A Goodreads Best Romance “Fans of The Devil Wears Prada will flip over Love on Lexington Avenue.” –Karen Hawkins, New York Times bestselling author From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne comes the second delightfully charming installment in the Central Park Pact series, following a young widow whose newfound cynicism about love is challenged by a sexy, rough-around-the-edges … cynicism about love is challenged by a sexy, rough-around-the-edges contractor.
There are no good men left in New York City. At least that’s Claire Hayes’s conviction after finding out her late husband was not the man she thought he was. Determined to rid her home of anything that reminds her of her cheating husband, Claire sets out to redesign her boring, beige Upper East Side brownstone and make it something all her own. But what starts out as a simple renovation becomes a lot more complicated when she meets her bad-tempered contractor Scott Turner.
Scott bluntly makes it known to Claire that he only took on her house for a change of pace from the corporate offices and swanky hotels he’s been building lately, and he doesn’t hesitate to add that he has no patience for a pampered, damaged princess with a penchant for pink. But when long workdays turn into even longer nights, their mutual wariness morphs into something more complicated–a grudging respect, and maybe even attraction…
Filled with laugh-out-loud scenes that blend perfectly with the touching friendships Layne brings to life on the page, this “hugely entertaining” (USA TODAY) novel is perfect for fans of Lauren Weisberger.
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Love on Lexington Avenue is the second book in the Central Park Pact series by Lauren Layne. The series is focused on three women who found at a man’s funeral that we all involved with him at the same time. The heroine of this book was his wife.
I know that the book is supposed to be more about Claire rediscovering who she is, but did she have to date and kiss other men for the first 2/3 of the book? Besides the “Click Lit” the book is also categorized as romance and it ain’t romance if the “hero” of the novel is helping her dress for a date with another man. Honestly, Claire should have focused more on the kind of person she wanted to be. Or find a profession. She was living from her husband’s paycheck and then his insurance and she didn’t really have a life before the story began. She was plainer than vanilla. No hobbies, no friends, nothing. We didn’t even know what her favorite color was because she got a weird obsession with pink until she had a confrontation with Scott. Claire’s character was not a favorite of mine. I disliked her a lot and she was not the kind of person I would want in my life. I appreciate that this book is about her growth as a character, but I am still not 100% sold on her. Scott had as much development as her in a shorter time.
I’m a huge Lauren Layne fan and she’s truly outdone herself with Love on Lexington Avenue. What a completely fun, dreamy, fabulous ride!
Central Park Pact #2, I’m happy we didn’t have a very long wait for Claire’s story. Claire, Aubrey, and Naomi all met when Claire’s husband died, Aubrey’s boyfriend died, and Naomi’s lover died, unfortunately it was all the same man. Claire never knew he was cheating, she didn’t find out until after he die. He never told Naomi he was married and he told Aubrey that they were in the process of a divorce. Claire felt betrayed in the worst way so scorned by her husband she said she would never marry again. A year after his death and her newfound friendship with Aubrey and Naomi, Claire is ready to start living her life again and kind of going through a midlife crisis, sort of. She realizes how boring her life was how everything is bland and she wants to change that she wants to be pink lemonade instead of vanilla.
Scott is the contractor Claire hires to do a complete reno of her brownstone, since it hadn’t been updated since the seventies. Scott has long been jaded by the actions of his ex-fiancee and has had time to “get over it” he’s also never in once place for too long always picking the international jobs. Claire’s knows better than to start anything with him and not just because he’s best friends with her best friend’s boyfriend but he is definitely not her type, but then again.
Overall, another great story from Lauren Layne. Like so many of her other books this has great rom-com qualities, funny situations, quirky side characters, heated looks that lead to scenes that leave just enough to your imagination, and an absolutely adorable dog. I enjoyed the connection between Claire and Scott. I am also really looking forward to Aubrey and Clarke’s book from the blurb it sounds like another winner.
