REVIEW AND RELEASE BLAST - Love Story by Lauren Layne

LOVE STORY

a Love Unexpectedly novel

Lauren Layne

Releasing February 14th, 2017

Loveswept

Over the course of one wild road trip, 

feuding childhood sweethearts get a second chance at love.

Over the course of one wild road trip, feuding childhood sweethearts get a second chance at love in this charming rom-com—a standalone novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Blurred Lines and Good Girl.

When Lucy Hawkins receives a job offer in San Francisco, she can’t wait to spread her wings and leave her small Virginia hometown behind. Her close-knit family supports her as best they can, by handing over the keys to a station wagon that’s seen better days. The catch? The cross-country trip comes with a traveling companion: her older brother’s best friend, aka the guy who took Lucy’s virginity hours before breaking her heart.

After spending the past four years and every last dime caring for his sick father, Reece Sullivan will do just about anything to break free of the painful memories—even if it means a two-week road trip with the one girl who’s ever made it past his carefully guarded exterior. But after long days of bickering in the car turn into steamy nights in secluded motel rooms, Reece learns that, when it comes to Lucy, their story is far from over. And this time, they just might have a shot at a happy ending.

Although listed as a title in the Love Unexpectedly Series, all books in the series stand alone.

Second chance romances are my go to romantic dramas. There is always that question: will they or won't they take that second chance in falling back in love again? In most romance stories, the hero and heroine should (and will) get back together...but in some cases they may not. It all depends on their back story. The foundation of the story sets it all...it's how they proceed from there that determines their fate. Of course there will be ups and downs to any love story...question is how will they bounce back from their pit falls. 

What I love most about second chances are the flash backs to their first chance at love. Lauren Layne definitely gives you some memorable moments...hot and heavy, soft and sweet, and a dash of fun and laughter. You can't help but fall in love with the characters from their beginning. Reece and Lucy have a tension you want to tug free. Will they or won't they act on their feelings? Who will they hurt in the process? Will they hurt each other? If so, is it worth hurting each other? 

Love story will give you the feels and you will just simply want more. The protective nature given off by Reece makes you want to have a Reece in your life. Everyone needs a Reece in their life. Swoon-worthiness is ranked high for this one. Can't help but give you guys a little taste of the feels. 

** 4 LOVELY STARS **

EXCERPT

“Spock, we’re giving you Horny!” my mom blurts out, apparently fed up with my denseness.

Her utterance is too much for my siblings to handle and they both burst out laughing, retreating into the kitchen to rejoin the party where there’s wine.

Oh what I wouldn’t give for wine right now.

“I, um . . . you’re giving me the car?” I ask.

“Because yours broke down,” my dad explains, walking forward to thump Horny’s dented hood.

“And this one’s . . . not broken down?” I ask skeptically.

Look, it’s not that I’m not grateful. My parents are trying to give me a car, I appreciate the sweetness of the gesture, it’s just . . .

Here’s the thing about Horny: he barely got us three kids through high school. I mean, Horny is the car that sputtered and shook making it the 3.2 miles to Jefferson High, no matter who was behind the wheel.

I’m even going to come all the way clean here and say that early on in my freshmen year, I was embarrassed showing up in Horny. Then I realized I was lucky to have a car at all, and well . . . I dunno, I guess Horny became a part of us Hawkins kids’ charm, because the station wagon was practically an institution from Craig’s high school reign all the way through Brandi’s.

But poor Horny quit working years ago. Much to Brandi’s chagrin, he gave up the ghost a mere two months before her high school graduation, and I spent the last bit of her senior year being picked up by my parents.

“He’s going to take you to California,” Dad says, giving the car another thump.

“Really?” I step forward and run a tentative finger along the familiar panel. He’s had a bath, so at least that’s something. “Because last I knew, he wouldn’t even make it out of the garage.”

“Yeah, well, we neglected him for a while, but he’s right as rain now,” Dad says, puffing out his chest as though Horny’s a fourth child.

“Like, as in he actually starts?”

“Purrs like a kitten,” my mom says with an emphatic nod, even though I know she doesn’t even like cats. “We didn’t believe it, but we took him to church on Sunday and there were no issues.”

I literally bite my tongue to keep from pointing out that this is hardly a feat. Sacred Presbyterian is 0.8 miles away from the house.

“You took Horny into a shop?” I ask, starting to warm to the idea of having a car again. I’m a little touched, actually. Money is tight for my parents. Dad’s a PE teacher, and Mom gives a mean winery tour, but the gig’s never paid much.

“Not exactly, it was more of a bartering situation,” Mom says.

