What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
4 days and 11:59:25
100 copies available
U.S. only
A Hateful Negotiation
Not yet published
Expected 13 Jan 26Win a free kindle copy of this book!
4 days and 11:59:25
100 copies available
U.S. only
In a slow-burn mafia romance from New York Times bestselling author Tijan, a dangerous psychopath—and deadly crime boss—drops his defenses for the one girl he’s vowed to protect.
Creighton was a dangerous crime boss with a growing empire. And he’s a psychopath.
He’s also obsessed with Blake.
She wanted a normal life. That meant new friends and a life without Creighton.
Except when Blake moves to New York for her senior year of college, Creighton follows because he knows that danger is close behind. He has always protected Blake, and he always will protect her, even if Blake hates how ruthless Creighton has become for her.
However, once they’re in New York, the dynamics between the two begin to change. Tensions heat up, and soon their chemistry is sizzling beyond what Blake can handle.
That means that their usual back-and-forth has to change, with new rules and a new agreement.
Perhaps this negotiation could be for their happily ever after?
They’ll just need to survive each other first…
Creighton was a dangerous crime boss with a growing empire. And he’s a psychopath.
He’s also obsessed with Blake.
She wanted a normal life. That meant new friends and a life without Creighton.
Except when Blake moves to New York for her senior year of college, Creighton follows because he knows that danger is close behind. He has always protected Blake, and he always will protect her, even if Blake hates how ruthless Creighton has become for her.
However, once they’re in New York, the dynamics between the two begin to change. Tensions heat up, and soon their chemistry is sizzling beyond what Blake can handle.
That means that their usual back-and-forth has to change, with new rules and a new agreement.
Perhaps this negotiation could be for their happily ever after?
They’ll just need to survive each other first…
344 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 13, 2026
5133 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
October 19, 2025
Creighton is one of my very favorite types of heroes. There’s just something about a stone cold killer who only feels when it comes to a woman. I was worried a bit with his war on Trace and Ashton. You can’t have me fall in love with them in their own books to have them fall to Creighton. It got scary there for a while but I’m satisfied with how it all ended. This turned out to be way more emotional than I was expecting and I just loved it!
December 9, 2025
This instantly hooked me in.
If you like the touch her and die trope this is for you! Mafia Romance, unapologetically psychopathic MMC, badass FMC, foster family.
The MMC is a pitch black villain, and when it comes to her he will burn the entire world down. I'm obsessed!
I'm completely in love with the FMC as well. She can hold her own and she challenges the MMC.
It's a bit of a slow burn with the main characters but that chemistry is always there, the bickering, the challenging, the love-hate.
I enjoyed the foster system element of this and Blake wanting to help kids like her. This added good depth to the plot and to her character.
I didn't realise this was part of a series and after reading this and seeing the other players in this mafia world I need to go back and read of all them.
This would be a great way to ease into the mafia dark romance world.
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced copy.
If you like the touch her and die trope this is for you! Mafia Romance, unapologetically psychopathic MMC, badass FMC, foster family.
The MMC is a pitch black villain, and when it comes to her he will burn the entire world down. I'm obsessed!
I'm completely in love with the FMC as well. She can hold her own and she challenges the MMC.
It's a bit of a slow burn with the main characters but that chemistry is always there, the bickering, the challenging, the love-hate.
I enjoyed the foster system element of this and Blake wanting to help kids like her. This added good depth to the plot and to her character.
I didn't realise this was part of a series and after reading this and seeing the other players in this mafia world I need to go back and read of all them.
This would be a great way to ease into the mafia dark romance world.
Thank you to the publisher for this advanced copy.
tbr-arcs
September 19, 2025♥---PRE-READ---♥
So excited to read this! Got the eARC from NetGalley on "Read Now" today, 8/23/2025 (US time).
So excited to read this! Got the eARC from NetGalley on "Read Now" today, 8/23/2025 (US time).
September 14, 2025
Wow! This book….emotional, ups and down, and the reason why I love Tijan.
This story was such a wild ride of a read but captured me and kept my attention. Blake and Creighton are bonded by the pains of life. Their love for the other is more than most could ever imagine and the reason why Creighton will burn the world down to protect Blake!
This story is packed with some crazy twists, a lot of turns but is a story that I couldn’t get enough of. We were introduced to some new peeps and I am hoping we get more because I need to know their stories. Another great addition to this series!
This story was such a wild ride of a read but captured me and kept my attention. Blake and Creighton are bonded by the pains of life. Their love for the other is more than most could ever imagine and the reason why Creighton will burn the world down to protect Blake!
This story is packed with some crazy twists, a lot of turns but is a story that I couldn’t get enough of. We were introduced to some new peeps and I am hoping we get more because I need to know their stories. Another great addition to this series!
September 1, 2025
After reading the last book, A Captive Situation, I was ecstatic to finally dive into Blake and Creighton’s story.
Blake and Creighton were orphans who came from a broken foster system. The moment a young, bruised Blake arrived at the driveway of her new home, Creighton became instantly protective of her. He became almost too obsessively protective to the point where she felt suffocated. She wanted him to be normal, but over the years, she realized that was impossible because, outside of his obsession with her, he showed no emotions.
Their story picks up where the last book ended. In A Captive Situation, Blake was kidnapped and used as leverage by Creighton’s cousin. Creighton promised Blake that he wouldn’t kill Sawyer and Jake only if she promised not to run away from him anymore. In this book, we see her moving into a college house with roommates, trying her best to live a normal life while finishing her senior year of college. Of course, Creighton won’t allow her to live in a new city without the necessary precautions in place to ensure her safety.
The characters were well developed, but the overall story just fell kinda flat. How many times can the heroine get kidnapped and escape on her own? I seriously couldn’t stop rolling my eyes. It felt like the same plot in a different book all over again. I was so disappointed because I really loved them. Their sad upbringings and character development were so compelling, and their story had a lot of potential, but the recycled plot completely killed it for me.
I did enjoy the romance, and it was obvious how much love they both held for each other, but even so, I felt like it could’ve been developed further.
What To Expect:
• Mafia Romance
• Foster siblings
• Boy Obsessed
• Stalker
• Heroine in Danger
• Good girl x Bad Boy
⚠️: Off page child abuse, kidnapping, violence, and more.
Thank you to the author and Montlake Romance for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
Blake and Creighton were orphans who came from a broken foster system. The moment a young, bruised Blake arrived at the driveway of her new home, Creighton became instantly protective of her. He became almost too obsessively protective to the point where she felt suffocated. She wanted him to be normal, but over the years, she realized that was impossible because, outside of his obsession with her, he showed no emotions.
Their story picks up where the last book ended. In A Captive Situation, Blake was kidnapped and used as leverage by Creighton’s cousin. Creighton promised Blake that he wouldn’t kill Sawyer and Jake only if she promised not to run away from him anymore. In this book, we see her moving into a college house with roommates, trying her best to live a normal life while finishing her senior year of college. Of course, Creighton won’t allow her to live in a new city without the necessary precautions in place to ensure her safety.
The characters were well developed, but the overall story just fell kinda flat. How many times can the heroine get kidnapped and escape on her own? I seriously couldn’t stop rolling my eyes. It felt like the same plot in a different book all over again. I was so disappointed because I really loved them. Their sad upbringings and character development were so compelling, and their story had a lot of potential, but the recycled plot completely killed it for me.
I did enjoy the romance, and it was obvious how much love they both held for each other, but even so, I felt like it could’ve been developed further.
What To Expect:
• Mafia Romance
• Foster siblings
• Boy Obsessed
• Stalker
• Heroine in Danger
• Good girl x Bad Boy
⚠️: Off page child abuse, kidnapping, violence, and more.
Thank you to the author and Montlake Romance for an ARC of this title. All opinions are my own.
September 5, 2025
This was such an addictive slow burn! The writing really pulled me in, and I loved every character. Blake and Creighton’s chemistry was slow, intense, and completely captivating. I especially loved how the author gave Creighton this menacing, dangerous aura, yet showed such a different side to him with his foster siblings—it made him so layered and fascinating.
The secondary characters were great as well, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of their stories in the future (which I’d absolutely love).
Overall, this was a dark, tense, and thoroughly enjoyable read. I enjoyed it tremendously and will definitely be picking up more of Tijan’s novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The secondary characters were great as well, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing more of their stories in the future (which I’d absolutely love).
Overall, this was a dark, tense, and thoroughly enjoyable read. I enjoyed it tremendously and will definitely be picking up more of Tijan’s novels.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
August 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Tijan for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion and thoughts.
I really loved the characters and the plot. Tijan’s writing is amazing. I couldn’t put it down! It’s an elegant slow-burn, mafia love story with just the right amount of chaos.
I highly recommend this book. I promise you, this is a book you won’t soon forget.
I really loved the characters and the plot. Tijan’s writing is amazing. I couldn’t put it down! It’s an elegant slow-burn, mafia love story with just the right amount of chaos.
I highly recommend this book. I promise you, this is a book you won’t soon forget.
