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.