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Ties That Bind Us
From strangers to lovers, from enemies to family, from mafia princess to . . . mafia wife?
Ava Moretti is a mafia princess with a fiery personality and an aversion to doing what she's told. Nick Caponelli is next-in-line to lead the Caponelli mafia—he’s used to getting exactly what he wants. When they meet by chance one night, neither has any idea they are from rival crime families. After a night of passion, they are supposed to part ways and never see each other again. But fate has bigger plans and soon Ava is faced with a decision that will change her life forever . . . for better or for worse.
For fans of Rhenna Morgan, JL Shen, and JJ McAvoy, Nicole Knight’s steamy, intense, and action-packed mafia romance that begins the Caponelli saga where Ava Moretti must face both her dreams and her fears as she weds boss Nick Caponelli. What comes first: love or family?
Ava Moretti is a mafia princess with a fiery personality and an aversion to doing what she's told. Nick Caponelli is next-in-line to lead the Caponelli mafia—he’s used to getting exactly what he wants. When they meet by chance one night, neither has any idea they are from rival crime families. After a night of passion, they are supposed to part ways and never see each other again. But fate has bigger plans and soon Ava is faced with a decision that will change her life forever . . . for better or for worse.
For fans of Rhenna Morgan, JL Shen, and JJ McAvoy, Nicole Knight’s steamy, intense, and action-packed mafia romance that begins the Caponelli saga where Ava Moretti must face both her dreams and her fears as she weds boss Nick Caponelli. What comes first: love or family?
372 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 7, 2021
70 people are currently reading
5851 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
August 21, 2025
The pretty cover drew me in, but what was inside didn't work for me at all. I wouldn't say that it's a bad book though, just boring. I was debating on dnf-ing (and it would've been my first dnf of the year), but I managed to finish it thanks to the audiobook.
There was virtually zero tension, both plot and relationship wise, which is weird for a mafia romance. I was only a chapter or two in when I realised this book wasn't going to be what I hoped it would be.
Every potential conflict was resolved in a few pages, and because the two of them got together at the start, there was nothing to look forward to. The semblance of plot we got didn't feel developed enough, and was repetitive in places.
Nick was too sunny for a mafia boss, it wasn't believable (not saying mafia romances are believable to begin with, but you know), and I didn't really like Ava as a character.
But hey, I finished it, that's something.
There was virtually zero tension, both plot and relationship wise, which is weird for a mafia romance. I was only a chapter or two in when I realised this book wasn't going to be what I hoped it would be.
Every potential conflict was resolved in a few pages, and because the two of them got together at the start, there was nothing to look forward to. The semblance of plot we got didn't feel developed enough, and was repetitive in places.
Nick was too sunny for a mafia boss, it wasn't believable (not saying mafia romances are believable to begin with, but you know), and I didn't really like Ava as a character.
But hey, I finished it, that's something.
December 28, 2025
⭐️3.5
🌶️3.5
A Mafia romance story, but it is more than just crime and love. The story is about family pressure, loyalty & the pain caused by past trauma… Ava and Nick, struggle with roles forced on them by their families. The story moves from love and happiness to loss and sadness, and then slowly toward hope. Forgiveness is shown as difficult and slow. The novel teaches that family is not only about blood, but also about choice. Love becomes strong when it is chosen freely and protected with courage.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
🌶️3.5
A Mafia romance story, but it is more than just crime and love. The story is about family pressure, loyalty & the pain caused by past trauma… Ava and Nick, struggle with roles forced on them by their families. The story moves from love and happiness to loss and sadness, and then slowly toward hope. Forgiveness is shown as difficult and slow. The novel teaches that family is not only about blood, but also about choice. Love becomes strong when it is chosen freely and protected with courage.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
May 22, 2025
I should have DNFed this. This was not the book for me.
November 20, 2021
Oh me oh my! Nick Caponelli has slain my heart, making sure to keep for himself a small part before patching it back together for its next ‘victim.’
Brought together by contract, but bound by a love so fierce and dangerous, Ava Moretti and Nick Caponelli’s love story is anything but a fairytale. Twisted truths and destructive secrets, heated gazes and hateful crimes, tested loyalties and perspectives tried; this action-packed novel has everything a mafia fan would expect, and then some.
The chemistry between Ava and Nick was natural and their intimacies raw in execution, much like the rawness my heart felt at the vulnerabilities they both shared. The suspense was well established, and the way each twist unravelled slowly—and all at once—had me on the edge of my seat, even sneaking peeks at work in anticipation of what thread would untangle next. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Knight would surprise me once more!
Partnering with Wattpad Books in their latest e-book venture, Nicole Knight makes their Amazon debut with ‘Ties That Bind Us,’ a mafia romance that’ll hold you hostage until those very last words have been delivered.
Get your copy today, available from all ebook platforms.
