This story was an okay read for me. There were things I liked and disliked about the story. The beginning of the story was a little too slow for my liking and I had to push myself to keep reading. I know that if I hadn't had to write an honest review for this book, I probably wouldn't have finished the whole story. However, it turned out not to be so bad once the story picked up the pace. I liked Molly's character. She was definitely a feisty woman and had me laughing out loud a few times. Ashton was an okay character. There was nothing about him that made me love him though. I liked the way he treated Molly, but I wish that when it came to them there was more romance in the story. That was what was missing from this story for me. I need more romance between the main characters. Molly's fuzzies got a little redundant in the story early on so I was expecting more than that in the story. There was suspense, betrayal, mystery, revelations, and surprises, but for me it was lacking the romance I look for in the books I read. I've read this author's book before, so I was looking forward to some of that romance in this book as I've read in the other and it didn't turn out that way. This wasn't a bad story; it just isn't the story for me. I'd definitely recommend this book to readers looking for a mystery and suspense filled read with a light touch of romance.

Love love the mafia story. I love the dynamic between Ashton and Molly so I would be looking forward to more. Definitely recommend.

This is the second book in the Kings of New York Series by Tijan. To my enjoyment this was not a continuation of book 1 but an interconnection with this story being dual POV between Molly and Ashton. I have to say I liked this book better than book one, this story jumped right into the relationship between Molly and Ashton. Because they didn’t have the same barriers between them as Trace and Jess, so due to that you fall right into their relationship and storyline. You did get a bit of something between them in the first book, so I knew something had happened between them at some point and we do finally get the answer in this.

Molly was adorably quirky in the ways that I’ve come to ascribe to Tijan and the wonderful way she creates her characters. I wasn’t expecting her to be this way because you don’t’ really get a feel for her in book 1 so I was thrilled. I love the way Tijan develops her characters it’s always so refreshing and endearing to me they feel more real and raw, leaving me to fall in love with each and every one of them. Molly grew on me more and more as the story progressed and the connection between her and Ashton felt immaculate and perfect. They legit felt like they were made for each other.

Where Molly was sweet and open not dwelling on the bad things or the past. Ashton was hard and cruel at times, closed off in deep rooted ways due to the way he was raised and what happened in his childhood. He never apologized for who he is which I appreciated; he owns up to his actions even the ones that occurred in book 1 even to the potential detriment of his relationship with Molly. I loved watching his character ARC in this and the way he slowly matured emotionally allowing Molly in and understanding what he had done in the past and how it affected those around him.

Tijan without fail delivers characters with epic banter and prevailing emotions. Her stories always pull you in and keep utterly entertained, and for this reason she will always be a one-click author for me.

I didn’t realise how much I was in need of a Tijan book, let alone a Tijan mafia book until I started this. This is Ashton and Molly’s book and it’s explosive.

We got a snippet into the dynamic between these two in book 1 and they are fire. It’s a slowish burn between these two even though they kinda tease each other, but they don’t want to give in when there are other things that are their priority, namely finding Kelly and Justin’s killer.

As all of the pieces in this mafia war unravel, so do the feelings these two have for each other. They each begin to open up and accept love into their lives, even if they have to constantly dodge bullets and attempted kidnappings.

I loved every moment of this story, I even lost sleep trying to get as much reading in as I could. Tijan brought an action packed conclusion for this duet.

A great second installment in the Kings of New York series! I actually didn't pay much attention to the blurb before I dove in and was surprised to see that our story isn't a continuation of our first couple's POV but Molly and Ashton's- and I enjoyed their story a bit more than the first. Jess and Trace fans, never fear- we still get to see more of them as their story continues- all amidst the broader overarching plot.

This series is a great merger of all things Tijan- quirky characters, fast paced story telling, plenty of action and drama, and a few twists and turns...all culminating in an unexpected finale. Molly is so classically Tijan as a heroine- she's quirky, emotional, and makes decisions that we don't always understand. At times I actually was frustrated by her, but perhaps this was also her juxtaposition to the more rational and stoic Ashton....well, at least as it relates to how he orients to the world. Molly can certain unsettle his stoicism.

