A Cruel Arrangement by Tijan, is the second book in the Kings of New York Series, this time we will get to know Molly Easter better, who is a sweet, independent girl, loyal to her friends and with a positive attitude, even though her life has been full of difficult moments and not so pleasant experiences, we met her in the first book as the owner of Easter Lanes, although now she will discover in the worst way that once again she was deceived by her father, this is where comes into play the enigmatic, cold, calculating and extremely handsome and dangerous Ashton Walden, who after what happened to his family is the head of his organization, which together with Trace's family, are the ones who dominate the Mafia in New York, this man will approach Molly with the intention of using it and thus being able to get answers and the person behind of what happened. This puts Molly in danger and is Ashton's chance to use her as a token to get what he needs, but little did he know that he would be drawn to this woman so unique and unlike anything he's ever known and determined to protect her. . Just like in the first book, get ready to live with these characters moments full of action, suspense, anguish, unexpected twists, new alliances, loyalties put to the test, as well as sad moments and tears but also crazy moments that will make you laugh out loud, I really enjoy this story from beginning to end.
I advise you to read the first book before entering this story so that you don't spoil the first book since the main reason for the plot in this story has to do with the end of the previous book, well, now that the clarification is done, I tell you to go read this story now, you won't regret it. Highly recommended!!

Tijan has created such an awesome duology with the Kings of New York. Although a part of me wishes for more in this universe, I enjoyed the conclusion and felt it ended the duology well. After leaving us on a heckuva cliffhanger at the end of A Dirty Business, I wondered how Tijan would bring the two together, and like the true magician she is she crafted an intense and dazzling follow-up with A Cruel Arrangement.

Ashton has far more darkness in him than Trace, Ashton is taking over as head of the family, and he's far more ruthless. He finds himself being drawn more and more into Molly Easter's life and business because of her father's involvement with the family. There's some history between the two, which is slowly revealed in the story. What shines about this story is Molly; she is tough, loyal, mouthy, and resourceful. She has her own darkness, but what's more important is the flexibility in her personality. She's not constantly digging her heels in and refusing help; she goes with the flow that will keep her safe. That is, until she doesn't and decides to follow her gut. There were a few moments in this book that were cute and giggle-worthy between Molly and Ashton.

This book was a freaking fantastic read from cover to cover 400+ pages that I devoured pretty much in one sitting because I didn't want to stop the story. This suspenseful story moves at a great pace, with fantastically complex characters who blend so well that you would like to hang out with them for a while. Tijan's writing in this duology as well as her previous series, The Insiders, have been somewhat dark with anti-heroes who are fabulous, and stories you can't get enough of. Grab A Cruel Arrangement today!

This was a good read. That ending was very good. I need more from this series. I have no words how to describe how I feel about read this book! I need more!!!!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in this series – and I would definitely recommend that you read them in order, and possibly close together. Tijan does a good job of reminding the reader of the importance of elements of the story from the previous book, and actually, that reminder of what Ashton did... makes it very difficult to warm to him.

Any fan of Tijan's books will know that it can be quite a stretch to see how on earth a happily ever after can come from what is first given to us, and in this book I found it even more difficult – but Molly was a far stronger character that one might have first imagined.

Be ready for a bumpy ride, but have faith. I am looking forward to the next installment already!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Mafia Romance

Molly owns a bowling alley that has become the local hangout. Her family is there for her. But when tragedy strikes and she loses two of her own, Molly will have to rely on old skills learned from her con man father to survive what's to come.

Ashton is the new head of his family. While he knows what's at stake, he doesn't truly know how it will play out. Molly is his new target, but when he gets to see how strong and amazing Molly is, Ashton will have to decide if he's still willing to go through with his plan.

Tijan does a good job of walking you through the issues from the previous book without going histrionic. You could read this as a standalone, but I don't recommend it.

I wish that Ashton was stronger in this story. Afterall, it was his story. I felt that he had a stronger voice in book one. For me, the romance just didn't work well. Ashton and Molly were an odd pairing and just didn't seem to mesh as well as other Tijan characters have. But if you're a fan of Tijan, that will only be a slight blip in the story. You'll still enjoy the heck out of it.


