I love Mafia books because you always have the tense story with the big bad wolf softy for the heroine with lots of spice thrown in. This one did not disappoint! Ashton was not the best character in the first one and I'm glad we got to see his redemption. I liked Molly because she definitely fit in with him and his lifestyle. You definitely need to read the first book in the series to really enjoy this one. I hope we see more in this world in the future!

Sensational 5 star read
This is the second in the Kings of New York series and it is just as compelling and addicting as the first, I was total engrossed from the opening pages through to the end.
The writing was brilliant and intense, the story will keep you on the edge of your seat with its twists and turns as war breaks out between the mafia families and Ashton searches for Kelly and Justin’s killer (do yourself a favour and make sure you read Book 1 “A Dirty Business” first).
Hitting dead ends with all his usual sources, Ashton turns to Molly with the intention of using her to have her father put his ear to the ground and find out what the streets were saying about the killing. In Molly, Tijan has crafted a superb character, she’s feisty, sassy, loyal to her friends and independent in a uniquely offbeat kind of way. She, of course, remembers Ashton from an incident in their childhood, a trigger for a life changing event. Ashton, now head of the Walden family, has a darkness in him, cold and cruel, and has no issue with using her for his own gain. But the more time she spends with him, the more her sunshine lights up his soul.
Theirs is a slow burn romance until they come together and burn up the pages, the sex is off the charts hot!
The action continues throughout, never knowing who they can trust with an ending you won’t see coming.
Sensational, 5 star read!

I love mafia romance I I am enjoying this series. There’s plenty of mystery and suspense to keep someone engaged, with just the perfect amount of romance thrown in.

Tijan’s "A Cruel Arrangement" is a dark, gripping, and intense story that pulls you into a world filled with danger, passion, and complex characters. This book is the second installment in the Kings of New York series, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint in terms of high stakes and emotional depth.

The story centers on an unlikely romance that blossoms in the shadowy corners of power and crime. Tijan expertly crafts a narrative that is both raw and addictive, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the characters navigate their tumultuous relationship and the perilous world around them. The protagonist's struggle to reconcile their darker impulses with the desire for love and redemption is particularly compelling.

What stands out most about this book is the intensity of the emotions and the depth of the characters. Tijan has a way of making you feel every moment of tension, every spark of passion, and every pang of fear. The relationship at the heart of the story is complicated and filled with a push-and-pull dynamic that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

The pacing is well-balanced, with just the right mix of action, suspense, and romance. Tijan's writing style is straightforward yet powerful, drawing you into the characters' world and making you care deeply about their fates.

Overall, "A Cruel Arrangement" is a must-read for fans of dark romance and anyone who enjoys a story with complex characters and a plot full of twists and turns. It’s a book that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next chapter in this thrilling series.

𝘼 𝘾𝙧𝙪𝙚𝙡 𝘼𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩
𝘉𝘺 𝘛𝘪𝘫𝘢𝘯

Book 2 in The King of New York series.

As the tradition for me goes I read this book 1st and now feel teeny weeny bad for not catching up on the 1st past first which is '𝘈 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦'.

If we ignore that part i enjoyed the book and liked it so so much... It had more action and drama that my previous Mafia reads so that was more interesting for me.

Ashton Walden a mafia head needs Molly Easter to do something for him. Something that gets a sweet, innocent , girl next door Molly to a strong, powerful and fierce woman who'd do anything to keep her loved ones safe.

The book is full of suspense, drama, a lot of action, romance and angst. It kept me on the edge to find what's next ???

I liked the Molly's 'switch' which also made me realise we all have it but are not aware of.

The bond between Ashton and Trace is defined so beautifully. The way they stood together despite of ups and downs is what I really liked. Found family is great trope.

The chemistry, the push- pull between Ashton and Molly and their banter and their scenes make you go Awww!!!

I'd recommend this book without a doubt but with an advice to read in sequence.


Toodles 💕

I feel like I will be on the opposite spectrum of everyone else here. But I always struggle through Tijan's books. I will still highly recommend checking it out thought! They are always so highly regarded but I just can never finish them. This here was my last attempt.

If you haven't read the first book in this duet STOP. Don't read this one and expect to understand or feel the full impact. Although the books are about different couples the overall story is a continuation from Jess and Trace's book. I didn't love this one as much as the first but I was invested in how Ashton and Trace were now pulled into their family's life and the resolution to what and why the something big happened in book 1. Ashton and Molly were just a little more intense and leaning towards the darker side of the lifestyle. Jess was kickass but Molly ran into situations that usually worked out for her in the end but ventured into the frustrating TSTL heroine. Overall I'm satisfied with the duet/series and its conclusion. Bonus mention of Octavia and Cole since it's set in NY. Carter and Cole will always be my favorite.

Have you ever read a book that you put off for way too long and then regretted it because it was so amazing? That was this book this author is always a hit for me besides the fact that she seems to be the sweetest person on Earth all of her books I have read have been top notch. Cruel arrangement is Mafia romance done Right Molly and Ashton are amazing you definitely do not want to miss this book or anything Tijan put out!

I really liked the first one of this series so was excited to read this one. I love Molly and Ashton a lot but Molly had me so angry every time she ran away! Very excited to see what comes next in this series

I started this book, thinking it would work as a standalone, but I ended up having to go back to book 1 in order to get a better sense of the characters and world building. The plot is full of action and I loved Molly and Ashton. I wasn't sure if they would work as a couple, but they ended up having fantastic chemistry. They truly balanced each other out. Some scenes, the characters seemed very young and the plot could be over the top, but I still enjoyed it. Love the author's other works too and will definitely read more from her.