I'm loving the romantic suspense angle of this series- we have a lot of elements and plot points circling around, plenty of mystery and action, but Tijan throws in some fun and and lightness as well. And the ensemble cast is really interesting overall- I'm enjoying the friends perhaps as much as the romances.

Molly and Ashton are certainly an entertaining couple- lots of tension and fun banter, and Molly is pretty fierce in the face of Ashton's protective bravado. I really loved Ashton - he's charmy in the way he looks after others. And I enjoyed their romance, though I wish we'd had just a bit more focus on them as a couple. But, with all that's going on around them and the suspense elements, at times I felt their story was in service of it vs. vice versus, and it could have developed more- but I definitely enjoyed them as characters and as a couple.

Excited to see where this goes in book three and to touch base again with this great crew! And another surprising ending that has me asking all the question!

Let me start off by saying that I wasn’t aware that this book was part of a series and that is a reflection of my rating and review. Throughout the book, I did feel a little lost and like I was missing something (which makes sense since it is part of a series.) That being said, I did like this book. Did I love it? No, but I really want to read the first book and then reread this one to see how that impacts my rating. I loved Molly and Ashton so so much. They were so cute and I really did love that aspect of the book. I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing, but it wasn’t anything too bad. It’s just different from what I’m used to. Overall, it was a good book and I am excited to reread it when I read the first one. Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review! :)

4.5 Stars!

“I needed all of him, not parts of him, not slices. All of him. His darkness included. My insides were on the outside of my body. I’d never felt as exposed as I did now. I hated it.”

“You run and I’ll burn the whole world down for you.”

After reading A Dirty Business, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Ashton, but I am happy to report that not only did Ashton win me over, he exceeded my expectations and made me a believer.

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in the Kings of New York series and picks up right where the last book left off, only instead of continuing Jess and Trace’s story, we get to know Molly and Ashton. Everyone is still reeling from the events of the last book and is looking for answers and hoping for some peace. But, when someone threatens Molly’s livelihood. She finds herself tangled up in a situation she never expected…

Overall, I found this book to be a really enjoyable read. I loved getting to know Molly and Ashton. When you first meet Molly, you think she’s this sweet and innocent woman, but when you’ve had a gun pulled on you as much as she has, a switch gets flipped and her dark side gets unleashed. And Ashton certainly met his match with Molly. Being the head of the mafia, Ashton’s darkness and ruthlessness are unparalleled. He’s not Molly’s biggest fan or mine for that matter, but he 100% won me over. Molly’s acceptance and crazy personality brought much-needed light into Ashton’s life. The chemistry between Molly and Ashton was off the charts. I loved their history and banter, the unexpected moments, and twists that led to one heck of a love story.

A Cruel Arrangement is an action-packed, enemies-to-lovers romance that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats, dying for more. I enjoyed every moment of this story from beginning to end and couldn’t get enough of the wild ride this author took me on. A Cruel Arrangement certainly checked off everything I was looking for and I can’t wait to see what this series has in store for us readers next.

Oh boy, she did it again!
This series is getting better and better with each new book and I am here for it all. I loved the interactions, the fast pace storyline and more over, the steamy scenes. Everything adds so much nuance to the character development and i want a book boyfriend like Ashton just for myself.
I love books with powerful men but with more powerful female characters that will keep them straight and bring them on their knees for love.

I'm a big fan of Tijan's writing and I certainly love a good mafia book! I was very entertained with this book, I certainly never wanted to stop turning those pages; however, it didn't quite meet my expectations. Perhaps because I did not read book 1 and started with this book (#2), I felt like I was missing part of the history of how we arrived to where we were and why certain things were happening. I did feel like this book was digging for details that I knew nothing about. If this was meant to be a standalone (?), it didn't work as one, in my opinion.
Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed the book but it's not my typical 5 star that I give a Tijan book.

