Book 2 moves the drama Molly and Ashton. Continued danger, mystery and action.
After the cliffy from book 1, I needed answers!
Ashton and Molly are opposites. They are both string characters. Molly is the sunshine. Bubbly, fierce and smart.
Ashton doesn’t mind being cruel. He does what he has to do. However, he is protective of Molly.
this story delivers a slow burn with dynamic banter and chemistry. A Page turner that makes this seem like a quick read.

Compulsively compelling, A Cruel Arrangement is everything I had hoped it would be. I adored Molly, and I think her sunshine personality was the perfect foil for the protective Ashton. As always, Tijan executed this story flawlessly and I highly recommend it!

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in the Kings of New York series and after the cliff hanger ending that was book 1, I was surprised to find that book 2 was Ashton and Molly's story. These two had great chemistry although they both refused to accept the sparks between them, so it was enjoyable watching them fall for each other. I loved seeing Ashton's protective side come out to keep Molly safe and I loved that Molly was independent and snarky but I will admit she frustrated me with her unnecessary risky stunts throughout the story. They were supported by a colorful cast of characters and I loved that we got to see the first couple from book 1 in the story.
There was a suspense element in this story which had me at the edge of my seat and some light hearted moments which helped break up the tension. This was a complex, twisted, fast paced tale that was easy to read and highly engrossing. I loved it and would recommend it to lovers of Mafia romance.

4.5stars-A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT is the second instalment in Tijan’s contemporary, adult KINGS OF NEW YORK dark, erotic, Mafia romance series. This is crime lord Ashton Walden, and business woman Molly Easter’s story line. A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT should not be read as a stand alone. For back story and cohesion I recommend reading book one A DIRTY BUSINESS.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers. If you have not read book one, there may be spoilers in my review

SOME BACKGROUND: Molly and her friend Jess’s friends have been murdered, and no one was currently in custody, or charged with the crime. One of the deceased is the brother of one of the detectives in the organized crime unit, and said detective wants answers. Using any means necessary, Ashton Walden forces Molly to call in a favor, a favor in exchange for some heart breaking truths.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Ashton and Molly) A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT follows in the aftermath of an attempted robbery at the local bowling centre owned by Molly Easter. Molly and the bowling center were under the protection of crime boss Ashton Walden but Molly would soon discover that all was not as it would appear to have been. There is a war brewing between the various factions of the local mobs, a war that places Molly Easter, up front and center, pitting her against family, friends, and the man with whom Molly will fall in love. Ashton Walden doesn’t do relationships but his attraction to Molly started several years earlier. There is a lifelong connection between our leading couple, a connection that is about to reveal the secrets and lies Ashton has been hiding for a number of years. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Ashton and Molly, and the potential fall-out as betrayal, vengeance and the local mob come hunting for our story line couple.

Ashton Walden is desperate to find the person responsible for killing his best friend’s girlfriend’s friend (say that three times). Everyone is suspect; the crime bosses are refusing to cooperate; the local riff raff has been anointed to look deeper into the possible connections. Molly Easter is struggling with the revelations that everything she knew about her family and her life, has been a lie, a lie to protect the identity of someone else. Desperate to find the killer, Molly is often TSTL (too stupid too live) placing herself in the direct line of fire but Ashton has one more secret, a secret that could threaten the growing love between our story line couple.

The relationship between Molly and Ashton is a frenemies to friends to lovers. Ashton has named himself guardian and protector of our story line heroine but as the various factions of the criminal underworld begin to circle, Ashton will claim Molly as his own. Molly never thought she would fall in love with the powerful ‘captor’ but falling in love means exposing her heart to potential heart break and loss. The $ex scenes are passionate and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

Once again, there is a large ensemble cast of colorful, powerful and energetic secondary and supporting characters. We are reintroduced to former parole officer and Molly’s friend Jess Montell, and heir to the West Mafia Tristan ‘Trace’ West (A Dirty Business 1); Ashton’s right hand man Elijah; Molly’s dad Marcus ‘Shorty’ Easter; her friends and co-workers Sophie and Pialto; foster ‘cousin’ Glen; Dr.Nea Sandquist; Nurse Sloane; Detective Worthing, crime lord Nicolai Worthing; Trace’s sister Remmi West, and Ashton’s cousin Marco. The requisite evil has many faces.

A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT is a fast paced, haunting and animated story of secrets and lies, power and control, betrayal and vengeance, acceptance, forgiveness and love. The premise is intriguing, engaging an d captivating: the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are desperate, dynamic and determined.



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There were plenty of twists and turns in this story and it turned out to be a decent ride on the wild side. Molly was probably one of my favorite characters in a long time (I think I do that switch too although not to the extent she does lol). Even the toughest bad guys eventually turn to mush when faced with "The One" and Ashton is no exception. If you are looking for sexy time there is enough of that in this story to satisfy you as well as some intriguing surprise twists and rock 'em, sock 'em to go around. 3.5 stars but rounded up because--Molly!

Thanks to #NetGalley for my copy of #ACruelArrangement.

I read the first book immediately before I started this one. I wouldn’t say that it is necessary for the story to read the first book however there are some areas that follow on and where answers are provided that were missing at the end of the first book.

I wasn’t actually looking forward to reading this book when I realised it was Ashton that was the MC. In the first book I liked him at the start but then he ruined it all with what he did to Jess. I overcame this and actually started to like him and like him and Molly together.

Molly is all lightness to his dark. Despite a rubbish upbringing she tries to see the best in situations and is strong and a good match for Ashton. Together they have balance.

I liked how the relationships between Ashton and Molly and Trace and Jess were worked out through the book and I ended up preferring this book to the first one.

• 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 •

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: A Cruel Arrangement
𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Kings of New York #2
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Tijan
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: ☆☆☆☆☆ 5/5

𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗲: 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘗𝘙 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘙𝘊. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

I fell in love with Molly from those first few pages. I might love her even more than Ashton and gosh you would think that is impossible. Molly reminded me a bit of Harley Quinn and I love how she developed throughout the book. Not only for herself but for others as well. The story had me at the edge of my seat from beginning to the end and I could not have asked for more. Well made a couple of more pages since I would love nothing more than reading more about these amazing characters. If you read other books by Tijan you will definitely see some familiar names. The connection between all the characters felt so real and I just wanted to live in that world. Even when it would be dangerous, with a friend like Molly, I am sure I will survive.

Cruel Arrangement is the second book in The Kings of New York series. It picks up right where the first book left off. This book is the story of Ashton and Molly. We do see Tracy and Jess in book two as well. Cruel Arrangements is an enemies-to-lovers trope. Ashton is willing to protect the ones he loves; despite being a calculated killer who’s always alert and willing to strike. But when it comes to Molly, his feelings run deep and that scares him. Molly is selfless even though she has been through so much in life and still smiles through it all. I enjoyed how she stood her ground when it came to Ashton.

When it comes to a Mafia romance, I am a goner! It’s my weakness! Cruel Arrangement didn’t disappoint. The dynamic between the characters kept you engaged. It was dark and twisted and the slow burn romance was very passionate. The trust Ashton and Molly had for one another in a dark, cold world was very strong. Ashton treated Molly has an equal; he wasn’t all alpha male. I look forward to more by Tijan. She really knows how to attract her audience.

This book is why I never read a book series out of order, I would have benefited from reading the first book before this one.
From the first page a lot of information and characters are introduced. I was so lost and struggled to keep up with all the characters and the story.
Because of this I wasn't invested in the characters or the story.

I enjoyed A Dirty Business, but A Cruel Arrangement just took everything up a notch. Ashton was more possessive and ruthless than Trace and Molly slid more seamlessly in to the mafia life than Jess did, getting shot at enough that it became old hat for her. Lol. I was looking forward to being more immersed in the mafia life and this book brought that in spades with plenty of action and intrigue. What a fantastically wild ride.

A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in Tijan’s The Kings of New York. Let me just tell you Ashton and Trace are the Kings of New York!! Whew. Hot Mafia Kings!

We learn in A Cruel Arrangement Ashton loves to be cruel. Becoming head of his family isn’t a hardship for him, he enjoys letting his dark side out.

Molly is one heck of a strong woman. She had been dealt a crap hand in life. She has a ‘switch’ in her where her darkness comes out. It matches Ashton’s.

Together, they can burn down the world around them and thrive in the heat. With their made family, they are unstoppable.

It was a read I couldn’t put down and answered so many questions from the first book!! Loved it.

A Cruel Arrangement is the second Kings Of New York book by Tijan. You need to read A Dirty Business about Trace and Jess, to understand what has previously happened and to appreciate the dynamics between all the characters. This time we have Ashton Walden and Molly Easter. Their love story happens slowly in this exciting dark mafia romance. Ashton is searching for answers and needs to work out which side everyone is on? Molly gets drawn into his world but finds her life being threaten. There is kidnapping, car chases and deadly attacks as
confessions, betrayal and long held secrets revealed. Will they survive to find their HEA?

“We’re not just running two Mafia empires. We’re the kings of New York.”

Ashton and Trace were running legal businesses and looking to break free of their families. Then three months ago another mafia family declared war by gunning down Ashton’s grandfather and uncles, leaving him in charge. Trace found himself in the same position as his family were also attacked. Now they have both stepped up into their respective roles as heads of their families and are determined to find out the reasons behind the attacks and who killed their family and friends.

