What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ties That Bind
When Lady Arabella’s errant husband returns after a two-year absence that began just after the consummation of their marriage, she’s still furious with him. Will past hurts finally be explained, and will Lord James be shocked to discover that Arabella has made the best of the situation with the help of his best friend, Tom? Or will Lord James turn the tables, reveal all, and win their sexual game for an unconventional happy ever after?Please note. This book contains m/f/m sexual interaction and mild infidelity.
34 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2010
96 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
Kate Pearce
169 books1,852 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born in England in the middle of a large family of girls and quickly found that her imagination was far more interesting than real life. After acquiring a degree in history and barely escaping from the British Civil Service alive, she moved to California and then to Hawaii with her kids and her husband and set about reinventing herself as a romance writer.
She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.
She is known for both her unconventional heroes and her joy at subverting romance clichés. In her spare time she self publishes science fiction erotic romance, historical romance, and whatever else she can imagine. You can find Kate on katepearce.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 30, 2012
An inconsistent, unbelievable mishmash, thankfully very short. The basic idea might have made a good erotic menage story, but the sex scenes are prosaic, the writing is terrible, and most of it made no sense at all.
December 5, 2017
Nada destacable la verdad, una cosa así para echar el rato pero poco más, me gusta más esta autora en novelas largas.
October 15, 2011
He thought his wife had not been 'pure' before marriage but sent his friend to teach her about making love after he abandoned her? Plot made no sense and 'misunderstanding' was an unconvincing mess. Could have cared less about the characters.
If it had been a full length novel I'm certain Ms. Pearce could have done much better.
If it had been a full length novel I'm certain Ms. Pearce could have done much better.
October 8, 2018
1 star
So, I know this was a (free) short story, but I was still expecting a tiny bit of plot or at least characters that were sympathetic or whose actions made sense.
It was none of these things. Again, I know it's meant to be an erotic short story, but I was just incredibly frustrated with the idiotic (and really, really unsympathetic) characters. And not to mention that the end doesn't really feel like an end to me (idk if there is a story that follows this one, although it isn't shown as part of a series here, so probably not).
So, I know this was a (free) short story, but I was still expecting a tiny bit of plot or at least characters that were sympathetic or whose actions made sense.
It was none of these things. Again, I know it's meant to be an erotic short story, but I was just incredibly frustrated with the idiotic (and really, really unsympathetic) characters. And not to mention that the end doesn't really feel like an end to me (idk if there is a story that follows this one, although it isn't shown as part of a series here, so probably not).
October 22, 2012
A thoroughly enjoyable and surprising read!
Arabella was shunned by her husband on their wedding night just before he left her. 2 years later she has a lover and is quite perturbed that he has returned, but not because she doesn't want him. James left his wife with no explanation but now he has returned and finally all secrets will be revealed.
I really enjoyed this short historical romance. Bella is a great female with conviction and passion. James is sexy and mysterious and I couldn't help but rout for him, and Tom is quirky and lovable. He made for great conflict and I loved that when the time came you didn't want to choose between them either.
I really loved that Pearce was able to build great, complex characters in such a short time. She also created a storyline that captivated me and had me reading the whole thing in a couple of hours. The twists had me shocked and were deliciously exciting, making me want to know more.
All in all a great read and I'm really excited to pick up another one of her books.
Arabella was shunned by her husband on their wedding night just before he left her. 2 years later she has a lover and is quite perturbed that he has returned, but not because she doesn't want him. James left his wife with no explanation but now he has returned and finally all secrets will be revealed.
I really enjoyed this short historical romance. Bella is a great female with conviction and passion. James is sexy and mysterious and I couldn't help but rout for him, and Tom is quirky and lovable. He made for great conflict and I loved that when the time came you didn't want to choose between them either.
I really loved that Pearce was able to build great, complex characters in such a short time. She also created a storyline that captivated me and had me reading the whole thing in a couple of hours. The twists had me shocked and were deliciously exciting, making me want to know more.
All in all a great read and I'm really excited to pick up another one of her books.