This is one of those books that builds. At the beginning I was thinking I wasn't sure I would enjoy this couple over Jess and Trace's. And then the story built, and built, and I freakin loved this couple! Molly was such a unique and interesting heroine. I loved how she was an innocent in this war, then by the end, she slipped into Ashton's life like she was born for it.

I was so mad at Ashton for what he did to Jess in the first book and I never thought I would be ok with what he did. Now, I'm not ok with it, but I loved how the author see what he truly did and that was due to Molly coming into his life. It was a great moment in the book. I also adored how he was with her even when he was in denial of his feelings.

You get a lot of couple time in this book, which is what I always want. Overall, this is one of my favorites and I can see myself re-reading this series.

I received a copy of A Cruel Arrangement by Tijan from NetGalley. I have previously read works by the author and found this one's blurb interesting. The story follows the characters of Molly and Ashton.
Ashton is in the Mafia. Molly and Ashton have known each other since they were kids but never really interacted. Molly has had a crappy childhood, and her only solace in her business, Easter Lanes, a bowling alley. One incident sends Molly's life spiraling and puts her directly in the path of Ashton and his dangerous world.
I was a little confused with some character dynamics in the beginning, but it made sense as I read ahead. The characters of Ashton and Molly have chemistry from the start, but their romance builds a little slowly, which made it more exciting. They suit each other and understand the darker parts of themselves that are better hidden. The story moves at a good pace from the start which kept me intrigued. The romance between Ashton and Molly was my favorite part. The characters of Ashton and Molly are intriguing, they are different but are okay with themselves, and that makes it easier for them to accept each other too.
The romance builds up under life-threatening circumstances and it gets intense quickly once it starts. The minor characters add to the story as well. It was a tad bit longer than I would have liked, yet the ending felt slightly rushed. Other than that, I finished the book over the weekend. The story is full of romance and action, and I enjoyed reading it.

Is there anyone out there who doesn’t love when the bad guy becomes an absolute simp?

After the cliffhanger that Tijan tortured me with at the end of A Dirty Business, I was ready to get some answers in A Cruel Arrangement. I thought it would be a continuation of Trace and Jess’s story, but instead I was pleasantly surprised to see Ashton and Molly would be the center of attention.

While Ashton did some things I wasn’t happy about in the last book, I’ve always been attracted to the bad boy with a screw you attitude and he fit the bill perfectly. Molly complimented him well, always trying to find something positive to cling to, but I appreciated that she had a little darkness of her own that really made her and Ashton connect.

Tijan does a great job of balancing the romantic moments with the suspenseful ones, resulting in two books that I just didn’t want to put down.

I really tried to enjoy this book but I just couldn’t get into the writing style, nothing against the author, it just wasn’t for me.
~I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC for "A Cruel Arrangement." I would say the second book in the Kings of New York series is better than the first. I thoroughly enjoyed Molly and Ashton's story as they navigate the chaos that is New York's criminal underground. A Dirty Business leaves us on a cliffhanger of the murder's of Kelly and Justin. Ashton trying to atone for torturing Jess, he recruits Molly Easter's help in discovering who murdered Kelly and Justin. Molly's father has let her down all through her life, but she needs his abilities to find who murdered her friends. Her father poking around, leads to a target on her back. Ashton initially just wants to use her for his goal of gettin back into Jess and Trace's good graces, but with all the threats against Molly, he grows protective. This was great slow burn mafia book. I'm curious to see if the series continues and who it might focus on. I really enjoy the writing of Tijan and look forward to reading more of her books!

This is a mafia romance that takes place in the Kings of New York series by Tijan; that being said it is full of thrills and actions. It had great character development, Molly was one of my favorite characters mainly due to her bubbly personality. This is definitely a great follow-up to the cliffhanger that the first book left off on. It answers all of the questions that were left when the first book ended. It was a fast, fun read that had a great storyline that will keep you wanting more.

