Review: To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne

Gracie Cooper runs her family’s champagne store, Bubbles & More, in New York City. It is struggling unfortunately but after Gracie’s dad passed away, she de facto became in charge of it and she is doing her best to generate new income. It is not easy. And things become increasingly more difficult when Sebastian Andrews stops into her store with an offer to buy it out. Gracie is more than ready to say no but… is it the right choice?

On top of the struggles with Bubbles & More, Gracie has been writing to a guy she met online. And well, she has kind of fallen in love with him even though it is nearly impossible and said guy has already let her know he has a girlfriend. And then her pesky attraction to Sebastian grows too. Not only is her business life in a funk, but her love life is falling to pieces.

To Sir, With Love by Lauren Layne

To Sir, With Love is Lauren Layne’s spin on Nora Ephron’s You’ve Got Mail. I am pleased to say that this book stands out on its own! There is a great quality of romance and sweetness that peppers the story through the course of the exchanges between Gracie and “Sir”. And as Gracie and Sebastian move beyond bickering to understanding and even liking, that romance infiltrates their story too.

I really liked Gracie as a character. She has quite a bit on her plate with the struggling store and determining if this is what she wants her future to be. Her family, though she loves them dearly, isn’t putting the time and effort into Bubbles & More that she is. Is this truly a dream she wants to keep going with or is her passion for art where she wants to see her future go? Gracie experiences growth and change throughout the story and that’s always pleasing to see in characters.

Sebastian comes across at first as a typical rich powerful New York mogul. But he doesn’t relish what he does in his job either. Lauren Layne allows both characters to slowly reveal their true selves.

This is a closed door romance. There is no sex and by book’s end, the characters have merely kissed. Nonetheless, I found it to be incredibly romantic and passionate and I did not regret at all reading this book. All credit to Lauren Layne for keeping me engaged in these characters and their happily-ever-after (because they definitely do get a HEA).

To Sir, With Love is available on June 29!

ARC provided by Edelweiss.

Review: Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Layne

Book #1 in the Central Park Pact series

I’m always, always thrilled to read a new book from Lauren Layne. She is one of those authors that just hits my sweet spot as a reader. Great romance, fun storylines, and characters I can connect with and feel empathy. Passion on Park Avenue is mostly a hit for me in all those elements.

Naomi Powell is not having the best of days. She is attending the funeral for the man she has been seeing for the last three months. Sad enough, right? Unfortunately, Brayden happened to be married and Naomi didn’t realize that until she saw his obituary. Now she feels angry at him and herself. She never pictured herself as the mistress. Well… when she walks in Central Park to avoid the funeral, she happens to meet not only Brayden’s wife, Claire, BUT his other mistress. Talk about unusual circumstances. The three decide to make a pact that they will help each other avoid a similar fate in the future, falling for the wrong man. And they also quickly become friends.

Naomi is an in demand businesswoman. She owns and operates Maxcessory and well, to say it is successful is putting it lightly. But her carefully constructed facade crumbles around her when she receives a letter in the mail saying she has been accepted for an interview at 517 Park Avenue for an apartment. Naomi is shocked. 517 Park Avenue is where her mother’s life fell apart. Her mother was a live-in made for the Cunningham family but when she got caught sleeping with Walter Cunningham, Naomi and her mom were thrown from the apartment and her mom’s name was blacklisted. Naomi does not have positive feelings about the building or about the man who interviews, Oliver Cunningham. He is the son of Walter and he also happened to witness Walter and Naomi’s mom having sex. Oliver does not recognize Naomi though (and it doesn’t help that she changed her last name). All he sees is a prickly red-head who seemingly does not care for him at all and in fact, is actively loathing him during the interview. Why does she even want to live at 517 Park he can’t help but wonder.

Well, suffice it to say, in a nutshell, Naomi moves in and her apartment happens to be right next door to Oliver’s. Oh let the sparks fly!

The ONE thing I wish this book had done was to have Naomi say near the beginning who she really is rather than let Oliver find out by accident. He is understandably hurt given their past connection. And oh yeah, he is also hurt because Naomi has been a friend and kind presence in his life as he watches his father battle Alzheimer’s. Yes, the same father who ruined Naomi’s mom’s life. I wish, wish, wish this has been addressed sooner because I think the story could have been just as great (if not better!) with this discussion and misconception out of the way.