August 30, 2025
Reading Tijan books is always such a fun and compelling experience for me because her characters are always so well developed so I was surprised that I didn’t instantly love these two. I think too much happens between them before the book starts that I found it hard to really feel their connection. They aren’t the most likable characters at first either. They’re flawed, damaged, raw and gritty and the beginning of the book has a lot of scenes that are emotionally hard to read. It’s the darkest story so far in this series. It did take me a while to really appreciate the characters in this one. It was hard to see the Hs from book one and two so vulnerable. The H was at fault, so the blame was on him which made it hard to see him as anyone but a villain. He isn’t an antihero though so it was just all messy and confusing and uncomfortable in the beginning. She did a good job of making this reader extremely conflicted! Of course, as the book goes on and we get to know him, his motivations (gah so sweet) and understood his character more then everything made sense and I could really enjoy this read and how different it is. His character development and redemption arc were so satisfying!! I honestly did not think I was ever going to like him! This is such a “trust the process” book with this H. My fav aspect of this read.
The h is a little more likable at first but she is really struggling with the H being back in her life. In a romance I want the h to want to be around the H so, similarly to the situation with the H, it took a hot minute to really connect with her especially with so much happening in the 14 years they’ve known each other being off page. The start of this one reads similarly to a second chance trope even though it’s not. By about midway the book really takes off, things come together, there starts to be some levity and the connection between the two of them really dragged me in. My only real issue in the end was that I wish that the h would have seen all that the H did earlier instead of just focusing on his violence and her rules for him. The h played up the “Survive me, to love me” vibes way more than was necessary for the scenes we were given. She’s an overdramatic little thing, lol. Every time she learned of something good he did she was like shocked and that bummed me out.
For a good portion of the book, I wasn’t sure how their happy ending or the plot resolution was going to be reached. I honestly thought she was just blowing up this whole series! Nerve wracking!! I was pleasantly surprised by all the outcomes and their HEA. This one gave me Bren and Cross, my fav Tijan couple, vibes so that alone made it so much fun and a bit nostalgic to read. I think this is a read that would be even better on a reread though. And, oh that epilogue!! Gah! So good!!
Overall: 4.5
The h is a little more likable at first but she is really struggling with the H being back in her life. In a romance I want the h to want to be around the H so, similarly to the situation with the H, it took a hot minute to really connect with her especially with so much happening in the 14 years they’ve known each other being off page. The start of this one reads similarly to a second chance trope even though it’s not. By about midway the book really takes off, things come together, there starts to be some levity and the connection between the two of them really dragged me in. My only real issue in the end was that I wish that the h would have seen all that the H did earlier instead of just focusing on his violence and her rules for him. The h played up the “Survive me, to love me” vibes way more than was necessary for the scenes we were given. She’s an overdramatic little thing, lol. Every time she learned of something good he did she was like shocked and that bummed me out.
For a good portion of the book, I wasn’t sure how their happy ending or the plot resolution was going to be reached. I honestly thought she was just blowing up this whole series! Nerve wracking!! I was pleasantly surprised by all the outcomes and their HEA. This one gave me Bren and Cross, my fav Tijan couple, vibes so that alone made it so much fun and a bit nostalgic to read. I think this is a read that would be even better on a reread though. And, oh that epilogue!! Gah! So good!!
Overall: 4.5
November 13, 2025
Thank you to Montlake and Tijan for the advanced readers copy of "A Hateful Negotiation" via NetGalley.
This was my first book to read by Tijan and I absolutely devoured it! I love a good mafia romance, there's not much better in my opinion!!
This book follows Creighton (MMC) and Blake (FMC) as they grow up together in foster care and then into college/their adult lives. It's primarily set in the present, but it does flashback. It's also a dual POV book, so the chapters switch between Creighton and Blake's perspectives.
Creighton is an overprotective mob boss, with touch her and die vibes and I'M OBSESSED!! Blake has a tough upbringing in the foster care system, so check for trigger warnings!
I would say this is a delicious slow burn book. The build up is great, but the delivery is even better!
The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars was Lassiter. His storyline was very odd to me, I feel like we needed more depth from him as a character to understand his feelings.
Otherwise, I would totally recommend this read! It was just what I was in the mood for, which lead me to read it super quickly!!
This was my first book to read by Tijan and I absolutely devoured it! I love a good mafia romance, there's not much better in my opinion!!
This book follows Creighton (MMC) and Blake (FMC) as they grow up together in foster care and then into college/their adult lives. It's primarily set in the present, but it does flashback. It's also a dual POV book, so the chapters switch between Creighton and Blake's perspectives.
Creighton is an overprotective mob boss, with touch her and die vibes and I'M OBSESSED!! Blake has a tough upbringing in the foster care system, so check for trigger warnings!
I would say this is a delicious slow burn book. The build up is great, but the delivery is even better!
The only thing that kept me from giving this book 5 stars was Lassiter. His storyline was very odd to me, I feel like we needed more depth from him as a character to understand his feelings.
Otherwise, I would totally recommend this read! It was just what I was in the mood for, which lead me to read it super quickly!!
October 28, 2025
The best mafia of hourrrr
It has been such a long time since i found an actual good mafia book that when i started reading this i had zero expectations but colourme purple this was UNBELIEVABLE
From the story, to the characters, to the psychopath MMC/ the best book boyfriend from a mafia romance, to the found family, it was all so perfect and so amazingly written that i was so sadthe book ended.
Blake and Creighton had such an amazing pull, they made me yearn for them in the same way they yearned for each other, and the chemistry…. That’s how you write chemistry and tension in a good mafia book.
I may reread them soon just to feel something ….
Thank you to the publisher for the arc.
It has been such a long time since i found an actual good mafia book that when i started reading this i had zero expectations but colourme purple this was UNBELIEVABLE
From the story, to the characters, to the psychopath MMC/ the best book boyfriend from a mafia romance, to the found family, it was all so perfect and so amazingly written that i was so sadthe book ended.
Blake and Creighton had such an amazing pull, they made me yearn for them in the same way they yearned for each other, and the chemistry…. That’s how you write chemistry and tension in a good mafia book.
I may reread them soon just to feel something ….
Thank you to the publisher for the arc.
September 4, 2025
Title: A Hateful Negotiation
Author: Tijan
What to expect:
*Mafia romance
*Virgin FMC
*Foster family/home
Pros:
I love an unhinged psychopath MMC!!! Creighton was only a good person for Blake, and he would burn the world to the ground if anyone ever hurt her. Blake is definitely Creighton’s moral compass.
Cons:
This is my first time reading this author, it was written very well but there are a lot of side characters in this story that I’m assuming have their own books in her universe. I wasn’t lost in the story but I could have benefited by reading some of her prior books first to get the characters straight.
Safety:
No OW/OM drama within the relationship. Some graphic violence to side characters. Does have a third act breakup, neither of the main characters are with others during the break.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Blake (FMC) & Creighton (MMC)
Author: Tijan
What to expect:
*Mafia romance
*Virgin FMC
*Foster family/home
Pros:
I love an unhinged psychopath MMC!!! Creighton was only a good person for Blake, and he would burn the world to the ground if anyone ever hurt her. Blake is definitely Creighton’s moral compass.
Cons:
This is my first time reading this author, it was written very well but there are a lot of side characters in this story that I’m assuming have their own books in her universe. I wasn’t lost in the story but I could have benefited by reading some of her prior books first to get the characters straight.
Safety:
No OW/OM drama within the relationship. Some graphic violence to side characters. Does have a third act breakup, neither of the main characters are with others during the break.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Blake (FMC) & Creighton (MMC)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Creighton meet Blake when she moved to yet another foster home. It was like their souls connected even though he was so much older. He protected her. Fast forward to adulthood, he was the head of a mafia style group. And he was ruthless and he would burn the world down for Blake.
I really enjoyed this. The narrators did a fantastic job. 4 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this. The narrators did a fantastic job. 4 stars
Many thanks to Net Galley and Brilliance Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2025
3,75 ⭐
a great addition to this series, even though I have to say I didn't particularly like the main couple. I feel like they will split in the future
a great addition to this series, even though I have to say I didn't particularly like the main couple. I feel like they will split in the future
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Anti‑Hero of My Dreams and Nightmares
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍🤯🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
🎧 Audiobook Review: A Hateful Negotiation
Author: Tijan
Genre: Mafia romance
Narrators: Mia Madison and Benjamin Sands
🦸🏼♀️ The Heroine: Blake Green
Blake grew up bouncing through the foster system, surviving several abusive homes before a social worker intervened at age eight. Bruised and terrified, she was placed with Miss Marci — one of the rare foster parents who actually cared. Her new home was full of other kids, including Creighton, the older boy Miss Marci had all but given up on. He was volatile, feared, and already hardened by life, yet he made Blake one promise: he would never hurt her.
Now twenty‑two and in her final year of college as a psychology major, Blake is still trying to build a life that belongs to her. After being kidnapped from her previous dorm by someone who pretended to be a friend, she’s moved into graduate housing — a change Creighton insisted on for her safety. Even from a distance, he’s still the shadow in her life she can’t quite escape.
🦸🏻♂️ The Hero: Creighton Lane
Creighton has been labeled with psychopathic tendencies since childhood. He doesn’t process emotions the way most people do, and he reads others with unnerving precision. He’s convinced he’s incapable of love — but if he were ever going to love anyone, it would be Blake.
