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.

This was such a great follow up to "A Dirty Business" Molly was such a wonderful character to read (she kind of reminded me of Cheyenne from "The Not-Outcast") and I really enjoyed reading more about Ashton and figuring out what made him tick.

The driving force of this book was the mystery of Justin and Kelly having been killed and Ashton trying to figure it out, but having Molly reach out to people for him. As this is happening there's the overall threat of a mafia war that's brewing in the city. But of course Ashton and Molly also have a bit of shared history from their childhood binding them together, making it hard for Ashton to let go of the wrongs committed on Molly's behalf. I loved that both of their pasts shaped them in ways that surprised the other, like Ashton was accepting of Molly's flight response, but also telling her that she needed to start sticking around so that they could talk things out. Molly thinking that she was the sealant for the group dynamic of Jess, Trace, Ashton and her and Ashton accepting what she was saying was fact. I am so glad that there was a redemptive moment for what he did to Jess in "A Dirty Business" and it was brought about because Molly helped to force the issue.

All in all a really great book and I can't wait to see if there's another book in this series about Jake Worthing.

This is the second book in the Kings of New York series and I couldn't wait to read it. The first part ended in a sudden and unexpected way, and in the second part I was looking for answers. The story is based on Molly and Ashton and the fact that Molly was part of the tragedy that happened in the previous part.. Her and Ashton's story is dynamic, intense and full of unexpected situations.
I like the connection that the main characters of this story have, I like the brotherly relationship between Trace and Ashton. I don't like Mollys selfish and manipulative father who doesn't choose any means to reach his goal, even at the cost of affecting his family's life.And finally, the book is excellent and has all the recommendations from me.

Thank you NettGalley, the publisher and Tijan for this opportunity, I enjoyed it.

I loved the couple in this book - I was a bit iffy right when they were introduced but they grew on me. I would like for the plot to be a little more formed out but the characters gave it a little grace in that aspect.

The main characters Molly and Ashton were introduced in the first book so it was interesting to see their love story progress in this one. We also got to see more of Jess and Trace (the couple from previous book) which was an added bonus! This book also answered a number of questions left unanswered in book 1. This was an action-packed, engaging story with lots of twists and turns. I definitely did not see the end coming.

However, I would have liked to see more of them as a couple to show how their relationship developed.

I didn't love this book, but it did hold my interest.

This book was a bit slow for me. While the premise was good, the story lacked the execution.
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC

I loved Tijan! I read anything she puts out and without disappointment. One of my favorite tropes is Mafia! Always spicy with an edge of thrill!

I was expecting A Cruel Arrangement to be a continuation of Jess and Trace's story with the way the first book in the Kings of New York A Dirty Business ended. In a way, it was a continuation but it focuses on Molly and Ashton. The ending of the previous book shocked me so I was looking forward to seeing how things would develop in this book. The relationship between Molly and Ashton was pretty explosive, and I enjoyed their banter a lot. Molly is a strong woman who has a mind of her own, and didn't let Ashton bully her around. I was intrigued by Ashton from the moment I met him and I loved how protective he was of Molly and his family/friends.

We also get to see what Jess and Trace are up to. I was looking forward to seeing how Jess would handle Ashton after what he did in the first book. We also get to see the friendship between Trace and Ashton grow stronger, and the same goes for Milly and Jess. This book was overall a pretty good romantic suspense novel. The balance between action and romance was great, there were also some lighter moments that added relief from the grief and suspense. All of the characters were great and I hope to get to see more of them.

4/5
Tijan never disappoints. I've been a fan of her books since fallen crest high and when she announced a cruel arrangement i was sold the moment i read the blurb.
In true tijahn fashion this book is a serve. The plot, the main couple, the side characters, the writing... everything is perfect from beginning to end. I have to say the hero might be one of my faves by her and the tension and the chemistry is inmaculate.
I think at this point i'll ready anything by this author because she's fantastic.
Thank you so much for providing me with an ARC of this book. All of the opinions are my own.

