✨✨✨ NetGalley ALC Review ✨✨✨

Tropes:
Morally grey hero
Kidnapping (for good reasons 😉)
On the run from the mafia
Bad boy / good girl
Enemies to 🖤
Woman scorned
Touch her and 💀
Forced proximity

3⭐️
3🌶️

🎧 Narrators:
Amelia Hugh and Jeffrey Kafer

Great addition to the KINGS OF NEW YORK series. Sawyer flees home and finds herself in NYC to meet estranged family. Hilarity ensues but quickly turns into a fast paced, not-so-funny, mafia romance. I loved Sawyer and Jake’s chemistry. Their back and forth jabs, even while being under fire, was hysterical. While this does not end on a cliffhanger, I was left wanting more of this couple. Loved the cameos from the first two books AND I DO BELIEVE there are some other characters whose stories need to be told. Fingers crossed.

Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. Sawyer is 36 but would believe 18 more. Her boyfriend got her best friend pregnant so she's running away to find a cousin in New York she's never met before and ends up in loads of trouble. I think she's kidnapped 3 times?! throughout this 1 short book. Twice by our MMC even. Their chemistry is non existent and I honestly was hoping they didn't end up together in the end and something else happened. The story was very choppy and repetitive. did enjoy the narrators and thought the audio itself was enjoyable and fast paced. Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for access to the ALC+ ARC

Book Rating: ⭐️ 3.25/5

I enjoyed this book overall and thought the story had potential, but there were a few elements that didn’t fully connect with me. I’m not usually a fan of insta-love or insta-lust, especially when the emotional depth isn’t fully developed, and that was a bit of an issue here. Jack and Sawyer were cute together, but at times their connection felt a little too fast and surface-level for me.

Another challenge for me was the FMC’s voice. At 36, I expected a bit more emotional maturity, but her actions and inner dialogue often felt more fitting for a new adult or late-teen character. While I know that not every adult has it all figured out, I found myself wishing for more groundedness from her.

On the positive side, I really loved the found family element. That trope is a favorite of mine, and it was executed well here. The characters had each other’s backs in a way that felt genuine and heartwarming without crossing into cheesy territory. That dynamic gave the story warmth and weight that I appreciated. Overall, I think the characters just needed a bit more depth and intention behind their choices to really land for me.

A Captive Situation by Tijan continues her King of New York series about warring mafia families. Jake Worthing is an ex (dirty) cop and de facto head of the Worthing mafia family, and he is begrudgingly (and temporarily) allied with the other two local mafia families. While picking up his cousin from the local precinct, he meets Sawyer, a tourist who has come to the city to escape after her fiancé dumped her for her best friend. To make herself seem less pathetic, she's also in town to try to connect with a cousin she's never met, to try to mend the rift in her family, only she wound up in a police station after a semi-public meltdown. But now there's a problem--Jake has a bounty on his head, and after she's seen with him, her life is now in danger, too. So Jake does what any good mafia boss would do in that situation--kidnaps the beautiful woman for her own safety.

Is it dark? A little. Violent? Sure. But it was just as addicting, propulsive, and sexy as the first two books. If you love mafia romance, this series is a must read. I've loved every installment. Amelia Hugh and Jeffrey Kafer both delivered fantastic performances. I can't remember if I've listened to any books narrated by them before, but I'll be sure to look up other titles they've done because they did such a good job, and I've always looking to expand my favorite narrator pool.

A Captive Situation sounded exactly like the type of book that I’d adore. A high-stakes romantic suspense with a captor/captive dynamic, flawed characters, and dangerous underworld threats? Yes please.

I was all set to love it, but we were hit with insta-lust right off the bat, and it quickly became insta-love, and I just don’t enjoy that trope. It came on way to strong and was completely unbelievable for me. There was no buildup, no tension, and I felt like Jake and Sawyer lacked chemistry.

Sawyer is supposed to be in her late 30s, but she talks, thinks, and behaves like a teenager. Her inner dialogue was very immature, and if you had removed the spice, it would have read like a YA book.

The audiobook narrators did a good job, and listening to the story was enjoyable. But because of the things listed above, I found myself not caring about the characters or storyline and just feeling disconnected with it overall.

Thank you to Valentine PR, Brilliance Audio, Brilliance Publishing, Tijan, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.

📔A Captive Situation
✏️ Tijan
📆 June 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
▫️romantic suspense
▫️mafia and dirty cops
▫️captive x captor
▫️grumpy x sunshine
▫️family drama
▫️dual POV

Mafia romance
Morally gray MMC
Enemies to lovers
Close proximity
Grumpy/sunshine
Jealous/possessive
Suspense
On the run
Touch her and die


Main characters
Jake
Sawyer

This is a wild ride with plenty of action and amazing characters. After a bad ending to a relationship that spanned close to two decades, Sawyer heads to NY for a change of scenery. She is trying to meet her estranged family and mend fences. She gets so much more. She finds herself on the run and in the middle of a mafia war. We get to see her character grow strong and confident as she goes through her NY adventures.