Even so, he lives far outside the law, surrounded by former foster brothers who now work for him. Miss Marci hates the path he’s chosen, but Creighton has always been a creature shaped by violence, loyalty, and survival. Blake is the one soft spot he’s never been able to sever.
📚 The Plot
Blake and Creighton have a long‑standing agreement: he stays out of her life except for ensuring her safety, and she doesn’t run from him. But when Blake moves to New York, Creighton follows — opening a nightclub, shifting his mafia operations to Manhattan, and stepping directly into the territory of two of the “Kings” from Tijan’s Kings of New York series.
The third King, recently revealed as Creighton’s cousin, has already handed over his power and holdings. What follows is a three‑way war for Manhattan, with Blake caught between the life she wants and the man who refuses to let her go.
🌟 Strengths
• A slow‑burn reveal of their shared past.
The story doesn’t dump the backstory upfront. Instead, it unfolds through flashbacks that deepen the emotional stakes and show how Blake and Creighton evolved from wary foster siblings to something far more complicated. Even as someone who usually dislikes flashbacks, I found them effective and engaging.
• A truly compelling anti‑hero.
Creighton is a stalker with psychotic tendencies who genuinely believes he can’t love — and that’s exactly what makes his unraveling so addictive. He’s one of the most fascinating, morally gray mafia heroes I’ve read: dangerous, obsessive, and yet strangely vulnerable.
• A fun crossover with Tijan’s universe.
Blake’s job at Octavia, owned by Cole Mauricio from Cole, adds a great layer of continuity. Cole’s neutral‑territory club is a perfect backdrop for the tension swirling around Blake.
• Exceptional character development.
Creighton is both the best and worst kind of anti‑hero — violent, unapologetic, and sometimes disturbingly comfortable with what he does. But the more the book reveals about him, the harder it becomes not to root for him. His complexity is the beating heart of the story.
💔 Limitations
• The Kings as antagonists.
West and Ashton, two of the Kings of New York, serve as Creighton’s enemies here — and their antagonism toward Blake and Creighton didn’t always sit well with me. Fans of their books may find the dynamic jarring.
🎙️ Narration
The dual POV narration by Mia Madison and Benjamin Sands works well for this story.
• Mia Madison’s slightly lower‑range voice fits Blake’s maturity and emotional depth.
• Benjamin Sands doesn’t have the deep, gravelly tone I usually prefer for a mafia anti‑hero, but he delivers a solid performance and captures Creighton’s intensity effectively.
💬 Final Assessment
This audiobook delivers one of the most gripping, character‑driven mafia romances I’ve listened to. The emotional tension between Blake and Creighton is electric, unsettling, and impossible to look away from. Creighton, in particular, is a standout — a beautifully crafted anti‑hero whose darkness never overshadows the strange, fierce loyalty he feels for Blake.
While the conflict with the Kings didn’t fully work for me, the strength of the central relationship, the layered backstory, and the immersive worldbuilding more than made up for it.
Overall, this is a bold, addictive, and emotionally charged mafia romance that stands out in the genre — especially for readers who love their heroes morally gray, obsessive, and unforgettable.
💭 Quotes
“I hated him, but f*ck him, I couldn’t kill him, I couldn’t walk away from him. What did I do? He was torturing me. I was so tired of the destruction that came along with Creighton. I was doomed.”
“She could do anything, she could be anyone. she could get anyone to love her. I just hoped she never did because if she truly decided to leave me, I don’t think the world would survive my desolation.”
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub
The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💙💜💚❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋😀😍🤯🥰
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Dual Narration
🎧 Audiobook Review: A Hateful Negotiation
Author: Tijan
Genre: Mafia romance
Narrators: Mia Madison and Benjamin Sands
🦸🏼♀️ The Heroine: Blake Green
Blake grew up bouncing through the foster system, surviving several abusive homes before a social worker intervened at age eight. Bruised and terrified, she was placed with Miss Marci — one of the rare foster parents who actually cared. Her new home was full of other kids, including Creighton, the older boy Miss Marci had all but given up on. He was volatile, feared, and already hardened by life, yet he made Blake one promise: he would never hurt her.
Now twenty‑two and in her final year of college as a psychology major, Blake is still trying to build a life that belongs to her. After being kidnapped from her previous dorm by someone who pretended to be a friend, she’s moved into graduate housing — a change Creighton insisted on for her safety. Even from a distance, he’s still the shadow in her life she can’t quite escape.
🦸🏻♂️ The Hero: Creighton Lane
Creighton has been labeled with psychopathic tendencies since childhood. He doesn’t process emotions the way most people do, and he reads others with unnerving precision. He’s convinced he’s incapable of love — but if he were ever going to love anyone, it would be Blake.
Even so, he lives far outside the law, surrounded by former foster brothers who now work for him. Miss Marci hates the path he’s chosen, but Creighton has always been a creature shaped by violence, loyalty, and survival. Blake is the one soft spot he’s never been able to sever.
📚 The Plot
Blake and Creighton have a long‑standing agreement: he stays out of her life except for ensuring her safety, and she doesn’t run from him. But when Blake moves to New York, Creighton follows — opening a nightclub, shifting his mafia operations to Manhattan, and stepping directly into the territory of two of the “Kings” from Tijan’s Kings of New York series.
The third King, recently revealed as Creighton’s cousin, has already handed over his power and holdings. What follows is a three‑way war for Manhattan, with Blake caught between the life she wants and the man who refuses to let her go.
🌟 Strengths
• A slow‑burn reveal of their shared past.
The story doesn’t dump the backstory upfront. Instead, it unfolds through flashbacks that deepen the emotional stakes and show how Blake and Creighton evolved from wary foster siblings to something far more complicated. Even as someone who usually dislikes flashbacks, I found them effective and engaging.
• A truly compelling anti‑hero.
Creighton is a stalker with psychotic tendencies who genuinely believes he can’t love — and that’s exactly what makes his unraveling so addictive. He’s one of the most fascinating, morally gray mafia heroes I’ve read: dangerous, obsessive, and yet strangely vulnerable.
• A fun crossover with Tijan’s universe.
Blake’s job at Octavia, owned by Cole Mauricio from Cole, adds a great layer of continuity. Cole’s neutral‑territory club is a perfect backdrop for the tension swirling around Blake.
• Exceptional character development.
Creighton is both the best and worst kind of anti‑hero — violent, unapologetic, and sometimes disturbingly comfortable with what he does. But the more the book reveals about him, the harder it becomes not to root for him. His complexity is the beating heart of the story.
💔 Limitations
• The Kings as antagonists.
West and Ashton, two of the Kings of New York, serve as Creighton’s enemies here — and their antagonism toward Blake and Creighton didn’t always sit well with me. Fans of their books may find the dynamic jarring.
🎙️ Narration
The dual POV narration by Mia Madison and Benjamin Sands works well for this story.
• Mia Madison’s slightly lower‑range voice fits Blake’s maturity and emotional depth.
• Benjamin Sands doesn’t have the deep, gravelly tone I usually prefer for a mafia anti‑hero, but he delivers a solid performance and captures Creighton’s intensity effectively.
💬 Final Assessment
This audiobook delivers one of the most gripping, character‑driven mafia romances I’ve listened to. The emotional tension between Blake and Creighton is electric, unsettling, and impossible to look away from. Creighton, in particular, is a standout — a beautifully crafted anti‑hero whose darkness never overshadows the strange, fierce loyalty he feels for Blake.
While the conflict with the Kings didn’t fully work for me, the strength of the central relationship, the layered backstory, and the immersive worldbuilding more than made up for it.
Overall, this is a bold, addictive, and emotionally charged mafia romance that stands out in the genre — especially for readers who love their heroes morally gray, obsessive, and unforgettable.
💭 Quotes
“I hated him, but f*ck him, I couldn’t kill him, I couldn’t walk away from him. What did I do? He was torturing me. I was so tired of the destruction that came along with Creighton. I was doomed.”
“She could do anything, she could be anyone. she could get anyone to love her. I just hoped she never did because if she truly decided to leave me, I don’t think the world would survive my desolation.”
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Blog|Goodreads|Facebook|Instagram|Pinterest|BookBub
November 8, 2025
I love mmcs like Creighton. The ones that are harsh, unforgiving, and maybe even a complete psycho but the soften for the one woman they love. Tijan does a fantastic job of making you question things in the beginning, even Creighton, but then ties it all together and you. And help but fall for both of them!
This book is darker and more emotional than the previous books but definitely such an amazing journey. I did not expect to like Creighton and Blake as much as I did because of the previous books but they might be top couple in this series!
This book is darker and more emotional than the previous books but definitely such an amazing journey. I did not expect to like Creighton and Blake as much as I did because of the previous books but they might be top couple in this series!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Terrific Story & Narration🎧 Gripping & Intense!
