Read and Review #17 - Just One Night (Lauren Layne)

Title: Just One Night (Sex, Love and Stiletto #3)

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 11 March 2014

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Synopsis:

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 in Stiletto magazine are consistently the publication’s most scandalous—and the most read. But Riley has a secret…all that sexy talk? Not an ounce of it comes from personal experience. Her own bedroom escapades are more limited than even her best friends know. When her editor requests that all columnists write something more personal for Stiletto’s anniversary issue, Riley turns to the one man she’s always been able to count on and calls in the favor of a lifetime.

Sam Compton would do anything for Riley McKenna. Anything except be her experimental sex toy. He refuses her request. At least until she tells him that it’ll either be him or she’ll go to someone else. And that, Sam can’t accept. Reluctantly he agrees to her terms—one night of completely meaningless sex in the name of research. Riley thinks she’s prepared for what awaits her in Sam’s bed. After ten years of writing about sex, actually doing it shouldn’t be that different, right? So wrong. What starts as “one time only” becomes “just one more time.” And then one more. And before they know it, Riley and Sam learn first-hand that when it comes to love, there’s no such thing as just one night.

My rating:

5 out of 5 people want it to be more than just one night

My review:

*ARC generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I love love love Lauren Layne's work! So far she has 4 published books and I have read and reviewed each and every one of them. Not to mention, some of her influences are my absolute favorite authors.

Just One Night is the third book of the Sex, Love & Stiletto series which as of November 2013, became my new favorite contemporary romance series. This series revolves around the lives of three best friends; Julie, Grace and Riley, the princesses of a famous female magazine called Stiletto. Princesses because they write the most read columns in the magazine that focuses on dating, relationship and sex. Or in Mitchell (Julie's fiance's) words "Kiss, Cuddle and Fuck". Technically, he didn't say that first but PICK UP THE FIRST BOOK AND READ IT TO FIND OUT.

Anyways, Riley writes about sex—anything and everything about sex. Her best friends are envious of how brazenly she acts or talks but get this, their little sex kitten of a best friend, is almost a virgin. YES. ALMOST. A. VIRGIN. 

With the 50th anniversary of the magazine coming up, their fabulous editor in chief, Camille decided to do something to celebrate their success over the years. Each writer would write an article that is related to their column and how much of it reflects their lives. In Riley's case, she would write an article basically revealing her sex life to her readers. And based on what she had wrote over the years, she had a colorful sex life. NOT.

So since everything she had written over the years had not been from personal experience, Riley decided that she wanted to experience proper sex to be able to write her article. And who better to experience sex with if not with Sam Compton?

Sam Compton has known Riley McKenna for a decade, and had been admiring her since the day he laid eyes on her in her kitchen. But his attraction towards Riley had to be cut short when he promised her older brother, Liam that he would not make a move on her. That promise lasted a full decade, until Riley approached him with a proposition—to have sex with her.

This is a guy who had been denying his feelings towards his best friend's sister for 10 years. And for her to come to him and propose something that crosses the line between friends is like a test that he didn't want to fail. But Sam was done. Done denying his feelings towards her. Done pretending that he's not attracted to her. And definitely done turning away from her. 

I love best friends turn lovers kind of story. Even more if they don't get along. Riley and Sam definitely don't get along at some point but they are more friends than enemies. And I like it. Their interaction, filled with years of building frustration gets to me and I can't help but get upset with Sam because he refused to act on his feelings. And kudos to Riley for pushing him again and again to pursue his feelings. 

"I thought I was doing the right thing by letting her go, but what I really was doing was pushing her away before she could push me away. But I pushed too hard, and she's gone. It's what I wanted. But that's a lie."

I like Sam for the fact that he's not like the other boyfriends (Mitchell and Jake) where he doesn't live in upper east Manhattan, clocks 80 hours a week and instead opens up his own business and doesn't live a posh life. He also has a distinct more reserved personality than the other guys and that's what attracted me to Sam in the first place.

A note to Miss Layne (if she ever reads this review), during Grace and Jake's engagement dinner it was stated that Julie is Mitchell's wife but in the epilogue, at Grace's wedding, Julie stated her own wedding is about four months away. So unless they're already married but hadn't have a reception (which I highly doubt), I'm guessing it's a small error.

Other than that, I absolutely love this book. And I KNOW there's a fourth one for Emma and Alex because seriously if they don't get their story I would go crazy. 

