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Ties That Bind
This is an alternate Cover Edition for ASIN: B00DRPC1UC.
As the only daughter of an Italian family living in America, Alexandra Dinapoli has everything she could ever wish for, except what she really wants.
Her freedom.
At 27 she decides that it's now or never, and takes drastic steps to reclaim her life. Leaving her family behind she heads for New York City and starts on a journey to make her own way in the world.
Whilst there she bumps into Gabriel Harland, an enigmatic Chief Assistant District Attorney with whom she begins a love affair that is cruelly cut short when someone from Alexandra's past surfaces in Gabriel's life, threatening to reveal what she has tried so hard to hide.
Will their relationship be worth fighting for or will the truth tear them apart?
This story will take you through a myriad of emotions. From the heart-warming tenderness of new love, through the pain and sorrow of losing someone close, the pulse racing suspense of running from the past, to the anger of not being in control, and the admission that some sacrifices have to be made for the sake of others.
You will be drawn into the characters of this book and devour their lives as they take you through their story of light and shade, love and life.
So begin your journey on the rollercoaster ride that is, Ties That Bind.
As the only daughter of an Italian family living in America, Alexandra Dinapoli has everything she could ever wish for, except what she really wants.
Her freedom.
At 27 she decides that it's now or never, and takes drastic steps to reclaim her life. Leaving her family behind she heads for New York City and starts on a journey to make her own way in the world.
Whilst there she bumps into Gabriel Harland, an enigmatic Chief Assistant District Attorney with whom she begins a love affair that is cruelly cut short when someone from Alexandra's past surfaces in Gabriel's life, threatening to reveal what she has tried so hard to hide.
Will their relationship be worth fighting for or will the truth tear them apart?
This story will take you through a myriad of emotions. From the heart-warming tenderness of new love, through the pain and sorrow of losing someone close, the pulse racing suspense of running from the past, to the anger of not being in control, and the admission that some sacrifices have to be made for the sake of others.
You will be drawn into the characters of this book and devour their lives as they take you through their story of light and shade, love and life.
So begin your journey on the rollercoaster ride that is, Ties That Bind.
489 pages, ebook
First published July 2, 2013
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 4, 2015
I was given this book for an honest review. It is Elaine's first book and I have to say she needs to write more. I loved the story I felt it flowed well throughout. I loved the two main characters Alex and Gabriel, they both seemed liked real people and I loved reading about their life. There are erotic scenes between them in this book but don't be alarmed as Elaine has written it well and some of them leave me a tad breathless. Wow!! is all I can say. I really enjoyed the fact Alex was into her horse riding and setting up her own business as I love horses and horse riding and one day I would love to set my own business up, so I was incredibly happy when this happened to Alex. Even though this is quite a large book I couldn't put it down and managed to read it in 2 days. I am really looking forward to Elaine's next book to see what happens with Alex and Gabriel, I think they will take an interesting journey but I will just have to wait and see.
December 2, 2015
I could barely put this book down. The author has spun a story of love, betrayal, joy and pain with consummate skill. The characters are 100% believable and relatable. I caught my breath on a number of occasions as I found myself rooting for them. The story flows well and the pace is natural all the way through. I loved the different layers in this book and how the author had me on my toes the whole time never sure where it would go and what would happen. My only issue (minor) would be the overuse of certain objects such as the Cherry Coke Lip Balm and to a lesser degree the Classic Corvette. I do also think while the sex scenes were incredibly well written it could have benefitted from cutting out a couple of the scenes. I will definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
December 7, 2015
Ties That Bind is erotica. No, that’s not right. It’s a love story. No, that’s not quite right either. It’s an exciting drama complete with family feuds and a ‘will they-won’t they’ romance. Nope, not that either. Actually, it is that – it’s all of that, rolled up into a tightly wound and seamless ball of excitement and fun, with just the right amount of tension. It’s the story of Alex and the family she is trying to escape. It’s also the story of Alex and her new boyfriend, Gabriel. It’s also the story of Gabriel, his career, and his past. These threads are weaved as seamlessly in the book as they would be in life – all the individual aspects of these character’s lives bumping up against each other and merging into a single tree with many branches.
So we all know I hate romance (I’ve mentioned that once or twice, haven’t I?). It’s true. Romance stories irritate the bejesus out of me. I can’t help it, I’m just not one for cheese (unless it’s melted over chicken, or crisped up in the oven…mmmm…). One of the things I hate most about romance is that it is unrealistic (I know, I know, a fantasy author shouldn’t really give two hoots about realism but hey ho). I didn’t get that with Ties that Bind though. Don’t get me wrong, I was irritated by the romance but for an entirely different reason (because that’s just me). It wasn’t a lack of realism that got me but in fact, quite the opposite.
