4.5⭐️
2.5🌶️
🔥Mafia Romance
🔥Bad Boy/ Good Girl
🔥Found Family
🔥Grumpy/Grumpy
🔥Loathe to Love
🔥Neurodivergent Hero
🔥Slow Burn
🔥Stalker
🔥Tortured Heroine
🔥Touch Her & ☠️
🔥Dual First Person POV
I would describe A Hateful Negotiation as mafia with a twist. Creighton’s organization isn’t run like a family or driven by money, just his need to protect Blake and control his environment. Blake and Creighton have a complicated relationship. They first met when Blake was placed in a new foster home and immediately he felt protective of her. He was drawn to her light and over the years their relationship changes from protector to more. Creighton is something else, his psychopathic tendencies means he doesn’t feel emotions, which comes in handy in his line of business. Creighton does whatever he wants, only following the rules she gave him, no one innocent and no one good. Blake wants a chance at a normal life, a life without Creighton. She’s transferred schools for her senior year to get away from him and he’s agreed to stay away. But if she seeks him out, all bets are off. Just when she thought she was free from him, she finds it hard to stay away. He sets traps for her, like when her new roommate wants to go to a new club and it just so happens to be one of his. He’s been slowly taking over the neighborhoods surrounding her college, making it known she was his. Creighton’s world starts to bleed into hers and soon her housemates knows who he is and what he does. This is described as loathe to love, but Blake never really hated Creighton. She’s always had feelings for him, although complicated ones, because of who he is. Blake has always understood Creighton better than anyone, but struggled to accept his need to seek retribution for the smallest slight against her. From their background, to the complicated feelings, and dangers they’re now facing, this is a turbulent roller coaster ride. Blake struggled to believe she was important or special enough. Creighton shows her, in his own ways, just how much she means to him. Slow burns are not always my favorite thing to read, but between the building tension and chemistry, weaving in complicated emotions, I was hooked. At first it was hard to like Creighton, but Tijan is able to make any mmc, even a psychopathic Wolverine, redeemable. Now Blake is no push over, with her sass and determination she holds her own. There is a third act break up, but not because of any miscommunication. Blake is confused and conflicted over her feelings for Creighton. He gives her more space than ever, but is there for her when she needs him. This is the fourth in the interconnected series, but is so well written that I wasn’t lost, even though I’ve only read the first book. I am definitely going to read the rest of this series.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 5
Engaging: 5
Character: 5
Thank you Tijan and Valentine PR for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
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A Few Favorite Quotes:
“I don’t think I’d classify us as friends. Family. Mortal enemies. Either would work better than friends.”
“I am not like your women. You won’t have to worry what Eight will do to you. I’ll handle you myself. I’ll come out swinging with a gun in one hand and a machete in the other. That’s who I am.”
“I met a little girl when she was eight years old, and suddenly I understood the world. You gave me the world. You gave me everything. I use the parameters that you gave me. Don’t you remember, Blake? No one good. No one innocent. Everyone else, fair game. You said those words to me. I’ve been living by those parameters for the last fourteen years.”
“His next words should’ve chilled me. “You’re mine now, Blake. In every way.” They didn’t. They sent my pulse soaring all over again.”
“Would you carry me over a mountain if it were in my way?” “I would blow up the mountain for you.”
“I’d rather she hate me and be alive than be nice and have her dead.”
“You are a gift that I will never deserve, but too selfish to give back.”
She looked at me, saw my monster, then claimed my monster as hers.
“I love you, my little Quokka.” “Yeah, yeah. I love you too, my psychopathic wolverine.”