her since the first time he saw her, yet still slept with half the female population??
The only thing he’s never done with another woman is run her a bath 🛀, whoop whoop, way to feel special!!
If she was really that special, he would’ve realized pretty quickly that sleeping with a different woman every night wasn’t going to change anything and stopped. But no, he even got engaged to another woman.
Sorry, but I would never feel special with a guy like that. No amount of dirty talk can fix it. Especially when Dakota values intimacy and saved herself until she was ready and found someone she genuinely thought loved her (even if he wasn’t the one, and that’s okay).
The whole Dakota/Instagram vs. reality debate was a bit annoying, to be honest. I’m sorry, but you should not give your full name or announce that your brother is in jail to random people online. People seriously don’t understand the concept of a private life.
Wanting a public life and wanting to look good online is fine. Dakota’s real mistake was forgetting herself, and that’s on her. But appearing without makeup, sharing her full name, and announcing her brother is in jail was not going to fix anything. Especially when she knew the mafia was after them on top of everything....
The ending was interesting and intense.
Overall I really enjoyed this book especially the banter which was epic! But the manwh0re trop ruined some aspect of it.
The banter was so freaking good.
The pranks made me laugh out loud (kitty car!!)
✅Playboy vs. barely-any-experience
✅ Fake dating
✅ Brother’s best friend
✅ Kidnapping by the villain
✅ OM drama
That said, I just can’t give this 5 stars because I cannot deal with the playboy trope anymore.
You’re telling me this man has been in love with her since the first time he saw her, yet still slept with half the female population??
The only thing he’s never done with another woman is run her a bath 🛀, whoop whoop, way to feel special!!
If she was really that special, he would’ve realized pretty quickly that sleeping with a different woman every night wasn’t going to change anything and stopped. But no, he even got engaged to another woman.
Sorry, but I would never feel special with a guy like that. No amount of dirty talk can fix it. Especially when Dakota values intimacy and saved herself until she was ready and found someone she genuinely thought loved her (even if he wasn’t the one, and that’s okay).
The whole Dakota/Instagram vs. reality debate was a bit annoying, to be honest. I’m sorry, but you should not give your full name or announce that your brother is in jail to random people online. People seriously don’t understand the concept of a private life.
Wanting a public life and wanting to look good online is fine. Dakota’s real mistake was forgetting herself, and that’s on her. But appearing without makeup, sharing her full name, and announcing her brother is in jail was not going to fix anything. Especially when she knew the mafia was after them on top of everything....
The ending was interesting and intense.
Overall I really enjoyed this book especially the banter which was epic! But the manwh0re trop ruined some aspect of it.
December 14, 2025
I received Bound in return for an honest review in return from the author.
Bound is the third book in the Sinners and Saints Series featuring a friends group. This story centers around Dakota an influencer and successful business owner Axel who happens to be her brothers best-friend so of course she's off limits. It's only fake dating when one little picture throws their lives together the long time attraction can't be denied.
I love Dakota and Alex the prank war was fantastic I had to google to see if anyone offered a pink cat car convertible because that would be great to pick my daughter up in one day. I really enjoyed the banter that they shared and they had this sweet yet steamy romance between them. I have loved all the characters in the series so far it's always hard to pick my favorite but it may be Axel but who knows still a few friends in the group to go.
I have loved all the authors books she's nailed it with another captivating story that hooked me right from the start. I ended up devouring it in just one reading session and a couple of hot cups of coffee. It's perfect to spend the day lost in Dakota and Axel's love story. I love that each book give us past characters so recommend reading in order. Highly recommend if you love billionaire romance with banter. Every book in this series has been chef's kiss perfect and I can't wait to read all their happy ever afters even Dakota's brother. Hint Hint.
This isn't the first series by the author I've read she's a beautiful storyteller and every book has been amazing. With characters you can't help falling in love with and living rent free in my head. I have loved them all. She's one of my auto buy favorite authors.
Bound is the third book in the Sinners and Saints Series featuring a friends group. This story centers around Dakota an influencer and successful business owner Axel who happens to be her brothers best-friend so of course she's off limits. It's only fake dating when one little picture throws their lives together the long time attraction can't be denied.
I love Dakota and Alex the prank war was fantastic I had to google to see if anyone offered a pink cat car convertible because that would be great to pick my daughter up in one day. I really enjoyed the banter that they shared and they had this sweet yet steamy romance between them. I have loved all the characters in the series so far it's always hard to pick my favorite but it may be Axel but who knows still a few friends in the group to go.
I have loved all the authors books she's nailed it with another captivating story that hooked me right from the start. I ended up devouring it in just one reading session and a couple of hot cups of coffee. It's perfect to spend the day lost in Dakota and Axel's love story. I love that each book give us past characters so recommend reading in order. Highly recommend if you love billionaire romance with banter. Every book in this series has been chef's kiss perfect and I can't wait to read all their happy ever afters even Dakota's brother. Hint Hint.