Let me explain. Rather than lamenting over how flat and two-dimensional the characters were (because they weren’t), I believed in them whole-heartedly. So much so that rather than rolling my eyes and groaning at the ridiculousness of it all, I actually wanted to get up and shake the characters. Alex in particular. She was so real to me that I wanted to get up from my seat and knock some sense into her.
“Don’t run away,” I wanted to scream (in fact I did scream, in my head at least) “talk to him!!” Because, you know, communication is key. Instead of becoming irritated by the romance, I was trying to think of ways to fix their problems (and, for that matter, ways to communicate my solutions to these characters on my page). So yeah, Chissick managed to get me involved in a love story – me, with my stone heart and my disdain for all things romantic. And for that, she has to be applauded.
As I mentioned before though, the romance, whilst being the predominant storyline of the book, is far from the only one and actually, it wasn’t the one that intrigued me the most. The story of Alex and her family had me gripped and I found myself craving for more of this tale. This thread introduced a whole new ‘will-they-won’t-they’ aspect to the book and the tension that it created was fantastic. As Alex did battle with a family she was desperate to escape, I was left guessing at what the outcome would be and the suspense that this created had me turning ‘just one more page’ (or rather, one more Kindle click). It was shame, I thought, that this storyline was not a stronger focus for the book but I understand why it wasn’t and as a book pipped as ‘erotic romance’, it’s unfair to complain when the main story is the romance!
The book itself jumps between points of view. For the most part, we read Alex’s story – and in first person, present tense. Occasionally though, Gabriel pops up to tell his own tale – and that is in third person, past tense. This, which could potentially be jarring and uncomfortable for the reader, is handled really well. The two are written in such sharp contrast to each other that it makes the change obvious and thus easier to understand. It prevents confusion and makes the distinction clear rather than blurred. And if I’m completely honest, it was done so well that I didn’t even realise it was happening until a good 50% into the book.
Finally, of course, no-one can review a book like this without mentioning the sex scenes. I was right when I said at the start of this review that this is not erotica. At least, it’s not out-and-out erotica. It’s not porn for the sake of it, and actually the sex scenes are fewer than I had supposed when I started out. The sex scenes, too, are not cringe-worthy, they’re not repetitive, they don’t use silly words in place of real words, they are not too drawn out or skipped over quickly. In fact, they are just right and they fit the book really well – they have their place, and they work. They turn the characters into fiery and passionate people and it gives them that extra little bit of realism. Of course, if you are of a sensitive nature when it comes to this sort of thing, perhaps this book is not for you. But also, if you are specifically looking for erotica, I’d say this book is not for you either. There are explicit scenes but there is so much more to this book than a few cheap thrills and the odd jolly. It’s not all willies and nipples. It’s a book of more substance than that, with a few nipples and willies thrown in – and that cannot be a bad thing!
So we all know I hate romance (I’ve mentioned that once or twice, haven’t I?). It’s true. Romance stories irritate the bejesus out of me. I can’t help it, I’m just not one for cheese (unless it’s melted over chicken, or crisped up in the oven…mmmm…). One of the things I hate most about romance is that it is unrealistic (I know, I know, a fantasy author shouldn’t really give two hoots about realism but hey ho). I didn’t get that with Ties that Bind though. Don’t get me wrong, I was irritated by the romance but for an entirely different reason (because that’s just me). It wasn’t a lack of realism that got me but in fact, quite the opposite.
Let me explain. Rather than lamenting over how flat and two-dimensional the characters were (because they weren’t), I believed in them whole-heartedly. So much so that rather than rolling my eyes and groaning at the ridiculousness of it all, I actually wanted to get up and shake the characters. Alex in particular. She was so real to me that I wanted to get up from my seat and knock some sense into her.
“Don’t run away,” I wanted to scream (in fact I did scream, in my head at least) “talk to him!!” Because, you know, communication is key. Instead of becoming irritated by the romance, I was trying to think of ways to fix their problems (and, for that matter, ways to communicate my solutions to these characters on my page). So yeah, Chissick managed to get me involved in a love story – me, with my stone heart and my disdain for all things romantic. And for that, she has to be applauded.
As I mentioned before though, the romance, whilst being the predominant storyline of the book, is far from the only one and actually, it wasn’t the one that intrigued me the most. The story of Alex and her family had me gripped and I found myself craving for more of this tale. This thread introduced a whole new ‘will-they-won’t-they’ aspect to the book and the tension that it created was fantastic. As Alex did battle with a family she was desperate to escape, I was left guessing at what the outcome would be and the suspense that this created had me turning ‘just one more page’ (or rather, one more Kindle click). It was shame, I thought, that this storyline was not a stronger focus for the book but I understand why it wasn’t and as a book pipped as ‘erotic romance’, it’s unfair to complain when the main story is the romance!