I love Lauren Layne’s romantic comedies and on Love on Lexington Avenue, she doesn’t disappoint bringing a totally unlikely couple that has captured the reader right from the first meeting.
Claire’s self-esteem is pretty low after all she has found out about her late husband so she is willing to make a radical change in her life starting with her home.
When she meets the contractor indicated by her friend Oliver for the job, she wonders if Scott will actually do what she asks to make her house a new home for her. Scott is the rude type of guy but since he wants to do something different with his profession, he takes the challenge of facing Claire’s dubious taste for color.
Between fun fights and moments of cuteness, the couple ends up connecting and even living always fighting for something, they begin to get fond of each other and when Claire asks him to help her in other matters beyond the house, the chemistry between them explodes.
I loved the story so much and how Lauren Layne showed the growth of both beyond bringing the characters from the previous book and adding an element I love, a super cute pet. Now I’m looking forward to Audrey’s story and I really wanted something for Brett too.
5/5 stars
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.
Since book one came out I couldn’t wait for more from Lauren about these ladies. The Central Park Pact is back and it’s Claire’s story we get to unveil. It is time for the scorned widow to get her chance at love. After her deceased husbands betrayal, it was hard to Claire to trust, not only did it do a injustice to her trust but as well as her self-confidence and her heart.
She doesn’t believe in true love, but she also doesn’t have trouble admitting her physical needs that might come from a man, but that’s as far as it will go. It’s been quite a while since she’s been in the dating scene. Somehow she asks her help from an unlikely source, her contractor.
Scott Turner is nothing like her usual type. He’s an abrasive blue-collar man, who doesn’t have any trouble with putting her in her place. Does this stop her attraction to him from growing. Nope.
As they begin working together the sexual tension builds and builds, until neither one can fight it. Can a friends-with-benefits arrangement work? Or will Claires demons get the best of her?
This book is definitely one for those who love a enemies-to-lovers/opposites attract. I am all for enemies-to-lovers, it is my favorite trope of all. And Lauren does Claire and it justice. Books needs a certain type of chemistry to hold my attention and this one does. Scott and Claire scorched the pages.
4.5 Stars!
Claire Hayes is a socialite in Manhattan with polished manners and the perfect life. Then everything collapses around her as she becomes a window and learns her fairy tale was fake. She finds out her late husband was a liar and a cheat, and is left feeling angry and bitter. She no longer believed her prince charming was out there, and was cynical about love. She planned to never share her heart or home with a man again. After seven years of marriage, it was time to take her life back, and move on. She was relishing in her new freedom to do whatever she wants. She wanted to be spontaneous and carefree, but felt boring. She was due for a change, and wanted excitement. She wanted to reinvent herself and lose herself in a new obsession. Something needs to change, and she has to start somewhere, so she decides to start with her home. She would love to rid all memories of her ex from her Upper East Side brownstone, so she hires a contractor named Scott Turner for the renovation. They clash right from the start on the project. He’s gruff, broody, and annoying, but they begin to share a mutual respect, and over time their attraction turns into more than either is prepared for. Will two people determined to be alone risk their hearts for love?
Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne is the second installment in the Central Park Pact series. I really enjoyed this sexy second chance romance full of hilarious banter and explosive chemistry. I can’t wait for Audrey and Clarke’s story up next!
Memo to self: don’t read Lauren Layne’s books while you’re at work because you might just tear up, which will confuse the mess out of your students and co-workers.
You met Claire previously in Passion on Park Avenue, when she encountered her newly deceased husband’s mistress AND girlfriend at his funeral. The three women formed a bond, despite–or perhaps in spite–of the circumstances of their meeting, and they swore to protect each other from falling for the wrong men.
Claire isn’t too worried about falling for any kind of man. All she wants is to rock the headboard, no strings attached. She asks her irascible contractor Scott to be her wingman, which you just know is going to frustrate both of them. Scott, you see, is mouth-wateringly good looking in that scruffy, flanel-wearing kind of way. He likes Claire, which surprises him, and she likes him, which surprises her.