Molly Easter loves owning and running Easter Lanes. She has survived on her own after an awful childhood and made the best of things. Her father Shorty is a gambler and her mother died when she was young. After a traumatic experience defending her business, she ends up being looked after by Ashton. They have known each other since they were kids because her father always owed his family money. To her he was the cutest boy she’d ever seen. Now he is angry and cold but she still gets the fuzzies every time she is near him.

Ashton likes being cruel and has a reputation for being deadly and torturing his enemies. The war with Nicolai Worthing is bubbling away throughout the story. There is an arranged ceasefire but things continue to happen. Poor Ashton is feeling the weight of responsibility as he is left with solving the murders, handling the war and dealing with Molly. It all starts with him needing her help with getting some information but escalates quickly. He originally thought he could use Molly as bait to end the war but slowly realises he can’t let her go. He agrees with Trace that caring for somebody really changes things.

“We have a deal. It was a cruel arrangement in a way.”

Molly is a great character and her inner thoughts especially about her father were so amusing. She finds herself in so many life or death situations, which annoys Ashton intensely as she puts herself in danger and he never knows what she is going to do next. When she is backed into a corner she reacts in the most unusual ways which will have you cracking up. She knows she has a darkness inside that can match his. I loved her ‘switch’ and how she goes crazy, which makes her so perfect for him.

He knows secrets that have been hidden from her and worries she will become a target. Would it be better and safer for her if he let her go as she’ll never live a normal life attached to him. Could she ignore who he is and what he does because he is a bad man. I loved how good she was at reading him and how they sometimes communicated in a way only lovers could. Although she gets to see another side of Ashton she actually likes the monster who lives inside him. Her way of describing the four of them was very insightful and I agreed she connected them all together.

We see a lot of Jess and Trace especially as she is still having issues with Ashton. I really liked Avery and thought Pialto and Sophie were so funny and supportive to Molly. The relationship between Marco and Trace’s sister was interesting as Remmi is a handful. I wasn’t sure about Ashton but Molly was just what he needed. If you enjoyed the first book then you will love this one. Action packed right to the end, with good twists and turns and surprises all the way through.

Easter Lanes bowling alley is all Molly Easter wanted and she was finally able to buy it from her father. One day, a robber comes in and protecting it puts her in the hospital. But instead she wakes up in the home of the New York mafia's most feared killer, Ashton Walden, and learns a shocking secret about her business and her father that will have her making a deal with the devil to get it back. Suddenly she's in extreme danger and Ashton becomes her savior, rescuing her countless times. He's not as cold and unfeeling as he tries to show and something about the darkness inside him calls to her own darkness she tries to hide.
I just love a dark bad boy (as evidenced by my husband and his determination to rescue and release spiders from my home back to the wild, lol) and Ashton is one seriously scary character. But when he goes all soft and sweet for his woman it just makes me want to swoon! Is it too much to hope for another book in this series or even a spinoff? I'm not ready to leave Trace and Ashton behind!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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

In Tijan’s new mafia romance, A Cruel Arrangement, book 2 in the Kings of New York series, prepare to be taken by Ashton Walden in this suspenseful read. After an intense start, Molly finds herself in jeopardy of losing her place, only to be at the mercy of her childhood crush turned mafia king—Ashton Walden. But can she get past the tragedy that binds them? Ashton won’t give her a choice in the matter.

“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.”

Overall, this rating is for romantic suspense, great world building, action-packed, steaminess, and character development. If you enjoy dark mafia love stories, then I recommend the Kings of New York series. I look forward to reading additional works by the author.

I loved Molly and Ashton's story. I loved how different they are, Ashton is dark while Molly is all rainbow. I liked that stark contrast a lot. And their chemistry and banter are fun and entertaining to follow. Sometimes the story would feel too mafia-ey even though it's not but Tijan would bring it back to the storyline. I think the pacing could use a little speed up.

Darkness & Light ... a perfect match

Tijan's A CRUEL ARRANGEMENT is the second in the Kings Of New York series. A mafia romance that gradually built with plenty of drama, action, thrills, and held me completely engrossed until the last word. If you have read A Dirty Business, which I highly recommend, then you'll be happy to know that all questions raised are answered. This is Molly Easter and Ashton Walden's story.