Dark mafia romance that gave us a whole heap of action and thrill, whilst still having an addictive romantic plot!

I loved the balance between Molly and Ashton. They were very much opposites but still found so much common ground. Molly is a sweet and funny sunshine character, and Ashton is a dark protective man who has a razor sharp edge of danger.

Tijan does a great job of having enough of the mafia politics and drama to keep the plot suspenseful and thrilling, whilst still focusing on the romance between the main characters.

Loved it!

LOVED every word! I want Ashton Walden to claim me AND to be best friends with Molly! If you've read any of my reviews you know I adore all books by Tijan, she honestly excels in all genres and I am a HUGE fan! I love dark romance and A Cruel Arrangement is definitely in my Top 5 favorites of all time!

I was so hesitant to love Ashton in the beginning due to events that happened in book 1, but he quickly redeemed himself and swept me off my feet. Loving Molly caught him off guard and the way he was so protective of her was beautiful.

"You run and I'll burn the world down for you."

Molly also caught my attention in book 1, but the way she grew and found herself in this book was so amazing. I loved watching her grow and learn to trust others with her heart.

"Beautiful. Stunning. Powerful. All words described her. She was mine. I wasn't letting her go."

The path to love wasn't easy for these two but it was special. They found their person and once they both realized it it was breathtaking.

As always Tijan delivers all the angst and excitement that we love, while also making us fall in love. Her storylines always pull me in and leave me begging for more! I can't wait for more of the Kings of New York! Tijan never disappoints and is always a must read.

A Cruel Arrangement was a good read. It was action packed. It was sexy. There was a sweetness to it as well. It was drama filled with a heavy dose of suspense. There were also twists and turns. I enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.

I was excited to get this book. I never have read this author before. I wanted to enjoy this book but it was lackluster for me. It took a while to get started and didn’t even start to get interesting until at least half way. I didn’t enjoy this writing or this book. I’d give the author a second chance though.

This sequel did NOT disappoint! When I first received the ARC for this book (thank you NetGalley!), I was not aware that it was part of a series. So, naturally, I found it on Kindle Unlimited and read it within a couple of days - I could NOT put it down! The first story ends on a cliffhanger and this one picks up exactly where the first one ends off just with different characters. I feel that reading the first book in the series (A Dirty Business) will help to put all the characters/character relationships together and to know the background of the plot. This book picks up about 3 months after the ending of A Dirty Business and focuses on the investigation of who killed Justin and Kelly. This book (as with the first) is told in dual point of view from Ashton and Molly, who we got to know in the first book. Ashton - head of Weston Mafia, and Molly - owner of Easter Lanes, a bowling alley she bought from her father who was tied in with Ashton's family.

As in the first book, the couple's chemistry is intense. I loved Ashton and Molly and felt that were a great match for one another. Both had dark sides that messed well with each one's loveable side. I love mafia romance, usually of the darker variety, but this did not disappoint. There was action, intrigue, and suspense. But what I found really enjoyable was the family and friendship that this book portrayed. There were steamy/spicy scenes that were very enjoyable and placed in the most perfect parts. I wanted Molly and Ashton to be together from the beginning, but indulged in the fact that it was a slow burn in a forced proximity setting that made us wait for their relationship to take flight. The love they had for each other was almost inevitable and you knew that were a great match from the beginning, they just equaled each other so much that you just wanted to keep turning the pages to know what else would happen. In no point in this book did Ashton make Molly feel as if she were less than him, with I appreciated as in some mafia books this is how the FMC is stressed.

I was surprised at the ending of who we find out was behind the Justin and Kelly murders. It was not who I was expecting at all, which was intriguing and made me like this book even more.

If you like:
-mafia romance
-slow burn
-forced proximity
-spice
-"touch her and you die"

Then you will want to read this one/series!

One of my favorite quotes: “I’m not your knight.” I swallowed over a lump. “No, you’re not. You’re the bad guy.”