I was provided an ARC via Netgalley, however I opted to listen to the final version of the audiobook. As always all opinions are my own.
This book was published in September 2022 and is available in multiple formats via multiple retailers. This is the third and final book in The Insiders series. Unfortunately this didn't work for me. The Insiders was intense and suspenseful, The Damaged had some suspense towards the end, so I was hoping that this would end with a bang. This was lacking in the suspense and intensity I was looking for. This book was kind of all over the place, there is dialogue that is hard to follow and doesn't really make sense or add to the plot. Some of the actions of the characters after big traumatic events don't make sense, and in general I'm not a fan of how the author has the characters deal with emotions, grief, and trauma in this series. Despite all of the maneuvering and dangerous players, this was kind of slow paced and the big show down between Kash and Calhoun was not very action packed.
This book cannot be read as a standalone. This picks up where book 2 leaves off with Bailey completely shut down after events in book 2. She slowly comes out of her stupor and begins to reintegrate into her family and life. While she is grieving and basically suffering from PTSD, Kash is making moves against his grandfather. There are alot of other players involved to throw Kash and Bailey's plans off track, but it really just made the storyline messy in my opinion. I don't want to spoil anything, but I was hoping for more action and suspense. I was kind of bored despite the author throwing in some unexpected twists.
I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own. This book released on December 6, 2022 and is available now..
This follows Jess, a by the book parole officer who accidentally overhears a conversation at a hockey game she wasn't supposed to hear. While it wasn't anything of great detail, the man on the phone is involved in one of the largest mafia families on the east coast. She doesn't know who Trace is or what his affiliation is, all she knows is she is instantly attracted to him and can't stop thinking about him. The attraction is mutual for Trace, but he wants nothing to do with a cop. They both know that they are bad news for each other given their professions but they keep running into each other and eventually stop fighting the pull that keeps bringing them together. Their affair is dangerous for both of them, especially when there are bigger things at play.
This book was very slow burn. The last 20% of the book is where most of the action took place, but the rest was not the action packed mafia romance we've seen from the author in the past. There are alternating scenes of Jess and Trace's lives where they are going about their daily business all the while pining for each other. I feel like we didn't get enough scenes with them together to really build their relationship and their chemistry. We definitely get the feeling of longing and desperation to be together since they are not supposed to be together but love each other anyway. I thought the action scenes were good they were just far to spread out and I still don't know what is going on. I understand this is a series so hopefully the missing pieces will become clear in the future books.
When Jess Montell meets Trace West at a hockey game, she doesn't know his name or occupation. What she does know is there's an instant attraction that's impossible to ignore--or forget. And forgetting is exactly what she wants to do when she learns he's not just a successful Wall Street suit but the heir to one of New York's biggest Mafia families. The last thing Trace needs is a romantic anything with law enforcement, and parole officer Jess has trouble written all over her. Too bad he likes trouble. Especially when it's a brunette bombshell with attitude and legs for days. She's an absolute spitfire, and he wants to stoke that flame. Trace didn't ask for the Mafia life. Jess doesn't want any part of it. They both know it's safer to stay away, but the temptation is too hard to resist—no matter how great the danger.
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Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing after college and once she started, she was hooked. She's written multi-bestsellers including the Fallen Crest series, Ryan's Bed, Enemies and others. She is currently writing many new books and series with an English Cocker she adores.
The enemy is closing in and everything is on the line.
THE REVENGE, the must-read finale to The Insiders Trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Tijan is out now!
The Revenge is the taut, edgy, sexy, explosive conclusion to The Insiders trilogy by New York Times and USA Today bestseller Tijan!
Bailey and Kash were used to living in the shadows. Now they are thrust into the public eye. Together, they can do anything, but undeniable danger and seemingly insurmountable challenges threaten the love and passion that binds them.
1. Bailey is reeling from the greatest loss she has ever suffered.
2. Enemies are closing in.
3. Even bigger secrets and twists are coming to light.
Win or lose, for Bailey and Kash, everything is on the line.
I didn’t recognize the night guard, but he straightened from the wall where he was positioned when I stepped into the hallway.
“Where is he?” I asked, before he could say anything.
His hands came together in front of him and he stood even taller. He nodded forward. “In the basement gym, ma’am.”