This isn't the first series by the author I've read she's a beautiful storyteller and every book has been amazing. With characters you can't help falling in love with and living rent free in my head. I have loved them all. She's one of my auto buy favorite authors.
January 7, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, it captivated me from the very first chapter. I originally planned to read it over a couple of days, but the tension was so good that I ended up staying up until 3 AM just to see how it all ended.
Axel and Dakota have electric chemistry from the start. This was a perfect enemies to lovers story filled with great banter and fun tropes. I especially loved the humor, I laughed so hard at Dakota’s ultimate revenge prank!
The plot itself is a wild ride. It starts with a viral scandal involving a compromising photo of Axel and a senator’s wife, which leads to a high stakes fake engagement to save both their careers.
My only real gripe is the ending. It wasn’t bad, but it felt a bit rushed compared to the heavy drama of the rest of the book. We go from a life threatening situation to everything being perfectly fine almost instantly. I would have loved to see more of the "in between" after all that drama!
That being said, this has been a very enjoyable series so far. It’s fun, fast paced, and the cliffhanger intro of Faith and Ryker has me geared up for the next book.
Trope Checklist:
* Enemies to Lovers
* Fake Engagement
* Billionaire CEO x Influencer
* "He fell first"
* Forced Cohabitation
Axel and Dakota have electric chemistry from the start. This was a perfect enemies to lovers story filled with great banter and fun tropes. I especially loved the humor, I laughed so hard at Dakota’s ultimate revenge prank!
The plot itself is a wild ride. It starts with a viral scandal involving a compromising photo of Axel and a senator’s wife, which leads to a high stakes fake engagement to save both their careers.
My only real gripe is the ending. It wasn’t bad, but it felt a bit rushed compared to the heavy drama of the rest of the book. We go from a life threatening situation to everything being perfectly fine almost instantly. I would have loved to see more of the "in between" after all that drama!
That being said, this has been a very enjoyable series so far. It’s fun, fast paced, and the cliffhanger intro of Faith and Ryker has me geared up for the next book.
Trope Checklist:
* Enemies to Lovers
* Fake Engagement
* Billionaire CEO x Influencer
* "He fell first"
* Forced Cohabitation
September 25, 2026
IN LOVE WITH THIS SERIES!!!
I’m absolutely in love with this series!! I’ve only listened to books 2 and three but now I definitely need to go back and listen to book one! I have so much fun with this series that I’m devouring these audiobooks in one to two days! This one is what I want rivals/enemies to lovers. I want the main characters to absolutely despise each other through the majority of the book. Then when we finally get the snap in the tension it makes that buildup so freaking worth it. In one of my absolute favorite things I don’t even know if this is a trope, but I love it when the reason one of the main characters are being such a bully to the other one and pushing them away is because they’re trying to protect them and the only way to do that is by pushing them away and then when we finally get to that realization, it’s just like sparks flying because it’s another snap in the tension! And that’s what I loved so much about this one with Axel and Dakota story because we, as the reader know why one of the main characters is pushing the other away, while the other main character in the story, doesn’t realize that until it’s finally told to them and when we get there, I absolutely eat that up every single time!
I’m absolutely in love with this series!! I’ve only listened to books 2 and three but now I definitely need to go back and listen to book one! I have so much fun with this series that I’m devouring these audiobooks in one to two days! This one is what I want rivals/enemies to lovers. I want the main characters to absolutely despise each other through the majority of the book. Then when we finally get the snap in the tension it makes that buildup so freaking worth it. In one of my absolute favorite things I don’t even know if this is a trope, but I love it when the reason one of the main characters are being such a bully to the other one and pushing them away is because they’re trying to protect them and the only way to do that is by pushing them away and then when we finally get to that realization, it’s just like sparks flying because it’s another snap in the tension! And that’s what I loved so much about this one with Axel and Dakota story because we, as the reader know why one of the main characters is pushing the other away, while the other main character in the story, doesn’t realize that until it’s finally told to them and when we get there, I absolutely eat that up every single time!
December 16, 2025
My gosh, this may be my favourite book out of the series so far! I already knew I was gonna love Axel, but this broke my heart and put it back together again. I was crying at 2am and I’m most definitely not forgetting this book for a long time. I love a good fake dating romance especially when it’s also an enemies to lovers. Their banter is insane and there’s just so much tension as they struggle to admit their feelings for each other. Axel may act like an asshole but he’s a softie at heart. He acts like he hates her, but he seeks her approval like a lost puppy and gets so happy when she says she likes his room. And Dakota has her own troubles but Axel is her rock during all of it. It’s very emotional as this book tackles themes of insecurity and the perfectly planned perfection you see on social media. It was a thrilling read with good twists and amazing characters. Their chemistry, their history and their burning love for each other made this book spectacular. My one problem was the final plot twist, because it just seemed to be plopped in there for the sake of a final terrifying plot twist. The characters were already fully developed and I think the book could have done without it. But overall I had an amazing time reading this, could not put it down and I give it a 5/5
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