You know where this is headed, but the way Lauren Layne gets you there is so delightful that you find yourself sighing and swooning. Scott will frustrate you to no end. He has convinced himself that he needs something, and it takes nearly losing what he really wants and needs to get him to wake up. There are a few times when Claire’s sadness and surety got me in my feels.
I inhaled this book, as I inhale all of Lauren Layne’s books, and I cannot wait for Audrey’s story.
Having read and loved Passion on Park Avenue earlier this year, I’ve been eagerly anticipating Claire’s story in Love on Lexington Avenue. This turned out to be everything I wanted and more.
Just like its predecessor, this reads like you’re losing yourself in watching a movie. You can visualize every single scene playing out like it’s on screen in front of you. I love books like this.
In my opinion we got a lot more depth to the friendship between the three ladies in this book. It was so wonderful to see them bonding ever more.
I knew reading Claire’s story would break my heart a little. She was obviously the one who had to deal with the Brayden fallout in a much more public way. Reading her journey of healing made me shed a fair amount of tears.
Her story truly was emotional, beautiful and touching.
I’m enamoured with this series and I’m full of giddy and anxious joy over the upcoming Marriage on Madison Avenue.
Lauren Layne has written another entertaining novel with Love on Lexington Avenue, her second book from the Central Park Pact series. The foundation of this story is the unique friendship that develops between three women as a result of tragic circumstances. Claire Hayes is a 35-year-old widow. On the day of her late husband’s funeral, she learns that he was romantically involved with two other women.
A year after her husband’s death, Claire is ready to renovate her very dated New York City apartment. On the advice of a friend, she hires talented contractor Scott Turner for the job. Scott is a New Yorker, however, his expertise is requested all over the world. He loves a challenge and there is something about Claire’s space that calls out to him. While Claire is refined and elegant, Scott is a bit rough and gruff around the edges. Over the course of the renovation, they get to know each other and become much more than employer and employee.
Love on Lexington Avenue is another winner from talented author Lauren Layne. This intriguing romance captured my attention from the very beginning with its engaging plot and lively characters. Claire and Scott are well-defined, which made it easy for me to form a connection to them. I liked their flirty banter and the slow burn of their budding relationship. This book may be enjoyed as a standalone.
Complimentary copy provided the publisher via NetGalley.
4-4.5 stars.
Oh, how I loved this.
This time we have Claire and Scott, we knew her in the previous book and we heard of him there as well. Now these two tell their story and it’s hot!
I loved Claire from before, but I was so glad to hear from her and really get to know her and the death of her husband altered her. I truly felt for her, I wanted to hug her and be her friend. She was truly lovely and lost and I loved how she finally found her path.
Scott sure is rough around the edges, but he was such a great character. He was nothing like I thought he would be and that was a pleasant surprise. This guy was awesome and absolutely the PERFECT guy for Claire. He had his own things to overcome, but with Claire’s help he showed who he truly was: and incredible guy. <3
I loved this, this was a great addition to this series and I can’t wait to read the next!
P.S.: Bob! Loved her hard.
*Thank you to the author for providing a copy for which I’m giving my honest opinion*
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. Scott, with his past, is shady on love and commitment. He wants nothing to do with the widow except to redo her home to get a change in scenery. Even if he has to deal with her craziness over doing things Pink. He just doesn’t expect to be so drawn to her.
I loved how Claire is determined to make things complete opposite from what she was and how she lived when her husband was still alive, 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. I love how in the end she discovers what she wants most and what makes her happy. With the help of her friends and the hunk of a contractor she discovers her true self. And a little love on the way.
We met Claire Hayes in the first book in this series. Claire is the widow of Brayden, the man who was having an affair with a few different women. Outside of Brayden’s funeral, Claire meets Naomi and Audrey, two of these women and a great friendship begins.