Ma’am.
I grinned at that, literally hearing Chrissy chuckling next to me. “You’re just like me now, girly. Ma’am. What a hoot.”
Yeah. A hoot.
I padded past him and headed for the elevator that went past the main section of the house. Going inside, I hit the basement floor, and there were two guards waiting for me.
I paused, seeing Josh as he was eyeing me. “Don’t you ever sleep?”
He grinned. “I sleep when your man sleeps.”
I narrowed my eyes.
His grin deepened. “So that’s rarely, ma’am.”
I bared my teeth. “Don’t you start with that ‘ma’am’ shit.”
He just laughed. “Would never entertain the thought, ma—”
I growled.
He amended, still chuckling, “Bailey.”
I scoffed, “Better.”
If anyone had asked me where the gym was on the Chesapeake estates, I wouldn’t have had a clue. I would’ve rolled my eyes and said something sarcastic like, “Of course there’s a gym; it’s alongside the Olympic-sized pool,” but now I knew exactly where it was, and it was right next to an Olympic-sized pool, though the pool was only two lanes wide. It wasn’t built for playing and horsing around, not like the pool outside, which had a complete slide with it.
Heading farther toward the gym, I was shocked to not hear sounds of grunting and punching from inside. Instead, the door to the pool was open.
“He had some extra energy to work off.”
I glanced sideways, not having heard Josh walking beside me.
“I honestly don’t think he’s human.”
Josh’s mouth twitched. “You might be on to something, Bailey.”
We came to the door and he stepped forward, checking the room before nodding for me to go ahead. I stepped inside, feeling the humidity and breathing in the chlorine before I noticed Josh shutting the door. A second later, I met his gaze through the door’s window, and he gave me another polite smile before pressing a button. The window frosted over.
Looking to the corner, I saw the camera’s light switch from green to red. Josh was giving us complete privacy, and only when that was all done did I seek out where Kash was. He was at the far end, turning, flipping, and coming up a few paces away, heading my way. I went to the edge and sat down, putting my feet in the water.
I didn’t have long to wait, enjoying the view as Kash’s arms were cutting through the water, his shoulders and biceps bulging from the motion.
I forgot how he was a fish in water.
His head was perfectly in alignment with his shoulders, and every fourth arm swing he raised his mouth up for air and went back down. He went past me. I thought he was going to keep going, but at the last second, his hand snaked out. He latched on to my ankle and tugged me into the water.
I shrieked before I was eating chlorine. “Agh!”
He grinned, the water pulsating between us, and he maneuvered me back until I was against the pool wall. “What are you doing down here?” His eyes were alert, taking me in as he placed both hands on either side of me, trapping me.
The buoyancy kept me floating, but then Kash was moving his legs under me and I was completely resting over him. My legs straddled his, and he hooked one ankle around the other, tugging me to open even wider for him.
Heat flared in me, boiling my blood, but when I thought Kash would bend his head, finding my throat, he didn’t. He moved his head back, sinking so he was on the same eye level as me, and he tugged at his sweatshirt. “Nice shirt.”
I grinned, feeling a laziness intertwining with the warmth in me. “It was this or a robe. This was closer.”
“Really?”
I nodded, enjoying the teasing look in his eyes. It was dark, but it was there. “Really.” My voice hitched on a soft sigh with that one. He grew sober, his head moving back so he could take me in more fully. “You look good.” His eyebrows dipped down. “You look like you again.” His hand moved, and he touched a wet finger beside my eye. “I see you again.”
My throat swelled up, my chest filled with an ache that was bittersweet.
“Woke up.”
“I can see that.” His head cocked to the side, but he didn’t say anything further. He was still holding me in place, and as he settled back, I knew he was waiting for me. He was waiting for whatever I was going to say or do, for whatever path I was going to put us on because that’s what I felt in that moment.
I was awake.
I said, “I know you’ve been waiting for me.”
That somber expression settled back on him and his hand went back to the pool wall, trapping me in again.
“I’ll never forget what they did to her, what he did to her, but I wasn’t myself. You gave me that time. You knew I would come back to me and I did. I’m here. Me. And I’m ready for the next chapter.”
Hunger licked my insides, lighting that fire again.