“Yeah?” I say, going around to the driver’s seat, already giddy with the prospect of telling Oscar I’ll be able to come see him in Miami after all, even if I won’t exactly be riding in style.

“Reece agreed to fix him up.”

I’m lowering myself into the car as my dad says this, but I reverse so quickly I hit my head. My skull doesn’t even register the pain, because I’m too busy registering the hurt in my heart at the familiar name. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Reece,” my mom says, giving me a bemused look. “He’s always been handy with cars.”

“He fixed up the car in exchange for what?”

And then I feel—I actually feel—the air change around me as the side door to the garage opens, and a new presence sucks all the air out of the space.

I don’t turn around. I don’t move. But I feel his eyes on me. Over me.

“Reece is headed out to California too,” my oblivious mother chatters on. “It worked out perfectly actually. Now you two can ride together, and your dad and I don’t have to worry about you alone in the middle of nowhere with a twenty-something-year-old car.

They think the car is going to be the problem here? It’s not the car that’s toxic to me. It’s him.

Reece Sullivan. My brother’s best friend. My parents’ “other son.”

Slowly I force myself to turn, and even though I’m prepped, the force of that ice-blue gaze still does something dangerous to me.

He winks, quick and cocky, and I suck in a breath, and I have to wonder . . .

I wonder if my parents would feel differently about their little plan if they knew that their makeshift mechanic is the same guy that popped my cherry six years earlier under their very roof.

And then broke my heart twenty-four hours later.

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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EARLY REVIEW & EXCERPT - That Thing Between Eli and Gwen by J.J. McAvoy

That Thing Between Eli & Gwen

By: J.J. McAvoy

Release Date: April 21, 2016

Genre: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Synopsis:

Eli Davenport thinks he's found the perfect woman to be his wife. She's a doctor, like he is. She's brilliant, like he is. And she's wealthy, like he is.

Guinevere 'Gwen' Poe thinks her fiance is the perfect man. He's handsome, successful and he was her first...

But when Eli's bride runs off with Gwen's fiance on his wedding day, they are left to pick up the broken pieces of each other...

REVIEW

You just don't know what to expect when you pick up a J.J. McAvoy novel. She is one of those authors who can dip their toes into anything and it would still be amazing. She wrote a badass mafia series (Ruthless) with one of the most powerful book couples EVER. A forbidden romance (Black Rainbow) filled with so much tension, you can slice a knife through it. A twisted romance (Sugar Baby Beautiful) leaving you with a WTF just happened moment. And most recently, a second chance, suspense romance (Child Star) full of secrets, taking you on a roller coaster ride of emotions.

How will she up her game this time around? 
That Thing Between Eli & Gwen is not her usual action packed, suspenseful, thriller romances. Oh no...it's more of a romantic comedy. But don't let this turn you away! J.J. McAvoy always has a couple tricks up her sleeve and I loved it as much as the others.

Eli Davenport - A hot-shot neurosurgeon, who plans everything, ready to tackle whatever life throws at him.

Guinevere Poe - A rebel artist, who goes with the flow of the world, not caring what people think.

Two people from different ends of the spectrum, brought together by an unfortunate circumstance.

How do you move forward from an abruptly broken relationship? A relationship you thought would last forever? 

You just do. You move ahead, letting time pass you by, not caring what people think, and avoiding anything that makes you think about your ex. But at the same time, you still have a hard time of finally letting them go. 

Eli and Gwen began with the same experience, which blossomed into something unexpected:

1.) They were strangers at a wedding, left at the alter and in the crowd by the people they loved. 

2.) They became enemies, hating how the other reminded them of their ex.

3.) They became friends, calling each other on their BS and truly understanding how the other feels. 

4.) They became lovers, finding comfort and opening up to the aspect of loving again.

Thoughts:

THE CONNECTION. That connection between Eli and Gwen was beautifully written. You do not only feel it between the characters. You also build it with the characters as they try to find a way to move forward. That connection was filled with banter that will make you smile, gestures that will make you swoon, and surprises that will make your heart hurt (in both ways, good and bad). And let's not forget about the steam. Although I did find couple parts a bit cliche, their romance was just as sweet as it was sexy. 

THE OTHER CHARACTERS. It's not only about the main characters! Eli and Gwen each have a unique set of relationships with their family and friends. Family who help you understanding of how Eli and Gwen become who they are. Friends will make you laugh and wish their stories can be told. Secondary characters just add a little something extra to the plot when you need it. 

THE STORY. It just flowed perfectly. From one scene to another, you want to keep reading until you reached the end. But when you do reach the end, you don't want it to end. You just wish J.J. McAvoy would write a sequel so you can read more about Eli and Gwen. 