Brought together by contract, but bound by a love so fierce and dangerous, Ava Moretti and Nick Caponelli’s love story is anything but a fairytale. Twisted truths and destructive secrets, heated gazes and hateful crimes, tested loyalties and perspectives tried; this action-packed novel has everything a mafia fan would expect, and then some.
The chemistry between Ava and Nick was natural and their intimacies raw in execution, much like the rawness my heart felt at the vulnerabilities they both shared. The suspense was well established, and the way each twist unravelled slowly—and all at once—had me on the edge of my seat, even sneaking peeks at work in anticipation of what thread would untangle next. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, Knight would surprise me once more!
Partnering with Wattpad Books in their latest e-book venture, Nicole Knight makes their Amazon debut with ‘Ties That Bind Us,’ a mafia romance that’ll hold you hostage until those very last words have been delivered.
Get your copy today, available from all ebook platforms.
May 29, 2025
What started out as a one night stand quickly becomes an arranged marriage with 2 people on rival mafia groups.
A union to mend the rift and combine forces against a rival Russian mafia group.
Ava and nick defeat every odd thrown at them including their own families and fight tooth and nail to protect themselves and their love.
This starts out as a forbidden love, turns to an arranged marriage.
A perfect example of family are who you choose not the one you’re born into!
This was a very different read to my norm but I did enjoy it.
The spice is only 🌶️1/5 it’s pretty much a fade to black so if your looking for that you won’t get it here it’s wholly plot driven
The narrators was great and they worked perfectly!
Thank you netgalley and dreamscape media for the arc in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A union to mend the rift and combine forces against a rival Russian mafia group.
Ava and nick defeat every odd thrown at them including their own families and fight tooth and nail to protect themselves and their love.
This starts out as a forbidden love, turns to an arranged marriage.
A perfect example of family are who you choose not the one you’re born into!
This was a very different read to my norm but I did enjoy it.
The spice is only 🌶️1/5 it’s pretty much a fade to black so if your looking for that you won’t get it here it’s wholly plot driven
The narrators was great and they worked perfectly!
Thank you netgalley and dreamscape media for the arc in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 20, 2024
This is an ARC review ❤️
I enjoyed the story of Nick and Ava. They meet and have a one night stand. Thinking they’d never see each other again; only to find out that their families want them to get married to join their mafia families together.
If you like mafia romances with some spice, then I’d recommend this book. It was an easy, enjoyable read. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book from the author ☺️
I enjoyed the story of Nick and Ava. They meet and have a one night stand. Thinking they’d never see each other again; only to find out that their families want them to get married to join their mafia families together.
If you like mafia romances with some spice, then I’d recommend this book. It was an easy, enjoyable read. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book from the author ☺️
August 12, 2025
Hmmm a mafia romance. 💘 It took me a little while to really get into the gist of the story. It started off as a hunt for the girl from the one night stand. I remember being more than an hour into the audiobook wondering where the mafia portion would enter the scene.
I was absently listening for a bit when suddenly things took a dramatic turn that really drew me into the story. From that point the drama, suspense, violence and mafia life kicked in and didn’t let up. There was sooo much happening, but at times I did feel it was overkill. The suspense scenes ran through so fast, I would’ve preferred more tension in wondering what would happen instead of so many quick resolutions.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would. There was some heated romance, family conflict, violent crime and more. The characters were deeply layered and flawed. Ava’s inner conflicts really pulled me in; she was battling a lot!! Her plight really helped “bind” me to the story.
Nick was a bit too perfect, but I liked him. They balanced each other well and the epilogue brought everything together nicely!
💕Arranged marriage
💕Mafia romance
💕Insta-love
💕He falls first
💕Dark romance
I really enjoyed the audiobook! The narrators gave an awesome performance; however, it felt so slow. Even when I bumped the speed up to 2x speed it still sounded like I was listening at 1x speed. Would definitely recommend this!
I was absently listening for a bit when suddenly things took a dramatic turn that really drew me into the story. From that point the drama, suspense, violence and mafia life kicked in and didn’t let up. There was sooo much happening, but at times I did feel it was overkill. The suspense scenes ran through so fast, I would’ve preferred more tension in wondering what would happen instead of so many quick resolutions.
Ultimately, I enjoyed the story more than I thought I would. There was some heated romance, family conflict, violent crime and more. The characters were deeply layered and flawed. Ava’s inner conflicts really pulled me in; she was battling a lot!! Her plight really helped “bind” me to the story.
Nick was a bit too perfect, but I liked him. They balanced each other well and the epilogue brought everything together nicely!
💕Arranged marriage
💕Mafia romance
💕Insta-love
💕He falls first
💕Dark romance
I really enjoyed the audiobook! The narrators gave an awesome performance; however, it felt so slow. Even when I bumped the speed up to 2x speed it still sounded like I was listening at 1x speed. Would definitely recommend this!