That being said, gosh did I love the chemistry between Naomi and Oliver. They have that spark in SPADES and it really jumps off the page. Lauren Layne is just such a fun writer and she has a way of really growing a relationship via sarcasm, bonding over expensive alcohol in mugs, and well, hot kisses.

I liked Naomi’s business acumen and her dedication to her staff and growing her business. This isn’t just a side-note storyline in the book. Naomi’s life is full with friends, work, and a growing attraction.

I have not had to see someone suffer through Alzheimer’s so I cannot attest to how accurate Walter’s struggle and Oliver’s choices are, but they felt painful to me. It is NOT an easy disease as everyone knows and even with Oliver’s wealth and resources (putting him in a privileged position for his father) you still see him struggle and deal with losing his dad. They never had an easy relationship to begin with so Oliver is feeling not only the guilt of words left unsaid between them while his dad was still healthy but now, seeing him decline and having to deal with a somewhat different dad.

All in all, I really did like the entire story this book presented. We get to know the other two women also, Naomi’s friends, but they do not dominate the story, just give you a taste of their personality and what may come for them. I am excited for books 2 and 3.

Lauren Layne’s Passion on Park Avenue isn’t a perfect book but it is pretty darn near close for this reader!

Passion on Park Avenue is available now.

Other reviews:

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Harlequin Junkie

PASSION ON PARK AVENUE
By Lauren Layne
Book 1 of The Central Park Pact series
On sale May 28, 2019
Trade Paperback – Price: $16.00 – ISBN: 9781501191572
eBook – Price: $11.99 – ISBN: 9781501191589

For as long as she can remember, Bronx-born Naomi Powell has had one goal: to prove her worth among the Upper East Side elite—the same people for which her mom worked as a housekeeper. Now, as the strongminded, sassy CEO of one of the biggest jewelry empires in the country, Naomi finally has exactly what she wants—but it’s going to take more than just the right address to make Manhattan’s upper class stop treating her like an outsider.

The worst offender is her new neighbor, Oliver Cunningham—the grown son of the very family Naomi’s mother used to work for. Oliver used to torment Naomi when they were children, and as a ridiculously attractive adult, he’s tormenting her in entirely different ways. Now they find themselves engaged in a battle-of-wills that will either consume or destroy them…

Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than two dozen romantic comedies. Her books have sold over a million copies in nine languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, The Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City.

Release Blitz: Huge Deal by Lauren Layne

HUGE DEAL
21 Wall Street (Book 3)
Lauren Layne
February 12, 2019
Montlake Romance

Blurb:
Even for a top-gun banker, temptation this hot is quite a gamble, in a sexy Wall Street romp from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne.

An alpha among the wolves of Wall Street, Kennedy Dawson rose to the top of the pack by striking the right contracts at the right times. But there’s one deal that’s been giving him a run for his money—a pact to never again let his assistant, Kate, get under his skin. She may be smart, gorgeous, and sharp as a whip, but she’s definitely off-limits.

Kate Henley isn’t a banker, but she knows a thing or two about risk management—specifically, about managing her attraction to her smolderingly sexy boss. She already fell once, and Kennedy showed no sign of paying a return on her investment. So when Kennedy’s brother starts pursuing her, Kate figures she has the best of both worlds. Jack is charming, rich, very attentive, and the spitting image of his older brother.

It’s also making Kennedy think twice. But to win Kate’s heart, he’ll have to broker the deal of a lifetime…and prove he’s worth the risk.

Amazon

Read my review of the first book in this series, Hot Asset!

Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than two dozen romantic comedies. Her books have sold over a million copies, in nine languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, The Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She’s based in New York City.

