The new series written by Ms. Tijan continues with this newest installment titled "A Cruel Arrangement" where we follow Ashton (a friend of Trace West) and Molly. Their past is saddening and we will learn quite a lot about it while reading.
Molly's life was not an easy one due to her father being in shady businesses under Ashton's family - and we know it's mafia's work so nothing pleasant - her upbringing was not with him fortunately, but foster care is nothing to be happy about as well. She's protective of her places, of her friends - no one can touch them.
Ashton is a newly appointed mafia boss so he will have to get himself used to a new position. He's strong, dominating, and has power and brutality in himself that's needed for dealing with dirty business. Let him take you on a wild ride where secrets will be brought to light.
This story was a well-written one in a style that is true to Tijan and makes me really like her books. I think it can be read on its own. but still, I recommend reading it in order as stories are coming after each other. Our characters are well developed and for sure reading their story will be enjoyable for each reader - don't be afraid of the number of pages! I recommend this one!

ARC Review

Rating: 3.75 /5⭐️

Publication Date: April 25th 2023

Author: Tijan

Review: so good!! I did start reading this one before the fire book in the series and I was a little lost until I figured it out so this is a series that you need to read in the correct order. I did get a little eh in the middle it just felt like it was repeating it’s self and stuff was coming out of no where the ending also felt like it just dropped off I wanted a little more but probably because I loved the characters. This one is definitely spicer than the first one too which keeps your interest along the way.

Loved Ashton and Molly's story!

"A new fire had started in my stomach. It was low and simmering, but it was always there when Molly Easter came into play."

Molly has been Ashton Walden's cross to bear since they were kids, even though she's been oblivious to it all. When Molly is suddenly in the cross-hairs of a Mafia war, there's no one better to protect her than Ashton, although she wants nothing to do with him. It doesn't matter that this stupidly gorgeous man gets her body revved up, she can't stand him. However, a terrible truth places Molly right where Ashton wants her. And, he wants a favour from her in exchange for something she really wants.

"Molly was mine. She was either my target, my mark, my woman, or my cross to bear. Any and all ways I split it, she was mine."

Wow! These two. I loved them! Molly was independent, stubborn, and trouble found her easily. Ashton was ruthless, powerful, and not to be crossed. I thrilled at the fact that Molly affected him so much, but once he admitted to himself how he felt, he was all in. Molly was helpless against her attraction to him. She recognised the darkness in him but she wanted all of him nonetheless. These two were incredibly passionate. The love and devotion that Ashton exhibited for Molly made me swoon hard! This story had plenty of action and a plot that turned and twisted. Ashton and Molly burned brightly, and I also loved their friendships with their respective best friends. I was fully invested in their happy ending. Thoroughly recommend!

I was unalive at the end of A Dirty Business. I needed more of this story line. I loved what we get with Ashton’s story. He intrigued me so much in Trace and Jess’ story. Ashton did not disappoint. I loved the new take on mafia, I loved the story lines continuing and new. I just loved it all.

Molly Easter, owner of Easter Lanes, is in a precarious situation. Partially raised in the system, she’s learned to take care of herself. But when one incident leads her into the protection of the Walden Mafia Family, all bets are off.

Ashton Walden head of the Walden Mafia family. Ruthless and unforgiving, he’s not to be messed with. When Molly gets herself into a situation, Ashton is there to bail her out. He has a dark and sordid past. But he never thought he would find himself caught up in Molly.

5 fantastic stars! What a ride. I love Molly and all her sass and quirks. She’s headstrong, and determined to show her worth. Ashton is dark, broody, and ruthless. But Molly worms her way into his heart. He then realizes everything that he’s been missing. What an amazing ride. This duet was absolutely phenomenal.

A Cruel Arrangement is an exciting Mafia romantic suspense full of some amazing characters.
I did not read Book 1, but I think I am going to have too now!
Ashton and Molly, have known each other for years.
Ashton needs Molly's help, finding out who killed two of his friends.
He plans on using Molly to help him get answers from her rat of a father.
These two have such an intense connection. And are perfect for one another.
I could not put this book down, and look forward to more in the series.

"...and I loved that people didn’t know how to read me. Except Molly. She could read me."
I am absolutely totally head over heels in love with Molly and Ashton! I felt so many emotions while reading their story. I laughed, I rooted for these two, and I loved every moment of it! Superb writing, exquisite storyline, and fantastic characters! This is definitely one of my new favorites from this author.

I was looking forward to learning more about Ashton and his story after reading A Dirty Business.

Molly Easter finds herself in the middle everything she never wanted when Ashton decides to use Molly’s dad to help find the parties responsible for the deaths of Jess & Molly’s friends.

Ashton and Molly have history, even though only one of them is aware of it. He has always had a soft spot for Molly but lately he’s been catching feelings for her.

Molly definitely is attracted to the talk, dark and dangerous Ashton. She likes to test her boundaries with Ashton. Their banter and angst was a definite plus to the story. When they finally connected it was lije fireworks.

