Love Story

Lauren never lets us down. This is another wonderful story with great characters. The way she told Reese and Lucy's story and included Craig and Brandi and their parents was very much worth the read. A must for you TBR list.

I have read all of LL's books. This was not to her usual caliber. The characters were just ok and the story was flat. I found myself bored with the character development and wanted more depth. I still think LL is awesome this one just didn't do it for me.

Lauren Layne writes some of the sweetest romance stories. I adore the Love Unexpectedly series and while I still think I liked the last two better, I still really enjoyed this one. Love Story was a relatively quick read and contained a couple of my favorite romance tropes—Second chance romance and older brother’s best friend. I enjoyed Lucy and Reeve’s interaction, even though he could be a bit of a dick at times. Their car ride was filled with banter and some HOT sexual tension. All in all, Love Story was a semi-angsty, sweet, fun, and sexy read—perfect for those looking for a second chance romance.

This was a great quick, fun, swoony read. A couple that are broken up forced on a cross country road trip by meddling family sounds like it would be full of cliches, but not Lauren Layne. I loved these two. Their banter, fighting over the radio station and even though Reece was a bit of a jerk at times you can't help but fall hard for him. Even though these two fight and bicker through most of the first half of the book you can't help but see how perfect they are for each other and you want to root for them. As you are reading you get to follow their friendship, previous relationship and their new budding relationship. I loved seeing all of the pieces come together the way that this story was told. I highly recommend picking this one up, it brought a huge smile to my face the entire time I was reading.

Let me just get this out of the way: I love Lauren Layne's books. She tells Hot Romance stories in a way that makes you sigh, swoon, and squeeze your thighs. And you'll laugh some, too. Lucy loved her brother's best friend Reece for years. He was The One, even though he dated other girls and only hung out with her in secret. She loved him the way you love someone when you're sixteen and convinced that you will never love like this again. Reece, though, made sure that Lucy knew that, despite the plethora of mixed signals he sent her way, he would not choose her. And so Lucy left home and went away to college, set on achieving her dream of running a vineyard. More content to let life happen to him as opposed to charting his own course, Reece continued working for a local winery, not particularly driven to look beyond today. He and Lucy maintained exactly zero contact. Having graduated from college now, Lucy is set to head out west, leaving behind her Virginia home and, she thinks, all residue of Reece. Ah, but Lucy, this is a Lauren Layne book, so you know you won't get too far without your true love, right? Lucy's parents have arranged for Reece to accompany her on her drive to Napa, where he, too, has a new job. Over the course of those 14 days, Reece and Lucy fight and argue, argue and fight, and then do it all over again. They also realize that maybe - just maybe - they still care about each other. Lauren Layne sort of gives away the ending with her title, but this book is about more than Lucy and Reece's feelings for each other. The titular love also reflects the love of ambition, the love of family, the love of friendship, and even the love of a shared history. Yes, there is some hot headboard rocking. Oh, YES, THERE IS. Lauren Layne delivers the quiver, so be warned: you will need to strap on your vibrator for this one. If you're new to Lauren Layne's books, this is a fine starting point. Do not be surprised, however, if you find yourself craving more. ______________________ Published on VoxLibris.net Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

Reece and Lucy have undeniable chemistry as well as years of unresolved feelings. They're fighting one minute and flirting the next. I got a little frustrated with them constantly blaming each other for the past but not really talking about it or their feelings. The flashbacks were a good way of getting to know their past and understanding their not so friendly feelings towards each other. Perfect for New Adult fans that like the brother's best friend and second chance tropes. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.

Another Fantastic, Beautiful and Adorable Romance by Lauren Layne. This had it all and I couldn’t and didn’t want to stop reading. Ms. Lanes writing manages to bring you right into the scene with the characters. Her descriptive use of language makes each scene very realistic and the emotions the characters are feeling, believable. Written in dual POV that I love. The reader is also gifted with the history of Reece and Lucy’s entire past together in flash backs, getting to experience their first conversation, first kiss, and other firsts, some very special as well as horrific times making their story truly unforgettable and deepening their real connection. They say there is a thin line between love and hate. So when Reese and Lucy are thrown together on a two week road trip across the country it is only fair to expect lots of twists and turns as well as ups and downs. Especially with a chemistry that is still off the charts. But could their hate, they have been holding onto due to young love insecurities and a lack of communication, give way to possibly a never ending love with redemption and a deeper connection? You need to read this Fantastic, Adorable, Charming, and Completely Enthralling Romance! I highly recommend that you read this story! After receiving an ARC through NetGalley I voluntarily wrote a honest review.

Lucy has finished university, and is getting ready to move to California Wine country to start her new life as a marketing guru for a vineyard. Planning a 2 week journey across the country from Virginia to California, she’s working to her endgame. But then, her ancient Craig’s list car purchase dies a horrible death, and her parents, always thinking and helpful, offer her the old family station wagon as transport to her new life. Only one issue, it comes with Reece, her brother’s best friend, her lifelong crush, the man who broke her teenaged heart. Reece never had things easy: from his mother’s unexpected death when he was 9 to his father’s depression and alcoholism, his older sister’s withdrawal and absence: the Hawkins family has been his safe space, his shelter, and his retreat. Not going off to university, he’s watched as Lucy plans the next move, the next step, her next big thing: all while leaving him behind. Everyone leaves him behind. But with his own skill with the grapes, he’s worked himself into a position as a winemaker: earning praise and an offer in Napa as well. The station wagon was to be his – for fixing it up it would get him across the country, and to and from his job. He didn’t expect, nor want, to be GPS’d by Lucy and her ‘road trip’ plans, and he certainly doesn’t want to be cooped up with a woman he can’t stand. Well, except for the glances, and the wishes, and the memories. A cute and clever story that replayed in alternate POV with flashbacks from Lucy and Reece as they were growing up, and their relationship was playing out. From the lashing out from fear and hurt through the friction of the undeniable chemistry, the two bicker, laugh, and struggle through the rather indirect route to their new lives. With a crisis point that brings them both to realize that “have a nice life” is not how their story was meant to end, the story is engaging and quick to read. Perfect for readers who have yet to sample a book from Lauren Layne, this brings the emotion, the humor and the underlying heart that is common to all her books, with a few moments of steam that keep things interesting. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

I really enjoyed this one. It's a wonderful blend of a second chance story and brother's best friend trope with lots of the usual Lauren Layne snarky banter between the H and h. A cross country road trip with your ex in a brown station wagon nicknamed Horny?? Sounds like loads of fun! They'll either have to deal with the past or kill each other. I thought this was a fun read and I was pulling for Lucy and Reece all the way. I highly recommend this to everyone!

This is book # 3, in the Love Unexpectedly series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. All the books in this series are great, I recommend reading them in order. Lucy and Reece have a history she would rather not repeat. Thanks to her parents, she has to spend time with him going across country. Even visit her boyfriend. Reece is not sure how to approach Lucy other than to just take it day to day. He has loved her forever, but being her brothers best friend seemed to set them apart. Now they have separate lives heading in the same direction. Could this be a sign? Such a thrilling series and this book is no exception! I love how the characters really are like magnets. This story makes you feel all sorts of things and makes a great bookclub read. I really enjoyed every page as I devoured it. ***This ARC copy was given by Netgalley and its publisher in return for an honest review.