Review: Hot Asset by Lauren Layne

21 Wall Street #1

If you enjoy romances like Julie James’ FBI series (beginning with Something About You) I think you will really enjoy Hot Asset by Lauren Layne. This is a fast-paced romance with two commanding leads.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) agent Lara McKenzie has been handed the case of a lifetime–or at least, the case that may finally get her a job at the FBI working with white collar crimes. It’s her dream job after being raised by two FBI agent parents herself and she will do whatever she can to finally make it come true. In this case, it means proving that Ian Bradley, confident Wall Street trader, is guilty of insider trading.

It should be an open and shut case but there are some elements of the case that are niggling at Lara’s mind. She is a methodical and practiced agent, used to closing cases and proving the wrongdoing but with Ian, well that’s easier said than done. Her attraction to him is a big no-no first of all. Second of all, well, things just aren’t adding up. Why won’t her boss share the person who made the claim about insider trading against Ian? The more Lara investigates, the more she realizes she has to put her stereotypes of Ian aside and look at the case, and him, with the facts she has in front of her. And something isn’t adding up.

Ian knows he is innocent. At first, he doesn’t think the case will go anywhere, but the more Lara investigates, the more Ian is starting to realize he has an even bigger problem: he really, really likes Lara. Ian is definitely a stereotypical love ’em and leave ’em Wall Street guy but when it comes to Lara, he cannot get her out of his mind. But do these two have any chance at making their feelings come to life?

Hot Asset jumps with chemistry from the opening pages. Lara wants to write Ian off. Ian wants to jump Lara’s bones and be done with it. They both soon realize that the connection between them will not be that easy to sever. What really drew me into this story was when Lara and Ian started to put their misconceptions aside and get to know each other. Their romance is incredibly engaging and visceral. You feel that “will they won’t they” tug from the very beginning but it turns into something more special as the investigation looms heavier in their minds. Lara, who is used to putting all the clues together to get her right answer, can’t fit these pieces together and she definitely can’t figure out how to deal with her feelings. Lara is ambitious and wants to be part of the FBI. She doesn’t have much time for dating and well, Ian is a bit too intense for her.

Ian didn’t think he would ever be drawn to a woman like Lara: intelligent, hard-working, a bit reticent and starchy, but somehow can handle all his foibles like a pro. He knows he is innocent and he just wants to see the conclusion of this investigation because maybe, they can try dating and see where things go. I liked Ian’s brash personality but he definitely has a softer more vulnerable side which sneaks out in some of his conversations with Lara, and his foster parent, Dave. Makes for a fully fleshed character.

Hot Asset is available now. This is an exciting and satisfying romance. Lauren Layne continues to push all my buttons in the right way!

ARC provided by publisher for review.

Other reviews:

Harlequin Junkie

All About Romance

Read an excerpt!

Hot Asset
21 Wall Street
By: Lauren Layne
Releasing May 22nd, 2018
Montlake

A sexy agent hounds Wall Street’s hottest new wolf in an exhilarating novel from New York Timesbestselling author Lauren Layne.

Ian Bradley is the definition of a Wall Street hotshot: seven-figure salary, designer suits, and a corner office. His drive off the floor is just as potent. Every woman who knows him has felt the rush. But now he’s met his match in Lara McKenzie—a woman with the power to bring Ian to his knees.

An ambitious, whip-smart daughter of FBI agents, Lara is a rising star in fighting white-collar crime. Her latest case—the investigation of Ian Bradley for insider trading—could make her career. She knows a scoundrel when she sees one. Ian fits the bill: a cocky, ridiculously handsome bad boy with a slick swagger.

She’ll do anything to prove he’s guilty. He’ll do anything to prove he’s not. But it’s only a matter of time before their fierce battle of wits gets oh so hot and personal. Now, taking down Ian has become more than business for Lara. It’s become a pleasure—and there’s more at risk than she ever dreamed.

“[A] playful romance…Layne populates her world of high-stakes finance with charismatic characters, and the fast-paced story works well with the simmering sexual tension between the leads…It’s easy to root for this couple.” —Publishers Weekly

“Layne can always be counted on to create an engaging, steamy, and thoroughly rewarding reading experience.” —RT Book Reviews

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Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of more than two dozen romantic comedies. Her books have sold over a million copies, in eight languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, The Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City.

