Huge Deal is a nice addition to Lauren Layne’s 21 Wall Street series and it didn’t disappoint. This is Kennedy and Kate’s story and it has everything - angst, anger, cluelessness, family, friends, work, play, happy and sad times along with lots of loving, romance and love.

Kate is the executive assistant to Kennedy, Ian and Matt but has always been in love with Kennedy. She’s never acted on it but they all know except for Kennedy. But when she starts dating his brother, look out. He doesn’t know why he’s not happy about it even though the others clue him in. When he and Kate start spending time together all bets are off. It was great that Ian and Matt’s stories were brought up to date too.

The book has a nice flow and takes a few twists and turns but all are important to the telling of the story. Both Kennedy and Kate have a depth to them but they only know each other superficially, or do they? I liked getting to know them better and seeing them getting more familiar with each other as well. There was nice closure and the epilogue had the requisite happily ever after with a twist.

Ms. Layne is a fairly new to me author only having read this and her Wedding Belles series. I look forward to reading more of her books and getting invested in more of her characters.

I have been looking forward to Kate and Kennedy's romance for a long time and was so happy when this author announced this would be releasing as I loved the 21 Wall Street series. Their romance was swoony and so delicious.

I absolutely FLOVED Kennedy. I loved how he was as clueless as he was caring and how it took a little push for him to realize what was in front of him the entire time. Kate likewise was strong and sassy and a sassy thing that took no prisoners.  I loved seeing Ian, Lara, Matt and Sabrina again and watching Kate and Kennedy navigate their road to love.

While I wasn't prepared for the plot twist/monkey wrench that happened where the roles were reversed, I enjoyed the story and can't wait for more from this author.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review! 4 stars! ~Ratula

Full Review: https://amzn.to/2JBAga2 ; http://bit.ly/2JCPkV2

Another fantastic story from LL and her delightfully, sexy Wolves of Wall Street. This is Kennedy's story, which I have been dying for since the moment I realized that his love interest was going to be Kate, their extremely awesome, no nonsense assistant. This book did not disappoint in the least. This is also a rarity in romance trilogies, but I equally loved all three couples and all three stories. They were each so different, but all have that trademark LL humor mixed with sexy/sweetness. I have read each and every one of LL's stories and I have yet to find one that I didn't love. She really hit the mark with this one. If you are looking for a well-written romance that you will want to read in a single sitting, you can never go wrong with an LL book. They are the best!

This is the third book in the series and I hope you started from the beginning because you will know all the characters who play roles in this book. This is Kennedy and Kate's book. Kate has had a crush on Kennedy since the very beginning but since he made a ridiculous pack with the rest of the guys and made an unflattering comment about Kate she has made it a point to try and get over him if only her body would agree. She is helping out his latest girlfriend throw a party that he would never want and Kennedy continues to make unflattering comments without meaning to but when he gets around Kate he seems to bungle things. Jack (Kennedy's brother comes back to town and is instantly interested in Kate and she decides it is about time that she tries to go for someone else and live life, however this pushes Kennedy over the edge and when you think things are finally going to work out for them tragedy strikes..No more my friends you need to read and find out..Enjoy! Hoping we get a story on Jarod..

Oh how I have looked forward to this book! In this small firm of three Wall Street money makers, Kennedy Dawson finally gets his chance at love. His best friends and partners, Matt Cannon and Ian Bradley, have found the women of their dreams and are ridiculously in love. In this story, Kennedy isn't necessarily looking for his ideal woman. If he is, it certainly wouldn't be Kate Henley, the assistant to all three partners. When they began working together, the three of them made a pact that rendered Kate off-limits.

All the while, Kate has spent years all but worshiping Kennedy from afar. She does her best to hide it. She gets just that opportunity when Kennedy's brother, Jack, blows into town and immediately develops a liking for her. She actually likes Jack. He may not be as exciting as Kennedy, but there are certainly things about him that he Kate likes.

Will Kennedy wake up to his desires? And will Kate realize what brother she she really wants and go after him. Oh how fun it was for friends Sabrina and Lara, as well as Matt and Ian, trying to convince the pair of what was right before their very eyes.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two books in this series, Hot Asset and Hard Sell, and I definitely think that this book, Huge Deal, was the best of all. Every moment of the book was delightful, especially when the moment of truth was revealed, as well as the other characters that played a part in this story. I look forward to much more from this talented author as she definitely makes the pages sing.

Many thanks to Montlake Romance and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the story I have been waiting for since the trilogy started. Kate has been my favorite since we met her in book one and I was so ready for her happily ever after. Kennedy, stubborn as ever, denied his feelings for two books but after a reality check (in the form of his brother Jack), he finally wakes up and smells the proverbial roses.