August 14, 2013
Arabella’s wedding night w/ her groom was a disaster! James had come to her drunk, taken what he wanted from the love struck virgin, and then walked away leaving her w/ nothing. Now James has returned two years later and they are having a dinner party in which Arabella and James’ significant others have also been invited. Is she the pot calling the kettle black or was she entrapped? Sure James felt bad for what he did and he had his reasons, but it really did seem too selfish because it was ultimately all about him and then his servant. If Arabella is trained well then James will be content and the tool can use her as well. Oh of course, it’s all wrapped up in giving Arabella a great gift too. However, in essence it’s their own gift and their own desires that they are looking out for and have found in Arabella. It was all shallow and not as deep and fleshed out as I would have liked. For me, Arabella was messed over (not the word I would have chosen) in more ways than the literal. Magical words uttered and Arabella gives in like that!
December 6, 2015
1 untied bind
the story just didn't flow correctly but it is worded historically correct but it paints a Co fusing picture. this is not one of the authors many amazing books I'd recommend maybe this was a side project but for me it didn't pan out.
the story just didn't flow correctly but it is worded historically correct but it paints a Co fusing picture. this is not one of the authors many amazing books I'd recommend maybe this was a side project but for me it didn't pan out.
December 12, 2014
I've enjoyed some of Pearce's other stories, but this one just didn't do it for me.
James has loved Arabella all this time, but he was romping with three mistresses while they were separated? Right. Sounds like undying love to me.
James has loved Arabella all this time, but he was romping with three mistresses while they were separated? Right. Sounds like undying love to me.
March 31, 2018
I had a really hard time trying to figure out James’ logic. None of what he did or thought made any sense, and honestly together with Tom, I thought they were both pretty dickish and unlikeable characters. Not good romantic leads at all.
This one just wasn’t my cup of tea. Thankfully it was short.
This one just wasn’t my cup of tea. Thankfully it was short.
June 3, 2012
This is a short read with a lot of story packed in. I think I would have been nice to fill in the story and make it full length. It's a great into to her writing style.
May 23, 2025
Arabella, James, and Tom
“The Ties that Bind” by Kate Pearce is a standalone novella set in Regency England. Kate Pearce is extremely talented when it comes to creating super hot scenes between consenting adults. In this story deserted wife Arabella has to contend with a husband who has returned after a two year absence. Why he left is revealed along the way. In the meantime Arabella has developed a relationship with their land Agent, Tom. But Arabella’s husband wants the rights of a husband in her bed. Super hot, steamy, passionate m/f and m/f/m bedroom dalliances. Interesting characters and fast paced plot leads to a happy ever after. A perfect read for a rainy afternoon. Enjoy this recommended tantalizing novella.
“The Ties that Bind” by Kate Pearce is a standalone novella set in Regency England. Kate Pearce is extremely talented when it comes to creating super hot scenes between consenting adults. In this story deserted wife Arabella has to contend with a husband who has returned after a two year absence. Why he left is revealed along the way. In the meantime Arabella has developed a relationship with their land Agent, Tom. But Arabella’s husband wants the rights of a husband in her bed. Super hot, steamy, passionate m/f and m/f/m bedroom dalliances. Interesting characters and fast paced plot leads to a happy ever after. A perfect read for a rainy afternoon. Enjoy this recommended tantalizing novella.
December 1, 2020
Arabella Grayson's husband just left her on the night of their wedding. Her father is dead and he long lost husband returns. Arabella has so many questions for him, but while he is gone she takes a lover. Now she has to figure out what is going to happen with them. But her biggest is can she forgive her husband.
Good book, short story and good details. The sex parts are pretty good. It's a story about love and forgiveness.
Good book, short story and good details. The sex parts are pretty good. It's a story about love and forgiveness.
February 20, 2019
I think this book rates 5 stars because it's a good romance.
Not enough sex. Like that part the best.
The whole story was very exciting!
First timer for me that had so much love and turning relationships of them
Not enough sex. Like that part the best.
The whole story was very exciting!
First timer for me that had so much love and turning relationships of them
August 5, 2019
Sooo NOT what I expected. I seriously wasn't ready for this. What is going on in this book?? For the first time, I've come across a book where I couldn't relate to any of the characters. Zero depth. Hardly a plot.
