The Ties That Bind

by Electa Rome Parks

A hopeless romantic with dreams of being married and settling down with the perfect man, Mia finds herself torn between two very different men--Brice, who wants a woman willing to surrender everything, and Christian, a rogue with a penchant for one-night stands. A first novel. Original.

Genres: African American

166 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2001

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok series! interesting and a predictable storyline with some crazy emotionally charged characters added for a chaotic series..explicit dialogue and scenes..well written (paperback!)

[Teaguem2005 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me tell you that before you even start to read this book you need to go purchase the follow-up Loose Ends. Why, because once you put this one down, it doesn't matter what time of day it is, you will want more so why torture yourself by having to wait until the store opens?

Know that the 3 primary characters of this book are so detailed that you will see a movie in your head as you read. I wrote Electa Rome Parks several years ago after reading this book to tell her that she needs to work out the movie rights NOW. Main characters would be Sanaa Lathan, Morris Chestnut, and Boris Kodjoe. Need I say more? You will not put this book down. To hell with cooking dinner, give the kids a McDonald's gift card and send them on their way so you will not be disturbed!

[Essence Cropper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in a day. It was really good and fast paced.

[Deliah Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel introduces us to Brice and Christian, two best friends who loved roaming the streets for their next conquest. But once Brice met Mia, an ambitious, young and beautiful woman he turned in his player card for marriage.

Christian was very surprised that Brice got married but understood why when he met the lovely Mia. She was the type of woman who could make him turn his player card in too but she was married to his best friend.

Mia gave up finishing college and dreams of becoming a school teacher so that she could immerse herself into married life with Brice, who promised after a year that she could return to fulfill her dreams. That didn’t happen and as time went by, Mia began to see Brice’s true colors: he drank too much, was too controlling, very egotistical and physically abusive.

So, when she couldn’t keep hiding the bruises and the fights became more frequent, Christian stepped in and came to her rescue. This didn’t sit well with Brice because not only did he lose his wife, but he lost his best friend too. And in the end, the ties that bind were severed.

Electa Rome Parks delivered a novel that was very relevant to how folks view love and marriage. It’s not always a bed of roses and when abuse enters the picture, it’s sometimes difficult to get out of the situation. But I admired Mia. She had a support system and she was brave enough to walk away from a man she adored but ultimately didn’t really know. She pushed forward, finished her degree and looked toward a new future for herself. Good read!

Some of my favorite lines:

Mia. I know I have lost her for good. I can’t even think of life without her. So I am not going to give up. I am not going to let her give up on us. I will get help. Go to therapy, do whatever it takes to win her back. I know that this is something I have to do for myself, not just for her. But I want her back if she will have me. I have never stopped loving her and never will. Mia is my African princess, my woman, my soul mate, my heart. It will take some time, but time is all I have now. My first stop will be resolving some issues with my father. Yeah, that’s definitely the first stop.

Christian and I have had a lifetime of friendship and love. I don’t know…my brotha betrayed me with my wife. No, he didn’t sleep with her or even make a move on her. In fact, he was the good friend that she needed when I was putting her through all those changes. But for Christian to lust after my wife, not just some man’s wife on the street, but me, his brotha. I don’t know…

Like I said before, I have all the time in the world. I have to take one day at a time. Everything will work out. It always does for me.

[TheBookstress · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, love this authors writing technique and style. She gives you each characters perspective. Poor Mia was so young, carefree, and clueless to the controlling predators of the world. I cheered when she made it out of her relationship with Brice, him and his father should be in therapy together. Hopefully Mia has learned some valuable lessons. Men who are stalking , yelling at you all the time, talking down to you like your a 5 year old, ordering for you from the menu, blowing your phone up while he suppose to be working, leaving threating voice messages cause you didn't answer on the first ring, at your house before you get home carrying flowers, monitoring your every outfit, telling you how to wear your hair, girls run and don't look back because its just a matter of time before your in a abusive relationship you just might not make it out of.