A friends to lovers office romance, full of witty banter and awesome characters, Huge Deal was my favorite of the three. No scandal, little angst and hot hot hot.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

As the final book in Lauren Layne's 21 Wall Street series, Huge Deal is an enjoyable read. Im not sure if it would stand alone, as the couple appears in the first two books as well. For me, there were pacing issues, the book seemed too long for me. I was ready for the resolution about 3/4ths of the way through. I think that's because I was so familiar with the characters from the previous books, and their behavior seemed too predictable.
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

4.5 stars

Loved Huge Deal by Lauren Layne! The storyline was entertaining, well written and I couldn't put it down.

Kennedy and Kate were perfection, I loved their relationship and how they both just got each other.

Overall, Huge Deal is an excellent addition to the 21 Wall Street series and I highly recommend all the books.

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*

finally we get to see kennedy and kate's story. and after two books of tension, i'm happy to report that huge deal is well worth the wait. everything about these two feels earned. yes, kate is in love with kennedy, but she's also aware of his shortcomings and won't let either of them forget them.

she is ready to move on with her life. and kennedy gets the jolt of a lifetime when he realizes that if he doesn't make a move, if things don't change he could lose the one person he might not be able to live without.

while technically a standalone, huge deal is best enjoyed after reading the first two books in the series. and while kennedy's story should wrap up the series, there is potential for more with both jack and jarod waiting in the sidelines. fingers crossed is all i can say, i love this world.

**huge deal published on april 23, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/montlake romance in exchange for my honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Jordan – ☆☆☆☆☆
Being a huge fan of Lauren Layne and the 21 Wall Street series I, of course, couldn’t wait to finally read Kate Henley and Kennedy Dawson’s story. I feel like I’ve been waiting so patiently and rooting for these two characters ever since they first appeared in Hot Asset, book one. Now, all I have to say is that it was 100% worth the wait and Layne does not disappoint. I’ve enjoyed this entire series immensely and would recommend to any romance reader fans. While Huge Deal can be read as a standalone, I personally would recommend reading the two previous books in the 21 Wall Street series. The previous main characters will pop up from time to time, which means having some history of them always makes things flow better. Plus, we first meet Kate and Kennedy in Hot Asset. Also, if you’re a Layne fan then you wouldn’t want to miss out on the rest of these hot wolves of Wall Street!

Kate Henley is the head office assistant to all three of the wolves of Wall Street guys and has spent the last several years stifling her feelings for Kennedy Dawson. Kate’s already fell for Kennedy once without any sign of him returning her feelings. In fact, he specifically made a “pact” with the other guys that they wouldn’t ever date her, but when Kennedy’s younger brother shows up and shows interest in Kate it forces Kennedy to rethink things.

This entire series was an easy one to fall in love with, but I grew especially fond of Huge Deal and I think it might be my new favorite book by Layne. It wasn’t as hot and combustible as Hard Sell, book 2, but it was equally as satisfying in a softer way. It was more of a build-up because I’ve been watching and waiting for these two characters to get their act together for the past two books. Plus, I loved Kate’s character and felt like she was exactly the kind of girl I’d wanna be best friends with! All in all, another fantastic read by Lauren Layne!

5 STARS for Huge Deal by Lauren Layne.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, and I am very happy that Kate finally gets her story – after all, she has been looking after the three guys for a very long time and her patience deserves rewarding! I really do recommend that you read the previous two books so that you get the backstory to these guys and their loves.

Kennedy is the last man standing, as both Ian and Matt are settling down – in fact, we get to enjoy Ian and Lara's wedding this time around. As Kennedy's current girlfriend gets their admin guru Kate to help her plan a surprise party, we once again get to see how much he has hurt her over the years due to his evident ignorance to her feelings. But she is definitely coping better than she did, and has tried to harden her heart to him.

Obviously as soon as she starts to think she can move on, Kennedy has a revelation and we then get to watch as they try and work out what we (and Ian, Lara, Matt, and Sabrina) knew all along. It is an engaging journey, with some ups and downs along the way... and who ever thought that chess could be such a sensual way to get to know someone?

Lauren Layne has just the easiest, smoothest of writing styles which meant that I got no sleep last night, as I just had to keep reading until the very end. So be warned – although to be honest, I don't regret it!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

This is the first book that I've read in this series, but I never was lost or thought that I needed to read the previous books in the series.

The story was a sweet story where you get to see co-workers/friends become something spectacular.