5 STARS - I LOVED IT

Excerpt

Gwen

“Wow, she’s beautiful,” I whispered as the bride walked up the aisle, her makeup flawless to the point that her skin glowed. Her soft, honey-gold hair shined and her strapless heart-shaped dress clung to her every curve. Her blue eyes filled with unshed tears as she held her roses tightly, walking slow and steady. For a quick second I thought I saw her glance over to us.

I hope I look half as good as her on my wedding day, I thought, my eyes never off her as she made her way to the front.

It passed in a blur. One moment the pastor was saying something, and the next, Bash was no longer holding my hand.

“Hannah,” he called out, moving to the center of the aisle.

She looked toward him, looked to her groom, and then back at Bash.

My Bash. What…

“Don’t, Hannah.”

What…is…this…?

“Hannah,” Bash called to her.

Stop! My mind screamed.

But, to my horror, she let go of her groom’s hands and ran toward Bash.

I couldn’t breathe. I was up, knocking over my chair. “BASH!” I yelled.

But they were already running…hand in hand.

...

Eli

I stood in front of all our family and friends with Logan to my left. Finally the music started, and my gaze shot toward the doors of the mansion, waiting for them to open. I had known she would be beautiful, but she was absolutely radiant.

God, I’m so lucky.

With every step she took, the grin on my face grew, until her hand was in mine.

“You look beautiful,” I whispered.

She smiled, but didn’t say anything in return. In that instant, as the pastor began to speak, all the moments we’d ever shared together played in my mind: the very first time we met…our first operation together…first kiss…first night… Everything ran though my mind like a movie, the highlights of our life.

And this is just the beginning of so much more. Today is—

“Hannah,” someone called.

Hearing her name pulled me from thoughts. My head snapped to the man standing in the aisle with his hand outstretched to my soon-to-be-wife.

“Sebastian?” Logan questioned beside me.

Sebastian… The man calling out to my Hannah was Sebastian Evans, one of Logan’s closest friends. We weren’t close, but I knew of him.

“Hannah,” he called again.

Enough! My mind hollered as I took a step forward, but it was too late.

Hannah released my hand. She let go and never looked back as she ran toward him.

I stood there, too shocked to move or speak. That moment was hell on earth.

J. J. McAvoy first started working on Ruthless People during a Morality and Ethics lecture her freshman year of college. X number of years later, she is an insomniac who has changed her major three times, and is a master in the art of procrastination. If you ask her why she began writing, she will simply tell you “They wanted to get their story out.”

She is currently working on her next novel . . . so please bug her on Twitter @JJMcAvoy

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

RELEASE DAY REVIEW & GIVEAWAY - I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne

I Wish You Were Mine

Oxford #2

By: Lauren Layne

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Publisher: Loveswept

Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

REVIEW

As you may already know, I am a HUGE Lauren Layne fan. Anything she writes cannot be a disappointing romance. It's always filled with smooth talking men and strong-willed women who knows what they want. One important aspect in her books is the friendship and support the characters have around them. What I get out of it is: as long as you have a strong support system, you will be okay. They'll be there for you no matter what. The Stiletto and Oxford series contain some of my favorite friendship stories. Ones you want your friendships to based off of. Although it's fiction, it seems so real. #friendshipgoals

Mini-synopsis:

Jackson Burke - Forced to retire from the game after an accident. Divorced from a woman who he thought he loved. Moved to a city to start a job he may or may not like. All of these drastic changes happened in a short time span. But one thing kept constant through out it all: his friendship with Molly Carrington.

Molly Carrington - Loyal to those who deserve it. Kind to those who don't deserve it. Caring to those who really need it. A person you can always depend on when you need something...even though it may be hard to ask. Her only flaw is falling in love with someone who you shouldn't fall in love with: your sister's ex-husband, Jackson Burke.

Together - Suppressed feelings rise, Sparks ignite. Tensions build. All leading to a forbidden, friends to lovers romance.

Thoughts:

LL had me hooked right from the start! The prologue was so sweet but so sad at the same time. Questions would start to bubble and you can't help but wonder what will happen next. This story is one of those: you can't help who you fall in love with. Yes, it is one of those forbidden romances, where you shouldn't date your friend's ex (especially your sister's). Or there is an age gap that makes you want to say, "no that shouldn't happen". But, all these things should not matter. There is no right way to fall in love. You should fall in love on your own terms. This story amplifies it.

I love it when friendships turn into something more. Wanting to help that person even though they don't need it. Needing to connect with that person when they are not there. Jealousy rising after the realization of being slightly possessive of that person. All signs leading somewhere....

