Love on Lexington Avenue was an absolute charming read that had me reading cover to cover only to find I want Audrey’s story Lauren Lyme. *grins*

Claire a socialite, widow needs to rid herself of the awful cheating dead husbands memory. How she goes about that is fun, heart felt and a whole bunch of yummy sexiness. Claire was a delightful surprise in that her grew so much throughout the book. I felt her healing, undying friendship with Naomi & Audrey, as well as the pull she felt when it came to the flannel wearing Scott.

Scott is as unique as he is frustratingly sexy. I felt Claire’s pain, but I think Lauren Layne did a brilliant job in making Scott just so. Scott always kept his heart out of the running after having it ripped from his chest, there was no chance of his heart getting pulled into the love trap again. Right?

Scott and Claire have this sizzle about them from the beginning, but the direction that it takes is both fun and intense. Scott’s feelings on the color pink is “priceless” *grins*. Both Claire and Scott have more in common then they care to admit. Can they both find the inner healing so they can see what is right in front of them?

Audrey, Naomi, Oliver, Clarke and the wonderful Bob just made Love on Lexington Avenue that more charming. They all are a huge part of Claire and Scott’s lives it’s only fitting they help them over the bumps in life.

Love on Lexington Avenue was an adorable read by the wonderful Lauren Layne. The plot was strong with amazing characters. A true story that even on the road to love anything is quite possible; just not easy.

Rated 5 Stilettos and a Recommended Read by Deb !

4.5 stars. I adore this series! I picked up the first book at the library so I could read it to prep for this ARC, and I fell in love with it and read it in a day. I read this one in one sitting also. It's the sort of story I sort of fall into and forget I am reading.

The three core characters in the series are fascinating. They all carry the baggage from the man they unknowingly shared, but they also have quirks and issues outside that that they bring into their relationships. I love watching them work through those and find love. Great chemistry between Claire and Scott in this one, even when they are growling at each other or trying to fix one another up with someone else. I can't wait to read book 3 (January 2020)! (Language, sex)

Beautiful story of life, love and romance in the city! Continuing to live in the city where finding love seems impossible yet finding it in unexpected places

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
4.5 STARS

First off, this is the second book in the Central Park Pact trilogy. I did NOT read the first book, however, Love on Lexington Avenue can be read as a standalone because I never felt lost. This story centers on Claire who, finding out that her now-dead husband was cheating on her with not one, but two women, finds her life flipped upside down. She quickly finds friendship and camaraderie with the "other women" - Naomi and Audrey- and they make a pact to not let each other date men like him ever again.

One year after his death, Claire decides that she is done being stuck in a drab "vanilla" existence of living day to day. In her process of rediscovering herself and her life outside of being a widow, Claire decides to renovate her house to make it more her style and less of her dead husband's. On the recommendation of Naomi's beau Oliver, she hires Scott, a gruff and handsome contractor to get the job done. He and his dog Bob soon become a big part of her life, which screams COMPLICATED! She knows he doesn't do serious, and will be leaving town as soon as her home project is finished.

I highly enjoyed this book! The dynamic between Claire and Scott was dynamite. Their dialogue was so fun to read, and both characters were deep and relatable. Claire was flawed yet brave, and Scott was gruff but kind.

The story made me laugh out loud a few times, and I even got teary-eyed at others. It was the perfect read I needed right now. I also really liked that although it is a romance novel, it hit deeper emotional levels with messages of reinventing yourself after struggles, or times of burden (in this case a double whammy of spouse death/spousal betrayal).

The vanilla vs. strawberry lemonade analogy was fun and relatable because I think everyone feels stuck in a rut or "vanilla" every now and again in our lives and want to feel more "strawberry lemonade." I also really love a well-written romance that doesn't need to be vulgar or sexually descriptive to be steamy and romantic, and Lauren Layne does this VERY well! Just the right amount of sizzle mixed with all the emotions to make a well rounded and beautifully written story.

I highly recommend this if you love a good contemporary romance. I am super excited now to read the first book, and look forward to reading Audrey and Clarke's story next!

*Much thanks to Gallery Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!*

This is the second book of a trilogy that follows three women, Naomi, Claire, and Audrey, who find out that they were all with the same man after his untimely death. This book takes place approximately a year after the first one and is about Claire, his wife, learning to move on and find herself again beyond being a widow. She's starting with renovating the house she shared with her husband with the help of one cynical contractor, Scott.

Claire and Scott's story was absolutely adorable. I love a good grumpy hero and seeing Claire bounce back from not only the death of her husband, but the news that he had been cheating on her. This book really got to my emotions and it's not easy for writing to do that.

The only thing with this series is that it seems rushed. I found this book better than the first, but the characters still lack distinct voices and the progression of events doesn't always feel natural. The ideas are there, but the execution just could have been fine tuned.

