A few months ago I did a review of Lauren Layne's first book in The Central Park Pact series, "Passion on Park Avenue" and it was truly one of my favorite books. Well, I was able to read the second book in the series "Love on Lexington Avenue" before it was released, and it was released only a few weeks ago!
I just have to say, Lauren Layne is so talented and her writing is addictive. It's a romantic comedy style with a deeper message, whether it's grief or fear or family... it's intense without only being intense.
Layne's third book in the series "Marriage on Madison Avenue" is coming out in January 2020 and I'm hoping to get my hands on a copy from NetGalley before that date. I just need to know how the series ends and what happens to the Pact ladies.
Now, let's get into the review...
PS: Can I just say how legendary Lauren Layne's website is? It gives a 'heat level' to all her books so you know how much sexytime is in each one. It's pretty wild and genius if you ask me.
Publisher's Summary
There are no good men left in New York City. At least that’s Claire Hayes’s conviction after finding out her late husband was not the man she thought he was. Determined to rid her home of anything that reminds her of her cheating husband, Claire sets out to redesign her boring, beige Upper East Side brownstone and make it something all her own. But what starts out as a simple renovation becomes a lot more complicated when she meets her bad-tempered contractor Scott Turner.
Scott bluntly makes it known to Claire that he only took on her house for a change of pace from the corporate offices and swanky hotels he’s been building lately, and he doesn’t hesitate to add that he has no patience for a pampered, damaged princess with a penchant for pink. But when long workdays turn into even longer nights, their mutual wariness morphs into something more complicated—grudging respect, and maybe even attraction...
Scott bluntly makes it known to Claire that he only took on her house for a change of pace from the corporate offices and swanky hotels he’s been building lately, and he doesn’t hesitate to add that he has no patience for a pampered, damaged princess with a penchant for pink. But when long workdays turn into even longer nights, their mutual wariness morphs into something more complicated—grudging respect, and maybe even attraction...
My Review
While I was super excited about this book, I was a little bored at first but I think that was the point. Layne makes a point to show off Clare's boredom with her own life. As she finds herself, her life and the book become more exciting, even a little sexy.Layne doesn't mess around with timing, we get straight into Clare's issues and we are introduced to Scott Turner, her new contractor that is going to rip her house to shreds and rebuild it. In my head, I pictured Scott as a Luke Danes (Gilmore Girls) type of character and I'd be curious if that was intentional in the writing.
Throughout the book, you are rooting for Scott and Clare to get together but can understand what is keeping them apart. Personally, I wasn't sure where we were going to end up in this relationship because it was so up and down throughout the book. Even towards the end, what happens I didn't see coming and it was so shocking.
I loved Clare's character development throughout the book, and how we saw more of the relationships between her, Naomi, and Audrey. You see Clare go from heartbroken widow to determined woman. She is ready to accept and move on from her broken marriage while also dealing with what she wants her life to be. It can only be described as a Cinderella story in a way, and it made me so happy.
I loved this book so much I would read it again; it was comforting, uplifting and heartfelt. It was definitely up to par with Passion and I can only imagine how good Marriage on Madison Avenue is going to be.
I am completely in love with the Central Park Pact series and if you have not read the books yet, please go do so. You won't regret it, they're amazing.
xoxo
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