In this steamy mafia romance from newcomer Nicole Knight, Ava Moretti has the night of her life after a chance encounter with a handsome stranger. But when he turns out to be her mafia family’s sworn enemy and her father insists they marry for the good of the business, Ava has a decision to make that will change her life forever.
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 must make a decision that will change her life forever. What comes first: love or family?
For fans of Ana Huang, Rhenna Morgan, and L.J. Shen Nicole Knight’s steamy, intense, and action-packed mafia romance begins the Caponelli saga, in which Ava Moretti must face both her dreams and her fears as she weds mafia boss Nick Caponelli.
My thoughts:
“Ties That Bind Us” is an enjoyable, if somewhat mediocre, reading experience. While this mafia romance novel didn’t fully realize its potential, it still managed to keep me engaged until the final page.
If you’re new to the mafia romance genre and seeking an accessible entry point, this book might be for you. I’d categorize it as “mafia light” – it contains the essential elements of organized crime storytelling without excessive violence or gore, making it less intense than typical genre offerings. Honestly, the mafia aspects felt underdeveloped and often took a backseat to the romantic plot, only resurfacing when needed to advance the storyline.
The romance between Nick and Ava began with compelling intensity, lost some momentum in the middle sections, but regained its footing by the conclusion. Their initial chemistry was palpable from that first glance across the bar, and their one-night stand represented the book’s hottest moment (and essentially its only substantial spice). Unfortunately, Ava’s subsequent hot-and-cold behavior toward Nick grew frustrating. Much of the drama stemmed from her refusal to allow proper communication, as she tended to jump to conclusions and stubbornly cling to them.
Ava’s characterization proved to be one of the novel’s weaker elements. Her portrayal felt inconsistent, with actions and personality traits that sometimes contradicted earlier descriptions. This issue extended to most characters beyond Nick – they were often described one way but behaved in completely different manners. The writing itself could have benefited from more refinement.
Overall, “Ties That Bind Us” was sufficiently enjoyable but not memorable enough to warrant revisiting. While far from a bad book, the underdeveloped writing and characterizations left me feeling ultimately unsatisfied.
“Ties That Bind Us” delivers a thoroughly addicting reading experience despite some writing shortcomings. This quick-read mafia romance features minimal spice and somewhat predictable drama, but remains engaging throughout. While not outstanding, it offers fun entertainment for genre fans.