She was never supposed to walk into my club. But she did. I shouldn’t have looked twice at her. But I did. The criminal underworld is no place for a girl like her. One night with Katerina isn’t enough, but men like me can’t afford to be weak. So, I tell her to leave me behind. She does, but not before she sees something she shouldn’t. When she goes into hiding, it’s my duty to hunt her down. I … she goes into hiding, it’s my duty to hunt her down.
I have a job to do, and she needs to disappear for good.
But four years later, Kat isn’t alone anymore.
And the little boy right beside her looks just like me.
more
Jackpot… I felt like I just won the lottery…
Wanna know why? Because I just got the chance to read a new book, not by one but two of my favorite authors… Hell yeah…
I’ve been wanting to read more about them but time and responsibilities are my worst enemy…
But now… Now I had the chance and I couldn’t start it soon enough.
Natasha Knight and A. Zavarelli have written a book together and… Oh my lord…
Mine is their latest release and it’s the first book from the Ties That Bond series…
This book explores the lives of Kat and Lev.
Kat has had her fair share of pain and suffering that’s why she’s a bit reserved. On a night out with her best friend…
Lev’s life wasn’t pretty. He’s linked to the Russian mafia and had done tons of bad things… One night…
Jesus… What? Why? Who?
I’m so freaking mad right now…
Why torture me like this? I can’t…
Spectacular plot, very well written, super dark, intense and dangerous.
Each chapter left me fearing to read the rest of it, but the curiosity killed the cat…
It was insane to witness every stuff that happened and I couldn’t put the book down. No matter what.
These characters have stolen my heart and now I was left wanting…
Why girls?
Please don’t take long. I need book 2 right now. I can’t wait.
I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
This author pairing is a great one! I an a huge Natasha Knight fan and have read a few A. Zavarelli books. Lev is a man who knows what he wants and will do whatever it takes to get it. Kat is a woman who has been through more than most and will protect what is hers with everything she has. Can not wait for book two!!
Katerina Blake has never had an easy go in life but when she sneaks into a club at 19 on her birthday she ends up in a bad situation but meets a man that she is extremely attracted to. Yet he is involved in a world that he wants her as far away from as possible.
Levka Antonov has never had anyone capture attention like Kat has and as much as he wants her, he knows he has to let her go to keep her safe.
But one night Katerina sees something she shouldn’t and runs. Will Levka find her before anyone else does?
OMG this book was soooo good and I didn’t want it to end. Now I hate having to wait for the next one!
Kat was a great character and I loved her right from the start. It was apparent she had been through so much as a child and just truly seemed to have the worst luck. I liked her friendship with Nina and her roommate Rachel and how Kat really wanted to be a teacher to give back.
Lev was a much more complex character as he was truly stuck between his family obligations and what he wanted to do with his own life. I loved how protective he was over Kat instantly and how he knew his lifestyle/job was not one where he wanted her. Yet Lev was also extremely attracted to Kat and couldn’t stay away from her initially until he knew it wasn’t safe.
There was so much chemistry between Kat and Lev and I truly loved them together but I understood that as much as Lev wanted to be with Kat he knew it was too dangerous and therefore let her go not knowing what was going to happen.
My heart broke for Kat with the circumstances around Nina and I was happy that she was able to get away but I also knew it wouldn’t last forever and she would be found. I was shocked at how mad Lev was initially at Kat for her secret but at the same time I was confused as he had to know why she ran and how she was doing it for Josh.
Everything completely got turned upside down with the emergence of Josh and what Vasily, Lev’s uncle, wanted done. I knew Lev was completely on borrowed time and I was glad that he had Alexei on his side. I was shocked at some other things that Alexei found and I knew it was a matter of time before things imploded!
The end was completely jaw dropping and I am patiently waiting for the next book so I can find out what happened and who survived!!!