A Hateful Negotiation
Kings of New York, Book 4
By: Tijan
Narrated by: Benjamin Sands, Mia Madison
Tijan pens a dark mafia romance like no other, one that captivates your attention and tugs at your heartstrings the entire time. Young Blake Green did not have the easiest of lives growing up in foster care, but it improved when placed in a safe home and she gained a guardian angel, or rather devil, depending on how you see it. Creighton Lane was only fourteen when eight-year-old Blake came into his life, but even then he knew she was something special and she did things to him, almost made him feel, feel human. Fast-forward to the present, Blake is attending college in New York, and Creighton is still her protector, still in her life, but from a distance, because that is how Blake wants it. It is a complicated relationship, and we learn why, the things he does to keep her safe, and the things that happen to her because of who she is to him and just for who he is, a ruthless and cunning mafia boss, making power plays in New York. I am new to Tijan’s “Kings of New York” series, and had no problem following along, jumping into an existing world and meeting the key players and characters from earlier books. However, knowing those characters and their backstories is beneficial and would have added some more depth to the already complex story. Blake is fierce, and it was great to watch her stand up for herself and handle everything thrown her way, handle Creighton too. Creighton, the perfect villain to swoon over, takes protecting Blake, really anything he does for Blake, to another level. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all plays out, with plenty of drama, angst, some action, thrilling and suspenseful moments, heartfelt emotions and a slow burn, but so worth the wait romance. Some may say Creighton is heartless, but he always had a heart, and her name was Blake! As always, Tijan’s writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. Thank you for the amazing story and wild emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 Benjamin Sands and Mia Madison did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, giving each a voice that was fitting. I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Both embodied their roles completely, with Madison nailing it as Blake, from her younger years to her adult years becoming the fierce woman she grew into. Sands was just as great as Creighton, alpha-tude and all. They were fantastic at performing the roles of the side/secondary characters, too. Their tone was ideal for the story, and their expressive performance conveyed all the characters’ emotions, making you feel each one. These two entertaining storytellers are a fantastic team, with voices and talent that complement each other and a gripping performance that keeps you glued to the story.
A Hateful Negotiation
Kings of New York, Book 4
By: Tijan
Narrated by: Benjamin Sands, Mia Madison
Tijan pens a dark mafia romance like no other, one that captivates your attention and tugs at your heartstrings the entire time. Young Blake Green did not have the easiest of lives growing up in foster care, but it improved when placed in a safe home and she gained a guardian angel, or rather devil, depending on how you see it. Creighton Lane was only fourteen when eight-year-old Blake came into his life, but even then he knew she was something special and she did things to him, almost made him feel, feel human. Fast-forward to the present, Blake is attending college in New York, and Creighton is still her protector, still in her life, but from a distance, because that is how Blake wants it. It is a complicated relationship, and we learn why, the things he does to keep her safe, and the things that happen to her because of who she is to him and just for who he is, a ruthless and cunning mafia boss, making power plays in New York. I am new to Tijan’s “Kings of New York” series, and had no problem following along, jumping into an existing world and meeting the key players and characters from earlier books. However, knowing those characters and their backstories is beneficial and would have added some more depth to the already complex story. Blake is fierce, and it was great to watch her stand up for herself and handle everything thrown her way, handle Creighton too. Creighton, the perfect villain to swoon over, takes protecting Blake, really anything he does for Blake, to another level. I loved all the layers of this story and how it all plays out, with plenty of drama, angst, some action, thrilling and suspenseful moments, heartfelt emotions and a slow burn, but so worth the wait romance. Some may say Creighton is heartless, but he always had a heart, and her name was Blake! As always, Tijan’s writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as are the character growth and development. Thank you for the amazing story and wild emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 Benjamin Sands and Mia Madison did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, giving each a voice that was fitting. I loved how they took each role and made it their own, sounding believable and just as I imagined the characters to sound. Both embodied their roles completely, with Madison nailing it as Blake, from her younger years to her adult years becoming the fierce woman she grew into. Sands was just as great as Creighton, alpha-tude and all. They were fantastic at performing the roles of the side/secondary characters, too. Their tone was ideal for the story, and their expressive performance conveyed all the characters’ emotions, making you feel each one. These two entertaining storytellers are a fantastic team, with voices and talent that complement each other and a gripping performance that keeps you glued to the story.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Hateful Negotiation is the fourth book in the Kings of New York Series. It's a slow emotional burn between Creighton and Blake, where even as their passion steadily grows, the emotional story teases and taunts and doesn't pick up steam until about half way through the book. I would definitely classify this book as a "trust the process" and to keep reading, remembering that everything will eventually make sense and it will work out by the end.
Creighton is a man obsessed with Blake Green and I'm not talking about just a little obsessed, I'm talking everything in his life revolves around her. Every decision, everyone around him knows she comes first, literally his every waking thought is Blake Green. Creighton is also the head of a crime organization and the only thing he cares about is her.
"You're my barometer, You're my compass. I know which way is right because of you."
I really do love Tijan's complex characters and Creighton is so far in the morally gray status, he's almost in the black zone, but as the story progressed it was interesting to see the changes in him, along with the self-reflection about how he was changing for good. I loved that he wasn't quite as black and white as he was originally portrayed, or originally thought, but with Blake he saw good.
Blake and Creighton are extremely codependent on one another, which started at a very young age, but as their relationship grew, and as they aged, their codependency changed. Again....trust the process, but their relationship is capable of so much more than his obsession. It's just one aspect of why I love reading Tijan's books.
While I immediately fell for Sawyer and Jake in the last book, it took me a little longer to find that connection with Blake and Creighton. Blake was tough on Creighton and there wasn't a lot of back story to tell us why she was so harsh to him. She was also really good at lying to herself, because she wanted Creighton, but constantly pushed him away. The push and pull between these two was tough to swallow sometimes knowing how obsessed Creighton was with her and she was just soooo mean to him.
As for everything else, there is a ton of action, since Creighton is in New York stirring up trouble. So aside from keeping an eye on Blake, he loves to make some waves with the other Kings 😈 and when he isn't out "making" new friends, he's cleaning up the aftermath of it all. 🙃 He takes things to an extreme, especially when Blake is involved, that man will burn everything down for her. 😈
A 4.5 read overall.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for advance review copy and all opinions are my own.
Creighton is a man obsessed with Blake Green and I'm not talking about just a little obsessed, I'm talking everything in his life revolves around her. Every decision, everyone around him knows she comes first, literally his every waking thought is Blake Green. Creighton is also the head of a crime organization and the only thing he cares about is her.
"You're my barometer, You're my compass. I know which way is right because of you."
I really do love Tijan's complex characters and Creighton is so far in the morally gray status, he's almost in the black zone, but as the story progressed it was interesting to see the changes in him, along with the self-reflection about how he was changing for good. I loved that he wasn't quite as black and white as he was originally portrayed, or originally thought, but with Blake he saw good.
Blake and Creighton are extremely codependent on one another, which started at a very young age, but as their relationship grew, and as they aged, their codependency changed. Again....trust the process, but their relationship is capable of so much more than his obsession. It's just one aspect of why I love reading Tijan's books.
While I immediately fell for Sawyer and Jake in the last book, it took me a little longer to find that connection with Blake and Creighton. Blake was tough on Creighton and there wasn't a lot of back story to tell us why she was so harsh to him. She was also really good at lying to herself, because she wanted Creighton, but constantly pushed him away. The push and pull between these two was tough to swallow sometimes knowing how obsessed Creighton was with her and she was just soooo mean to him.
As for everything else, there is a ton of action, since Creighton is in New York stirring up trouble. So aside from keeping an eye on Blake, he loves to make some waves with the other Kings 😈 and when he isn't out "making" new friends, he's cleaning up the aftermath of it all. 🙃 He takes things to an extreme, especially when Blake is involved, that man will burn everything down for her. 😈
A 4.5 read overall.
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for advance review copy and all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Hateful Negotiation by Tijan is what I call vintage beauty. In the best possible way. This is classic romance that gives me an unforgettable alpha hero who makes my heart beat faster and faster and an epic heroine with sass and vulnerabilities who brings the hero down on his knees. This is that kind of breathtaking romance where I wonder in every page how the emotions can be at this level of perfection. Tijan's writing was like a sharp knife that straight cut through my heart. Her words were like bullet that left me bleeding angst and heartbreak.
New York's new mafia king Creighton Lane is feared by all and rightfully so. His only weakness is Blake Green. He has been her protector since the day they met in the foster home. But Blake wants normal. She doesn't want death in her conscience but Creighton doesn't know any limit when it comes to her. She is starting her graduate course in college and has new housemates and Creighton is planning to conquer the city. Will she be able to accept Creighton with all his darkness?
Creighton Lane. Oh my god. Obsessed doesn't ever begin to cover what I feel for this antihero. He has many names. Psychopathic, killer, mafia boss..But the only one he cares about is what Blake calls him. The beautiful contradiction of his ruthless and merciless sides with his crooked soft sides for Blake is absolutely crazy. For a complicated man who is keeping his monster barely in control, he only does it for Blake. I loved how Blake was no damsel in distress. She has survived the foster system and she has equipped herself with all the skills to save herself. But that doesn't stop Creighton being overzealous about her protection and her happiness. Blake knows Creighton is her soulmate but she has to reconcile with this side of Creighton. There is so much push and pull. So much heartache and longing. So much slow burn and sizzling hot connection. There is carefully crafted suspense and drama with appearance of my other favorite men from the same universe. We skipped morally grey with Creighton and went straight to pitch black. But we do love an antihero who does everything for his woman. Have to kill people for hurting her? Immediately. Have to start a war with other mafia kings just because he can create a safe territory for his woman? Done without blinking an eyelid. But fighting with his woman's anger and pain? That's a monumental task. Blake is his everything and he is everything to Blake. In sickness, in danger, in pain, in happiness. What can be more romantic?
