REVIEW: Broken by Lauren Layne

Description

Lauren Layne’s heart-wrenching novel tells the story of a girl with secrets, a guy with scars, and a love that could save them both . . . or destroy them.
 
When Olivia Middleton abandons the glamour of Park Avenue for a remote, coastal town in Maine, everyone assumes she’s being the kind do-gooder she’s always been. But Olivia has a secret: helping an injured war veteran reenter society isn’t about charity—it’s about penance. Only, Olivia’s client isn’t the grateful elderly man she’s expecting. Instead, he’s a brooding twenty-four-year-old who has no intention of being Olivia’s path to redemption . . . and whose smoldering gaze and forbidden touch might be her undoing.
 
Paul Langdon doesn’t need a mirror to show him he’s no longer the hotshot quarterback he was before the war. He knows he’s ugly—inside and out. He’ll do anything to stay in self-imposed exile, even accept his father’s ultimatum that Paul tolerate the newest caretaker for three months or lose his inheritance. But Paul doesn’t count on the beautiful twenty-two-year-old who makes him long for things that he can never have. And the more she slips past his defenses, the more keeping his distance is impossible.
 
Now Paul and Olivia have to decide: Will they help each other heal? Or are they forever broken?
 
Praise for Lauren Layne’s Isn’t She Lovely
 
“A fresh new voice in the New Adult genre . . . I loved this book! Such a fun read from start to finish. You won’t want to put it down!”—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jen McLaughlin
 
“Fresh and authentic, Isn’t She Lovely packs intelligence, wit, and an addictive romance into one fantastic read! I loved the bold characters, the slow-building yet steamy romance, and the raw and painful edge of self-discovery. I couldn’t put it down!”—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack
 
“Isn’t She Lovely is full of complex characters you want to root for—and a hero that will make you swoon.”—New York Times bestselling author Monica Murphy

ADRI'S REVIEW:

First of all thank you to NetGalley and Random House for providing us with a copy of this book so that we could bring you this review.

Okay don't say I didn't warn you. Tissues are needed when reading this story. We all know I love all books that have something to do with the military and our soldiers, but some I love more than others. Paul being a wounded Marine just melted me. Now with that said Paul is a real ass. I wanted to smack him upside his head most of the book and tell him to get over himself. He thought just because he had a few scars he would be looked at differently. The way he treats those who are trying to help him is bad, but the fact that he wants to do it because he doesn't feel worthy of love they want to give him is sad.

Olivia is a great character. She does such a great job in getting Paul out of his funk. She doesn't sugar coat anything or treat him like an injured man. She treats him like the ass that he is. Its perfect and wonderful and exactly what he needed to get past his issues and rejoin the life of the living. She also has such a great way of getting him to workout. I thought it was ingenious. And even though she is a bit of a spoiled rich kid, so is Paul and they both prove they don't want to live off of daddy's money their whole lives.

Happy reading... Adri

COVER REVEAL: Broken by Lauren Layne

BROKEN by Lauren Layne Teaser Reveal and Cover Spotlight

Lauren Layne, the author of the hit New Adult romance Isn’t She Lovely, and

Random House’s Flirt imprint, are thrilled to share a first look at BROKEN, Lauren’s

upcoming New Adult romance, and spotlight her gorgeous new cover!

BROKEN by Lauren Layne

Flirt New Adult Romance

On sale: September 2, 2014

ISBN: 978-0-553-39035-3

About the book:

Lauren Layne’s heart-wrenching novel tells the story of a girl with secrets, a

guy with scars, and a love that could save them both . . . or destroy them.



When Olivia Middleton abandons the glamour of Park Avenue for a remote, coastal

town in Maine, everyone assumes she’s being the kind do-gooder she’s always been.

But Olivia has a secret: helping an injured war veteran reenter society isn’t about

charity—it’s about penance. Only, Olivia’s client isn’t the grateful elderly man she’s

expecting. Instead, he’s a brooding twenty-four-year-old who has no intention of

being Olivia’s path to redemption . . . and whose smoldering gaze and forbidden

touch might be her undoing.



Paul Langdon doesn’t need a mirror to show him he’s no longer the hotshot

quarterback he was before the war. He knows he’s ugly—inside and out. He’ll do

anything to stay in self-imposed exile, even accept his father’s ultimatum that Paul

tolerate the newest caretaker for three months or lose his inheritance. But Paul

doesn’t count on the beautiful twenty-two-year-old who makes him long for things

that he can never have. And the more she slips past his defenses, the more keeping

his distance is impossible.



Now Paul and Olivia have to decide: Will they help each other heal? Or are they

forever broken?



** Teaser Reveal!**

Olivia squirms. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I've never known a female to acquiesce that easily without a

catch. How about you hit me with it now and get it over with?”

