HOT ASSET - Lauren Layne

#1 in the 21 Wall Street romance series

WONDERFUL CHARACTERS! - 5 stars

Plot - 5 stars - Ian is a Wall Street success story who has been accused of insider trading. Lara is the SEC investigator assigned to the case. Even though Ian is innocent, he's having a hard time proving it. Lara is acting on an anonymous tip from her boss, but she needs to succeed in order to get her dream job with the FBI so she's playing it by the book.. When their attraction turns into romance, things really get complicated.

Writing - 5 stars - Layne almost always grabs my attention right from the first page. She writes in a casual and comfortable style that suits me perfectly, with just enough humor and snark to make the story interesting, but without overdoing it.

Characters - 5 stars - This is where the story particularly shines for me. Ian is, yes, your typical manwhore romantic hero, with too much money and too much confidence for his own good. But when he meets Lara he starts to feel things he's never felt before, and they throw him off balance. Lara, for her part, feels she's totally out of Ian's league, but she's also feeling something for him that she shouldn't since it's a total conflict of interest. So it's fun to watch them push and pull, trying to stay away from each other (for good reason), but being unable to resist. The additional camaraderie and joking between our main characters and the secondary characters (mostly Ian's coworkers) added another layer of fun and interest.

Format - 5 stars - The back-and-forth format between Ian and Lara is particularly good because it keeps the storyline filled, keeping us informed about both of their thoughts and the reasons behind their actions. And adding the day to the beginning of each chapter keeps the story moving forward, allowing us to keep track of the timeframe.

Title - 5 stars - A Wall Street term, the title could also refer to Ian as a hot asset to his company and, to a lesser extent, Lara as a hot woman he'd like to be with.

Cover - 5 stars - Nothing sexier than a hot guy in a suit. And this picture fits our main characters very well--sexy in a business-y way.

Overview - 5 stars - What a totally fun romance! I haven't read a Layne book in a while, and this reminds me why I love her writing so much. She is able to create a setting that makes sense, peopled with characters who add great warmth and personality to it. I loved the main characters, but the secondary characters were bonuses, adding a lot of entertaining fun. Let's not forget the intrigue of the mysterious informant behind Ian's case. That kept me guessing until the very end. All in all, another Layne winner and the beginning of what promises to be a very enjoyable new series.

I loved this! Ian and Lara are really likeable characters, and the storyline made me want to keep turning the pages.
The side characters are interesting, and I am guessing are going to play a larger part in subsequent books in the series, and I cannot wait to read more!
It was well written and I love the cover too.
A brilliant start to a series! Thank you.

Ohhh where to even begin?

I finished Hot Asset in ........ ONE DAY! I literally could NOT put it down. Ian freakin Bradley, oh how I love you. Lara, - so adorable and so funny. I am ridiculously excited about this series and am absolutely tortured by the fact I have to wait a long time for Matt Cannon's story and even more for Kennedy - I just know Kennedy's is going to be the best.

I was so sad when the book came to an end, I had to immediately open up another LL book to keep the feels going.

Lauren Layne - thank you for being YOU. There are so many authors that are in your genre and write light, romantic but funny books, but NOTHING like you. It's hard to come across someone that can do what you do, the way you do it. <3

This story has every great thing about it; humor, those cute-moments, challenges and hotness... so much hotness!

Thank you Montlake Romance for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Hot Asset is an enemies to lovers romance story and the first book in the 21 Wall Street trilogy. It's about Ian Bradley, a financial director/investment broker at Wolf Investments and Lara McKenzie, a SEC investigator.

Ian Bradley is an intelligent, driven, passionate and hardworking guy. Growing up in a poor household and being a foster kid, he's motivated to have a better life. He started from the bottom of the chain and at early thirties, he earned his status as a self-made billionaire. You've got to respect the guy for that. As for relationships, he's a well-known playboy and he never takes relationship seriously. That's about to change when he's accused of insider tipping and he meets the SEC investigator assigned on his case.

Lara McKenzie is a gorgeous, smart and sassy woman who aspires to become an FBI agent like her parents.Working as a SEC investigator is her gateway to have her dream job without nepotism. Her assignment on Ian's case is a huge deal and she's determined to gather evidence against him. She's different from all the woman he's dated. She's immune to his cockiness, arrogance and charm.

Our protagonists hated each other in the beginning and they exchanged quick-witted banters which brought a lot of tension. I love Ian and Lara challenged each other in every aspect. Both characters are strong-willed, independent and dedicated with their respective jobs. I love the chemistry and sexual tension between them. It's sizzling and you can't help devouring it. It's that romantic.

Lauren Layne's writing style is remarkably engaging. The supporting characters stood out as well and I'm thrilled they'll have their respective books. I can't wait to read Hard Sell;Matt and Sabrina's story. I'm sure it'll ooze with sexual tension and Huge Deal; Kennedy and Kate's story. Omg these two just need to be a couple! <3 <3 <3 I'm giving Ian and Lara's story 4 solid stars because I had fun reading it. If you love enemies to lovers trope, I recommend this book.