May 5, 2017
This was free on Amazon so I picked it up. I really think this could have been a longer novella or even a full-length book. But, I enjoyed what I read.
March 5, 2018
Short and cheesy
This book is short already, then the title story ends at 68%, making it even shorter, and that's the good part. Very short, very cheesy.
This book is short already, then the title story ends at 68%, making it even shorter, and that's the good part. Very short, very cheesy.
August 17, 2018
This is like three first chapters!
Of three different stories. I assume if you want the books you have to order them I didn't understand that at the beginning!
Of three different stories. I assume if you want the books you have to order them I didn't understand that at the beginning!
May 30, 2019
Interesting
I really enjoyed The Ties that Bind, and would have enjoyed it more if it was longer. I love the storyline and characters.
I really enjoyed The Ties that Bind, and would have enjoyed it more if it was longer. I love the storyline and characters.
August 2, 2020
Unbelievable story, hard to connect with story
January 2, 2021
1.5 stars
Really weird and disjointed
Really weird and disjointed
May 22, 2022
Not my cup of tea May 2022
I hated this book as soon as I started it, the language was wholly unnecessary, ok so that sounds prudish so be it, it is trash
I hated this book as soon as I started it, the language was wholly unnecessary, ok so that sounds prudish so be it, it is trash
March 25, 2023
A great book..recommend
January 1, 2026
I found this book for free on Amazon
Pretty good story of love, hate, and everything in between. Many inconsistencies but overall enjoyable.
Pretty good story of love, hate, and everything in between. Many inconsistencies but overall enjoyable.
January 31, 2013
Is this the state of menage romance?
This was TERRIBLE.
It was full of implausibilites, from the opening scene -- the husband's mistresses are at BREAKFAST, in his house, with his wife, and not even in the context of a larger house party? -- to the contrivance that kept the pair separated for two years, to the language -- yes, I know people said 'fucking' then, and dropping it into a conversation that was otherwise in a formally polite register was meant to be jarring, but it jarred me right out of the story, and I think "bedding" would have done the job better, or at least as a lead-in so that the rely could have been "by 'bedding', do you mean 'fucking'?" -- to the sex itself, where the heroine is ready for two-finger penetration with essentially no foreplay and four-finger penetration moments later, and where she takes four fingers in her ass with no lube... it was just awful.
I have a preference for affection between my characters, and the heroine and her husband were actively hostile to each other for most of it, and I didn't buy her enjoying the sex despite the hostility. The author claimed that there was frustrated love on both sides, and maybe it wasn't possible to illustrate that in such a short story, but I feel like she didn't even try.
I also prefer that an MMF situation be driven in part by the woman's enthusiastic desire for it. In this setup, it was definitely driven by the men's desire -- and although the husband mentioned previous same-sex experience, and there was a suggestion that the men had been intimate in the past, the described action was really all MFM, not anything with the men interacting, which I found disappointing -- AND they manipulated her into the setup where she'd be in bed with both of them (arranging between themselves for her husband to "surprise" her with her lover) rather than doing it honestly, although each of them had mentioned their desire to have the other present while they had sex with her. Her participation and enjoyment once the situation was inevitable didn't make up for that, for me; they still felt like manipulative creeps.
In short: BLECH.
This was TERRIBLE.
It was full of implausibilites, from the opening scene -- the husband's mistresses are at BREAKFAST, in his house, with his wife, and not even in the context of a larger house party? -- to the contrivance that kept the pair separated for two years, to the language -- yes, I know people said 'fucking' then, and dropping it into a conversation that was otherwise in a formally polite register was meant to be jarring, but it jarred me right out of the story, and I think "bedding" would have done the job better, or at least as a lead-in so that the rely could have been "by 'bedding', do you mean 'fucking'?" -- to the sex itself, where the heroine is ready for two-finger penetration with essentially no foreplay and four-finger penetration moments later, and where she takes four fingers in her ass with no lube... it was just awful.
