Bound by Kathy Lockheart

Enemies to lovers tension, a fake engagement, and an audiobook packed with heat and suspense

Goodreads | Bound

Release date: September 17, 2026

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis:

“Marry me or watch your company burn.” That’s how Axel Pierce—my biggest rival and brother’s best friend—proposed our fake engagement.

Some call him a corporate shark. I call him the devil in a three-piece suit. Too bad he kisses like an angel and touches me like he means it.

Now every staged dinner feels like foreplay. Every public appearance tests our control. And every night I’m left Is this elaborate charade really about saving our companies… Or is there something else he’s trying to claim?

From International & Amazon Top 25 Bestselling Author Kathy Lockheart, BOUND is a fake engagement billionaire brother’s best friend romance with enemies-to-lovers banter, a prank war, and a dangerously possessive alpha hero.

Perfect for listeners who love hearing a romance 

Fake Engagement with Forbidden Chemistry

“Who Hurt You?” Vibes

“Touch Her and Die” Energy

Jealous, Obsessive, Protective Billionaire Hero

Forced Proximity Tension, Banter & Spice

Standalone. Binge-worthy HEA.

Trigger Please visit the author’s website for the full list.

AUDIOBOOK EXCLUSIVE Includes a Bonus Scene available only in the audiobook.

Review:

Enemies to lovers is at its best for me when I actually believe these people cannot stand each other at first, and Dakota and Axel absolutely delivered that energy. Their banter, fighting, and constant attempts to get under each other’s skin were so much fun. The prank war was especially hilarious, and I loved how the guys’ group chat got involved and basically treated tormenting Axel like a team sport.

All that antagonism also made the eventual payoff so satisfying. These two have a ton of chemistry, and once all that fighting finally turns into something else, this gets sexy, spicy, and intense. Axel’s protective streak worked really well for me, especially as the suspense and danger ramped up later in the story.

I also really enjoyed the audiobook. Erin Mallon is forever one of my narrator queens, and there’s something about the emotion she brings to a performance that always gets me. There was plenty here for her to sink her teeth into, and she was fantastic. Lance Greenfield was brand new to me, but I thought he was great as Axel. He really captured that commanding presence while still bringing out the fiercely protective side of his character.

This was such a fun installment in the Sinners and Saints series. Between the enemies to lovers tension, fake engagement, hilarious pranks, spice, and genuinely exciting suspense, there was a lot happening—and it all worked together really well for me.

Perfect for Readers Who Love

  • True enemies to lovers tension
  • Fake engagements
  • Brother’s best friend romances
  • Protective, possessive heroes
  • Sharp banter and bickering
  • Prank wars
  • Steamy romance
  • Romance with danger and suspense

Overall rating: 4/5

Thanks Must Love Audio for the review copy.

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