Isn't It Romantic?

Undercover Bromance
Lyssa Kay Adams
Series: Bromance Book Club, #2
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Berkley Publishing
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction.

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a sous chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart... even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

She survived a year of his tyranny, but after catching her boss sexually harassing one of her co-workers, Liv spoke up, and found herself out of a job. She was down, but she wasn't out. Determined to expose him and his despicable workplace antics, Liv came up with a plan, and found an unlikely partner in Braden Mack.

I have to admit, I had a few reservations about this book.

First, I was worried it would be too heavy, but Adams did a great job balancing the weight of the  storylines with the humor and charm, that won my heart when I read The Bromance Book Club. I appreciate, that Adams was compelled to take on such a relevant topic, but I am even more appreciative, that she was able to do so while still keeping this in the realm of being a rom-com.

My other reservation had to do with Liv. She was very prickly in the last book, and maybe wasn't one of my favorite characters. However, here, as the star of the story, I got a deeper look into her life, past and present. I got to see her at her fiercest and her most vulnerable, and I liked what I saw. Not only did I like Liv, I liked who she was with Braden, and who he was with her. Watching them warm up to each other and form a genuine connection was a thing of beauty, and to my delight, I found myself 100% behind this pairing.

The title of this book eludes to the undercover nature of their quest to reveal Liv's evil boss to the world, but it also hints at how both Liv and Braden were undercover in their own lives, hiding their real selves from the rest of the world.

Braden was the affable night club owner, who everybody liked, yet he was playing a part. Underneath the shiny and smooth Braden Mack exterior was a man struggling with the guilt and pain of his past. His backstory broke my heart, but I loved that he was finally able to come to terms with it as he connected with Liv. She also harbored some pain from her past, and was dealing with feelings of inadequacy, of being a burden, and of being a disappointment to her loved ones. It was a pleasure seeing her work through these issues and see herself the way others saw her.

So much to love, but it was the Bromance boys who stole the show every time they were on page. I thought I got to know each member a bit better this time around, and I reveled in the increased number of bromantic encounters. There was feeling sharing, bouts of hugging it out, and I even learned The Russian's name! I thought putting these men, who were in touch with their emotions, side by side with a toxic male was a great choice for this story. I also enjoyed the introduction of Hop and Rosie to the mix. They added even more fun to this world, and some really heartfelt emotion as well.

Once again, the men of the Bromance Book Club made me laugh, smile, and swoon, and I cannot wait to have another bromantic adventure with them.

Yours in Scandal
Lauren Layne
Series: Man of the Year, #1
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

A political golden boy and the woman of his dreams take the risk of their lives in a sexy romantic comedy of strange bedfellows and second chances by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne.

Fresh off being named Citizen magazine’s Man of the Year, New York City’s youngest mayor, Robert Davenport, decides it’s time to strategize. Next move: a bid for the governor’s seat. In his way: an incumbent with a flawless reputation. He also has an Achilles’ heel: an estranged wild-child daughter with a past so scandalous it could be Robert’s ticket to victory. And a charm so irresistible it could be Robert’s downfall.

Rebellion is a thing of the past for Adeline Blake. As New York’s premier event planner, she’s all about reform and respectability. Then she’s approached by Robert to organize the party of the season. Curious, considering he’s her father’s most formidable opponent. And alarming, too. Because Addie can’t help but fall for the righteously popular candidate with the movie-star smile.

Now it’s Robert’s choice. Does he pursue a future that holds his legacy? Or the woman who holds his heart?

I want to start by telling any of you, who are tired of politics, that this book is indeed set in a political world, but it does not take on any political topics.

Rather, this was another great addition to Lauren Layne's catalog, which featured a fantastic hero, a great heroine, some steadfast friends, and a chemistry fueled romance.

Who?

• Robert - The youngest mayor of New York City, who had always walked the straight and narrow, when it came to his political life, but was beginning to want more than just a career.
• Addie - The former wild-child daughter of Robert's biggest political opponent, who had been living a quiet life, out of the spotlight, under a new identity, but was missing parts of her former life.  

What?

When Robert's campaign manger recognized Addie as Adeline, an up and coming party planner, he pressured Robert into hiring her for an event in order to eventually gain intel regarding her father. Though Robert refused, time and time again, he found himself drawn to Addie, and she found herself drawn to him. 

Why?

I have read 25 Lauren Layne books to date, and the reasons I keep coming back for more were well represented in Yours in Scandal. 

Robert was a fantastic hero. One would expect him to be charming as a career politician, but you could tell he was 100% authentic and not just playing a part. I thought it was rather lovely, how he wanted to uphold certain ideals and take on the things his father never had the opportunity to tackle, but I also wanted to see him putting himself first sometimes. 

I found myself empathizing with Addie's situation and understanding her choices. Although her childhood was tainted by the lies and misdeeds perpetuated by her father, she was able to find a bit of stability, and that motivated her to take on this new persona and establish a successful business. 

I think one reason Robert and Addie were able to connect the way they did was because both were forced to sacrifice parts of their lives, of themselves. It was beautiful seeing them recover those bits and pieces and reclaim their lives while falling in love. 

As always, Layne balanced out the heavy with the light, and injected plenty of fun and humor into the story. Interactions with friends were quite amusing, and I even enjoyed some nights out on the town. I also found this coupling quite wonderful, and appreciated that the story was rather low drama. Also, once the romance started, it moved along quite quickly. I have to admit, I loved seeing this relationship move ahead, and it culminated in something that put a huge smile on my face. 

As always, Layne has delivered a delightful romance, and I am excited to meet the next Man of the Year.  

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

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