Kennedy is known among his friends as the thinker, the one who has to take his time and weigh and measure everything. When his assistant comes on board, he makes a deal with his partners that in order to keep the best assistant they've had, nobody will date her. What he doesn't realize is that his partners didn't have the inclination to do so.

Kate is steady, sometimes feisty, and incredibly competent. She has held a torch for Kennedy since she began her job, but after circumstances show her that her feelings will never be returned, she moves on with her life.

I liked watching both Kennedy and Kate come to terms with their own feelings and how their friends help them navigate the unsteady world of love. It was also refreshing to see that while their communication wasn't fantastic, it was mostly Kate who was having the issues instead of Kennedy. Their story was sweet with a hint of naughty thrown in.

Both Kate and Kennedy had to get over their preconceived notions of what their idea of love and commitment would be. Friendships and family are also amazing in this story. You can see how everyone cares for each other and how their pushing and prodding really help both characters see how amazing they can be together.

Huge Deal is the third and final book from Lauren Layne's 21 Wall Street trilogy. I enjoyed them all, and each book can be read as a standalone. This novel focuses on Wall Street tycoon Kennedy Dawson, and Kate Henely, Kennedy's overqualified executive assistant. Both Kennedy and Kate love the work that they do, and their mutual friends are like family.

Kate has always been attracted to Kennedy, but thanks to an inappropriate comment he made years ago, Kate's feelings have dissipated. Then Kate goes on a couple of dates with Kennedy's younger brother Jack, and Kennedy begins to feel a bit jealous. Luckily, Kate and Jack lack sexual chemistry, so they agree to be just friends. Kennedy begins to see Kate in a romantic light, and an evening on a luxury lot evolves into a very hot kiss between them. Overtime they fall in love and find their forever together.

This is a nicely-written office romance that takes place in the hustle and bustle of New York City. A few of the scenes had me smiling, while one or two left me tearing up. Kennedy and Kate are a hot couple, and the build-up to their sexy times left me longing for more. Don't pass up the opportunity to read Huge Deal along with the other two books from the 21 Wall Street series.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Kate doesn't mind telling her man like it is, “Kennedy, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’re often a jerk.” kate is just always surprising her man, "she paused midchew, then swallowed. “Um. I don’t know. More p**is stuff, I guess.” His wineglass paused halfway to his lips." I liked this book, I fell in love with Kennedy.

I feel like 95% of my reviews start with some kind of gushy love over the story's hero. And, don't get me wrong - there is plenty to gush about when it comes to Kennedy Dawson (and I'll get to that), but this story in particular gave me some swoony heroine vibes. I freaking LOVED Kate y'all. She's tiny and fierce and laugh out loud funny. She's smart and kind and slightly OCD and nerdy. She is my absolute favorite kind of heroine and if you get through this book without some kind of crazy girl crush on her, there's something wrong with your heart for real.

GAH! I just loved her so much!!

And then Kennedy. Kennedy was the hero I was most excited to get in this series, and he really did not disappoint. He's surly and serious in just the way I love my nerdy-ish heroes. I loved his slow awakening, the realization that while he's wicked book smart, when it comes to relationships he's basically a bumbling buffoon. I loved his transformation as he figured things out and his heart opened and then - then - ohmygosh you guys he was utterly irresistible. Perfect heroine? Meet your perfect hero.

This series has been such a treat and I thoroughly enjoyed every single one of these characters and the lovely happily-ever-afters they were given. I loved getting time to catch up with them in Huge Deal. I loved the banter among friends on top of the banter between Kate and Kennedy. I did feel like Kate stepped out of character in a couple of places, and some of the conflict resolution toward the end felt a little over-the-top for me. However, the ending? Was perfection. Much like Kate and Kennedy themselves. It was absolutely adorable and so so satisfying. Another huge hit in a series full of huge hits, and I definitely recommend it! ~ 4.5 Stars

4.5 STARS

This was FANTASTIC. I had actual chest pains throughout the first half of this book. The unrequited longing, the slow burn, the brooding, all the things unsaid... it was PHENOMENAL. I devoured this book today. I never wanted it to end.

These characters. This series. Three vastly different circumstances surrounding three deliciously different couples centered around one Wall Street office... it was everything. In many ways, this final book was MY absolute FAVORITE. I loved it so much, I felt all the things. I wish I could guarantee that I'd feel EXACTLY the way I felt on these pages everytime I open a book. It hurt so freaking good. I'm officially obsessed with Lauren Layne.

I'm a huge Lauren Layne fan, and have loved the previous two books of this series, but unfortunately this book was a bit of a disappointment for me. I liked Kate going in, and ended up rolling my eyes at her a lot. The drama felt manufactured and the "reasons" they couldn't be together rediculous. The rest of the circle of friends remained great, and those scenes shined. The rat of the book, meh...

