In the second installment of The Central Park Pact, Claire Hayes, whose husband died while cheating on her with at least two other women, who have since become her best friends, is ready to find not love, but "companionship".

Claire takes a hard look at herself and her life and decides she is a "vanilla", someone who is very boring and extremely predictable. She is not one to take many chances. She decides she want to be more like a "strawberry lemonade", someone who sparkles and is unpredictable and a little looser.

Then she decides her Upper Eastside apartment needs a redo to wash away the memories of her late husband and there will be no dull or boring colors...all pinks! Enter Scott Turner a very handsome highly acclaimed contractor and his dog Bob, (who is a girl).

Although they try to work amicably, Scott cannot wrap his head around Claire's eccentric renovation ideas. And as they begin to clash, sparks begin to fly just as Claire decides it's time for her to step back into the dating world and experiment with one night stands, something which Scott is not exactly pleased about. But he doesn't understand why.

Will Claire be able to change her boring ways? Will Scott be able to incorporate Claire's pink themed demands? Will they be able to come to some sort of compromise? What about those sparks! And...what about Bob?

Although Love on Lexington Avenue is the second in the series, and I have not read the first book, Layne nicely recaps the basics of the first book in the first few pages and catching up and understanding was easy.
The story is quite cute and funny and it kept me interested and highly entertained. I hope there is another installment.

Thank you to #NetGalley #GalleryBooks #LoveonLexingtonAvenue #LaurenLayne for the free advanced copy. The book will be out on September 17.

4.5 Stars / 2 Steam Fans

We are back with the ladies of the Central Park Pact to gain more knowledge and insight into how Claire is dealing with the death and discoveries of her douchebag husband. Claire is the widow of the douchebag that we met in book one of the Central Park Pact and now we find out how she grieved, overcame, and found herself when she decides to complete a renovation on her Brownstone home. Claire no longer wants to be the plain and predictable woman people have come to know so when she hires Scott for the renovation her ideas are over the top. Scott is very gruff in nature and is having none of the craziness that Claire is pitching. Their sexual chemistry is very clear but the journey to end is so much fun that you almost forget about the romance and focus on Claire and Scott's self-discovery as individuals more. I can't wait to read the third book in this series! I definably recommend this series to anyone that is looking for a fun, sweet, and perfectly placed sexy moment’s type of story.

This specific video review will be included in the September 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

After reading Passion on Park Avenue I was eagerly awaiting book two of the series and Claire’s story. Love on Lexington Avenue was fantastic from start to finish.
Claire just turned 35 and she wants more than just a vanilla cupcake in her life. Scott is the contractor Claire hired to redo her brownstone. He is accomplished and hardworking and definitely has his own opinions when it comes to the renovations. Claire and Scott couldn’t be more different from each other, but I loved their relationship so much. Their chemistry and banter were great throughout.
The thing I loved most about this story is the friendship between Claire, Naomi and Audrey. I loved it from the start, but I felt in this book there was more of it and more time to really see the bond they formed.
Love on Lexington Avenue is a sweet, romantic and a fun read.

Claire is the betrayed wife of the philandering Brett, having only learnt the truth after his death. With a very odd connection to Audrey and Naomi via the aforementioned Brett, they set out to overcome the deception they were unwittingly a part of while avoiding the pitfalls of falling for the same type of man again.

Claire is completely lost, having the realisation her life as she knew it was a lie. Claire also doubts herself, as any partner of a cheater would, everything from the way she looks to her choice of paint colour. In order to move forward with her life, Claire has thrown herself into the renovation of her townhouse.

Enter, Scott, builder extraordinaire and friend of Oliver (Passion on Park Avenue). He also has a lot of emotional baggage along the same lines as Claire, however, Scott has let it rule his life to the point of becoming a recluse. He uses his work and travel to avoid making connections and laying roots. However, it has also left a void in his life he hadn’t acknowledged until he met Claire.

While Claire and Scott initially appear as complete opposites it is soon apparent that there is a connection between them that neither has experienced before and ease to their interactions, even when they are at loggerheads. It is as if they instinctively know what the other needs without their desires being voiced.

Alas, the timing between Claire and Scott counts against them, the ghost of Brett hovering in the background and clouding the path to the future. Yet, it is the budding emotions between Claire and Scott which give Claire the push she needed in order to exorcise Brett’s ghost from her life.

