I was so excited to see that book 2 (A Cruel Arrangement) of the Kings of New York series was available on NetGalley and just had to read it.

This is a great follow up to book 1 of the series. 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.

Molly was a quirky character that made a number of questionable decisions that I wanted to pull my hair out at times. Ashton was almost her exact opposite; he was cool, calm and collected most of the time but could not seem to keep his cool around Molly for long. They were an interesting couple to say the least.

I would have liked to see more of them as a couple to show how their relationship developed. There was a lot going on in the background with the different plot lines so a number of their interactions were centred around these events/situations. Both Ashton and Molly were loveable characters in their own way and I liked that they grew and become more self-aware as the story progressed.

Kudos to Tijan for delivering another page turner. I look forwarded to seeing who the couple will be in book 3 if there is one. Thank you to the author, the publisher Montlake and NetGalley for this ARC; I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

In this mafia romance, Molly Easter’s life is upended when Ashton Walden waltzes back into it. They first met as kids. Now oh-so-hot but oh-so-cold Ashton is the head of the Walden mafia family, and he wants Molly to do something for him.

Despite her father’s involvement with the mafia, Molly has lived her life on the straight-and-narrow as much as possible, constantly fighting against the darkness inside her, but Ashton’s arrangement places her right in the crosshairs in the middle of a mafia war.

Ashton’s the one who typically gets his hands dirty, but can he keep her physically safe? He doesn’t do love, but is there something different about this arrangement with Molly?

This has the twists and turns and push-pull dynamic of a delicious mafia romance. It’s got that crazy dichotomy of the hierarchy and bonds of the mafia family with some more tender found / chosen family aspects. We see palpable chemistry and sweet moments between Ashton and Molly, scorching on-page encounters and pinkie promises, and cold-blooded killing juxtaposed with caretaking. All of this is mixed in with a mystery that they are trying to solve. All combined it makes this book a highly bingeable read.

I received an advance copy of the book from Montlake and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in the Kings of New York series.
This one focuses on Molly and Ashton but we get more of Jess and Trace from the first book, they are pretty active in this one with a lot of action packed scenes.

I devoured this in a day, it was that good, I couldn't put it down.
I have a weakness for Mafia romance and this one did not disappoint, the writing and storytelling was excellent, I didn't want it to end.

The build up and dynamic between Molly and Ashton was believable and the twists and turns kept me engaged. Their relationship developed so passionately, they have great communication and trust for one another. Even though Ashton is a sexy Alpha boss he still treated Molly like his equal, and I enjoyed seeing Ashton's development progress from being hard to having a soft spot for his girl.

I highly recommend this series! I hope we get a book on Jake Worthing!

Thank you to NetGalley, Tijan and Montlake for the ARC!

A Cruel Arrangement is book 2 in the Kings of New York series by Tijan and it was an unputdownable read.

I should have known ACA was going to be a stellar read.
I loved Outsiders so I should have known.
Tijan didn't disappoint. Hands down one of my favorite mafia series ever.
Her writing and storytelling was superb a usual. This book is extremely well written. It truly captivated me.
The story had so many twists and turns and I didn’t want it to end so soon.
I just love his authors work and I hope there is more coming in this outstanding series!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4☆

First of all, I'd like to say that I didn't read the synopsis and I went in thinking it was Trace & Jess POV because of ADB cliffhanger only to find out its about Molly and Ashton...

Anyways, doesn't matter because I was hooked, from the action to the swoony moments, I loved it, somewhat, most of it.

This is the continuation of ADB, with more mafia politics, darker in some ways, with romance too.

I'll be honest, at first I was hesitant about reading Ashtons POV, disliking him for ADB but in the end, knowing what he is willing to do for those he loves, I forgave him, for most part.

Molly is sweet, she's selfless, she has her moment and for most part, I liked her but there were time when I didn't. For all that is happening, I think she'd think a little harder but she doesn't and that's why not a whole five stars.

The writing was easy to ready, the chapters short, filled with drama, mystery and romance thought as it's not my first Tijan books, I've come to notice that she likes to use a certain scene as turning points and its just... eh.

Ps. I loved the Trace and Jezz crumbs

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! It’s so funny because when i first received this book I didn’t realize it was part of a series so I was a bit confused regarding the background on jess, ashton, and grace. I say this next part though with utmost respect to Tijan, I felt like I didn’t need to read the first one to understand and catch up in this one. And I know how that can sound and I will say I am planning on reading the first one and highly recommend other people do first, but I think Tijan’s writing style really explains things so well that I didn’t feel completely lost.

Now for my actual review, loved it! I’m not usually a mafia girly but this one just pulled me in. The relationship between molly and ashton was just so sweet and you could tell there was a lot of trust between them. The fact that ashton felt such deep guilt surrounding his mothers actions and was doing what he could do to make up for it says enough. I usually don’t read mafia books specifically because I hate how the MMC always acts like the FMC is useless and she doesn’t need all the facts, is using her or just plain out lies/has an ulterior motive, which really aggravates me. I loved how ashton was so straight up with her and what was happening, it showed how much he saw her as his equal even when she was putting herself in dangerous situations.

I’d recommend this to anyone and everyone, just make sure to check trigger warnings as there’s obviously violence and death.

Really looking forward to going back and reading this first book!


love and kisses <3

4/5 stars! I've had several books by Tijan on my TBR forever and was so excited to finally get to sit down and read something by them. Ashton was a sexy mafia boss with a secret hidden soft heart aflame with passion for Molly. Molly made some kind of bad decisions in the story, but it was necessary for plot development. And Molly and Ashton together were steamy perfection. Definitely going to pick up another book by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This is the 2nd book of The King of New York series, it can be read as stand alone. My first in this series and this book is goood. I love author writing style from Two more days anthologhy and followimg her since.

