Be prepared for an interesting story!

Never fails, I start a book by Tijan and think I’ll read just a few chapters before bed, hours later I’m still reading!

How to describe A Dirty Business? Parole officer Jess Montell watches over her caseload during the week and tends bar at Katya to pay her bills when she meets this gorgeous guy at a hockey game. Only problem, he’s Trace West heir to the West Mafia family who actually owns Katya with his friend Ashton. They have no business even going on a date but dang it makes the story even hotter with everything that happens between Jess and Trace.

Read A Dirty Business because you will miss a really good book if you don’t because there are so many twists and turns and now I want to know more about Ashton and his family so I want to read the next book now!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An addiction-like love for Trace and Jess

This is a powerful love story set amid the seedy mafia world, between dedicated cop Jess and reluctant mafia heir Trace. They hate each other's lives, but they just can't deny the sizzling attraction they share. I loved how this complexity was broken down to its elemental level, where no matter how long they tried to stay away from each other, something always drew them back. Their connection was undeniable and hopelessly inevitable.

As the story develops, we discover secrets about both their families that further chip away at any chance they might have for a peaceful, happy life together. At one point they have to sacrifice everything that has ever meant anything to them - even their respective life-long best friends. As often is the case with mafia romances, the line between good and evil, right and wrong, is a very blurry line at times, and the author does a remarkable job of showing that there's a little good in the worst of characters, and a little evil in the best.

This book works as a standalone romance, but there were a few loose ends left by the time we got our HEA for Jess and Trace. However, when I saw this listed as Book 1 of a series, I became hopeful that these loose ends will be addressed as the series develops. The writing was compelling and kept me glued to my reader until I had devoured the entire volume. Highly recommended for anyone who loves mafia romances. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Whoa!!

Now that was an ending!

Jess is so much a ‘cop’ that she catalogues everyone’s details when she meets them- height, weight, appearance, but that just adds to the feel of this book.
Trace is a man that’s half in and half out of the family business. He was raised on loyalty but was smart enough to make his own way before being pulled towards the mafia.

When these two collide the desperation and heat can be felt as they fight their feelings against what they’ve been raised to do. This is a perfect slow burn as Jess tries her hardest to get him to realise how much her world would collapse if anything were to happen. But then of course, against their desires someone within the family forces their hand.
The dichotomy of their two worlds could be felt in the beginning, then as they spent more time together they found more and more points in common and their worlds began to blend. I truly loved this and I loved that I had gotten to the good part by my day off and could just sit and read. Bring on book 2.

Calling time on this one. This writing style is not for me. I need more scene-setting and to be painted a proper picture. To me if felt like I couldn't grab all the elements that the author might have thought of while writing the book. I often felt like I was being dropped into a scene, with no clue about where or how. Just complete direct getting to business, which felt abrupt. This often doesn't work for me unfortunately.
And I also learned that there was a major cliffhanger at the end of the story. I don't like those. I prefer waiting for series that have cliffhangers to be released in full before reading them (I have done so several times, even waiting for years). I don't remember seeing a warning about it on Netgalley.
Dnf'ing at 28%.

Thanks to the publisher and author for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Ok so first things first - I have never read a Mafia romance, nor did I ever have any desire to in the past. There was just something about this that said, you need to read this.
This is going to be short and sweet because I don't really know what to say honestly. I'm still reeling.
How can I put into words how I feel about this book...
You know when you read a really good book, and I mean REALLY good - but by good I mean it emotionally turns you inside out and leaves you feeling slightly lost and wanting more? Ya. That's this book. I have so many feelings about this book - all of which are good. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't damaged by the fact that I don't know when to expect the next one and I NEED the next one yesterday.
Thank you to NetGalley and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. Tijan has produced some of my all-time favourite novels which I re-read frequently; Canary, Enemies and Teardrop Shot. but I cannot get past 36% on A Dirty Business. The thing which captivates me about Tijan's novels is the connection between the main characters but here I didn't feel any connection or desire to continue reading.

A Dirty Business by Tijan was beyond all expectations! I loved this story so much and didn't want it to end. But when it did end, major cliffhanger!!! This story follows Trace (Tristian) West, Mafia prince and business tycoon and Jess, parole officer. They are two people who should not fall for one another but it chance meetings it happens. To say one person has been through it all could sum up Jess' life. But they are better together no matter how much they push the other away. I loved the action and suspense of this love story. Can we please have the next book!?! Need MORE!!!

Hell freaking Yes!! A Dirty Business is everything I love about dark mafia stories!! It’s packed with family, friends, loyalty, betrayal🖤 It’ll captivate from beginning to OMG that ending!

I love that Trace & Jess are captivated by each other from the beginning but I also love that it takes them a while to make their choice. Their struggles are real and Tijan does a phenomenal job with their turmoil.

