Release Week Blitz + Author Interview & Giveaway: Cuff Me by Lauren Layne

Posted in Exclusive, Giveaways, Spotlight by Lacey

Happy Release Day to Lauren Layne – Cuff Me is live!
Check out my Q&A with Lauren and a fantastic giveaway below, and read my review for Cuff Me here!

Author Interview: Lauren Layne

What did you love most about writing Vincent’s character?

I think how genuinely “head up his @$$” he is. You know every now and then you encounter a macho hero, and you don’t quite buy that he’d be so oblivious. For me, Vincent has always been the brother that really was that clueless. He doesn’t relate to people in a “normal” way, and it takes him so adorably long to figure out why what he he feels for Jill is different than what he feels for other people.

What was your favorite scene to write in Cuff Me?

It’s a toss-up between the doughnut scene (you’ll know when you read it), and the two of them alone together in the motel. Both tugged at my heartstrings, because we really get to see Vincent at his most vulnerable.

What makes Vincent and Jill’s relationship different from the other couples’ in the series?

Vincent and Jill have known each other for quite awhile before the start of the book, so it’s a different kind of love story altogether. Instead of there being the classic “meet cute” these are two people who know each other incredibly well, but haven’t quite figured out how perfect they are together.

Who would you cast as Vincent and Jill?

I always had Kristen Bell in mind for Jill and someone with a sort of Chris Messina vibe for Vin.

Would you ever write Marco’s story?

I think so! I know exactly how his story unfolds in my head (and it is sex-ay!) but for now the series is a 3-book series ☺

Who is your favorite Moretti brother?

Anthony. I’m a sucker for the strong, silent types. Although I also sort of have to say that since I named his character after my husband.

Cuff Me by Lauren Layne
Series: New York’s Finest #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: March 29th 2016
Publisher: Forever

ARRESTED BY LOVE

Vincent Moretti is one of the NYPD’s top homicide detectives-and one of the most eligible bachelors in town. His family, however, thinks he should date his longtime partner, Jill-a sassy, sexy, smart-mouthed blonde who drives him absolutely crazy.

Behind the quiet authority, tough-guy demeanor, and dark aviator glasses lies a man with a big soul-and a hard body that can soften any girl’s heart. After years as his coworker, Jill Henley has given up hope that anything could happen between her and Vin. Besides, loving him would break all the rules. But seeing Jill with someone else triggers feelings in Vincent he never knew he had. Now he’ll have to stop playing good cop/bad cop-and find a way to convince her to be his partner for life. . .

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Kobo • Google Play

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

#1 ~ Frisk Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Steal Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Cuff Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

A long-time romance reader, Lauren Layne thinks the only thing better than reading about happy endings is writing them. She now pursues a full-time career in Happily Ever After, a job she’s naturally suited for after marrying her high school sweetheart. A bit of a nomad, Lauren’s lived everywhere from Orange County to Manhattan, and currently lives in the Seattle-area. Her hobbies include coffee by day, wine by night, and lots of writing in between. She’s also a total website nerd and insists you check out laurenlayne.com!

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

5 copies of CUFF ME

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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21Mar2016

Early Review: Cuff Me by Lauren Layne

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Cuff Me by Lauren Layne
Series: New York’s Finest #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: March 29th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

ARRESTED BY LOVE

AHHH!!! I. loved. this. book!!!

If you know me, then you know I’m a massive Lauren Layne fan. Her books are just contemporary romance heaven and I always look forward to all her releases. Cuff Me was my most anticipated read of hers, and it didn’t disappoint at all. In fact, Cuff Me is my favorite of the New York’s Finest series and so far my FAVORITE LL book ever!