[Shadoshard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was short, sharp and harsh. It is to be read with a careful cynic's voice. t can be brutal. It is realistically written and easy to relate to. I would have liked a bit more from Mia however - I wanted to know her story before this story - she introduces the story from the end but what she was in the beginning - where she came from - is what helped make her a survivor. And I really, really liked Mia that she deserved more of the story than her 'men'. But overall, the voice is straight up and as brutal as it needs to be. The writer manages a good balance. I'll have to look for more of their books.

[Mayor Brook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crazy and Complicated

Being young and in love is complicated especially if you’re just trying to figure life out. That’s Mia. In a lot of ways, I’m Mia. I can see myself being in the exact same situation. I’m glad she had Christian. Brice is a piece of work but he’s also a product of his environment. Can’t wait to read the next installment.

[Nardsbaby Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beginning of a new life

This story starts with Christian, explaining how he needs to step up and be a man. Speaking about betrayal, pain, and disappointments. With the reader anticipating his role...

Mia, a 22 year-old college student home for the summer. She attends her neighbors barbecue where she meets, and flirts with an older guy who is FINE!

Brice- a 30 year-old marine on a months leave. He's at his cousins enjoying a competitive card game when in that moment he's induced by an electric personality.

Sometimes the only way to live- is to live, and learn from those mistakes. After a month of laughing, talking, kissing and much more, I do's were exchanged. Mr. & Mrs. Matthew were headed back to Fayetteville, North Carolina to live happily ever after.

Happy that the single scene was a thing of the past. In love with the thought of having someone to come home to. BOTH with visions of a marriage not parallel to the others.

FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE...

Christian, a friend, raised in the Matthews' home. Surprised by the abrupt change in his friends marital status. As time would pass his role would be babysitting Mia for Brice, and a catalyst in their relationship.

As life, and its sacrifices for love become too great. Mia finds that her innocent flirting may get her in over her head. With Brice trying to be a good husband, it's up to Christian to decide to keep things quiet.

Although The Ties That Bind deal with very painful realities of abuse, and the stigma of such, I think this story may have been written with a younger audience in mind. If I would've read one more time how cute Mia was, and how fine Brice is, and lord how cute Christian is yet he doesn't know it. It was hard to grasp the fullness of the story thanks to the tedium.

F.Y.I
A marriage license isn't ownership. If independence is frowned on, and physical abuse is prevalent, you need to definitely check out of that relationship. If you don't love you, then who will?

[Makounda Fofana · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is really good. Electa Rome Parks really has an outstanding talent to be able to write a book like this. The reader gets lost in the characters lives. Mia an innocent young woman who is stuck between two men which she loves both equally, her husband Brice and his best friend Christian. Christian a player, falls in love with a woman for the first time in his whole life. The only problem is that he doesn't want to ruin him and Brice's brotherly bond, but when love calls your name you cant ignore it. The more he denied his love for Mia the more he found himself falling for her. Badly. Brice an abusive, controlling husband who loves Mia with all his heart but has a weird way of showing it. He takes Mia for granted and treats her as if he owns her, but most importantly was never home. That's one of the reasons why Mia developed a strong desire for other men especially for Christian. He treated her with love and respect, filled up all the wholes that Brice left untreated. But before the rainbow comes the storm. All three characters lives with change dramatically once, secrets are revealed.There should be a squeal to this book because the ending left readers wanting to know more.
What happens to Brice?
What happens to Mia?
What happens to Christian?
Will Brice and Mia make up again like usual?
Will Brice forgive Christian and will they ever go back to their brotherly bond?
Will Mia give Christian a chance?
Will this affect Mia from ever being with a man again?
What will happen to Mia`s education?
Will Brice still stay in the force?
Will Brice move on from Mia?
Will Mia move on from both of them?
Will Christian apologize to Brice
Will Christian move on?
Will all three of them still keep in touch?
All these questions Electa Rome Parks left her readers with

[Ms.Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Debut Novel


Mia, a 22 year old college student and hopeless romantic, is looking for love - an all encompassing love. She wants a soul mate to complete her. To Mia, fairy tales do come true. And she thought she found all of that in Brice Matthews. Despite being 8 years her senior, Brice has it going on. He's sexy, handsome, intelligent, and the best lover she's ever had. He's everything she wants in a man and more. But what happens when her fairy tale meets reality?