Great start to a new series by an author I love! Ian is a Wall Street hot shot and Lara is the SEC investigating him for fraud. Sparks fly for a fun, sexy read! It's so easy to fall in love with the characters in her books, I always want more! Looking forward to the rest of the series!

Hot Asset is a book that was easily read and thoroughly enjoyed. From the beginning my attention was fully on board with Ian and Lara.

We are quickly introduced to Ian Bradley, hot shot Wall Street hottie who we can tell immediately is a bit of a player. Charming and flirty as hell. His first encounter with Lara is so entertaining as he pretty much puts his foot in his mouth thinking his charms will work in his favour when he first spots Lara.

Once he realizes her presence is due to the fact that’s she’s investigating Ian for insider trading is where things get so interesting. These two are absolutely both stubborn and they engage in a battle of will power let’s just say. Ian puts on the charms and Lara’s determined to do her job.

It’s clear though there’s attraction and you can definitely feel it between them. I loved how this storyline played out, it had me engaged and engrossed in everything that was happening. We also get introduced to some great supporting cast members whom I’m guessing will have books in this series and let’s just say I already want to read those as well.

This was a great read, I felt engaged the entire time. I felt the connection between the two main characters and I loved how this ended. It had just the right amount of funny, suspenseful, angsty, sweetness and steamy scenes. I’m looking forward to the rest of this series.

so.... Hot Asset was just a so so read for me. At some point there needs to be a statute of limitations on excusing poor behavior because of a poor childhood/upbringing. That's how I felt about the romantic lead in Hot Asset. I really didnt like him and I am not prepared to endorse his behavior and attitudes. Unfortunately the female lead wasnt strong enough to make that same decision. I never felt the connection to them as a couple. I did however really like the secondary couple and their story arc. They were more layered and interesting characters and I do intend to read the second book to finish their story.

There are certain things readers expect when reading a Lauren Layne book: a sweet romance between two beautiful, buff hero and heroine set in a New York that's entirely too clean and too white.

I used to devour Lauren Layne's books. I think she writes smart heroines and dashing heroes, and her stories makes you feel good. But these past few releases have been ho-hum to say the least. It's set in the same world as before with the same characters just with different names, almost identical jobs. I usually don't mind it but then the story started to sound the same. Heck, I can't even remember the names of the hero and heroine in this book without checking the book description. Ian and Lara, by the way but they could have been Jane and Joe from two books prior but I really can't remember anymore. It's all a blur.

And that's the crux of my problem with this book. It's all a blur. It's cute and nice but ehhh, I've read this before.

I liked the 2nd book better than this one to be honest and I do hope this series continues! it was engaging and funny at times

Hot Asset is a part of the 21 Wall Street series. In this first installment, Ian is Wall Street big shot being investigated by Lara, SEC agent. Lara has to juggle her growing attraction to Ian while searching for case evidence. This is a solid romance. I wish I connected with the characters more. I will read more from this author. Thanks to Montlake Publishing for the ARC of this title via NetGalley.

It didn’t take very long to figure out that author Lauren Layne has a wicked sense of humor. In Hot Asset, she rolls out a hot investment broker and throws an obstacle in his path in the form of an SEC investigator. Talk about mortal enemies.

I found Ian Bradley to be perfect in his role. On the surface, he’s rich, powerful and incredibly cocky. He’s definitely not interested in any kind of entanglements. It’s not until Lara enters the story that I was able to see much more depth and substance.

Lara’s self confidence provides a perfect mechanism to allow her to face off against Ian. From their first encounter, sparks were evident. While it was clear that neither one wanted to get involved, the chemistry proved difficult to resist. It’s a cat and mouse chase at its finest.

Another strong element aiding in the storyline is the solid cast of secondary characters. I’m hoping that Matt, Kennedy and Sabrina will be featured in their own stories. Even as Lara emphasizes that it’s just business and not feelings, the tension created when she walks into investment firm is evident. Aside from the attraction she feels to Ian, Lara’s strong sense of dedication to her job also adds to the drama. She is determined to be successful in order to move up in her career, but Ian’s just as determined to maintain his innocence.

Snappy dialogue and hot tension make this a fun and enjoyable story to read. I would highly recommend it for an afternoon by the pool.

Hot read, the chemistry between the hero and heroine is off the charts and you can’t help but be drawn into their lives and the lives of those around them.

I received an arc from Netgalley. Ian and Lara meet and Ian thinks his suave attitude will win this woman over until he realizes this woman is investigating him for insider trading.

Lara and Ian no matter how much they try to stay apart just can not deny their attraction. An unlikely turn of events occurs 3/4 way through the book which throws the relationship off balance. Don’t worry though, there is still a HEA ending.

Can’t wait for the story of Katie and Kennedy.

