A feisty beauty must choose between
winning back Mr. Right
or giving in to Mr. Wrong.
I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE
Oxford Series #4
Lauren Layne
Releasing June 13, 2017
Loveswept
New York City’s hottest bachelors are stirring up trouble in this fun, flirty Oxford Novel, as a love triangle forces a feisty beauty to choose between winning back Mr. Right or giving in to Mr. Wrong.
Taylor Carr has it all—a sleek job in advertising, a stunning Manhattan apartment, and the perfect man to share it with: Bradley Calloway. Even after Bradley dumps her for a co-worker on move-in day, Taylor isn’t worried. She’ll get her man eventually. In the meantime, she needs a new roommate. Enter Nick Ballantine, career bartender, freelance writer—and longtime pain in Taylor’s ass. Sexy in a permanent five-o’clock-shadow kind of way, Nick knows how to push Taylor’s buttons, as if he could see right through to the real her.
Nick’s always trying to fix people, and nobody could use a good fixing more than Taylor. Sure, she’s gorgeous, with mesmerizing silver eyes, but it’s her vulnerability that kills him. Now that they’re shacking up together, the chemistry is out of control. Soon they’re putting every part of their two-bedroom apartment to good use. Then Taylor’s ex comes crawling back to her, and Nick figures she’ll jump at the chance to go back to her old life—unless he fights for the best thing that ever happened to him.
This book had all of this, and then some. It also kept me up until 3 am. When I have to be up for work at 6. Because there was NO way I was putting it down. Absolutely no way.
Wow, was this one excellent. Really, really excellent.
Nick and Taylor don't like each other. Well, it isn;t that simple. The attraction between them sparks instantly, but there are complications. First, he is not available, and then she isn't. By the time both of them are available, Nick has started to realize that he wants more from Taylor than to be a rebound, a fling.
There are some lovely scenes with the guys from Oxford, and it is nice to hang out with old friends, especially as the book runs simultaneously with some of the events from previous books, so it was fun to glimpse the other side of the same thing, so to speak.
The chemistry with Nick and Taylor. Wow.
Wow.
Wow.
It is definitely there. Taylor is a little cold to him, and as a reader you know why, but Nick doesn't. And, what you get to see is him like her anyway, for who she is not in spite of it, if that makes sense. Some of their scenes, where Taylor is a little cold or hurtful, as a reader you are allowed to glimpse Nick's emotions. And, her words hurt. Probably more than he wants to admit, as there are things going on in his life.
I loved this aspect of it. Yes, it is a little different to have a romance that has the characters with other people, but in this one it works, and so very well. The scenes where they navigate the timing of their attraction, and their reasons for not being able to pursue it will break your heart.
Then you get your heart out back together. While they take a while to admit it, they love each other and honestly have for years. And, you see this in their actions, in their encounters, and in the ability they have to hurt one another unintentionally.
When the slow burn finally flames, it is an explosion. What a ride, what a romance.
You get all the feels from this book. I have about 20 books on my shelf of "All Time Favorites" and, this book is going on it.
I will read it again, and I am sure it will be just as amazing.
I recommend this title.
I just have to say I wanted to hug Taylor. I really, truly did. She needed a friend and I wanted to volunteer as tribute, but thankfully she had Brit and Daisy. Taylor is a strong, strong woman in a sense, but she didn't have a choice to be otherwise. She desperately wants to be loved, but she doesn't necessarily feel deserving, or understand how to feel and accept love. It makes her seem cold at times, but she's not.
Nick? Well I didn't expect for him to rank as high as he currently does on my Lauren Layne book boyfriend list. I believed I'd have fun with him, I'd like him and enjoy his story. But this was more than that. I loved him. I truly felt for him-and once you read this you will, too. He has a story that I didn't see coming and I loved seeing a side to him that I didn't expect.
These two were a great example of a frenemy to lovers storyline. There's chemistry between them but the timing isn't right initially, which had me cursing. But it worked. It totally worked here to have these other people and other relationships in the way because honestly? That's real life sometimes. Sometimes timing sucks. Sometimes it works out. Once it works out for Taylor and Nick? Watch out.
This story was not what I thought it would be. It was so much better (and again, I have high expectations for this author's works!) and such a rollercoaster ride. I cried during this book-in more than one spot. Which doesn't happen often, honestly. But there were situations in this book that just tugged at my heartstrings and had me wiping me eyes. The writing is strong. The situations are completely believable. I got to catch up with old friends-which I loved-but this can be read as a standalone.
If you haven't read Lauren Layne I highly recommend her. This book is one of my favorites of the year and one I will absolutely go back to and read again and again.
AVAILABLE NOW!
A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career.
She lives in midtown Manhattan with her high-school sweetheart, where she writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush. In LL's ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.
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