Erica – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT is the second installment of the Kings of New York series.

Can it be read as a standalone? Honestly, I do believe so, especially since this is two new narrators connected to the previous two. It has been so long since I read the first in the series, I had forgotten many plot points, yet I had no problem diving in. While I do believe the novel can be read as a standalone, the emotional payout is greater if read in series order.

Tijan did an excellent job spiking my memory to events that happened in the previous novel without a dreaded info-dump. A smooth transition between sets of narrators, the novels flawlessly connecting as the story continues.

Molly Easter is sweet yet has tons of moxie. She owns the bowling alley, which she purchased off her gambling addict of a father. They're connected to the mafia through his debts. Molly keeps a clear divide between her life and her father's, only to discover what she thought was truth was false, upturning her entire life.

Ashton is the new head of the Walden family. While he is a loyal and supportive friend, the darker and grittier aspects of life are his true calling. He enjoys the cruelty of it all when it comes to those who put his way of life at risk.

Opposites attract, yet there are some similarities too. Ashton is on a quest to discover who murdered a pair of their friends, especially since his best friend's girlfriend is hurting. Ashton sees it as a way to heal the wound he created during the last novel. Since it all connects to Molly, a shared group of friends, Molly is willing to do anything to help.

On the mafia front, there are three mafia families preparing for war. Ashton and his best friend, new to being in charge, are allies. The murdered friend was a member of a rival mafia family by blood but not by deed. Add law enforcement in the rival mafia family, burglaries drawing Molly into it, along with her shyster of a father, Molly become Ashton's full-time job.

While I was entertained, I was not hooked as I usually am with Tijan's novels. All the right elements were there, but they just didn't seem to grab my interests. I enjoyed Molly's character and personality, but Ashton wasn't as intriguing during his own narration as he was in the previous novel when I wasn't deep inside his head.

There were a ton of pages, but I felt it meandered. I didn't feel the need to feverishly read as I usually do with a Tijan novel. I was able to put the novel down and go do other things without the story invading my thoughts. I wasn't connected to it. I wasn't hooked. I wanted to love it, and I did enjoy most of it, I just wasn't as enthralled as I hoped to be.

I loved Molly other than the odd "switch" and I wanted the intriguing Ashton from the previous novel instead of the one-note character I felt him to be while inside his head. Honestly, I felt the "voice" of both narrators sounded more like teenagers, not fully grown adults who owned businesses and were in charge of many beneath them.

Ashton and Molly are fire together… I loved these two and the way their personalities actually fit, though they seem like they might not at first glance. This one was a complex puzzle of pieces, but Ashton is the man to solve the mysteries that keep cropping up, and Tijan was the perfect author to craft this one, ensuring it truly worked. It is a generous mix of spice and story, and I devoured every last word!

This is the second book in the King of New York. This can be read as a standalone but there is information from book one you will be spoiled on. This book is about Molly and Ashton. This mafia story has so many twist and turns that I didn't see coming. I loved how Ashton was with Molly and to see Molly grow as a strong fmc. Wouldn't mind seeing more in this world.

Great ending!

Molly is a unique and quirky character. She and Ashton take us on a wild ride as they find their way to an HEA as well as concluding the story from book 1.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Book two of the series is here and should be read after A Dirty Business. Ashton was on my *hit list after his actions in the first one so I wasn't sure if I could grow to like him but I had faith in the author and it was rewarded. This is a story that builds the further you get and it wasn't long before I was hooked on the dynamics between Molly and Ashton.

I loved them as a couple the slow build only intensified the give and take of their relationship. Molly is a strong independent woman with a feisty personality, she is fiercely loyal and loves hard. Now Ashton is the very definition of closed off, he is ruthless, unapologetic and demanding you don't get a second chance with this guy. The romance was well written, it was a mix of spicy sexy and sweet with some seriously intense chemistry. I enjoyed the mix of suspense and romance it worked perfectly with the pace of the storyline. Jess and Trace are an integral part of the story, I loved seeing the four of them coming together ... eventually. I really hope this is not the last we see of these characters and this world.