May 22, 2025
3.5/5
I actually ended up really enjoying this. Was there an excessive use of tropes? Yes. Was it a bit cliche? Yes. Did I have a fun time? Also yes. It was honestly a really fun read. There were a bit too many tropes, and I would have like some things to be fleshed out better. However, I devoured this. It was very dramatic and a wild ride, but I would expect that in a mafia romance. I really enjoyed Nick and Ava’s relationship and the banter. At times Ava frustrated me, but I loved Nick! I also listened to the audio which made things so much better. The narrators really made the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I actually ended up really enjoying this. Was there an excessive use of tropes? Yes. Was it a bit cliche? Yes. Did I have a fun time? Also yes. It was honestly a really fun read. There were a bit too many tropes, and I would have like some things to be fleshed out better. However, I devoured this. It was very dramatic and a wild ride, but I would expect that in a mafia romance. I really enjoyed Nick and Ava’s relationship and the banter. At times Ava frustrated me, but I loved Nick! I also listened to the audio which made things so much better. The narrators really made the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2025
Wow! This was my first mafia dark romance and I’m obsessed! I loved the story, loved Nick and Ava’s connection and how he was so protective over her. The writing flowed so perfectly and the twists and turns made it hard to put down. Nick Caponelli is🥵ugh. My first book by this author and won’t be my last! Comes out on 4/15 go preorder it!
Thank you net galley, Nicole Night, and publisher for this arc!
4⭐️
2.5🌶️
Slow burn
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden Love
Arranged Marriage
Thank you net galley, Nicole Night, and publisher for this arc!
4⭐️
2.5🌶️
Slow burn
Enemies to Lovers
Forbidden Love
Arranged Marriage
June 20, 2025
I loved this spicy and fun, quick read! The characters immediately caught me in their fun and unconventional, yet thrilling ride of their journey! Can’t wait for more!
September 23, 2025
3,25 ✨️ rtc
June 22, 2025
Unfortunately, this one just didn’t work for me.
The premise sounded promising, and I was hoping for something intense and gripping, but the execution fell flat. The writing felt unpolished, like an early Wattpad draft with lots of telling instead of showing, inconsistent pacing, and dialogue that didn’t feel natural or grounded.
Nick, the supposed mafia boss, never quite delivered on the dark, commanding presence I expected. Instead of exuding danger or control, he came across more awkward than intimidating. And that kind of undercut the whole vibe the story was going for.
I tried to push through, but even at 35%, I realized I was forcing myself to keep reading. There just wasn’t enough depth or development to keep me invested in either the plot or the characters.
I always want to root for new voices, but this needed more refining before it was ready to hit the shelves.
DNF – 1.5 stars for concept and cover.
The premise sounded promising, and I was hoping for something intense and gripping, but the execution fell flat. The writing felt unpolished, like an early Wattpad draft with lots of telling instead of showing, inconsistent pacing, and dialogue that didn’t feel natural or grounded.
Nick, the supposed mafia boss, never quite delivered on the dark, commanding presence I expected. Instead of exuding danger or control, he came across more awkward than intimidating. And that kind of undercut the whole vibe the story was going for.
I tried to push through, but even at 35%, I realized I was forcing myself to keep reading. There just wasn’t enough depth or development to keep me invested in either the plot or the characters.
I always want to root for new voices, but this needed more refining before it was ready to hit the shelves.
DNF – 1.5 stars for concept and cover.
May 14, 2025
I just finished Ties that Bind Us by Nicole Knight. Thank you to @wbywattpadbooks and @authornicoleknight for the opportunity to read and review.
I have a very very high level of standards for mafia romances. I gave up on them years ago because they just aren’t up to my standards but when I read the synopsis for this one… I had to.
So Ava Moretti, is a stubborn and defiant mafia princess, and a chance meeting with Nick Caponelli… leaves them both hot under the collar but he is the heir to a rival crime dynasty…. Their families want them to marry…
I WAS HOOKED!! I loved the chemistry between Ava and Nick and they had my pulse just racing.
Read if you like:
Mafia romance
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage….
The writing was really good for a debut. It was really steamy… Really solid banter. It was a solid plot, lots of drama and suspense along with the romance…
4 stars
I have a very very high level of standards for mafia romances. I gave up on them years ago because they just aren’t up to my standards but when I read the synopsis for this one… I had to.
So Ava Moretti, is a stubborn and defiant mafia princess, and a chance meeting with Nick Caponelli… leaves them both hot under the collar but he is the heir to a rival crime dynasty…. Their families want them to marry…
I WAS HOOKED!! I loved the chemistry between Ava and Nick and they had my pulse just racing.
Read if you like:
Mafia romance
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage….