A Cruel Arrangement is book 2 in the Kings Of New York series from Tijan. This book was so amazing and worth the wait. This stand alone mafia romance features a great plot, action, suspense, and interconnecting characters. This book will be hard to put down as it holds all of your attention. This book was simply amazing!!

I didn't realize this was a second book in a series, but i didn't feel like i missed anything. To me, it gave standalone story in a series. I loved the banter between the characters in this book and i like that the characters stayed very true to who they were. I liked that Molly really kept Ashton on his toes - overall, really enjoyed this one!

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in Tijan's Kings of New York and just as fantastic as the first.

Tijan is a magician with her words. She knows exactly how to grip her readers right from the start and keep them entertained through the end. However, she also knows how to weave a story that is completely different even though it’s within the same series. Molly and Ashton's story is completely different than Trace and Jess's.

Molly may come across as this timid rabbit but she was pretty much raised on the streets. Her interactions with her Father, Shorty, only added to her difficulty upbringing and molded her into who she is today.

Ashton has no qualms about getting his hands dirty. He doesn't even flinch at any violence; he pretty much wears it like armor. He's a man of action and has no remorse for it. He purposely has kept a wall up and doesn't allow himself to have any weaknesses for others to use against him. Until Molly.

I love how this story played out. Tijan kept these characters true to who they are and yet they evolved too. The banter between them all was perfection and I loved that Molly kept Ashton on his toes. He never knew what to expect from her and that helped bond them even more.

I highly recommend this series so much! You will not regret it.

4.5. I didn’t know what to expect going into this because I admit I hadn’t read the first book or any other Tijan’s books but I absolutely loved this! After finishing this, I really want to go back and read book one to get Jess and Trace’s story and the backstory on what happened between Ashton and Jess. (I do wish that I would’ve read the books in order to get the whole effect of Ashton redeeming himself. That’s my bad though.)

I really loved the balance between suspense/mystery and romance/spice. I enjoyed Molly’s character a lot. She really played into the mafia role well once she met Ashton and was fearless even if it meant putting herself in danger. Molly and Ashton’s character really complimented each other perfectly. She was this ball of sunshine and he was this grumpy closed off alpha. I also really enjoyed that Ashton grew to understand the consequences of his actions and how to own up to what he’s done in the past. That being said, he also didn’t apologize for being himself. He was able to open up to Molly and to help her understand what he had done and that he realized he hurt Jess and was truly sorry for it.

Overall, I felt that the character development was amazing, the beginning felt a little slow but eventually I didn’t want to put it down.

I really wanted to like this story more than I did. Ashton was a typical mafia bad a*s, but Molly got on my nerves at times and she seemed childish at times. Narration of the audiobook could have been better and maybe would have made the story come across better.

Okay, so I might have did not read the book but it's on my TBR. I was going through some major book-slump on that time period which lasted more than six months. I could not pick up books. I did not have it in me to force myself either as it would lead to a bad mood and a bad review. Hopefully I will pick this book up soon.

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book of the Kings of New York duet and is the perfect ending to a wonderful and captivating story. Tijan has done it again! I just love her work as she is so talented and has gained a new fan!

This story unfolds with the after effects of the previous book's cliffhanger ending, so as soon as I received this one, I had to read it to find out what happens next! The darkness of this story drew me in immediately, but what I loved the most, was the light and warmth this story brought to the table.

Molly and Ashton's story unfolds before the readers eyes, which had a slow burn to it that I just devoured. Their mafia romance trope was filled with gritty suspense, with moments of passion and thrills. I loved this book so much! The storyline had me hooked from the very first page.

If you're a fan of dark romance suspense, with moments of heat and passion, I highly recommend this one!

Like every book I have read by Tijan I enjoyed A Cruel Arrangement.
This was definitely not my favourite book by the author but it was a good read.

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in the Kings of New York series by Tijan. You can NOT read this book as a standalone so if you haven’t read A Dirty Business… go one-click it now. These kings of New York are 🔥.

Molly is a fierce independent woman who has lived her life in survival mode. She was Shorty Easter’s daughter after all. A man owed by the mafia and not just any mafia, the Walden’s. The man had nine lives. Molly wanted nothing to do with her father. She bought him out of Easter Lanes and the bowling alley was her life. She had a few friends and her lanes. That’s all she needed. So when a man comes in to rob her at gunpoint, she flipped her switch. She won’t show fear. She will make him fear her. She ended up in the hospital but her biggest shock was where she was when she woke up… in Ashton Walden’s home.

Ashton needed her. He needed her for information and she needed him to get her life back. A cruel arrangement is made. Promises are made. It was dangerous. It was sexy. It was life-changing. There will be blood. There will be lust. There will answers. There will be love. It’s an epic mafia romance I will never forget. I am so hoping it’s not the end of the series. I still have love for another character. ♥️

Quotes:

When he was a teenager, he’d been hot. But now, my mouth was almost watering, and I hated that, but I couldn’t deny it. Now he was a masterpiece to look at, and my stomach dipped because I knew how ruthless he could be at the same time.

She owned me, and god help anyone who tried to take her away from me.

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

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in the Kings of New York series by Tijan. As usual, Tijan brings us an amazingly well-written and well-thought-out story that is totally unputdownable! Just as A Dirty Business was such an amazing story, this one follows that same path and is in the same world.

I loved Molly's personality, and she and Ashton were scorching hot together! I also loved being back in this world, and can't wait for more of these stories by this amazingly talented author, but in the meantime, this one is highly recommended with more than five stars!