Besides the growth of Mollie and Jackson's relationship, there is the growth of other friendships. It might be hard to join a tight knit group who knows about EVERYONE'S business. But it will be enjoyable once to try to join in on the fun. Jackson learns how to break out of his shell and discovers friends who will be there when he needs them most. Friends who are willing to push him in the right direction. Oxford/Stiletto crew is not only just friends. They feel like a family. A crew I truly wish existed so I can join them one day. Looking forward to the last installment of the series. Lincoln Mathis is a mystery everyone is trying to solve!! :)

5 STARS - Loved It!

EXCERPT

“I thought I might find you out here,” he said quietly as he took a sip of his own champagne.

Mollie snuck a look out of the corner of her eye. He’d come looking for her? She hadn’t thought anyone had noticed she’d slipped away.

“I messed up the toast,” she said quietly.

“Nah,” he said, stretching his long legs out in front of him and slouching down a bit to get comfortable. “Just think how many people you educated on the mating ritual of parasitic worms. They should be thanking you.”

Mollie groaned. “It was supposed to be romantic. I did a paper about them for my systematics and biotics diversity final. They’re unusual because they’re bonded for life. Most organisms sleep around or, you know, the male dies after mating—”

Jackson winced, and Mollie wished she could wither and die just like a male bee.

Mollie knew she had lots of useless trivia in her head, but she didn’t normally go spouting it out like this. Not that she was a smooth talker or anything, but she was usually pretty quiet and normal, if a bit nerdy.

But tonight she felt . . . off. Starting with the fact that the dress Madison had picked for her was the exact color of Mollie’s complexion, so she looked like a mole rat. And then there was the fact that she’d tripped a bit as she’d been going down the aisle, courtesy of the five-inch stilettos her sister had insisted on.

Add in an awkward maid-of-honor speech where she’d gone on for a good five minutes about Schistosoma mansoni worms and how they mated for life, just like the bride and groom, and . . . oh God. Why had nobody stopped her?

Mollie scrunched down on the bench with a moan as she took a sip of champagne. “Madison’s going to kill me.”

Madison was in a mood anyway. She’d been a bridezilla from the moment Jackson had put a ring on it, but Mollie had figured when the actual day came around, her sister would relax.

Nope.

She’d been pissed about the flowers being ivory instead of true white to match her dress. Had bitched about the fact that Lily, one of her bridesmaids, had styled her hair in a way that was too close to the bride’s style.

Then Madison had vented about how the bracelet Jackson’s mother had shyly presented as Maddie’s “something old” was dumpy.

That one had gotten under Mollie’s skin. Mrs. Burke was the closest thing to a mother that either of them had. Their own mother had died of an overdose years ago, and Mollie would have given a kidney to have a surrogate as lovely and kind as Jackson’s mom.

“Maddie won’t kill you,” Jackson said, putting an arm around the back of the park bench and smiling down at her. “She loves you, even if she doesn’t get your whole triple-major, science-camp vibe.”

Mollie withheld a snort. That was an understatement. She loved her sister, but the closest Madison ever got to science was her monthly chemical peel.

Still, Mollie felt a fierce need to make sure that Jackson Burke knew she was an adult. “I’m twenty. I do not go to science camp.”

He lifted an eyebrow, and Mollie pointed her champagne flute at him. “Okay, I used to go to science camp. But I’m not the one who used the word ‘lactation’ in relation to a mermaid.”

“Hey, you’re not the only one who took bio in college.”

“But you were a communications major. Journalism,” she said.

He gave her a surprised look, and Mollie looked away, mentally kicking herself. That was exactly what Jackson Burke didn’t need—another groupie stalker.

She snuck another glance and saw that he’d slumped even farther, matching her own crappy posture, and Mollie was surprised to see that he looked . . . exhausted.

“Are you okay?” she asked. Because she couldn’t not ask. Not after she’d seen the weariness around his eyes, the slight tension in his shoulders.

Jackson turned his head so their eyes locked and he frowned before returning his attention to the mermaid. “Nobody ever asks me that.”

Her heart squeezed at the lost note in his voice. It was strange to think of someone as big and important as Jackson Burke being lonely, but somehow . . . somehow she knew he was. Even here, among all these people, he was somehow alone. Apart.

Like her.

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of more than a dozen contemporary romance novels. 

Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. A year after moving from Seattle to NYC to pursue a writing career, she had a fabulous agent and multiple New York publishing deals.

Lauren currently lives in Manhattan with her husband and plus-sized Pomeranian. When not writing, you'll likely find her running (rarely), reading (sometimes), or at happy hour (often).

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