It grew, jumping up, and it was engulfing me.
I sunk down on Kash’s legs, and the higher that blaze built in me, the more I wanted him. But I wanted more.
I wanted blood.
About Tijan
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
THE REVENGE, the sizzling and thrilling conclusion to the Insiders trilogy
from New York Times bestselling author Tijan is now available!
The Revenge is the taut, edgy, sexy, explosive conclusion to The Insiders
trilogy by New York Times and USA Today bestseller Tijan!
Bailey and Kash were used to living in the shadows. Now they are thrust into
the public eye. Together, they can do anything, but undeniable danger and
seemingly insurmountable challenges threaten the love and passion that binds
them.
1. Bailey is reeling from the greatest loss she has ever suffered.
2. Enemies are closing in.
3. Even bigger secrets and twists are coming to light.
Win or lose, for Bailey and Kash, everything is on the line.
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and
unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly
real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life
and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers
including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and
Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north
Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
"Tijan delivers on the fun, edge, and angst. Her books never fail to please!"―Kylie Scott, New York Times bestseller
The Damaged, the next unputdownable romantic suspense in The Insiders Series from New York Times bestselling author Tijan, is now available!
No longer an outsider, Bailey has a family and love that she never could’ve imagined.
Used to living in the shadows, Kash will now do anything to protect his family and his woman.
They will take on the world together…
In the meantime, stunning motives, lies, and explosive secrets continue to unfold.
1. Quinn is in jail, awaiting trial.
2. Friends might actually be enemies.
3. And what is Calhoun plotting? More importantly, will Kash discover it before it’s too late?
Everything will come to a head as passion and danger ignite in The Damaged.
Excerpt
Swish, swish. The windshield wipers were busy at work this morning. It’d been raining since late the night before, and now there was just a whole dreary feel to the day. Dark and gloomy, matching my mood. It was perfect. Swish, swish. “Are you nervous, miss?” I wasn’t responding, because this isn’t how things were supposed to be. I wasn’t supposed to wake up in the middle of the night and find the bed empty. And I wasn’t supposed to have to be escorted by one of our guards down to the apartment building’s gym to find my boyfriend , the guy I loved, the guy who was so not a secret from the entire world anymore, pummeling a boxing bag so hard that his knuckles ripped open every night. It was not right that I had to stand on the side, waiting for him to fight through his haze before he noticed I was there, and then watch as blood dripped from his hands to the floor. But all of that was happening. Because three weeks after there’d been a kidnapping attempt on me, after he had saved me, everything was just, simply, not okay. To be more frank, everything was shit. And here I was. In the back of an SUV being driven by one of my two personal bodyguards, to a school that I used to daydream about attending, while my boyfriend, that guy I had come to love so much, was heading into his own personal nightmare. Fitz, my guard, clued in on my state and didn’t ask again, but his eyes were on me . He saw. He more than saw, and I knew I’d be getting a call from Kash about two minutes after the first chance Fitz had a moment to text his boss that I was not okay. Because I wasn’t. Today was the day all my dreams were supposed to come true. Instead, I was a week late going to my graduate program and I wanted to be anywhere except where I was going. And I had no say, because the world found out in a big way I was the daughter of Peter Francis, a tech legend that I’d grown up idolizing until I found out myself, this past summer, that he was also my father. And then there was my boyfriend, Kash Colello, whose grandfather was one of the richest men in the world, but that came with strings and dangerous alliances with the dark underground of the world. My boyfriend, with his inherited wealth, now that he had come out of the shadows to the world, and whose “coming out” was even bigger than mine because of his connections and his family, was now the ninth wealthiest man in the world. Life as Peter Francis’s daughter, life as Kash Colello’s girlfriend, was a whole lot different than life had been as Bailey Hayes. There were rules and expectations and lots and lots of people watching you. So no, I was not okay.
About Tijan Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
“I can always count on Tijan to write an action-packed, intense, emotional story that will have me invested until the very last page.”—Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author
The Damaged, the next highly-addictive romantic suspense story in The Insiders Series from New York Times bestselling author Tijan, is now available!
No longer an outsider, Bailey has a family and love that she never could’ve imagined.
Used to living in the shadows, Kash will now do anything to protect his family and his woman.
They will take on the world together…
In the meantime, stunning motives, lies, and explosive secrets continue to unfold.
1. Quinn is in jail, awaiting trial.
2. Friends might actually be enemies.
3. And what is Calhoun plotting? More importantly, will Kash discover it before it’s too late?
Everything will come to a head as passion and danger ignite in The Damaged.
About Tijan Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
About Tijan Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
I was provided an audio ARC via Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, all opinions are my own. This book comes out tomorrow, February 8, 2008.
This was ok but it was missing the intensity and suspense that The Insiders had. The suspense kicked up towards, but I would have liked a bit more throughout the entire book. Much like the first book, this has the feel of Tijan's other mafia themed books. This installment reminded me alot of Canary, especially when it comes to how the characters deal with trauma and emotions. Our main character Bailey has been pretty traumatized after teh events that took place in book one. She has been raised to not cry or show emotion as it is a sign of weakness. She is doing everything she can to push down her emotion and avoid dealing with her trauma. As you can imagine this is not going well for her especially as she is starting a challenging masters degree program at her dream school and her life as Peter Francis' daughter and Kashton Colello's girlfriend is now public information. She is social media fodder and that is stress she doesn't need. Much like her emotions, Bailey's character is kind of all over the place in this book. She's still insanely smart when it comes to her school works, then in the next second she is completely insecure when it comes to her relationships with her family and Kash. That being said Kash while part of the story spends alot of time off of the page making moves and keeping Bailey in the dark. Matt and Bailey are building on their relationship and I liked that they are getting closer and can lean on each other.
As with book one there are some graphic sexual scenes, alcohol consumption, and violence. This was a fast, easy read. It is full of drama, and sets us up for what is sure to be an epic showdown between Kash and his grandfather.
Jonah Bennett, an all new emotional and thrilling novella from New York Times bestselling author Tijan and 1,001 Dark Nights, is available now!
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tijan comes a new story in her Bennett Mafia universe…
Jonah Bennett wasn’t like his family. The mafia business was firmly what his brothers did, not him.
That changed the day a rival family killed his fiancée.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Grab your copy today, exclusively on Amazon! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3A3t52Z Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/JonahBen
Add Jonah Bennett to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3igoyUK
About Tijan Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
For More information about 1,001 Dark Nights, visit: Facebook: https://bit.ly/37fl0uT Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Y7uBQp Website: https://bit.ly/2AIIr3A Stay up to date on all 1,001 Dark Nights releases, join their mailing list today! https://bit.ly/2zgxaHu
I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions are my own.
I really love the 1001 Dark Nights novellas, they give you a glimpse into a series or a world and author has created. In this case we get Jonah Bennett's story. This novella is a standalone, but if you want really understand who Kai is or how the Bennett Mafia operates, give Bennett Mafia a read. I would say you could read this before or after. This also has ties to The Not-Outcast, but you don't need to read that to really understand what is going on in this book. If you want to know more about Cutler Ryder, check that out.
Jonah isn't like his brothers. He isn't part of the family business. He's a doctor, he saves lives instead of taking them, but he's also a Bennett. When a hitman kills his fiancé for no reason other than his name being Jonah Bennett, he wants revenge. When the forensic technician who ran the tests on his beloved happens to end up at the same club as Jonah, his hackles rise and the family goes into mafia mode. Carson, the forensic tech, was basically at the wrong place at the wrong time. The first time when she met the Bennetts she was just doing her job, the second time they thought she was up to no good. She wasn't but someone else was unbeknownst to her.
Jonah and Carson despite their circumstances, were instantly attracted to each other. She is a balm to his broken heart and soul, but he doesn't want anyone else to get hurt because of who he is and who his family is. Jonah quickly comes to realize that he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep Carson safe and he isn't willing to let her go.
I really enjoyed this novella. It had a fast pace and an engaging storyline.
Jonah Bennett, an all-new sexy and fast paced novella in the Bennett Mafia Universe from New York Times bestselling author Tijan and 1,001 Dark Nights is coming November 16th, and we have a sneak peek!
A screech of brakes.
A horn blaring.
That was the only warning we got.
Melissa and I were traveling. We’d taken time off from our residencies, mine in surgery and hers in family practice. We were in different locations. The driving distance wasn’t that far, but this time together was special to me.
I had decided. I didn’t want to wait anymore.
That was my last thought as we came to a quick stop in our rental car. The traffic had frozen, bumper to bumper.
“What the hell is going on?” Melissa asked.
I looked over at her and smiled. She was beautiful, like always. Big doe eyes. Long brown hair that had a slight curl. We’d been together for the last year. When I switched to go to medical school in the States, she was in the same year as me. We dated on and off for that year and the year after, but it was on and off for a reason.
Then school happened.
We graduated.
We went into our specialties, but we decided to try again.
I was happy that we had. I was happy with her.
I was just happy.
She was gorgeous. She was kind. Smart. She liked to tease me with this little sparkle in her eyes. She was also competitive, always pushing to get the best marks on each test and exam. She pushed me to do better, and that was a novel experience for me. I was used to pushing myself. No one in my family was in the medical field. It wasn’t what they did, but me… That was not me. I was the first to venture outside our family business.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have their support. I did. They wanted me to go, to do better, to be better, but that’s all they had to offer. So I was left in the role of pushing forward, forging a new path. Though not with Melissa. She motivated me, and that was one of the many reasons I’d fallen in love with her.
Right now, however, I was mostly focused on the fact that we had six days left to celebrate before going back to our normal, hectic lives. I reached over and threaded my fingers with hers, staring at the sparkling ring on her finger.
“We should call our families tonight,” I suggested. “Tell them about the engagement.”
She’d been glaring out the window at the traffic, but when I dropped a kiss on our fingers, she relaxed.
She turned to me, that sparkle in her eyes. “Oh, you mean I’ll actually get to meet your family? Your very reclusive family that you’ve always said isn’t in the States and out of phone reach?” She was teasing, but sort of not.
She hadn’t met my family for a reason, but they knew about her.
Kai had her investigated. And if Kai had any files on her, then I knew Tanner got them as well. He probably had done a couple passes, too. Meaning, that he saw her in physical proximity, he knew her, but she wouldn’t have known who he was. Brooke wasn’t one to be left out. She insisted to overhear a phone call I had with Melissa one time. It was her way of “meeting” her.
That was my family.
But it was time. If she was going to marry me, she needed to know what she was marrying into. It was only fair, but once she knew, I’d have to be prepared that she might decide not to be with me—or worse, that she’d say something to someone else.
I leaned back and shot her a grin. “When you meet them, you’ll know why.”
The traffic still wasn’t moving forward, and more horns had started to blare.
I frowned. “You think it’s an accident up there? That’s why we’re stalled?”
“Oh.” Her smile melted away.
If someone was hurt, we were supposed to go help.
Melissa reached for her seatbelt at the same time I did.
“Open the trunk,” I called as we rounded to the rear of the car.
She found the button to pop it open, and I saw a first aid kit pushed back in the corner. I grabbed it, shutting the trunk.
As I did, a guy came walking toward us, past the truck in front of us. Tall. Broad shoulders. White. He was in cowboy boots and a cowboy hat, decked out like a stereotypical cowboy—probably Wrangler jeans and a shirt stolen from the set of an old Clint Eastwood movie. I catalogued all that out of habit.
He saw me and stopped.
He looked at Melissa.
He turned back to me. “You’re Jonah Bennett?”
I frowned. “Who’s asking?”
“Do we know you?” Melissa stepped toward him, looking him over. The doctor in her came first, always. “Are you hurt? Is there a car accident back there where you came from—”
She was concerned about him, concerned about others.
That’s what she did, who she was, and why I loved her.
He pulled a gun out and pointed it at her.
She didn’t seem to register that. She was looking for blood on him when he pulled the trigger.
Synopsis
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Tijan comes a new story in her Bennett Mafia universe…
Jonah Bennett wasn’t like his family. The mafia business was firmly what his brothers did, not him.