Molly was curious innocent nosey!! I love her mind! Unicorn talk? Shower head position? Red blink button? Okayy. Ashton really cold and yeah cruel but when with Molly he different. Cave man mode active, possesive, controlling, demanding. The storyline was good little bit complicated, many partial include. Jess and Trace from previous book appear here and active in this book. Some problem in previous book become major issue here. I hope there are book about Jake Worthing!

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#ACruelArrangement #KingsofNewYork #Tijan #Montlake #NetGalley #ARC

Oh my god. I’m obsessed. Ashton and Molly are one of my favorites now!!! This book was amazing! I loved the plot and their relationship so much. This series is fantastic. I love this Mafia world! I don’t know what it was but I just loved Molly’s character. She was one of the best I’ve read by Tijan! And Ashton just stole my heart. I just loved him as a mafia boss sm
Honestly can’t say enough good things about this story. One of her best series in my opinion!

I’m so pumped for the hopefully next book

Action, emotion, secrets, mafia intrigue and politics all intertwine in a complex story weaving past and present as truths unfold. Romance is just a piece of the whole story, but definitely is the glue binding events and people. A very satisfying read.

Wow! Amazing read, loved every second of this book. Loved the storyline, the chemistry, I just LOVED it. Highly recommend reading

Thank you so much Montlake and NetGalley for this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!
I have to start off by saying that a mafia romance is my crutch. I love them.
Loved Molly and Ashton, they had such a fiery dynamic that made this book so fun to read - the sexual tension and chemistry was off the charts! I've liked everything I've read by Tijan, and this won't be my last1
I didn't realize that this was the second in a series... so I was a little confused, and had a bit of a hard time connecting the characters to the events. So I would definitely say it's worth it to read the first before this one!

The intensity did not slow down for book 2! A great read and such a good story for Ashton and Molly. Reading the guest book is a must though. You will be lost if you don’t. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the early red pad. I was on pins and needles with the cliff hanger from book 1.

I absolutely adored Molly and Ashton! In book one we saw just how far Ashton was willing to go for the people he loved so seeing all that dark protective energy get placed on our cutesy sunshine h, Molly, was so damn good to read. Molly is so so sweet and selfless, she deserved a badass mafia boss like Ashton.

This book picks up right where book one left up but this isn’t a continuation of Jess and Traces story. I loved that they felt like side characters and didn’t distract from the MCs love story. I liked how the mystery all played out. There were times when it nearly veered too much into mafia politics and mafia war stuff for my own personal taste but then Tijan would quickly switch gears and focus on the romance aspects so luckily it worked out okay but I did find myself still craving more romance at the end of the book.

I really hope that we get more in this world! Everything that’s been brewing in book one gets a solid wrap up but there’s enough happening in this mafia universe that we could see more books. I’d like to see if more people get added to their found family and inner circle.

Molly and Ashton have been circling around each other for years. Im glad they finally got their story! A steamy read with a lot of sexual tension. I highly recommend!

TW: drug use (mentioned), parental death (off page), attempted murder, actual murder, torture

Wow, I totally devoured this one as soon as I was blessedly approved on NetGalley. Ever since meeting Ashton in Tijan's A Dirty Business I was very intrigued by him. I didn't know whether to hate him for his torturous ways or drool over his hotness. I think I just sensed something more to him and was very hopeful the author would continue this series and give us more of him and thankfully she did!

Molly Easter has been pretty much on her own since she was 11 years old, her mother died of a drug overdose or that's what her dead beat father told her. The only thing she has going in her life is her beloved bowling alley that she bought from her father and has put her blood sweat tears and money into. Things have been decent for her until the night Ashton Walden decides he needs to use her to get her father to find out who murdered Justin and Kelly (from the first book, you should definitely read that one to know what's going on here). Ashton lets it be known that Molly actually didn't buy the bowling alley from her father since his family acquired it in her father's debt to them. Molly is devestated but is determined to make the bowling alley hers and Ashton's offer of handing it over in exchange for persuading her dad to help find the killer is too good to pass up.

Ashton is cold, calculated and cruel but the way that Molly makes him feel things is a chink in his armor and I loved his vunerability with her. He tried to put up a good front and not feel but Molly is so adorable albeit a little insane. She was very much a quirky character but loveable too. The way she explained the whole roles in the group was spot on, she is definitely a sealant. Ashton was his psychotic self and it just made me love him even more (is something wrong with me?). I did love that he was very apologetic to Jess and she was very hesitant to give that forgiveness. How do you forgive someone for waterboarding you? LOL

Ashton and Molly's spice was off the charts and way better than the first book. As far as who the killer was, it was very much a surprise...I was still guessing up until the reveal! I felt this book was more a traditional mafia romance than the first book, it had loads of murders, war, betrayals, and torture galore. There were hints of a book about Trace's sister, Remmi, coming and even though she's such a bratty bitch I would read her story if Tijan put it out, I love this world that much lol.

I would very much recommend this book to mafia romance and pretty much any dark romance lovers out there. Thank you so much to Montlake publishing for sending me an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I found this book to be extremely cringe. The dialogue, the characters, it felt like a comedy more than the mafia romance it was claiming to be. I found molly to very goofy and I couldnt take any of her emotions seriously. I didnt sense any chemistry between molly and ashton either. It's sad because normally i'd love this kind of book. I love forced arrangement and mafia type romances but unfortunately this didnt work for me. thank you to netgalley and montlake for the arc.