You know those series where you’re just WAITING for a certain couple to get their book? There’s all this buildup for them and you have all these expectations that you hope will be met? Well, Cuff Me was that book for me. I’d been dying to read Vincent and Jill’s story ever since meeting them in Frisk Me, and Lauren Layne gave me everything I wanted and more with this book. The romance is slow, but it’s absolutely filled with sexual tension. This is a bit of the hate-to-love-you trope, a bit of opposites-attract and friends-to-lovers. LL did a brilliant job blending all these tropes together. I wholeheartedly adored Cuff Me – it’s sweet, sexy, funny, and all-around an irresistible read.

Their relationship had always been both horribly complicated and wonderfully simple.
Those two elements canceled each other out so that when it came right down to it, Jill and Vincent were beyond definition.
They simply were.

Vincent Moretti and Jill Henley are partners and homicide detectives for the NYPD. There’s a bit of love/hate going on, and a healthy dose of lust too – and while it’s obvious to everyone how in love with each other Jill and Vin are, these two are absolutely clueless about how the other feels. But no matter what they feel, they’ve always had each others’ backs. That is, until Jill blindsides Vin by coming back home after a trip… engaged.

Jill has loved Vin since forever – and even more than just her partner, he’s family to her. But it’s been six years since they were first partnered together, and Jill just isn’t sure anymore that Vin could reciprocate her feelings – so she jumps into an engagement with another man, all the while still loving Vin.

Vin has always been the quiet, shy one ever since he was a boy, so he’s not adept at expressing his feelings, but he knows he has to try in order to win Jill back. And when he finds out that Jill is engaged to another man, it awakens this jealous, possessive, alpha side of him that is seriously the hottest thing ever. And when Vin is determined to do something, whether it’s trying to solve a murder, or in this case, win over the woman in his heart, there’s nothing that can stop him. Except maybe his own fears of loving and being loved, but that’s what Jill and his family are there for, to knock some sense into him. 😉

“My brothers said that saying it would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. They were wrong. It was the easiest. Because loving you is easy.”

I adored Jill so much. She’s just so happy and light compared to Vin’s broody and dark, and while she doesn’t make the best decision getting engaged to a man she doesn’t love, it does do what she’s always wanted: make Vin realize his feelings for her. And Vin, while frustrating, is so sweet and adoring of Jill – even though he struggles with showing her that, you can’t help but love him for it. These two make such a heart-warming couple that my heart melted every time they were together in the book.

Lauren Layne has once again written a brilliantly sexy and romantic read. I loved Cuff Me! If you love some men-in-uniform, you definitely need to get your hands on the Moretti brothers, especially Vin. Now I can’t help but hope that LL will write another book for the fourth Moretti brother, who we get to know a lot better in Cuff Me!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

#1 ~ Frisk Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Steal Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Cuff Me: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads (March 29, 2016)

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24Nov2015

Release Week Blitz + Author Interview & Giveaway: Steal Me by Lauren Layne

Posted in Exclusive, Giveaways, Spotlight by Lacey

Happy Release Day to Lauren Layne – Steal Me is live! Check out my Q&A with Lauren below, as well as my review and a fantastic giveaway!

Author Interview: Lauren Layne

What would readers be surprised to find out about you?

That I’m a total science fiction geek. Star Wars is my favorite movie of all time, although my husband has slowly converted me over to Star Trek, and I’m a big fan of that as well.

Tell us about your writing process. Do you start with an idea or a character? Do you know what’s going to happen from the beginning or do you figure it out as you write?

I almost always start with the idea or the general premise; rarely does the character come first. And I’m a planner. I’ve gotten looser with my planning as I write more books and get more comfortable with the flow of writing a book, but I generally have at least a pretty comprehensive list of scenes that need to get written before I type Chapter One.

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

I believe it was Nora Roberts who said, “I can fix a bad page, but I can’t fix a blank one.” I repeat that on almost a daily basis. I know that I just need to reach The End, no matter how messy the words might be. Once the words are there, they’re always fixable.

Is there one thing you have to have when writing?

Oh man. I’m going to be super literal here and say my laptop. I like music but don’t need it. And usually have my water bottle, but not always. Sometimes a notebook, sometimes not. I’m pretty bare bones and minimalist J

How did you choose the names of your characters?