That changed the day a rival family killed his fiancée.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**
Reserve your copy today! Amazon: https://amzn.to/3A3t52Z Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/JonahBen
Add Jonah Bennett to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3igoyUK
About Tijan Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
For More information about 1,001 Dark Nights, visit: Facebook: https://bit.ly/37fl0uT Instagram: https://bit.ly/2Y7uBQp Website: https://bit.ly/2AIIr3A Stay up to date on all 1,001 Dark Nights releases, join their mailing list today! https://bit.ly/2zgxaHu
I'm going to be in the minority here, but this one didn't work for me. I've enjoyed many of Tijan's books over the last several years, and I really enjoyed Bennett Mafia, which is why I thought I'd like this one. Unfortunately, this one didn't click for me like that one did. This is a standalone, but there are references to Bennett Mafia in the book. You do not have to have read that to read this one. The mentions are minor and you do not need any backstory to follow along.
There is a ton of action, so if you are into action packed books this one may be for you. Both of the main characters are a bit cold and devoid of emotion, but given the amount of violence and trauma they experience on the daily I can understand that aspect of their personalities, but when it comes to their relationship I didn't feel the chemistry between them. I couldn't connect with either of them, which is unusual when reading a Tijan book. The characters are typically filled with emotion and you can connect with them on some level, even when they are bad guys.
The plot was fine, but I found it a bit repetitive. As I said there is quite a bit of action and violence in this book, but much of it is the same in every chapter. There were several spots in the book that I felt were good ending points, but there were still a significant amount of pages left and I felt that the book could have been a bit shorter. There were also a few plot points that felt a bit disjointed from the main plot. They make sense to the main characters backstory, but by the time that reveal comes, it felt too late in the story.
I was provided an ARC via the author, all opinions are my own. I do look forward to reading future offerings from Tijan. This book was published on October 4, 2021.
“I have to commit mass murder tomorrow night—enough to classify me as a
serial killer,” he said. “You do not need to comfort me.”
Canary, an all-new unforgettable enemies-to-lovers standalone mafia romance
from New York Times bestselling author Tijan is available now!
We were on the front lines in that world, the mafia world. There was
nothing soft or glamorous about it. Who you were before no longer
mattered. Names didn’t exist.
I joined anyway. I had no other choice because they took my sister. Join.
Find her. Try and make it out alive.
Then he won me in a poker game. I hated him instantly, thinking he was
like my other bosses before him. He wasn’t. He was worse.
He wasn’t just cold. He was dead inside. It didn’t matter that he was
gorgeous. He was the most lethal thing I’d ever met.
He was also the only person who could keep me alive, if he didn’t kill me
himself.
A/N This is a 102k mafia/cartel standalone. This is the most violent book
Tijan has ever written. Trigger warning: references to sexual violence
“Canaries sing to save lives. I sing and people die.”
Be captivated today! FREE in Kindle Unlimited Amazon:
https://amzn.to/3lwKyNn Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/canary
Add Canary to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3Cknqr7
About Tijan Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author
that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong,
intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan
began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s
written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest
Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently
writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English
Cocker she adores.
“Canaries sing to save lives. I sing and people die.”
Canary, an all-new unforgettable mafia romance from New York Times bestselling author Tijan is releasing October 4th, and we have the stunning cover!
We were on the front lines in that world, the mafia world. There was nothing soft or glamorous about it. Who you were before no longer mattered. Names didn’t exist.
I joined anyway. I had no other choice because they took my sister. Join. Find her. Try and make it out alive.
Then he won me in a poker game. I hated him instantly, thinking he was like my other bosses before him. He wasn’t. He was worse.
He wasn’t just cold. He was dead inside. It didn’t matter that he was gorgeous. He was the most lethal thing I’d ever met.
He was also the only person who could keep me alive, if he didn’t kill me himself.
A/N This is a 102k mafia/cartel standalone. This is the most violent book Tijan has ever written. Trigger warning: references to sexual violence
“Canaries sing to save lives. I sing and people die.”
About Tijan Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers including the Carter Reed Series, the Fallen Crest Series, and the Broken and Screwed Series among others. She is currently writing a new series from north Minnesota where she lives with an English Cocker she adores.
"Obsessed from page one! Another addicting read from Tijan." -- Jennifer
L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times bestselling author
The Insiders, an all new page-turning and addictive romance from New York
Times bestselling author Tijan, is available now!
Bailey is as normal as could be, with a genius IQ and a photographic memory.