It’s been a year since Brayden’s death and Claire thinks she is ready to move on with her life. First up is renovating her brownstone. When Naomi’s boyfriend Oliver recommends his friend Scott Turner for the job you just know there will be fun. Scott has always been chasing something in his life, but he just doesn’t know what it is. He prefers to keep life simple, including only one night stands. Imagine his surprise when he first meets Claire and she is not the old widow he thought she would be. She is also not the typical Upper East Sider.
As Claire and Scott spend more time together they fall into an easy rapport. Claire even starts telling Scott how she wants his help to get her back into the dating world starting with finding just a one night stand. At first things are fun until Scott realizes that he may want Claire for himself. It will take a huge leap of faith for this wandering loner to realize that maybe what he has always been looking for is standing right in front of him!
I just adored Claire and Scott. Claire’s life was stuck in a rut and she desperately needed to redefine herself. I loved how she just jumped right in….sometimes a little hesitant but she still did it. I also really loved Scott. I love a man who can work with his hands….one of my weaknesses! I loved their banter back and forth and quite a few times I found myself laughing out loud! These two together were perfect and I just adored their happy ending.
I read Passion on Park Avenue a few months ago and immediately fell in love with the trio of ladies bonding over their misfortune of having known the same man (ahem, very intimately). Naomi was the mistress (her story is Passion on Park Avenue), Audrey was the girlfriend and then there was the wife Claire. Claire feels so much humiliation – not just because her husband was cheating on her with multiple people – but because she thought what they had was real. She thought that she was the perfect wife because her husband loved her for who she was.
It’s only right then, that she’s going through a bit of a crisis. She wants to spice up her life and add in pops of color (specifically pink) to what she thinks is a rather dull life. Enter Scott Turner, the contractor who she decides will help her remodel her home. I love grumpy heroes, and Scott fits the bill perfectly. He doesn’t lavish Claire with fancy words and tells her exactly what his opinions are on her house and other matters that she doesn’t really care for. Scott is honest and straightforward and I love that about him. The relationship between Claire and Scott gradually morphed into something more than a contractor and his client and I enjoyed the ride.
Both of these characters have a lot of feelings that are left unresolved, because of people in the past that have hurt them. They are so complicated, but loving and both of them always have such good intentions. Once I picked up this book, I read it over the course of a day and literally could not stop reading it. This book was a solid 4.5 stars for me. I can’t wait for Audrey and Clarke’s story!
**ARC kindly provided by TastyBookPR, NetGalley and Gallery Books in exchange for my honest review**
This one I adored. No one does heart tugging romantic gestures the way Lauren Layne does! Claire and Scott their journey made me so invested on how everything will turn out! I love this series from the first book but I adore Claire and Scott the most!
It’s no secret that I adore most of Lauren Layne’s novels especially those that are based on New York City but most of all because she’s basically Rom Com royalty for me. The Central Park Pact series is no exception and the second book in said series, Love on Lexington Avenue is basically the love of my life for 2019. It has all the elements that I love about Rom Coms, its also a book that plays on the charms of NYC (and even Paris for a brief moment) without overwhelming the story But most of all it has two marvelous characters that I just want to hug. This book entices with the story, entertains with the witty bantering between the main characters and it takes us to this heartwarming, poignant and humorous journey of love the second time around. I guarantee readers will fall in love with Claire and Scott and yes even Bob and the color pink!
Love on Lexington Avenue is the second book in the Central Park Pact Series and it follows the story of Claire and Scott. Now, if you remember from the first book, Claire is actually the widow of Brayden and it was Brayden’s death that brought this whole story into motion. When Brayden passed away, Claire might have lost her husband, but she gained two amazing friends and has discovered the woman she lost along the way.
When we meet up with Claire in Love on Lexington Aveune, Claire is ready for the next phase of her life. She’s tired of the status quo and is ready to make some colorful changes with her life. And what better way to start this change, then a home renovation. What Claire didn’t plan on was Scott…..Scott is looking for a change of pace from corporate renovation and despite his reservations, working with Claire might just be what the doctor ordered…..