Thanks to Gallery Books and Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed book 1 in this series and LOVED this one even more!
These three women who have met under the craziest of circumstances have bonded and become such good friends and have made a pact to protect each other from "bad men".
Love on Lexington follows Claire Hayes, the cynic widow, on her quest to change her vanilla life to strawberry lemonade beginning with the outdated home she shared with her late husband.
Enter hottie contractor friend of Oliver, Scott Turner, a tell it like it is, honest guy, not looking for love or attachment, but the best at what he does.
Claire and Scott both have preconceived notions of each other so it was fun to watch them uncover what was underneath—two mistrustful people hurt by someone they loved looking for that special someone to make them whole again. I loved their interactions, the witty banter and fun arguments, Bob the dog. I loved the slow build, the feelings and eye contact that saw under the surface.
<i> I've never felt like I do when you look at me.</i
Lauren Layne writes romance that you fall deeply in love with... characters who embed themselves into your hearts and leave you wanting more. This was a fun second chance romance that you don't want to miss!

Love on Lexington Ave by @laurenlayneauthor is the second book in the Central Park Pact series. This one follows Claire, Brayden’s widow from the first book as she’s trying to move on with her life after learning of his betrayal while also mourning his death. She decides to revamp her stuffy brownstone and her newfound bff Naomi (from book one) suggests Scott Turner, a contractor who often works with her fiancé.

Scott is rough, rugged and brash, which initially rubs Claire the wrong way. They dig at each other but Scott soon learns that Claire can hold her own against him and even more that he enjoys sparring with her. But Scott maintains a transient lifestyle and never commits to one women, one city or one job. And that’s fine by Claire who definitely doesn’t want anything serious. Claire is determined to get out there for a few casual flings and enlists Scott to be her wingman. There’s a wrench in the plan though when Claire begins to realize she doesn’t want to hook up with just anyone and Scott’s beginning to experience flavors of jealousy which are completely foreign to him. Will Scott and Claire be just what the other needs to move on or will they both play it safe and stick with what they’ve always known...

I LOVED this one. I loved Passion on Park Ave but I loved this one more. I loved that there wasn’t any crazy drama or plot twists driving them apart. It was rooted in two characters wanting something else but being afraid to put themselves out there for fear of hurt and rejection. Both of them really try and break down their walls but when it gets too complicated they revert back to what they know. This series is mostly fade to black for romance lovers that don’t like all the explicit details but the tension is masterfully built and I didn’t even miss it. I’m already DYING for the third book in the series which will be Audrey’s. If you’re looking for a cute, FUNNY, hate to love series that you can binge in a day - check out the second installment when it releases Sept 17th!! // ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️

4.5 stars

I really enjoyed Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne.

The storyline is well written, well paced and it held my attention from start to end.

Watching Scott and Claire come together had me smiling, swooning and crying, so many feels reading their story. They're passionate characters who have been hurt in the past, so opening themselves to love takes time, patience and understanding.

Love on Lexington Avenue is a wonderful addition to the Central park Pact series, I've loved both books and I'm looking forward to Audrey and Clarke's book next in Marriage on Madison Avenue.

Start reading today!
https://laurenlayne.com/love-on-lexin...

*an ARC was provided in exchange for my honest thoughts.*

Central Park Pact #2, I'm happy we didn't have a very long wait for Claire's story. Claire, Aubrey, and Naomi all met when Claire's husband died, Aubrey's boyfriend died, and Naomi's lover died, unfortunately it was all the same man. Claire never knew he was cheating, she didn't find out until after he die. He never told Naomi he was married and he told Aubrey that they were in the process of a divorce. Claire felt betrayed in the worst way so scorned by her husband she said she would never marry again. A year after his death and her newfound friendship with Aubrey and Naomi, Claire is ready to start living her life again and kind of going through a midlife crisis, sort of. She realizes how boring her life was how everything is bland and she wants to change that she wants to be pink lemonade instead of vanilla.

Scott is the contractor Claire hires to do a complete reno of her brownstone, since it hadn't been updated since the seventies. Scott has long been jaded by the actions of his ex-fiancee and has had time to "get over it" he's also never in once place for too long always picking the international jobs. Claire's knows better than to start anything with him and not just because he's best friends with her best friend's boyfriend but he is definitely not her type, but then again.

Overall, another great story from Lauren Layne. Like so many of her other books this has great rom-com qualities, funny situations, quirky side characters, heated looks that lead to scenes that leave just enough to your imagination, and an absolutely adorable dog. I enjoyed the connection between Claire and Scott. I am also really looking forward to Aubrey and Clarke's book from the blurb it sounds like another winner.