The book itself jumps between points of view. For the most part, we read Alex’s story – and in first person, present tense. Occasionally though, Gabriel pops up to tell his own tale – and that is in third person, past tense. This, which could potentially be jarring and uncomfortable for the reader, is handled really well. The two are written in such sharp contrast to each other that it makes the change obvious and thus easier to understand. It prevents confusion and makes the distinction clear rather than blurred. And if I’m completely honest, it was done so well that I didn’t even realise it was happening until a good 50% into the book.
Finally, of course, no-one can review a book like this without mentioning the sex scenes. I was right when I said at the start of this review that this is not erotica. At least, it’s not out-and-out erotica. It’s not porn for the sake of it, and actually the sex scenes are fewer than I had supposed when I started out. The sex scenes, too, are not cringe-worthy, they’re not repetitive, they don’t use silly words in place of real words, they are not too drawn out or skipped over quickly. In fact, they are just right and they fit the book really well – they have their place, and they work. They turn the characters into fiery and passionate people and it gives them that extra little bit of realism. Of course, if you are of a sensitive nature when it comes to this sort of thing, perhaps this book is not for you. But also, if you are specifically looking for erotica, I’d say this book is not for you either. There are explicit scenes but there is so much more to this book than a few cheap thrills and the odd jolly. It’s not all willies and nipples. It’s a book of more substance than that, with a few nipples and willies thrown in – and that cannot be a bad thing!
February 20, 2017
The Blurb:
Alexandra Dinapoli has everything she could ever wish for, except what she really wants. Leaving her family behind, she heads for New York City and starts on a journey to make her own way in the word. Whilst there, she bumps into Gabriel Harland, an enigmatic Chief Assistant District Attorney with whom she begins a love affair that is cruelly cut short when someone from her past surfaces in Gabriel's life. Will their relationship be worth fighting for or will the truth tear them apart? Join Alexandra on her journey as she discovers the tenderness of new love, the sorrow of losing someone close, the pulse racing suspense of running from the past, the anger of not being in control and the admission that some sacrifices have to be made for the sake of others. Ties That Bind is a story of love and life, light and shade, a story told from both sides.
This is an absorbing read which I really enjoyed. Looking forward to reading Ties That Harm next. 4*
Alexandra Dinapoli has everything she could ever wish for, except what she really wants. Leaving her family behind, she heads for New York City and starts on a journey to make her own way in the word. Whilst there, she bumps into Gabriel Harland, an enigmatic Chief Assistant District Attorney with whom she begins a love affair that is cruelly cut short when someone from her past surfaces in Gabriel's life. Will their relationship be worth fighting for or will the truth tear them apart? Join Alexandra on her journey as she discovers the tenderness of new love, the sorrow of losing someone close, the pulse racing suspense of running from the past, the anger of not being in control and the admission that some sacrifices have to be made for the sake of others. Ties That Bind is a story of love and life, light and shade, a story told from both sides.
This is an absorbing read which I really enjoyed. Looking forward to reading Ties That Harm next. 4*
January 14, 2017
Ties that bind by Ellen Crookes is a erotic romance read.
Alexandra Dinapoli has everything she could ever wish for, except what she really wants. Leaving her family behind, she heads for New York City and starts on a journey to make her own way in the word. Whilst there, she bumps into Gabriel Harland, an enigmatic Chief Assistant District Attorney with whom she begins a love affair that is cruelly cut short when someone from her past surfaces in Gabriel's life. Will their relationship be worth fighting for or will the truth tear them apart? Join Alexandra on her journey as she discovers the tenderness of new love, the sorrow of losing someone close, the pulse racing suspense of running from the past, the anger of not being in control and the admission that some sacrifices have to be made for the sake of others. OMG. I loved this story. I couldn’t put it down. I loved Alex she was my favourite character. Full of twists and plots. Loved how Alex and Gabriel were with each other. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.
Alexandra Dinapoli has everything she could ever wish for, except what she really wants. Leaving her family behind, she heads for New York City and starts on a journey to make her own way in the word. Whilst there, she bumps into Gabriel Harland, an enigmatic Chief Assistant District Attorney with whom she begins a love affair that is cruelly cut short when someone from her past surfaces in Gabriel's life. Will their relationship be worth fighting for or will the truth tear them apart? Join Alexandra on her journey as she discovers the tenderness of new love, the sorrow of losing someone close, the pulse racing suspense of running from the past, the anger of not being in control and the admission that some sacrifices have to be made for the sake of others. OMG. I loved this story. I couldn’t put it down. I loved Alex she was my favourite character. Full of twists and plots. Loved how Alex and Gabriel were with each other. This is a must read and I would highly recommend this book. 5*. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book from tbc on fb.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews