4.5 Stars!! This sis the second book in the Kings of New York series and it does not disappoint. Ashton Walden runs the Walden family. His best friend, Trace West, runs the West family. Together, they rule New York's underworld. Molly Easter is a workaholic and has poured her heart and soul into Easter Lanes, a bowling alley she bought from her good for nothing father.

Ashton is used to getting things done and having to adjust to his emotions when he is with Molly makes for quite a good read. There are lots of twist and turns and a few surprises that keep you reading to the end. Molly has the best personality for someone who has gone through what she has. This was a really good read and an easy one-click.

I voluntarily wrote this review from reading an advanced copy of this book.

Another amazing mafia romance by Tijan. I’ve loved all of her previous mafia stories. This one is no exception. Loved Aston and Molly’s story. Was great to see Trace and Jess again in it too. This one is filled with intense action, drama, trauma, fierce friendships and epic steaminess. Molly is a hot mess, but strong and loyal. Ashton is fierce and dangerous. Together they are fiery. I highly recommend this book.

So much energy! I love this series. I love these characters. What a ride!

Wow, A Cruel Arrangement sure holds you captivated from start to finish.

Molly and Ashton are perfect for each other. I loved the building of their relationship and how they just fall into each other. Their banter will have you laughing and getting to know each of them, and their pasts will have your heart warming to them.

There is so much that happens in this story. The mafia war is now full-on. It’s full of action and tension. A smoldering slow build and anticipation that has you bursting at the seams. Trace and Jess are still prominent in this story and it’s a fantastic, action-filled, and emotional journey.

I hope for more from this series. I really hope for a story for Jake, but with he way his story arc went, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. Is Remmi next? I don’t know, but I can’t wait to find out. I just want more! Such an addicting series with fantastic characters! Enjoy!

When I picked this book up I didn't realize that it was book 2 of a series (even though it is clearly labeled book 2). I did not read book 1 but A Cruel Arrangement did a great job of subtly recapping the important things that we needed to know from book 1.

I love Molly, all she wants is to run her bowling alley in peace away from her deadbeat father who only brought danger and debt into her life. I really liked how Ashton was drawn to her and actively trying to hold her at arms length at the same time, it made for some interesting give and take. I was genuinely shocked by the ending. I really liked how everything was wrapped up neatly, all of our questions were answered and the danger taken care of.

I loved this book. I loved the chemistry between Molly and Ashton. We finally get to find out what happened to Jess’ best friend. There are secrets that Ashton has carried with him that involves someone from Molly’s life that he reveals to her. Ashton has a darkness inside him that he doesn’t let out much. There’s something in Molly that he recognizes.
Molly goes through some traumatic experiences but she always reacts. She might not think so but Molly is very strong. I love the changes she goes through and how she stops fighting certain things. She knows what she wants and she might be a bit impulsive but she’s always thinking about others instead of herself. Molly is a great and loyal friend. Her friends were funny in how they reacted to Jess and Ashton.
I loved the friendship between Molly and Jess and what Molly comes up with about their friendship. I loved how Ashton was with Molly after he developed feelings for her. They are in sync with one another and can communicate with just their eyes as if they’ve been together all their lives.
I loved the first book but this one outdid that one.
This is a must read.

Tijan has introduced me to mafia romance and I am here for it all. “A Cruel Arrangement” is book 2 in the “Kings of New York”, and it’s about that second “king”, Ashton, the bestie and non-blood-related brother (cousin) to Trace in the previous book. Like Trace, Ashton is an intense, complex, mafia bad ass who does not offer an average romance with cotton candy and balloons.

Ashton has been beckoned to a business under the umbrella of his organized kingdom and said business is Easter Lanes, the bowling alley where our gals hung out in book 1, which is owned by Molly.

Or so she thought. The slap in the face news that Ashton gives her is that he is the rightful owner of it, and in order for Molly to get it, he has a cruel arrangement for her.

Cue open credits…

Ashton and Molly are pushed to the edge, they are challenged, and their loyalties are tested. I enjoyed watching Ashton try so hard to steer clear of Molly, a woman that he knows he shouldn’t have in his dangerous world. Molly, too, pines for him but spits harsh words in hopes to “hate” him, but there is something about him that makes her deny all that is practical. It took awhile but these two exuded down serious chemistry and shared some haaawt scenes both indoors and out.

I also liked watching some of the pent-up anger felt by previous characters that had to be dealt with in order for Ashton’s mafia family to work. Ashton is not all innocent and he has to come to terms with what he did. Oh and the Bromance…yes please.

You need to read book 1 to embrace the plot that will pull you into a frenzy. Tijan's writing will hook you, and you won’t be able to escape the hot romance between Ashton and Molly. If you like these themes, this series is definitely for you:

*Mafia
*Alpha and Anti-Hero
*Heroine in Danger
*Fake Relationship
*Bodyguard
*Opposites Attract
*Close Proximity
*Redemption

Dang, I’m not sure where to start. All I can say is I’m swooning for Ashton right now. I mean I didn’t read the first book but now that I’ve read the second I’m dying to dive into it. I’m told he was a horrible person and from some of the past I read in Cruel Arrangement I’m believing it. He had to crawl back into most good graces. But since I had no grudge against him he didn’t have to work as hard for me to fall for him. And fall for him I did. The way he is with Molly while he would burn the world down for her…is just amazing. It’s the kinda love I would kill for. Just like Ashton. The way they start out…as children and then they meet again as adults. Sparks fly in every direction and the city may explode with the fire between the two. It’s a Mafia read I would and do recommend to anyone who loves a good mafia romance while a war is raging. When Molly finds herself in the middle of this war, Ashton may lose his mind because he put her there…or so he believes. But was she there all along. Her father has been in deep with his family for forever. Maybe he’s her savior not the one who threw her into the flames. You’ll have to read it to find out who the guilty party is. I wasn’t surprised…but I was angry. I received a free advanced copy to read and review.

I love Tijan and her writing style so much and this was not an exception. This was fantastic and one of the few I haven’t read yet but I loved it so much and kept turning the pages.

I was lucky to get an ARC copy of "A Cruel Arrangement". To be honest, I liked this book better than the dirty business because I fell in love with Ashton and also because I love Mafia stories. They make the alpha male a total badass and hotttttt... He is cruel, ruthless, cocky, intelligent and always one step ahead of the game because of course he is the head of the Walden Mafia Family. He loves to get his hand dirty. H mainly likes to torture & be cruel to other people and always get the job done. He has a very dark side of him and he enjoy embracing it. Molly Easter on the other hand is a little weird. She is a unique character and brings light into Ashton's life. Her mind tends to wander off and she is not always in the "present." When her mind switches off, there is another side of her comes out and goes fully blown damaging the person that dares to challenge her. She is funny, caring, intuitive, and a loyal friend. Her and Ashton have a deep connection/bond that draws them together. They fit together perfectly. We also get to know the background history of Ashton & Molly and whey they are so drawn together from the start. We also find out the reason why Justin & Kelly were murdered. I was shocked when it revealed who was behind their death.

I so enjoy mafia type romances and I loved Molly and Ashton. Molly was a strong, sweet woman while Ashton was smart and protective of his 'sunshine'. Overall, the buildup was really there to keep my interest and the main focus wasn't on the previous characters. I would highly recommend if you like mafia type romance and suspense. I received an ARC copy.

<b>I think Tijan is writing every book with a better hero than the previous one. Trace, I love you but I will die for Ashton Walden. Omg omg this mafia king is something else! I could feel his intensity from the pages. The ultimate alpha. The dangerous Underworld king. The extreme protector. The dark man becoming a different version just for his woman. A Cruel Arrangement is everything I want from my romance and then some more.</b>

Molly Easterly almost blackmailed her conman father so that he will write their bowling alley business to her. This business and her employees are everything to her. Then there is a robbery..and the head of New York's mafia enters her life. Technically her father owes absurd money to Ashton Walden and their business is actually a Walden property and he needs payout. He needs her father to find out the killers of some people close to him and Trace. There is a mafia war on the horizon and Ashton realises he feels the need to protect Molly that goes beyond his schemes.


<b>Molly and Ashton's lives crossed paths years ago where they were young. They share some ugly secrets and Ashton felt that's the reason he wants to shield Molly from the war..rather than manipulation and using her. But the thing is Molly was always special and it just took some life and death situations to make him accept it. Now Molly is not a damsel in distress. She is good people with a strong fierce stubborn personality and sweetest heart. Even in middle of danger, she always thinks about other people. She was not really ecstatic about the way Ashton took over her life, forcing her to move into safe houses or putting his people as her bodyguard but she is also smart. She knows how ugly and cruel mafia wars can be and she did try her best to compliant. But the thing is she cannot sit still when she feels things are going wrong and that means sometimes she makes some risky decisions. And those were driving Ashton crazy. The chemistry was smoking hot. They are just fireworks together. The forced proximity was key to their hearts getting exposed and I am here for all the swoon and angst. Possessive, bossy, protective, bossy, obsessed Ashton is the dream of any romance lover. Who doesn't love to see an antihero falling hard for his woman?This is also a great romantic suspense where things proceed at a break neck speed with continuous twists and turns and action. I stopped breathing quiet a few times.</b>

Thanks to Montlake and Netgalley for the ARC

This was amazing! I absolutely love Ashton. Dominant, dark and oh so sexy. This was so good. Lots of drama and sexy times. Such a page turner. I can't believe I waited so long to read it.

This is the second book in the Kings of New York series that follows Ashton and Molly. While this book focuses on another couple in the same world, if you haven’t read the first one, you definitely should as the story connects.

I like to try and keep my reviews as spoiler free as I can, so I won’t say what the main focus is of the book, other than it deals with the fall out of book one and figuring out what happened and who was involved.

There were a lot of great parts to the book. I actually didn’t guess who was involved correctly, so I liked the spin with that. There also was a lot of action which was great. Sometimes one, right after the other, and with a longer book, it was nice. It kept things moving. For the most part, it was really enjoyable.

Now the reason why I gave it 4 starts (more like 3.5 to 3.75 for me) is I had a hard time connecting to Molly because I didn’t understand her character or personality. I had a hard time envisioning her with her ‘switch’ and I feel like that wasn’t explained very well. It was almost like her personality was competing with itself bubbly vs quirky vs unpredictable vs dark side. I didn’t dislike her though, just didn’t always understand her.

I also felt like some transitions were a little clunky because of Mollys personality. However, maybe some people do get it so those transitions will be a little smoother when reading. (Like when they start developing feelings, her weird very sudden attitude changes, things like that). Also Ashton’s background was a little weird too with his mom. Felt like something was missing there.

All in all a solid book. Ending lends itself to being wrapped up and this a duology, even if there is going to be more books in this world, it feels complete with the 2.

Great romance read. Loved the writing style from this author. Really hooked me in from the start and needed to know more and more.

This is the second book in this series and I LOVED IT! The first book, it had me up till the wee hours in the morning finishing and this one was no different.

Tijan jumps right in with this one, and instantly had me hooked from the first chapter. Ashton and Molly’s story will have you on the edge of your seat, and flipping the pages to see how their story unfolds.

This is quickly becoming one of my favorite series! 🤍

Forever a fan of Tijan however; again and again I am let down because I'm not a fan of mafia romances. Others who enjoy action, mafia business and romance seeped in will enjoy Tijan's latest!!

A Cruel Arrangement is insanely hot and incredibly violent. It starts with an armed robbery and doesn’t slow down. Ashton is the new head of the Walden mafia, after a rival family killed his grandfather and his uncles in an unprecedented attack. Together, Ashton and his best friend Trace West rule the criminal underworld in NYC.

Molly Easter has known Ashton since they were kids; her father is in deep with Ashton’s family. Molly has tried to distance herself from the dark criminal world. She runs Easter Lanes, the bowling alley she bought from her dad.

When an armed robbery lands Molly in the hospital, Ashton is the one who shows up to take care of her. He and Trace are looking for the people who killed two of their friends. He “encourages” Molly to ask her dad to poke around, ask some questions. Unfortunately, her dad’s involvement quickly makes Molly a target. Her life is at risk, which Ashton belatedly realizes he isn’t okay with. Throw in a detective with a grudge, a handful of violent henchmen, a suspicious doctor, and sexual tension you can cut with a knife, and you’re beginning to get the picture.

I loved Molly and Ashton’s dynamic. They obviously have history when the story starts, and honestly only Molly could soften his impenetrable shell. It was great to see more of Trace and Jess from A Dirty Business. Ashton and Jess have some unresolved animosity, and I loved how they worked through that over the course of the book. Molly being thrust into the mix changed the group dynamic for the better—like she says in the book, she’s the glue.

If you love dark, gritty romances, mafia romances, and/or morally gray heroes, this one checks all the boxes. I couldn’t put it down. I kept reading late into the night because I had to know how it was going to resolve. The action and suspense were well-paced, and the *ahem* scenes were fire.

Molly knows Ashton is a bad guy. He does awful things. He isn’t redeemed at the end. He’s still a criminal, but at least he’s a criminal with a conscience and a good woman who loves him.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one, but I really enjoyed it! I loved seeing previous characters in this story and how it all tied together. Ashton slowly won me over in this one and I was team Molly from the start! Great story and can't wait for more.

A Cruel Arrangement by Tijan is book #2 in the Kings of New York series. This book picks up where a Dirty Business left off. I absolutely loved Molly! Being the daughter of someone who works for the mob, she seemed very shy and quiet until she is messed with then her strength shines through. I also love Ashton even though he is a mafia boss. Their dynamic together is out of this world. The banter, the caring, the fight and spirit. They are a perfect combo who crossed paths early in life. They were destined to be together. I loved the story behind this book as well. The crime and murder made for a suspenseful romance! This was a first series for me by Tijan and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Ashton may not be a white knight, but he sure is a dark one!!

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in the Kings of New York books by Tijan.

Ashton uses an opening with Molly to use her to get something he wants, but Molly and all she is complicates things for him.

Molly owns and runs Easter Lanes it's her baby. When someone tries to rob her, she kind of loses it. Sending her onto Ashton's path.

The more time they spend together. The closer they become.

The dangerous ties are coming from everywhere in this book you absolutely don't know where to look.
It's fantastic.

Gah. Okay, now this book was not in any way a gushing kind of story, but allow me one second.
Ashton!
He was not at all what I was prepared for. He is cruel, ruthlessly brutal, and all business like. With Molly, he is completely different.

Their connection was intense, and you could feel it from the beginning of the book. It did take a slow build up to the physical level, but when that hit, it was a boom!🔥🔥

Tijan is an absolute master. Be it Mafia or not, she really knows how to write a captivating story that you can not put down.