What an adorable read... I loved everything about Claire and Scott. But especially Claire's journey to open up again to love and life... even if, I have to say, there's nothing wrong with vanilla cupcakes :)) if they're your favorite, you're good, trust me.

I love Lauren Layne's romantic comedies and on Love at Lexington Avenue, she doesn't disappoint bringing a totally unlikely couple that has captured the reader right from the first meeting.
Claire's self-esteem is pretty low after all she has found out about her late husband so she is willing to make a radical change in her life starting with her home.
When she meets the contractor indicated by her friend Oliver for the job, she wonders if Scott will actually do what she asks to make her house a new home for her. Scott is the rude type of guy but since he wants to do something different with his profession, he takes the challenge of facing Claire's dubious taste for color.
Between fun fights and moments of cuteness, the couple ends up connecting and even living always fighting for something, they begin to get fond of each other and when Claire asks him to help her in other matters beyond the house, the chemistry between them explodes.
I loved the story so much and how Lauren Layne showed the growth of both beyond bringing the characters from the previous book and adding an element I love, a super cute pet. Now I'm looking forward to Audrey's story and I really wanted something for Brett too.
5/5 stars

Love on Lexington Avenue displayed the beautiful journey of a woman finding herself after deception and loss. Layne's fantastic skill at crafting female friendships shines again as the pact members' relationships continued to deepen with one another from the first book. The support and brutal honesty they offered gave such depth and heart to the story and I loved getting to delve back into the connection they have and how that has shaped their individual and shared journeys. Claire was relatable and admirable, and seeing her find her voice among the banter and honesty Scott provided was so enjoyable to watch. And while there was a love story, it certainly wasn't the focus, rather a simple and sweet addition—as it should've been. I love this series for showing women reinventing themselves for themselves and how they've pushed to regain their agency amidst it all. This was such a fun, sweet story and I cannot wait for the next one.

This is the second installment in The Central Park Pact series, and I found a lot of things hit home with me, making me fall for Claire's plight. After becoming a widow, she discovering he was a cheater and not the man she thought she knew. Enters Scott Turner who was hired to help rid her house of anything reminiscent of the cad, but he's not her biggest fan from day one. This was a delightful and witty tale of love after loss, and taking chances. I can't wait for the next one!

Love on Lexington Avenue is the second book in Lauren Layne's Central Park Pact series and this time it's Claire's time to shine. This book takes place a year after Claire met the other two women her late husband was cheating on her with. In the spirit of moving on with her life, Claire decides to renovate her house. One of her best friends, Naomi, recommends that she hire Scott, a well-known contractor who's also best friends with Naomi's boyfriend.

Scott and Claire don't start off on the right foot because, well, they are complete opposites at first glance. Claire is prim and needs to let loose a little, while Scott is a gruff man who comes across as an asshole a couple of times. I love me a grumpy guy, but Scott really needed to be smacked a couple of times. What I liked about this book is that the romance itself doesn't start out right away. In fact, Scott and Claire don't even like each other in the beginning. It takes a while for them to become friends. Scott is the first one to feel the sparks of attraction; it takes Claire a bit longer to realize that she's also attracted to him. Their romance is a simmering slow burn that takes its time to come to life because both Claire and Scott have been burned by cheating partners before.

Overall, I really enjoyed this sweet romance. Scott was a little too hot and cold for me and if you know me, then you know that hot and cold heroes are my least favourite type of heroes. But...he makes up for it with his thoughtful gestures. In his case, actions speak louder than words.

Up next is Audrey's book and to be honest, I'm not sure if I like her and Clarke as a couple. I find their relationship to be platonic; I'm not sure why Claire and Naomi see anything romantic between the two. But I guess I'll find out in the next book!

Lauren Layne is quickly becoming one of my favorite romance authors! The first book in this series was so good, and I was so excited to read Love on Lexington Avenue. I loved Claire and Scott, and was also happy to get more out of the Oliver and Naomi storyline. The ending of LoL was PERFECT and made me say “Awww!” so loud. This is not one to miss! While this book is book two in a series, there is enough information wound within to make it work as a stand-alone. Really, though, you need to read Passion on Park Avenue.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

4.5 Stars!
Claire Hayes is a socialite in Manhattan with polished manners and the perfect life. Then everything collapses around her as she becomes a window and learns her fairy tale was fake. She finds out her late husband was a liar and a cheat, and is left feeling angry and bitter. She no longer believed her prince charming was out there, and was cynical about love. She planned to never share her heart or home with a man again. After seven years of marriage, it was time to take her life back, and move on. She was relishing in her new freedom to do whatever she wants. She wanted to be spontaneous and carefree, but felt boring. She was due for a change, and wanted excitement. She wanted to reinvent herself and lose herself in a new obsession. Something needs to change, and she has to start somewhere, so she decides to start with her home. She would love to rid all memories of her ex from her Upper East Side brownstone, so she hires a contractor named Scott Turner for the renovation. They clash right from the start on the project. He's gruff, broody, and annoying, but they begin to share a mutual respect, and over time their attraction turns into more than either is prepared for. Will two people determined to be alone risk their hearts for love?

Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne is the second installment in the Central Park Pact series. I really enjoyed this sexy second chance romance full of hilarious banter and explosive chemistry. I can't wait for Audrey and Clarke's story up next!

Memo to self: don’t read Lauren Layne’s books while you’re at work because you might just tear up, which will confuse the mess out of your students and co-workers.

You met Claire previously in Passion on Park Avenue, when she encountered her newly deceased husband’s mistress AND girlfriend at his funeral. The three women formed a bond, despite–or perhaps in spite–of the circumstances of their meeting, and they swore to protect each other from falling for the wrong men.

Claire isn’t too worried about falling for any kind of man. All she wants is to rock the headboard, no strings attached. She asks her irascible contractor Scott to be her wingman, which you just know is going to frustrate both of them. Scott, you see, is mouth-wateringly good looking in that scruffy, flannel-wearing kind of way. He likes Claire, which surprises him, and she likes him, which surprises her.

You know where this is headed, but the way Lauren Layne gets you there is so delightful that you find yourself sighing and swooning. Scott will frustrate you to no end. He has convinced himself that he needs something, and it takes nearly losing what he really wants and needs to get him to wake up. There are a few times when Claire’s sadness and surety got me in my feels.

I inhaled this book, as I inhale all of Lauren Layne’s books, and I cannot wait for Audrey’s story.

I am obsessed with this series you guys, it’s so much fun! This is the second in a series, the first one is Passion on Park Avenue and there’s a third book coming out in early 2020. You could read this on it’s own but don’t, both books are such fun, fast and entertaining reads you don’t wanna miss out!

One of the best things about an LL book is her trademark humor and snark and this one does not disappoint in that area whatsoever. Claire and Scott are both smart and witty and their banter is amazing, there were so many funny one liners that made me legit laugh out loud. They also have fantastic chemistry and while there are a few slightly racy parts, there isn’t a ton of steam, the perfect balance for me in terms of flirty fun and sex. I really liked both Claire and Scott as characters, they’re the type of leads you’re rooting for the whole time and when they finally get their acts together I was thrilled. Recommended for fans of any rom coms, super cute and light and highly entertaining.

Love on Lexington Avenue in three words: Sparkling, Adorable and Charming

Since book one came out I couldn't wait for more from Lauren about these ladies. The Central Park Pact is back and it's Claire's story we get to unveil. It is time for the scorned widow to get her chance at love. After her deceased husbands betrayal, it was hard to Claire to trust, not only did it do a injustice to her trust but as well as her self-confidence and her heart.

She doesn't believe in true love, but she also doesn't have trouble admitting her physical needs that might come from a man, but that's as far as it will go. It's been quite a while since she's been in the dating scene. Somehow she asks her help from an unlikely source, her contractor.

Scott Turner is nothing like her usual type. He's an abrasive blue-collar man, who doesn't have any trouble with putting her in her place. Does this stop her attraction to him from growing. Nope.

As they begin working together the sexual tension builds and builds, until neither one can fight it. Can a friends-with-benefits arrangement work? Or will Claires demons get the best of her?

This book is definitely one for those who love a enemies-to-lovers/opposites attract. I am all for enemies-to-lovers, it is my favorite trope of all. And Lauren does Claire and it justice. Books needs a certain type of chemistry to hold my attention and this one does. Scott and Claire scorched the pages. Can't wait for the next book!

Lauren Layne has written another entertaining novel with Love on Lexington Avenue, her second book from the Central Park Pact series. The foundation of this story is the unique friendship that develops between three women as a result of tragic circumstances. Claire Hayes is a 35-year-old widow. On the day of her late husband's funeral, she learns that he was romantically involved with two other women.

A year after her husband's death, Claire is ready to renovate her very dated New York City apartment. On the advice of a friend, she hires talented contractor Scott Turner for the job. Scott is a New Yorker, however, his expertise is requested all over the world. He loves a challenge and there is something about Claire's space that calls out to him. While Claire is refined and elegant, Scott is a bit rough and gruff around the edges. Over the course of the renovation, they get to know each other and become much more than employer and employee.

Love on Lexington Avenue is another winner from talented author Lauren Layne. This intriguing romance captured my attention from the very beginning with its engaging plot and lively characters. Claire and Scott are well-defined, which made it easy for me to form a connection to them. I liked their flirty banter and the slow burn of their budding relationship. This book may be enjoyed as a standalone.

Complimentary copy provided the publisher via NetGalley.