This was such an amazing book. I didn’t read the first book but I don’t feel like I missed anything. Although it probably would’ve made this one even better. This is the first book I’ve read by Tijan and I’m definitely a fan! I honestly can’t wait for the next book. The suspense, flipping the switch, the drama, romance and more. It’s one of those books where you’re on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens and not being let down. Sooo good!!

I received this as an ARC and this is my honest and voluntary review.

i'm wavering between a 3 and 4 for this book because I really like the world but I found this story a bit slow (which is odd, given that Ashton is a real bad boy. But the relationship between Ashton and Molly felt forced and I didn't feel the chemistry. That said, it was well rounded, continued to build on the arc of Ashton and his friends building their empires and had plenty of action. Some triggers (I mean, it is a mafia story!) but overall, an easy read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for this ARC.

I really enjoyed the next instalment from the Kings of New York series. I adored Molly and her bubbly personality, and I thought Ashton was the perfect alpha-hole. I thought they both bought different dynamics to their relationship and balanced each other out. A Cruel Arrangement was action-packed, steamy, and well written.

"You run and I’ll burn the world down for you.”
I normally don't start off my reviews with a book quote, but this one had to be shared. Just as A Cruel Arrangement needs to be shared. I've always loved Tijan's writing style, and this read is right up there at the top.
The second book in The Kings of NY duet, it features tons of action, emotion, and delicious steam and I'm here all for all of it. Ashton and Molly are such an interesting couple, and I think Molly is one of my very favorite heroines ever. If you crave a good Mafia book, with a bit of darkness, yummy anti-heroes, smart, complex heroines, fullfilling sexy times, and lots of highlight-able words, you will thoroughly love A Cruel Arrangement! 5 Stars!

My name is Brandy and I am a Tijan addict…and it’s all her fault! She keeps writing these worlds that I get lost in. With these men that are all consuming and their women who I can’t stop rooting for! Each time she has a new release I one click because you know…addicted.

Cruel Arrangement was Tijan perfection! I am absolutely loving the Kings of New York…good guys who do bad things but for mostly good reasons😉 We have a few twists to get to Justin & Kelly’s murderer(s)🤫and it’s quite a wild ride.

Hoping to get a couple more stories out of this one??? 🙏🏻

💕fave quotes📖

“You okay?” Jess asked once I got to her. I nodded. “Yeah, just a weird feeling. That’s all. Also, I want to talk to you about something.” She nodded beyond us to where two SUVs were waiting. “Okay, but heads-up. They’re not happy.”——oh man I can just picture both Ashton & Trace’s faces while they are walking towards them 😅😳😬


My brother and best friend was all grown up now. I reached up, cupping the back of his neck, and moved in. Forehead to forehead. “Love you man. Be happy.” He reached up and clapped my shoulder. “You too.” I loved him. He loved me. Nicolai hadn’t broken us: just the opposite.—-🖤🖤🖤


“…We’re the kings of New York.” Trace’s mouth twitched. I could tell he liked hearing that. “We’re the goddamn kings of New York.”—-HELL YEAH 🖤👑

‘Because of who you are. Because of who I am. I’m the girl who gets left behind. I’m the girl who survives everyone walking away.’ Molly

That line right there solidified my love for Molly. She is one of the most epic Tijan characters. She’s a little awkward, but she is fierce. Way more fierce than she gives herself credit for. And Ashton. He’s hard and can be cruel, but that man was born to be a mafia head. He exudes confidence and refuses to back down. He embraces the darker side of himself, but when he’s with Molly, she brings out a more vulnerable side to him.

This book was packed with action. Life in the mafia is anything but simple, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire last half of this book. Tijan is one of my all-time favorite authors and this book jumped to the top of my list. Ashton and Molly reminded me so much of Carter and Emma from the ‘Carter Reed’ books, and I loved every bit of it!

I truly don't know where to start. From the beginning to the ending I kept reading the same chapter twice and didn't get bored. There was a different type of emotion I possessed with this book. The plotline was also captivating.

Molly - She's a Fighter and I adored her from the beginning. She truly gives tough to everyman and Mr. Ashton was not an exception. Her past and her hating her mom for no reason made me feel with her. The way she overcomes all her agony has been wonderfully explained and made me keep her as an inspiration.

Ashton - Well… Haan. He's a Dominant man in the Mafia. I would clap hands for the way he was dealing with the sudden death of his family. I didn't spot his grievance until he got caught by his girl. I spotted a major difference between Ashton and the other Mafia Leaders I have read. That is Ashton is not as bad as he claims. He has a heart but took a little time to realize it was already lost to Molly.

I don't have a single word handy with me to explain their chemistry. So I'll attach a scene 😜 one of my favorite moment between Molly and Ashton in the whole book.

💕“Never run from me again. Do you hear me?”

I heard him . I so heard him. “Never.”

He lifted his head, his eyes searing into mine. “You run and I’ll burn the world down for you.” 💕

Arghhhh… It was on DOT!!!

I would suggest everyone to read this book and devour it in a way I did.