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
New York's new mafia king Creighton Lane is feared by all and rightfully so. His only weakness is Blake Green. He has been her protector since the day they met in the foster home. But Blake wants normal. She doesn't want death in her conscience but Creighton doesn't know any limit when it comes to her. She is starting her graduate course in college and has new housemates and Creighton is planning to conquer the city. Will she be able to accept Creighton with all his darkness?
Creighton Lane. Oh my god. Obsessed doesn't ever begin to cover what I feel for this antihero. He has many names. Psychopathic, killer, mafia boss..But the only one he cares about is what Blake calls him. The beautiful contradiction of his ruthless and merciless sides with his crooked soft sides for Blake is absolutely crazy. For a complicated man who is keeping his monster barely in control, he only does it for Blake. I loved how Blake was no damsel in distress. She has survived the foster system and she has equipped herself with all the skills to save herself. But that doesn't stop Creighton being overzealous about her protection and her happiness. Blake knows Creighton is her soulmate but she has to reconcile with this side of Creighton. There is so much push and pull. So much heartache and longing. So much slow burn and sizzling hot connection. There is carefully crafted suspense and drama with appearance of my other favorite men from the same universe. We skipped morally grey with Creighton and went straight to pitch black. But we do love an antihero who does everything for his woman. Have to kill people for hurting her? Immediately. Have to start a war with other mafia kings just because he can create a safe territory for his woman? Done without blinking an eyelid. But fighting with his woman's anger and pain? That's a monumental task. Blake is his everything and he is everything to Blake. In sickness, in danger, in pain, in happiness. What can be more romantic?
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
September 15, 2025
A Hateful Negotiation is another installment in the Kings of New York series and tells the story of Blake and Creighton.
All Blake wants is to lead a normal life. Friends, college, a job, dates. But this is overshadowed by Gangster-Boss Creighton, her foster brother. Blake is his everything, his obsession, and he will stop at nothing to protect her. This means that Blake constantly finds herself caught in the crossfire between rival families, always putting everything she has built at risk. But she is tired of running, and so she is torn between the life she wants and her feelings and desires for Creighton, which she can no longer deny.
A Hateful Negotiation is a classic Mafia dark romance set against the backdrop of a foster family. Blake is a strong young woman who doesn't put up with anything from Creighton and doesn't need him to look after her. Nevertheless, due to her past, she often doubts herself and questions many things, clearly showing a vulnerable side. Her conflict between what was morally right and her growing feelings for Creighton was very understandable, and the push and pull between the two was great.
-“I was tired of not having her.”-
Creighton is just unhinged, and I love it. I really liked his POV and his absolute desire and feelings for Blake. The book definitely fulfills the “I'm the bad guy to everyone except you” trope, and “touch her and die” is meant quite literally here.
Blake's inner conflicts, the collision of her two worlds, were beautifully portrayed. I particularly liked the dynamic between her foster brothers, and her efforts to find her footing in college were also well done.
The plot itself is quickly told and, unfortunately for me, the novel's greatest weakness. There were few extraordinary scenes, often nightclub or kidnapping scenes, which was a little bland. I would have liked a little more here.
I haven't read the previous volumes and was still able to follow the story very well. I've read that the story picks up directly after the previous volume, so there are bound to be some references that might be easier to understand if you've read them. In any case, it didn't bother me.
A Hateful Negotiation is therefore a recommendable mafia dark romance, although I would classify the dark part as being on the “lighter” side, as much of it happens off-screen.
Many thanks to the team at Tijan, Montlake, and NetGalley for the free e-ARC.
All Blake wants is to lead a normal life. Friends, college, a job, dates. But this is overshadowed by Gangster-Boss Creighton, her foster brother. Blake is his everything, his obsession, and he will stop at nothing to protect her. This means that Blake constantly finds herself caught in the crossfire between rival families, always putting everything she has built at risk. But she is tired of running, and so she is torn between the life she wants and her feelings and desires for Creighton, which she can no longer deny.
A Hateful Negotiation is a classic Mafia dark romance set against the backdrop of a foster family. Blake is a strong young woman who doesn't put up with anything from Creighton and doesn't need him to look after her. Nevertheless, due to her past, she often doubts herself and questions many things, clearly showing a vulnerable side. Her conflict between what was morally right and her growing feelings for Creighton was very understandable, and the push and pull between the two was great.
-“I was tired of not having her.”-
Creighton is just unhinged, and I love it. I really liked his POV and his absolute desire and feelings for Blake. The book definitely fulfills the “I'm the bad guy to everyone except you” trope, and “touch her and die” is meant quite literally here.
Blake's inner conflicts, the collision of her two worlds, were beautifully portrayed. I particularly liked the dynamic between her foster brothers, and her efforts to find her footing in college were also well done.
The plot itself is quickly told and, unfortunately for me, the novel's greatest weakness. There were few extraordinary scenes, often nightclub or kidnapping scenes, which was a little bland. I would have liked a little more here.
I haven't read the previous volumes and was still able to follow the story very well. I've read that the story picks up directly after the previous volume, so there are bound to be some references that might be easier to understand if you've read them. In any case, it didn't bother me.
A Hateful Negotiation is therefore a recommendable mafia dark romance, although I would classify the dark part as being on the “lighter” side, as much of it happens off-screen.
Many thanks to the team at Tijan, Montlake, and NetGalley for the free e-ARC.
November 17, 2025
Who can love a psychopathic wolverine?
It takes an exceptional writer to start with last book's villain and make him this book's hero. I was convinced that Creighton was completely irredeemable, yet I trusted in this author's talent for making heroes out of deeply flawed characters, and I was not disappointed.
We met Blake in the last book so I was already rooting for her and trusting her to hold Creighton to the highest standards, but I was not prepared for just how fierce and forceful she was in this book. This is a woman who, due to an absolutely horrible childhood, is bold and fearless and determined to create the life she knows she deserves. And if Creighton wants to be part of that life, he needs to figure things out and soon.
Blake's superpower is that she knows Creighton better than he knows himself, and she balances that knowledge with patience and determination. She speaks his language like nobody else can, and through that indestructible connection she is able to survive the mafia war that Creighton has launched against the West and Walden families.
Yep, our adversaries in this book are the heroes of the first two books in this series. Like I said, flawed characters are this author's forte. Creighton is equally matched with these two, but his advantage is that he's the only one who doesn't underestimate Blake. I absolutely adored her commitment to not being used as a pawn, no matter who tries or how often she finds herself in trouble. Her unusual upbringing resulted in her developing a skill set that served her well in that dangerous world, and I was often cheering her on.
And yes, Creighton's redemption arc was both beautiful and scary, and showed a side of his nature that completely changed how I saw him. He believed himself to be an unfeeling monster and was comfortable with that image, so he was as shocked as I was to discover a hidden layer that actually proved he was more virtuous than any of the previous heroes could hope to be. Exquisitely written, perfectly fitting for the character and his history, a beautiful way to redeem a man who didn't really need redeeming after all.
As expected with contemporary mafia stories, the true villains are served with the kind of justice I rarely see outside of a medieval romance and I loved every bit of it. I can't remember the last book I highlighted so much, finding a great deal in this book that was astonishing and memorable.
If you're looking for multi-layered anti-heroes, both male and female, finding their way in this complex world and learning to love themselves and each other, this is the book for you. Hands-down the best in contemporary mafia romance.
It takes an exceptional writer to start with last book's villain and make him this book's hero. I was convinced that Creighton was completely irredeemable, yet I trusted in this author's talent for making heroes out of deeply flawed characters, and I was not disappointed.
We met Blake in the last book so I was already rooting for her and trusting her to hold Creighton to the highest standards, but I was not prepared for just how fierce and forceful she was in this book. This is a woman who, due to an absolutely horrible childhood, is bold and fearless and determined to create the life she knows she deserves. And if Creighton wants to be part of that life, he needs to figure things out and soon.
Blake's superpower is that she knows Creighton better than he knows himself, and she balances that knowledge with patience and determination. She speaks his language like nobody else can, and through that indestructible connection she is able to survive the mafia war that Creighton has launched against the West and Walden families.
Yep, our adversaries in this book are the heroes of the first two books in this series. Like I said, flawed characters are this author's forte. Creighton is equally matched with these two, but his advantage is that he's the only one who doesn't underestimate Blake. I absolutely adored her commitment to not being used as a pawn, no matter who tries or how often she finds herself in trouble. Her unusual upbringing resulted in her developing a skill set that served her well in that dangerous world, and I was often cheering her on.
And yes, Creighton's redemption arc was both beautiful and scary, and showed a side of his nature that completely changed how I saw him. He believed himself to be an unfeeling monster and was comfortable with that image, so he was as shocked as I was to discover a hidden layer that actually proved he was more virtuous than any of the previous heroes could hope to be. Exquisitely written, perfectly fitting for the character and his history, a beautiful way to redeem a man who didn't really need redeeming after all.
