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.”

I voluntarily read and received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my first book by Tijan and the ven though it would seem weird and like I'm lacking information by not reading the first one it hasn't been the case. Most of the information I needed about characters and situations were presented just fine. Though I will still read the first one.

To be honest at first I didn't think I would like Ashton but I changed my mind and I can happily say he has become a favourite. He is strong, protective, straightforward about things even if they hurt him and honest and I do love that honesty. He didn't feel like he should hide things to protect Molly but instead he talked to her and told the truth.

Molly I liked almost instantly and consistently. She was also funny and protective though acting too fast and too silly for her own good. I can relate.

In conclusion I did love the book, it had lots of action, funny moments and the right amount of spice.

Last but mot least as with any Mafia book make sure to check the TW .

I want to thank NetGalley, Tijan and Montlake for providing me this book for an honest review.

Book: A Cruel Arrangement by Tijan
Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: Romantic suspense, Mafia romance
Publication: 25th April 2023

The second book of the King of New York series.
After reading Trace and Jess’s book I was excited for the next novel in this series, even though I thought it would be their story but this book revolves around Ashton and Molly.
Molly has been estranged from her father who is under a mountain of debt and Molly is taken in exchange for it. The chemistry between both characters was smoking and the banter kept this book alive. We get to meet Trace and Jess again in this novel and the plot development between the characters was amazing. Molly was no pushover and I loved how she stood her ground and to see both Ashton and her grow and build this relationship was incredible.

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC copy.

This is book two in the Kings of New York series but I easily followed the storyline even though I haven’t read book one… although I’m definitely going to do that now.

With this book you get the kind of mafia read that delivers everything the reader wants with great characters, a dash of action and enough explosive chemistry to melt your kindle.

I enjoyed how protective (& somewhat overbearing) Ashton was with Molly. Their romance wasn’t an easy one but I’m definitely team #Mashton ❤️

Another great book by Tijan! I'm constantly surprised(thought I really shouldn't be) how Tijan manages to tackle a variety of different tropes within the Romance genre with such eloquence and is able to hook readers into immersive stories with characters you care about and want to read. I loved the Mafia elements of this story and am so excited to see what is next!

An excellent book two of Kings of New York and while the first book may have ended on a cliffhanger with Jess and Trace, Tijan dives right into Molly and Ashton’s story, by the end of the book the answer to all my questions about what might happen are answered. And what a love story our author has written. Tijan is able to weave her own style of mystery and romance into words that leave you breathless. An absolute masterpiece.