Twisted Ties

by S.L. Knight

Be careful what you wish for—the past never stays buried.
They called me a villain first.
Then a murderer.
Finally, a boss.
All of it true.
I built my empire on control—on rules that don’t bend, decisions that don’t forgive mistakes. Violence wasn’t a flaw in my world. It was the structure.
Then I met her.
Chloe was the only woman I ever loved. Not because she softened me—but because she saw me and stayed anyway. We had three years before she vanished. No note. No explanation.
I hunted. I obsessed. Tearing through rivals, convinced someone had forced her to disappear—because men like me don’t get abandoned. We get challenged. We get betrayed.
I never found the truth. I never found her.
Until the night she stepped into a club she didn’t know was mine. Onto a stage she didn’t know I owned. Running from a man she believed had forgotten her.
I hadn’t.
I watched her move to the music, unaware of who was watching—unaware of what it cost me to keep standing there. Years of discipline fractured as the glass split my palm, and I understood, with quiet certainty, that control was order,
love was dangerous, and things were about to get messy.

Twisted Ties is a dark, second-chance mafia romance told in dual POV, featuring a morally gray MMC, a strong FMC, no cheating, and a swoon-worthy HEA.

Genres: Dark Romance

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 29, 2026

Reviews

[Stefanie Verhelst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is bittersweet, hurtful and passionate!

The author managed to create a connection between reader and the characters. Their journey of love and pain was extremely intense. I’ve read this book, turning page after page and some chapters with tears in my eyes.

A very gripping, steamy and passionate romance where love can really hurt and touch a person in the soul.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a
review.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chloe disappeared to France, she wanted to prove she could survive without him. Now she's going back, but can she stay hidden in plain sight. Having her independence and finally hopefully she'd make her dreams come true. All she needed was enough money for a deposit to open the cafe she's always dreamed of owning. Hopefully the ring on her finger would keep her safe, whilst keeping unwanted attention away. Vince couldn't believe his eyes, it was her he's sure of it. Yet she's on the arm of another man, smiling. Two years he's been hunting, searching, hurting just to find her. Yet now she's just appeared as if they'd never been anything. In his world nobody walks away from him. Now he'll get her back and she'll come willingly. Then she'd never leave him again. The heat level of this story is more than steamy. Yet the romance, the hurt, the final conversation that puts everything into perspective, is so heartfelt and proves that sometimes love really does hurt. Can they finally be together or can the forgiveness only bring more hurt. Will her life in Paris and the friendships she made, especially the ring on her finger be too much to overcome. This is a book that will keep you reading Yet sometimes be hard to read. Although its well worth the read. I really hope Aria gets her story next.

[De_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vince and Chloe. Explosive.
Chloe attempts to deny the feelings she can't ignore, from the past and forward to the present.
Vince. Crazy in love. The accidental reunion he'd been searching and longing for, mourning her disappearance, brings the anger he feels for his lost love front and center. Mafia boss by day, her romantic by night.
Lets noone come between them.

It's an enjoyable enough novel, reading to the end even though I had a lot of questions remaining that just dropped out of the plot with no mention again.
I also question how does this mafia 'boss' only has a crew of about four men?
This is not the "dark" read everyone speaks of. Not at all. For me, this was simply a love story with a bit of spice, anger from both MC's, and makeup §ex̌.
Read to form your own opinion!

I received an advance review copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vince and Chloe had my heart throughout this book. When Chloe took off, Vince never stopped looking and never knew why she left. Years later when she walked into his club, not realizing he owned it. But when he saw her his world came to a screeching halt. I loved that they found one another, were able to with things out, and come back together again. These two were absolutely wonderful together. I loved the spice between them, their love and connection. Everything about this was great.

[RoseReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

STORY: ⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

MMC - Vincent (a.k.a Vinny and Vincey)
FMC - Chloe

I have an affinity for a good mafia romance with a possessive MMC when this character trait is done well. I can appreciate a take charge MMC who would burn the world for the FMC and does. Unfortunately for this book, it did not quite deliver. I found MMC was almost criminally possessive and often bordered on abusive. He would control where she went, who could be near her and even control the things she wore. The FMC was naive but then would periodically stand her ground to purposefully drive the MMC mad/insane.

The book was told in dual POV, which is always a hit for me. However in this case, many chapters in the book would retell an event from both MC's perspective, but in back to back chapters. It made for unnecessary content with little to no impact for the story. I personally don't feel like it added to the character development or world building, and just created unnecessary redundancy while making the book longer than needed.

*** I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. ***

I think the biggest disappointment for this book was that there was no story. I have read very few stories where there isn't a culminating event which causes one of the MCs to take action or make a life decision. This book dropped one breadcrumb but failed to do anything with it. About 2/3 of the way through the book, a rival mafia member behaves inappropriately towards some of the dancers in the MMC's club. He takes matters into his own hands and is told that he needs to protect the FMC because the rival mafia member will retaliate. The author unfortunately didn't do anything with this piece of information and life simply goes on, and the MCs live happily ever after.

Although this book was not something I enjoyed, others may like this premise and this type of storytelling. If it speaks to you, it could worth your time.

[AussieBookAddict (Mel) · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Rating: ★★★★½
ARC Read

Twisted Ties by S.L. Knight is a dark, emotionally charged mafia romance that leans hard into obsession, control, and the inescapable pull of a love that was never truly finished. This is a second-chance story drenched in tension, power, and unresolved longing, where the past doesn’t just resurface; it collides headfirst with the present.

The MMC is unapologetically morally grey: a man forged by violence, structure, and absolute control. Labeled a villain, a murderer, and ultimately a boss, he has built his empire on order and domination. Chloe is the one fracture in that carefully constructed world as the woman who loved him, saw him clearly, and then vanished without explanation. Her disappearance haunts him, fuelling years of obsession, rage, and unanswered questions.

When their paths cross again under twisted circumstances; an auction, a club, forced proximity; the story ignites with intensity. The power imbalance is palpable, amplified by the mafia setting and the raw vulnerability beneath both characters’ hardened exteriors. This isn’t a soft reunion; it’s messy, volatile, and emotionally charged, with love and resentment tangled so tightly they’re impossible to separate.

S.L. Knight excels at building tension through control and restraint. The dual POV allows readers to fully experience the fracture between who these characters were and who they’ve become, making every interaction crackle with unspoken history. The age gap and forced proximity only heighten the sense of inevitability, pushing both characters to confront the truth they’ve been avoiding for years.

One of the strongest aspects of Twisted Ties is its exploration of obsession versus love, how control can feel like safety, and how love, in contrast, is dangerous because it demands vulnerability. The auction element adds an unsettling edge, reinforcing the darker themes while keeping the stakes high and personal.

Emotionally, this story lands with weight. There’s yearning, anger, desire, and regret threaded through every chapter, creating a constant undercurrent of tension. The HEA feels earned, not easy, and stays true to the darkness of the world these characters inhabit.

If I had one critique, it’s that some moments moved quickly when I wanted to linger a little longer in the emotional aftermath. The intensity was there and I just wanted more time to sit in it.

I would recommend Twisted Ties to readers who enjoy dark mafia romance with second-chance love, morally grey MMCs, strong FMCs, forced proximity, and a heavy dose of obsession and power dynamics. It’s not a gentle love story; it’s sharp, dangerous, and deeply addictive, proving that some ties, once twisted, can never truly be broken. 🖤📖

[Akku · Rating 5 out of 5]

• 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 5✨

• 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - Jan 29, 2026

• 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
- dark romance
- mafia romance
- second chance
- obsessive MMC
- touch her and die
- he falls first and harder
- morally grey hero
- auction romance
- possessive love