Read and Review #7 - Love the One You're With (Lauren Layne)

Title: Love the One You're With (Sex, Love and Stiletto #2)

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 9 December 2013

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept

Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

As a leading columnist for Stiletto, Grace Brighton has built a career warning women about rotten, cheating liars. She just never suspected her fiancé would be one of them. After Grace takes a heart-mending hiatus, her first assignment is to go on a couple of dates with a counterpart from the men's magazine Oxford and report her impressions. Grace 1.0 may have been instantly smitten with the gorgeous correspondent, but Grace 2.0 has sworn off relationships for six months, and she's not falling for his outstanding bod and trophy-winning kisses... or is she?

Jake Malone wants to get back to the fly-by-night, who-knows-what's-next guy he used to be, and he knows exactly how to do it. Oxford is adding a travel section, and Jake—with no wife and no kids and a willingness to live anywhere, eat anything, do everything—is perfect for the job... except that his playboy reputation makes his new editor nervous. To get the gig, he must agree to a fluffy joint article with Stiletto. But after just one date with snooty, sumptuous, sensational Grace Brighton, Jake starts taking this assignment a whole lot more seriously...

My rating:

4 out of 5 wants to live in Tribeca

My review:

*ARC generously provided by the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

First off, I like Grace. She's this good girl determined to not be fooled by another man after the love of her life cheated on her. Among the trio (Julie, Grace and Riley), she's the timid one. The peacemaker. She's not as flirtatious as Julie or exudes sexual confidence (wait is that the right term?) like Riley. And the one thing she thought she had mastered left her single and bitter. When an opportunity arises for her to be Grace 2.0, she wasted no time and decided to take the chance. 

The first time meeting Jake could have put him in the what-a-jerk category but the way he carry himself makes him so likable despite his playboy ways. I don't know what his deal is with wanting to be single but damn if his actions say otherwise. My favorite parts in this book all consist of Jake. Did I mention that Jake is hot? 

I find that the banter between Jake and Grace are realistic enough. The idea of getting two people trying to compete on who can read the opposite sex better is great especially because these days, both genders claim that they are able to read the other better. And the discussion is pretty heated most of the time. 

It's a cute read. Sweet without being tacky. And I read it pretty fast too. It's fully recommended for anyone who likes a cute and fast read. Looking forward to Riley's story!

Read and Review #6 - After the Kiss (Lauren Layne)

Title: After the Kiss (Sex, Love and Stiletto #1)

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 26 August 2013
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept
Get a copy! Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Synopsis:

Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that first sexy romp between the sheets. Comfy pants, sleepy Sundays, movie nights on the couch? Shudder. But when Julie gets assigned the hardest story of her career—a first-person account of that magical shift between dating and "I do"—she'll need a man brave enough to give a total commitment-phobe a chance at more.

 Normally, Mitchell Forbes would be exactly that man. A devastatingly hot workaholic who tends to stay in relationships for far too long, he should be the perfect subject for Julie's "research." But what Julie doesn't know is that Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once in his life. And the leggy journalist notorious for avoiding love is exactly the type of no-strings fling he's looking for. In other words, Mitchell is the polar opposite of what Julie needs right now. And, at the same time, he's exactly what she wants.

My rating: 

5 out of 5 wants to marry a Wall Street broker

My review:

*I received a copy from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

I have to admit, the reason I was drawn to this book was because of the author. I read Ms. Layne's Isn't She Lovely (psst, I wrote a review about it!) and enjoyed it immensely. I liked the way she writes her stories and I was hoping I'd get that in this book. Fortunately, I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I liked this book just as much (maybe more).

Julie Greene is a columnist for a magazine called Stiletto who writes the dating column in the Dating, Love and Sex segment of the magazine. She had never been in a relationship that lasts more than a couple of weeks and most of them are for research in her columns. When her editor told her to write a column on taking the next step in a relationship, Julie almost declined because she doesn't write about being in love. She writes about how to date a guy. And so she decides to do a research: be in a relationship with a guy and make it to Movie Night. In search of a subject to use as part of her research, she met Mitchell Forbes.

Mitchell Forbes, a Wall Street broker wanted nothing more than to prove to his colleague that he is able to have flings instead of safe, boring relationships. Being a workaholic, he opted to stay in a relationship even when he didn't want to. And so he made a bet. He would have a fling with a woman and dumps her before she starts to feel anything for him. And who better to have a fling with if not the notorious serial dater, Julie Greene? 

This is not one of those instant love at first sight kind of story. In fact, they don't even like each other that much at the first meeting. They are the total opposites of each other, hating the other's way of thinking. But eventually, they found that underneath their clothing and jobs lies a different person that they can tolerate and fall in love with. 

Normally I don't like reading about falling in love at such a fast pace but the way this story is written, the idea of falling in love that quick doesn't seem tacky or strange. Their relationship is sweet and towards the end I couldn't stop crying. 

"Here was a short-term kind of girl begging for a long-term relationship from a long-term kind of guy who wanted a fling."