The main characters I spend a bit of time going through name lists, trying to get the right vibe (and finding one that I haven’t used before, which is getting harder and harder). For minor characters, I use a “random name” generator on my web browser.

How has music played a role in your life and in your writing?

I make soundtracks for almost all of my books, there’s always one song that’s more vital than the rest. Name any of my books, and I can tell you which song I listened to on repeat while writing it!

When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?

Ha. I think I was born this way. For as long as I can remember, I was that kid that said I wanted to be an author when I grew up, and I always loved writing in school. Then college ended. I had no more writing to do for school, but I also didn’t think that writing could be a full-time career, so I entered the work force and put writing behind me as a hobby. What a mistake!! That all came back to bite me a few years later when the need to write was so strong that it was all I could think about. It took me a year or so to work up the courage, another year or so to stick with it, and then I decided to jump in with both feet. I quit my job, moved to New York, wrote about four books in two months like a mad woman, and got an agent/publisher.

What can you tell us about your couple, that we won’t find in the book?

Of all my books, Steal Me is the one that veered the most from my original outline. The original heroine was a feisty red-head named Kat who was the least suspect in a burglary case. I’m not sure why or when it changed, but by the time I’d finished Frisk Me (book one in the series), I knew that Anthony’s story and woman were entirely different than I’d originally planned.

Steal Me by Lauren Layne
Series: New York’s Finest #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: November 24th 2015
Publisher: Forever

IN HOT PURSUIT

Being a cop might be in Anthony Moretti’s blood, but protecting and serving the city of New York has always been more than just the family business. If that means his love life stays locked up, well then that’s just another sacrifice made in the line of duty. That is, until he sets eyes on the gorgeous new waitress at The Darby Diner and suddenly Anthony’s morning coffee is leaving him a whole lot more hot and bothered than usual.

Though waitressing at The Darby isn’t exactly Maggie Walker’s dream job, it pays the bills and gives her time to work on her novel. Now if only she could stop fantasizing about gorgeous Anthony Moretti every time he sits down at her table, she’d really be in great shape. But when he needs her help identifying a criminal threatening The Darby—and Maggie recognizes her ex-husband—she fears her fresh start might be a pipe dream. Faster than a New York minute, Maggie and Anthony find themselves in one perilous pursuit that only gets hotter with each and every rule-breaking kiss.

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Kobo • Google Play

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

#1 ~ Frisk Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Steal Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Cuff Me: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (March 29, 2016)

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

5 copies of STEAL ME

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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23Nov2015

Blog Tour + Early Review & Giveaway: Steal Me by Lauren Layne

Posted in 4 hearts, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews by Lacey

Click the banner to follow the tour.

Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Steal Me by Lauren Layne!
Check out my review for this fantastic book below, as well as a giveaway!

Steal Me by Lauren Layne
Series: New York’s Finest #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: November 24th 2015
Publisher: Forever

IN HOT PURSUIT

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Kobo • Google Play

Is there any book Lauren Layne writes that I can’t love!? I honestly don’t think it’s possible. Every time I pick up a Lauren Layne book, I know I’m going to be entertained and satisfied. Her books are always so sweet and hilarious – and her New York’s Finest series is her funniest yet. I had high expectations after adoring the first book, Frisk Me, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Steal Me. And of course I ended up loving Steal Me just as much as, if not more than, Frisk Me. Steal Me had me laughing and swooning – if you love men in uniform (who doesn’t), this series is a must read.

He could be a cop…
…or a boyfriend.
Or was the operative word.
He couldn’t be both.

Captain Anthony Moretti’s job as a cop is his life. His family and the NYPD are his top priorities. He has no time for women, least of all Maggie Walker, a waitress who can’t do her job and annoys Anthony to no end. Anthony is usually an in-control kind of man – he’s quiet, authoritative, and a little moody… but around Maggie, he can’t stop himself from being a total jerk. He’s flustered and completely out of control around her, and he doesn’t like the way she makes him feel. The gorgeous waitress throws him off like no other.