The story was fast paced and so much fun. The danger and excitement was blended with laughter. Jake was the serious, broody, morally grey ex police officer with mafia ties. His story is tragic. He does what he had to go to survive and keep Sawyer alive. Some of the things he did were not exactly the best but they kept her alive. He is loyal and will burn down the world for her.

Sawyer and the aunt brigade added a lighter side filled with laughter and love. This family could be more dangerous than the actual bad guys.

The epilogue gives us a glimpse of their HEA.

Thank you to NetGalley and @BrillianceAudio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars A Captive Situation is chaotic, addictive, and wildly entertaining audiobook! Tijan delivers a fast-paced, trope-filled ride that’s equal parts romance, suspense, and an emotional rollercoaster .

Our FMC starts the story at absolute rock bottom—her ex-best friend is marrying her ex, she’s fled across the country, and she’s riding the New York subway barely holding it together. Enter Jake Worthing: hot, grumpy, mysterious, and apparently incapable of minding his own business. Their first encounter is basically an accidental therapy session followed by mutual irritation... and sparks. Lots of them!!!

Things escalate quickly and I mean that in every way possible. One misunderstanding later, she’s in a police station, there’s a shooting, and suddenly she’s being kidnapped by the same guy who annoyed her into emotional clarity earlier. Cue forced proximity, tension, danger, and major chemistry.

The banter is sharp, the pace never drags, and Jake is the kind of broody love interest who slowly chips away at your defenses (and the FMC’s). While the plot leans toward the over-the-top at times, I was fully here for the ride. It’s fun, sexy, and filled with just enough emotion to make you care deeply about these two imperfect, scarred people finding their way to something real.

If you’re into grumpy/sunshine dynamics, forced proximity with a dash of danger, and stories that don’t take themselves too seriously but still give you all the feels—this is your next binge read.
4.25 Stars!

#NetGalley, #BrillianceAudio, #Tijan, #ACaptiveSituation, #KingsofNewYork

This is a nice read! Spice was spicing, plot was plotting, and the man was morally grey! Mafia romance and I’m here for it! I do like the twist of it where the woman has the control of a situation! That was flipping awesome!! Definitely a must read.

I wasn't sure what to think of this one. It wasn't hard to get through, but the story was all over the place and the chemistry just wasn't there. I felt like there were all these elements that should go together to make sense, but they didn't. It may not have worked for me, but if you like mafia romance give it a try. The audiobook was entertaining and may be the best way to enjoy this book..

Absolutely loved this. Could not put it down! The character relationship, the dynamic between main characters. Touch her and die vibes. Everything you look for in a mafia romance 😍😍

This one follows Sawyer and Jake, and the title ties in pretty early on. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Sawyer. She’s quirky and very in her head, which can get a little exhausting at times, especially when it comes to some of the choices she makes. On the other hand, I really liked Jake. It was so interesting seeing how he moves through this new world of his. There’s definitely a lot of chemistry between them, but for me, it didn’t totally land at the beginning . I had to suspend disbelief a bit more than I wanted to. I absolutely loved the darker world the men are part of. And Sawyer’s family? Loved them. They were such a delight. The narrator, Amelia Hugh does a wonderful job portraying the characters. The tones and inflections used are spot on! She really nailed down Sawyer. Amelia Hugh kept me engaged till the very end.

A very special thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for the gifted ALC.

2.5 stars... I just can't round it to 3.
To start, I do think that this book has potential.
It was my first book by this author, and I will admit that it took me a bit to adjust to the writing.
There are mature themes in the book, but it is written in an immature voice.
Sawyer, our FMC, has been jilted by her ex; he is marrying her best friend. She comes to NYC for somewhat of a fresh start and to meet her cousin whom she has never met.
Enter Jake, a protective ex-cop, who is now the head of his mafia family.
The two have a not-so-meet-cute on a train.
Sawyer ends up getting brought into the police station because she is having a near panic attack breakdown outside of the building where her cousin works.
Jake, there to pick up his cousin, sees Sawyer again, his cousin wants Sawyer to come with them to take her to rehab, and Jake/Sawyer end up stuck in a car together.
Things start happening, bodies start dropping... and Sawyer ends up under Jake's protection/sort of kidnapped (not really).
This book took me so long to get through because I just couldn't stand Sawyer's character. Jake was okay, but the whole thing was written so immaturely. Particularly Sawyer.. she was a 36-year-old woman who acted like a teenager.
I also can't stand the whole insta-love if it is done in such an immature way - and this was not done well.
The plot was structured okay. The pace was too slow for me.
The characters were developed enough. Couldn't connect with them much at all.
Overall, just can't recommend this book. Maybe if it has an extensive rewrite, I could see maybe some potential in the premise, but as it is now, not a great one.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Happy Reading!

2 stars.

