Author: Lauren Layne
Date of publication: 6 Dec 2016
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Loss, grieving
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My rating: 4 stars
Blurb
Lincoln Mathis doesn’t hide his reputation as Manhattan’s ultimate playboy. In fact, he cultivates it. But behind every flirtatious smile, each provocative quip, there’s a secret that Lincoln’s hiding from even his closest friends—a tragedy from his past that holds his heart quietly captive. Lincoln knows what he wants: someone like Daisy Sinclair, the sassy, off-limits bridesmaid he can’t take his eyes off at his best friend’s wedding. He also knows that she’s everything he can never have.
After a devastating divorce, Daisy doesn’t need anyone to warn her off the charming best man at her sister’s wedding. One look at the breathtakingly hot Lincoln Mathis and she knows that he’s exactly the type of man she should avoid. But when Daisy stumbles upon Lincoln’s secret, she realizes there’s more to the charming playboy than meets the eye. And suddenly Daisy and Lincoln find their lives helplessly entwined in a journey that will either heal their damaged souls . . . or destroy them forever.
Review
I really enjoyed the first book in this series,Irresistibly Yours, a light-hearted romance between two sports journalist. It was fun and sweet. Someone Like You is nothing like it and I still loved it just the same, if not more.
Lincoln's story is heart-breaking and there numerous moments in it that brought tears to my eyes. Yet, the pervading sense of not one of sadness and grief but rather there was always a ray of light that gave the readers hope that things will work out for the best in the end.
Lincoln's story and to a lesser extend, Daisy's story is one about loss and grief and ultimately having a second chance, moving forward to find new meaning.
I really liked how the darker aspects of the story were balanced out by the easy interactions of the tight-knit group of friends made up of the couples from Stiletto and Oxford magazines.
Lincoln was not alone, once the masks fell off. We see that in fact he is not the flirtatious player we thought he was based on previous two books. It was Daisy who first saw through his mask and the author took the reader with her on the journey of discovering the man behind the mask. In a way it was a discovery for him too because he was no longer the man he used to be and had to figure he was now and who he wanted to be in the future.
Daisy's scars from her failed marriage pale in comparison with Lincoln's suffering but they have made her hesitant, questioning herself on her feelings and her judgement of people.
They started off as friends, just two people with secrets but who felt comfortable in each other's company right from the start. The development of their relationship felt very easy, natural with its up and downs and setbacks.
I really liked how it all played out after Lincoln's big loss. The time he needed to accept and let go, to move on and try to love someone without the feelings of guilt and betrayal, it all felt natural to me. Daisy understood his situation but still she felt hurt and it prompted it to realise a few things about herself. She took a risk and went back to living a full life.
Their coming together in the end was just beautiful and very emotional. The epilogue gave them the sweetest HEA, even went a bit over the top with all the weddings and kids, but still I found it fitting the overall tone of the story.
My only two minor quibbles refer to a moment around middle of the story involving Lincoln which read as paranormal, thus out of place for me. The other thing that I'm uncertain about is the introduction of two new characters who will be the hero and heroine of the next book. I think Lincoln's story would have been the perfect ending to the series, with all the couples from the previous and this series, it all becomes too much, too many people, interconnections. I might be wrong about this and sincerely hope the next book will live up the high expectations this series have set for it.
