Cooper: The Ties That Bind

by Liliana Hart

Alternate cover edition for ASIN B010EGB8SW

Cooper MacKenzie lives for the job. At least he did before his marriage. But doing the occasional undercover job for his cousin and keeping it secret from his wife isn't settling well in his gut. Claire has come a long way from being a shy librarian, but she's no one's fool. She knows her husband is keeping something from her. Loving and trusting a man who serves and protects is harder than she realized.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Fiction, Short Stories, Military Fiction

35 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 4, 2015

About the author

Liliana Hart spent five years teaching music in the public education system. She molded America’s youth, busted kids for smoking pot in the restrooms, and broke up illicit affairs behind the stage on a regular basis. (Liliana’s Addison Holmes Mystery Series, about a small town teacher who gets into a whole lot of trouble, is somewhat autobiographical, but she won’t confess to which parts).

Liliana began reading romance novels with all her new found free time, and when she ran out of things to read, she decided to write her own novels. The result was a 150,000 word thriller—a dazzling adventure—where the heroine was a thirty-year-old virgin assassin (Yes, you read that right). She couldn’t imagine why people weren’t knocking down her door to read it, but she persevered and began writing a second book. She finally got the hang of things, and eventually learned that losing one’s virginity wasn’t all that romantic after all. All of her books involve some kind of suspense (she just can't help herself), laughter, and a lot of steamy sex.

Since the failure of her first attempt, Liliana’s books have won awards such as: The Daphne Du Maurier, The Suzannah, The Linda Howard Award of Excellence, The Maggie, and many others. Her affiliations include Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.

Liliana loves to cook, and is addicted to reading, Internet Boggle, kickboxing, and Bones. She lives in a big, rambling house in Texas with a couple of cats to keep her company. She loves to get emails from readers.

Enjoy the Adventures!

Reviews

[Heli - So Many Books - So Little Time · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Michelle ✧✦serieslover✦✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper: The Ties that Bind
Cooper MacKenzie and Claire Drexel
4/5 Stars

Cooper: The Ties that Bind is the continuation of the fourth novella of The MacKenzie Family series by Liliana Hart.

Favorite Quotes
“I love who you are, Cooper. And I love that that’s the kind of man you are. I’d never ask you to change that if it’s what you love. But I’m your partner. I should be sharing the burdens and the worries, not left in the dark to wait and wonder. I don’t need details. I just need you to trust me enough to tell me the truth. And I need to be able to trust you unconditionally. That trust is a leap of faith on my part.” -Claire

“Are you fucking kidding me? If you gave me any more of what I need I’d never be able to walk again. I made a promise to you the day we got married. My past is the past. You’re my future. It’s you and only you. I was there for the job. And it didn’t take me ten seconds to realize as soon as I walked through the doors that I no longer belonged there. You’re my fantasy. My equal in every way. No one else will ever match up.” -Cooper

[Mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* Would of given it 5* but it was too short for me, because I love the MacKenzie's and always want more. However it was great to catch up with Cooper and Claire and I hope the way the epilogue was written, means a story about Uncle James and Aunt Mary will happen at some point in the future.

As for this book if your a fan of the Mackenzie's you will love It , and it is definitely worth a read. It has also made me want to go back and read all of the Mackenzie stories, just so I can get my fill for a while at least!!!

[Jeanette montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series and author!

I loved this book from start to finish.

I love the characters and the story.

[Laurie Gyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sexy and hot

This is a short novella - a follow up to Cooper and Claire's marriage, and confusion regarding Cooper working undercover for the DEA. Very good reading.

[Jeania · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you like a little kink ...

In your romantic heroes then Cooper is the Mackenzie brother for you. I prefer a more romantic cerebral type. My favorite Mackenzie was Dane. The writer in him has a bit of mystery and a lot of love to give. Thomas was my second fave. Clearly any Mackenzie will do though. Now on to Cade!

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cooper: The Ties That Bind...

Another great story from the MacKenzie family. Cooper has issues that continue on in his marriage. But he's found his match in Claire. Dramatic, sexy and heartfelt.

[Wanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

VERY SHORT NOVELLA - COOPER & CLAIRE

Too short and didn't add anything to the story. Cooper goes back under cover for 3 days and lied to Clare. Brief argument, made up - happy. THE END

[Paganalexandria]

in this boxset

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, very short read that is basically a short conversation following a long sex scene.

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Claire and her toughness. I am glad Cooper found his happiness

[Angel Padillo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cooper was still a dick. The story was a little too short to redeem that much dickiness fully.

[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

These two characters just don't belong together at all. Blah

[Alisa- I like happy endings. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoomed right through this. I think I’ll like the Mackenzie cousins half of the series better.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew... got my panties in a twist!
Short, hot and sweet.

[Veronica LaRoche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cooper & Claire are still scorching hot but Claire can't help doubt that Cooper is hiding something. Cooper only loves Claire and proves that too her. Another amazing novella, it's a shame it's so short but I can't get enough of this series

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dammit.....Some spoilers ahead.......I was so in love with Claire in the last book...she was confident, secure and didn't lower herself down just to get a piece of Cooper without the love and trust. Well...she lost my respect in this one. First...you find out your husband is lying to you about where he is going. You realize his leathers and piercing jewelry is gone. You know he is at a club. You question whether he is working undercover again or if you are not fulfilling his desires enough and he is getting it elsewhere. SO WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU FUCK HIM RIGHT AWAY WHEN HE GETS HOME!!!! If you have any thought in your mind that your mans dick might have been near anyone else...why would you let him slide into you raw. I was so disappointed that she let her libido do the thinking...not like the last book when she had more respect for herself. I just wish she would have turned him down and made him talk to her first before they did anything......ugh.....I had such high hopes for Claire. In the end, yes, he didn't cheat on her and she was his everything...but I just hated that her character changed in this book. She had such gumption before.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book eight in the MacKenzie Family series!