Holy guacamole, Batman, this was a cracker of a read. I had been chomping at the bit to read this and was worried the description would outweigh the actual book. You know when you’re looking forward to a release so much that when you finally get it, it doesn’t quite live up to your expectations? Well, I’m over the moon to say that this book delivered and then some. If you’re not aware already, this is a duet, so yes, it does end on a cliffhanger (and what a beauty it is – no spoilers here, sorry). Each book in the Ties That Bind series is co-written by two authors. While I haven’t had the pleasure of reading a novel of Natasha Knight’s before, I am a long-time fan of Ashleigh Zavarelli who’s an automatic one-click for me. Let me tell you, if you’re also a fan of the latter, you’ll love this book and be salivating to get the second instalment into your greedy little hands after devouring this one.
Ties had everything I love about Zaverelli’s books: a broody, dark, alpha male who’s strong, confident and dangerous, a likeable heroine who’s not a pushover and a mafia plot line (in this instance, Russian Vor). Each of the main characters have troubled pasts and are drawn together by an unshakeable and immediate attraction. Katerina, or Kat as she’s more often referred to, is nineteen and underage at a club with her best friend, Nina. When a bad pill of ecstasy sends her reeling and she’s placed in harm’s way, Lev, who’s managing the club for his uncle, comes to the rescue. Knowing that one night isn’t enough, he reconnects with her the next day, vowing that even though he knows he shouldn’t, it will only be the once because he doesn’t want her to be in danger by being in his life. After a night of passion, Lev tries to distance himself from Kat, however his job as his uncle’s henchman as well as his volatile cousin’s babysitter puts her in danger when she witnesses something she shouldn’t. On the run and pregnant, Katerina makes a new life for herself but escaping her past and the danger chasing her isn’t easily put behind her when Lev comes hunting.
I loved the relationship between Lev and Kat. There’s an age gap, but it’s not a key factor in the story, thank goodness. While she’s a bit naïve and innocent, the author drops enough carrots around the different facets of her past that Kat comes alive and doesn’t become one-dimensional and overly cliché. As for Lev, he screams jealous and possessive book boyfriend so if this is your thing, you’re going to love this book. He’s deliciously dangerous and edgy while simultaneously caring for Kat and once she enters his life, he determines that she’s not going anywhere and is his. Sigh. Combine that with the fact they have a son that he loves immediately and is determined to have in his life and you have a winner.
There is a little bit of cheese, but the good kind that didn’t make me want to poke my eyes out. The steamy scenes were HOT with big, shouty letters. For fans of Zaverelli’s Boston Underworld series, we get a quick visit with Alexei, aka Ghost, which I’m not ashamed to say made me squeal a bit because it was completely unexpected. The plot moved along quickly without being too busy and once I’d started it, I didn’t put it down. It’s well written and entertaining, especially if you’re looking for something easy to escape reality for a bit.
In a nutshell, I loved it and can’t wait for the second book to come out. This one had everything I love in a mafia romance: betrayal, revenge and a great couple you can cheer for from the sidelines. There was also great build up between Katerina and Lev and the suspense and leading up to him finding her was so, so good. The only downside? Having to wait for the second book, but on a positive note, it gives me time to reread this one which you can bank on me doing and enjoying it just as much, if not more, the second time. This one will be going into my Favourites folder.
This is Book 1 of Ties That Bind Duet.
This is the story of Lev & Kat. Lev works for his uncle who is part of the Russian mob. Kat is a waitress. She goes out with her best friend to a club. Lev realizes she’s high and takes her upstairs to his office and lets her sleep it off. He is very attracted to her. He finds the scarf she left behind when she left, and he goes to her apartment to return it. Oh boy, does it ever start from there. This is a deep dark romance with things all shady. This book is exceptional, and it is left with an exceptional cliffhanger. I can’t wait to read Book 2.
Mine is book one in the Ties That Bind series written by two mega-hot authors Natasha Night and A. Zavarelli. If you like your Alphas a little bit flawed and working for the Mafia, then Lev and Kat’s story is next.
Kat and her friend decide to go out and celebrate at a night club run by Lev and his Mafia cousin and uncle
Lev rescues the very drunk Kat and despite his misgivings, they make love.. She ends up soon leaving Though she leaves a knit scarf, which of course he uses it to track her down. But Lev doesn’t believe they should be together and of course, things get complicated down the road.
