I am a sucker for anything dance related. If you show me a pair of ballet pointe shoes, I am in. This Monica Murphy book was everything a YA/NA book should be.
I have to say, I don’t know which character I liked best. Carolina and West are a beautiful symbiotic combination of give and take. Carolina can be prickly and bitchy, while Weston can be calm and non-confrontational. He knows when to push her buttons and enjoys watching her bloom. Now, don’t get me wrong, West can be everything a possessive, demanding, over-the-top Hero should be, he just knows how to use this to his advantage when interacting with Carolina.
IABWY is an easy read. It does minorly deal with some sensitive topics, such as eating disorders. Due to Carolina’s strenuous work schedule, it is alluded to that she may have an eating disorder. Ordering salads with veggies and no other frills or her mother continually saying snide comments on this topic. Despite all of this, I fell in love with Caroline and West and their storyline.
Angelo and Lu have been best friends since birth. With both of their parents also being best friends, each has grown up seeing the other as ‘Aunt’ and ‘Uncle’ despite not being blood-related.
Angelo is two years older than Luc and has always been her protector. Due to this closeness, each has secretly harbored feelings of true love toward the other. Angelo wants Luc to experience life before he reveals his feelings and Luc doesn’t want to ruin a friendship. This theme is peppered throughout the story, making so many missed chances and opportunities, that it made me want to ‘Grrr’ when they wouldn’t talk to each other. Complete and utter frustration (which of course amps up the angst level)!
Fast forward a couple of years and Luc finds herself in a shocking situation and the only person she wants to talk to and get comfort from is Angelo.
I fell in love with Angelo’s sweet, protective, and over-the-top possessive nature. He displayed a full range of emotions while trying to find his purpose and plan in life. While only being two years younger, Luc’s personality is both younger/immature, yet, grown up as well. She’s this interesting mixture of both personalities. While something happened between the two of them, that saddened me, they do eventually end up with a nice HEA.
“You aren’t bait, my little dove….” “You are a trap. I pity the man who underestimates you. You’re not fragile, nor are you broken. You’re jagged pieces waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
Luke comes from a different perspective, yet still has to face obstacles and challenges. He ascertained Summer for a reason, but he is also trying to fight these developing feelings. He was possessive, over the top, tortured, and kept everything close to the vest. He is everything I wanted in this lead character.
Broken Dove is dark, twisted, and angsty, yet eerily beautiful and haunting. Broken Dove is utter perfection. Another aspect I wasn’t aware of with this author is the poetry interspersed between the chapters that she wrote. Ah-Maz-Ing!! Absolutely fell in love.
“Doves are smart. It doesn’t matter the distance. They always find their way back home.”
“Benvenuto nella Casa del Silenzio.”
Luke isn’t considered a good man, yet he has a sense of caring and a keen sense to keep a watchful eye on Summer. He is very protective of her and fights these feelings that are churning within him. Luke and Summer had a relationship, of sorts, from the start. It is full of intrigue and curiosity, but an actual love connection took a little more time to mature. I fell for Summer almost immediately. She has not had the easiest life but has made the best of a crappy situation. With Luke’s guidance, she appears to blossom like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Her character was spot on in terms of being blind and experiencing every little nuance a visually impaired person may encounter.
“You aren’t bait, my little dove….” “You are a trap. I pity the man who underestimates you. You’re not fragile, nor are you broken. You’re jagged pieces waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
Luke comes from a different perspective, yet still has to face obstacles and challenges. He ascertained Summer for a reason, but he is also trying to fight these developing feelings. He was possessive, over the top, tortured, and kept everything close to the vest. He is everything I wanted in this lead character.Broken Dove is dark, twisted, and angsty, yet eerily beautiful and haunting. Broken Dove is utter perfection. Another aspect I wasn’t aware of with this author is the poetry interspersed between the chapters that she wrote. Ah-Maz-Ing!! Absolutely fell in love.
“Doves are smart. It doesn’t matter the distance. They always find their way back home.”
It may be safe to say that I am Daddy Nico’s number one fan. So, he and I made peace so I could gush about Luke (and Summer). We are once again in the realm of the Dance of the Dead and it’s a world that I absolutely adore! Claudia, once again, knocked it out of the park.
Summer has memories of dancing in tights and tutus yet is unable to remember her dreams or faces. What she has acquired is a keen sense of hearing and has an incredible ear for voices and sounds. You see, Summer is blind, which was a blessing, of sorts, when it came time to perform the duties of the House of Silence.
“Benvenuto nella Casa del Silenzio.”
Luke isn’t considered a good man, yet he has a sense of caring and a keen sense to keep a watchful eye on Summer. He is very protective of her and fights these feelings that are churning within him. Luke and Summer had a relationship, of sorts, from the start. It is full of intrigue and curiosity, but an actual love connection took a little more time to mature. I fell for Summer almost immediately. She has not had the easiest life but has made the best of a crappy situation. With Luke’s guidance, she appears to blossom like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Her character was spot on in terms of being blind and experiencing every little nuance a visually impaired person may encounter.