Overall, I found this book to be a really fun and enjoyable read. I loved getting to know Claire and see how things with Brayden truley effected her. I loved that despite everything she had been through, she came out stronger than ever and formed an unbreakable friendship with two women that she should hate. I feel like Claire’s character came a long way since we first met her. She wasn’t just this meek and fraigle thing. She was strong and ready to take on the next phase of her life. She might not have been looking for love, but you know how the saying goes, it hits you when you least expect it.
Speaking of love, I really enjoyed Scott and Claire together. Of course they butted heads in the beginning, but the tension and chemsitry was there. Both Scott and Claire had their own baggage and weren’t ready to put their hearts on the line. Their romance had a nice slow burn to it. I enjoyed watching them try to figure things out and fight for their happily ever after.
Love on Lexington Avenue was a terrific read from beginning to end. I loved getting to catch up with Claire and the girls. I enjoyed getting swept up in all that was Scott and Claire. Claire’s story wasn’t just a romance, but it was also a journey of self discovery and letting go. This story has real, strong characters. It is sweet, yet swoon-worthy all at the same time and has just the right balance of steam and angst. In the end, Love on Lexington Avenue will leave you with a smile on your face and butterflies in your belly. This is the pefect book to spend your summer afternoon getting lost in. And I for one, can not wait to see what lies ahead for us with the next book in this series!
Somersaults and butterflies!
Picking up after Passion on Park Avenue, we get to hang out with Claire, widow of the man who brought on The Pact, as she tries to find herself after everything that went down. Claire is a woman on a mission to find herself again, and Scott, who comes along to help her renovate her house, just hopes to convince her to use less pink.
The slow burn in this book is something else – my stomach spent most of the book filled with butterflies and doing somersaults from all the flirting and back-and-forth banter between Claire and Scott. You can’t help but fall for these two, and root for them to get out of heir own way to come together.
With the same great cast of supporting characters (Naomi, Oliver, Audrey and Clarke), LL delivers another awesome feel good RomCom.
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 other 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, and 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 how I Loved this sweet, charming and adorable, second chance romance. This had it all and I didn’t want to stop reading. Ms. Layne’s writing always manages to bring you right into the scene with her characters. Her descriptive use of language makes each scene very realistic and the emotions the characters are feeling, so believable.
I really have enjoyed this series so far and Claire’s story has been my favorite. Although this is a series, each story is a stand alone but I would encourage you to read them in order.
Claire is bored her husband has been dead for a year, so she decides to remodel her Upper East Side Brownstone to make it her own. Scott Turner is a good friend to Claire’s friends Naomi and Oliver, and he offers to do the remodel for Claire.
But these two are opposites in every way. Where Claire is refined and polite Scott is blunt, callous and downright rude. Both of them have been burned and are somewhat jaded and broken from their past relationships. But being thrown together on a daily basis, it doesn’t take them long and they are getting on each other’s nerves. Especially with an attraction and chemistry that is off the charts.
But when Claire asks for Scott’s help to hook up and have a fling with someone else, although he knows he isn’t good enough for her, he still wants her. Will their attraction and chemistry be enough to help them find a HEA? You will need to read this to find out.
I loved every minute of this Fantastic, Adorable, Charming, and Completely Enthralling Romance!
Love on Lexington Avenue was totally unexpected. Layne has the courage to say the words we often long to say, but are afraid to speak. With a laugh here, a heartache there and empowerment everywhere, Claire is a contradiction that needs to be explored. Her need to try something new becomes the best decision she could have made. Scott is no Prince Charming. He’s a beast with a designer’s eye and very little patience. Can the ice around his heart, thaw enough to heal the pain that haunts his latest client? Layne and company turn up the charm with a modern day, Beauty and the Beast. Fun, flirty and sassy.