Contemporary Romance

Review: Someone Like You by Lauren Layne

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Title: Someone Like You (Oxford #3)
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. 

Purchase links: KINDLE | NOOK | IBOOKS

Contemporary Romance

Review: Irresistibly Yours by Lauren Layne

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Title: Irresistibly Yours (Oxford #1)
Author: Lauren Layne
Date of publication: 6 Oct 2015
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports

Author's links:
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My rating: 4 stars

Synopsis

Hotshot sports editor Cole Sharpe has been freelancing for Oxford for years, so when he hears about a staff position opening up, he figures he’s got the inside track. Then his boss drops a bombshell: Cole has competition. Female competition, in the form of a fresh-faced tomboy who can hang with the dudes—and write circles around them, too. Cole usually likes his women flirty and curvy, but he takes a special interest in his skinny, sassy rival, if only to keep an eye on her. And soon, he can’t take his eyes off her.

Penelope Pope knows all too well that she comes off as just one of the guys. Since she’s learned that wanting more usually leads to disappointment, Penelope’s resigned to sitting on the sidelines when it comes to love. So why does Cole make her want to get back in the game? The man is as arrogant as he is handsome. He probably sees her as nothing more than a barrier to his dream job. But when an unexpected kiss turns into a night of irresistible passion, Penelope has to figure out whether they’re just fooling around—or starting something real.

Review


I generally enjoy sports romance and this one does stand out among them since it's about the sport journalists and not the players, but the game and the fan love for it is so very strong and noticealby present in the story. It's was such a sweet, funny romance I greatly enjoyed.

This is a spinoff series but I haven't read the previous set of books and this didn't affect my enjoyment of the story in the slightest.

Irresistibly Yours is my first book by Lauren Layne and I liked her easy, comfortable writing and the smooth flow of the story as whole. There was the right balance between drama, humour, sex and tender emotions.

Penelope (Tiny) is not your typical romance heroine - she is a tomboy, a real sports fan, who tries to act as one of the guys because she ultimately doesn't believe she is attractive/sexy. This self-depreciation could easily come off as annoying and too contrived but that was not the case. I found it fitting her character and when it came to being with Cole she didn't act shy despite her inexperience and insecurities.

Cole was an interesting character as Penelope, though certainly more typical than her. A sports writer, a lady's man but also someone who starts feeling the pressure of being all alone, of being his brother's only support system. His gradual realisation of his attraction to Tiny was sweet and it did take him by surprise.

Taken on its own some elements in the story should not work for me - a tomboy heroine who doesn't realise how attractive she is, a womaniser hero who falls for a woman who is not his usual type at all and he is all baffled by it. Surpringly put together these elements the way Ms Layne did, I found them true-to-life and strangely attractive.

I loved the sports aspect of the story as well, the sense of loving a game, caring about it and respecting the players. I liked the easy camaraderie between all the characters, the sense of community and friendship which I always appreciate in a romance novel.

Cole's secret side, his relationship with Bobby was also wonderfully done, without going overboard in sentimentality, just real, emotional but also messy and at time tiring and confusing.

Overall, this turned out to be a very enjoyable, sweet and light romance and I'm very much looking forward ot reading more in this series!

Puchase links: Kindle | Nook | iBooks | Kobo

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