Website | Instagram | Lauren Layne Library

Review: Runaway Groom by Lauren Layne

A new Lauren Layne book? My romance reading heart is happy! This is not a sequel to Ms. Layne’s Ready to Run, rather it completes the series and is a standalone book. So, even if you haven’t read Ready to Run yet, you can dive right into Runaway Groom.

Do you like the tv show The Bachelor? Well, you may be the perfect audience for this book! Ellie Wright auditioned for Jilted, not for a minute thinking she would be chosen to participate. She merely wanted to expand her business reach and the thought of a tv audience viewing her t-shirts (High Tee), well, it definitely wasn’t a totally preposterous idea. Unfortunately, she is now stuck on an island with a group of twenty-one women, all vying for the heart of Hollywood hearthrob, and twice runaway groom, Gage Barrett. The catch with Jilted is that at the end of the show, Gage and his chosen woman marry.

Gage is NOT thrilled to be participating in Jilted. A drunken bet gone awry has landed him here and all he wants is off the island and away from the women who are trying to convince him that they are his perfect match. Well, all except Ellie. She is determined to leave and asks Gage to ask her to leave after the first elimination. It seems like Ellie is all set to go home but things do not quite go as planned.

I do not watch The Bachelor but like many people who enjoy pop culture, I know enough about it. I was excited to see how Lauren Layne would spin this story and I’m super pleased to say that this book? It rocks, plain and simple. Ellie and Gage have instant chemistry. The women are not all nice and there is definitely a competitive edge amongst some of them but I appreciated that Lauren Layne didn’t villainize them. Each woman had her reason for being on the show, including Ellie (and her reason wasn’t about true love). Ellie bonds with a few of the women but like a job or a social event, there are just some people you don’t click with. I found her success and struggles with the other women to be realistic and a touch over dramatic at times but that felt right for the story.

Gage is a worthy match for Ellie and I love their sparring and seeing them poke fun at each other as they grow closer. He is not a Hollywood playboy, though admittedly that image of him is what Ellie first associates with his name. She starts to understand him a lot better though and realizes that maybe he is looking for some of the same simple but conventional things in a relationship she is: shared laughter, romance, companionship, and of course, sizzling sex. I liked getting to know Gage. Even though he is not necessarily pleased to be on the show, that side doesn’t show with the women. He can’t necessarily create instant chemistry with all of them but I thought he was a true gentleman and frankly, probably a much nicer guy than most of the actual tv show bachelors are.

Lauren Layne hit this book out of the ballpark for me, plain and simple. It’s a fun and romantic story with a great combination of reality versus “reality” that I appreciated. Gage and Ellie really worked for me as a couple. I definitely see them going the distance. This is something I appreciate in all Lauren Layne books. No matter how unusual the first meeting or situation in one of her books may be, she gets readers (like me) to believe completely in the love developing between the main characters. So yep, Runaway Groom is another sigh-worthy book from an author that I am coming to think of as a contemporary romance master!

Runaway Groom is available now.

ARC provided by publisher for review.

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For one charming playboy, getting cast on a Bachelor-esque reality TV show is the shock of a lifetime—until he finds love where he least expects it.

Gage Barrett’s reputation as a ladies’ man has been greatly exaggerated, but none of that matters after a drunken bet lands him on Jilted, a reality TV show that matches runaway grooms with wannabe brides. Now he’s stuck at a Hawaiian resort with nineteen women competing to drag him back to the altar—and one contestant who’s even more miserable than he is. Gage has no idea how feisty, independent Ellie Wright wound up in the cast, but it’s obvious she hates his guts. And if there’s one thing Gage likes, it’s a challenge. . . .

Ellie can’t believe she let her best friend talk her into exchanging her dignity for a glorified bikini contest. Still, she could use the exposure—her business is struggling—and she’ll probably be one of the first to get eliminated anyway. But Gage isn’t the shallow jerk Ellie anticipated—and he’s in no rush to send her home. As stolen kisses turn into secret trysts, she finds herself losing track of what’s real and what’s for the camera. With the wedding finale looming, this runaway groom is tempting Ellie to start believing in storybook endings.

Amazon |B&N|iBooks|GPlay|Kobo

 

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband.