"A Captive Situation" by Tijan is a miss for me. I love dark romances, and I also love mafia romances. Unfortunately, this one fell almost entirely flat. The beginning of the book was weird as heck, and it took me a good long while to get into this. There are A LOT of characters and A LOT of things going on. It was difficult to keep track of everything going on, mostly because of how this book is written. I did not feel any chemistry between Sawyer and Jake, the main characters. It's all insta-lust with no love whatsoever. I have no doubt that, if put in a different situation, they would absolutely not be happily ever after, or even happily for now. It's more "forced proximity for a little bit of fun for a limited amount of time." No chemistry, no solid foundation, no faith in their pairing at all. If this book wasn't about a former cop-turned-mafia head and a 36-year-old woman, I would have thought this was a young adult story, that's how immature it all sounds. The way they talk, the situations, the inner monologue... it's s juvenile, but with guns and spice. Sawyer, thinks people are going to break out in song on the subway her first time in New York City. What is she, 11? I really, really disliked Sawyer. It has been a long time since I have vehemently disliked a character like this! Jake isn't much better. They are such white bread characters that I had to look up their names again, and I literally *just* finished listening to this book. Bland, bland, bland! Something is missing here, and I can't quite put my finger on what. Maybe it's in the execution, maybe it's in the prose, maybe it's in the lack of chemistry, maybe because it's too long and not a lot happens but there is so much going on that it feels like a stimuli overload??? There is plenty to like here, but something doesn't add up quite right. I will say that Amelia Hugh and Jeffrey Kafer do a fine job narrating this book. Their diction is great, and I enjoyed their portrayals of these characters. I admit, though, they both read the material a little bit fast for my liking. I am disappointed by this one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tijan, Brilliance Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

This book is neither bad nor really good. For an older FMC I was expecting her to be a bit wiser and not so immature about things. This put me off a bit, and the way she would always space out and then "come" back when in high stress situations was a bit annoying. I do realize this happens to people, but reading about it was just not for me. For that reason I couldn't connect with Sawyer.

Jake our MMC is the protective former cop turned head of mafia. He sees Sawyer on the subway and instantly takes a liking to her. So when she pops back up that day at the police station he takes her with him. While on his way to drop her off to her cousin, someone tries to kill Jake and it won't be the first attempt. Now he has to navigate taking over as head of his mafia family, deal with a hit contract and keep Sawyer close and alive.

This is the 3rd book in the Kings of New York Series, and can be read as a standalone book. Amelia and Jeffery did a great job narrating this book.

Forced Proximity
He Falls First
Mafia
Murder

Spice Level 2

I received an advance review copy audio version. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Brilliance Audio, for the opportunity to listen/read this book.

Thanks to NetGalley, Tijan, and Brilliance Publishing for the ARC! Here’s my honest review.
📆 Release Date: June 3, 2025
⭐️ Rating: 2 stars

I’ve been a fan of Tijan since the Fallen Crest High days, so when I saw The Captive Situation on NetGalley, I requested it without even reading the description. Classic me. What I didn’t realize is that it’s book three in a series—which, honestly, is also very on-brand for me. I always manage to jump into series halfway through. That said, I could follow the plot just fine, though it was clear I was missing some character history and emotional context. I’ll probably go back and read the first two to fill in the blanks.

The setup had me hooked at first: a woman walking away from a toxic situation (her ex is literally marrying someone else), a fresh start in NYC, and a messy meet-cute with a cop that gave me throwback rom-com energy. It had Chasing Liberty vibes with a side of Twisted Games intensity, so if you’re into that mix of chaos, romance, and a little danger, this might be your thing.

Jake, the love interest, was one of the stronger points for me. He was protective without being overbearing, and I appreciated how he handled his past relationships with maturity. There was something very grounded about him, even when the plot went a little off the rails. And the chemistry? Definitely there. The steamy scenes had weight to them—they weren’t just hot for hot’s sake.

Where it fell short for me was the FMC. Her inner voice and decision-making felt pretty immature at times, which made it hard for me to stay fully invested in her side of the romance. It leaned more toward teen crush than adult love story, and I wanted more emotional nuance, especially given the heavier plot elements. The third-act conflict also didn’t totally land for me—it felt a little manufactured and pulled me out of the story.

All in all, this was a 2.5-star read that I’m rounding down. It wasn’t a match for me, but I can totally see it clicking with readers who love fast-paced, spice-forward protector romances and don’t mind a little chaos along the way. And I’ll absolutely keep reading Tijan’s work—some of her books have really stuck with me. This just wasn’t one of them.

What the heck was this? I don't know if it's just me but this book was not good. First off, the FMC is supposed to be 36? She acts so immature to me and her inner dialogue is bonkers. The insta lust was not working for me at all. Like, where is the buildup? Where is the chemistry? Typically I like this author's writing but this book made me cringe. I'll continue to read other works from Tijan in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing | Brilliance Audio for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.