I absolutely loved catching up with Trace and Jess and watching Ashton and Jess try to navigate their new normal.

This story is action packed and had me engaged from the beginning right through to the end. Tijan threw in a few curveballs that I didn’t see coming but they added to the underlying story.

A perfect conclusion to the Kings of New York duet but I can’t help wanting more Trace and Ashton.

Ashton was a dark complex character, however there is a side that he displays when it comes to Molly. She is not a weak female character that needs saving and she is quite sassy. I enjoyed the interactions with the side characters as well. The scene with Ashton and Trace regarding Remmi was comical.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

I really enjoyed the previous book in this series, but there was something about this one that I didn't love...and I am not sure why. I think it's that I was really invested in the initial couple in this story, and as a result had a hard time looking past those events to really feel engaged with the characters in this story.

I am unable to fully recommend this title, but it was also nice to know how this storyline resolved.

I didn't think it was possible to love a couple more than I loved Jess and Trace in Dirty Business, but Tijan blew that right out of the park with A Cruel Arrangement. I picked this up to read a few times, but knew I had to be in the right mind for it and I'm so glad I waited.

This time we are met with the amazing Molly and Ashton. Molly you may remember as the bowling alley owner in the first book and Ashton is head of the Walden family and Trace's best friend. I really loved Jess in the first book but admit Molly may be my new favourite and she's earned that! She's funny and smart, I love how she changed in this book with Ashton but in a good way. Ashton actually did a 180 for me from the first book as I never felt right with what he did with Jess towards the end of that book. Now I like him, a lot and I'm ok with that too!

Unlike Dirty Business I felt this had a really good pace from the get go. It doesn't slow at all and I loved the ride through to the end. I have loved these two books and recommend if you can reading them back to back, the ride would be so much better. Tijan has done an amazing job and I'm not just saying that as a huge fan of hers, I've really enjoyed the writing style with these books and as always she certainly can hold her own!

A solid 4 stars, I highly recommend this one to all Tijan fans and those who enjoy mafia books. For reference I don't enjoy mafia books, but if more were like this I might change my mind!!

A big thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for allowing me to review A Cruel Arrangement in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 Stars - 2.5 spice

This book fell a tad short for me, especially seeing as I really enjoyed book one. I think it may be that I just wished this book stayed in the perspective of books 1 characters (Jess and Trace). I was more invested in the murder mystery from Book 1 that the relationship for this book was a secondary plot for me, which made it hard to get a major grip on Molly and Ashton's relationship and fall in love with their love. The darkness of the relationship was interesting, but I just couldn't stay invested for the romantic aspects of this book. I couldn't really feel the love. HOWEVER, I did enjoy Molly's and Ashton's characters as they both were so strong and resilient to all of the chaos their lives experienced. At the end of the day, I think 3.5 is the perfect rating for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Monttlake, for an eARC of A Cruel Arrangement , written by Tijan. This is my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were fantastic and Molly is just an absolute doll - loved her! A fantastic dark and thrilling storyline laced with Mafia badness and romance!

If you like mafia books this one is for you. This is the second book in the series. I really thought this one would have been about Trace and Jess, but we got Ashton and Molly this time. We do however get to catch up with the previous characters. We met these two in the previous book, but now we get to really know them. Ashton is a dangerous man in the mafia but underneath all that he has a good heart and especially towards Molly. These two had a lot of chemistry between them. Mixed with suspense this was a great story. I received this ARC through the publisher and I am voluntarily reviewing this book, opinions are my own.

This book was amazing! It had it all.
•mafia romance
•fake relationship
•opposites attracts
•body guard
•grumpy sunshine
•protector
•alpha hero
Completely loved it! Ashton and Molly are my favorite. I really liked the first book in the series but I really loved this one!!!!

I really enjoyed this one! For some reason, I thought it was a continuation of the first book, but this focuses on a different couple. Ashton has a lot of internal conflict, and he’s trying to redeem himself to his friends but also paving his way as a new mafia leader. Molly is just looking for some legitimacy and security when her father hasn’t provided that for her. I like her spunk, and enjoyed how she and Ashton came together.

So captivating!

Ashton is the sexiest, most complicated anti-hero I've read in a long time. (I dare you to call him a hero to his face!) His obsession with Molly was intense but always sweet and even, if I may say, a tad vulnerable (but don't tell him I said that). This was a terrific, complex story of a couple who make their own rules and fight their way to the HEA they deserve.

I really enjoy this author's writing style, especially how she does mafia families and relationships. It's not always neat and pretty, but we always understand the motivations behind the actions.

If you've read the first book, you don't want to miss this one. If you haven't read that one yet, grab them both and settle in for some of the best mafia romances I've ever read. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This was a satisfying read.

Moly, the protagonist is strong and independent. Danger follows Molly. Girl seemed to find it everywhere. And Ashton, her love interest, was always protective of her.

I did enjoy the danger side to the story. This was a good mafia romance. I didn’t think it was dark, although there is some violence.