I completely love the friendship between Claire, Audrey and Naomi, even more so because of the foundation for it. The guys also have their own bond and add to the strong emotional support system for all of the characters and not just the ladies.

Love on Lexington Avenue is a whirlwind romance and a reflection of coming to terms with the way in which your life can take a completely unexpected turn when you least expect it. The cuteness factor is upped by the inclusion of Scott’s dog, Bob 😍

Widow Claire Hayes is ready to move on with her life and out of the shadow of her cheating former husband. And her first step is to finally renovate their former home to HER taste, and her friends have the perfect contractor to do the job...

Scott Turner rarely spends a lot of time in one place, and likes to take on smaller projects in between the bigger, more time consuming projects that he is known for. He takes one look at Claire Hayes' house and he knows it is a project he can't turn down... no matter what terrible ideas his client has in store...

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Love on Lexington Avenue was a fun and uplifting read about a woman who works to reinvent herself in the aftermath of her philandering husbands death. When her home renovation leads her to an introduction to the surliest contractor ever, Claire doesn't let his gloomy disposition change her home makeover dreams, or her new outlook on life. And when they form a tentative friendship, Claire and Scott have a battle on their hands to keep themselves from falling... for each other.

Claire has formed an uncommon friendship with the two women who unknowingly cheated with Claire's deceased husband. After forming a pact on the day of his funeral, they have been there for each other in their moments of need, and to help one another avoid becoming involved with another no good man in NYC. But for Claire, she has no desire to be in any sort of relationship, ever again. And no matter how much her sexy new contractor starts to grow on her, Claire is determined to get her itches scratched elsewhere... and out of her new friend pool. 

Scott is a man who lives life traveling from one job to the next, in one city after another. Back home in NYC for a short time, he reconnects with old friends and meets the woman who just might change everything he thought he ever wanted. And with every obstacle of starting over that Scott watches Claire overcome, it becomes all that more apparent that Claire desires companionship, and that Scott is the not the man for that job, in any way, shape, or form. But, that does little to stop him from hating everything about seeing Claire bestowing attention on any other man besides him...

This book was a slow burn romance with a fade to black approach to all things love scenes. I loved the storyline and the plot was entertaining and fun. Claire and Scott had an adorable repartee that was a delight to read and the cutest part of their opposites attract relationship. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

You know that feeling when you’ve just eaten the perfect bite; it hit all the right flavor notes and personified why you chose that particular thing to eat in the first place?
That feeling is exactly how I felt at the end of Love on Lexington Avenue!

I’m an admitted Lauren Layne lover, I’ve yet to read a word by her that I didn’t love, but there was something a little extra wonderful about Love on Lexington Avenue. We first met Claire in Passion on Park Avenue when she, Naomi, and Audrey discovered they all had relationships with the same man, Claire’s husband, on the day of his funeral. She was easily the one you could feel the most sorry for and see as fragile. But she’s so much more and now it’s her turn to shake off the past and find love again.

What I love most about this series is that it’s very much a romance series, Claire and Scott’s journey from home owner and contractor, to single lady and wingman, to friends, to lovers is so beautifully done. But at its heart, this series is about finding and loving yourself with the support of your people...and a dog named Bob, who’s a girl. The journey that Claire takes is at turns funny, sad, and, empowering and her girls are there for her at every one of those turns. So, while the steam that LL does so well is missing the heart and feels are there in spades!

I absolutely cannot wait for Audrey’s book!!!

I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.

This was SO the lighthearted read I needed!! By the end of that last chapter, I was smiling as if I was the one getting the amazing man and happily ever after. And have I mentioned how much I love epilogues? Cause Lauren Layne sure knows how to write one and I just can’t with it, and I’m so unbelievably happy with it. No cliffhangers just a short and sweet chapter letting us know that all our dreams and hopes for the main characters had come true and a small glimpse into the next book which promises to be as wonderful as this one.

Scott and Claire has both been hurt terribly by their past relationships, their trust and belief in happiness had been ruined, leaving them both just a bit embittered by life. Who would have thought that Scott taking a contracting job with someone whom he believed to be a cookie cutter Upper East Side woman in her brownstone would end up being so so much more. Claire, a widow who’d been betrayed by her sleazy deceased husband lost her belief in men and marriage and when she meets Scott her initial impression of him was that he was something out of a Luke and Lorelai FanFiction and so not her type.