“You aren’t bait, my little dove….” “You are a trap. I pity the man who underestimates you. You’re not fragile, nor are you broken. You’re jagged pieces waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
Luke comes from a different perspective, yet still has to face obstacles and challenges. He ascertained Summer for a reason, but he is also trying to fight these developing feelings. He was possessive, over the top, tortured, and kept everything close to the vest. He is everything I wanted in this lead character.Broken Dove is dark, twisted, and angsty, yet eerily beautiful and haunting. Broken Dove is utter perfection. Another aspect I wasn’t aware of with this author is the poetry interspersed between the chapters that she wrote. Ah-Maz-Ing!! Absolutely fell in love.
“Doves are smart. It doesn’t matter the distance. They always find their way back home.”
“Benvenuto nella Casa del Silenzio.”
Luke isn’t considered a good man, yet he has a sense of caring and a keen sense to keep a watchful eye on Summer. He is very protective of her and fights these feelings that are churning within him. Luke and Summer had a relationship, of sorts, from the start. It is full of intrigue and curiosity, but an actual love connection took a little more time to mature. I fell for Summer almost immediately. She has not had the easiest life but has made the best of a crappy situation. With Luke’s guidance, she appears to blossom like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Her character was spot on in terms of being blind and experiencing every little nuance a visually impaired person may encounter.
“You aren’t bait, my little dove….” “You are a trap. I pity the man who underestimates you. You’re not fragile, nor are you broken. You’re jagged pieces waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
Luke comes from a different perspective, yet still has to face obstacles and challenges. He ascertained Summer for a reason, but he is also trying to fight these developing feelings. He was possessive, over the top, tortured, and kept everything close to the vest. He is everything I wanted in this lead character.Broken Dove is dark, twisted, and angsty, yet eerily beautiful and haunting. Broken Dove is utter perfection. Another aspect I wasn’t aware of with this author is the poetry interspersed between the chapters that she wrote. Ah-Maz-Ing!! Absolutely fell in love.
“Doves are smart. It doesn’t matter the distance. They always find their way back home.”
It may be safe to say that I am Daddy Nico’s number one fan. So, he and I made peace so I could gush about Luke (and Summer). We are once again in the realm of the Dance of the Dead and it’s a world that I absolutely adore! Claudia, once again, knocked it out of the park.
Summer has memories of dancing in tights and tutus yet is unable to remember her dreams or faces. What she has acquired is a keen sense of hearing and has an incredible ear for voices and sounds. You see, Summer is blind, which was a blessing, of sorts, when it came time to perform the duties of the House of Silence.
“Benvenuto nella Casa del Silenzio.”
Luke isn’t considered a good man, yet he has a sense of caring and a keen sense to keep a watchful eye on Summer. He is very protective of her and fights these feelings that are churning within him. Luke and Summer had a relationship, of sorts, from the start. It is full of intrigue and curiosity, but an actual love connection took a little more time to mature. I fell for Summer almost immediately. She has not had the easiest life but has made the best of a crappy situation. With Luke’s guidance, she appears to blossom like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Her character was spot on in terms of being blind and experiencing every little nuance a visually impaired person may encounter.
“You aren’t bait, my little dove….” “You are a trap. I pity the man who underestimates you. You’re not fragile, nor are you broken. You’re jagged pieces waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
Luke comes from a different perspective, yet still has to face obstacles and challenges. He ascertained Summer for a reason, but he is also trying to fight these developing feelings. He was possessive, over the top, tortured, and kept everything close to the vest. He is everything I wanted in this lead character.Broken Dove is dark, twisted, and angsty, yet eerily beautiful and haunting. Broken Dove is utter perfection. Another aspect I wasn’t aware of with this author is the poetry interspersed between the chapters that she wrote. Ah-Maz-Ing!! Absolutely fell in love.
“Doves are smart. It doesn’t matter the distance. They always find their way back home.”
It may be safe to say that I am Daddy Nico’s number one fan. So, he and I made peace so I could gush about Luke (and Summer). We are once again in the realm of the Dance of the Dead and it’s a world that I absolutely adore! Claudia, once again, knocked it out of the park.
Summer has memories of dancing in tights and tutus yet is unable to remember her dreams or faces. What she has acquired is a keen sense of hearing and has an incredible ear for voices and sounds. You see, Summer is blind, which was a blessing, of sorts, when it came time to perform the duties of the House of Silence.
“Benvenuto nella Casa del Silenzio.”
Luke isn’t considered a good man, yet he has a sense of caring and a keen sense to keep a watchful eye on Summer. He is very protective of her and fights these feelings that are churning within him. Luke and Summer had a relationship, of sorts, from the start. It is full of intrigue and curiosity, but an actual love connection took a little more time to mature. I fell for Summer almost immediately. She has not had the easiest life but has made the best of a crappy situation. With Luke’s guidance, she appears to blossom like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Her character was spot on in terms of being blind and experiencing every little nuance a visually impaired person may encounter.
