Review: Mine – Natasha Knight and A Zavarelli (Ties That Bind #1)

Rating 5 Stars

TW: Contains dark themes.

What’s the book about?
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 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.

My Review
When I heard that A Zavarelli was releasing a new mafia story, I became so excited! Hearing it was a duet? Amazing! Then the even better news… the duet is co-written with Natasha Knight who I’ve since found out has her own amazing dark romance series. Hello backlist books! You’re going straight onto my TBR!

This story has everything I’ve come to know and love about Zavarelli’s books and featured a badass, sexy hero and a smart, fierce heroine. The hero, Lev, was the definition of tall, dark and dangerous. He meets Katerina in a nightclub and takes an instant liking to her. After much deliberation, he decides to spend just one night with her before letting go to live her life away from the darkness of his own. While his intentions were in the right place, what he doesn’t take into consideration is Kat’s own connections already have her involved in his world; and little does he realise, when Kat runs to safety, she takes more than his heart with her.

I loved everything about this story! The characters were complex, intense and were perfect for each other. Every moment they interacted left me wanting more. Their meeting was very sweet despite the circumstances and even though you know Lev’s world revolves around the Russian mafia, you know right from the get-go that he can actually be a decent guy. He provides safety and comfort in Kat’s moment of weakness, and I loved that. Their relationship develops from there… well, at least for a day or two before he decides its best to part ways (again for her safety) and then begins again when he finally catches up with her four years later.

I also adored the action and intrigue in the plot line! The entire time, I was kept on the edge of my seat as the events unfolded. The action is fast paced and thrilling, and there is a lot more behind the scenes happenings in the mafia life that Kat doesn’t realise is occurring. I don’t want to give too much away but will say that if you enjoy mafia romance and/or dark romance, you will enjoy this one! But be warned, as previously mentioned this series is a duet and this book does end on a cliffhanger! Thankfully though, the second book is already released and ready for your reading pleasure.