Thank goodness for adorable dogs and long fixer uppers! These characters slowly came together, helping each other heal from their mutual past hurts and realize what was right in front of them all along. Not only is this book full of a wonderful romance but it depicts an amazing example of female friendship and I am so here for it. The way that Naomi, Claire and Audrey are there for each other when they have all the right to hate one another is amazing, and I can’t wait for the last installment in such an amazingly wonderful series of books.

There are no good men left in New York City, well at least according to Claire Hayes. Her marriage was not what she thought it was, and neither was her late husband. Now she has his grandmother’s home, and is determined to get rid of anything that reminds her of her cheating husband.

Claire does not want boring, which she believes herself to be, she wants bright and pink. But what starts out as a simple renovation becomes a lot more complicated when she meets her badtempred, luke danes looking Contractor Scott.

Scott has made it known to Claire that he took on her house to take a break from traveling the world on corporate jobs. Only being temporarily in one place like always. He has no patience for this pink obsessed, upper eastsider, princess. But when they start spending more time together, their mutual hate starts morphing into respect, and possibly something more..

I read this book in one sitting! Claire is a widow trying to get over her cheating ex and she is on a mission: No strings attached one night stands. She is supported fully by the people in her life about her decisions and is never slut shamed about it. I love that she brings up multiple times that she does not want children and she doesn't understand why people make a big deal about it. There were such cute and tender moments when the Scott and Claire started to realize their feelings for eachother! This is the second book in the Central Park Pact series but can be read as a stand alone!

Thank you to @gallerybooks / @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

<em>Love on Lexington Avenue</em> is the second book in Lauren Layne's <a href="http://bookbinge.com/reviews/series/the-central-park-pact/" target="_blank">Central Park Pact</a> series and it follows the second friend in this series trio, Claire Hayes, as she finds happiness again after her disastrous marriage to her cheating husband. So this series kicks off in <a href="http://bookbinge.com/2019/05/review-passion-on-park-avenue-by-lauren-layne/" target="_blank">Passion on Park Avenue</a>, on the day of Claire's husbands funeral. She finds out that he wasn't the faithful husband that she always thought he was and she can't bring herself to go to the funeral. She finds herself sitting on a bench in Central Park and it is there, that she meets her late husband's mistress and his girlfriend.

Claire was devastated when she found out the depth of her late husband's infidelity. So much so, that she decided to never fall in love again and to never remarry. She wanted a fresh start so she figures that remodeling her house will help kick off the next chapter in her life. With the help of Naomi's boyfriend Oliver, Claire finds herself hiring his friend, Scott Turner, to remodel her house.

Scott Turner needs a break from the hustle and bustle of his big shot career. He builds big money high rise buildings, the biggest and best hotels and one of a kind gems of buildings but he needs a break and he misses his dog...so he takes on a home renovation job for his buddy Oliver's friend so that he can go home and get that break. And so that he can see his dog...only the job is a lot more complicated than he thought because, his new client is around all the time, distracting him from the job and shoving pink paint samples under his nose at every turn. They do not like each other but the longer they're around each other, the more their animosity toward each other shifts into something different. The chemistry between them is off the charts and they both feel it, but Scott isn't one to stick around and Claire needs stability so trying to figure things out gets really interesting.

You guys, I'm really digging this new series. Lauren Layne is my favorite author right now and she just keeps writing fabulous book after fabulous book and I'm super glad for that because she's writing loads and that means more fabulous books for me to read. This book isn't any different either. I enjoyed getting to know Claire, getting to know Scott, seeing them grow together in love, and seeing everyone from the previous book made for a fun book. I've seen loads of reviews where readers aren't all that wowed by this series and I can't relate because I enjoyed Naomi's story and I really enjoyed this one and ho boy am I looking forward to Audrey's book. I am a super fan of Layne's writing and I am super glad that I read this one because it's got everything you'll need in a romance. A steamy romance between two characters that are perfect for each other and a cast of characters that you're going to want in your own life. Good stuff. You should read it. :)

The second book in the Central Park Pact trilogy, Love on Lexington Avenue centers on Claire's story. After her husband suddenly passes away, and she finds out he was cheating on her with not one, but two women, she finds her life flipped upside down. Her new found friendship with Naomi and Audrey, who happen to be the "other women" and their pact to not let each other date a man like her husband, is fun, but she feels like she's ready for something more. A one night stand, maybe?

Claire also decides to renovate her house to make it more her style and less of her husband's. Her contractor, Scott, and his dog soon become a big part of her life, and then even more. She knows he's leaving after the job is over, but she takes the "we'll figure it out later" attitude. Does that work for them?

I enjoyed this book a lot. It was light and fun, and I liked reading about how Claire discovered who she was and what she really wanted in life. I liked the vanilla vs. strawberry lemonade analogy, because I think it applies to a lot of people, myself included.

L:auren Layne never disappoints. I'm loving this new series. Classic LL., with a bit of a women's fiction twist.

What's the perfect way to rid yourself of the memory of a cheating, dead husband? The answer is to remodel the house you shared with the philanderer, well, that's what Claire Hayes thinks. Only, the process is much tougher than she thought and the person she's employed to do the job isn't the easiest male to handle, or is he? 

Bored with building corporate properties, Scott Turner decides to follow up a lead given to him by his friend to remodel a house. However, the property is a dump and he knows he should walk away from the contract, only the sharp-tongued owner has piqued his interest more than the job. 

Geared up to focus on a romance, the narrative deviates to highlights Claire's struggles to rid herself of the memory of her late husband whilst getting her life back on track a year after his double life and lies surfaced. Scott is an unlikely candidate for a woman who seems to have a 'judge a book by its cover' attitude. So as opposites, I enjoyed the challenging interactions between the protagonists as they slowly meander from hostile to friendly territory and respect. 

I appreciated the change of pace with this novel, but for die-hard fans of Ms Layne, there's a great deal of quick-witted dialogue and laughable humour injected within the narrative. Equally, there's lots of glamour and gossip in ample supply from the secondary characters as well get titbits of news about them and clues about what lies in store for Manhattan-based Claire, Naomi and Audrey. 

It's standalone, but if you haven't read Passion on Park Avenue, you'll definitely appreciate getting to know Naomi and specifically, Oliver more. Now, I'm eagerly looking forward to Audrey and Clarke's story in the final book of this trilogy; Marriage on Madison Avenue.

4.5 stars

***arc generously received courtesy of Gallery Books via NetGalley***

Okay so I'll start off by saying I really enjoyed this read. It was a sweet and easy read and I read it in a couple days. Between this book and the first book in the series, I have to say I liked the first one better, but for this one I liked the Alpha male in this book better.
I loved how Claire is determined to make things complete opposite from what she was and how she lived, but I loved even more how she learned that she doesn't have to be crazy over the top Strawberry Lemonade, but she can be Pure White with Joy.

Despite not having read book one in this series I had no problem picking up the storyline and fell headfirst into this one. What a great story.
Claire is the widow of this trio of women, her not so dearly departed was an epic cheater and she forms a friendship with two of his mistresses, Audrey and Naomi. Together they make a pact not to let the other fall for another loser man. Naomi was the first to take the tumble in book one, leaving Audrey and Claire. Claire sees herself as decidedly vanilla and beige. She's living in her late hubs brownstone that hasn't been updated since the dark ages so hires Scott, recommended by a friend.
Scott is a businessman who wanted a break from his "day job" to do something he loves, like renovate. He's surly, opinionated and a perfect match for Claire. She gives as good as that's for sure.
When she decides she wants splashes of pink in the house, Scott blows a nut and waffles on taking the job, but decides to do it, seeing so much potential in behind the all things ugly in the place.
These two take snark to a new level and I loved watching them spar on a daily basis, along with seeing their relationship unfold and Scott watching unhappily as Claire tries to dip her toes into the dating pool. She's decided she wants a one nighter and she is about as far from a one nighter woman as she can get, however she gets encouragement from Naomi and Audrey. Claire doesn't fare to well in the dating department so she decides to ask Scott since they're sort of on friendly terms now, despite Scott being warned off of Claire because of the bull her hub pulled and their mutual friends. You get the picture. Watching them do the dance around each other was done so well and I loved Lauren's writing and character development. Along with the friendships Claire maintains with Audrey and Naomi, who got on my nerves a little and their respective male friends and those relationships. Great dynamics between all of them.
This is an easy read, with two likable and well written characters. I can't wait to read Audrey and Clark's story. I'll likely go back and read book one but again, it's not necessary to read it before this one.
Long and the short is I loved this book.

Arc from NetGalley

Lauren Layne can do not wrong, but this story of a recent widow falling for her perpetually single contractor takes the proverbial cake. I never wanted their story to end. It was like watching a DIY show on HGTV cast with gorgeous rich people who are actively avoiding falling in love. I can't. Give me more.

In this second installment to author Lauren Layne’s Central Park Pact, “Love on Lexington Avenue” brings us Claire Hayes’ story and her quest to reconstruct both her life and home during the aftermath of her philandering husband’s untimely death.

While Claire struggles to add color back into her startlingly drab existence, a relationship never factors into the equation. Claire doesn't need any more complications—thus, sex might be on the table, but romance certainly is not! That is, until her surly new contractor, Scott Turner, starts pushing all of Claire’s buttons. Suddenly, everything Claire thought she didn’t want, is wrapped up in one helluva sexy, flannel-wearing package.

Boasting a quirky premise with plenty of witty banter between characters that are polar opposite, “Love on Lexington Avenue is yet another enjoyable, contemporary romance delivered by one of my favorite “go to” authors. Whenever I crave something flirty and fun to my reading repertoire, Lauren Layne has just what I need to satisfy that craving.

I really liked the first book in this trilogy, but I loved the second book so much more! Claire and Scott were a wonderful match. In the year since Claire's cheating husband's death, she hasn't really moved on with her life. She kind of stalled out. She feels like she is forgettable and plain and that includes her food preference (vanilla) and her clothes. She decides to renovate her townhome, so that has kept her busy planning, but once it starts she realizes she needs more in life.
We met Scott in the first book, as he is the contractor friend of Oliver's. They butt heads right away as Scott is blunt, honest and straightforward. I love that Claire decides she needs to have no-strings sex and that she chooses Scott as her wingman. (like that is going to end well.) I also like how when Claire does meet the other men, we don't see much of those scenes. We get to focus on Scott and Claire and their growing relationship.
Their relationship was just supposed to be that of contractor/client, but the more they are together, it turns into something more. Both are very cautious as they have both been hurt in the past. (Hello cheating dead husband, Brayden!) This was such a pleasure to read. I can't wait for book three with Audrey and Clarke.
Thank you to Tasty BookPR, NetGalley and Gallery Books for an electronic arc in exchange for an honest review.

Well, that was wonderful! Love on Lexington Avenue is the second book in the Manhattan series. It is a standalone, but all characters from the previous books were in this one. The series focuses on three girls who meet in a very unconventional way and make a friendship pact to help each avoid bad men. Layne’s trademark friendships are very much apart of this book and are always a joy to read.

This one focuses on Claire’s love story. Claire is a recent widow of a cheating husband. She needs to change her life up. There is a lot of focus on her finding her identity and I loved this part. She decides to renovate her home and hires Scott as her contractor. Scott is a friend of a friend and he’s got his own back story somewhat similar to Claire’s. He’s gruff, honest to a fault and is basically Luke from Gilmore Girls. They have a rough start out the gate, but their banter was so deliciously good throughout. These two were so great together.

There is so much to love about this book. The writing is perfect, paced wonderfully, had an entertaining and creative storyline with incredible characters. I loved this one, and am so looking forward to getting my hands on Audrey’s book!

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Oh my gosh! I absolutely love everything about this series! I started with book one last week and knew I was going to gobble up the rest of the series.

Ok... can we talk about how much I LOVED this book! Can we talk about strawberry lemonade?!! Hahah (you'll get this once you read this). I really like how authors don't just focus solely on the romance.... yes don't get me wrong this has plenty of romance but there is a story behind both main characters about growth, change, and finding yourself.

Lauren Layne knows how to write a fun romance with off the charts chemistry, emotions, and fun! I highly recommend diving into this sweet and fun series! The first two can be read as a standalone but I would suggest starting from book one because you'll love the books!!

4.5 stars!


Thank you so much to Netgalley and Gallery for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 9/17/19
Published to GR: 9/7/19

Claire and Scott have both been burned, but it's hard to be mad at a ghost. Jaded and having her self worth and esteem take a huge hit has created a big undertaking for Claire to not only get back out there, but put herself out there again. Two upfront, straightforward, no holding back people have finally met their match. Sparks fly and being on the sidelines to watch it all unfold was fun, inspiring and tough, all wrapped up in strawberry lemonade goodness.