A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career. She signed with her agent in 2012, and her first book was published in summer of 2013. Since then, she’s written over two dozen books, hitting the USA TODAY, New York Times, iBooks, and Amazon bestseller lists.

Author Links:   WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | GOODREADS | INSTAGRAM

Release Blitz: An Ex-For Christmas by Lauren Layne

Named Best Book of the Month by Amazon

AN EX FOR CHRISTMAS

Love Unexpectedly

Lauren Layne

Releasing Nov 7, 2017

Loveswept

 

She’s making a
list—and checking it twice. But is there a nice guy among all her naughty exes?
The New York Times bestselling author of Blurred Lines returns with a
charming friends-to-lovers rom-com.

When a psychic tells spunky, superstitious Kelly Byrne that she’s already met
her true love, she becomes obsessed with the idea of tracking him down before
Christmas. Kelly immediately writes up an “Ex List” and starts contacting old
boyfriends to figure out which one is the one. When her college sweetheart
rolls into town, Kelly convinces herself that they’re meant to be. The trouble
is, sparks are flying with someone she’s never given a chance: her best friend,
Mark.Mark Blakely has watched the guys on Kelly’s list break her heart, and he’s not
looking forward to watching them do it all over again. Mark’s always been there
for her, but the timing’s never worked out for their relationship to be
something more. Now, just as Mark is ready to move on, the sexual tension
between them is suddenly off the charts. With Christmas morning around the
corner, he just hopes Kelly will wake up and realize that everything she wants
has been right in front of her all along.

 

NOW AVAILABLE!

 

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies.
She lives in New York City with her husband.

A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career. She signed with her agent in
2012, and her first book was published in summer of 2013. Since then, she’s
written over two dozen books, hitting the USA TODAY, New York
Times, iBooks, and Amazon bestseller lists.

 

 

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Review: Ready to Run by Lauren Layne

Ready to Run is the newest book from one of my favorite writers, Lauren Layne. This woman has the sexy rom-com down to a science and Jordan and Luke are dynamic characters ready to pull off sexy fun-times!

Jordan has arrived in Lucky Hollow with one goal: woo Luke Elliott so that he will star in her tv show, Jilted. It’s kind of like the Bachelor only each “bachelor” has left someone at the altar. In this case, Luke has done it three times. He would be the perfect guy to star in Jilted! Unfortunately for Jordan, there is a reason Luke has not returned any of her emails or phone calls. He wants nothing whatsoever to do with Jilted. He is agog that she had the temerity to actually come down to his small home town to try to convince him. He is dead set on not participating and nothing Jordan says will convince him. Unfortunately for Luke though, he kind of, sort of finds Jordan attractive. Okay, he big time finds her attractive and that makes staying away even more difficult.

Jordan will do whatever it takes to convince Luke to participate, even rent a house in the super small town of Lucky Hollow and pester him every day. Whether it works or not, she can’t be sure, but she is having way more fun staying in Lucky Hollow than she ever thought possible.

Small town romances really aren’t my favorite thing but I knew that if Lauren Layne was going to tackle one, I had to give it a shot and I am so glad I did. I really enjoyed spending time in Lucky Hollow, watching Luke and Jordan grow on each other by small degrees. The attraction is there from the moment they meet but it is not an easy road for either of them. Luke has secrets he is not willing to share, especially when it comes to his romantic past. He has no intention of making his past fiancees fodder for tv. He is a gentleman with a streak of fun and mischief that Jordan gradually brings out.

Jordan thought she had left her small town roots behind when she moved away from Kansas but finding herself in Montana surrounded by a caring community, well it’s definitely bringing up the good things about her own childhood. Not to say Lucky Hollow is perfect but it’s definitely a sweet place to watch these two fall in love.

I enjoyed every single moment I spent reading Ready to Run (the first in Lauren Layne’s I Do, I Don’t) series. I am already looking forward to seeing how Jilted plays out! All in all, this book is a win on all fronts. Great characters, a simply sweet romance, and a story that will endear you to Luke and Jordan.

