I read the first two books in the series and I loved both of them.
When I started reading this one I couldn’t connect or get into the story.
I love Tijan’s books. So I stayed with the story.
Got more interesting and exciting as it continued.
But it’s very different than the previous ones. Which isn’t a bad thing at all.
Sawyer is very quirky and a bit out there.
She’s loyal and kind. She is so giving of herself.
Her family is nuts. But they all love and adore each other so much and unconditionally.
Sawyer and them love wholeheartedly and will do anything for each other.
Jake is a more complex character. I appreciated all the intricacies of his life.
The balance that he has to live by. He’s a morally gray man. But with morals and scruples.
Until you cross him. Then all bets are off.
The chemistry and attraction between them was instantly apparent when they lay eyes on each other.
As it should be. That is how relationships begin to start and develop.
But I never felt the bond or connection with them.
They were just so vastly different from one another.
Maybe that’s why I never felt that magic with them.
Opposites attract as the saying goes. But I didn’t feel this one.
I liked the suspense and drama of the mafia part of the book.
It was exciting and filled with drama and suspense.
Like I said I loved the first two books in the series. This one was okay.
I’m excited and looking forward to the next book in the series!
**3.5 stars**

I enjoyed the authors writing it's uniquely hers. The beginning was intriguing, that's for sure. Definitely not what I was expecting for a Mafia romance.
This book really stands out from the rest!
Sawyer is definitely unhinged! She stalks a guy, and she is in trouble with the law. The next thing you know, she's in a cop car.. Jake keeps running into her, and then they both get caught up in a shooting things get crazy dangerous, and Jake ends up kidnapping her before they both end up dead.
I dont want to give too much away, but I definitely recommend reading this one. This is not your typical Mafia romance. I was looking for something different, and I definitely found it.

3.5 ⭐️
Tijan is one of my all time favorite authors. I love her writing style and her quirky characters. This FMC was a little too unhinged for me though and did make me want to yell at her several times. I’m not a huge fan of insta love so that was a little hard for me to get over as well.

I still thought the writing was well done, and will continue to read this authors other books.

Brilliant read!
This was unexpected. A gripping story that had me hooked from the beginning right through to the end.
Brilliantly written, the main plot lines are woven together seamlessly, and the pacing is perfect, taking you from one action piece to the next. And there is plenty of action in this. I loved the way our main characters are brought together, the scene on the train sets them up, but it's not until a series of events puts them both in the police station that they really connect, the chemistry between Jake and Sawyer evident but the events following putting them more on the enemies track than the lovers one.
There are twists and turns, and significant violence, but the connection between these two very likeable and complex characters is profound, and it drives the motivation and actions that lead to the eventual outcome.
There are both moments of humour, and heartwarming family scenes breaking up the bloodshed, and the action leads to a climax that leaves you hanging, but not for long with the story between Jake and Sawyer resolved by the ending.
I found this hard to put down, enjoying it immensely.

I read this book not having read any of the others in the series. I was not lost at all and this can be read as a standalone. Mafia stories are not always my favorite but I absolutely enjoyed this one. The suspense about what was going to happen kept me on my toes. So many characters to keep track of but Jake and Sawyer's journey is worth it. Sawyer's aunts add some comic relief. I can't quite figure those ladies out but they were entertaining nonetheless!

I wasn’t expecting this book to be such a fun and amusing ride. When I think of mafia romances, they are usually dark, but this one definitely wasn’t. A mix of chaos and unexpected romance that kept you wondering what would happen next.

The characters were a blast. Not just the main two, Sawyer and Jake, but Sawyer’s whole family as well. She went to New York to find one of them, and you actually end up hearing about them all. They really added to the story. I loved all the characters.

Tijan never disappoints with her stories, and this one doesn’t either. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was Sawyer lusting after Jake and making comments about wanting to sleep with him at the weirdest times when most people would be terrified. That seemed really unrealistic and pulled me out of the story.
Everything else I enjoyed fully. I highly recommend this one.

Thank you to the netgalley for an advance copy. All thoughts and feelings on the story are my own.

