Ties That Bind, The

Written by Jayne Ann Krentz

Narrated by Laural Merlington

Finally Shannon Raine decides to stop speculating about her dark, brooding neighbour on California's rugged Mendocino coastline - and just introduce herself. But the last thing she expects to find in this enclave of artists and writers is a Silicon Valley mogul. Garth Sheridan is cool, sensual and intriguing. And immediately Shannon knows the passion that flares between them will become intense and all-consuming. But the more intimate their desire becomes, the more Garth's life seems hidden from Shannon. She longs to understand this man and the other life he leads, far from the scenic haven they share. Somehow she has to convince Garth that he can trust her with the part of him that rules the ruthless, high-stakes arena of big money and corporate power. For only then can their two worlds become one.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamscape Media
• Release date: Oct 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781666605563

Jayne Ann Krentz

The author of over fifty consecutive New York Times bestsellers, Jayne Ann Krentz writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick), and futuristic/paranormal (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print. She earned a BA in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in library science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries. She is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington. Jayne loves to hear from her readers and can be found at Facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz.

Reviews for Ties That Bind, The

[Nneamaka M. Payne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Ties That Bind is a typical romance novel, primarily because the main characters are a free-spirited artist named Shannon Raine and a brooding corporate king named Garth Sheridan. The novel is set along the coast at Mendocino, California, as well as in Silicon Valley. The characters face different challenges; Garth must choose whether or not his past will define his future, and Shannon must choose whether love is worth sacrificing for. As a romance novel the main focus is the budding romance between Garth and Shannon, however, the darker undertones that drift throughout the novel and come to a climax at the point when they must decide to give the novel a cutting edge, the ultimately serves to give the book some level of originality.

The author, Jayne Ann Krentz, switches perspectives throughout the novel, a technique I particularly enjoy. In doing so, she provides the readers a look at the same situation from opposite sides of the spectrum, and since her characters are so opposite in temperament it also serves to answer difficult questions for the reader. Krentz also designs a plot with multiple small climaxes before the big climax, and as a result, it gives the reader the feeling of riding the same emotional roller coaster as the main characters. The supporting characters, Annie and Dan, serve a similar purpose, and together, both the roller coaster and the supporting characters bring the story full circle.

Readers who would enjoy The Ties That Bind would be those that enjoy a love story that captures “opposites attract” to a tee. Shannon and Garth have a compelling romance, as do the characters in most of Krentz’s books, but the story is a little stereotypical. Its focus on action is not typically romantic, which is another thing that drew me in.