A Dirty Business will keep you guessing until the end😢 I cannot wait for A Cruel Arrangement 😳

💕fave quotes📖
I opened the door but gave him a searing look, or I hoped because my insides were a jumbled mess. He did that to me. Every time. Right and wrong, good and bad, he was fucking me up.🔥


It didn’t occur to me until Ashton was fully behind me that he should’ve been the one going ahead. He had the gun. I told him, “You better have that thing aimed down.” “Of course, in case I need to kill any New York alligators.” “Dumbass.”“Uh, I’m the smart one. I got you to lead the way.” That was true. I was the dumbass.—-just a little goofy banter to lighten the situation 😑


“Don’t say things like that. A girl might get all kinds of ideas.” “Maybe I want this particular girl to get those ideas.” “Then maybe you should say more.”💕

Intense and evocative, A Dirty Business is a masterful piece of storytelling that consumed me from the first page to the last. Tijan is such a wonderfully gifted writer and Trace and Jess’s story is slow burn perfection. Do not miss this one!

Tijan gets dark and dirty (pun intended) with her new Mafia Romance. I’m going to freely admit that I am obsessed with Tijan’s books. I’ve yet to find one that doesn’t enrapture me from the start, and this book is no different. I’ve missed her Mafia romances, so I am thrilled that she decided to come back and give us something so thoroughly alluring that you won’t be able to put it down.

I adored Jess and Trace. These two were absolutely flawless. Their banter. Their push and pull. Their angst. Gahhhh I died for it all. I loved that Tijan crafted such a strong independent character in Jess. I’m used to her FMC being quirky and lovable. And Jess while also lovable was fierce. She’s a PO and she doesn’t take shit from anybody. She’s tough and has this wall surrounding her that is almost impenetrable. But Trace persistent and undeterred does eventually. The buildup between them was pure fire. The tension and heat were instantaneous and powerful, you could feel it expanding and growing each time they were in the same room together, causing your blood pressure to slowly rise until you burst.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the world building that Tijan did. There are connections between other books throughout, however, it’s completely different. So, I enjoyed meeting all these new characters and this new world being created. Trace was so unlike any of her other MMC’s that I’ve seen. He’s torn between two worlds and struggling to figure out exactly what he wants. Having Jess be a PO also adds an extra layer of angst and heartbreak that they both have to try and reconcile. These two had so much to work through and overcome both separately and together. Each individual layer of anxiety and determination between them added so much more to the story and had my heart aching.

Tijan is Queen. She without fail creates books and characters that I immediately love. I always know that when I open a Tijan book I will be useless to those around me until I’m done. This book is a remarkable start to an addictive series that I can’t wait to continue. If you love mafia romances that look no further, this one is for you!

Thank you to Tijan and Netgalley for this ARC.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT CLIFF HANGER!! I really loved reading this book and I will be reading more books from Tijan.

If you're a fan of this author you know what you are getting. It was dark and gritty and I couldn't put it down. All the characters were interesting and there were quite a few twists and turns throughout the story. I loved this one and I hope there are more in the series! I need to know what happens after!

I’ve read a lot of books from this author, but honestly this one wasn’t my favorite. I’m all for the bad guy trope and such but this one just felt super unrealistic for me. The plot left something to be desired. The spice from her is always good and that didn’t disappoint!

And never the two shall meet. And if they DO meet, never shall they ever, ever be in a relationship. Instant attraction doesn't always they should be together but neither Jess, nor Trace are capable of staying away from each other. As with any relationship, there are pitfalls and in this case, those pitfalls can mean life or death. Mafia doesn't mix with cops, unless of course, the cops are on the take. Some great twists and turns and in my opinion, a hella cliff hanging ending.

4.25⭐️
2.5🌶️

WOW you guys this book was so good BUT THE CLIFFHANGER AT THE END IS MAKING ME SO ANGRY I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!

i absolutely loved the story here and how much push and pull there was between trace and jess and i LOVEEEE a good man obsessed 🤩 that shit is my kryptonite tbh he was so whipped for her <3

i also loved the relationship between trace and ashton (although he made me mad at one point) i loved how tijan created the relationships with them and jess and kelly they were perfect!

the story was great too, a lot of angst and TENSION !!! it was so so good i def recommend if you want a mafia romance with some pining and DRAMAAAA you guys it was so good

i def recommend if you enjoy a nice mafia read :)

3.5 stars
If you love an epic alpha hero, A Dirty Business by Tijan has a perfect one for you. It is a mafia romantic suspense with lots of action, feels and a very complicated heroine but the asset of the story is definitely Trace West. He is carrying this whole story on his shoulders.

The story is pretty simple. Parole officer Jess meets Wall Street tycoon Tristian "Trace" West and they have an instant spark. But Jess doesn't let it go farther as Trace is also part of West mafia family and she has a line. But lines are there to be Blurred.