From the first couple of pages of this book, I got an impression on Ian and I couldn't shake it off. He was c**ky as hell. And I am not even allowed to say the word because an author trademarked it. I didn't think of him as a douche as he suggests. Just as someone a little overconfident. I was worried at least three times that he would go and sleep with a woman that wasn't Lara and I had no faith in him. He didn't inspire me to. I wasn't a big Ian fan, but that didn't ruin the time I spend reading the book. I was a big fan of Lara and that balanced things for me. She is a good lady and I loved how dedicated she was. She is a good person and when I questioned her dedication she proved me wrong. She is stronger and more dedicated than I thought and that made her the best character in this novel.
During this story, we see the other two couples who will get a book and I can't decide whose story I want to read first. Both couples are interesting for different reasons and I can't wait for their stories. On the plus side, each book will be released soon after the other and I won't have to wait for long.
Overall the book was good. It also helped set the story for the next two couples without stealing the spotlight from the two main characters. It's a very good beginning for a new series.

I really quite liked this one. The sexy man-whore and the SEC investigator looking into him for insider training. The Wall Street pieces were interesting to me (perhaps because I work for a financial firm in my day job?). The tension between them is fantastic and played well by the author. I love that both characters are strong and ambitious yet find a softness for one another. This is the first of a series and I can’t wait to see what’s to come with these characters. Really enjoyed this one and recommend it!

A good read from Layne

I really liked the fact that when the characters could have parted ways they managed to pull it together.

I received a copy of this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

If you have not read a Lauren Layne book, you are totally missing out!!

Hot Asset is the first book in a new series that she just releases. I absolutely devoured this book! It was the perfect mix of a rom com as well as just a good old plain love story. You totally could see how it was going to end, but the journey was worth the ride.

In Hot Asset we meet Ian Bradley, a young Wall Street broker who has an interesting past. Because of his past, he plays by the rules when it comes to his job. But when it comes to his personal life, he is as wild as they come.

Enter in Lara McKenzie, the total opposite of what Ian normally goes for. Not only is she his total opposite, but she has also been brought in to investigate Ian for insider trading.

The banter between these two had me rolling! I loved reading what was going on in Ian’s brain!! His POV was my favorite. That being said, it wasn’t a total rom com. It was just a perfect mix of humor and storyline for me.

I also thought that Lauren Layne did an amazing job of setting up all of the side characters, which we will read about in the next few books. I just started the second book in the series, Hard Sell (21 Wall Street #2) which releases September 4, 2018. Hard Sell is Matt & Sabrina’s story. It is so good!! I am telling you, this series is a fun read!

Lauren, what a fantastic start to this series. I can’t wait to read more! I don’t know who’s story I am looking forward to the most. All three of your Wall Street guys are so different that they are perfect as friends.

Thank you for allowing me to read and review Hot Asset. It was the perfect read at the perfect time for me!

Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) I didn' t know when I requested this that this was number five in the series, so that bummed me out, however while I did enjoy it I don't know if it was because I missed so much that I wasn't dazzled by this book. We have an friends to lovers book. What did bug me and again it could be just me but as Hunter screwed up it didn't seem like he did enough grovelling. I would have liked Brit to make him regret it a little more.

A great start to a new series! I am really excited about this series. I loved Hot Asset and the cover. If you like a slow burn this is your book.

Ian is one of the biggest names on Wall Street where he is an investment broker. He is a rich sexy playboy. He is use to getting what he wants when it comes to women. When he meets a beautiful woman at work who intrigues him until he finds out who she is.

Lara’s parents are FBI agents. This new case she is working on figuring out who is doing insider trading could make her career. She is a workaholic who dreams of joining the FBI.

I loved the banter between Ian and Lara. They both have things to prove with their reputations on the line. As they spend time together and get to know each other the lines start to get a little blurry. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for the next one in the series.

I really enjoyed 'Hot Asset' by Lauren Layne and loved the Wall Street flair of the story!

Ian and Lara were both incredibly career focused characters, but I especially liked how relatable and down-to-earth they were. Ian had such a charisma about him, and for all of his wealth, he wasn’t stuffy but very genuine. Lara was determined to stick to her guns and prove Ian guilty of insider trading, but she also had a heart and was still open-minded enough to be able to see and appreciate the truly good man underneath his title. Attraction definitely wasn’t an issue for Ian and Lara, and I loved how they challenged each other both personally and professionally. It was so fun to follow their feisty banter along the road to possibly finding their happily ever after!

This is my first read by Lauren Layne, and I’m excited to have found her writing! The story was very well written and fun, and I really enjoyed the intriguing storyline involving the SEC and Wall Street. It was a fast paced and engaging read, and where the story was more on the lighter side, it also had some complexity and suspense as well. The dual point of views made Ian and Lara’s characters even more charming. I also adored the supporting cast of characters with Ian’s friends who kept me laughing with the extents that they would go to show their loyalty and love!

I look forward to reading more of this 21 Wall Street Series, including Matt Cannon’s story which is coming next in 'Hard Sell' on September 4th, 2018!