The writing was really good for a debut. It was really steamy… Really solid banter. It was a solid plot, lots of drama and suspense along with the romance…
4 stars
August 19, 2025
3.5⭐️
November 10, 2024
-ARC Review-
I enjoyed Ava and Nick’s story. Ava might as well have been deathly allergic to commitment and Nick who is a tall drink of water, but a playboy finds themselves in a sticky situation. What was supposed to be a one-night stand leaves them wanting for more and later on, leaves them engaged!! Didn't see that coming, did you? Moving on, because you won’t get any more out of me. 😏
The chemistry between the two was amazing and I just loved them together. It was a bit cliche at times, but I loved it. I wish we could have seen more of the side characters, especially Vince and his wife. Vince’s wife seemed to put him through the wringer with her pregnancy hormones!
Overall though, I enjoyed the story and am glad that Ava has someone who loves and cares for her. Ecstatic that Ava and Nick get their happily ever after.
I enjoyed Ava and Nick’s story. Ava might as well have been deathly allergic to commitment and Nick who is a tall drink of water, but a playboy finds themselves in a sticky situation. What was supposed to be a one-night stand leaves them wanting for more and later on, leaves them engaged!! Didn't see that coming, did you? Moving on, because you won’t get any more out of me. 😏
The chemistry between the two was amazing and I just loved them together. It was a bit cliche at times, but I loved it. I wish we could have seen more of the side characters, especially Vince and his wife. Vince’s wife seemed to put him through the wringer with her pregnancy hormones!
Overall though, I enjoyed the story and am glad that Ava has someone who loves and cares for her. Ecstatic that Ava and Nick get their happily ever after.
June 12, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of The Ties That Bind Us!
This was an enjoyable listen with a ton of plot and complexities that Ava and Nick had to navigate through. The characters had chemistry from the start which often doesn’t happen in arranged marriage tropes (which is why I usually shy away from them), but this one was well done! The characters themselves were given complex backstories which enhanced this read so much more, and the audiobook narrators did a really great job conveying emotion through voice acting!
The only thing that coulda made this better… I’ll never understand why some dual POV audiobooks don’t have the characters read their own lines in the other characters’ chapters. Ava’s narrator speaking as Nick wasn’t terrible, but this is just a pet peeve of mine.
Overall this was a good story and the narrators were really engaging to listen to!
Tropes:
- one night stand (turned more)
- arranged marriage
- mafia romance
- accidental pregnancy (trigger warning and spoilers: she loses the baby in an accident)
This was an enjoyable listen with a ton of plot and complexities that Ava and Nick had to navigate through. The characters had chemistry from the start which often doesn’t happen in arranged marriage tropes (which is why I usually shy away from them), but this one was well done! The characters themselves were given complex backstories which enhanced this read so much more, and the audiobook narrators did a really great job conveying emotion through voice acting!
The only thing that coulda made this better… I’ll never understand why some dual POV audiobooks don’t have the characters read their own lines in the other characters’ chapters. Ava’s narrator speaking as Nick wasn’t terrible, but this is just a pet peeve of mine.
Overall this was a good story and the narrators were really engaging to listen to!
Tropes:
- one night stand (turned more)
- arranged marriage
- mafia romance
- accidental pregnancy (trigger warning and spoilers: she loses the baby in an accident)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2025
I really enjoyed Ties That Bind Us! I listened to the audiobook version of this story and narrators, Allie Shae and Jack Calihan, did a good job portraying Ava and Nick. I love a good mafia romance with unexpected twists and I was served with this one. It wasn't as dark as I expected, but the romance was truly heartfelt and beautiful!
** Audiobook received from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
** Audiobook received from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
June 9, 2025
Rating 5⭐
Spice 🌶️🌶️
FULL ALC REVIEW
I actually liked it! The tea drama was piping and I'm alllll for it. But I really enjoy a good banter between the MCs. This is the kind of scenario where its an arranged marriage/marriage for convenience, they actually get to know each other on and off page. We get to see the romance grow before the characters realize it.
The story also shares the struggle with drug addiction and abuse as well as grief. I personally felt the author definitely express the hardship and perseverance.
Granted, both MCs were annoying at times, but the overall character growth makes up for their flaws.
The epilogue got me so hard that I did tear up a bit. It was the HEA that felt deserved.
I received the ALC through Netgallery. This review is my true and honest opinon
Spice 🌶️🌶️
FULL ALC REVIEW
I actually liked it! The tea drama was piping and I'm alllll for it. But I really enjoy a good banter between the MCs. This is the kind of scenario where its an arranged marriage/marriage for convenience, they actually get to know each other on and off page. We get to see the romance grow before the characters realize it.
The story also shares the struggle with drug addiction and abuse as well as grief. I personally felt the author definitely express the hardship and perseverance.
Granted, both MCs were annoying at times, but the overall character growth makes up for their flaws.
The epilogue got me so hard that I did tear up a bit. It was the HEA that felt deserved.
I received the ALC through Netgallery. This review is my true and honest opinon
June 4, 2025
*Listening copy provided via NetGalley for an honest review*
Nick and Ava are meet out in the wild and have a steamy hookup where Ava dips out after and never plans on seeing Nick again….until their father’s (both heads of their respective crime families) arrange a marriage to bring the families together. But is it a marriage between Ava and Nick or….?