This had a very SUITS-like vibe to it and I loved that. Kate had been a favourite character of mine from the other books and we don't know much about Kennedy until this book. Loved his family and all that he stood for. This was just so fun to read and so satisfying as a conclusion to the trilogy. Lauren Layne doesn't ever let me down.

Once again, Ms Layne exceeded all my expectations with the third installment of the 21 Wall Street series. The characters are charismatic, with the type of personalities that draw you into their story. With the juxtaposition of the different personas of the three partners, the author demonstrates just how well she can craft such believable characters, who at the same can draw out such deep emotional attachments.

Kennedy finally finding the HEA he never saw coming, and the twists and turns for him to get there, drives the story to its gratifying conclusion...Kate at last, after years of self deprecating beliefs, seeing herself through Kennedy’s eyes was truly heartwarming.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Huge Deal was a fantastic story. I enjoyed all of the characters a lot, and although Kennedy and Kate are the main characters the side characters also play a big part in this story. They are a great group of friends and coworkers. Kate has loved Kennedy from the moment she first saw him. She never would have thought that a makeover and a date would put her on Kennedy's radar. I loved the moments Kate and Kennedy were together. They made me smile with those shared moments and their back and forth banter. This was a sweet story filled with friends, love, sweet moments including a wedding and a HEA. I look forward to reading more books from this author in the future and not only do I recommend readers give this book a try but the whole series is worth reading.

Kate Henley and Kennedy Dawson have always had a contentious rapport with one another. They work well together, but Kennedy has always been the proper, buttoned-up, and stolid one out of the three of her bosses and Kate loves to push those buttons whenever possible. But she also pretty much loved Kennedy from the moment they first met years ago when they were both starting out at Wolfe Investments. For Kate, her feelings changed when she overheard the guys making a pact NOT to date her. Kate was looking for an all-consuming love, not an unrequited one. Overtime she's been able to put her feelings aside - or so she says. When Kate meets Kennedy's younger brother they get along well from the get-go. Kate is tired of living a life only for work and decides it's time to take steps toward that happily-ever-after she's dreamed of.

Kennedy always pictured himself marrying some well to-do woman of society, whose family runs in the same circle as his parents. Kate certainly doesn't fit that description. But when Kate and his brother start seeing each other, Kennedy is surprised to find that his reaction is jealousy. He starts letting himself see Kate for the first time, and realizes that maybe he's been missing what's been right in front of him this whole time.

Anyone who has been reading Lauren Layne's 21 Wall Street series knows that Kate and Kennedy have been circling around one another from the beginning. They are the characters in the first book that you know would be perfect together, but it takes until their own book to finally get the closure we all need. Oftentimes I feel like there's a lot of pressure put on this type of storyline by the time we get to it. In this case, Lauren Layne has been dangling the idea of these two in front of readers for two books now.

Honestly, Huge Deal turned out to be everything I was looking for in Kate and Kennedy's story and then some.

There was never a doubt in my mind that these two belonged together. Huge Deal just emphasizes how complicated that can be. Lauren Layne throws quite a few things in our pair's way, but these things felt like they sprung from a very real place. It never felt like it was about prolonging the story, stretching it out to its fullest extent, but more like how just life itself tends to throw us for a loop an often unexpected or inopportune moments.

At each of these moments you discover more about yourself. As is the case with Kennedy finally figuring out his feelings. I really loved these revelatory moments for him. But I liked how these moments didn't change Kennedy. He's still the person who completely assesses a situation before making any kind of moves. He's observant and not easy to dissuade.

These things come in handy as, on the other side, Kate ends up with a life situation that causes her to question everything she always thought she wanted out of love. While Kennedy had his own self-realization going on, Kate went through a huge journey on her own. I liked that, once committed, Kennedy doesn't give up on Kate, instead he becomes the person she needs that she can rely on no matter how difficult it may become.

I wasn't prepared for everything that Kate and Kennedy had to work through in this story, but I think that it was worth it to finally see them get their story.

Plus, I now know that Kennedy's brothers need a spin-off series ASAP.

If you're new to the series, you could definitely read them each as standalones, but I would highly recommend reading this in series order. It's a most satisfying ending.

I have enjoyed every single book in this series and Huge Deal was the perfect conclusion. I absolutely loved Kennedy. He is clueless and oblivious, buttoned-up and a bit stuffy, but somehow all these unlikely traits for a hero in a love story are part of his charm. I loved seeing him slowly, very slowly, open his eyes to Kate, and when he finally embraced his feelings for her, it was so worth it!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.