Thank you so much for this ARC @netgalley and @tijansbooks I was into this steamy hot book for three days and no regrets.

Whew!

We were left with a pretty big cliffhanger in book 1 so definitely go back and read it.

So this book deals with a pretty big mystery that was left in book 1. Like it's predecessor it's action packed and with some romance.

Poor Molly. She's lived alongside the mafia life. Her father is a scumbag. I mean, really takes the cake. And I do like her. But when she gets mad...

She's trying to just live her life, run her bowling alley when the life pulls her closer.

Ashton is dark and uncompromising. He's best friends with the "hero" from book one. He's had some recent loss himself. But what I thought was weird was it seemed to he glossed over some. It was talked about but it wasn't central to the story.

These are two very different people put in a situation together. And let's just say it's not doe eyes and hearts pattering in the beginning.

It was romance/mafia/mystery/action all rolled into one.

What a wild ride this book was.
ACA by Tijan is the second book in the Kings of New York Series.
I absolutely loved Jess and Trace's story in book one and had high expectations for this second book. And the author delivered.
Ashton is the perfect anti-hero. He's head of the Walden family mob and knows what he does.
Molly is the only innocent in this whole story, my heart was bleeding for this good woman.
An unputdonable, captivating read that had me in suspense from start til the last page.

Thankyou to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this ARC.
This is my first title from this author, i really enjoyed and will be reading more from them in the future.
This was a well written book.
Thankyou
3/5 stars

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in the Kings of New York series, and it was even more enthralling than the previous book. One word, and I knew my day wouldn’t be spent doing what I was supposed to; I needed answers, and the only way to get those was to immerse myself inside this addictively dark and twisted world.

Make sure you read A Dirty Business before diving into this story. Book one not only introduces the world and the characters, but there’s a continuing sub-plot that takes place that must be read in order to fully appreciate this dark, twisty, and utterly mesmerizing world.

If you don’t like it when the bad guy gets the girl, Ashton isn’t the book boyfriend for you. He’s the "touch her and I’ll 🔪 you" type of guy, and I am ALL THE WAY HERE FOR IT.

Ashton and Molly were chaotic, dark perfection. The tension between them was palpable in the previous book, but that barely scratched the surface of what they shared. They started with a bang, and not the steamy kind. They seemed to be drawn to one another, and the more I read, the more I understood. They saw parts of one another that nobody else did. They didn’t shy away from the darkness they saw there; as a matter of fact, they embraced it wholeheartedly.

The first chapter was all it took for me to be completely yanked inside the Kings of New York series and consume every thought and emotion. I read this in one sitting, and to be honest, that wasn’t my intention, but it was like I had no choice in the matter. There wasn’t a good place to call it a day; there was too much happening. I needed answers that I could only get by staying engulfed in this world. Every page brought answers and questions; long-kept secrets were revealed; and some startling realizations were had by all.

Molly was strong and resilient in the way that those who have little expectations from anyone who enters their lives are. She was resilient because that was the only choice she had. Her strength came from proving to the world and, I think, more so to herself, that she was better than the man who raised her. I don’t even think it was a conscious thought. I think she and Ashton had been on the path to forever from the first moment their eyes met. They filled the cracks inside one another that had been inflicted by those who should have protected them.

The pace of the story added more to the intensity. Their enemies were lurking, waiting for the moment they could try to get the upper hand in the war that they started. Between the heart-pounding suspense and the "omg," "WHATTT" moments, there was also a whole lot of heart. Not just Molly and Ashton, but the group as a whole. Molly wasn’t only what Ashton needed; she was needed by all of them. Her heart and resilience were what saved what could have been forever broken.

A Cruel Arrangement is teeming with explosive chemistry, a "touch her and I’ll 🔪 you" anti-hero, a strong heroine, hear- pounding twists and min- blowing turns, emotions that will bring out both sad and happy tears, and re- hot steam. I really hope we get more Kings of New York, especially if it’s about a certain someone…..

BOOK REVIEW: A Cruel Arrangement by @tijansbooks

5 Stars

After giving the first book in this series a 5 star review, I was so excited for this one but also nervous that it wouldn't be as good. I definitely did not need to worry!

I highly recommend reading these books in order as although the main characters in this book are different, the story flows from the first book into this one.
This series is based in New York and is centred around two mafia families that work together against others. It is a thrilling read with danger, violence, adventure and mystery. I was completely hooked not just on the romance but the other storylines that are at times a tough read but also SO well written and addictive.

The lead characters are Ashton and Molly. Ashton is one of the tougher, meaner and more dangerous members of the Mafia family. In book one, it was difficult to like him for his decisions and so I was worried I wouldn't like him in this book. But I loved him. Yes he is definitely a bad guy but he also has a good heart in there too and I adore his loyalty and how he treats those he loves. Plus he sounds HOT.
Molly, we met a little in book one and I loved her. I continued to love her in this book especially because we got to see all her layers including her tough life, her caring, loving nature and her bravery.
The romance was SO good. It was cute, sexy and filled with intense chemistry. I loved every second of it and didn't want the book to end.