I struggled to read this because of its immaturity regarding the mafia. There is a consistent reference to mafia and mafia life. Literally, at one point (or many points throughout), she calls the things he does “mafia stuff.” It just sounds very childish.

Ashton & Molly’s Mafia Romance Is About Survival In a World Of Lies! Both Are Broken, But They Find Understanding In One Another As They Work To Find Justin & Kelly’s Killer


ABOUT KINGS OF NEW YORK SERIES:

This is the second book in the new Kings of New York series. It is Ashton Walden and Molly Easter’s story. Set in New York, the couple’s mafia romance is about survival in a world of lies. Sexy and serious in tone, the storytelling is about family, friendship, and retribution.

To date, the series includes:
1. A Dirty Business (Trace & Jess’s story)
2. A Cruel Arrangement (Ashton & Molly’s story)

IN THIS BOOK:

The story takes place in New York. Three months have passed since the close of book one, since Justin Worthing and Jess’s best friend Kelly’s bodies were found. Trace had planned to go straight and retire from the family business, leaving his best friend Ashton to lead both the West and Walden families, but in the wake of Justin and Kelly’s deaths, those plans were halted. Jess is broken over the loss of her long-time best friend, and she is now inserting herself into the business as well. The tension between her and Ashton doesn’t help matters for Trace, who is stuck in the middle of the two. Ashton overstepped when he tortured Jess, and he has yet to fix things with her. That only complicates matters. There is payback due to the Worthing family who is moving down from Boston. Their bloody attack left Trace and Ashton as the new heads of their families, and it cannot go unanswered. Nevertheless, the West and Walden families have agreed to a temporary truce with the Worthing family, who wants to discover the culprit behind Justin’s death. Towards that effort, Ashton has an idea.

Molly Easter may be Jess’s friend, but Ashton has known her since childhood. Her father is the lowest of the low, a little crazy, and like a cockroach, he always manages to survive. His association with the Walden family is what has kept Ashton and Molly in the same orbit. Molly hates her father, and she thinks she tricked him into selling her Easter Lanes, the bowling alley that she has single-handedly turned into a successful business. Ashton, however, is about to set her straight on the matter. He surmises that he can use Molly as bait to help bring Justin and Kelly’s killer to account. Spending more time in Molly’s orbit, however, means facing his own demons. The couple faces danger and deception as they work to stay ahead of danger.

Ashton and Molly’s story is about two broken people who find understanding in one another. Ashton loves violence. He is cool and unaffected. With the exception of his friendship with Trace, he doesn’t much care about relationships. Molly is a workaholic. She hates her father, but she has managed to make a family of sorts with her employees. She is a bit of a loose screw, prone to flipping a switch under duress, and she often finds herself in trouble as a result. The couple finds healing together in this engaging mafia story. It is nicely written. The plot is somewhat complex. The story is told in first person. The POV alternates between Ashton and Molly. I rate this book four stars.

I received an advance copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in the Kings of New York. Although each book focuses on a different couple, they do not work as stand-alone. Questions raised in book one are answered in the second installment. In A Cruel Arrangement, readers get a story steeped in suspense, danger and romance.

A Cruel Arrangement gives us Molly and Ashton’s story. From the moment of their introduction in book one, I sensed the chemistry between them. This, along with my need for answers to the questions arising as a result of the cliffhanger, had me eager to pick up A Cruel Arrangement.

Now Ashton was cold and dangerous. He did some stuff in the first book, which made it difficult to like him. However, he redeemed himself on this installment. One could say that love mellowed him out. However, he still had that dangerous and cold side to him which was reserved for his enemies.

Molly went through a tough upbringing. She, however, did not allow it to hinder her from becoming a successful businesswoman. I had an interesting getting to know her. Although there when moments when she did some questionable things with regarding her safety.

Their relationship started out as a business arrangement. However, when the danger resulting from this arrangement escalates, placing Molly at risk, their relationship became more. They attempted to fight the attraction between them, but they failed miserably. In addition to the danger, insecurities threatened to derail the growth of their relationship.

Now, for the second reason, the reading of this installment was imperative. The answers which I so desperately needed after that cliffhanger in book one came to light. Interestingly enough, it wasn’t at all what I expected, but it provided closure for everyone it affected.

Readers receive updates regarding the couple from the previous book. It was great catching up with them and seeing how their lives had developed. 

Overall, A Cruel Arrangement delivered a satisfying conclusion to the Kings of New York series.

Narration Review
Brooke Bloomingdale and Jason Carpenter narrated this installment. The story alternates between Ashton and Molly’s POV. I did not like the male narrator’s interpretation of Ashton. His tone was dry and emotionless. I switched speeds during his narration. Not that speeding it up helped much.

The female narrator did a wonderful job with Molly. Her male voices were good, and she did a better interpretation of Ashton than her male counterpart. While I am not sure if I would listen to Jason Carpenter again, Brooke Bloomingdale’s performance is one I would recommend to listeners.