Cruel Arrangement is the cataclysmic ending to this action packed romance!

I definitely did not expect what happened! When everything fell into place I screamed so loud I woke my kids! Ashton and Molly both have had to fight and claw for their HEA! It was not an easy one but it was all worth it in the end!

Ashton is a man who knows what wants and will not take no, especially when it comes to Molly! He takes no chances and together they are unstoppable! I loved this high action, angsty romance!

I highly enjoyed and greatly recommend this intense read from Tijan. There are so many twists and turns which keep you guessing until the very end. Loved the characters and their story.

Back in October I read an ARC of A Dirty Business, the book that precedes A Cruel Arrangement. I absolutely loved Jess and Trace’s story, but was frustrated as hell when it ended on a cliffhanger. So when I came across book two as I was perusing NetGalley, I immediately requested A Cruel Arrangement so I could learn what happened next!

A Cruel Arrangement follows the story of Trace’s “business partner” and best friend, Ashton. In the first book, Trace and Ashton both rise to the head of two powerful Mafia families. Ashton’s new empire includes owning Easter Lanes, a bowling alley owned by Jess’s friend Molly. Ashton makes a promise to resolve the fallout from the end of A Dirty Business, and in the process sucks Molly into his plans. What begins as a scheme to leverage Molly’s connections quickly evolves into something more as Ashton & Molly become closer.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - I love Ashton & Molly’s dynamic and I’m so grateful the events from the first book were resolved. I haven’t looked to see if there will be more books, but I see the potential for some of the secondary characters to have their own stories and I am here for it!

I did not finished this book and I am ok with that.

I must first say that I have read enemies to lovers and mafia romances before, but this one was not structured to my liking. I believe that the plot did not have any hold on me. Granted, I believe there is a first book to this that I do not have. However, this was not appealing regardless.

The employees, turned friends who would die for someone at the drop of a dime? The ruthless mafia man who suddenly changes without any specific reason? A woman clinging to a man she couldn't stand within hours? This felt rushed and farfetched. And don't even get me started on the closest friend Jess who did not really seem to be that close, but somehow wanted to remind us that she loves the female main character and goes out of her way to get inserted into affairs that are ultimately not her business. And why was Jess so mad and needed to remind us of what happened to her every five minutes? Once or twice maybe. If you're really mad, get revenge or something. Don't use that to insert yourself into every single narratives.

I went halfway through and really wanted to finish this book, but I will have to let it go. Maybe I will give it another try one day.

I am a big fan of Tijan since I first read Carter Reed a few years ago so I was pretty disappointed by how much I struggled to get into this book!! If I hadn't been reading an ARC and planning to review I don't think I would have stuck around as it took me until the 40% to feel like I cared about the characters/plot.
Once I got into it I can admit that I really liked the connection between the MMC and FMC but overall the writing felt a bit like a ramble and I definitely enjoyed the first in the series a lot more!
2.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Tijan for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

First things first, I did not read Kings of New York #1. Should I have? Probably. Maybe I wouldn't have picked this one up, or maybe I would've understood it more clearly.

This is told in a dual POV fashion by Ashton and Molly.

I'm not exactly sure what I should say, what I can say, or what I want to say. I always pick up books like this in the hope that I'm going to find a feeling different than I usually do, but it always ends up being this:

This book is way too long for the story that's told in it.

I think maybe it's the writing that isn't it for me? Maybe it's the timing? The pacing? Something about the way Tijan tells stories like this one, just don't hit right for me.

Also, don't get me started on the 'fuzzies' for Molly to Ashton, or this 'switch' that Molly has?

I'll be honest, I DNF'd this one about half way through and I just couldn't finish it.

Tijan has a unique way of writing that keeps you engaged in the story. I also think that I want to read more. Loved it and will definitely read again one day!

This is definitely a great upgrade to convert Kindle Unlimited users to Library Card Maximalists. A solid e-material purchase