DNF @51%. This wasn’t for me. I will say that I did like their first night together and their first interaction. They exchanged no names and no info about each other.

I know that this was originally a wattpad story, but the writing was very young and slow for me. I like my mafia romances a bit darker and this was lighter. The mmc was down bad for her, and is not the typical broody and intense hero we usually see in other mafia romances.

You could definitely feel the Wattpad vibes in this one but I did like the MMC a lot! The FMC wasn't my favorite but wasn't the worst either. Lots of mafia action which I love in my mafia books. I appreciate that the two MCs never separated for very long and made up in a lot of their fights pretty quickly.

Mafia arranged marriage, betrayals and secrets everywhere, family angst, murder and assassin's, and maybe somewhere in there love and a bit of romance and steam. A number of mafia tropes woven in, but they work and create a fast moving and addictive story. If you like mafia romance this is worth it.

A promising start with this mafia romance. It has good pacing and plot and all the mafia goodness. I like it and would like to see more from this author.

When law student Ava meets Nick at a bar, sparks fly...too bad they both hate commitment and their fathers are rival Mafia dons...and he is keeping a big secret from her.

I LOVE an arranged marriage fic, so this was an incredibly fun read. I couldn't put it down and recommend it to anyone looking for something fun and fresh to get through the holidays with.

If there's a marriage of convenience with mafia? I'm going to eat it up and this book was so good!

Nick and Ava are my favorites. I loved their dynamic and Nicole Knight's writing. It was addictive, steamy and hard to put down. I was hooked from the first chapter and wanted more! From a one night stand to being arranged to be married? The tension was delicious. The plot was engaging, thrilling and addictive. It was so much fun to read their relationship within the mafia lore and how he is with her. Despite their mafia world, he's so sweet and caring and adoring to her. I couldn't love them more. It's such a great story and I loved their dynamic. I would've read 1000 pages more of them and I cannot wait to read more by Nicole Knight!

This book was excellent! It was wonderfully written, and I couldn't get over the ending. I loved every second. Nicole Knight you wrote a beautiful story.

Ties That Bind Us is a thrilling dive into the mafia world, blending high-stakes suspense with an arranged marriage trope that sizzles with tension and attraction. Ava Moretti is the fiery mafia princess who meets her match in Nick Caponelli, the heir to her family’s sworn enemy. A chance encounter turns into an intense night, but when family duty calls, Ava is faced with a life-changing decision: to marry Nick and navigate a world where loyalty and love are constantly at odds.

Nicole Knight skillfully weaves suspense with romance, creating undeniable chemistry between Ava and Nick that grows from tension to respect and love. Their relationship is as complex as the world they live in, full of power struggles, loyalty tests, and the constant threat of danger. This slow-burn romance captures the push and pull between love and duty, with just enough spice to make it irresistible without overshadowing the emotional depth.

For fans of mafia romance, Ties That Bind Us is a promising start to the Caponelli saga—a suspenseful, passionate journey of love, family loyalty, and the choices that shape us.

Thanks to NetGalley and W by Wattpad Books for the opportunity to receive the ARC.

This was so good! Mafia meets rom-com. The beginning was so good that I feared it would slowly fizzle out by the end, but it didn’t. The storyline kept my attention the whole time, and I literally read this in one sitting. Definitely would recommend!

This is the first book I have read by Nicole Knight and it certainly wont be the last. I am a sucker for steamy mafia romance books, throw in an arranged marriage? Yes, please!!

This was everything I was hoping for when I think of a mafia romance, filled with drama, secrets, violence, and feuding families. And of course, romance. I loved that Ava and Nick met and had a genuine connection before they even knew who the other person was. The initial fiery chemistry between them continues throughout the book, and I mostly do like them together. Nick is very protective and supportive of Ava, but some points in this he gave me the ick. Like his stalker-ish tendencies in the beginning when Ava was pretty clear that she wanted to be left alone, and then breaking down a door to get to her when she told him she needed space. Very big, very gross, problematic actions that I wish weren't included because if not for that he would be a pretty great MMC. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This was a good read! I really enjoyed the different characters and the story was well written. I would definitely recommend!

This is a must read for fans of mafia romance with hints of a Romeo/Juliet type of vibe. Ava and Nick have chemistry off the charts when they meet in a bar, extending into an all nighter with tons of heat. They part ways, only to have fate bring them back together in a crazy way that neither sees coming.

I liked the main characters, though I found myself liking the MMC much more. Maybe it was the family background of the FMC, they weren’t very likeable to me, and sometimes too much dislike takes away from the story.

All and all, this had some good excitement and romance. I would read future writings by this author

Thank you to Netgalley and Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

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, 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.

this is a quick, romantic read that isn’t bad at all— it was just very much not for me! but it’s fast paced and entertaining enough to keep a reader satisfied.

Mob romance, lust at first sight, arranged marriage.
I loved the sibling bickering and relationships between Ava and her sisters and brother! I also liked seeing the character flaws of both Ava and Nick and how they both worked at fixing those flaws. Overall I loved the plot and the characters.
Trigger warning for drugs/cocaine.
Trigger warning (it's a spoiler though): pregnancy and miscarriage
Though this was a spicy novel most of the spice was only at the beginning. I do wish we had a bit more spice as Nick was so good in bed. 🌶️🌶️/5
I did not catch the flashback at the beginning and was super confused for a bit, it would have been helpful to have a header that said "last night" or something like that. Last critique is that there were a good number of spelling errors, enough to mention.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc!!

What a good book! I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I loved the main characters! They had great chemistry and worked so well together. I loved how the book just flowed. My first by this author but will not be my last!!!