I think it's safe to say that I loved this book. The writing, storyline and characters were all exceptional and I cannot recommend this series more. However please make sure to check out trigger warnings for this series. I really hope this series continues!!

Please note that I was #gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

A Cruel Arrangement, the second book in Tijan's Kings of New York series, follows the story of Molly and Ashton, two characters from the previous book, A Dirty Business. Molly wants to run her bowling alley in peace, but Ashton's arrival, as the new head of the Walden mafia family disrupts her life. The two are forced to work together to find a killer while facing ghosts from their past and a mysterious antagonist. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Molly and Ashton adds steamy scenes to the story. Although the first book ended on a cliffhanger, this book takes an alternate route and focuses on Molly and Ashton while still addressing the cliffhanger. Jess and Trace, the previous book's main characters, appear as secondary characters. This book will not disappoint readers who enjoyed the first book, and it's recommended to read the first book before this one. Tijan's writing pushes the envelope in style and narrative expectations, and her return to mafia-style books is enjoyable.ut some parts dragged.

This is the second book of the Kings of New York series. Reading the first book would help with deeper understanding, but I do think this book could be a standalone. Ashton has had a connection with Molly since they were young, but hasn’t given into those feeling. When he needs something from her, they start to grown closer especially as she is now in danger.. This is a suspenseful mafia book that continues to build through the boom with twists and turns. It does answer the questions that were left at the end of A Dirty Business, but as I stated it also explains enough to be somewhat of a standalone. I enjoyed seeing Ashton and Molly fall for each other and seeing Trace and Jess’s HEA.

As always, a great read by Tijan. Loved Molly and Ashton. And finally we find all the answers to the questions left open from book 1.

This is one of those books that builds. At the start I wasn't sure I would enjoy this couple. Then the story built, and built, and I loved this couple! I highly recommend reading these books in order as although the main characters in this book are different, the story flows from the first book into this one.

o i got an arc of this book but all opinions are my own . so i gave this book 4 stars for the characters and nothing else .

So i liked Molly ,she was funny and i really liked how she gets Ashton to let down his walls while also learning to let her own down ,they make a great couple and i liked their relationship .

I really loved Ashton ,he is dark and dirty and i can't help but root for him ,i am so glad that he found Molly ,they really just fit well together , i loved that his relationship with Trace gets repaired ,they really are best friends/brothers now and i loved seeing them work it out :)

So as for the plot ,i didn't care for it ,we left off on a big cliff hanger from book 1 and we get it all wrapped up but i just didn't think it made much sense to me ,like who killed who and who helped ,just didn't feel like a great story line in my opinion ,it felt pretty weak to me and i just wasn't vibing with it and i really didn't like the story line about Ashton and Molly's mothers ,i just didn't think that added anything to the book at all .

and omg if i have to read about Jess one more time i will flip a table ,i hate her so much ,she thinks she's such a badass and better then others and i just can not read anymore about her again .

Overall this book was only ok to me .

A Cruel Arrangement by Tijan is the second book in the Kings of New York Series. This is Molly and Ashton‘s story. I LOVED A Dirty Business and was SO excited when I saw this on NetGalley.

Molly runs the Easter Lanes bowling alley and Ashton is the head of the Walden mafia family. It takes a minute for Molly and Ashton to go from being mafia acquaintances to lovers. Molly's character is quite quirky and I think that readers will either like her or not, and I just wasn't the biggest fan. I loved how Ashton was a protector - major touch her and die vibes. The plot was a big boring and dragged out for me as well.

Overall, A Cruel Arrangement was a good mafia romance story, but wasn't as good as A Dirty Business.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to be an early reader!

I am not normally super into Mafia romance, but I requested this on Netgalley because something about it just intrigued me and I’m glad I did. I didn’t realize at the time that it was book 2, but it’s not a series that you necessarily have to read in order. I’ve figured out that book 1 is about Jess and Trace who are already together in this book. I loved Molly’s personality and her ability to just get things done even when she has a panic attack afterwards. Her life had been pretty crazy and she was not excited to have a mafia family come into her place of business and tell her she doesn’t actually own it because her dad lied to her, but she handled it well and wasn’t afraid to get up in Ashton’s face. Naturally, I knew it was a matter of time before Ashton fell for her as a result.
I loved their romance even though it was violent and crazy. Watching two reluctant people fall in love is my favorite and even though Ashton wasn’t a good guy, he wasn’t necessarily a huge psychopath, either. It seemed like he did take good care of people and even worked well with law enforcement.
I would definitely recommend this to fans of dark or mafia romance and would read more from this author.

I went into this just expecting another Mafia romance. It's safe to say I was surprised! I loved this so much.

The relationship between Ashton and Molly was passionate and full of truth, from the beginning.

This book was plot driven and what a great plot it was. It was the perfect length for the story and the writing style was also simple to follow and just flowed.

I loved the additional characters like Jess and Detective Worthing. They just completed the story perfectly.

Highly recommend.