4.5 stars - I’m a Lauren Layne fan. It’s just that simple. So whenever I hear she has a new release coming out, I’m all over it. Know why? Because she always delivers!

Hard Sell, is full of wit, honesty, friendship and hotness. I love friends to lovers stories. If you read the previous book in the series, you saw the writing on the wall for Matt and Sabrina. Yet, even knowing they were going to get together, Lauren does such a great job of crafting the characters, their backstories and their unique journey to HEA, that even the expected is delivered with unseen depth.

It was great. I loved it and I can’t wait to read Kennedy and Kate’s story!

I received an ARC of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoyed this romantic comedy that is an enemies to lovers story. I personally love this trope and steamy romance novels!
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

What else can I say? It’s a book by Lauren Layne. That’s enough to make you go out and purchase it to add it to your already existing Lauren Layne book collection. This book does not disappoint and has all of the intrigue passion and angst her novels are famous for.

I always enjoy Lauren Layne’s books - she writes sophisticated contemporary romances about professionals, usually in New York that just hit my romance-reading spot. This novel is no different. It’s a mix of a enemies-to-lovers, a friends-to-lovers romance, plus a phony-to-real romance with a dollop of characters’ with a messed-up childhoods learning that it is possible to really have a loving relationship with someone.

This is the second in Layne’s series about three hot guys who work for a Wall Street money-managing firm. Matt has just had an ultimatum handed to him to straighten up after a Wall Street Journal published a story about his living it up at a bachelorette party in Las Vegas. He decides he needs a phony girlfriend. He turns to Sabrina, a friend within his group, with whom he has had a frenemies relationship every since they spent the night together years earlier. Sabrina has some sort of rather amorphous business as a “fixer” for when people get into any sort of difficulty and need someone to straighten things out for them. Against her best judgment, she agrees to pose as Matt’s fake girlfriend to help get his bosses and the media off his back so that people will once more trust him to invest their billions with him.

Well, we all know how this is going to turn out and there aren’t any real surprises. It’s like when your favorite bakery and buy your favorite pastry. You know exactly how it’s going to taste but you still enjoy gobbling it down.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

If I could read books written by Lauren Layne every week I would be a happy person. There is good character development, and she makes you feel like they're your friend or acquaintance. At one part when Ian gives Sabrina a "look", I got a total visual in my head like I knew him and was watching the scene take place. The writing is just that good. We were introduced to this pair in the first of the series, and it left us wondering what their past was. Supporting characters add to the story, which isn't too deep but just flows. Once again, I'll recommend this to our customers and look forward to the next release!

<strong>Hard Sell</strong> is the second book in the 21 Wall Street series by Lauren Layne and I was so looking forward to jumping right in. Matt and Sabrina sure did make a splash in the first book, <a href="">Hot Asset</a> and I couldn't wait to see the sparks take off in their own book.

So this book starts off with Matt arriving at work and finding out that his weekend of debauchery was captured and splashed all over the Wall Street Journal and his bosses want him to cool his heels, fix up his image or find another job. So what does Matt need to fix this mess? He needs a fixer and a girlfriend and he finds both of those in Sabrina Cross. Matt and Sabrina are close in the sense that they're both in the same circle of friends but they don't like each other so their interactions are always spicy. They have a colorful history and they hate-bang on occasion so really, their book was bound to be a good one.

Matt is a young numbers whiz and he's good at what he does. Unfortunately for him, he's also a really young kid that his clients find it really hard to stay loyal. His playboy attitude doesn't help his cause so he needs to get his act together quickly so that they can stop trippin' on giving him their money. Matt was my favorite in Hot Asset and I couldn't wait to get to know him better and I thought Lauren Layne did a great job with his character. He was strong, he was sexy and oh so smart and he just really hit all of my happy buttons.

Sabrina is just as strong and capable and sexy as Matt is and I really enjoyed getting to know her as well. It would have been so easy for her to come off as cold but once again, Lauren Layne did a great job of making us readers connect with Sabrina's story. I loved that she was completely aware of why she was the way that she was with Matt, even though nobody, Matt included, understood why she was so testy, she did and I completely got it.

As much as I enjoyed both Matt and Sabrina on their own, I really enjoyed seeing them together. It was like, they were better together or as that song says, "I like me better when I'm with you", that's how I felt with these two. The chemistry between them was off the charts but also the loyalty that they had for each other was pretty great. Seeing their relationship change from fake to real and their friendship really grow made for a pretty fantastic book and I was here for it all.

Hard Sell brings together two people that were not fans of the other but grew them into a pretty strong and solid unit and Lauren Layne did a rather fabulous job of giving us the goods on these two while at the same time, teasing us with more goodness to come with Kennedy and Kate. I can't wait for Kennedy and Kate. Gah, I'm so gone for these characters. I love it and I definitely recommend it.

<strong>Grade: 4.75 out of 5</strong>

Such as fan of this author, and this series is no exception. Matt and Sabrina have this love hate relationship which tons of natural chemistry. Matt needs Sabrina's help to fix his party reputation. So well written, you just fall in love with the characters and story.

Sabrina and Matt prove there is a thin line between love and hate and fortunately for them, love wins, even though it is an uphill battle. Their banter never got old and each tried to one up each other. Lauren Layne’s 21 Wall Street series is good – just not on the caliber of her Stiletto and Oxford series, but then it may be that Wall Street does not have the appeal to me as the others. I do like the series, and this book was no exception, it just took a little while for me to really get into the storyline but once I did, I couldn’t put the book down.

After the first book, I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked Hard Sell. I'd seen this couple in the previous book, but I was still a little cautious approaching this book. There were a lot of things that could have turned me off it, but these didn't happen.

One of my favorite things about this book was the trope: enemies with benefits to lovers. Matt and Sabrina had such good chemistry, and they actually helped each other grow. I think that the fact that they had known each other for years made everything about this book more realistic and made me like them more. I usually hate endings like this, but I believed more, at least, because Matt and Sabrina had been involved somewhat for years.

That was my problem with this author's past couple of books, that everything progressed in approximately 3 months with little buildup. The hinting of the couple in books to come is something I've been waiting for since the Stiletto series and haven't really found in the author's last few standalones. Having realized this, I'm more excited for Kennedy and Kate's book!

Hard Sell was a hot read of a novel with fleshed out characters who help each other become better people, which is definitely a plus. The plot and the couple''s development easily intertwined, and the hero actually apologizes for his actions!! I'm eagerly anticipating the next book!

Very fun book with the classic enemies turned lovers trope. Sexy, page turner! Can't wait for the next one in the series.

4.5☆
Cute and fun
Lauren Layne is one of my go-to authors.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Frenemies to lovers
The humor
Dual POVs 
Part of a series: 21 Wall Street 
Standalone 
HEA 
Epilogue 

I'm looking forward to Kennedy's story.

Wow, book hangover. I love Matt and Sabrina. I love this book. I want another one about their life next because they are crazy funny, beautiful people.

Although Matt and Sabrina have very different backgrounds, they both have ones that set them up to be guarded, particularly when love is involved. Their caution leads them to believe that they aren't capable of love and that they should avoid getting into situations where they could be betrayed by the emotion.

This is their gloriously complicated love story. Complicated because they both love each other, but neither is willing to admit it initially. Instead, fueled by some poor choices also, they are in a hate-love-sex relationship which neither can let go of. Suddenly, Matt's circumstances change and now they have to try to at least fake it.

And along the way, we laugh at their wonderful attempts to get along. They argue, as one of them observes, perhaps only like a married couple can. We also get this wonderful rich character development over time, as they start to grapple and recognize their feelings. For one person that comes very late, and then we get the glorious kiss-and-make-up scene.

I didn't want the book to end! I re-read the epilogue over and over again. More Matt and Sabrina please.

It just doesn't get better!!

Ahhh.. how I already LOVE this series so much! First we had sexy Ian Bradley and now comes his best friend and co-worker, Matt. Matt is the young guy in the office and also the boy-genius. He grew up being the smart one and still it all comes too easy for him. He's hot, he's smart and he is making it up the ladder at work, quickly. Everything is great in his life, until he makes his way into work Monday morning after a trip to Vegas for a bachelor party and he finds himself in the hot seat at work by his two bosses. What do they want him to do... clean up his act and get a girlfriend to show he is growing up.

Sabrina and Matt have had a enemies/feud relationship going for years now. They also mix in a little "hate" sex on and off again. They both say they can't stand to be in each others presense - but they also are very-very attracted to each other.

This book was amazing. The perfect enemy to lovers story line. It's a 5 star, all the way around!

You need to read this book!!!!!!

I read this as an ARC from netgalley, I also read the book prior to this one and Lauren layne doesn’t disappoint . I was hoping that Matt and Sabrina would get their own story! They were hot in hard asset, they were scorching in this story. Their dynamic makes it easy to get absorbed in the book. It’s a perfect beach read

Thank you Lauren and netgalley for allowing me to read this book!

Hard Sell is a highly enjoyable frenemies to lovers romance. Matt Needs help fixing his image and Sabrina is just the one to do it. Sabrina is tough as nails when it comes to her job but she has this soft side that I loved seeing come out. Matt is smart and has a no marriage ever stance from his past. Watching these too frenemies come together is heart warming the more and more you learn about their pasts. Watching them both grow as the fake relationship becomes real is beautiful. I love this series and I can't wait for the next book.

Fantastic! I was a fan of the first book and Matt and Sabrina are featured there, but they didn't capture my attention that much. But my oh my, that changed completely with this book!
Their chemistry is off the charts, they banter is amazing and the way their backstories show you a glimpse as to why it's all messed up - and yet they are so perfect for each other - works perfectly.
As Sabrina helps Matt restore his badly tattered reputation - fake dating! - you see how the two of them lower their walls and let themselves in.
Kate and Kennedy are a wonderful again and it makes me eager to know their story so much!
This is a great book that I devoured in one day, crying my heart out in some places and sighing happily at the end.
Wonderful!!
*I was given an ARC copy of this book on NetGalley*

I absolutely LOVED this book! Matt & Sabrina are perfect together and they have great chemistry. My only regret is that I have not read the first book in the series although it’s not necessary to follow along. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series & I will definitely be reading Hot Sell! 5Stars!

**ARC kindly provided by Netgalley & publisher**

Very enjoyable book! I love the enemies to lovers trope. I can't wait for the next one in the series.

I am a lover of these type of enemies to lover stories so I was excited to dig into this one and check out this author. I thoroughly enjoyed both her story and her writing style and devoured this book in less than 24 hours. It was such a nice fun and flirty read that left me smiling and giddy reading it.

Sabrina and Matt met through mutual friends and their chemistry was instant from the moment they met. Their love for each other not so much, yet the chemistry seems to be bringing them back from time to time to the bedroom. But Matt needs help out of a situation and no one better to fix it than the fixer herself.

I loved Sabrina. She was fun and sassy and she gave it to Matt every chance she got. I absolutely loved their banter. But I also loved that even though she didn't have a great upbringing, she has made something of herself professional along with being strong and independent.

What can I say about Matt that will truly do him justice. Matt is hot, sexy and very smart, especially when it comes to numbers. But like Sabrina, a bit jaded on love and marriage based on his upbringing even though his upbringing was much different than hers. He may be cynical when it comes to love but when it comes to Sabrina, whether he realizes it or not, he is her prince charming.

This book had such great banter and a really great dynamic built between these two main characters. I also loved the cast of characters that comes along with this series. I have not read Ian and Lara's story, and must say at no point did I feel like I was missing out on anything other than another great story having not read it first. Sabrina and Matt have history, some of which may have been seen in the prior book but it didn't leave this story lacking at all.. I loved the chemistry that was going on between these two, it was totally off the charts hot but I love that this book didn't turn into the sex scene after sex scene, leaving more story than sex in this one. It was such a great fun and flirty story that I couldn't help but fall in love with all the characters and will be clicking hot asset next for sure along with anxiously awaiting Kennedy and Kate's story. This was a really 5 star fabulous story, the only down side is the story's flow played out great all through the book until the last 20% or so, found the last 20% to feel very rushed, wish the speed of flow could have remained consistent to the end, so overall a 4.5 star read for me

I had not read anything by this author prior to reading Hot Asset, which I absolutely loved. I really enjoy the author's writing style, and she has created characters and a group of friends that are so easy to like. I could not wait for Hard Sell, and I enjoyed it just as much as Hot Asset.

In Hot Asset, Matt finds himself in hot water at work and needs a fixer. Sabrina agrees to help him for a variety of reasons that only become clear as the book goes on. I adored Sabrina and Matt as characters, as fake boyfriend and girlfriend, and ultimately as two halves of an unconventional whole.

I read this book in one sitting as I could not put it down. I loved reading more about Lara, Ian, and Kate and Kennedy too. I'm hoping Kennedy's book is next, and would definitely read anything by this author.