There is lots going on in this rollercoaster ride of a book, and it’s only book one of the series. So we all have to wait a bit for that HEA, but there’s plenty of excitement here in book one to tide us over. Trust me, you’ll want to tune in for book two.
Absolutely loved Kat and Lev’s story. It captivated me from the beginning and kept me turning pages, riveted to every single word until the Ed. I couldn’t put it down because it was such a intriguing storyline. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing read
Writing a book alongside someone else has to be one of the hardest things for an author to do. These 2 authors made it look easy and pulled it off seamlessly.
Kat & Lev’s story will grip you hard, hold you hostage, make you feel every single thing they have to endure, right til the very last word. It’s when you reach that ending that you will start yelling and have to stop yourself from destroying your kindle because you will bite your nails til you know how this brillinat couple will end up in book 2.
If you enjoy Mafia romance then you should move this up your reading list fast. It has grit, angst, a hot Alpha, of course, and a heroine who goes from kitten to lioness. I can’t wait for the conclusion from these very talented ladies.
Mine by Natasha Knight & A. Zavarelli is the first book in the Ties That bind series. The book is a dark mafia/criminal underworld read which focuses on the characters Katerina Blake and Levka Antonov. Kat is an innocent, good girl who finds herself in trouble one night when she is out partying with her friend, only to be rescued by the darkly handsome Russian Lev. Lev is not what he seems and he is entranced by Kat, so much so that he starts a relationship with her, even though he knows it could be dangerous to both of them. One night, Kat goes on the run because of something she sees and it takes years for Lev to find her, only to find that she has also been keeping a secret from him which could change everything.
This is a fast-paced read, with lots of sexy scenes in it and a build up to the amazing cliff-hanger that is the end. From the moment we meet Kat, we know that she’s a strong character and she has quite an intense backstory. She is kind of perfect for Lev in the sense that she doesn’t let him get away with anything and makes him step up. She also isn’t afraid of him and won’t go down without a fight.
Lev is an enigma as you get to see him working as part of the Bratva whilst also trying to find out the truth about what happened to his family, whilst trying to keep himself and Kat alive. He is almost obsessive when it comes to Kat and that really comes through when he finds her later on in the book.
There is certainly a lot going on in this story, not only between Kat and Lev, but also Kat’s friend and Lev’s crazy cousin. There are a lot of twist and turns which is to be expected from both of these authors and they certainly leave you hanging by a thread when you get to the end of the book. You are definitely going to want to know what happens in the next installment.
If you like, dark, gritty, emotional and steamy Bratva reads, then this is the book for you!
ARC received for a fair, honest and sometimes long review
More of my reviews can be found on my blog: https://thehotmesslibrary.blogspot.com
Kat and Lev….well let’s just say their chemistry will get your kindle smoking!! Intense heat pulls them together when they should stay far apart, but somethings can’t be denied.
One moment of passion starts a chain of events that will drastically change lives!!
Lev is so Alpha male and Kat is strong in her own way and both will evoke strong emotions in you!
There is sex, lust, passion, danger, sacrifce, loyalties tested, mobsters and more to spice up this juicy mafia read. Excelllent characters that will worm their way into your heart and some you want to knock off as well. Add in a gripping, thrilling storyline and you are in for a treat…..oh and that cliffhanger…..wow!!!
I received an arc and this is my unbiased opinion.
Omg I can’t race enough about this book. This duo killed it. This may be the best book of the year! The characters where amazing and the story telling was on point. When I was done my mind was really that’s how it’s going to end? I need book 2 immediately!
This collaboration was balanced and first rate. If there was ever a more suited team to conjure up a mafia romance, it is these two authors, and they have produced a blazing, combustible, and turbulent smash hit for their readers.
I am well versed on Ashleigh’s and Natasha’s back list and each author’s writing style is so distinct, but their flair for the mafioso world meshes together so cohesively that it has emitted a superior read of epic proportions. If there is one thing that I can say with conviction, it is that Ashleigh Zavarelli and Natasha Knight can write the heck out of organized crime and the alpha’s who run it.