This is a definite story of instalove, so if that’s not your thing, you might not be a fan. I personally ended up liking it a lot. There’s a ton of family drama too. I enjoyed the audio. The narrators were pretty good. The story was enjoyable as well.
Thanks to NetGalley, Nicole Knight, and Dreamscape Media for the review copy!
Nick and Ava are meet out in the wild and have a steamy hookup where Ava dips out after and never plans on seeing Nick again….until their father’s (both heads of their respective crime families) arrange a marriage to bring the families together. But is it a marriage between Ava and Nick or….?
This is a definite story of instalove, so if that’s not your thing, you might not be a fan. I personally ended up liking it a lot. There’s a ton of family drama too. I enjoyed the audio. The narrators were pretty good. The story was enjoyable as well.
Thanks to NetGalley, Nicole Knight, and Dreamscape Media for the review copy!
June 2, 2025
Romeo and Juliet but make it mafia and you've got Nick and Ava. Nick is next in line to take over the Caponelli mafia and Ava is the youngest Moretti. The two meet by chance but it's nothing but fate when the two cross paths again. An action-packed mafia romance with steamy scenes and emotional moments, Ties That Bind Us is a deep romance.
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook!
February 1, 2025
thank you netgalley and wattpad for the free arc, but at what cost??? bc i ended up paying for it. i did not enjoy myself one bit. i couldn’t even find some laughs and joy in a hate read, which i shockingly did not set out to do this time. and this is how i'm rewarded for my good faith??
besides the really weird formatting issues (going to assume that’s just what the arc is like and it’ll be fixed) and the misspellings and incorrect word choices (also going to hope that these will be fixed) and the terrible writing (not as hopeful about this one), this was just so generic
i am so convinced this was written by ai bc as the book went on, it was just hitting bingo spot after bingo spot of melodramatic events that happen in soap operas and stories set in ~mafia romances~. unfortunately, i don't think the model was fed enough data about mafia stories even, bc the mafia portion was SO BAD LOL it wasn't even salad dressing; it was like ordering fresh orange juice and being served la croix
every single ‘issue’ is swiftly dealt with - as in, in a few sentences or paragraphs, it would be resolved, so there were 0 stakes even though they live in such a ‘dangerous crime filled mafia world.’ and as a result, nothing hit! they would also contradict themselves almost sentence to sentence. they would say one thing, and their IMMEDIATE action would be so incongruous to what they just said, i was getting whiplash
the thing that annoyed me most, though, if i really had to rank them, was that a major plot point was that ava's twin andrew's death led to the fallout between the spaghettis and macaronis, but for some reason, it felt like only ava was affected by his death?? she has all these other siblings, but they barely mention him outside of one conversation in the beginning of the book
i can’t tell you anything specific about nick or ava, but i guarantee they are exactly the stereotype you already have in your head about them. like, i'm not going to think their love is so strong and enduring if you keep throwing plot points and obstacles every few paragraphs to fill in the bingo spot
spoilers (but are they really?) but all the bases are covered here: death of a sibling, controlling parent, addiction, relapse, ava is shot, surprise pregnancy and swift car accident resulting in miscarriage, they go through a hard time, dad was involved in nefarious plot, she is lured away by rival mafia family, nick is shot, adoption, pregnant again, the end! keep in mind that none of these topics were dwelled on in any meaningful way. i think we’ve all seen this film before, and i didn’t like the ending, which was me being baffled, flabbergasted, feeling like a silly annoyed goose
besides the really weird formatting issues (going to assume that’s just what the arc is like and it’ll be fixed) and the misspellings and incorrect word choices (also going to hope that these will be fixed) and the terrible writing (not as hopeful about this one), this was just so generic
i am so convinced this was written by ai bc as the book went on, it was just hitting bingo spot after bingo spot of melodramatic events that happen in soap operas and stories set in ~mafia romances~. unfortunately, i don't think the model was fed enough data about mafia stories even, bc the mafia portion was SO BAD LOL it wasn't even salad dressing; it was like ordering fresh orange juice and being served la croix
every single ‘issue’ is swiftly dealt with - as in, in a few sentences or paragraphs, it would be resolved, so there were 0 stakes even though they live in such a ‘dangerous crime filled mafia world.’ and as a result, nothing hit! they would also contradict themselves almost sentence to sentence. they would say one thing, and their IMMEDIATE action would be so incongruous to what they just said, i was getting whiplash
the thing that annoyed me most, though, if i really had to rank them, was that a major plot point was that ava's twin andrew's death led to the fallout between the spaghettis and macaronis, but for some reason, it felt like only ava was affected by his death?? she has all these other siblings, but they barely mention him outside of one conversation in the beginning of the book
i can’t tell you anything specific about nick or ava, but i guarantee they are exactly the stereotype you already have in your head about them. like, i'm not going to think their love is so strong and enduring if you keep throwing plot points and obstacles every few paragraphs to fill in the bingo spot
spoilers (but are they really?) but all the bases are covered here: death of a sibling, controlling parent, addiction, relapse, ava is shot, surprise pregnancy and swift car accident resulting in miscarriage, they go through a hard time, dad was involved in nefarious plot, she is lured away by rival mafia family, nick is shot, adoption, pregnant again, the end! keep in mind that none of these topics were dwelled on in any meaningful way. i think we’ve all seen this film before, and i didn’t like the ending, which was me being baffled, flabbergasted, feeling like a silly annoyed goose
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
January 15, 2025🩷┆ʚ 𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 ʚɞ
this was one of the first arcs i ever got and i never even opened it..
