Wow. This is only my second experience with a mafia romance and it blew me away.

I was surprise how well Jess and Trace were able to separate their professional lives away from who they were as a couple. There were times where their romance felt a little off, and the pacing could have been improved. It also bothered me that they stayed together after finding out that their parents had an affair; that would have ended everything for me personally.

I was not surprised with what happened near the end involving Trace's dad, and honestly he should have been taken care of much sooner.

The ending could have been handled better, but I understand needing to wrap up storylines.

This book was abslutely fantastic. I loved the characters, the story was so intense. Tijan wrote the perfect suspense romance. The book ends with the cliffhanger and I just cant wait for the next one.

Tijan created an interesting story with Jess a parole officer and Trace a morally grey wallstreet mobster.

These two are repeatedly drawn to each other no matter how bad of an idea their romance may be. I enjoyed their story but I did find the story confusing a few times due to some jumping around. I would totally read the second one to get more of the story. And ending on a cliff hanger?! WTH lol I'm hoping the second one draws this unpredictable ride together.

A Dirty Business by Tijan is the first book in the mafia series Kings of New York. This is Jess and Trace‘s story.
 
Jess is working as a parole officer with the law enforcement. She is more than tough and isn’t afraid to be in the presence of some dubious or bad people. She was my favorite part of this book.
 
Trace is in the mafia because of his family, but if he could choose, he would leave that type of life immediately. He rather focuses on his businesses and being successful in it, but no matter how hard he tries, he is still involved with the mafia. This uncertainty kind of bothered me a bit and I would have preferred if he was more of a bad guy.
 
The two meet at a hockey game and that was such an unusual meet cute and started the series of discrepancies the book includes. It’s kind of opposites attract, but kind of not and some other things. This made it difficult for me to connect to the characters and especially the romance. The plot was a mix of intriguing and boring and that’s kind of how I felt about this whole story.
 
Overall, A Dirty Business is a light mafia romance, and I would have preferred if it was a bit darker of a story. 3 stars.
 
(ARC kindly provided in exchange for a review.)

Books by Tijan are usually either a big hit or miss for me..

Unfortunately, this is a miss. The risky relationship between a parole officer and the heir to a mob empire just didn't ring true.

It had mystery, and romance. There was a lot of hot sex. There was a bad boy trying to be good.

And yet - I didn't FEEL the connection. I found myself skimming along at times..

I do want to thank the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC. It did not impact my review. I feel bad since I want to give it a better review, but it just didn't connect for me.

First off, thanks to Tijan, Montlake and Netgalley for giving me this book to read early. Tijan is one of my favorite authors, and a comfort author at that, but saying that I’m almost sad I read this early because now I have to wait longer for the next book. Dirty Business is the new mafia book that has brief connections to Tijan’s other mafia books and are exactly what I expect from this author. A tough heroine who doesn’t need a man, but ends up falling for the wrong guy, who’s right for her. The serious but flirty banter between Jess and Trace is balanced out by the sarcastic and brother fighting/banter of Ashton and Trace. The book was one I couldn’t put down and I can’t wait for the next book.

Soooo… I knew this one would end with a ‘to be continued’, but COME ON!!!! I’m practically jumping out of my skin to find out what happens next! That ending!!!!
I feel I need to start off by saying I could have read this story in one night had work and life not got in the way.
It’s that good! I didn’t want to put it down!

Jess is an absolute amazing chapter. I felt I could connect with her from the very first few pages. Very lovable character. She seems to be barely barely balancing life. But it’s her life and she’s happy. Or at least she thinks she’s happy. Then BAM!!! - her world is thrown upside down.
And Trace… oh my! Who do you picture as Trace??? He’s hot!!! How do I see as him? I’m not sure, but I know how I picture him in my head.

This is a story about forbidden love - the mafia (soon to be) leader and the parole office who can’t stay apart. Black and white. Simple as that… or is it?!?!

Wow! This book was such a wild and intense read. I recommend it to all who enjoy angst, pining, slow burn and a forbidden romance.

Trace is the presumptive heir to his Mafia boss uncle. And Jess is a parole officer. Their attraction burns hot from the moment they meet, but they both know they should not pursue it. I would have liked to see more emotional development in their relationship as a foundation for the romance. It largely seemed based on physical attraction, even as it progressed.

But the plot was enthralling. There were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing and prevented me from putting the book down for even a second. The suspense was real.

The ending was abrupt and a cliffhanger. So for now, I am disappointed with the wait. I'll be checking back constantly to learn what happens next.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

CW: Mafia romance with lots of violence, drugs, alcohol

A feisty five-star read. This one was a complex one, as I loved it, but I did find it a little lacking in parts compared to others I have read by this author. It just seemed to drift, but overall I loved it. Jess was just someone I adored, as we went on this journey with her it really made me smile. This is an intense story and grips you when its going, and I am so excited to get my hands on the second story in the Kings of New York series as I need more kings in my life.

Chemistry knows no borders, and breaks all rules of what should and shouldn't happen - but the consequences are still there. Would you risk your life and your career for love?

Jess Montell, a parole officer, meets Trace West, the Mafia bad boy and heir, at a hockey game and the attraction is immediate. After finding out who the other one is, they both knows that logically the relationship is completely impossible - since when does police and crime enter a relationship? Events continue bringing them together and their story develops at a great pace throughout the book.