Wow what an amazing read. I was hooked from the very first chapter and enjoyed reading. I love this series. This is a fast paced story that is a thrill to read

I so loved the love ad hate draw Sawyer had for Jake. but you know their connection is always inevitable. I mean ilove Tijan and how she draws the characters together , and I love how perfect they are for for each other. Fantastic

A Captive Situation by Tijan was straight up captivating, pun intended. All jokes aside, Jake and Sawyer are dynamic characters who draw you in. The story jumps right in from the beginning, and it feels a bit like being thrown into the deep end of the pool, but once you tread water, you’re pretty into it all. The heat between Jake and Sawyer, their intensity, and ability to screw things up hold the story together. There are so many side stories and offshoots, it’s like 1000 stories wanting to be told, and you’re in one of those Choose Your Adventure books. I enjoyed the story, the family dynamic of Sawyer’s, and Jake coming into his own at the end of the book, and both characters getting that beautiful HEA everyone craves, because there were doubts on how it was going to come together, with as intense as the plot was woven together.

1/5

I hated it. The writing wasn't my cup of tea, the insta-lust was very forced and took me out of the story (I was expecting enemies to loves) and none of the characters really communicated with each other. The FMC was anive and iommature and the less spoken about MMC the better.

Thank you, NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing the ARC for my honest review.

A Captive Situation is the third book in the Kings of New York Series. It is a contemporary, M/F, mafia romance with kidnapping, forced proximity, danger, intrigue, action, spice, and more.

Sawyer is in New York avoiding the reality of a cheating ex fiancé and a now ex bff, that await her back at home. Jake is an ex police officer and an involuntary mafia boss who is set on avenging his brother's death. A shooting causes Jake to take an unwilling Sawyer into "protective custody" to keep her safe, but Sawyer isn't one to take being kidnapped lying down.

This was such a fantastic read. The story and characters are terrific. I loved Sawyer and Jake as a couple, and how when they are together, it is explosive. I loved their comedic banter, the action, the intrigue, the suspense, and the mystery, as well as the spicyness.

I loved Sawyer's personality, inner monologue, and her insistence on breaking free of Jake, and how she goes about doing it. I loved Jake too. I adored how much he obviously loved his brother and how he wants to unalive the person who killed him. I also loved how protective he is of Sawyer, despite just meeting her. I loved the role that Jake's dysfunctional family plays in the story, they definitely make for some mega drama. I also really enjoyed how certain characters from the prior books in the series pop in.

The excellent writing, flow, pace, plot, characters, character development, relationship development, storytelling, storyline, and world building made for a smooth, captivating, and entertaining read that I would definitely recommend. I simply cannot wait for more from this amazing author.

Sawyer's journey of heartbreak and escape leads her straight into Jake's world, and their chemistry is undeniable. After a painful betrayal, Sawyer heads to New York and ends up entangled in a deadly situation with Jake, an ex-cop with mafia ties. Their relationship is marked by witty banter, emotional depth, and intense tension, making their dynamic both intense and enjoyable. I was hooked from the start, even though there were moments when I had to pause and process the plot twists. Jake is definitely a standout character, and the suspense kept me on edge. While the pacing could have been smoother, the romance, action, and twists kept me captivated.

I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the other books that came prior in the series. This book was drama heavy and mafia driven, and I don't think I really bought into the mafia aspect.

Sawyer is an almost bride on the run. She was basically left at the alter, so most of this story has some huge mistrust and betrayal built into it. Screw men, right? Well, she's visiting NYC on a solo trip of misery, and nothing seems to be going right for her. Jake sees her on the subway, a hot mess, and instantly recognizes her when he sees her later that day, still a hot mess. It's a little instalust for their first chaotic meetings.

I like how the story veered right and never stopped switching things up. Jake is into some pretty heavy things with his family business, aka Mafia, and Sawyer gets stuck in the middle of the drama. Their connection is fun, with a lot of give and take, and some unexpected emotions sneak in when the stakes keep getting higher and higher.

I've enjoy some Tijan books, and I think I'll go back and read the first two books in this series to see if it helps tie this crazy fun story into the overall series timeline.

3 Stars

A Captive Situation is book three in Tijan’s Kings of New York series and can be read as a standalone. I have to say this one was not my favorite in the series. Jake is awesome, but I struggled so much with Sawyer. She’s one of the most immature characters I’ve ever read. She acts like she’s a teenager instead of thirty-six. If the author hadn’t mentioned her age, I would have thought she was way, way younger. The first half of the book, I really struggled to keep reading, but the second half things picked up and was able to keep my attention better. Overall, I think this book had potential, but the mark fell short this go around. I usually enjoy this author’s writing style, so I do look forward to what’s next from Tijan.