As expected with contemporary mafia stories, the true villains are served with the kind of justice I rarely see outside of a medieval romance and I loved every bit of it. I can't remember the last book I highlighted so much, finding a great deal in this book that was astonishing and memorable.
If you're looking for multi-layered anti-heroes, both male and female, finding their way in this complex world and learning to love themselves and each other, this is the book for you. Hands-down the best in contemporary mafia romance.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Well that definitely turned out different from what I was expecting. I did not expect my favorite duo to be put through so much pain and torture. I did expect and was not let down about Creighton. He was the monster I imagined him to be. But where there is a monster there is always a woman to calm the beast within. That is what Blake is.
In this edition we get more of a background story into how Creighton and Blake came to be and why she was running in the last book. It makes so much more sense now, why she went back to him. He is a scary dude with his dead eyes and emotionless persona. But deep down one emotion burns and that emotion is his love for Blake, even though he is not sure how to express it.
This story has a lot of emotion in it as well as violence. Be prepared and be sure to read those trigger warnings, because this monster is not tame and he will do some damage. Some triggers to look out for are fighting, death by hanging, blood, gun violence, kidnapping, abuse and mentions of rape and trafficking. With all this being said, this book was a 5+ star read and has an amazing storyline incorporated. The characters are badass and I love the alpha vibes. Creighton is like a God in this book. You can tell by how people react to him when he walks into a room. His whole auro demands respect or death my just be your future.
Tijan did a wonderful job continuing this story. She really does a number on her previous characters giving this book all kinds of craziness. Readers who love Tisten and Ashton are going to be hurt and thrown over the bridge at what happens to them in this book. Trust me no character is safe in this one.
Be sure to read books one and two in the Kings of New York series before starting this one. They give the whole story a life and make this book the greatness that it is. You could read this book as a standalone if you wanted, but you really don't want to. Trust me on this, you will want to have all the fine details you can get to truly imagine Creighton.
I highly recommend this book to all you mafia romance lovers out there. It should be on your 2026 top ten reads this New Year.
In this edition we get more of a background story into how Creighton and Blake came to be and why she was running in the last book. It makes so much more sense now, why she went back to him. He is a scary dude with his dead eyes and emotionless persona. But deep down one emotion burns and that emotion is his love for Blake, even though he is not sure how to express it.
This story has a lot of emotion in it as well as violence. Be prepared and be sure to read those trigger warnings, because this monster is not tame and he will do some damage. Some triggers to look out for are fighting, death by hanging, blood, gun violence, kidnapping, abuse and mentions of rape and trafficking. With all this being said, this book was a 5+ star read and has an amazing storyline incorporated. The characters are badass and I love the alpha vibes. Creighton is like a God in this book. You can tell by how people react to him when he walks into a room. His whole auro demands respect or death my just be your future.
Tijan did a wonderful job continuing this story. She really does a number on her previous characters giving this book all kinds of craziness. Readers who love Tisten and Ashton are going to be hurt and thrown over the bridge at what happens to them in this book. Trust me no character is safe in this one.
Be sure to read books one and two in the Kings of New York series before starting this one. They give the whole story a life and make this book the greatness that it is. You could read this book as a standalone if you wanted, but you really don't want to. Trust me on this, you will want to have all the fine details you can get to truly imagine Creighton.
I highly recommend this book to all you mafia romance lovers out there. It should be on your 2026 top ten reads this New Year.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“She looked at me, saw my monster, then claimed my monster as hers.”
A Hateful Negotiation is a dark, emotionally loaded story that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. It delivers an unapologetically psychopathic MMC and a heroine who knows she shouldn’t love him…but her heart keeps betraying her.
“This connection—whatever it was. I wouldn’t have it with anyone else. I didn’t know if that was a beautiful thing or just bleak.”
Creighton and Blake have been bound together since foster care, and Creighton’s obsession has only sharpened with time. He has always protected Blake with a ferocity that borders on feral—he’d happily burn the world to ash if it meant keeping her safe. Blake, meanwhile, aches for something resembling normalcy, even as she’s pulled back into Creighton’s darkness like it’s inevitable.
“You are my boundary, Blake. You. I don’t kill anyone good, anyone innocent. Only bad. Your words, your rules.”
She’s his moral compass, the only person capable of dragging him back from the edge. And there’s something irresistible about a villain who cares about absolutely nothing—except his woman. That’s Creighton in a nutshell. Blake is his entire universe.
“With each challenge and each yank, you are daring me to become a better man.”
Blake, for her part, is softer but no less strong. She feels deeply, fights hard, and matches Creighton’s intensity in her own quiet, steel spined way.
“I am not a man that cares about right from wrong, except when it concerns you. Only with you.”
Their banter crackles. Their chemistry is combustible. Watching their push and pull unfold against the backdrop of a brewing mafia war is addictive. Every twist, every dangerous turn, every morally gray choice hits with impact.
“It matters. You matter. You’re the only thing that matters.”
A Hateful Negotiation is fierce, emotional, and wickedly tense—a story that kept me on edge and had me rooting for the villain to win the girl he’d destroy the world for.
A Hateful Negotiation is a dark, emotionally loaded story that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. It delivers an unapologetically psychopathic MMC and a heroine who knows she shouldn’t love him…but her heart keeps betraying her.
“This connection—whatever it was. I wouldn’t have it with anyone else. I didn’t know if that was a beautiful thing or just bleak.”
Creighton and Blake have been bound together since foster care, and Creighton’s obsession has only sharpened with time. He has always protected Blake with a ferocity that borders on feral—he’d happily burn the world to ash if it meant keeping her safe. Blake, meanwhile, aches for something resembling normalcy, even as she’s pulled back into Creighton’s darkness like it’s inevitable.
“You are my boundary, Blake. You. I don’t kill anyone good, anyone innocent. Only bad. Your words, your rules.”
She’s his moral compass, the only person capable of dragging him back from the edge. And there’s something irresistible about a villain who cares about absolutely nothing—except his woman. That’s Creighton in a nutshell. Blake is his entire universe.
“With each challenge and each yank, you are daring me to become a better man.”
Blake, for her part, is softer but no less strong. She feels deeply, fights hard, and matches Creighton’s intensity in her own quiet, steel spined way.
“I am not a man that cares about right from wrong, except when it concerns you. Only with you.”
Their banter crackles. Their chemistry is combustible. Watching their push and pull unfold against the backdrop of a brewing mafia war is addictive. Every twist, every dangerous turn, every morally gray choice hits with impact.
“It matters. You matter. You’re the only thing that matters.”
A Hateful Negotiation is fierce, emotional, and wickedly tense—a story that kept me on edge and had me rooting for the villain to win the girl he’d destroy the world for.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25 stars.
"A Hateful Negotiation" by Tijan is a dark, dark romance with a lot of thematically heavy plot points and a ton of drama, so be sure to check the TWs before reading. It is a slow burn between the main characters, Creighton and Blake. Creighton has been obsessed with Blake since they were foster kids to the point where he will do anything for her,...even k1ll. He has watched over her, helped get her the best his money can buy, whatever he can to give her the life he thinks she deserves. And him? He rules New York City as a mafia boss. I have a feeling the booktok girlies will eat Creighton up as a character with his morally grey swagger. His possessive nature seems to be what they care about, and he's got it in spades. He's a literal stalker, tracking her, watching her sleep (ok, Edward Cullen much?!), but she loves it. It's always a little 50/50, like, is this ok to enjoy??? when reading dark romances, do you know what I mean? I didn't find the plot to be all that engaging as a whole. There were a couple of times when I even tuned out while listening. I haven't read a book where the FMC gets kidnapped so many times!!? Sure, Blake can hold her own, but she really should have been smarter about the people deceiving her and constantly wanting to take her as leverage. It got frustrating and repetitive and a little boring, if I'm honest! They did have decent chemistry, but the slow-burning nature of the story got to be a little too slow at times. That being said, despite the flatness of the story, I really enjoyed the dual audiobook narration by Benjamin Sands and Mia Madison. They bring these characters to life in unexpected ways. I think Benjamin especially really captures the dark essence of Creighton quite well. He has a cold, detached aura about his voiceover, which is a compliment, I swear! All in all, this was a mixed bag for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tijan, Brilliance Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
"A Hateful Negotiation" by Tijan is a dark, dark romance with a lot of thematically heavy plot points and a ton of drama, so be sure to check the TWs before reading. It is a slow burn between the main characters, Creighton and Blake. Creighton has been obsessed with Blake since they were foster kids to the point where he will do anything for her,...even k1ll. He has watched over her, helped get her the best his money can buy, whatever he can to give her the life he thinks she deserves. And him? He rules New York City as a mafia boss. I have a feeling the booktok girlies will eat Creighton up as a character with his morally grey swagger. His possessive nature seems to be what they care about, and he's got it in spades. He's a literal stalker, tracking her, watching her sleep (ok, Edward Cullen much?!), but she loves it. It's always a little 50/50, like, is this ok to enjoy??? when reading dark romances, do you know what I mean? I didn't find the plot to be all that engaging as a whole. There were a couple of times when I even tuned out while listening. I haven't read a book where the FMC gets kidnapped so many times!!? Sure, Blake can hold her own, but she really should have been smarter about the people deceiving her and constantly wanting to take her as leverage. It got frustrating and repetitive and a little boring, if I'm honest! They did have decent chemistry, but the slow-burning nature of the story got to be a little too slow at times. That being said, despite the flatness of the story, I really enjoyed the dual audiobook narration by Benjamin Sands and Mia Madison. They bring these characters to life in unexpected ways. I think Benjamin especially really captures the dark essence of Creighton quite well. He has a cold, detached aura about his voiceover, which is a compliment, I swear! All in all, this was a mixed bag for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tijan, Brilliance Publishing, and Brilliance Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big thanks to Netgalley, Brilliance Audio, and Tijan for the gifted advanced listener copy of this audio book!
