Carter is the hometown hero who has made it big in major league baseball. Unfortunately he has an injury that causes him to miss some of his season. He decides to come to home (rumor has it that his HS ex-girlfriend is newly single and will be in town). He happens to rent a house next door to Olive Dunn, his former Chemistry lab partner.

Here's what I loved about this book:
1. Olive- I loved Olive. She has a lot of personality and was unashamedly herself. There are some insecurities, but they don't overshadow how great she is. I want to be friends with Olive.
2. Olive's connection to the community- I love that she's a teacher and so connected to her community.
3. Carter's ability to reflect on his current situation was really nice.

There really wasn't anything I would like to be different about this story. It was a quick, fun contemporary romance with the perfect amount of relationship angst and steam for me (not zero, but not a lot).

Thanks to Montlake Romance and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Carter Ramsey is at the top of his career and recently voted Man Of The Year when an injury puts him out of commission for the rest of the baseball season and has him questioning who and what he is without baseball. The news that his high school sweetheart is divorced and returning home with their ten year school reunion looming brings Carter home as well. The fun begins when Carter runs into his green glittered next door neighbor and once lab partner Olive Dunn on arrival. 
Apparently no one locks their doors in this small home town and before he knows it, Olive is invading his space, drinking his coffee and taking him car shopping and joining him for dinner and drinks at will. Both Olive and Carter have grown up since their high school days and suddenly there's a whole lot of sharing going on which goes beyond the exchange of bodily fluids. 
Their small town is buzzing and both his pregnant on bed rest twin sister and his parents hear about the relationship even as the entire town waits for the return of the prodigal high school girlfriend with bated breath. Things never quite turn out as one expects. The chemistry that Carter once shared in high school has disappeared and in fact Olive is the only person that Carter can envision now but there's many a twist and turn before a relationship between the two of them can come to pass. 
Ms. Layne writes contemporary romance at it's best with quirky heroines sweeping her readers into her stories leaving us with a nice feel good glow. The best part of this series we have no idea where who's next.  Can't wait to find out.

This was the second standalone in the "Man of the Year" series by this author and I have to say a very quick read but it nevertheless had all the elements that I've come to expect from Lauren Layne. Carter and Olive's characters were very relatable and likeable and the story flowed quite easily -- not much angst in this one which was perfect for this small town romance that made for an easy, weekend read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Carter is a professional baseball player who is trying to heal from what could be a career ending injury. All he wants is to recuperate in solace until his sister convinces him to come home and attend their high school reunion. When she tells him that his high school sweetheart will be there as well and that she is recently divorced it seems like the perfect time to reconnect.

Olivia is fun, a loyal friend who embraces the fact that she is different. When Carter returns and they find themselves neighbors she helps her high school science partner get settled in and a friendship develops. As they spend time together their friendship evolves into something deeper but with their very different lifestyles only they can decide if the feelings they have for each other are destined to be a fling or the beginning of forever.

Their interactions are both humorous and hot and they both had their insecurities when it comes to love and life. They embrace each other for who they are as people and that is what makes their connection so special.

Yours to Keep is the second book in the Man of the Year series, however, this can easily be read as a standalone.
Carter is a professional baseball player, also he is the current Man of the Year, however, he is injured and currently cannot play the sport he loves. After his twin sister all but forces him to come back to their hometown for the high school reunion with the promise his high school girlfriend is single and will be there, he packs up and heads to his hometown. Olive is a teacher at the school she used to attend. She is friends with Carter’s sister and his former classmate and lab partner. She can now add his new neighbor to her list.
I loved Olive from the moment she was introduced. She was quirky, smart and just had a fun and bright personality. I liked that Carter wasn’t the overly cocky professional sports star. Yes, he is the towns proud and joy, but he is nice and kind. He is also caring. I loved how Olive and Carter were introduced to each other again. I loved how Olive just kind of inserting herself into Carter’s life, it led to many funny moments and great banter between both Carter and Olive.
Yours to Keep was a fun, sweet romance.

Pro baseball player, Carter Ramsey, is about to be in Citizen Magazine as Man of the Year. Newly injured and sidelined, he starts contemplating his life and where he thought he would be by now. His ten year high school reunion is coming up, and with his sister’s urging, he heads to his hometown, Haven.

Olive Dunn is a former classmate of Carter’s. She has never left Haven and is a Biology teacher at the high school they graduated from. She was Carter’s lab partner their senior year. She knew Carter, but they didn’t hang with the same crowd.