Angela - Alphas Do It Better Book Blog

DNF. This was my first book by this author and I was really excited as I’ve heard a lot about them. But this may not be their best work. The plot had potential but I couldn’t get past how immature the characters were.

This is the third book in the Kings of New York series, but it can be read as a standalone. I read the first two books a long time ago, so I was excited about this one.

Unfortunately, this one fell short for me. I just couldn't connect with the main characters. I felt Sawyer came across much younger than she was and a little unstable at times.

🖤mafia/former cop romance
🖤h*te to love
🖤instant connection, slow burn romance
🖤kidn*pping
🖤morally gray MMC
🖤found family
🖤on the run for their lives

I would still read more by this author.

Thank you, Valentine PR and NetGalley, for the ARC.

I loved the first two books in the series, so I was really excited to dive into this one. But honestly, I struggled to connect with the story at first. I’m a big fan of Tijan’s writing, so I stuck with it—and I’m glad I did, because it did get more interesting and exciting as it went on.

That said, this book felt very different from the first two. Not in a bad way—just… different.

Sawyer is quirky, loyal, and incredibly giving. Her family is chaotic but deeply loving. The strong emotional bonds in her world were touching, though at times it felt like there were a few too many side characters (especially the aunts) pulling focus.

Jake is a more complex and layered character. I liked exploring the moral gray areas he lives in—he’s got scruples, but if you cross him, watch out. The tension and chemistry between him and Sawyer were clear from the beginning, but I never fully felt their connection. Maybe it’s because they’re so different. Opposites attract, sure—but here, the magic just didn’t land for me.

I did enjoy the suspense and mafia drama. That part of the plot kept things moving and added some real stakes.

Overall, this one was just okay for me. Not my favorite in the series, but I’m still looking forward to the next book!

3.5 Stars

I really enjoyed A Captive Situation by Tijan. The story started off a bit slow and the heroine, Sawyer, initially felt frustrating due to her long-term betrayal and somewhat immature reactions, but once the plot gained momentum, I was completely hooked. The chemistry between Sawyer and Jake, an ex-cop with mafia ties, is intense and sizzling, and their banter kept the story lively throughout.

Tijan’s writing captured the dark, suspenseful atmosphere perfectly, blending family drama, kidnapping, and mafia intrigue with moments of humor and heartfelt emotion. I appreciated the complex family dynamics and the way the story explored themes of trust, trauma, and finding oneself amidst chaos. The supporting characters, especially Sawyer’s quirky aunts, added warmth and levity to the narrative.

While some plot points felt familiar and a few character choices required some suspension of disbelief, the overall experience was engaging and entertaining. The pacing improved significantly after the initial chapters, and the suspenseful twists kept me turning pages. The ending was satisfying, with a hint of more to come in the series.

Overall, I’m giving A Captive Situation four stars. It’s a dark, passionate, and thrilling mafia romance that I’d recommend to readers who enjoy emotionally charged stories with strong characters and plenty of spice.

This was a wild and hilarious ride! We love a feisty slightly delulu FMC over here. Combined with a burn the world down for her MMC? Team Sawyer and Jake forever in this thrilling, but definitely not your typical, mafia romance. This was my first book by this author and let me tell you, did not disappoint. The characters inner monologues, very quippy, slightly crazy, not at all demure 😂

I really enjoyed this third installment in the Kings of New York series, which works perfectly as a standalone. Sawyer’s journey from heartbreak to finding herself caught in a dangerous mafia world kept me hooked from start to finish. Jake’s protective nature and their sizzling chemistry made for an intense and compelling romance. The story strikes a great balance between fast-paced action and emotional depth, with plenty of steamy moments to keep things exciting. What truly sets this book apart is how it blends raw danger with genuine vulnerability, making the characters feel authentic and relatable. The unexpected humor from Sawyer’s family added a lighthearted charm that I appreciated. This isn’t just a mafia romance it’s about finding strength and unexpected connections in the chaos. I couldn’t put it down.

The mix of suspense, romance, and quirky family dynamics makes this a standout read for fans of both mafia dramas and passionate love stories. If you enjoy forced proximity tropes with a side of heart and humor, this book is definitely worth your time.