Genre: Contemporary Romance
⭐️ 4/5
🌶 2/5
🎧 4/5
🧠 3/10
Noteworthy: Audio book publication date is 1/13/2026. Narrated by Benjamin Sands and Mia Madison. This book was recorded in dual narration.
This the 4th book in the Kings of New York series of interconnected standalones. Benjamin Sands does a good job portraying Creighton who is a well known psychopath and an up and coming crime lord in NYC. He conveys his portion of this story convincingly. You completely believe he would burn the world down for Blake. Mia has a huge backlog of narrated works like this one and her experience shows. For me, it was not always easy being in Blake's head because she was struggling between what she wanted and what she felt was right. Mia Madison does a great job making us feel Blake's frustrations with Creighton and the situation.
This book is part of a series that I haven't fully read yet. You can pick this book up by itself but I really feel like you'd digest it better if you read the whole series. At times it felt like I should already know people I was just meeting. I will likely read the series from the start now.
Creighton and Blake meet 14 years ago when they were both in foster care. Creighton took Blake under his wing and has spent every minute of his life protecting here ever since. Blake just wants some normalcy in her life and is trying to find it by moving to NYC for school. What is a protector to do when the object of his obsession moves to another state? Oh yeah, move too and work to take over some mafia territory. Creighton is a great character if you're into psychopaths with singular obsessions. The way he truly does not give a care for literally anything or anyone else is a little swoony for us crazies. 😂
Genre: Contemporary Romance
⭐️ 4/5
🌶 2/5
🎧 4/5
🧠 3/10
Noteworthy: Audio book publication date is 1/13/2026. Narrated by Benjamin Sands and Mia Madison. This book was recorded in dual narration.
This the 4th book in the Kings of New York series of interconnected standalones. Benjamin Sands does a good job portraying Creighton who is a well known psychopath and an up and coming crime lord in NYC. He conveys his portion of this story convincingly. You completely believe he would burn the world down for Blake. Mia has a huge backlog of narrated works like this one and her experience shows. For me, it was not always easy being in Blake's head because she was struggling between what she wanted and what she felt was right. Mia Madison does a great job making us feel Blake's frustrations with Creighton and the situation.
This book is part of a series that I haven't fully read yet. You can pick this book up by itself but I really feel like you'd digest it better if you read the whole series. At times it felt like I should already know people I was just meeting. I will likely read the series from the start now.
Creighton and Blake meet 14 years ago when they were both in foster care. Creighton took Blake under his wing and has spent every minute of his life protecting here ever since. Blake just wants some normalcy in her life and is trying to find it by moving to NYC for school. What is a protector to do when the object of his obsession moves to another state? Oh yeah, move too and work to take over some mafia territory. Creighton is a great character if you're into psychopaths with singular obsessions. The way he truly does not give a care for literally anything or anyone else is a little swoony for us crazies. 😂
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC. All opinions are my own :)
A Hateful Negotiation was my second Tijan read, and I’m starting to realize there’s something undeniably addictive about her writing. The way she crafts characters: messy, flawed, morally questionable just pulls you in and refuses to let go.
Creighton is exactly the kind of MMC that keeps me hooked: dangerous, morally gray, obsessive, and unapologetically ruthless. Except when it comes to Blake. I loved the contrast between who he is to the world and who he becomes with her. He’s hard, violent, and feared by everyone else, yet oddly honest and emotionally open with Blake. Watching him stop hiding his feelings and actively claim them was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Blake, too, felt real. She was caught between wanting a normal life and being unable to fully escape the man who has always protected her, even when she resents the cost of that protection. Their dynamic is intense, charged, and constantly shifting, and the push-and-pull between them kept the story engaging from start to finish.
I also really appreciated the character development, especially Creighton’s. His growth didn’t soften him or strip away his darkness; it simply added depth, making him even more compelling. And the pacing? Fast, sharp, and incredibly readable. This was one of those books I flew through without realizing how quickly the pages were turning.
Overall, A Hateful Negotiation is a dark, tension-filled romance with morally gray characters, emotional intensity, and an addictive rhythm that makes it hard to put down. If you love flawed characters, dangerous MMCs, and relationships that toe the line between obsession and devotion, this one is absolutely worth the read.
A Hateful Negotiation was my second Tijan read, and I’m starting to realize there’s something undeniably addictive about her writing. The way she crafts characters: messy, flawed, morally questionable just pulls you in and refuses to let go.
Creighton is exactly the kind of MMC that keeps me hooked: dangerous, morally gray, obsessive, and unapologetically ruthless. Except when it comes to Blake. I loved the contrast between who he is to the world and who he becomes with her. He’s hard, violent, and feared by everyone else, yet oddly honest and emotionally open with Blake. Watching him stop hiding his feelings and actively claim them was one of my favorite parts of the book.
Blake, too, felt real. She was caught between wanting a normal life and being unable to fully escape the man who has always protected her, even when she resents the cost of that protection. Their dynamic is intense, charged, and constantly shifting, and the push-and-pull between them kept the story engaging from start to finish.
I also really appreciated the character development, especially Creighton’s. His growth didn’t soften him or strip away his darkness; it simply added depth, making him even more compelling. And the pacing? Fast, sharp, and incredibly readable. This was one of those books I flew through without realizing how quickly the pages were turning.
Overall, A Hateful Negotiation is a dark, tension-filled romance with morally gray characters, emotional intensity, and an addictive rhythm that makes it hard to put down. If you love flawed characters, dangerous MMCs, and relationships that toe the line between obsession and devotion, this one is absolutely worth the read.
January 2, 2026
I just finished A Hateful Negotiation by Tijan, and I honestly have very mixed feelings about this one.
Let’s start with the positives.
I listened to this on audio, and I’m genuinely glad I did. I don’t think I would’ve fully understood Creighton if I had read it instead. Hearing his tone and delivery helped add layers to a character who is emotionally closed off and not exactly easy to read.
Creighton and Blake are both frustrating characters—but in very different ways. Creighton is the kind of MMC that dark romance girlies tend to eat up: possessive, controlling, stalker-ish, and completely unapologetic when it comes to Blake. He doesn’t care who he hurts if it means protecting or claiming her, and while he doesn’t express emotions in a traditional way, his obsession and fixation are very clear.
The plot itself felt pretty mild to me. I kept waiting for more danger or higher stakes. Even with two kidnappings, it never fully reached the level of intensity I was expecting.
Now, my biggest issue: Blake.
She was extremely frustrating to me. Very “Miss Independent,” which isn’t a bad thing, but it felt excessive at times. She knows Creighton doesn’t experience emotions the way most people do, yet she’s constantly hard on him for not loving or expressing himself in the way she wants. I understood her concerns about the power imbalance, but there were moments where I truly wanted to shake her.
Overall, I did enjoy this more as a listen than I think I would have as a read, and I’d definitely recommend the audiobook if you’re curious about this one. It’s sharp, tense, and heavy on possessive MMC energy—even if it didn’t fully hit the danger level I was hoping for.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC
Let’s start with the positives.
I listened to this on audio, and I’m genuinely glad I did. I don’t think I would’ve fully understood Creighton if I had read it instead. Hearing his tone and delivery helped add layers to a character who is emotionally closed off and not exactly easy to read.
Creighton and Blake are both frustrating characters—but in very different ways. Creighton is the kind of MMC that dark romance girlies tend to eat up: possessive, controlling, stalker-ish, and completely unapologetic when it comes to Blake. He doesn’t care who he hurts if it means protecting or claiming her, and while he doesn’t express emotions in a traditional way, his obsession and fixation are very clear.
The plot itself felt pretty mild to me. I kept waiting for more danger or higher stakes. Even with two kidnappings, it never fully reached the level of intensity I was expecting.
Now, my biggest issue: Blake.
She was extremely frustrating to me. Very “Miss Independent,” which isn’t a bad thing, but it felt excessive at times. She knows Creighton doesn’t experience emotions the way most people do, yet she’s constantly hard on him for not loving or expressing himself in the way she wants. I understood her concerns about the power imbalance, but there were moments where I truly wanted to shake her.
Overall, I did enjoy this more as a listen than I think I would have as a read, and I’d definitely recommend the audiobook if you’re curious about this one. It’s sharp, tense, and heavy on possessive MMC energy—even if it didn’t fully hit the danger level I was hoping for.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2025
Thank you Netgalley, Montlake, and Tijan for the advance copy.