But still, normal for her. Then, things happen -- a guy breaks into her house
in the middle of the night to take her hostage. She learns her father is
billionaire tech genius Peter Francis, the same guy she’s idolized all her
life. She finds all this out when she meets dark, mysterious, and electrifying
Kashton Colello. He’s also an associate of her father’s, and he gives Bailey
two choices—go with him and meet her father or survive on her own because
those kidnappers are going to try again.
It’s a no-brainer.
After this, three things become clear for Bailey:
1. She has to live at her father’s sprawling estate, complete with bodyguards
and the best security that money can buy.
2. She’s no longer an only child. She has three siblings and has no idea what
to do with them and vice versa.
3. She is being guarded by Kash himself. Personally guarded. And there is a
lot of guarding going on there and some of it is going to drive her crazy.
A complete outsider in a world of wealth and decadence, Bailey has to find her
way within a family that has more secrets than she could have imagined. One of
these secrets could be deadly…
You can read my full review of The Insiders here. I really enjoyed this. If you enjoyed Bennett Mafia I think you will love this!
We were heading out of Chicago, and maybe another half hour or so from the
small town where my mom and I lived.
Wait. Second thought—where we used to live?
What would my mom do now? Could Chrissy Hayes remain in that house after I was
just attacked, almost taken hostage? I called my mother by all kinds of
names—Chrissy Hayes, Chrissy, or Mom. Or, well, a whole other kind of names
too, because to say she’s a character is putting it mildly. And we have an
interesting relationship to say the least.
I might be deflecting here.
Numb. I was numb. I should be pissing my pants, but instead I’m ruminating
over how I refer to my mother.
Could I stay in that house after what just happened?
I’d been planning to spend time with Chrissy, helping with the house and
working at the local computer store to make some extra money before I left for
school. But now . . . fuck if I knew.
Myriad curses went through my mind as I realized Chrissy would have to
move.
Shivers pierced me as I went over what had happened tonight, but then we were
pulling into a driveway, next to a booth. A large gate barricaded us from
moving forward.
Official police business, my tech ass.
Then again, nothing seemed official. I was told that I was being taken to my
mother, but I left with two detectives. Bright and Wilson. They introduced
themselves, then said she couldn’t see me in the hospital. They didn’t explain
why, but I was to go with them to see her.
I went.
I was in the backseat of their unmarked car a few minutes later.
Bright’s window rolled down. She flashed her badge. “We’re expected.”
The attendant nodded, hitting a button. The gate opened, showing a campus of
buildings behind it. Some made of dark red brick. Some seemingly made of
reflective windows, top to bottom. Some painted totally black. A large parking
lot sat in the middle of the buildings. “Phoenix Tech” was on a sign in front
of the first building, but we went past, heading around it and toward a
smaller building on the opposite end of the lot.
My tongue was glued to the back of my throat. We were at Phoenix Tech
headquarters.
I had yearned to get an internship there every year since fifth grade, and
then through college. I kept applying, but they kept denying. Some might say I
was being desperate. I prefer determined. It’s a quality that I feel is
honorable. Plus, I wasn’t above hoping they’d take pity on me one day. It
worked, because while I might not have been good enough to walk their
hallways, I was good enough for them to give me charity. They awarded me the
majority of my grants for undergrad, so I’d been able to go to college debt
free. I’d been expecting that to change for graduate school, but it hadn’t.
Or, well, it kind of had.
I was hired as a graduate assistant, starting in the fall, which gave me a
stipend, but the rest was covered by another scholarship from Phoenix
Tech.
Phoenix Tech was one of the world’s leading companies on cyber security. I was
going into information systems, which was close enough. A job here would be a
dream.
“My mom is here?” I asked, when Bright parked, and both her and Wilson got out
of the vehicle.
Neither answered.
Bright opened my back door and motioned for me, slipping her sunglasses over
her eyes. “It’s time for you to find out some answers.”
About Tijan
Tijan is a New York Times Bestselling author that writes suspenseful and
unpredictable novels. Her characters are strong, intense, and gut-wrenchingly
real with a little bit of sass on the side. Tijan began writing later in life
and once she started, she was hooked. She’s written multi-bestsellers
including the Fallen Crest series, Ryan's Bed, Enemies and others. She is
currently writing many new books and series with a couple English Cockers she
adores.
The Revenge by Tijan