 

Ready to Run
I Do, I Don’t #1
By: Lauren Layne
Releasing August 22, 2017
Loveswept
Follow the tour!
Book #2, Runaway Groom | Book #3, Just Run with It

The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride in this addictive romance novel about a reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show.

Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: Luke Elliott, a playboy firefighter who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person. It’s not Manhattan but at least the locals in Lucky Hollow seem friendly . . . except for Luke, who’s more intense—and way hotter—than the slick womanizer Jordan expected.

Eager to put the past behind him, Luke has zero intention of following this gorgeous, fast-talking city girl back to New York. But before he can send her packing, Jordan’s everywhere: at his favorite bar, the county fair, even his exes’ book club. Annoyingly, everyone in Lucky Hollow seems to like her—and deep down, she’s starting to grow on him too. But the more he fights her constant pestering, the more Luke finds himself wishing that Jordan would kick off her high heels and make herself comfortable in his arms.

 

Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | B&N | Google

 

 

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband. A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career. She signed with her agent in 2012, and her first book was published in summer of 2013. Since then, she’s written over two dozen books, hitting the USA TODAY, New York Times, iBooks, and Amazon bestseller lists.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Blitz: Ready to Run by Lauren Layne

A reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: 

a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show.

READY TO RUN

I Do, I Don’t #1

Lauren Layne

Releasing Aug 22, 2017

Loveswept

The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride in this addictive romance novel about a reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show.

Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: Luke Elliott, a playboy firefighter who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person. It’s not Manhattan but at least the locals in Lucky Hollow seem friendly . . . except for Luke, who’s more intense—and way hotter—than the slick womanizer Jordan expected.

Eager to put the past behind him, Luke has zero intention of following this gorgeous, fast-talking city girl back to New York. But before he can send her packing, Jordan’s everywhere: at his favorite bar, the county fair, even his exes’ book club. Annoyingly, everyone in Lucky Hollow seems to like her—and deep down, she’s starting to grow on him too. But the more he fights her constant pestering, the more Luke finds himself wishing that Jordan would kick off her high heels and make herself comfortable in his arms.

PRE-ORDER TODAY!

 

 

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband. A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career. She signed with her agent in 2012, and her first book was published in summer of 2013. Since then, she’s written over two dozen books, hitting the USA TODAY, New York Times, iBooks, and Amazon bestseller lists.

 

 

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Release Blast: I Knew You Were Trouble by Lauren Layne

A feisty beauty must choose between
winning back Mr. Right 

or giving in to Mr. Wrong.

I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE

Oxford Series #4

Lauren Layne

Releasing June 13, 2017

Loveswept

New York City’s hottest bachelors are stirring up trouble in this fun, flirty Oxford Novel, as a love triangle forces a feisty beauty to choose between winning back Mr. Right or giving in to Mr. Wrong.

Taylor Carr has it all—a sleek job in advertising, a stunning Manhattan apartment, and the perfect man to share it with: Bradley Calloway. Even after Bradley dumps her for a co-worker on move-in day, Taylor isn’t worried. She’ll get her man eventually. In the meantime, she needs a new roommate. Enter Nick Ballantine, career bartender, freelance writer—and longtime pain in Taylor’s ass. Sexy in a permanent five-o’clock-shadow kind of way, Nick knows how to push Taylor’s buttons, as if he could see right through to the real her.

Nick’s always trying to fix people, and nobody could use a good fixing more than Taylor. Sure, she’s gorgeous, with mesmerizing silver eyes, but it’s her vulnerability that kills him. Now that they’re shacking up together, the chemistry is out of control. Soon they’re putting every part of their two-bedroom apartment to good use. Then Taylor’s ex comes crawling back to her, and Nick figures she’ll jump at the chance to go back to her old life—unless he fights for the best thing that ever happened to him.

AVAILABLE NOW!

 

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen romantic comedies.

 

A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career.

 

She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In LL’s ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books. 

 

 

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Review & Blitz: Walk of Shame by Lauren Layne

A new Lauren Layne book? It makes my heart leap for joy because I just tend to fall in love with everything she writes. And well, I am a total cliche because I definitely fell hard for Andrew Mulroney and Georgie Watkins in Walk of Shame. There is just such a boundless energy of bliss between these two (much as Andrew would like to deny it). Their first meeting sets the stage for the book as these two battle their growing affections for each other.