Lev and Katerina’s story is melodramatic filled with spice and turmoil. He’s deadly and she gets caught in his crosshairs after a scorching night of passion. After finding out the type of man he is and with her life on the line, Kat flees for her safety. Only to be tracked down 4 years later, and claimed by this domineering and demanding man.
I liked the concept and the design of this tale. Both characters are prominent and shine through like a beacon in this darkish and edgy story. It was delightful to see crossover and cameo’s of other characters from previous stories. Oh, and watch out for that cliff……….
MINE is the first instalment in the TIES THAT BIND, a dark, Russian mafia romance co-written by Natasha Knight and A. Zavarelli.
MINE was exciting, full of suspense and unpredictability, something that I love in a dark romance.
Kat and Lev first meet when Kat is on a night out with a friend at a night club the Russian Mafia own. Kat is a naive eighteen year old who has just taken pills to have a good time and nearly ends up the victim of rape or worse if Lev hadn’t stepped in to save her from a group of men.
The young kitten enters the lions den.
Lev is completely mesmerised by Katerina and drawn to her in a way where he knows he is no good for her but just can’t help himself.
When he discovers she left her pink scarf behind at his home following a night with her, it gives him the perfect excuse and opportunity to see her again.
Kat isn’t without her own mysterious and damaged past and really the last thing she needs is to be involved with someone in the Russian Mafia but when she comes into possession of evidence to bring down the Russian Mafia boss by her friend and then witnesses a murder, she then has to go on the run for the second time in her life.
The clock is ticking and it’s only a matter of time until the Russian Mafia finds her and so the plot jumps to four years on before Kat is found again by Lev while she is living her new life in a small mountain town under a new name.
This is the first co-written book I have read by each of these two authors, I have read many from them with their own books and love them and their dark romance reads and although I enjoyed it and will probably read the second book, I just didn’t love the flow, I can’t say I was turning the pages as eagerly as I do when they write their books alone.
When two mafia queens join forces, the result can only be EPIC!
This sentence sums up everything I really want to say! The book is simply that, epic! I was so excited to read a book that Natasha Knight and A. Zavarelli co-written!! I had so many expectations and the story definitely delivered. Kat and Lev’s story is something else!
Katerina “Kat” is everything I love for a female lead. She comes out shy at first, but when it’s needed she can also be out-spoken. She’s fierce and protective of the people she hold dear to her heart. From the first time she sees Lev, she’s attracted to him but also understand the danger that surrounds him.
“You ‘re mine, Kat. Mine”
Now Lev..I simply love him! He has a dangerous vibe going on and gives the typical back off attitude seen on those involved with the Mafia. However, the kind of life he leads can’t take away his tender spots. Kat is the one bringing the tender, sweet and also possesive side of him out! At first we see him struggle with the attraction he feels, but the passion is too strong, even for him.
The story is full of twists and turns. You can feel the imminent danger coming but can’t figure out from where. I was seriously blindsided with what was revealed at the end of the book. Beware there’s a cliffhanger ending, that will only leave you beggin for more…!!
AHHH! When two of my favorite authors team up to deliver a delicious and sexy bratva/secret baby story, I am in fangirl heaven!! I absolutely loved Mine as it was dark, edgy, sexy af and so addicting. I am such a huge fan of Knight and Zavarelli separately, so them writing together was just icing on the cake. I loved Lev and Kat so much. Their connection was fiery and while dangerous and edgy, the explosion of emotions between them could not be denied.
When Levka Antonov meets Katerina Blake it was a meeting that was the beginning of the end for her. He knew it and she sensed it. He took one look at the innocent beauty and he knew he could not leave her alone. She was a lonely good girl and he was the dangerous man who could not leave this girl in his past. I loved this story because only do we see the draw and the attraction between them, we see that there are emotions as well. What I loved more than anything was Kat’s strength after Lev finds her four years later. The innocent kitten became a fierce Mama bear and I was here for it! I loved seeing Lev’s protective and possessive behavior once he found Kat and their son. I was addicted to every word.
Overall, this story was gritty and addicting and with that cliffhanger ending, I can’t wait to read His. Bravo! 5 stars! ~Ratula
Mine was a dark, edgy, fast-paced, and addictive read. Lev and Kat kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat devouring every page as quickly as I could.
Lev never anticipated how meeting Kat would turn his world upside down and I enjoyed watching it all play out. The connection between them was fiery as neither one could fight the attraction that simmered between them. I loved that Kat grew into a fierce protector when her path crossed again with Lev. Oh and his protective instincts kicking in when he realized what he had within his grasp had me hanging on every word.
Mine was a delicious, fast-paced, hold onto the edge of your chair, amazing start to the Ties That Bind duet. Now I’m left rather impatiently waiting for the next book. Mine is a definite must read if you enjoy mafia romances.
OMG, what the hell did I just read! This book will have you on the edge of your chair & it leaves you dangling precariously waiting for the conclusion! Damn it should’ve paid attention to the BLURB
“For reasons I can’t really comprehend in my current state of mind, I feel like a hunter staring at his prey.”
Mine is the first book in a duet by A. Zavarelli and Natasha Knight and y’all it’s fantastic. It’s everything we love about these authors in 1 book. Mafia Romance and it’s steamy!! The writing is flawless, the story completely intriguing and the characters are unforgettable.
Lev and Katerina are a combustible couple!! Their chemistry is hot and their passion is palpable. Lev is the ultimate book boyfriend and Katerina is a likely heroine.
This story is full of shocking surprises and pulse pounding action. A story for every fan of mafia romance.
Can’t wait for book 2!
I purchased this book and am leaving my review voluntarily. I love A Zavarelli- her Boston Underworld series is fantastic and there is a brief tie in with this book. Natasha Knight is also a strong author.
Triggers: murder, spanking, flashbacks of abuse/rape/self-defense murder as a teenager, drug use, some non-con ?, story ends on a cliff hanger
**spoilers**
(H) Lev – Russian Mafia guy. Works for uncle Vasily (who is a hard core Mafia guy), Lev is not an overly tough mafia guy like the Boston Underworld series guys
(h) Kat – grew up in the foster care system. not very street smart at first but then suddenly develops the capability to run away and hide for years
These two meet in a club where the h went with a friend using a fake i.d. She took drugs, bad reaction, H saves her. Insta-lust.
I was not a fan of these two as a couple. (I get the insta lust but other than that, I really didn’t care about them) – H is supposed to be tough Mafia guy but I wasn’t feeling it. h was just annoying.
Story will be continued in a 2nd book (and yes I did preorder it) 3 stars mostly because I like both authors.
Oh my, what a read this was….. dark, delicious, dirty – full of suspense and drama that will have you on the edge of your seat and a hot and very Alpha Russian mafia male with very possessive ways that you just can’t help but fall in love with!
Lev is the owner of a club with mafia ties dealing in drugs and all manner of nasty mafia business. This is where he meets Katerina, underage, she shouldn’t have been there, all innocent and pure. But just one look, one touch, and she was under his skin, getting inside him where she had no place to be, but he could not leave her alone.
Katerina is drawn to Lev like a moth to a flame, unable to stay away, but knowing that she should, knowing he was cold and ruthless, yet she was unable to stop her heart falling for him.
But she witnesses something that puts her life in danger and has to go into hiding, away from him, knowing he was involved. But it’s Lev’s job to find her and hunt her down, she has become his target and 4 years later he finds her, unaware of just how big a secret she is keeping, that will change their whole lives together.
This was a great read, dangerous, raw, gritty, passionate, consuming…. not something you can put down once you start! I loved the characters and their connection, how innocent and vulnerable Katerina is to start off with, and how she has to adapt and turns into a fierce mamma protector. Lev with do anything and everything to protect the family he never knew he had, and the girl that has always been his. I can’t wait to read the next book in this!! If you’re into dark mafia reads then don’t miss this one!