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My Review:Title: Hot Asset
Author: Lauren Layne
Series: 21 Wall Street #1
Published by: Montlake Romance
Release Date: May 22, 2018
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 266
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Source: NetGalley
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2021 Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge, Lenoreo's Can You Read a Series March 2021
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:A sexy agent hounds Wall Street’s hottest new wolf in an exhilarating novel from New York Times bestselling 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.
4 stars — I was worried about this one! In the first chapter, I was NOT getting a good feeling for Ian. Like, he seemed like a self-involved douchecanoe. I was contemplating DNFing…but I persisted, b/c it’s Lauren Layne. And while she’s not a guaranteed win for me, she gives me enough success to push further. And I’m so glad I did, b/c despite a few twigs here and there, I really ended up enjoying Ian and Lara’s story!
There was a lot more to Ian than met the eye. I mean, we’re told a bit of his backstory in that first chapter, but his actions didn’t always match up, you know? Or rather, someone can have depth and still have douchey moments…and that was Ian at times. He wasn’t a jerk per se, but he was wrapped up in playing the Wall Street game. And I can understand where some of it comes from, but still not like it you know? There were moments with Ian…things he said or thought about Lara that slightly rubbed me the wrong way. I think I’m trying to be super conscious of things, and be better about recognizing acceptable behavior, so I might have my sensitivity meter just up too high, you know? Because there were a lot of good things to like about Ian too — and it mostly came out around his friends, or when he finally started to figure out that Lara was different for him.
Lara was an intriguing heroine in herself! I loved seeing a woman who was passionate about her career, and had strong convictions (even if she needed to learn there are shades of gray). I felt like she grew throughout the story, but I always appreciated her level mind and her attempt to balance her feelings with her integrity. Which probably doesn’t make much sense without context, but whatever. Honestly, she’s what made me keep going in the book — I got to her POV, and I saw that she would make a good match for Ian and call him on his bullshit. I loved that. It’s like I would get sensitive about something, and Lara would read my mind and call it out. I loved that.
They were an interesting pair together. I loved how much they struggled with their feelings, and they definitely had chemistry. I will admit their feelings developed a bit fast for me, but sometimes you just have to suspend disbelief you know? I guess I wanted to understand the other ways they were connecting a bit better.
As with so many of Ms. Layne’s series, the “cast” of this book truly made it. I LOVED all these characters we got to meet, and I love knowing that I’m going to get their stories. And she writes friends like no one else, honestly. I love seeing all these wildly different personalities connect and work and push at each other, but inevitably care about one another. Also, they made me laugh so many times. It was my highlight for sure.
So yeah — a shaky start, but Ms. Layne brings it in like I’ve come to expect from her. Can’t wait to read the next 2.
My Review:Title: Hard Sell
Author: Lauren Layne
Series: 21 Wall Street #2
Published by: Montlake Romance
Release Date: September 4, 2018
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 247
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Source: NetGalley
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's 2021 Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge, Lenoreo's Can You Read a Series March 2021
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
Blurb:He’s a Wall Street wolf. She’s been hired to tame him. From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne comes a wildly sexy novel of business and pleasure.
Twenty-eight and filthy rich, Matt Cannon is the youngest broker on Wall Street. He may be a “boy wonder,” but he’s every inch a man. Ask any woman—any night. But when Matt’s latest fling makes scandalous headlines, his clients get anxious, and his bosses at Wolfe Investments level an ultimatum: keep his assets zipped, get a “real” girlfriend, and clean up his act. Only one woman can help Matt with something this hard.
For PR genius Sabrina Cross, the best fixer in Manhattan, playing Matt’s steady is going to be a challenge, even if it’s just for show. They already have an explosive history, she can’t stand the cocky party boy, and worse—she can’t stop thinking about him. So who’ll dare to break her “no touching” rule first? Because when that happens, Matt and Sabrina’s game of let’s pretend will get so hot it could set both their reputations on fire.
4.5 stars — I had a feeling I might enjoy Matt and Sabrina, and I was right! Which is so weird, b/c if you follow my reviews, you know I’m NOT an enemies to lovers trope fan. But somehow I often end up loving Ms. Layne’s versions. I think it’s because you can tell from each of their POVs that there’s a lot going on underneath, and if mean things get said there is at least internal remorse (and sometimes external). It’s seriously the little things, and Matt and Sabrina’s story had ALL the little things for me.
I kind of enjoyed that they were both damaged by their upbringings to be wary of marriage and commitment, but for different reasons. But I felt for both of them. I’m not saying they didn’t frustrate me at times, but not enough for me to lose my love for them…I knew they’d get there.
The funny thing is, I’m not sure what I love about each of them individually, though they’re both very interesting individuals with a lot of sass and snark. But it was the two of them together that had me captivated. I think it’s because their relationship had so much push and pull — this amazing chemistry, with both of them alternating between fighting it and capitulating. And it was just fun to watch them both slowly start to realize things — start to let their guard down with one another. I just really enjoyed that journey.
As always, the secondary cast was awesome. I seriously think Ms. Layne writes some of the best friend groups.
Also, shout out to Juno who was adorable.
And now we move on to Kennedy and Kate. I really have no idea what’s behind both of them, but I’m excited.
My Review:Title: Huge Deal
Author: Lauren Layne
Series: 21 Wall Street #3
Published by: Montlake Romance
Release Date: February 12, 2019
Format: Kindle Book
Pages: 259
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2021 Backlist Reader Challenge, Lenoreo's Can You Read a Series March 2021
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:
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.
4.5 stars — Well look at that!! I think this was my favourite of the series!! I mean, it’s a close thing, but I do love it when I get more and more invested as a series goes on. I don’t know what it is about Kate and Kennedy, but I had all the butterfly tingles over their feelings for one another. Maybe it’s the unrequited thing? The unknown feelings brought out when forced? I don’t know…but I loved it.
Kate was this perfect dichotomy of forceful and confident in some areas of her life, but completely unable to see her worth in others. And that works for me. I felt for how hard she had tried to hide her feelings, and how she was trying to move on. And I admired how passionate she was for her work. She goes through some rough times in this book, that I hadn’t anticipated, and I was worried I wasn’t going to like Part Two…but a certain hero brought it all to rights.
Kennedy was…so strange. He really was kind of grumpy and taciturn, and just socially awkward in many ways. I kind of loved that about him. I also appreciated that knowing how he is perceived by others has made him a bit vulnerable and confused at times. I adored (in an aching way) watching him come to terms with his underlying feelings. I truly believed that he just hadn’t let himself see things, and it fit his personality. And I loved that all that time watching and thinking led him to understanding what was going on with Kate…even if she turned out to be a harder nut to crack than he anticipated. I was expecting misunderstandings, and I loved that I didn’t get that. Just a need for some shoves in the right direction.
And damn I loved them together. I think because they were both so alike and so different. And there had been a struggle to get there. Their chemistry really blew up when they finally gave into it.
And as with all the books in this series, fantastic secondary cast. I love that they each had people to rely on to help them find their way at times. I liked the addition of both of their families, if only briefly…they really added to the book.
I also kind of loved that there were “other Lauren Layne series” cameos in this series. At least I think so. Georgie for sure. Brooke too I’m thinking.
So yeah. I don’t know why I put this series off — it was entirely silly, b/c I think it’s the most consistent for me. Definitely going to be on the reread list.
I’m clapping my hands here at these reviews!!! I loved this series, so seeing them hit right for you is making me so happy.