this was one of the first arcs i ever got and i never even opened it..
January 14, 2025
2.8 (ish) stars
It was entertaining and definitely held my attention. Lots of drama and insane things but they’re pretty predictable if you’ve ever read a mafia romance. That doesn’t really bother me but what did was the writing style. It’s just disconnected me from the story and character and made me feel like reading a book. Some of the language was also very immature and felt like it was written by a teen or someone trying to say things like a teen to relate which is not something I love in books. It honestly read a lot like a wattpad mafia romance.
Ava was okay, she was very damsel in distressy most of the time. I loved her when she was strong and sassy and feisty tho.
The three stars are mostly for Nick and Nick alone. I loved him. He could be a top tier book boyfriend had the writing been better. But with it the way it was it’s insane how much Knight got me to love this man. He is so good to Ava through all the highs and lows in this story and I just love his speech to her about all the things he knows and lives about her. I’d say read just for Nick alone tbh.
*Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to ARC read this book. This review is my opinion and was my decision to write*
It was entertaining and definitely held my attention. Lots of drama and insane things but they’re pretty predictable if you’ve ever read a mafia romance. That doesn’t really bother me but what did was the writing style. It’s just disconnected me from the story and character and made me feel like reading a book. Some of the language was also very immature and felt like it was written by a teen or someone trying to say things like a teen to relate which is not something I love in books. It honestly read a lot like a wattpad mafia romance.
Ava was okay, she was very damsel in distressy most of the time. I loved her when she was strong and sassy and feisty tho.
The three stars are mostly for Nick and Nick alone. I loved him. He could be a top tier book boyfriend had the writing been better. But with it the way it was it’s insane how much Knight got me to love this man. He is so good to Ava through all the highs and lows in this story and I just love his speech to her about all the things he knows and lives about her. I’d say read just for Nick alone tbh.
*Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the chance to ARC read this book. This review is my opinion and was my decision to write*
February 2, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ (round up to 3)
I love a good mafia romance and this one had some good points. It had classic scenarios of arranged marriages and family tiffs. Nick has a history with Ava’s late brother that is a bit heartbreaking.
The writing just wasn’t for me. There was a lot of cliches that simply did not work. It often would say that these families were big and bad but it was never shown. In fact, they were nicer to each other most families I know. Whenever there was a conflict created the author resolved it almost immediately and it didn’t allow for them to have any sort of turmoil or really develop their character.
The way things were worded sometimes didn’t feel like natural conversation and instead felt more like a fanfic or an early draft. But the part that got me the most was the lack of consistency between the characters. She really liked him in the beginning and as soon as she discovered she was marrying him she didn’t want him (even though she knew she would have to marry). And the way both of their dads just agreed to his plan so quickly was…. Odd.
I’ll end my thoughts here to remain spoiler free.
All in all, it was not a bad book. It was just not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I love a good mafia romance and this one had some good points. It had classic scenarios of arranged marriages and family tiffs. Nick has a history with Ava’s late brother that is a bit heartbreaking.
The writing just wasn’t for me. There was a lot of cliches that simply did not work. It often would say that these families were big and bad but it was never shown. In fact, they were nicer to each other most families I know. Whenever there was a conflict created the author resolved it almost immediately and it didn’t allow for them to have any sort of turmoil or really develop their character.
The way things were worded sometimes didn’t feel like natural conversation and instead felt more like a fanfic or an early draft. But the part that got me the most was the lack of consistency between the characters. She really liked him in the beginning and as soon as she discovered she was marrying him she didn’t want him (even though she knew she would have to marry). And the way both of their dads just agreed to his plan so quickly was…. Odd.
I’ll end my thoughts here to remain spoiler free.
All in all, it was not a bad book. It was just not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wattpad Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2025
Read if you like:
Mafia romance
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage
My thoughts:
Ties That Bind Us is an enjoyable, if mediocre, read. This mafia romance failed to meet it's full potential but still managed to keep me hooked until the very last page.
If you're new to mafia romance and looking for a good starting point, this might be the one for you. I'd call this one mafia light. It's not too violent or bloody but still with the elements of the mafia. To be honest, the mafia part of this wasn't very fleshed out and took a backseat to the romance until it was needed to further the plot.