I loved how Olive and Carter were reintroduced to each other. You could tell that Carter genuinely likes Olive and that he did so in high school. He may be the town’s golden boy, but he is also a nice guy. Olive’s personality was quirky, blunt and straightforward. Their banter back and forth was so fun. This is another enjoyable read from Lauren Layne.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

A small town romance with a whole lot of charm, this is a departure from what the author has been writing recently - and I kinda loved that. Layne has mastered "high end" romance set in the city, but I've always preferred her everyday heroes and heroines. This one is a new spin on her best trope - friends to lovers - and is distinctly the author's work while still feeling fresh. It pairs a hometown hero with the girl he overlooked in high school as they reconnect after years apart. It's a slow burn with the serious tone I've come to expect from Layne, and the romance grew on me more and more as the book went on.

The story follows Carter, a pro baseball player whose life has revolved around the sport for as long as he can remember. When an injury takes him out of the game temporarily, Carter's got some extra time on his hands and soon finds himself returning home for his high school reunion. Fame has made relationships difficult, so Carter half wonders if he can rekindle something with his old high school flame. What Carter doesn't realize is that there IS a girl who got away in his hometown - but it's not the one he expects. As Olive and Carter build on the casual friendship they had in high school, the two discover that they may have grown into people who are perfect for each other as adults.

I've gotta admit - I was a little worried when I read that Carter was returning home in order to get the girl who got away, only to fall for another woman. So I was very pleasantly surprised to discover that there's almost no OW drama. Sure, Carter thought he was coming home to win over one girl and ended up with another, but Olive and Carter begin as friends first and it all felt pretty organic. This has a definite laidback, small town vibe that's different from what new fans of Layne may have come to expect, but that was a major bonus for me. It's low angst and low on the steam, with a slow burn romance that got better as it went on. All in all, it's a light, easy read that will certainly satisfy. I received a free copy via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review of this small town romance.

Another great book by Miss Layne! she is a one click author for me, I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us!

4.5 stars

This was such a fun and sweet slow burn, friends to lovers romance! It was exactly the kind of story my heart needed. I loved that Olive and Carter knew each other from childhood, but that a bit of forced proximity gave them the opportunity and time to truly get to know one another. I did think that Olive’s behavior in the beginning was a little over the top, but it was also quite hilarious and endearing. She was such an intelligent, strong, and determined heroine and I loved how unapologetically confident she was. She knew just how to push Carter’s buttons too and their banter and back and forth was fantastic. Carter had a lot of growing to do through the course of the book, and I liked that he struggled to get things right. A little more groveling would have been great, but he came through when it counted. The plot was fairly predictable, but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story at all. There was just enough drama to keep things interesting, but I did feel that the ending felt a little rushed. The epilogue put a huge smile on my face though and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy. Definitely recommend this wonderful small town romance!

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

In a loose crossover between two series, Carter Ramsey, an injured pro-baseballer, is tricked into coming home by his very pregnant twin sister. Well, not exactly tricked. More like an irresistible bribe is dangled in front of his nose; his high school sweetheart is coming to town. She was his first love, the one with whom he made a pact to get married if they were both single at their ten year reunion. And that's why his sister wants him to come home. He is a big star and having him at their reunion will guarantee her success as a co-chair.
The other co-chair, Olive Dunn, is not as excited that Carter is back. She prizes her solitude and he's moved in to the house next door. He recognizes her right away (they were lab partners in senior year chemistry after all) much to her chagrin. She was sort of hoping she had transformed into an amazing swan. But overall, Olive is very happy with who she is. And it's that confidence is part of what draws Carter into wondering whether the first love is the best love after all.
Light humor enmeshed with an unexpected romance made this a fun read. The epilogue didn't need to be there and there were some spots that made me cringe a bit but overall a fun read with a great heroine.

Three stars
Follows Yours in Scandal
This book comes out Sepember 1st
ARC kindly provided by Montlake Romance and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Rating: 5 Stars, HJ Top Pick!

Yours to Keep is the second book in the Man of the Year series but was fine reading as a stand-alone. The book was fast-paced, flowed smoothly, and had charming characters. Carter and Olive’s characters were so lovable, and their witty banter kept me smiling until the end.

Carter Ramsey was a pro baseball player with an injured left arm. Not being able to play in the playoffs or be with his teammates has left him floundering. Baseball has been his life since high school and he feels like it defines him as a person. Now with his injury, he isn’t sure what to do with his time. Receiving a phone call from Caitlyn, his twin sister, he agrees to go back to his hometown and attend their ten-year class reunion. Arriving at his rental house, he discovers his neighbor is his previous quirky high school lab partner Olive. When his sister asks him to take her place organizing the class reunion, he reluctantly agrees since he has no other obligations.