Highly enjoyable and addictive!

The only negative is the end, and the fact that the next book in the "Kings of New York" series in not available until April 2023. Keep an eye out for A Cruel Arrangement.

When Tijan releases a new book, or new Series, I’m always excited.

I finished this book a few days ago…


Sadly, it didn’t work for me. I’ve been struggling with the review because the plot sounded really promising, and there were some beautiful moments between Trace and Jess, but my main issue was the lack of depth…

The characters felt too cliché to me), their install-love (it felt too rushed from the first chapter), Jess’s character (the whole PO bad girl, how she speaks, how she also works as a waitress in this pub…).
The pace didn’t work either, I got bored really early and almost didn’t finish the book.

And I got even more frustrated with the ending… I really expected a standalone in the Series, but nope, I got a cliffhanger instead.

So, logically, I’m not looking for the next books.

I’ll refrain from sharing my review (during Release Week AND after)


Thank you for the ARC opportunity.

I like when both leads have a strong personality and this book delivered. Jess and Trace had such chemistry, it jumped out of the page. I think that I literally read this in one sitting without any breaks at all. I was immersed in their world. It was amazing and I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

From the title I knew I would love this book, or at least the idea of it. Starting with action the two main characters met almost instantly. I loved that Trace (the male main character) was broody and mysterious… honestly the splitting image of the stereotypical dangerous love interest. Jess (the female main character) was a parole officer which made the story really unique, because obviously dangerous men do not like cops.

A lot of characters and their backgrounds were introduced quickly which was very confusing and I think that was the beginning of my hesitancy towards this book. It was a confusing mix between some chapters being painfully slow and others overflowing with information. I guess you could say it is definitely a slow burn, like very very slow. I was about a quarter of the way through the book before things even started happening. As I kept reading further my curiosity started getting the better of me and I became more invested in the characters and their relationships.

Then all of a sudden things go from slow to fast. The main characters relationship develops and it left me with a bit of whiplash. I have neutral feelings towards the writing style and think that the concept of the book was incredibly creative (and yes a little cliché, but aren’t they all!) but I think I didn’t connect with Jess. Maybe if she’d been more relatable or even a little less “I’m not like every other female character” she would have been more likeable. After about half way I started to realise this book wasn’t for me even though I usually love this genre. It was excruciatingly slow at points and I felt no connection to any of the story. Every time I would pick it up it would be a struggle and I’d only end up reading a few chapters at a time.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Once in a while, I try out a mafia romance just for something new. As far as mafia romances go, I guess this one was all right. I wish I could give more insight on how exactly I felt reading this but this is just a head-empty read for me.

I typically love Tijan's books. However this one confused me a little bit and the details didn't flow smoothly. I will read more books by this author, but unfortunately this one didn't work for me.

Mafia Prince meets Parole Officer romance....

I have read many books by Tijan and this one is in the same style as the rest. Angsty, people driven by extreme loyalty, and steamy sex. The MC's are categorized as either good or bad, not much in between.

Tijan has that certain special quality for writing that wants you to keep reading. However, I am waiting for her to develop this talent into something sharper and more realistic, to go beyond what she uses as her formula for virtually every book she has written . The overall plot is usually very interesting but needs to evolve more with plausible details and less repetition. The characters also need to be less like cardboard and more realistically human.

Thanks to Netgalley for an early read.

DNF @ 78%

I really tried my best to finish this but I felt like the book is long and drawn out for no reason. I feel like there was a lot of unnecessary filler and it just didn't do it for me. I was really a huge fan of Jess and Trace either.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc copy!

This is my first book from this author and I must say I WASN"T DISSAPPOINTED! What a read. Mafia and police woman (well parole officer) two individuals from different worlds and an attraction between them they both fight hard to deny. It is like they say opposites attract, well maybe something like that. Very good book with a tug of war on both parties learning to trust and ultimately deciding how to make it work between the two of them if at all possible. As they go through their own personal journeys in their own world the two face numerous challenges from families to solving the mystery of who is conspiring against them. The fight to make it work but in the end something has got to give - to stay or to go, how do they make this work is the question? Happy Reading.

Based off the fact I love mafia romance, the cover & the seemingly all positive reviews, I really wanted to love this one but unfortunately I had to add it to my DNF. The writing style just didn’t work for me.

“Who touched you?”
“Because when it comes to you, I have absolutely no fucking control over myself”
Wow this book was really something. A very dark mafia romance that had a bit of an impossible and forbidden love story between a parole officer and an almost mafia boss, who can’t fight their mutual attraction.
Their relationship is twisted and sometimes it can get to dangerous points for both of them and for the people they love. But I really liked how the story gets deeper and deeper the more it goes on.
The side characters were, in my opinion, even better than the main characters in certain circumstances.
The spicy scenes between Jess and Trace were absolutely amazing and their tension was palpable from the very first pages. I loved reading it!!!
And the undertone of boss romance added a bit more excitement to the whole thing!!!!
As every mafia romance, despite some scenes, involving their families, that can be considered trigger, I believe that the book was very well built and easy to go through.
I’m very glad I had the chance to read this one!!
“I needed her, but she needed me just as much. We were both addicted”