Georgie is a bit of a party girl, a rich heiress who does not need to work for a living. Yes, she has that Kim Kardashian vibe about her, she even admits it. But if that is not your typical favorite kind of character, don’t despair because I just about guarantee that Georgie will win you over. She is smart-mouthed, funny, sweet, and kind. She knows she has the world at her feet but she isn’t going to brag about it.

Andrew is pretty much her exact opposite. He is THE up-and-coming divorce lawyer to the stars and is very much in demand. Which is why he has to workout at 5:00AM. That is when Andrew and Georgie’s morning run-ins start taking place. She’s coming in from a night at the clubs, he is heading out to get his day started. Totally night and day as it were! The crackling tension between them definitely belies the fact that they supposedly don’t like each other very much.

When Andrew and Georgie are caught kissing by a paparazzi, their worlds truly do collide. What begins as a bit of a fake-out gets real all too quickly.

There is just so much to love about this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Georgie. She is irreverent, smart, works hard and plays hard, and is all around charming. She screams vivacious but not in an annoying way. She appreciates life, loves her family, and adores being around her friends. Fitting Andrew into that picture is not easy at first but she soon realizes that it is crucial to her happiness.

Andrew is definitely more closed-off. He seems a bit mysterious at first until Lauren Layne digs into his character a bit more. It’s hard to imagine when he has time to sleep because it seems like he is working or exercising most of the time! (Not that the exercise can’t be appreciated, believe Georgie). Lauren Layne wrote one of my most favorite romance book quotes in sometime when she has Georgie describe Andrew thusly:

“If you’re wondering what Andrew Mulroney looks like while he’s in workout mode, picture this: Thor and Captain America somehow defeat biology and have a love child together. And call him Andrew.”

Andrew may look like a superhero but he doesn’t always have the right words to articulate his feelings for Georgiana. He makes mistakes, so does she. There is a great growth to their feelings for each other. And even though their romance takes place in a short span of time, for me, it felt very believable.

I really liked both of these characters. There is so much warmth to Georgie that it really does draw you in as a reader. She’s not a ditz, she’s not stupid, or any other stereotype you might believe about socialites. In fact, she’s a woman looking to shake things up in her own life. As for Andrew, I love the strong and silent type in my romance stories and while Layne plays up this aspect of his character in the beginning, by the end, Andrew’s own warmth and caring shows through. It’s not as in your face as Georgiana’s version but it is clear as a bell that when he cares, he cares deeply.

Walk of Shame is a feel-good romance with sex appeal coming out of the pages. Walk of Shame is available now and it deserves a place on your to-be-read pile.

Walk of Shame
Love Unexpectedly #4
By: Lauren Layne
Releasing April 18, 2017
Loveswept

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Sparks fly between a misunderstood New York socialite and a cynical divorce lawyer in this lively standalone rom-com from the USA Today bestselling author of Blurred Lines and Love Story.

Pampered heiress Georgianna Watkins has a party-girl image to maintain, but all the shopping and clubbing is starting to feel a little bit hollow—and a whole lot lonely. Though Georgie would never admit it, the highlights of her week are the mornings when she comes home at the same time as her uptight, workaholic neighbor is leaving to hit the gym and put in a long day at the office. Teasing him is the most fun Georgie’s had in years—and the fuel for all her naughtiest daydreams.

Celebrity divorce attorney Andrew Mulroney doesn’t have much time for women, especially spoiled tabloid princesses who spend more time on Page Six than at an actual job. Although Georgie’s drop-dead gorgeous, she’s also everything Andrew resents: the type of girl who inherited her penthouse instead of earning it. But after Andrew caps one of their predawn sparring sessions with a surprise kiss—a kiss that’s caught on camera—all of Manhattan is gossiping about whether they’re a real couple. And nobody’s more surprised than Andrew to find that the answer just might be yes.

Buy Walk of Shame: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Google | Kobo

Lauren Layne

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of over a dozen romantic comedies.

A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career.

She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In LL’s ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.

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