“You aren’t bait, my little dove….” “You are a trap. I pity the man who underestimates you. You’re not fragile, nor are you broken. You’re jagged pieces waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
Luke comes from a different perspective, yet still has to face obstacles and challenges. He ascertained Summer for a reason, but he is also trying to fight these developing feelings. He was possessive, over the top, tortured, and kept everything close to the vest. He is everything I wanted in this lead character.Broken Dove is dark, twisted, and angsty, yet eerily beautiful and haunting. Broken Dove is utter perfection. Another aspect I wasn’t aware of with this author is the poetry interspersed between the chapters that she wrote. Ah-Maz-Ing!! Absolutely fell in love.
“Doves are smart. It doesn’t matter the distance. They always find their way back home.”
“Benvenuto nella Casa del Silenzio.”
Luke isn’t considered a good man, yet he has a sense of caring and a keen sense to keep a watchful eye on Summer. He is very protective of her and fights these feelings that are churning within him. Luke and Summer had a relationship, of sorts, from the start. It is full of intrigue and curiosity, but an actual love connection took a little more time to mature. I fell for Summer almost immediately. She has not had the easiest life but has made the best of a crappy situation. With Luke’s guidance, she appears to blossom like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Her character was spot on in terms of being blind and experiencing every little nuance a visually impaired person may encounter.
“You aren’t bait, my little dove….” “You are a trap. I pity the man who underestimates you. You’re not fragile, nor are you broken. You’re jagged pieces waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
Luke comes from a different perspective, yet still has to face obstacles and challenges. He ascertained Summer for a reason, but he is also trying to fight these developing feelings. He was possessive, over the top, tortured, and kept everything close to the vest. He is everything I wanted in this lead character.Broken Dove is dark, twisted, and angsty, yet eerily beautiful and haunting. Broken Dove is utter perfection. Another aspect I wasn’t aware of with this author is the poetry interspersed between the chapters that she wrote. Ah-Maz-Ing!! Absolutely fell in love.
“Doves are smart. It doesn’t matter the distance. They always find their way back home.”
It may be safe to say that I am Daddy Nico’s number one fan. So, he and I made peace so I could gush about Luke (and Summer). We are once again in the realm of the Dance of the Dead and it’s a world that I absolutely adore! Claudia, once again, knocked it out of the park.
Summer has memories of dancing in tights and tutus yet is unable to remember her dreams or faces. What she has acquired is a keen sense of hearing and has an incredible ear for voices and sounds. You see, Summer is blind, which was a blessing, of sorts, when it came time to perform the duties of the House of Silence.
“Benvenuto nella Casa del Silenzio.”
Luke isn’t considered a good man, yet he has a sense of caring and a keen sense to keep a watchful eye on Summer. He is very protective of her and fights these feelings that are churning within him. Luke and Summer had a relationship, of sorts, from the start. It is full of intrigue and curiosity, but an actual love connection took a little more time to mature. I fell for Summer almost immediately. She has not had the easiest life but has made the best of a crappy situation. With Luke’s guidance, she appears to blossom like a caterpillar into a butterfly. Her character was spot on in terms of being blind and experiencing every little nuance a visually impaired person may encounter.
“You aren’t bait, my little dove….” “You are a trap. I pity the man who underestimates you. You’re not fragile, nor are you broken. You’re jagged pieces waiting for the perfect moment to strike.”
Luke comes from a different perspective, yet still has to face obstacles and challenges. He ascertained Summer for a reason, but he is also trying to fight these developing feelings. He was possessive, over the top, tortured, and kept everything close to the vest. He is everything I wanted in this lead character.Broken Dove is dark, twisted, and angsty, yet eerily beautiful and haunting. Broken Dove is utter perfection. Another aspect I wasn’t aware of with this author is the poetry interspersed between the chapters that she wrote. Ah-Maz-Ing!! Absolutely fell in love.
“Doves are smart. It doesn’t matter the distance. They always find their way back home.”
A Cruel Arrangement is the second book in Tijan’s Kings of New York Series. This story revolves around Ashton and Molly told in a dual POV.
Ashton Walden is a busy mafioso running the Walden family mafia, while his best friend, Trace West, is running the West family mafia. If you read book 1, we were given a glimpse of how far Ashton will go for the ones he loves. We were also given a glimpse of Molly and her sweet, sunshine, yet tough-as-nails personality and her immense love for Easter Lanes, her bowling alley. Given this previous information, A Cruel Arrangement jumps right into an active storyline for Ashton and Molly and doesn’t slow down.
Now, Trace and Jess made me love them, but the unfolding storyline of Ashton and Molly made me fall in love with them deeply and immensely. The emotional journey that Ashton went through was incredible to see. This boss is used to getting things done (he’s a doer) and watching him fall in love and adjust to these new emotions is amazing. I almost hate to say this, but Ashton and Molly are truly my favorites out of this foursome.
Tijan is a master at words. It appears that no matter what she writes, it is solid gold. She truly writes her books with everything that she has. She keeps in mind the background of the story, which includes the secondary characters, and the underlying banter between all involved. I love Tijan’s writing, and she will continue to be a one-click author for me!
Lager & Lefse Book Blog 