I enjoyed the chemistry between Creighton and Blake.

It was easy to read and fast paced. This was my first Tijan book and I would consider picking up the Kings of New York City series.

Perfect for lovers of dark mafia romance - check triggers though.

Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for letting me read this one early

Crichton is just a total nutter… this is the first book of this series I read as I got it from NetGalley so I don’t know what I missed. It was easy to get into the book and the absolute dead pan of Crichton really carried the chaos of the book.

Thank you to @netgalley for gifting me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review

This is my first book by this author and it won't be my last. The only reason i didn't give it four stars is because I found it quite slow to begin with and it seemed to take me a while to get properly into it but once I was into it I couldn't put it down.

I LOOOOVE how utterly unhinged Creighton was. He was sooo protective of Blake and there wasn't a thing he wouldn't do for her, literally nothing. Just soooo unhinged!!! But he knew it aswell!!!

I loved that it featured a foster family dynamic, and the found family and protection from eachother within the foster family siblings was lovely. And the friendships between Blake and her housemates too.

I loved the mafia storyline, but some parts did confuse me a little and I felt like in some parts the storyline kind of jumped a little so it was a bit confusing at times.

I won't say the quotes as spoilers but there were sooo many relatable quotes in this one, regarding relationships, love and just life in general and it was so relatable.

This one grabbed me because of the mafia romance aspect. (Yes my new obsession) And I got so much more out of it. Its definitely a slow burn, but lots of story building that i actually loved. Most of the dark mafia romances ive read just go straight into the action and the spice, but this lets you get to know each characters past and present.

Creighton is one the most powerful and dangerous men in New York.
Blake has known him since they were children. But she cannot accept the things he does. Even though most of them are done to protect her.
She moved to New York to be away from him. But he followed her.
And now, their relationship is changing. All that while involved in a war.
The book is ok. I even liked Creighton and his psychopath tendencies. Blake, not so much. I can't stand the hot and cold behavior.
At some point, the plot was kind of repetitive.

Anything Mafia romance literally count me in!!

Also I appear to have been living under a rock to have not read any of Tijan’s work before….

Really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more of their work. The storyline was a cool concept and I did like the dark and mysterious MMC Creighton and his over protectiveness of our FMC Blake.

I wished there was a little more backstory for the pair though from when they were younger to set the scene and a bit more growth from the Creighton at times. It did seem that he was very repetitive in moments in his personality and possessiveness. I would have liked to see a little more depth from him.

However, I did really enjoy and I hope there are others so I can follow along the other characters stories too!

A Hateful Negotiation" centers around Creighton and Blake, and from the very first pages including the prologue it pulls you in. You're instantly curious to see where the story is headed.

Blake is in the foster care system, bouncing from one home to another, until she ends up at a home with Creighton. That’s where they first meet, and from the start, Creighton becomes her protector. What begins as a bond rooted in safety and loyalty gradually evolves into something deeper when she is an adult.
Set in a college backdrop, the story brings all the dark, possessive "mafia vibes" especially the “touch her and you're gone” energy that fans of the trope will love.

I’ve read several books by this author, and I’d recommend it if you're into protective love interests, emotional backstories, and a bit of danger mixed into your romance.

This is a four-star read that has plenty of up and downs. I expected to like this more than I did, and don’t get me wrong I really enjoyed it when I got into it, but it took me a while to care about Crighton and Blake. Once I got into the story the twists and turns really made the story so much deeper and pull you into the story that make you care deeply, if we didn’t have that hook this wouldn’t be the story it is. I will certainly be recommending this one to people who love this type of story, as it was well done and the writing is superb as always when we read this author.

Thank you for the arc of this book! I have such mixed feelings about this book, which is why I’m giving it three stars. The writing of the book just wasn’t my favorite. I’m not sure what it was about it but it was the main reason it took me so long to get into this book. Around the 30% mark is when I actually start to get invested! I feel like we got introduced to all the characters and I could see where the plot was going plus mafia romances are always so Bingeable that once I was into it, I had to keep going and even got to the point where when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about reading it so I could finish it and see how it ended.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading so much literary fiction so I’m more into character work over plot, but I just felt like the female main character didn’t really have much of a personality. Besides the fact that she was a foster kid and it was annoying me how her main gripe About not being with the make main character was because she wanted to change who he was even though she knew who he was from a young age. It would suck for me if someone thought they could only love me fully unless i changed even though her reasoning was also mildly justified because he was insane lol. and then the male main character, his only personality trait was being obsessed with the female main character. I did enjoy the friendships in this book like seeing Levi interact with Blake and the housemates getting close to each other. Those parts of the book really drew me in which again is why I just need more character work in books. The drama was good and the twist were dramatic, but good as well. It’s one of those books that was really fun to read, and I would probably pick up more books by this author, but it just wouldn’t be an all-time favorite.

I truly enjoyed this book. I love the connection between our two main characters and how their past almost comes across as fate. The lengths that Creighton will go to make sure that Blake is protected. It can be an emotional read; the turmoil, the back and forth, will have you not wanting to put the book down. I also love the way that Blake doesn't try to change Creighton, but embraces who he is, and I love how Creighton takes the time to try his best to do what Blake wants from him; he tries his hardest to be the man she needs.

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.

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!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

I have been a long time fan of Tijan, and always look forward to reading her next release.

A Hateful Negotiation is the story of Blake (FMC) and Creighton (MMC), and is a interconnected standalone that is in the same world as the Kings of New York series.

A Hateful Negotiation is a dark, slow-burn mafia romance with "touch her and die" vibes. The MMC is ruthless, manipulative and a psychopath and he is obsessed with the FMC.

Blake just wants to live a normal life, but from the start the push and pull of her relationship with Creighton keeps bringing her back into his world - which is anything but. Their story develops a bit more slowly, but this allows us to see how both characters grow and develop. This read is full of tension, angst, drama and undeniable chemistry and Blake and Creighton will have you hooked by the end!

If you enjoy mafia romance, you should definitely pick this one up!

What to expect:

- Mafia / Crime Boss Dark Romance
- Found Family
- Slow-burn and Angst
- Touch her and die
- Possessive / Obsessive MMC
- Virgin FMC

Thank you to NetGalley and Montake Publishing for the chance to read and review this eARC. Coming out January 13, 2026!

#AHatefulNegotiation #NetGalley #Tijan #ObsessedMMC #SlowBurnRomance

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I love this author and will read anything they write. That being said, this one was a little different. It still had that powerful man loves and protects the woman he loves but this powerful man was a bit of a psycho. I mean who doesn't love a protective man but this is a little over the top at times but all coming from a good place. The mixture of these characters from the previous books was a bonus.

If you love Mmc who is obsessive and protective then this is the read for you! As I enjoyed a storyline like this it was an absolute pleasure to read and to read how their relationship developed ☺️ definitely recommend reading

If you’re into the mega-obsessive “touch her and die” trope, A Hateful Negotiation by Tijan will absolutely hit the spot. This book delivers intensity, obsession, and emotional depth, all wrapped up in a slow-burn mafia romance that had me completely hooked.

The dual timelines—past and present—are balanced really well. There’s just enough backstory to give the characters depth without overshadowing the current storyline. Tijan does a great job making both Creighton and Blake feel real; their chemistry is undeniable, and the tension between them is thick with every chapter. Creighton is the ultimate obsessive MMC: dangerous, protective, and always watching. Blake, on the other hand, is just trying to live a normal life, which makes their dynamic even more addictive.

I also really enjoyed the “family” dynamics and how fleshed out all the side characters were. The writing was strong, the pacing worked well for the story, and the emotional development kept me invested from start to finish.

Highly recommend for fans of obsessive anti-heroes, mafia drama, and slow-burn romance with high stakes. Thank you for the ARC – I genuinely enjoyed the ride!

🖤 𝐀 𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐍𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐓𝐢𝐣𝐚𝐧 🖤

“I could be patient, kind, to him. just not tonight.”

ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴊᴀɴ 13ᴛʜ 2026

ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛ:
🔥 ᴍᴀғɪᴀ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ
💀 sʟᴏᴡ ʙᴜʀɴ
🔥 ᴘsʏᴄʜᴏᴘᴀᴛʜ ᴄʀɪᴍᴇ ʙᴏss ᴍᴍᴄ
💀 ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄ
🔥 ᴘᴏssᴇssɪᴠᴇ/ᴏʙsᴇssɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴍᴄ
💀 ʜᴀᴛᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ
🔥 ᴀɴɢsᴛ (sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ)
💀 sᴜʀᴠɪᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ
🔥 ᴠɪʀɢɪɴ ғᴍᴄ
💀 ғᴏsᴛᴇʀ ғᴀᴍɪʟʏ/ʜᴏᴍᴇ
🔥 ʙᴜʀɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ғᴏʀ ʜᴇʀ

There was so much angst, danger, undeniable chemistry that the slow burn actually burns or you could cut that tension with a knife. i really enjoyed this story. i loved the story even with how dark it gets. i love dark books and A Hateful Negotiation did not disappoint. I also love Mafia romances and that’s exactly what kind of book this is. Creighton and Blake are everything. Creighton is every bit of that possessive, you can’t touch her vibes MMC. they had this connection that was like in order to love me you have to survive me type vibe. which i really loved. And well i just love a psychopath MMC. Blake definitely becomes his moral compass. thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

This was a 3.5 for me. Got the eArc from netgalley. At first I was a lit disoriented, as I felt there was a prequel that I didn't know about. But it got much more clearer as I read more. It's typical Tijan book. Characters are complicated, the plot is easy to understand. As I read further, I started liking it more. I liked how it ended in an open note

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
ARC Review: A Hateful Negotiation by Tijan

Tijan delivers another dark, slow-burn mafia romance that hooked me from page one. Creighton is every bit the dangerous, obsessive crime boss you’d expect—but what makes him stand out is the way his unyielding devotion to Blake collides with his ruthless nature. Blake, on the other hand, just wants normalcy and independence, but danger follows her no matter where she goes, and Creighton refuses to let her face it alone.

This book is equal parts tension and chemistry. The push and pull between Blake and Creighton kept me turning pages, and I loved the way their “negotiation” shifted their relationship dynamics. It’s not just about survival—it’s about whether love can exist between obsession and protection.

The pacing leaned slower at times (true to the “slow burn”), but it gave the romance more depth and made the eventual payoff worth it. The banter, the raw emotion, and the dark edges of Creighton’s character all blended into a story that felt addictive.

If you enjoy mafia romance with intensity, danger, and a hero who toes the line between protector and monster, this is one to add to your TBR.

LOVED this book! I haven't read a mafia book in a while and was quickly sucked into this one. The complicated relationship between Creighton and Blake was fascinating to observe and I love how it developed and changed throughout the book. I want to go back and read the other mafia books that Tijan wrote. Would definitely recommend this book!