Brice, a 30 year old Marine, has found the love of his life in Mia. Even though she is 8 years his junior, he feels she is still mold-able. Brice is old fashioned and intends to wear the pants in the family. But when Mia's stubbornness surfaces, will Brice let his temper get the best of him?

And then there is Christian, a consummate player and Brice's best friend who he loves like a brother. He is entrusted with the task of "babysitting" Mia as Brice is often out of town. As the three spend more and more time together, Christian witnesses his best friend's emotional and physical abuse of his wife. Along with being a babysitter, he takes on the role of friend and confidant to Mia. But what happens when he begins to feel that Mia deserves better? Is he that man?

"The Ties That Bind" is told from the point of view of all three characters allowing readers to experience their joys and pains as this triangle of love, hurt, and friendships plays out. I made the mistake of reading the sequel Loose Ends prior to this, but I highly recommend reading both - in correct order of course. Great job Mrs. Parks!

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Christian! My heart broke for him in this story. Mia was a young naive girl in love and moving too fast. Brice had love in him but he had some things internally that needed worked out to know how to love properly. It showed how much he valued and loved and trusted Christian as his friend in how close he had him to his relationship despite how his messed up mind worked. Me personally wouldn't have had my friend acting as a "fill-in" spending more time with my significant other than me. I definitely felt the connection between each relationship and truly felt bad for the tough situations Mia had endured and Christian was in. Now I'm going to read the follow up story Loose Ends and see how this triangle plays out.

[Leanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in a day and it was a good book very predictable and a few things i didn’t expect but very interesting enough to not want to book the book down. I didn’t know there was a part 2 to the book. I highly recommend getting loose ends because both books are short reads and at the end of this book it leaves u i don’t want to say confused but wondering that’s it i just so happened to own the 2nd book because i like to get all of the authors books before i start reading a new author

I recommend this book to read interesting story line

[Camille · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mia, age 22 married Christian, age 28 after one month of knowing him. The love and passion are strong, that is until they get to know each other. Mia learns a possessive man can be detrimental to your health. Now meet Christians' best friend and now Mia's confidant Brice... Sometimes friends can develop into....

I found the novel pretty predictable but the writing style was nice and easy. This is a quick brain candy read.

[Deandre Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the book very interesting. The reason I say the book was interesting was because it talked about two friends growing up in a different way but were very close friends. I also like the fact that it involved love with a girl and how your closest friends can still try and take the love of your life. I really enjoyed it and I hope it will be more to come.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. This is my first Urban Fiction, or Ghetto Lit book. Whoa!, is there a lot of sex. Aggressive sex. This particular story featured a love triangle and wife abuse. Heavy on bad relationships and light on plot. Looking for something fast?. . .it IS a quick read with lots of dirty words.

[Varrsity · Rating 1 out of 5]

SMDH. Predictable

[SlimmGoodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yea, I don't really know what to say about this one. I kept reading cause I expected it to get better, but not so much, in my opinion.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it soo much I hunted the second book down and bought it.

[J.L. Sapphire · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a while since I read this but all I remember was that Brice was a huge asshole and a jealous, insecure, womanizer. I honestly don't know how Mia out up with him for as long as she did.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Book

[Shantae Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one, so much. Read it ages ago, and still it sits in my mind. I loved the storyline. Predictable yes, but still a great read. I still have the main characters etched in my brain and that says a lot.