I feel like a broken record when it comes to Tijan's books now a days. The hero is perfect. Book boyfriend dream personified. The heroine is complex..a bit too complex to the level that she starts to annoy me, even when she has a tragic past and heartaching present. And I always try to give the heroine extra love in all the books because I feel we are sometimes extra hard to them. Jess is strong and sassy and has a tough attitude though her life has been one tragedy after another. She put Trace at a distance because he is from the dark side. And Trace did all the work to prove he is nothing like his family. His business isn't exactly dirty. I felt he chose Jess over and over again while Jess just pushed him away. I get her point. I do. But exactly how much a guy have to do to prove himself? He protected her by putting himself at risk. He respected her decision to stay away even when he knew they are too deep. He stayed at the background and cleaned up her messy situations. While Jess just stayed rigid and stubborn and refused to let him in repeatedly. She was hot and cold. Trace is an irresistible man with his secrets and dangerous Sides. But she finally chose Trace and I am so happy. The suspense and action was on point and I loved the cat and mouse game. The chase was amazing. The plot was beautiful and execution was brilliant.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily received through Montlake and Netgalley

Jess Montell and Trace West met at a hockey game, instantly attracted to one another. Jess was a parole officer, trying to stay on the right side of the law, while Trace, underneath his Wall Street suit, was a Mafia prince, next in line to take over his uncle's business. The possibility of anything more between them was forbidden, yet the pull drawing them together only intensified.

Trace was sexy, powerful and all-consuming, broody and mysterious, stalking and possessive, everything I wanted his character to be. But I just couldn't feel any true chemistry between him and Jess. Jess was strong-willed, tough and ready to stand up for herself but her character felt somewhat stereotypical and unlikable to me, as did her dysfunctional family members. She also surrendered to her feelings and to her body's reactions to Trace more easily than I expected her to, at odds with the strong woman she claimed to be.

I had wanted to love this book more since I've enjoyed mafia romances as well as another book by the author in the past. However, this story was very drawn out with too much filler that detracted from the romance and several interactions seemed uncharacteristically forced and unnatural. Sex was interspersed in random episodes that had no real buildup or angst. They just happened. As much as I loved Trace, I just couldn't become invested in his relationship with Jess because something simply felt off with her and I couldn't feel the integrity of their connection. I was more interested in Trace's business dealings and friendship with Ashton and I would have liked to see more scenes going deeper into that.

Conflicted feelings and the internal war between right and wrong, good and bad, needed to burn through everything but sometimes it all felt like background noise. Through the heat and charged energy, the intensity of the internal struggle in making the right choices was lacking and, ultimately, I wasn't compelled to keep reading.

* DNF at 41% *

** Special thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Available December 6, 2022. **

Believe it or not, this is my first from Tijan. And overall, I enjoyed the story but not enough to continue with the next installment. I liked the characters of Trace and Jess but their insta-love put me off from the start. I just didn't buy Trace's overwhelming attraction and want of Jess after finally getting to see her in person one time after knowing exactly who she was for the last few years. With Jess, her being a parole officer by day and bartender at night was very cool tbh but her falling for the likes of a Trace just didn't make all that much sense even though he did actually seem like a good guy throughout this book.

There is a very complicated web of lies, mistrust, and dangerous dealings wrt both Jess and Trace's families, and the pace because of all that entanglement should have been faster IMO. I found myself skimming plenty of inner thoughts and extraneous passages that did not add anything to this story since I just wanted to get to the heart of the matter.

I will say that the author had a good idea of how the story progressed, it's just that the execution became tiresome for me. There is a ton going on at once and it's amazing both Jess and Trace could muddle through all the bs and actually find a way to somehow be together. The officer of the law and the presumed next West Mafia leader should have steered clear of one another from the start and despite all the warnings thrown their way, they just couldn't stay away. And I got that, I really did since they do have a subtle kind of chemistry between them. Perhaps, however, it just wasn't intense enough for me.

The book ends with a harsh revelation that I'm sure will have Jess spiraling. I can only hope Trace will be there to help pick up the pieces and find their happiness one way or another. But I'm sorry to say that this reader won't be sticking around to find out.

2.5 stars.

Disclaimer I don’t do mafia books I am 100 % Italian and a kid during what in Italy I was the mass murderers phase of early 90s it was a war , so mafia in my brain cannot be romantic ever .
I made an exception for Tijan I adore her
Jess and Tristan story is gorgeous and slow building they are flabbergasted by each other but their belonging to opposite banks of justice make them be cautious
The love building is great and chemistry OTT
Side plots as usual great as side characters
Thanks NetGalley for the Arc

This is a tough story to review. It's got a bit of everything...romance, mystery, suspense, but I wasn't expecting this to end in a cliffhanger (especially due to the length of this book). I thought it would be an interconnected series. I also wish there was more character dialogue.

Trace and Jess dance around each other for most of the story. Trace is balancing his two worlds...legitimate vs. illegal . Wall Street and building his empire with his brother by choice, Ashton vs. the Mafia. Trace is instantly enamored with Jess, until he spots her badge. However, in a twist of fate they keep running into each other.

Jess believes in right and wrong, it's black and white, no shades of gray. So, of course she fights the pull to Trace with every fiber of her being. Not to mention...she's already got plenty on her plate with her mom's addiction and her job as a parole officer (which she loves). There are also a lot of gaps in her memory and I'm super curious as to what she endured during her childhood, I feel like we only got glimpses, but don't have any real idea what happened.

It is honestly a toss up to what she'll decide when it's time to choose between her job and Trace. AND...will Trace choose to leave the Mafia or stay dedicated to his uncle? They're were also some shock and surprise from the side characters.

Really curious to see how this all plays out. Their story is told in dual POV, but low on spice.