• 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
Twisted Ties follows Vincent Ferro, a ruthless mafia boss who rules his world through control and violence. Chloe was the only woman he ever loved, until she vanished from his life without explanation. Years later, Chloe walks into a club she does not know belongs to Vincent and steps onto a stage she does not know he owns. Their past collides with the present, dragging secrets, obsession, and unfinished love back into the light. What follows is a dangerous second chance where love is possessive, choices are heavy, and walking away is no longer an option.
This was the easiest five star book for me. No hesitation. No doubt. I am completely obsessed. Vincent Ferro is my current obsession, and I am not moving on anytime soon. Vincent is not written to be softened or redeemed, and that is exactly why he worked so well for me. The way he loves Chloe is intense, unhinged, and unforgettable. He ruined lives and killed ruthless people for two years just to distract himself from her disappearance. Not to forget her, but because he could not. That kind of obsession stays with me.
Chloe is strong in a quiet, grounded way. She does not try to change him or save him. She sees the darkness and chooses him anyway. Their chemistry is heavy, emotional, and constant. The auction scene set the tone perfectly and pulled me in from the start.
This is not a safe romance. It is messy, possessive, and addictive. Vincent loves in a way that consumes everything, and I loved every second of it. This book owned me completely.
If you love dark mafia romance with an unapologetically dangerous hero, this book is a must-read.
Thank you so much book sirens for the free ARC!

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

Twisted Ties by S.L. Knight is dark, addictive, and emotionally brutal in the best way possible. From the very first page, this story pulls you into a world where control is power, violence is routine, and love is the most dangerous weakness of all.
The MMC is everything you expect from a moral
ly gray mafia boss cold, calculating, ruthless and yet utterly undone by one woman. His obsession, his fury, his refusal to accept abandonment felt raw and real. This wasn’t a man pining quietly; this was a man who burned his world down looking for answers. And when Chloe re-enters his life? The tension is suffocating in the best way.

Chloe is not a weak FMC. She’s strong, resilient, and layered, carrying her own scars and secrets. The way she stands toe-to-toe with a man who thrives on dominance made their dynamic electric. Their history, the unanswered questions, the unspoken pain it all simmers until it finally explodes.
The dual POV was perfectly executed, letting us feel both sides of the betrayal, the longing, and the obsession. The chemistry is intense, the emotional stakes are high, and the reunion is messy, explosive, and deeply satisfying. This is second-chance romance done right dark, obsessive, and unapologetically intense.

If you love morally gray men, strong women, mafia power plays, and a love story that walks the line between danger and devotion, Twisted Ties will absolutely own you. Dark, twisted, emotional, and swoon-worthy this one delivers a hard-earned HEA that makes every painful moment worth it. 🔥🖤


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[MandysBookish Mind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chloe comes back to town after abruptly leaving Vince, and once he finds out she is back, Vince immediately starts crafting the perfect plan to pull her back into his life. At first, I was worried that his possessiveness came from the wrong place, but the more I read, the more I realized that what he feels for Chloe runs much deeper than simple control.

Vince is a man who thrives on control, a man who is not afraid to ruin lives when necessary. Chloe, on the other hand, is much simpler, but she is far from weak. And when it comes to her, Vince will do and has done absolutely anything. Watching Chloe slowly break down his control, piece by piece, was fascinating.

The story of the day Chloe left was incredibly tense from both of their perspectives. The heartbreak and pain they each carried was overwhelming. As Chloe begins spending time with Vince again, she slowly starts to see everything he has done for her, not just the grand gestures, but the quiet details. And the more she notices, the more she is left in awe.

The spice in this book was on another level. From the gym scene to the chessboard scene, they were fully committed. There were several moments that were especially memorable: Chloe in Vince’s office with Tony present, Ric in the car with Vince before calling Tony, and hands down the best scene of all… the two of them together in the club. This one definitely leaves an impression. I received this as an ARC and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

Love fades. Habits break. But what I feel for you? It doesn't. It lives under my skin. It controls.