The romance between Nick and Ava started strong, fizzled in the middle, but came back around in the end. I loved the chemistry between them from the moment they locked eyes across the bar. Their one night stand was the hottest part of the book (and the only real spice in this one). Unfortunately, Ava was quite hot and cold with Nick after that and the back and forth got annoying. There was a lot of drama caused solely by Ava's unwillingness to allow Nick to communicate with her. She jumped to conclusions rather quickly and refused to see reason after that.
Ava's character was one of my least favorite things about the story. She wasn't written well and there were times when her actions and personality didn't match how she was previously described. Other than Nick, I felt that way about most of the characters. They would be described one way and then act in the exact opposite way. They writing could have used some work.
Overall, Ties That Bind Us was an enjoyable enough read but not something I would revisit. While far from being a bad book, the writing and characters lacked development and I was left feeling rather unsatisfied in the end.
TL;DR
Ties That Bind Us was a thoroughly addicting read, if a little poorly written. A quick read that was hard to put down. Some spice, but minimal. Lots of rather predictable drama. Not great but a fun read if you're a fan of mafia romance.
Mafia romance
Enemies to lovers
Arranged marriage
My thoughts:
Ties That Bind Us is an enjoyable, if mediocre, read. This mafia romance failed to meet it's full potential but still managed to keep me hooked until the very last page.
If you're new to mafia romance and looking for a good starting point, this might be the one for you. I'd call this one mafia light. It's not too violent or bloody but still with the elements of the mafia. To be honest, the mafia part of this wasn't very fleshed out and took a backseat to the romance until it was needed to further the plot.
The romance between Nick and Ava started strong, fizzled in the middle, but came back around in the end. I loved the chemistry between them from the moment they locked eyes across the bar. Their one night stand was the hottest part of the book (and the only real spice in this one). Unfortunately, Ava was quite hot and cold with Nick after that and the back and forth got annoying. There was a lot of drama caused solely by Ava's unwillingness to allow Nick to communicate with her. She jumped to conclusions rather quickly and refused to see reason after that.
Ava's character was one of my least favorite things about the story. She wasn't written well and there were times when her actions and personality didn't match how she was previously described. Other than Nick, I felt that way about most of the characters. They would be described one way and then act in the exact opposite way. They writing could have used some work.
Overall, Ties That Bind Us was an enjoyable enough read but not something I would revisit. While far from being a bad book, the writing and characters lacked development and I was left feeling rather unsatisfied in the end.
TL;DR
Ties That Bind Us was a thoroughly addicting read, if a little poorly written. A quick read that was hard to put down. Some spice, but minimal. Lots of rather predictable drama. Not great but a fun read if you're a fan of mafia romance.
April 25, 2025
This was my first mafia romance, and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was so fun and exciting!
Ava is literally the definition of “the bolter,” and I LOVE FMCs like that because it gives them more of a backbone and makes the MMC more and more obsessed (which we LOVE to see of course). Nick was obsessed with Ava in the hottest ways EVER. He was arrogant and cocky, which I normally hate, but it was impossible for me not to love him in the end. Together, their relationship was so passionate, and the tension had me in a chokehold! They had an instant connection that was undeniable, and I FEIGNED for it. Also, THE BANTER??? Ate it up.
I always love a good “rival families” trope; it makes things so interesting, especially since, in this case, they both worked in the mafia, which gave it a sense of suspense for me.
All in all, this was a good read, and I’m now obsessed with mafia romances—more to come for sure!
3.7 ★ (may change later, I’m indecisive)
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
Ava is literally the definition of “the bolter,” and I LOVE FMCs like that because it gives them more of a backbone and makes the MMC more and more obsessed (which we LOVE to see of course). Nick was obsessed with Ava in the hottest ways EVER. He was arrogant and cocky, which I normally hate, but it was impossible for me not to love him in the end. Together, their relationship was so passionate, and the tension had me in a chokehold! They had an instant connection that was undeniable, and I FEIGNED for it. Also, THE BANTER??? Ate it up.
I always love a good “rival families” trope; it makes things so interesting, especially since, in this case, they both worked in the mafia, which gave it a sense of suspense for me.
All in all, this was a good read, and I’m now obsessed with mafia romances—more to come for sure!
3.7 ★ (may change later, I’m indecisive)
𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!
February 26, 2025
The whole premise of the book is what drew me in, after that I was disappointed. The writing style felt mediocre at best unfortunately. It was riddled with spelling issues that the more I caught, the more I noticed. The formatting made it difficult at times to tell who was saying what line and I found myself having to read parks multiple times just so I can figure out what was going on. There was also time skips that would not be obvious until after you had already started them. You would be in the middle of a conversation or seeing and then it would be anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks later.
Overall, I did enjoy the banter, but for families that are supposed to be so badass and scary they were sweet (except Ava’s dad) it felt like everything that was a problem would resolve itself way too simply and it felt like more of a soap TV show that a book.