Don't we all have a switch that makes us go off to crazy town? I love that Molly knows when she hits that switch. She had a lifetime of betrayal, yet she still managed to find contentment and peace in living in the moment.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

This was my place. My business. Easter Lanes. Then a guy comes in, trying to rob, daring to take it away from me. My home. My life. Heck no. I won't let my livelihood be threatened. No one know what I've done to build this life for myself. Except he might. Ashton Walden, a man I remember from when we were kids. Even back then I could tell how dangerous he would be one day. He's now the head of the Walden mafia family, and my father is so in debt to them that they practically own him. My dad and I are estranged and I want nothing to do with him or his debt. but the day after the attempted robbery, I didn't wake up in the hospital. I woke up in Ashton Walden's home. And he drops a bomb on me. If I want my livelihood back, I need to earn it back. And thus begins our cruel arrangement.

This is the story of Molly and Ashton. Molly is one of the funniest characters I have ever read in a Mafia book. She is bubbly and fun and just had a great personality. She also has a father that is so in debt to Ashton the head of his family's mafia that she is shocked that he isn't owned by them. Ashton is super smart and very headstrong and has a protective streaks miles long. All the protectiveness is aimed right at Molly too. Molly is hard working and has built from the ground up everything that he has and is certainly estranged from her father for various reason but his debt is something that she wants no part of just like she has no part of her dad anymore. Someone though tries to rob Molly and things go very wrong and she ends up needing to be in the hospital. However when she wakes up she isn't in the hospital she is in the house of Ashton Walden. Things are about to get very interesting and all of your questions from the first book are answered in this one. It was a really good read that I enjoyed.

Received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

If you’re like me, and you just auto-read some authors and barely bother to ever read the blurbs of their books, then I’ll have you know The Cruel Arrangement is second in the Kings of New York series. I happened to read book one, The Dirty Business, a few months ago and remember being curious about Molly and Ashton and despite that it took me a moment to connect the whole story back again to this series when I started TCA.

The first largest advice I would give anybody, given my experience, is to read the book in a fairly continuous stretch. I ended up being forced to take breaks in between because suddenly my schedule had 482929 things I needed to do. Coming back to the story in intervals did real harm to the thread of the story. I was so lost and confused despite having read about 50% of the book in a stretch. So definitely read the book without long breaks.

Molly was definitely my most favourite heroine/character written by Tijan. She was somehow the perfect kind of quirky, whimsical and sensible. I can’t remember the last time Tijan wrote a character like her. Ashton was an interesting person to see fall in love. The people with the hardest hearts, feel the deepest for someone.

The pace was set from the very first page and it was brutal. Had it not been for those unavoidable breaks I took, I would’ve finished the book much faster. While this book could work as a stand-alone from the perspective of Molly and Ashton’s story, the entirety of the plot works well only if you’ve read the books in order. So definitely dive into The Cruel Arrangement after reading The Dirty Business.

Four stars! Definitely read the trigger warnings for this series before you enter the Kings of New York series. Be safe and happy reading.

After reading A Dirty Business I was intrigued by Ashton.
So I was excited knowing he was getting his story told. And it was absolutely not what I expected.
There is so much more to him than what meets the eye.
As more is revealed about him and his past, his actions are better understandable and why he trusts very few people.
I liked Ashton and felt for him. He’s loyal to those he loves. He protects those he is responsible for.
He’s tough, dangerous and enjoys mafia life. He lives for the danger and the thrill of the hunt.
Trying to do right by Jess after his abhorrent behavior. He’s determined to find who murdered Kelly and Justin.
By any means necessary and whoever he needs to use to get his answers.
Molly I so adored her. She’s quirky, sweet and has a flip side that surfaces when she’s under extreme duress.
. Her inner dialogue is funny and interesting. She has a unique way of thinking and analyzing.
And she is the best friend anyone could ask form.
Right away the tension between her and Ashton could be felt. Tension that starts off in a hostile way.
And slowly that tension goes from hostile to more intense feelings.
Their physical attraction builds and builds then explodes. It’s hot and sexy.
I loved how Molly was able to reach Ashton’s heart and soul. I don’t think he ever thought he’d have his one.
So it warmed my heart that he was able to find his joy and peace with Molly.
The drama and suspense to figure out who killed Kelly and Justin was exciting and had me guessing who the murderer was.
I was gripped with the story and couldn’t put it down.
And the epilogue left me with a big smile on my face.