Considering how she grew up, Molly was such a strong, effervescent, caring, and loving character. She owns Easter Lanes, a bowling alley, and has worked hard at making it a success. It's something she can finally call her own. Imagine her surprise when she finds out that it isn't exactly hers, but belongs to Ashton Walden, the city's notorious mafia crime lord. I can honestly say that I did not like Ashton in the first book, but boy did he grow on me during this one. He was the man I loved to hate with his ominous dark side. He was also the perfect match for Molly's lightness. The chemistry between them sparked brightly, but it was Ashton's confusion over his inability to control his emotions that really warmed me to him. If you want a dark, swoony hero, then Ashton is your man.

Yet again, Tijan has shown why she is considered a master at manipulating words. I love how she fills her story with plenty of suspense, intrigue, and mystery. The connection she has between Molly and Ashton was magnetic, even though they tried to fight it. Another brilliant read from Tijan that I simply devoured.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE INTRIGUING STARS ✨✨✨✨✨

This is a story about a woman whose father has ties to the mafia. She has tried to stay away from him and those ties. But enter a man who has inherited the role as head of his mafia family. He tells her secrets about her other that were hidden from her. In addition, the bowling alley that she purchased from her father wasn’t his to sell, but the mafia boss will give it to her in exchange for a favor. This favor puts her in mortal danger and in close proximity to this man to whom she is inexplicably drawn as he is to her. These characters must navigate their connection with each other while dealing with threats to her life and to his family. There are multiple players in this tableau and many are not what they seem. You have to read this book to find out how it all falls out in the end. This was not the first book in the series, but I was able to get the gist of the dynamics of this world without having read any preceding books. I would recommend reading in order for the best understanding of this group of characters, because there are a lot of people to keep track of, but it isn’t necessary to enjoy this story. This wasn’t the best book I have read by this author, but it was a good read. If you like mafia romance stories with steamy, explicit sex, I recommend giving this one a try. I am voluntarily submitting this review after reading an advanced complementary copy of this ebook.

A cruel arrangement is book 2 in the Kings of New York series and is advertised as a standalone in an interconnected series. Technically you could read this book as a standalone, however I would definately recommend you read these books in order to understand the background, along with Jess and Trace's story from book one.

The end of book one was a cliffy and this book picks up from this point. Molly and Ashton's are two interesting characters, alike in many ways yet different and they compliment each other really well. Molly has a strength about her along being a bit quirky but seems to attract touble, Ashton is typical brash, tough guy and dangerousto those who cross him. Molly is a perfect fit for him, she wont take his sh1t. The chemistry between them is off the charts hot oht hot.

Brace yourself for a steamy +++, action pack roller coaster ride that is Ashton and Molly's journey.

One night and Mollys whole life changes. Molly owner of a bowling alley who she bought from her dad. She fought hard to renovate and build up business and she has done an amazing job. Something she can call her own. Something she can be proud of. But then one night changes it all and Ashton Walden walks into her life. But she doesn’t know if she wants to hate him, fear him or give into the feelings that he invokes in her. The dark side that she has always kept hidden. This book is so good and has you wanting more. It keeps you on the edge not wanting to put it down.

Overall Grade: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Tropes: anti-hero; alpha hero; mafia romance; forced proximity; grumpy/sunshine; opposites attract; heroine in danger; tragic past

Tijan’s next Kings of New York story, A Cruel Arrangement is a fitting follow-up to Tijan’s A Dirty Business. Both books envelop the reader in a harrowing tale of mafia tribulations couched in sultry romance. Where Trace and Jess’s love story is fraught with the forbidden element of their relationship, Ashton and Molly’s romance is high adrenaline from the very start to its end.

As Tijan does well, A Cruel Arrangement is full of minute-by-minute tension. Ashton and Molly are opposites: he’s the new head of a mafia family, and Molly is the owner of a local bowling alley. Her father is a street “rat," owned by Ashton’s family due to his extravagant gambling debt, and Ashton has taken on the family business in the wake of the deaths of his uncles. They shouldn’t work; however, something in Molly matches Ashton’s darkness, and the two are drawn together like magnets.

This book has much to be solved because danger is afoot at every corner. Tijan places her characters in sundry difficult situations, and Ashton and Molly must work their way out of them. A Cruel Arrangement is page after page of trials, yet Ashton and Molly forge ahead, their attraction palpable on the page. Even in its darkest moments, Tijan has grafted a sweetness in Ashton and Molly’s pairing.

Given the suspense in this book, I didn’t figure out the villain’s accomplices until Tijan revealed it. This, thankfully, kept me turning the pages of her story. The ending, however, was abrupt and not fully fleshed out. Yet, I’d like to believe there might be another book.

If you’re an avid reader of suspenseful, dark mafia, A Cruel Arrangement will give you some good feels, but I’m not sure the most dedicated reader of mafia romance will find it dark enough. In the end, I’m here for Tijan and her stories, and this newest book didn’t disappoint.