Olive Dunn grew up in Haven and is now the high school biology teacher. She loves living in Haven and teaching in her former school. She agrees to help Caitlyn organize their class reunion but ends up working with Carter when Caitlyn is put on bed rest. As they work together, they become friends and their attraction towards each other grows. Neither can resist the attraction, but they know their lives are worlds apart. Can a professional baseball player and small-town science teacher have a future together?

I really enjoyed reading the book and getting to know the characters. Olive was so unique and full of sassiness. She knew herself and was happy with who she was. She always stayed true to herself and she was able to see the real Carter beneath the glamour of his career. Carter was a great guy and a little lost without baseball, but he finely found his way in life with Olive. He knew she saw him as more than a famous baseball player. They were perfect for each other and their story was heartwarming. I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Wow, 5 stars! This book had quite possibly some of the best banter I’ve read in a long time. I enjoyed the delicious slow burn and the way the chemistry felt real and not contrived. Overall, a fantastic read.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of sexy, small-town, comedy romance

This is the second book in the series, and I definitely enjoyed book one, but this was just such a fun read. I am a big Lauren Layne fan, and when she does snark and sports, you can guarantee a fun read. I read this in a day, because I really just had to know how she was going to turn it around.

So Carter is back in his hometown, facing rehab from an injury which could end his career. All this leads to introspection about his future, and his lack of a solid future. He cannot deny that part of the reason he was persuaded home was for the ten-year high school reunion. He and his sweetheart, Felicity, parted ten years ago, promising they would marry each other if still single in ten years’ time. She is recently divorced, and though they haven't seen each other in the intervening decade... who knows!

But then the very first thing that happens is that he meets his temporary neighbour whilst home, Olive Dunn, his onetime chemistry lab partner. And let's be honest, as first impressions go, it is to say the least confusing, but certainly she is not the supermodel type he is used to in New York City. But we can see the hints of a spark... but are still mindful of Felicity waiting in the wings. Yes, this can lead to plenty of low-level angst, but in the meantime, they are friends.

I cannot tell you how many times I laughed at the wit and the silly in this book. I was also cheering on the potential for a really great relationship, and undoubtedly some sexy, if complicated by the arm-in-a-cast scenarios. It really is a fun book, there is such a cool vibe built up between them, and it is never spoiled by nastiness, even if rumours abound.

Hugely enjoyable, perfect escapism, and if you ever feared you couldn't play softball, well I think Olive will have you beat.


Jordan – ☆☆☆☆
Yours to Keep is the second book in the Man of The Year series by Lauren Layne, but can be read as a standalone without any issues. Layne is one of my favorite authors and my go-to for a perfect happily ever after rom-com book. I never have any issue getting swept away into the story from the first page to the last page.

Carter Ramsey, a pro baseball shortstop, is soon to be Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year. But when a recent injury has him benched, he decides to spend some time recovering back in his hometown and maybe finally reconnecting with his high school sweetheart. However, life throws Carter a curve ball when he finds himself neighbors with his old lab partner, Olive Dunn.

I really ended up pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed both Olive Dunn and Carter Ramsey’s story. It was a nice change of pace that Yours to Keep didn’t take place in Manhattan, but in Connecticut. Plus, I just loved Olive’s character and how she was such a strong female character. I loved reading how Carter and Olive’s friendship evolved throughout the story. Plus, I really just felt like the chemistry and friendship came across so authentic.

All in all, four stars, for Yours to Keep by Lauren Layne was another fantastic addition. I can’t wait to see what Layne has in store for us next!


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I really enjoyed this book. The supposed second chance at romance love story is one of the main plot devices but it never comes to pass. What the story does deliver on is the great romance between Carter and Olive.

They are opposites that really do attract; Olive doesn't hold back and Carter realizes that he really likes that about her. Olive soon realizes that Carter isn't some stuck-up ball player who is only here to recuperate and never look back.

This is a series that I can't wait for book three to come out.

Yours to Keep was such a fun book. I really enjoyed the banter between Carter and Olive. They were so busy "only being friends" that feelings snuck up on them. I'm always a sucker for books with athletes and Carter Ramsey definitely checked off most of my boxes. He was a professional baseball player who was nursing an injury. He returned home at the encouragement fo his twin sister. Once he arrived, he ran into his former high school lab partner and she has definitely changed since he last saw her.

I really enjoyed Olive's self assured and confident personality. It was even better because she was also a loyal and caring individual who you couldn't help but like. She also made me giggle numerous times. She was very relatable.