I have a preference for affection between my characters, and the heroine and her husband were actively hostile to each other for most of it, and I didn't buy her enjoying the sex despite the hostility. The author claimed that there was frustrated love on both sides, and maybe it wasn't possible to illustrate that in such a short story, but I feel like she didn't even try.
I also prefer that an MMF situation be driven in part by the woman's enthusiastic desire for it. In this setup, it was definitely driven by the men's desire -- and although the husband mentioned previous same-sex experience, and there was a suggestion that the men had been intimate in the past, the described action was really all MFM, not anything with the men interacting, which I found disappointing -- AND they manipulated her into the setup where she'd be in bed with both of them (arranging between themselves for her husband to "surprise" her with her lover) rather than doing it honestly, although each of them had mentioned their desire to have the other present while they had sex with her. Her participation and enjoyment once the situation was inevitable didn't make up for that, for me; they still felt like manipulative creeps.
In short: BLECH.
April 10, 2020
Lady Arabella hasn’t seen her husband for two years after a frankly awful wedding night. When he left the next morning, her overbearing father appointed a new estate manager Thomas, a recent widower, and she has learned from him what it is to be loved properly. But when her husband James returns after her father’s death, he intends to be in her bed.
***
This one just didn’t work and it could have but all the emotion was missing. And it was emotion that put everyone where they were, so arguing it’s erotica doesn’t apply. I like my erotica to have a story in any case. So instead of being sexy it felt perfunctory.
Rats, it’s on Kobo… no blockquotes for you. [Btw Kobo FIX the bloody awful PC app.]
It’s not awful… but it could have been so much better.
2 stars
***
This one just didn’t work and it could have but all the emotion was missing. And it was emotion that put everyone where they were, so arguing it’s erotica doesn’t apply. I like my erotica to have a story in any case. So instead of being sexy it felt perfunctory.
Rats, it’s on Kobo… no blockquotes for you. [Btw Kobo FIX the bloody awful PC app.]
It’s not awful… but it could have been so much better.
2 stars
April 7, 2014
Romance or not
This short story has so much potential and it just fell short. I was really encouraged by the characters and the development of the tragic story, even the revelation of the truth behind why her husband left was great and suddenly made sense, but what are Tom's motivations? I couldn't put my finger on what he wanted from all of this exactly...was it his best friend? Because he definitely didn't have any love lost on the wife. Maybe he is in love with his best friend but then again he waxes poetical about his dead wife. I don't know maybe I am looking for too much out of a free e-book/short story? Hopefully the author will go back and flesh out this story for real.
This short story has so much potential and it just fell short. I was really encouraged by the characters and the development of the tragic story, even the revelation of the truth behind why her husband left was great and suddenly made sense, but what are Tom's motivations? I couldn't put my finger on what he wanted from all of this exactly...was it his best friend? Because he definitely didn't have any love lost on the wife. Maybe he is in love with his best friend but then again he waxes poetical about his dead wife. I don't know maybe I am looking for too much out of a free e-book/short story? Hopefully the author will go back and flesh out this story for real.
August 23, 2011
Wow….loved it, but wanted more!!! How the hell do you rate a book that is really wonderful yet leaves you wanting so much more? Kate is a great author and I love her books, but damn me, I do not feel qualified to rate it!!! This is why I rarely buy novellas/short stories….they leave me unsatisfied and tongue tied!!!
This short is awesome and for those of you that haven’t read her books, it will give you a great example of her writing talents…..but don’t blame me if you want more!!!
This short is awesome and for those of you that haven’t read her books, it will give you a great example of her writing talents…..but don’t blame me if you want more!!!
March 23, 2015
i rather enjoyed this hot little short. It really had me wanting more. Such an interesting concept, husband appears to be a careless jerk, but secrets are revealed and everything is a lot different than it seems. i'm not usually too hot on historical romance, but this was well written. The author has a pretty wide variety of books, so i think i will go find something more suited to me because the writing is good.
August 9, 2016
A cute little Regency story, historical erotic romance at it's sauciest! It's short, but the characters and storyline are well developed. This story gives a nice taste of the author's style. If you enjoy your Jane Austen-era romantic tales with hidden lovers, misunderstood husbands, and hot threesomes, then you will love this!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews