The Bonds We Break

The Four, Book 5

By: Becca Steele

Narrated by: Kelli Tager, Gregory Salinas

Length: 7 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

Fear. Desire. Redemption.

When I was taken...it changed me.

Once, I was the life of the party. Not anymore.

I told myself that I was okay. I almost believed it, until the day I was forced to face my past and my nightmare came to life.

Now the Four are the only ones I can turn to, and Cassius Drummond has made it his personal mission to help me out.

No matter how much I tell myself that he’s off-limits, the more time we spend together, the more I want him.

Bound by my past, I know I’m no good for him, and I’m nothing more than a convenient distraction while we’re stuck with each other.

It’s going to end in heartbreak.

But every time he smiles at me, I find myself falling a little bit more.

The Bonds We Break is a stand-alone mature new-adult romance but is best enjoyed after the previous four books in the series.

©2021 Becca Steele (P)2021 Becca Steele

Perfection!

I love The Four! Cassisu has always been one of my favorite men in this series. He is a major player with the ladies but I love the humor and friendship he brings to the story. Jessa is looking for redemption for who she was in the past as well as finding her place in this world after a traumatic event. It may take these two a while to figure it out but they really are prefect for each other, I had several laugh out loud moments while listen to this book, especially with Cassius. Gregory Salinas nailed it! He and Kelli Tager do such a fantastic job narrating.

Fantastic Story & Narration🎧 Seriously Captivating

Becca Steele pens another amazing novel set in “The Four” series world, featuring one of the secondary characters from the first four books who was also a major player in those stories. The story is written to stand on its own but I highly recommend not missing the first four books, not only because they are outstanding but knowing the characters backstories and history is beneficial and adds some depth, this is my opinion which is biased because I love this series. This book is Cassius “Cass” and Jessa’s story, Cass is best friends with Caiden, Weston and Zayde aka “The Four” and Jessa was the queen biotch who gave Winter hell when she arrived at Alstone. Because of a mistaken identity, she was dragged into the mess that the Four were uncovering in earlier books. The incident not only readjusted her attitude, but it changed the way she treated people. She continues to struggle with nightmares and PTSD and when the past comes back to get her, she turns to Cass for help. Cass offers her protection and brings her back to the house he shares with the others while they do their investigations. Cass is a real character, a playful jokester who is popular with the girls, ok, a man-whore, Jessa liked to play with the boys but she lost her desire after the incident but Cass stirs it back up for her. The chemistry between these two is electric, Cass is not looking for anything serious but they come up with a friends with benefits type of a deal, which leads to an exclusive agreement. All goes well until feeling get involved, Cass has a great heart and means well but he does not see what is in front of him and Jessa does not want to chance a broken heart, can these ever really be anything more? I loved how everything played out in this book, the story is both cleverly and beautifully plotted with plenty of drama, heartfelt emotions, some twists and turns, thrilling and suspenseful moments and hot romance. It was great to see the characters from the earlier books, it was also great watching them warm up to Jessa and start to let her in, most of all it was great to watch Cass, not only fall in love to but to admit to it. Becca Steele, thank you for another fabulous story and emotional roller coaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 And for the wonderful narration, Gregory Salinas and Kelli Tager continue to do an amazing job bringing these characters and their stories to life. They had a complete understanding of the characters they portrayed, gave each a voice that suited their characters’ persona to a tee, sounding believable in every role they played and just as I pictured them to sound. Salinas nailed it in Cassius’ role, he grasped his personality with perfection, playfully cocky and Tager played Jessa perfectly too, capturing her every emotion. Both were great at performing the roles of the secondary characters as well. These superbly talented voice artists are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another exceptional listen.

Thank you @PinkFlamingoProductions The Flock! @AudiobookObsession AudiobookObsessionReviewer🎧

Fantastic series in audiobook

Cassius and Jessa's story, was fantastic, I liked Cassius but now I love him, such a great book boyfriend. Their story started casually in previous books, now it all changes. I love the dual POV that gave me more depth into the story, the plotline was quite good, with nice angst and suspense balance, it hooked me from the start. Kelli Tager and Gregory Salinas did a great acting job with their characters, the whole series is fantastic and a total recommendation.

Great Narration

I am not going to lie, I wasn't expecting the British accents, I know that Becca Steele is from England and that this book takes place in England but when I read it, my brain heard an American accent. Once I got past my naive surprise, I really liked the narration. I thought both Kelli Tager and Gregory Salinas were easy to listen to and it didn't feel like they were reading. Their voices were emotive, the cadence and tone of voice were easy to listen to. My original review of the book, posted on amazon is below.

I loved Cass from the first book in this series, I was so very excited to read his story. I really liked this book, I read it in one sitting because I could not put it down, not even for a minute.

There was so much mistrust in this book-Cass not trusting his feelings for Jessa, Jessa not trusting that Cass could care for her more than just physically, the four not trusting Jessa's growth, it goes on and on.

This is going to sound odd given how much I loved the book but I spent at least 75% of this book seriously annoyed by the four. I understand Jessa was not a nice person previously but she has grown up so much since the events of the first three books. Caiden used her to make Winter jealous, so yeah I can see why Jessa may have been a little extra mean to them. THEN she gets kidnapped because of her association with the four. That was the traumatic experience that made her rethink how she was living her life which is the perfect character arc for her.

What really got under my skin was how they were unwilling to see her growth and get past the petty cruelty we saw earlier in the series. Cass obviously sees it but he lets his friend's opinions overshadow his own judgment. This is how, after more bad stuff happens to Jessa, Cass is more concerned about letting his friends know he is ok than comforting Jessa after another trauma. It takes Winter and Lena seeing how much Cass cares for Jessa to finally fully forgive her.

I get this sounds negative, I swear it is not. I loved it, not only was it on-brand for the four but we get to continue seeing everyone grow and mature. I am very eager to see what their last year at Allstone brings.

Cassius and Jessa

Title: The Bonds We Break
Author: Becca Steele
Format: Audio
Narrators: Gregory Salinas, Kelli Tager
Genre: Romance, suspense, Enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, friends with benefits
Standalone: Yes
Part of a Series: The Four book 5
POV: Cassius, Jessa
Steam Level: Toasty
4.5/5

The Bonds We Break is the fifth book in The Four series. While technically a standalone, this book is definitely best read in order of the series. In The Bonds We Break old enemies return and new bonds are formed and repaired. I really enjoyed this book. I've loved Cassius throughout the series. He's a jokester with a big heard. I loved that he was a baby and also a bada$$. Becca Steele has created a great world in Allstone and I want so many more stories - especially Zade and Creed.

I received this audiobook for free from Audiobook Obsession and Pink Flamingo Productions.

Redemption, friendship and love

Becca nailed this story of redemption and her choice of characters caught me by surprise. The bond & relationship between the 2 main characters that developed wonderfully through the story. The redemption of the heroine was beautifully written, and her growth through the story felt real. The storyline is emotional, loving, steamy, mysterious, dramatic and humorous.

Epic!!!

I absolutely loved listening to The Bonds We Break! Kelli and Gregory did a phenomenal job of bringing Jessa and Cassius to life! I really felt their emotions and was completely sucked into their world!

Everyone needs a Cass in their life 🫶🏻

From the first line I knew Cass would be epic. Becca did not disappoint with his story either. Everyone needs a Cassius in their life. The fun friend who is the life of the party with the biggest heart & most loyal allegiance. Bonus he’s a HOT AF ‘Sex God’ who gives the best Os😉🔥

I truly Cass’ sexy, aloof, charming & flirty nature. Poor Jessa has her hands full😜

Hot AF Scene…hand down the dance club…🤤🔥

Best line in that is totally Cass…’All the best love stories start with an epic bl0wj0b.’

Mean Girl Redemption

5/5 ⭐
2/5 🌶️
4/5 🎧

Cassius and Jessa's story has been my favorite so far, the chemistry between these two was just fantastic. There wasn't a twisty mystery aspect like the others, but the action was still there. I really enjoyed my listen through on audible, the narrators did a great job with all the characters.

I loved Jessa so much. She was pretty broken after the events of Caiden and Winter's story and was feeling like an outcast from her friends group. Cass took her in as a friend with bennies and they ended up falling head over heels for each other, it was so great. Cass was so hot, I loved his possessive and protective side. I also really appreciated his ability to give Jess the space and time she needed despite it slowly unaliving him, he was great book boyfriend material.

I'm super excited for Zayde's book that's releasing soon. I can't believe he'll be the final member of the four and the end of this awesome series.

Drummond :)

I love Cassius! The narration is perfect. They brought these characters to life!

This whole series is amazing and hearing them in voices is a whole other level!