Maggie Walker is an aspiring writer, and she’s made a fresh start in NY. She’s never truly known love in her abusive past, so she’s charmed by the Moretti family, who comes by every week to the diner she works at. Well, she’s charmed by all but Anthony, whose good looks fire her up and make her clumsy around him. But when she identifies a criminal as her ex-husband on a case Anthony is working on, the two of them are thrown together and the sparks between them fire up until eventually their chemistry can’t be ignored.

I had so much fun reading Maggie and Anthony’s story. It’s a little slow in the beginning, with Anthony reluctant to start anything with Maggie, but he can’t resist her. The two of them are so sweet together – she cracks his stubborn, uptight shell, and he supports her and her career like no one has before. Maggie shows Anthony that he’s capable of love and that he can have love in his life, but he just has to be willing to fight for it.

“You’re…”
She looked at him through hazy eyes. “Hmm.”
“Everything,” he said quietly.

Another thing I loved about Steal Me is the Moretti family. Everyone in this family is so freaking hilarious! The grandmother is probably my favorite of them all. She’s so inappropriate and blunt, I loved her. And it was great to see Ava and Luc again! The secondary characters add so much light-heartedness and giggles to the story.

Lauren Layne writes such wonderful contemporary romances. They are truly a joy to read – whenever I finish a book of hers, I’m left with a smile on my face. Each of the books in the New York’s Finest series is well-developed and you love the characters right from the start, no matter how much of a jerk they are (*cough* Anthony). If you liked the first book, you definitely need to read the second! I, for one, can’t WAIT to get my hands on Vincent and Jill’s story.

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

#1 ~ Frisk Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Steal Me: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Cuff Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.

Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

Print Set of FRISK ME & STEAL ME
$5.00 Starbucks Gift Card and a Writers Gift Set

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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23Jul2015

Blog Tour + Early Review & Giveaway: Frisk Me by Lauren Layne

Posted in 4 hearts, Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews by Lacey

Click the banner to follow the tour.

Welcome to today’s stop on the blog tour for Frisk Me by Lauren Layne!

Frisk Me by Lauren Layne
Series: New York’s Finest #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: July 28th 2015
Publisher: Forever

After a photograph of Luc Moretti saving a tourist hits social media, he instantly becomes New York’s most famous and beloved cop. When a major network decides to run a special on the “American Hero,” Luc’s boss gives him no choice but to cooperate in the name of good exposure for the department. Luc doesn’t mind the celebrity status-what he does mind is the gorgeous brunette journalist who’s been assigned to follow his every move. Especially since she also happens to be the same knockout that rejected him rather publicly the week before.

Ava Sims is a woman who gets what she wants. And what she wants is to be CBC’s lead anchor-but to get there, she’ll need to nail the fluff piece on the playboy cop. Luc Moretti is everything Ava knows to stay away from: a stubborn charmer with a hero-complex. But the more Ava gets to know Luc and his oddball family, the more she realizes that beneath the swagger and the blue uniform is a complex man who makes her heart beat too fast. Soon, Ava’s doing the unthinkable, and falling for the best of New York’s finest …

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • iTunes • Kobo

It’s been a while since I’ve read a good man-in-uniform book, but Frisk Me, starring officer Luc Moretti, was an absolute delight to read. I was a big fan of Lauren Layne’s when I read one of her Redemption books, but Frisk Me only solidified to me how great of an author she is. This was a great first book in a new series (about some sexy men-in-uniform!) that I’m already looking forward to reading more of.

Luc has become a famous hero when he’s recorded doing something he feels any other compassionate person would do. The video becomes viral, and Luc is thrust into celebrity very unwillingly. All he wants is the media attention to go away, but he’s instead forced to let a TV reporter follow him around and write up a story about his life.