Olivia shrugs. "Fine. I was going to say that I won't run alone, if you

promise to go with me."

"No," I say, almost before she's finished her sentence.

"Why not?"

I rap my cane once against the ground. "Well, for starters, despite

the fact that there are tortoises that could surpass your sorry excuse for a

jog, I'm in no shape to accompany even the most pathetic of runners."

"What a handy skill you have of overloading a sentence with

insults," she says as she reaches up to adjust her ponytail. "That must be

helpful what with your thriving social life and all."

I thump my cane against the ground again, studying her. "Must be

nice, picking on the cripple."

Olivia rolls her eyes. "Please. Your soul's more crippled than your

leg."

She has no idea how right she is, and I have no intention of letting her

anywhere close enough to find out. I've gotten good at shutting people out

by pushing them away . . . being as nasty as possible until they reach their

breaking point. But with her? It's different.

We hope you enjoyed this sneak peek of BROKEN by Lauren Layne! Love everything

Lauren Layne? Her newest adult contemporary romance in the Sex, Love and

Stiletto series, JUST ONE NIGHT, is on sale now!

(We have reviewed this book recently... I am sure the new one will be just as good. I look forward to being able to bring you more in the near future) 

Connect with Lauren

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REVIEW: Just One Night by Lauren Layne

In Lauren Layne’s sizzling Sex, Love & Stiletto series, New York’s hottest “sexpert” has been living a lie—and it’s up to one man to keep her honest . . . all night long.
 
Riley McKenna knows sex—good sex, bad sex, kinky sex. Her articles inStiletto magazine are the publication’s most scandalous—and the most read. But when Stiletto’s fiftieth anniversary issue requires her column to get a lot more personal, Riley is forced to confront a long-hidden secret: Her own sexual experience is limited to one awkward college encounter. Now Riley is about to call in the favor of a lifetime from the one man who’s always held her heart.
 
Sam Compton knows two things about Riley McKenna: She’s the only woman for him. But as his best friend’s little sister, she’s also completely off-limits. Sam shouldn’t even consider her proposition: to have a one-night stand in the name of research. But the thought of another man putting his hands on Riley is more than Sam can handle, and soon he’s agreeing to one night with New York’s resident sexpot. But Riley’s full of surprises, and what starts as “one time only” soon becomes “just one more time.” And then one more. And before they know it, Riley and Sam learn firsthand that when it comes to love, there’s no such thing as just one night.

Advance praise for Just One Night
 
“Sexy, sassy, and surprisingly sweet, Lauren Layne’s Just One Night is a total page-turner! The intimate scenes with Riley and Sam left me breathless and there was a lump in my throat at the end. A fabulous addition to the Sex, Love and Stiletto series!”—New York Times bestselling author Donna Alward 
 
“Lauren Layne’s Sex, Love & Stiletto series is fun, sexy, and sharp as a spike heel.”—USA Today bestselling author Ruthie Knox

“Funny, sexy, and utterly charming, Just One Night is exactly the kind of book I love!”—USA Today bestselling author Janice Maynard

“Just One Night packs a punch with sizzling chemistry and laugh-out-loud banter. Lauren Layne delivers a sexy, unforgettable romance that will leave you begging for more!”—Stacey Kennedy, USA Today bestselling author ofClaimed
 

Adri's Review:

First all I need to thank NetGalley and Random House for providing us with an ARC to this story.

This is actually part of a series by Lauren Layne called Sex, Love and Stilettos but each story could be read individually and does not (in my opinion) need to be read in order. Though now I definitely want to go back to get the first two books.

If you've been following the blog for some time you know very well how much I love second chance, as well as, friends becoming more romances, and this is absolutely falls into that category.  Riley and Sam have know each other for ten years but both were too scared to really say anything to the other until an article she needs to write for work forces them to face their fears.

Man do I have to say how much the character of Riley made me laugh, she really does have that little sister feel to her. She's quirky and fun, and loyal, but at the same time scared and reserved to really put herself out there. And boy does she have an appetite, kinda makes me jealous wishing I could eat like her without a problem. 

Sam is that character that you want to hug and hold and make all things better, but at the same time he makes you want to give him a good kick in the butt. The fact that he hasn't gotten the support he so deserves most of his life, and is afraid to take a chance and prove the naysayers right. It kills me that he lacks confidence due to the influence of his mother during his childhood.

This is one of those stories that once I started reading it I didn't put down until I was finished. It really flows so easily it didn't feel like it too me long to read at all. 

I hope you give it a chance in the near future as well. And just remember there are more books to be read in this series (and I may just get a hold of them soon to review for you).

Happy Reading.... Adri