[Liz | ᥫ᭡reakawayreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted Ties by S.L. Knight is dark, messy, and completely addictive. Vincent Ferro is a ruthless mafia boss, morally grey to the core, obsessed with Chloe—the one woman who ever walked away from him. Years later, she reappears, and their past collides with the present under dangerous circumstances, forcing them into a second-chance love that’s intense, possessive, and impossible to ignore.

Chloe is strong in a quiet, grounded way. She sees Vincent’s darkness but chooses him anyway. Their chemistry is heavy, emotional, and constant, and the tension—especially in scenes like the auction—pulled me in from the start. Vincent’s obsession, his unrelenting love, and the lengths he went to distract himself from her disappearance make him unforgettable.

This isn’t a soft romance. It’s messy, heated, and morally complicated, with forced proximity, high stakes, and a palpable power imbalance that drives the story. The dual POV lets you feel every crack in their history, making their slow burn and eventual reunion feel earned and satisfying.

Emotionally, this book hits hard. There’s longing, regret, rage, and desire threaded through every chapter. The HEA fits this dark world perfectly, and while I sometimes wished for more time to linger in the aftermath, I couldn’t put it down.

If you love dark mafia romance with obsessive, morally grey heroes, strong, grounded heroines, and second-chance love that’s dangerous, messy, and addictive, Twisted Ties is a must-read. 🖤

[Romana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am lover of dark mafia romance so when I saw the blurb I was interested. I will start with positive and what I like about this book:

• Possessive jelaous hero ✅

• Bratty mouthy heroine ✅

• Dual PoV in first person ✅

• Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

• Writting style ✅

But that is all, now what I am misaing in the book:

• Plot twist ❌ where do I find some plot twist ? Nothing happend in this book. There is lack of communication from heroine part in the beginning and it is clered in 40% of the book and than you wait and wait for some mystery and suddenly you read epilogue🤷‍♀️

• Villain ❌ where is some bad guy in this book? Yes we have our antihero who is actuall golden retriever towards our heroine and the bad staff he is part of are mentioned only in few chapters.

• Suspense ❌ I was actually skipping the pages, bcs I wanted to finish the book, but you just read story of two people, who love each other and are together and nothing happend to them, so were is some mystery, some unanswered questions? Nowhere…

• ❌ and why do we have to read the same scene from both POVs? The book could be half of the lenght.

• ❌ And my biggest question: What happened to Damien (or what was his name)? I expected some vengeance from him, or that he would kidnapped heroine or hurt them, bc daaaa it is supposed to be dark romance????

TO SUM UP: Good writting, interesting blurb, but zero plot, mystery or suspence.

I received and ARC for free and leave review voluntarily.

[Hollollolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Vincent and Chloe’s relationship is spicy and kinky and just a little bit tragic. There was some lead up to an interesting, potentially violent conflict and climax that never came to fruition. I was disappointed those plot points were dropped, leaving the storyline ‘slice of life’ vs action packed. I would read the next one in the series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Spoilers! Below are the tags I included in my personal tracking that other readers may find relevant: age gap, anal, blood, choking, contemporary, crime, dark, fmc-chloe, knife, mmc-vincent, New York, primal, second chance, sex club, spanking, special junk, stalker, start of series, toys, virgin

Fiction, romance, crime, erotica, dark, emotional, medium paced
Plot or Character Driven: character
Strong character development: no
Lovable characters: yes
Diverse cast of characters: no
Flaws of characters a main focus: yes

[Hannah Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vincent and Chloe are the main characters in this story and are obsessed with each other. Chloe leaves for two years and comes back 'engaged', so Vince buys her for a night. That's the only spoiler I'm giving.

I didn't see this story as a dark romance, but more of a captive/obsessive romance. There was mention of someone who was rival, and I expected some sort of action and plot twist, but nothing happened. It was almost a forgotten point.

The dual POV also bothered me just a little, and I love a good dual POV, but there were times where each pov just rehashed what was already said, so it seemed more like filler than anything else.

I am hoping that in the next book, the danger comes and some action is included. The story wasn't bad, it was just sort of predictable.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the ARC for this book from Book Sirens.