"For the past few weeks, I've been doing something I've done an awful lot of. I've fallen in love. Then I went and did something crazy. Something wonderful. I stayed in love. I stayed past the first kiss, the first inside joke, the first fight. But I did it all wrong. I played it like a game, and I broke someone's heart. And I broke my own in the process." 

The only thing that I didn't like about this book was how short it was. I'm a very dramatic kind of girl and while this book managed to jerk the tears out of my eyes, I wanted more. It's fully recommended for those who enjoyed banters, love/hate relationship and just plain old crying over fictional characters. 

Read and Review #2 - Isn't She Lovely (Lauren Layne)

Title: Isn't She Lovely

Author: Lauren Layne

Publication date: 28 October 2013

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Flirt

Get a copy! Amazon | Google Play Store | Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

The rules are clear—until they’re broken. Lauren Layne puts a New Adult spin on Pygmalion, also the inspiration for Pretty Woman, and gives the classic love story its edgiest twist yet.

“Who knew that pretending you’re not falling for someone would be so much more difficult than pretending that you are?”

Stephanie Kendrick gave up her whole summer to ace her NYU film school screenwriting course, so she’s pissed to be stuck with a preppy, spoiled frat boy as her writing partner. Then again, with her piercings, black-rimmed eyes, and Goth wardrobe, Stephanie isn’t exactly Ethan Price’s type, either. He’s probably got his eye on some leggy blonde with a trust fund . . . or does he?

As the summer scene kicks off in the Hamptons, Ethan is desperate to make his snobbish mother forget the pedigreed girl who broke his heart. While Stephanie’s a stretch as a decoy, the right makeover and a pastel cardigan just might do the trick. She may not love the idea of playing Ethan’s brainless Barbie girlfriend, but the free rent and luxurious digs make a tempting offer. So does the promise of a ready-made screenplay idea inspired by their charade.

But when Stephanie steps into Ethan’s privileged world, the “acting” begins to feel all too real. The kissing and touching that were intended to fool the Hamptons crowd wind up manipulating them. And Stephanie faces a question she’s too afraid to ask: Is Ethan falling for the real her or for the dolled-up princess he wants to see?

My rating:

4.5 out of 5 snicker bars consumed while reading this

My review:

I got this book the day it was released and wasted no time reading it. My mantra while reading it had been, 'Keep your fucking shit together!'. And I did, until I went home and finished the last 5 chapters and broke down in the corner of my bed.

Pygmalion – that’s the theme of this story. It’s not a very common theme for books and movies out there. Then again, I kept reading books with the same theme so who knows maybe there are more books with Pygmalion themes out there. But the movies that scream Pygmalion? One in particular is the classic Pretty Woman.

We have Stephanie Kendrick; all-black attire, multiple piercings, raccoon eyes – the typical Goth kid lurking around campus, hating on everyone, thinks that ‘meet-cute’ never happens in real life. Then we have Ethan Price; blond hair, built with freaking muscles from God knows doing what, preppy, your typical charmer.

First thought, holy all pitch perfect this is Anna Kendrick right here. Have you not seen Pitch Perfect? Remove the Goth attire and that people, is Anna Kendrick in Pitch Perfect. Hair, height, boobs, like it's a given. 

That gif is pretty accurate I think. And Ethan, well Ethan is basically described as your average rich boy hero. In this book, we get to see a combination in new adult that is, quite rare. Sure we get the sullen, I-hate-everyone girl but they’re usually pretty, cute, tomboy at most but rarely Goth. The banter between Stephanie and Ethan is interesting and one of my favorite parts of the book.

I swear it's less creepy than this.

Stephanie's transformation, I wish I could see her, imagining just won’t do! I mean, from Goth to all glammed-up?

And the way they were so at ease with other, the attraction between them –it hurt at certain part of the story how they were so restricted by this unspoken rule.

It didn’t make a full 5 rating because of small details like wanting more scenes where they’re together. Yes, 3 is already enough (dinner, wedding, party) but I can’t think that their attraction is only switched on in those three events. And the rest of the time they just managed to be comfortable around one another? I don’t know, I guess I expected more Stephanie and Ethan scenes where they don't have to pretend to love each other and instead let nature takes its course. 

And then there was this part..

"I'll be in touch about the screenplay. I'm thinking we might have to reconsider the female lead. God knows we can't base her on you. We need someone with guts. Someone not afraid to bleed a little. So go back to being the statue, Stephanie. But don't expect me to be the one to bring you back to life next time. I'm done."

It was a struggle to finish because I was sobbing so hard (damn alternating POV) but I managed through. In the end, it was a refreshing read for me. I fully recommend this book to anyone who enjoys new adult, romance and lots of banter.