💥 Review — A Hateful Negotiation by Tijan
Subgenre: Mafia Romance
Tropes: Friends to Lovers · “Kill Her and Die” Vow · Obsessed Alpha
POV: Dual
Steam: Slow burn, open door (one explicit scene)
Ending: HEA
Tijan delivers another dark and addictive mafia romance, this time through the fascinating lens of a psychopath’s perspective. It’s rare to see such a viewpoint handled with care, and it makes Creighton’s love story uniquely compelling. Where he is ruthless, cold, and calculating with everyone else, his tenderness and patience with Blake reveal the fractured humanity beneath.
Their connection feels dangerous and devoted at once, she is both his anchor and his undoing. Blake, despite being protected by his world, stands strong and capable in her own right. Their dynamic thrives on tension, guilt, and devotion, making every interaction charged and layered.
Creighton’s growth stands out most; even without empathy, he works to learn right from wrong because of her. The story runs a bit long and the prose feels slightly different from earlier books in the series, with a more disjointed rhythm that might intentionally mirror their fractured mental states.
Content Warnings: Graphic violence (mafia themes).
Rating: ★★★★☆
Overall impression:
A dark, slow-burn love story full of obsession, danger, and surprising tenderness. Creighton’s loyalty and Blake’s quiet strength make this one unforgettable.
💥 Review — A Hateful Negotiation by Tijan
Subgenre: Mafia Romance
Tropes: Friends to Lovers · “Kill Her and Die” Vow · Obsessed Alpha
POV: Dual
Steam: Slow burn, open door (one explicit scene)
Ending: HEA
Tijan delivers another dark and addictive mafia romance, this time through the fascinating lens of a psychopath’s perspective. It’s rare to see such a viewpoint handled with care, and it makes Creighton’s love story uniquely compelling. Where he is ruthless, cold, and calculating with everyone else, his tenderness and patience with Blake reveal the fractured humanity beneath.
Their connection feels dangerous and devoted at once, she is both his anchor and his undoing. Blake, despite being protected by his world, stands strong and capable in her own right. Their dynamic thrives on tension, guilt, and devotion, making every interaction charged and layered.
Creighton’s growth stands out most; even without empathy, he works to learn right from wrong because of her. The story runs a bit long and the prose feels slightly different from earlier books in the series, with a more disjointed rhythm that might intentionally mirror their fractured mental states.
Content Warnings: Graphic violence (mafia themes).
Rating: ★★★★☆
Overall impression:
A dark, slow-burn love story full of obsession, danger, and surprising tenderness. Creighton’s loyalty and Blake’s quiet strength make this one unforgettable.
Review of advance copy
Rating
5💎
2.5🌶️
Quick Summary
Honestly, this book wrecked me in the best way. Creight and Blake are pure chaos and chemistry, and I couldn’t get enough. This book just hit and delivered hard. Creight is next-level possessive, and Blake’s fierce energy pushes him to do better, making every moment electric. The mafia war was epic and twisted, but I loved every second of it.
Reading Thoughts
📓This was my first mafia series and it had been the one I compared all the next one too
📓Creight is next level possessive MMC…touch her and die takes on a whole new level in this book
📓Love that Blake is fierce in her own right and she pushes all Creights buttons
📓The mafia war against the other characters in the series that we have fallen for in the past was crazy for my head to wrap around but loved it.
📓I was worried about a book 4 but this, only by a smidge, my favourite
📓These 2 characters just hit in all the right feels!!
Words that linger
🍷Head up. Shoulders back. I was going to own my space, whatever that meant.
🍷“You won’t have to worry what Eight will do to you. I’ll handle you myself. I don’t have the same moral code as your best friend’s cop.”
🍷“You are my boundary, Blake. You. I don’t kill anyone good, anyone innocent. Only bad. Your words, your rules. I adhere to only you, and you accuse me otherwise.”
🍷“Thinking I just discovered a new favorite snack.”
Tropes
🔪Mafia war
🔪Possessive & Obsessed MMC
🔪Very big touch her & die
🔪Friends to enemies to lovers
🔪Good girl/very bad guy
Thank you Valentine PR and Tijan for this advanced copy.
5💎
2.5🌶️
Quick Summary
Honestly, this book wrecked me in the best way. Creight and Blake are pure chaos and chemistry, and I couldn’t get enough. This book just hit and delivered hard. Creight is next-level possessive, and Blake’s fierce energy pushes him to do better, making every moment electric. The mafia war was epic and twisted, but I loved every second of it.
Reading Thoughts
📓This was my first mafia series and it had been the one I compared all the next one too
📓Creight is next level possessive MMC…touch her and die takes on a whole new level in this book
📓Love that Blake is fierce in her own right and she pushes all Creights buttons
📓The mafia war against the other characters in the series that we have fallen for in the past was crazy for my head to wrap around but loved it.
📓I was worried about a book 4 but this, only by a smidge, my favourite
📓These 2 characters just hit in all the right feels!!
Words that linger
🍷Head up. Shoulders back. I was going to own my space, whatever that meant.
🍷“You won’t have to worry what Eight will do to you. I’ll handle you myself. I don’t have the same moral code as your best friend’s cop.”
🍷“You are my boundary, Blake. You. I don’t kill anyone good, anyone innocent. Only bad. Your words, your rules. I adhere to only you, and you accuse me otherwise.”
🍷“Thinking I just discovered a new favorite snack.”
Tropes
🔪Mafia war
🔪Possessive & Obsessed MMC
🔪Very big touch her & die
🔪Friends to enemies to lovers
🔪Good girl/very bad guy
Thank you Valentine PR and Tijan for this advanced copy.
January 7, 2026
I'm the biggest fan of psychopath mcs so it's safe to say I really enjoyed this book. I honestly wasn't expecting it to get so emotional at the end too! I almost cried in a public place. This book is giving Little Stranger vibes with mafia mixed in. Blake and Creighton are foster siblings, and he's been obsessed with her since the day she walked into the foster home. And my god when I say obsessed, I mean psychotic, possessive, crazy obsession. This man took over the New York Mafia because she was going to New York for college and he wanted to protect her. The plot was pretty good, Blake just moved to a new place and wants to fit in, without having an overbearing obsessed foster brother chasing trouble for her. Honestly their relationship is adorable. There's so much push and pull, and major emphasis on the will they or won't they trope. She's doing her best not to give in, but when he changes for her... how can she not? My one problem is that's there's an awful lot of kidnapping in this book, and it kinda became an overused annoying plot device
I admit, some of the plot twists in it were good, we just didn't need so many kidnappings for the happen. However both of the characters go through significant development whichied. admit, I didn't like Blake that much at the start but by the end Noved her. that I love Creighton, because this man was willing to basically do anything for her. But by the end their couple chemistry was just off the charts. This book was amazing and I give it a 4.5/5
I admit, some of the plot twists in it were good, we just didn't need so many kidnappings for the happen. However both of the characters go through significant development whichied. admit, I didn't like Blake that much at the start but by the end Noved her. that I love Creighton, because this man was willing to basically do anything for her. But by the end their couple chemistry was just off the charts. This book was amazing and I give it a 4.5/5
November 30, 2025
If you loved A Captive Situation, you are going to love this one. Creighton and Blake’s story was all the things I needed it to be. It was funny, heartwarming and if he wanted to he would.
I was so giddy reading this book because Creighton was the right shades of grey and was not a man about power and money; everything he did, he did for Blake and I loved every bit of it. Blake mat have had conflicting issues but in the end, it was all for her for Creighton.
The found family dynamic in this book was so beautiful. Levi and Lassiter were amazing side characters and amazing foster brothers with the same shades of grey as Creighton but not as psychotic. They knew Blake was the only soft one of them and would protect that no matter what.
Blake was a unique FMC in this in the fact that she was never a pawn on the board but was a part of the board. This woman knew how to take care of herself and it really showed. She was soft but no one was going to be taking advantage of her and she saved herself plenty in this book.
I just loved from the first moment they meet, Creighton knew she was different. I was in a chokehold from this first meeting.
This book is entertaining, funny, heartwarming and just overall a great story to get lost in.
Thank you to Tijan for this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
✨Touch her and die
✨Friends to lovers
✨Obsessed alpha male
✨Mafia romance
✨Slow burn
I was so giddy reading this book because Creighton was the right shades of grey and was not a man about power and money; everything he did, he did for Blake and I loved every bit of it. Blake mat have had conflicting issues but in the end, it was all for her for Creighton.
The found family dynamic in this book was so beautiful. Levi and Lassiter were amazing side characters and amazing foster brothers with the same shades of grey as Creighton but not as psychotic. They knew Blake was the only soft one of them and would protect that no matter what.
Blake was a unique FMC in this in the fact that she was never a pawn on the board but was a part of the board. This woman knew how to take care of herself and it really showed. She was soft but no one was going to be taking advantage of her and she saved herself plenty in this book.
I just loved from the first moment they meet, Creighton knew she was different. I was in a chokehold from this first meeting.
This book is entertaining, funny, heartwarming and just overall a great story to get lost in.
Thank you to Tijan for this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes:
✨Touch her and die
✨Friends to lovers
✨Obsessed alpha male
✨Mafia romance
✨Slow burn
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews