Hard sell was really good. It was a frenemies with benefits to lovers. Learning their past doesn’t define them or prove what relationships are or will be. Opening up and showing your true feelings is really scary but also could lead to the best things ever. Loved Matt and Sabrina’s Love story. Loved their banter back and forth. Loved reading about these two since you are introduced to them in the first book Hot Asset. Can’t wait to learn more about Kate and Kennedy. Love the friendships that are formed. Arc given to me by author.

Hard Sell is the second book in Lauren Layne's 21 Wall Street series, but it can read as a stand alone too. Layne is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors , and Hard Sell did not disappoint. Sabrina and Matt are frenemies-with-benefits. When Wall Street wunderkind gets some bad PR from his playboy ways, fixer Sabrina agrees to help his reform his image by posing as his girlfriend. Both believe that their contempt for each other will enable them to keep up the ruse without complication. However, when they both realize they are in over their heads, Sabrina and Matt have to decide if they can both get past there misconstrued perceptions of relationships to go after what they really want.

A fun and easy read with a great cast of characters and plenty of heat. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I am hooked on this new series from Lauren Layne. First came Hot Asset, with Ian and Lara, and now we get to know Matt and Sabrina better. He's a guy with a calculator for a brain and a heart that refuses to believe in love and marriage, and she's a cynic who doubts that a happily-ever-after is in store for her. Matt needs Sabrina, much like Ian needed Lara, but what he doesn't realize--or doesn't anticipate--is the way he needs her.

Matt and Sabrina come from very different worlds, yet they share a fundamental distrust of everlasting love. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is how Lauren Layne shows how much Matt and Sabrina are alike, even with all of their differences. They fight and argue and bicker, yet underneath all of that brews a passion that neither can ignore, not that they want to, despite their protestations to the contrary.

You get a chance to check in on Ian and Lara to see how they are doing, and you also see a little more development with Kennedy and Kate. Lauren Layne introduces a new character, too, and I'm excited to see where she might take him.

Come join me in my Lauren Layne obsession, will you? The water is nice.

Scheduled for publication on the blog on Sept. 4.

Matt needs to turn his life around. One picture and article changed everything and faced wish an ultimatum he approaches the one person who couldn’t stand to be in the same room with him. What he shared with Sabrina was an intense attraction but after his words were misinterpreted and a thousand apologies issued he remained in the background. Sabrina is reluctant to help Matt but she makes a choice that changes their lives forever. Great continuation of the series and I loved it!

Hard Sell by Lauren Layne is your typical love to hate, fake relationship book. While I did enjoy it, I do have to admit that there are several very obvious cliches, but it is still a very enjoyable book. It follows Matt, a playboy who needs to settle down, and Sabrina, a PR wizard who has no intentions of settling down. Together, they have to push back one of Matt's scandals, and I think we all know what happens in the process. I will say that I loved that the two of them had an actual history together, and that there were past feelings for the story to be based off of. Sabrina as the main female character was amazing, and I wish to have her intellectual prowess. She is just as powerful as Matt, if not more. I loved how both of them were dedicated to their jobs and how the setting of the novel was based mainly on their careers. And Juno is absolutely precious. Overall, this was a pretty average, but still enjoyable read that I would recommend to anyone looking for a cute romance.

Matt is 28 years old and is the youngest broker on Wall Street.

Sabrina is a PR genius in Manhattan,

This is the first book I've read from Lauren Layne and I really did enjoy it.

I swooned a hell of a lot. Matt was just amazing and I seriously loved Sabrina xx

Hard Sell is the second book in Lauren Layne’s 21 Wall Street series and if you’ve read the first book, Hard Asset, then you’d be very familiar with Matt and Sabrina with their frenemies vibe and the sexual tension that always follows them around. And I loved it! I’m doing my review with a lot of SQUEE moments! The fake relationship trope has never been so well done with a couple that's made the bickering banter an art form! It’s funny, poignant, sexy and moments that are more touching since both Sabrina and Matt don’t even realize they’re doing the romance just by letting their guard down with each other. It’s definitely a frenemies to lovers story complete with a grand gesture suited for a Wall Street Wolfe!

When I start a Layne book I know I am reading a sexy novel of my new favorite characters. Banter is hugely important to my enjoyment of a book and Sabrina and Matt dish it out like mad. The enemies to lovers bit is fun as they try to get Matt out of a jam at work. There's no need to read the first book, they were recurring characters but their story really begins here. Ian and Lara had an exciting story, she's FBI investigating Ian for possible insider trading. Up next is Kennedy and Kate, is it really unrequited love or does he feel it too? Always a joy to get an early copy, my review was written unbiased and voluntarily.

My first read by this author but definitely will not be my last. Sabrina and Matt were frenemies with benefits. The love/hate relationship between these two characters had me laughing and routing so hard for them to realize what’s in front of them. The surrounding characters are well developed and the storyline kept me intrigued and wanting to know how everything turns out. I definitely recommend and will be looking forward to hopefully more in this series.

Charming amalgam of friends-with-benefits and enemies-to-lovers, mixed with faux relationship. A definite winner for readers who like a balance of humor, heart and steam in their contemporary romance about beautiful people living the good life in the glamorous city

Matt's a gifted financial wizard whose playboy lifestyle and absurd home life soured him on forever love, while Sabrina is a self-made fixer, er . . . consultant with no faith in love and no time for fairy tales. They met through mutual friends, discovered a fiery mutual attraction, but before they really got started, their connection devolved into an outlet to scratch an occasional itch. Both characters are sharp (both of tongue and of mind) and likable and I especially enjoyed the dynamic among the group of friends and colleagues.

I haven't read the first book in Layne's 21 Wall Street series (Hot Asset), but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of Hard Sell and there were no spoilers about the first book in this one (unless you count that the couple in book 1 got their HEA, which I don't, because duh).

2.5 stars

I'm sad to say that I could not connect with these characters at all. Two perfectly beautiful, super rich, boring people. Even after learning their back stories I felt very indifferent towards them both... there was very little substance to them or their interactions. The first half of the book is what really lost me... the second half is a bit better. I wish their backstory had been better developed - I wish I BELIEVED they hated each other at first. This is supposed to be hate-to-love, but it's not. They keep telling us that they hate each other, but it's never backed up in anything they think or feel or do... they obviously have feelings for each other from the beginning. Their "hatred" all stems from a past misunderstanding (that we're only told about in little bits and pieces) where Matt said something stupid to Sabrina (and it WAS stupid), and she was sensitive to it based on her past. He apparently apologized repeatedly, but she continued to hate him for it, and so he hated her too? Oh, but they continued to have no-strings-attached sex throughout the years. Sure.

If the first half had been re-written, so that we get to see them meet and really experience them truly hating each other (for better reasons than what we're given), then I might have liked this much better. The 2nd half was more enjoyable at least, but not enough to save it for me. Although, I was happy to see a very brief cameo from Georgie of Walk of Shame.

I think this Wall Street series is probably just not for me... although I am curious to see what happens in the next book with Kennedy and Kate. I don't plan on reading book 1, but I'll probably give the third book a try.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I just finished a historical fiction novel that was on the heavier side so this was the perfect thing to read after that. I really like Lauren Layne's books as her characters are likable, funny and successful and the romances are fun and sweet. I really liked Sabrina and Matt from Hard Asset so I was pleased to see them get their own book. The book isn't perfect as I felt some things moved a bit too quickly when it came to realization of feelings, but it was a fun read and a nice addition to the contemporary romance genre. Now all I need is a story for Kate and Kennedy and my romance life will be complete.

Entertaining!

Matt and Sabrina are great together. I really enjoyed the bantering.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Hard Sell by Lauren Layne is an awesome 5 Star read - ❤️D this book!!

This is the second installment in the 21 Wall Street series where frenemies Sabrina Cross & Matt Cannon find out that maybe there is something to be said for - love - marriage - babies & the whole HEA thing !!

I love the corporate setting that this author writes so well . This book had everything for me - awesome characters - snarky & funny dialogue - great storyline & some pretty sizzling chemistry!! Highly recommend this book & series !!

ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another winner! I have to admit that after reading the first in this series (not necessary, but will provide more context) I have been eagerly awaiting the second installment. I was thrilled to see more of Sabrina. This was the perfect summer read for me, light and funny, yet with enough substance to keep me interested.

Matt Cannon is a hotshot broker on Wall Street, and has it all: good looks, great friends, a successful career. The wunderkind is caught having too much of a good time in Vegas at his cousin’s bachelor party and ends up featured in a less-than flattering article in the Wall Street Journal. His CEOs and more conservative clients are not impressed by his philandering ways and demand that he rescues all of their reputations by getting a girlfriend. The idea here is that a Matt in a committed relationship is a more reliable Matt.

Sabrina Cross is a fixer, and exactly what Matt needs to return the shine to his image. Despite their contentious past, these two enemies with benefits enter into a contract that has Sabrina pretending to be Matt’s girlfriend for a fixed period of time.

This story kicks off with an intriguing start, then takes the reader on a fun ride filled with humorous and engaging dialogue, well-meaning interfering friends, unexpected situations, and moments of tenderness and sharing.

I am a big fan of Lauren Layne, and this book lived up to my expectations. I definitely recommend it.

I was very happy to receive this book as an ARC from Netgalley.

I love a good enemies to lovers trope. However, this one took it a step further and gave me an enemies with benefits story that I couldn’t help but gobble up in record time. Sabrina and Matt were just too electrifying when together and it’s obvious that they either had to argue or screw because of their intense chemistry. And so, for the past four years they’ve had one volatile relationship. It was actually quite charming in a fun masochistic way.

Matt’s background was bizarre enough to warp any young man but Sabrina’s was horrifyingly tragic. Yet, watching these two together was pure enjoyment because despite their reasons for not believing in love, you know that’s exactly what’s going to happen if it hasn’t already. It’s just a matter of time before they become aware of it.

The banter between this couple was fun and witty, sarcastic and sharp but definitely them in their truest form. They were an original hero and heroine unlike any I’ve read before. While Sabrina was strong, successful and independent, Matt was casual and laid back, a bit carefree in spite of his work ethic. He also turned out to be an amazing jealous, possessive hero and was given the perfect set up to prove it. I would have loved him for sure in that moment if I hadn’t already.

I think this is a pretty fast paced read but because once I started I didn’t stop, I can’t say for sure because, you know…gobbling. The characters from the first book make a reappearance but you won’t feel lost if you don’t read it. This one can certainly stand alone. I do love the additional characters and I’m just so freaking antsy to get to Kennedy’s story.

The very end felt a bit rushed but everything leading up to it was perfect. I’m not sure what more I wanted, because the epilogue was sweet and highlighted this couple’s dynamic. I think I just wanted more of Sabrina and Matt and was disappointed to see them go. At least until they revisit in the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Montlake. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh my! I am not sure what it was about this one, but I absolutely loved it! The bickering between Matt and Sabrina that was really just foreplay for them was spot on. And that ending for them...perfect!! I can't wait for the next one in the series. I really hope Kate ends up with Kennedy.

This was the most FUN I have had reading a book in quite a while. The power was out and I had nothing to do but lose myself in my kindle and that is what I did for about 3 hours it was me and Matt and Sabrina and oh my did we have F-U-N. Matt Cannon is young, rich, and jaded when it comes to relationships and he has been caught at a bachelor party in Vegas getting a lap dance and his partymates doing all kinds of things they shouldn't and it has made the pages of the Wall Street Journal. This does not go over well with his bosses, the Sam's, and they have set down the law...get a girlfriend, a "real" girlfriend by the time of the Wolfe Gala or he is fired. After some soul searching he comes up with Sabrina Cross as the answer to his problems. She is "the" fixer and has been his on-again, off-again, fren-enemy for years. The only question is will they be able to keep their "relationship" fake in private and real in public and not turn real for real. Oh, the trouble that ensues when hearts are involved or when a billionaire matchmaker decides to help out. I definitely recommend this one!

This was the second book in this series and you could get by without reading the first and call this a standalone but the first one was really good too so don't miss that one. I cannot wait to find out what happens with Kate and Kennedy, that can only be good times for everyone involved!

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

Wunderkid Matt Cannon is the ‘baby’ of the group, with his computer-like brain, good looks and never-ending support from the erstwhile Kate, Kennedy and Ian. Until a bachelor party in Vegas not only runs long, but ends up as a feature story in the Wall Street Journal -with Matt front and center with a stripper, liquor and the taint of illegal substances. Needless to say, a broker who’s bar tab is in four figures with a playboy reputation isn’t quite the image that Wolfe Investments wants to put forward, particularly after Ian’s mess just months ago. Matt’s in hot water and the Sams (his bosses and owners of the company) demand he clean up his act – clients are requesting his head, and moving their accounts to other brokers.

In a pickle and desperately in need of a “fixer” he’s going to have to go to the one person who scares him to the core: Sabrina. A ‘fixer’ in that nebulous context of the word, Sabrina is professional, connected, cool-headed and gorgeous. And Matt totally doesn’t want to ask for her help – she’s the only woman who ever got through his ‘marriage is a sham and I’m never letting anyone close enough to hurt me’ philosophy. Friends with Ian since childhood, he’s the only part of Philly that survived Sabrina’s reinvention of herself – a disinterested, if not outright competitive, mother and her early arrival to adulthood with the need to survive and raise her half-brothers left Sabrina knowing that to get anything done, she has to be in control of every eventuality and do it herself. She’s intrigued by Matt (why else would they have all-too-frequent hookups if it weren’t for the great sex) but personally they jibe and poke at one another constantly when together, making all their friends uncomfortable. But, it’s Matt asking, and while she could choose from a dozen different offers that pay better – she’s going to help him.

Oh these two – both of them scared to death about being vulnerable and allowing someone the power to truly hurt them – and nobody holds onto a grudge better than Sabrina. No one, not even Ian, knows her ‘whole’ story, and Matt’s colossal foot in mouth moment when they first met is something he’s never quite made up for. But, he’s got his own secrets, and one of them is that Sabrina, despite the arguments and not really ‘knowing’ her story or history intrigues him - not in a ‘she’s hot’ way – but in a way that makes him think that love and marriage doesn’t have to be what his parents have, especially since they claim to be besotted with each other – and now their lives are a mix of long and short term side-pieces with everyone ignoring the pink elephant (or his father’s long-term mistress) in the room. So many moments where the sparks fly off these two – perhaps enhanced by the ‘no hook ups’ rule that is broken not 3 weeks in – and their relationship goes from sibling-like banter and fighting to a recognition of one another’s suitability, desirability and true friendship that is building between them. Of course, Matt (being a boy) is supremely skilled at putting his foot in his mouth – but Juno (Sabrina’s dog) adores him – and dogs are never wrong.

With everyone frustrated with both Sabrina and Matt, and an unexpected challenge from the ‘whale” that every broker on Wall Street is chasing, a man who is Matt’s spirit animal and so similar to Matt that it’s uncanny, despite his being about 10 years older and a billionaire, the climax here is oh so sweet and utterly perfect! Two adversaries who have a friendship based on snark lose their walls and find a new definition of love and happy ever after for themselves, even if they never thought it possible. Another wonderful installment and my favorite of the series so far!

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-9Za/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>