Carter isn't just a hunky athlete, he is having a bit of an identity crisis. He realizes that he's been defined by his sport. If he isn't playing baseball, he isn't quite sure who he is. He's looking to feel connections and find a future for himself that involves more that what he can accomplish on a baseball field.

I recommend this feel good romance. I smiled through almost all of it. There were a few moments where I was a little sniffly but overall, it was a fun and enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Carter Ramsey was just picked as the next Man of the Year for Citizen magazine. He may be a professional baseball player but all Carter wants to win is the MVP in a World Series. Too bad his new broken arm will stop that from happening this year. Feeling down in the dumps, Carter decides to go back to his hometown, Haven, to see his family and rehab there. Another draw was that Felicity, his high school girlfriend, who was recently divorced, was coming back to town for their 10th year class reunion.

Carter rents a small house on the outskirts of town that happens to be next door to Olive Dunn, his chemistry lab partner from senior year. Olive realizes what Carter's coming back home means and she decides to help him navigate the town of Haven and all of it's little quirks. As Carter and Olive spend more time together, sparks start to fly. They both know that their time together is limited because he will need to return to New York. Just when it looks like things with Olive are going to work out, Felicity shows up and adds an extra complication to everything. It will take some heavy thinking on Carter and Olive's parts but they will eventually find their happy ending.

I just freaking loved Olive. She was so fun, and real and down to earth. She kept me laughing all throughout the story. Carter seemed like a genuinely nice guy. I really enjoyed how he was with Olive and you couldn't help but root for them. Overall this is a great addition to this series!

Yours to Keep is the second book in the Man of the Year series. It is a complete standalone though. There are some mentions of characters from the first one but really just in passing. However, if you read An Ex for Christmas, you will recognize some of those characters in here and they do make appearances throughout the story but again not necessary to read this beforehand.

Carter is a professional baseball player with a recent injury that will keep him off the field for now. After getting pressure from his twin sister to come home, he reluctantly agrees to come for the high school reunion, hoping to see his high school sweetheart, Felicity. But, when he rents a house, he finds his next door neighbor is his high school lab partner, Olive. Carter was a hard character to get to know. He was lost and not sure what he was outside of baseball, and really concentrated on who he was in the past. On the other hand, Olive was hilarious, quirky, nerdy and easy to love from the start. They become friends, that eventually turns into more. All the supporting characters brought so much to the story. This was a sweet, entertaining friends to lovers romance, and I would recommend this one.

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

Friends first and the romance is later!

All-Star shortstop Carter Ramsey knew that the timing would be horrible when the news that he had been named Man of the Year by Citizen magazine right after he broke his arm during a game. Carter decides to go home while his arm heals up but instead of staying with his parents, he decides to rent a house which just happens to be next to his high school lab partner Olive Dunn.

Yours to Keep is not your usual reuniting with your high school sweetheart because Carter and Olive never dated in high school. But living next door to each other helped Carter find the one person who didn’t care he was the highest paid player in baseball but a friend first.

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

Yours to Keep got me hooked from the start so I read all in one sitting and if it have more 3455 pages of them being cute together, I wouldn't complain, besides this has the grumpy/sunshine trope that I love and it's small town romance, so it can go wrong. Olive is so my type of character, she was carefree, outgoing and determinated, while Carter was charming, he was also more guarded but that made them perfect for each other, their chemistry made their development from friends to lovers seen more natural, believeble? idk? I just know that I love it and their banter was so fun to read, and please, the swoon-worthy epilogue, that's it.

I enjoyed this one so much more than Yours in Scandal that it made me rethink the four stars I gave to YiS but anyways I can't wait for Jarod's book - and if you don't know him, go read 21 Wall Street.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake publishers for making this available to be read.
I actually enjoyed this one more than the previous one in the series. It read like Lauren Layne's past books, and I loved seeing Mark and Kelly from An Ex for Christmas make an appearance.
I think what really made the story, was Olive. She was just a wonderful leading lady and her and Carter got to know each other as friends again, which was nice to see.
It was a believable romance, which was easy to read and made you smile.

This is not my favorite story from Lauren Layne, I wasn’t into the pro baseball career and high school reunion plots. However, what I liked was Carter and Olive’s grumpy/sunshine relationship. They had fun banter, but also more awkward moments when their feelings started to grow. Overall, I enjoyed Carter and Olive's dynamic a lot, the ending was very cute and like every other Lauren Layne books <i>Yours to Keep</i> is a quick, sweet and entertaining rom-com story!