Thank you to Rochelle for Friday Fictioneers!
I decided to go a bit upbeat today. We’ll see how that goes! 🙂
PHOTO PROMPT © Roger Bultot
I’ve lost my mind. It’s the only answer. Maybe he’s not even here. Maybe he’s laughing and drinking a pint in a pub. Maybe I’m an idiot. Continue reading
Lauren Layne
21 Wall Street Series
Montlake Romance
May 22, 2018
Blurb: A sexy agent hounds Wall Street’s hottest new wolf in an exhilarating novel from New York Timesbestselling author Lauren Layne.
Ian Bradley is the definition of a Wall Street hotshot: seven-figure salary, designer suits, and a corner office. His drive off the floor is just as potent. Every woman who knows him has felt the rush. But now he’s met his match in Lara McKenzie—a woman with the power to bring Ian to his knees.
An ambitious, whip-smart daughter of FBI agents, Lara is a rising star in fighting white-collar crime. Her latest case—the investigation of Ian Bradley for insider trading—could make her career. She knows a scoundrel when she sees one. Ian fits the bill: a cocky, ridiculously handsome bad boy with a slick swagger.
She’ll do anything to prove he’s guilty. He’ll do anything to prove he’s not. But it’s only a matter of time before their fierce battle of wits gets oh so hot and personal. Now, taking down Ian has become more than business for Lara. It’s become a pleasure—and there’s more at risk than she ever dreamed.
Despite being a prolific writer, the quality of Lauren Layne’s work hardly wavers. While I am late to the Layne bandwagon, having read only eight of her novels in the past two years, I am definitely a fan of her characters, who frequently ring true-to-life with appealing qualities, even the prickly ones.
I’ve never been keen for the Wall Street suit-world, but Layne has written Ian as a man who has risen from nothing, yet has not become a ruthless shark. He gives back, and he cares, a definitely nice combination in someone who makes a 7-digit salary.
Layne also isn’t afraid of writing female characters who are strong and driven. She knows how to gentle the edges so that they are likable, as is the case for Lara, a nerdy SEC agent who’s tasked with bringing down the perceived unscrupulous Ian Bradley.
Ian and Lara try to fight their mutual attraction because to do otherwise would jeopardize Lara’s job and her aspirations to become an FBI agent.
Like other Layne novels, Hot Asset is humorous, classy, and sexy with a hint of mystery as to who is framing Ian Bradley. A good read for the upcoming summer, and definitely an excellent introduction for her new series.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
rating:Â 
4 butterflies out of 5 butterflies
I am finally losing my mind. I thought I posted this an hour ago, but here it sits. So forlorn in its lack of publishing. 😦
ARGH!!!!
This is kind of an addendum thought to last night’s question as to whether you had planned your A to Z. Last year, I had written down the theme for each letter. It worked for me. I may have written it that day, but it helped having the theme before me. This year, argh, I don’t know what’s up. Later tonight, I should sit down and do a “place” for the remaining letters because today was agony trying to come up with an “i.” I even considered doing something out of the ordinary, like imagination. Because imagination is a place, isn’t it? 🙂 Sigh.
Thank you to Alistair for providing the prompts for Sunday Photo Fiction!
I tried very hard to write something neither dark nor deadly nor serious. However, you got a love story. Ta da! Ya win some, ya lose some. Your interpretation is up to you. 😀
First off, I am so late for this prompt that while I’ll try to read most of the entries, I can’t make guarantees. However, if you read mine, I’ll most definitely read yours and comment–promise, and thanks. 🙂
As always, I send out thanks to our Lady in Purple, Rochelle for hosting Friday Fictioneers.
For you romantics, I’ve gone a bit softer this week. Woohoo!