Overall not a terrible book but could use some work.
2.5/5 stars
3/5 spicies
Thank you netgalley for the arc
Overall, I did enjoy the banter, but for families that are supposed to be so badass and scary they were sweet (except Ava’s dad) it felt like everything that was a problem would resolve itself way too simply and it felt like more of a soap TV show that a book.
Overall not a terrible book but could use some work.
2.5/5 stars
3/5 spicies
Thank you netgalley for the arc
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2025
Book: 3⭐️
Audiobook: 4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!
Ties That Bind Us was my first-ever mafia romance, and it was definitely an entertaining introduction to the genre. The story pulled me in right away—it’s fast-paced, dramatic, and filled with chemistry. I really liked Ava and Nick as characters; their dynamic was fun to follow, and I was rooting for them throughout.
While it didn’t completely blow me away (just a personal preference!), I still found it very enjoyable. It had all the elements you’d want in a steamy, enemies-to-lovers romance with some emotional depth and twists along the way.
Where it really shined for me was the audiobook—I’d give it 4 stars. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the story and emotions to life, and it made the whole experience even more immersive.
If you’re a fan of Ana Huang or L.J. Shen, or just curious about the mafia romance genre, this is a great one to check out—especially in audio format!
Audiobook: 4⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC!
Ties That Bind Us was my first-ever mafia romance, and it was definitely an entertaining introduction to the genre. The story pulled me in right away—it’s fast-paced, dramatic, and filled with chemistry. I really liked Ava and Nick as characters; their dynamic was fun to follow, and I was rooting for them throughout.
While it didn’t completely blow me away (just a personal preference!), I still found it very enjoyable. It had all the elements you’d want in a steamy, enemies-to-lovers romance with some emotional depth and twists along the way.
Where it really shined for me was the audiobook—I’d give it 4 stars. The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the story and emotions to life, and it made the whole experience even more immersive.
If you’re a fan of Ana Huang or L.J. Shen, or just curious about the mafia romance genre, this is a great one to check out—especially in audio format!
June 15, 2025
2.75 stars!! I was super excited for this one when I saw it was a steamy mafia romance with an arranged marriage, but it ended up missing the mark a bit for me.
I enjoyed seeing the different family dynamics play out, both within their own family units, and with one other. The history of the falling out was very sad and I felt like it got brushed over fairly quickly.
The MMC, Nick, was the highlight for me. The way he fiercely loved and wanted to protect Ava. The way he stood by her, even when she pushed him away or made terrible choices. In the beginning I was totally on board with Ava and excited to see how her character navigated the challenges of an arranged marriage in a mafia setting, but I found myself getting super annoyed with her the majority of the time. She truly made one bad choice after another and it was so frustrating.
The ending was fast-paced and intense, but wrapped up quickly. I enjoyed the epilogue and glimpse at their lives 6 months later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed seeing the different family dynamics play out, both within their own family units, and with one other. The history of the falling out was very sad and I felt like it got brushed over fairly quickly.
The MMC, Nick, was the highlight for me. The way he fiercely loved and wanted to protect Ava. The way he stood by her, even when she pushed him away or made terrible choices. In the beginning I was totally on board with Ava and excited to see how her character navigated the challenges of an arranged marriage in a mafia setting, but I found myself getting super annoyed with her the majority of the time. She truly made one bad choice after another and it was so frustrating.
The ending was fast-paced and intense, but wrapped up quickly. I enjoyed the epilogue and glimpse at their lives 6 months later.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2025
Ａｕｄｉｏｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟.2
"Ties That Bind Us" by Nicole Knight is an arranged marriage story that handles substance abuse and an abusive father, with a dash of enemies-to-lovers. Ava is a headstrong, fiery, mafia princess who pretty much does what she wants. I liked Ava's character; she had depth and struggled a lot with her twin brother's passing. She is a very relatable and likeable character, but she could also be a little annoying. However, I think her character development was good. Nick is a book boyfriend! He wasn't playing games with Ava or around Ava.
The audiobook is dual narration. Jack Calihan and Allie Shae did a good job telling the story and bringing the story to life! They were easy to listen to and understand. I listened at 2x speed.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
🌟🌟🌟🌟.2
"Ties That Bind Us" by Nicole Knight is an arranged marriage story that handles substance abuse and an abusive father, with a dash of enemies-to-lovers. Ava is a headstrong, fiery, mafia princess who pretty much does what she wants. I liked Ava's character; she had depth and struggled a lot with her twin brother's passing. She is a very relatable and likeable character, but she could also be a little annoying. However, I think her character development was good. Nick is a book boyfriend! He wasn't playing games with Ava or around Ava.
The audiobook is dual narration. Jack Calihan and Allie Shae did a good job telling the story and bringing the story to life! They were easy to listen to and understand. I listened at 2x speed.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for the audiobook in exchange for my honest review.
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