Omg. Ashton is such a jerk and I fell deeply in love with him! This is the second Kings of New York book and all hell has broken loose. Ashton and Trace are the Dons and it picks up where we left off in A Dirty Business. The book starts off with a bang and gives us a good look at Molly. We get learn about the past through the present and are taken on a ride. Things aren’t what they seem and by the end of the book I was in shock. We get to see Trace & Jess’ life and are then are pulled into Molly and Ashton’s relationship. I really did fall in love with Ashton by the end. I loved these characters and although it’s a duet and loose ends are tied up I wish for more. It’s such a good series and Tijan again showed her talent is endless.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🔥🔥

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

This is the second book in the Kings of New York series. This book had me invested from beginning to end.

Molly is the owner of Easter Lanes and one day a guy comes in a tries to rob, let’s just say the robber wasn’t expecting Molly to fight him and things get out of hand. Which leads Molly to end up in the hospital, where Ashton takes her from. Aston is the head of Walden Mafia and is looking for people reasonable for the death of Kelly & Justin. He knows the only person who can find the information is Molly’s father and so he decides to reveal to Molly that he is the actual owner of the Easter Lanes and she has been conned by her dad, also the truth behind something that happened from their past. So they made a deal that she would get the Easter Lanes, if she gets her dad to find information for him but Molly is struggling with the things she’s learned and she not taking it well. During this time, Molly is often caught in the line of fire and Ashton always seem to be there to saving her. Ashton is known for being cold and only ever cared about his best friend Trace but he now finds himself not only caring and wanting to protect Molly from harm. The relationship between these two go from them not liking each other to frenemies to lovers and once they gave into each other they couldn’t keep their hands of each other. They had a great chemistry and banter throughout the entire book. Molly becomes Ashton’s sunshine through all his darkness but don’t think that Molly doesn’t have a bit of darkness in her when she needs it, that’s why I thinks she so perfect for Ashton. Overall this book has action, suspense, steam, romance, tension, secrets, and many twist & turns I didn’t see coming. This was a great ending to this series.

I would recommend if you like:
🖤Mafia
🖤Slow burn
🖤Grumpy/ Sunshine
🖤Opposites Attract
🖤Steamy scenes🔥

Thank you ValentinePR for the ARC in exchange for a honest review!!!

This is the second book in the Kings of New York series, and it was an absolutely captivating read! I was hooked from start to finish by the intense and dark plot, and the author did an amazing job of capturing the twisted vibe of the story and its characters. This was Ashton and Molly's story, and I found his chemistry with Molly to be quite thrilling. The book was filled with heart-pounding suspense, and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. Despite all the danger, the book also had a lot of heart, especially between Molly and Ashton. I found the twists in the plot to be unexpected and the characters to be engaging, especially Molly who was a total badass and managed to handle everything that came her way. Overall, it was an excellent second book in the Kings of New York series. The romance was swoon-worthy, the plot was thrilling, and I can't wait to see what happens next in this world.

卂᥅ᥴ 尺ꫀꪜﺃꫀ᭙
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 - Ashton
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 - Molly
4 𝒞𝓇𝓊ℯ𝓁 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝐴 𝐶𝑟𝑢𝑒𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐵𝑦 𝑇𝑖𝑗𝑎𝑛
Couldn't wait to get started on this one, especially after that cliffhanger in book 1, I needed answers.

This book picks up a few weeks/months after the events 𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 1 and we get right into things.

Molly, just wants to run her bowling alley and live a somewhat normal life. But that all changes when someone thinks they can rob her and she is put right into Ashton's world. And he turns her whole world upside down with the secrets he knows. And she finds out just how far her father's lies went.

Ashton, didn't want to be part of 'the' world, but he was ultimately part of it. He needs answers and there is only one person who will be able to get him answers and that's where Molly comes in.

What held me captive was the twists and turns...I had my suspicions 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑑...and when everything was revealed...shew!!!

