Twenty-eight and filthy rich, Matt Cannon is the youngest broker on Wall Street. He may be a “boy wonder,” but he’s every inch a man. Ask any woman—any night. But when Matt’s latest fling makes scandalous headlines, his clients get anxious, and his bosses at Wolfe Investments level an ultimatum: keep his assets zipped, get a “real” girlfriend, and clean up his act. Only one woman can help Matt with something this hard.
For PR genius Sabrina Cross, the best fixer in Manhattan, playing Matt’s steady is going to be a challenge, even if it’s just for show. They already have an explosive history, she can’t stand the cocky party boy, and worse—she can’t stop thinking about him. So who’ll dare to break her “no touching” rule first? Because when that happens, Matt and Sabrina’s game of let’s pretend will get so hot it could set both their reputations on fire.
Lauren Layne did it again.
Books like this, Matt and Sabrina's story, are the reason that she's a favorite author.
You can't help but be drawn to the characters, too their connection, to the relationship that's developed.
There's a lot in this book. Groups of friends, enemies who are really friends who fall in love. A phony relationship between these friends for professional gain. And it's all blended so perfectly that you find yourself drawn into the world from page one. Ian and Lara (from Hot Asset) feel like old friends and spending time with them in this book feels like walking into the house of people you have known forever.
The strength of the story, however, is the characters. Their actions, their reactions, who they are and who they become.
To really enjoy a romance, you have to fall a little in love with the characters so you are invested. There's not an author writing who does a better job and giving readers this romance with the book they are reading. More than once during the book I found myself feeling the perfection of the story, of the emotion, of the way you get to know the characters not only from what they say, but also what they don't say.
The frenemies to lovers in this was wonderful. You can tell they are both scared, Matt and Sabrina both have parents who didn't set the best example growing up of what a relationship should be, so they are scared when they meet the person who is meant for them. Add in a calous phrase that is even more cutting than it should be, and the chance of a relationship is buried in hurt and banter that disguises what they both are too afraid to admit.
What a wonderful ride. This book is a slow burn, but the relationship building keeps it moving quickly and holds the reader's interest. The connection they have, their attraction and passion, is so perfect when you get to it that you won't want it any othet way. Ms. Layne is true to her characters the entire time, and it makes it so easy to be drawn to them and their story.
Nothing about this was a hard sell for me. I loved this book and I recommend it.
This a true story of frenemies to lovers. Matt and Sabrina have known each other for years and have guarded themselves against the other for most of them. But when Matt needs help with his image, there's nobody he'd trust more than Sabrina. I fully believed that.
I loved that even though these two had a brief past misunderstanding-that really neither bother to clear up-they were still willing to help each other. They had a fabulous slow burn going on, and neither wanted to admit it. There chemistry crackles on the page and I was invested in them right from the start.
I genuinely liked both of these characters and understood where both were coming from. I rooted for them from start to finish. I thought Sabrina was smart, tough and vulnerable all in one. Matt was smart, sexy and guarded. Watching them circle each other was fascinating. Now, as this was the second in the series there were also characters from previous books here that made their appearances. They didn't take any attention away from Matt and Sabrina, and I was glad to catch up with them again. I'm also really looking forward to the next book in this series. I just loved these characters and their world.
The writing here just sucked me in from start to finish. I normally wouldn't think a Wall Street setting would be something I'd love reading about but this author has a way of just pulling me in and making me fall for all of her characters and situations. I absolutely love how she does that. She's a one click author for me and books like these showcase why. I loved this book and would highly recommend it.