The handsome Cooper MacKenzie lives for the job. Cooper loves his job. At least Cooper thought did before his marriage to Claire. Doing the occasional undercover job for his cousin. Trying to keep it secret from his wife wasn't settling well in his gut. Claire had come a long long way from being a shy librarian everyone thought she was. Claire's no one's fool. Claire knows that her husband is keeping something from her. Claire finds that loving and trusting a man who serves and protects is harder than she realized.

Can Cooper and Claire work out their differences?

Liliana Hart's books are so amazing, i love it how she writes 5* books

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I absolutely love the MacKenzie series! It is one my most favorite series out there, for real and I was totally looking forward to catching up with Claire and Cooper and the rest of the gang! That being said I was disappointed by this novella. Don’t get me wrong, the writing was spot on as usual, but there really wasn’t much of a story. This book ends at 50%? I was just reading along and then I hit the epilogue and was like what? wait? Did I miss something? Where is the rest of the story? I get that it was a novella, but I think we could have gotten just a little bit more of a story for Cooper and Claire, I feel like they deserved it…..

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you have not read the first Cooper book read that first then read this one .
1. will Cooper and Claire talk about their issues?
will their Cooper and his Brothers cousins find their wives and when ?
what of the story Dane is writing about his great grand father ,.
got this on amazon and love the Mackenzie's and Liliana's book series .
if you have not read any of this series start at the box sets one its cheaper that way and two due to the fact the story don't ends til much later lol . but can get the books individually .

[Gigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

'The Ties that Bind,' was incredibly short... And although I love the MacKenzie series, this novella was barely enough to wet my appetite. I would have loved to have read more about Cooper and Claire, a few more tidbits of Claire's turn at being in charge, moments with their first born, anything more really. It was sweet to hear James', Cooper's Uncle's, inner dialogue. This novellas took only half of the of the kindle books space, while the other half was dedicated to the beginning of the Cade's book. Which, as a fan of Liliana Hart, I had already purchased and read long before.

[Denise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Are you kidding me! I was really looking forward to reading more about Cooper, but this was a joke. The story was over at 50% with a total of 57 pages, can you even really call it a novella. It is like the author thought she was wasting her time and how fast could she get through it. Just an FYI but driving home, having sex and then a thanksgiving dinner does not make a complete story. If she is tired of writing the series she needs to end it before she gets her fans excited about more books. This is a big let down from an author I really liked.

[Dolores 💜 · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was great to hear how Cooper and Claire's life has gone after we left them when they got married. Though I was worried tí begin worth where he's admiring to himself he's been lying to her and she's knows it and needs tí talk to him. But oh wow near enough at the start before he gets home he see's she's in the library and they have the hottest sex going.
She tells him they need to speak add she knows it but had HE gone undercover for the Drug out the BDSM she needs to know...
BRILLIANT

[Books and Spoons · Rating 2 out of 5]

The couple chapters that the story consists are good, it flows, it has great rhythm and absolutely loved visiting with my favorite couple from the series. There's not much to it, just Cooper coming home, having sex, and a short conversation. The epilogue was a recap of the brothers and their families, and there's nothing new in it, if you have been following the series.
It's really short, ending at the 50% mark, just too short for even a novella, and for the price of $1,24 that I paid.

[Tianna Croy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with any story by Liliana Hart this book ended way to quickly. I could read about Cooper and the rest of the MacKenzie clan. "Good intentions paved the way to hell" And it was hell for Cooper to tell Claire what he had been up to. When Claire assumed the worst he was shocked. The hotness these two simmer up could burn down a house. They are hot together. After taking on the responsibility of his brothers after his father died Cooper has finally found his happy ever after.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Cooper and Claire in their first story...and I loved getting to revisit them in this novella as well.
It shows that even though they had their HEA they still have to work to keep it after their story is finished.

I can't wait for the rest of the MacKenzie Security series to release, as this family is one of my favorite book families.

[Denyse R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad to get an update on Claire and Cooper

I like that 's Hart is giving us updates on the clan. It's great to know what they've been up too. I wonder if she would consider do I g the same for the other cousins.. Cade, Grant,Darcy,Declan..well Shane is next year.
But it would be great to find out what they have been up too..something more in-depth

[Ellen Anderson]

Love the Tying the ends together...

Not only did I enjoy Cooper and Claire's extended story, but the epilogue, where we get to find out how some of our other favorites are doing. My favorite part of a book sometimes. Trying up the loose ends. May we always have enough loose ones left to carry on with the MacKenzie family.

[Gia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just ok

It was an ok read, not bad or good. I didn't expect much and I didn't receive much, so I can't be mad. What did appreciate was the preview of her novel Cade at the end. Don't get me wrong, I love Case's book but that novel came out over a year ago. I would rather seen a preview of an upcoming novel, because that was a waste of my time and money.

[Joanne Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good little glimp's in Cooper life but it fell a bit short for me. The others novella Liliana wrote for the McKenzie family were awesome had more depth to it. But I did love the epilogue from the Patriarch and his view and thoughts of his son's and nephews.