Molly and Ashton, this couple I didn't love as much as I did Jess and Trace, I honestly just didn't feel the connection between them. But individually I liked certain things about them.

𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Loved the parts that mentioned Jess and Trace, loved the friendship between them.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨 🔫🔫🔫🔫
𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐞 💋💋💋
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 🔥🔥
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 🥵
𝐏𝐥𝐨𝐭 📚📚📚📚
𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 💧

A Cruel Arrangement by Tijan is book Two in the Kings of New York Series. This is the story of Molly Easter and Ashton Walden. I have read the previous book 'A Dirty Business', which I do recommend you read event though book one was the story of Trace West and Jess Montell. The Kings of New York is a interconnecting series so it will add to the enjoyment of this one. Molly is a sweet women is used to handling things on her own and having a addict gambling father who is always having issues. But she has worked hard to keep going. Ashton is the new head of the Walden family and is a dangerous and deadly. Ashton is out to get answers on a murder. This had lead him to working with Molly and so starts their story. Enjoyed this book and series.

I can admit I dragged my feet on this one. I was so excited to get it but then worried once I had it. It was dumb. It being me. I was dumb to worry about Ashton and Molly. I was dumb to think Trace and Jess would be safe. In this life, safety is an illusion.

A Cruel Arrangement is darker like Ashton. Questions are answered. Things are brought into the light. Hearts are broken. Healing beings.

Ash and Molly are the perfect halves to each other. Now that they are whole...priceless.

Get ready! This story had me on the edge of my seat, unable to stop reading from the beginning until the end. This author brings pure perfection in this intense, powerful, mafia world/enemies to lovers romance story, that may be unconventional but it was oh so captivating. Action packed, full of thrilling danger, violence, death, cruelty, ruthlessness, as well as filled full of a sizzling, steamy romance.

This is Molly Easter and Ashton Walden journey to a HEA and I was mesmerized by every word of this romance! These two have been part of a world that was not of their choosing, but one they were born into. Meeting each other at a young age, they never were close until one night when Molly’s world, Easter Lanes was threatened and her switch came into play. Usually she was kind and pure but not when backed into a corner and over reacted or irrationally overreacted or worse.

Ashton was the complete opposite to Molly. He was now the head of the Walden Mafia family, and he was dark, intense and cruel and he loved that part of his world. But now she was part of the war that his family was involved in which meant she was his business now. And the forced proximity that it created made the itch he had for Molly keep intensifying! And Molly well she had her own attraction for him as well. It was so amazing to see them both change and be so tuned in to each other becoming what the other needed.

“Unlike Trace, I liked being cruel. I liked killing. I liked the ruthlessness of this world, but I’d been holding back for him, for my brotherhood with him, for his woman, for my very delicate relationship with Jess, but Molly-she was a whole other factor.”

This was so well written and I loved how this all played out. I also loved all the secondary characters and getting more of Trace and Jess. I hope there is a spin off from this world, and if there is I will be anxiously waiting!

Received an early copy and this is my honest review.

After the ending to the first book, A Dirty Business, I was so pleased this second book was releasing quite quickly. It moves directly on with investigating who killed Justin and Kelly and let me just say… you won’t believe it!

I will be honest and say Ashton was not my favourite character in the first book, but I suspect that situation was done on purpose. He definitely grows on you and dare I say it? I actually liked him! Shock, horror. 🤣 He obviously needed a good woman behind him to make all of his good attributes shine.

Molly is a sassy, feisty firecracker who I liked instantly. She calls a spade a spade and although she might be a tad impulsive her heart is always in the right place. She certainly didn’t have it easy as a teenager but she is the type of person who makes her own way. She knows how to be a true friend and is the perfect partner for Ashton. There’s certainly no lacking in chemistry between the two lead characters but what I really liked is that the steamy scenes, although 🔥🔥, didn’t overtake the story. In my book that balance is an automatic extra point.

I enjoyed the suspense of trying to find out who murdered Justin and Kelly and whilst this was happening the mafia war raged as well. So lots of exciting action and intense drama making it a very entertaining book. Add in the great twists at the end and you have a five star story.