He was all over the place with her. Amiable one minute, prissy the next.
Kissing her one day.
Yelling at her the next.
A match made in heaven, they were not.

Luc’s moody brooding about his newfound celebrity was just… adorable. He’s normally a fun, charming guy, but Ava Sims, the reporter, gets under his skin. He’s annoyed with her, no matter how gorgeous she looks or how hot the chemistry between them is. Ava also doesn’t want to follow around the cop who gave her a ticket three years ago, but this ‘hero story’ will be the launch of her career. I loved that Frisk Me was a bit of an enemies-to-lovers romance – the banter between Ava and Luc is hilarious and I could definitely feel the hot chemistry between them!

Slowly, Ava and Luc start to warm up to each other as they get to know one another. Frisk Me was a heartfelt book, and though it was slow in the beginning, I was soon rooting for Luc and Ava’s HEA. They just meshed so well together, and it was easy to see that they were perfect for each other.

“I’d give up being everybody else’s hero, if you’ll just let me be yours.”

I also have to mention that the Moretti family is absolutely hilarious! I was laughing out loud at so many ridiculous things that Luc’s family says. Luc’s grandmother, Nonna, is a hoot. She has no shame in what she does, wears, or says. I loved her! I was also SUPER intrigued by Luc’s two older brothers, who will also be getting their books. I have a feeling I’m going to enjoy Anthony and Vincent’s books even more than I did Luc’s.

Frisk Me was overall just a great read. There was just enough drama and intensity to balance out the lighter, fun moments to make this a well-rounded book. I had so much fun reading Frisk Me and cannot WAIT for the second book!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

#1 ~ Frisk Me: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Steal Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Cuff Me: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

Website • Facebook • Twitter • Goodreads

$50.00 Amazon eGift Card
Signed Copies of FRISK ME, ONLY WITH YOU and MADE FOR YOU
(Print US/Ebook INTL)

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Tag Archives: New York’s Finest series

Release Week Blitz + Author Interview & Giveaway: Cuff Me by Lauren Layne

Author Interview: Lauren Layne

What did you love most about writing Vincent’s character?

What was your favorite scene to write in Cuff Me?

What makes Vincent and Jill’s relationship different from the other couples’ in the series?

Who would you cast as Vincent and Jill?

Would you ever write Marco’s story?

Who is your favorite Moretti brother?

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Early Review: Cuff Me by Lauren Layne

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Release Week Blitz + Author Interview & Giveaway: Steal Me by Lauren Layne

Author Interview: Lauren Layne

What would readers be surprised to find out about you?

Tell us about your writing process. Do you start with an idea or a character? Do you know what’s going to happen from the beginning or do you figure it out as you write?

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

Is there one thing you have to have when writing?

How did you choose the names of your characters?

How has music played a role in your life and in your writing?

When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?

What can you tell us about your couple, that we won’t find in the book?

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Blog Tour + Early Review & Giveaway: Steal Me by Lauren Layne

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Blog Tour + Early Review & Giveaway: Frisk Me by Lauren Layne

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Author Interview: Lauren Layne

What did you love most about writing Vincent’s character?

What was your favorite scene to write in Cuff Me?

What makes Vincent and Jill’s relationship different from the other couples’ in the series?

Who would you cast as Vincent and Jill?

Would you ever write Marco’s story?

Who is your favorite Moretti brother?

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

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Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

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Author Interview: Lauren Layne

­ What would readers be surprised to find out about you?

Tell us about your writing process. Do you start with an idea or a character? Do you know what’s going to happen from the beginning or do you figure it out as you write?

Who gave you the one piece of writing advice that sticks with you to this day?

Is there one thing you have to have when writing?

How did you choose the names of your characters?

How has music played a role in your life and in your writing?

When was the moment that you knew you had to be a writer?

What can you tell us about your couple, that we won’t find in the book?

Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

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Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

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Reading Order: New York’s Finest series

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What would readers be surprised to find out about you?