There was a lot I liked about this book.
Loved Vince - his possessiveness, devotion, and persistence. He exudes “burn the world down for her”.

I loved the spice…it was intense and still tasteful.

What I didn’t like:
It was Dual POV, which was fine, but there were several chapters that repeated a lot of dialogue from the other’s point of view.

I was really hoping for more of a psychological story line…since this is labeled as a “dark psychological romance). It really didn’t feel dark at all to me. I was waiting for something mafia related to happen and build some excitement, but it just didn’t happen.

Did I still love this book? Yes
Do I want to read book 2? Yes.

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥.5

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisted, Toxic, and Addictive ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Twisted Ties was dark in the best way — obsessive, intense, and emotionally messy enough to keep me hooked.

The MMC is ruthless and completely consumed by the woman he lost. Morally grey? More like charcoal. I kept bouncing between “absolutely not” and “okay… but I get it.” That tension carried the whole story.

I loved that the FMC pushes back instead of just giving in. Their dynamic felt charged, gritty, and complicated — blurring the line between love and possession in a way that made it hard to look away.

Overall: 4 stars. Dark, dramatic, and totally addictive.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book if you are looking for a romance of sorts. The MMC is in the mafia, and a bit obsessed. Definitely a mafia romance and I would've loved to have more info of the world. I was left with some questions, maybe there will be a second one in the future that will provide more detail. If you're looking for a romance though, this will scratch that itch. Check your trigger warnings though as always.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted Ties is an excellent start to the Dark Ties series. Chloe ran away from Vincent, and he was obsessed with finding her when fate brought them back together. Working through their issues took some dark twist and turn romantically. Eventually, that obsession and darkness led to some good things romantically.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Pamela E · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
A dark romance second chance I didn’t know I needed and that is a must read!

Lust, dominance, jealousy and obsession mixed perfectly throughout the book. Chloe easily sent a mob boss to his knees and he loved every second of it.

It has smut (Might have to start taking up chess 🥵), love and laughter (Never laughed so hard about a goldfish 😂). And even better? There’s a second book in the making!

#arc #bookrec #bookstagram #booklover

[Natalie Yanez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vince and Chloe story was a great read. I loved the duel point of view in this story too. The way she left him because she thought he was unfaithful was so sad. He never stopped looking for her and when he finally finds her again. OMG! He loves her. I can't wait for book 2 because I know it will be good.

[Lorraine Whiteley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The passion in this book is bound to blow your head off! Spice, intrigue, hunky men and women and viewpoints from both sides. Stalker exes never looked this good. I received an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

[Read, Run and Rescue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was good and spicy and full of angst. I love a good mafia romance second chance at that! Vincent was so over the top possessive I AM IN LOVE , I don’t car what he’s done , it was in the name of love. I like our FMC Chloe how she was so strong willed and confident. It’s refreshing. This was my first story of SL but I’ll be back the spice was a definitely spicing but more so the plot was engaging let me interested the entire time. Thanks Boom Sirens.

[Sammye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Dark Ties series. It’s a gripping, dark, spicy, second-chance mafia romance. Vince was so intense, possessive and so devoted to Chloe. I loved their story. This is definitely a series I want to continue reading.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review 5⭐4🌶️
Twisted Ties is the first book in the Dark Ties Series. It's a dark, spicy, and emotionally charged second chance Mafia romance! I love a morally grey man & this book delivered with Vince! Chloe is perfect in matching his energy & testing him every chance she could!

[Leanne Hodkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very intense book with lots of drama and tonnes of heat!

Loved Vince and Chloe! Their chemistry is unmatched.

Not as dark a book as I was expecting but did not disappoint at all!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Yeomans · Rating 4 out of 5]

review coming shortly

[Raffi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Twisted Ties. Dark, addictive, and full of mafia + second-chance tension. Vince completely owned this story. The HEA was deliciously satisfying.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing second chance dark mafia romance. I can't wait for the next book