This review is a little more “full” than some of my reviews, so I probably don’t need to say much in this blurb other than that if you like contemporary romance, I highly suggest reading Lauren Layne. While this series doesn’t resonate as strongly with me as her other ones do, it’s still really good! I’m kind of on a kick of getting my hands on anything she writes and impatiently waiting for her next book to come out. Check her out on her website and if you’re like me and love the Beauty and the Beast trope, Broken is currently on sale for 99 cents. It’s one of my favorites.
The Trouble with Love by Lauren Layne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It seriously makes my day when NG approves me for a title from one of my favorite authors, and right now, Layne is at the top of my list. Confession: I haven’t read the first two books in this series, but I’ve read the third one, and unlike other books in a series, this one (and its predecessor) didn’t make me feel like I was missing out on a lot of crazy plotlines. Right there is a huge plus for the book.
In this installment of Layne’s Sex, Love, and Stilleto series, Emma Sinclair finds herself with her ex-fiance as her temporary boss while her regular editor takes a hiatus. Known as an ice queen who doesn’t smile enough, Emma finds herself envying her friends for finding love while still guarding her own heart, which was ripped apart years ago when her now boss, Alex Cassidy, left her standing at the alter. But, as with all good love stories, there are two sides to this one, and between unresolved issues and Emma having to take a trip back to visit 12 of her exes (at the whim of Alex, who assigns her the story), the two find themselves faced with sexual tension and feelings they both tried to forget.
Everything I have to say about Layne as an author is going to sound familiar because it holds true for every book of hers I read. She is a solid author who knows how to write good, fun romance. Of all her series, I think this one hits the funny bone the most. The banter between the main and side characters is good, and I love that each of the characters have their own distinct personalities.
But even though there are funny parts, there are also steamy parts and sad parts and those moments that make me want to reach into the book and just smack the characters and tell them to knock it off and get with the program. This is another reason I adore these books. Characters who get me involved in their lives. Also, in this book she introduces some of the men who are going to show up in her Oxford series, and now I sort of need those all to be published today. Because even though they were only there for a few pages, I’m already hooked and ready to read their stories.
Another plus, and one I bring up in all of my Layne reviews, is that I love her back and forth style of switching up the POVs between the chapters. She nails the technique, and by doing so, only heightens the emotion and makes it more sweet.
The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is because the glam city life doesn’t resonate with me as much as some of her other settings. However, it’s a very strong 4 and I’ve already bought the first 2 books in the series, so there will be a full series read/re-read in my future.
The Romance Factor 