THE TROUBLE WITH LOVE
Sex, Love & Stiletto's #4
Lauren Layne
As Lauren Layne’s salacious Sex, Love & Stiletto series returns, a jaded columnist discovers a steamy way to get over an old flame: falling for him all over again.
As Stiletto magazine’s authority on all things breakup-and-heartache, Emma
Sinclair writes from personal experience. Five years ago, Emma was Charlotte, North Carolina’s darling debutante and a blushing bride-to-be. Now she’s the ice queen of the Manhattan dating scene. Emma left her sultry Southern drawl behind, but not even her closest friends know that with it she left her heart. Now Emma’s latest article forces her to face her demons—namely, the devilishly sexy guy who ditched her at the altar.
Sinclair writes from personal experience. Five years ago, Emma was Charlotte, North Carolina’s darling debutante and a blushing bride-to-be. Now she’s the ice queen of the Manhattan dating scene. Emma left her sultry Southern drawl behind, but not even her closest friends know that with it she left her heart. Now Emma’s latest article forces her to face her demons—namely, the devilishly sexy guy who ditched her at the altar.
After giving up everything for a pro-soccer career, Alex Cassidy watches his dreams crumble as a knee injury sidelines him for good. Now he’s hanging up his cleats and giving journalism a shot. It’s just a coincidence that he happens to pick a job in the same field, and the same city, as his former fiancée . . . rig ht ?
But when Emma moves in next door, it’s no accident. It’s research. And Alex
can’t help wondering what might have been. Unlike the innocent girl he
remembers , this Emma is chic, sophisticated, and assertive—and she wants
absolutely nothing to do with him. The trouble is, Alex has never wanted her
more .
But when Emma moves in next door, it’s no accident. It’s research. And Alex
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Emma Sinclair knows heartbreak better than most, that’s why she writes about it. She is one of the female columnists at Stiletto magazine. Along with her closest friends at the magazine, she writes from personal experiences. However, even her friends don’t know the whole truth about the devastating day the love of her life broke her heart and left her at the altar. Now he becomes her temporary editor and chief and he assigns her to write a story that will either help her get over him or completely break her heart all over again.
Alex Cassidy was a star athlete in college until one day a knee injury forces him to reevaluate his life goals. He decides to give journalism a shot. He ends up in a magazine in New York City a dream job as editor in chief of Oxford magazine for men. By some horrible twist of fate the sister magazine Stiletto hires his former fiancé. They broke each other’s hearts seven years ago and now they decide to be an adult about it and ignore each other. Yes, that will work right? A supposed coincidence puts her in the apartment next door to him and Alex can’t help wondering if the girl he fell in love with is still there under all that ice. He finds himself determined to chip away at her chilly exterior, in the process falling for her all over again.
My Review:
I absolutely loved this story. Wow, really great character development. I am always worried when I get books that are in a series I have never read. Sometimes when an author says you can read the book from a series as a standalone it feels like its missing something and I don’t get the full effect of the story. However, in this book of four of the Stiletto series, Lauren Layne has developed such well-rounded characters at no point did I feel lost or not understand where the story was headed or where it had been in previous books. For me she managed to keep me informed about the pasts of the other characters in the series without making it boring or confusing. The background characters were so much fun and relate able, Cassidy’s friends and Emma’s friends lending much needed advice and sometimes comic relief.
As I found out more and more about the heartbreak both Emma and Cassidy suffered from their failed wedding seven years ago I became very emotional. This book made me laugh, it made me cry and ugly cry. I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to going back to find out how the other couples in the series got their happily ever after. Just added this author to my favorites list.
RECEIVED AN ARC FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
Emma Sinclair knows heartbreak better than most, that’s why she writes about it. She is one of the female columnists at Stiletto magazine. Along with her closest friends at the magazine, she writes from personal experiences. However, even her friends don’t know the whole truth about the devastating day the love of her life broke her heart and left her at the altar. Now he becomes her temporary editor and chief and he assigns her to write a story that will either help her get over him or completely break her heart all over again.
Alex Cassidy was a star athlete in college until one day a knee injury forces him to reevaluate his life goals. He decides to give journalism a shot. He ends up in a magazine in New York City a dream job as editor in chief of Oxford magazine for men. By some horrible twist of fate the sister magazine Stiletto hires his former fiancé. They broke each other’s hearts seven years ago and now they decide to be an adult about it and ignore each other. Yes, that will work right? A supposed coincidence puts her in the apartment next door to him and Alex can’t help wondering if the girl he fell in love with is still there under all that ice. He finds himself determined to chip away at her chilly exterior, in the process falling for her all over again.
My Review:
I absolutely loved this story. Wow, really great character development. I am always worried when I get books that are in a series I have never read. Sometimes when an author says you can read the book from a series as a standalone it feels like its missing something and I don’t get the full effect of the story. However, in this book of four of the Stiletto series, Lauren Layne has developed such well-rounded characters at no point did I feel lost or not understand where the story was headed or where it had been in previous books. For me she managed to keep me informed about the pasts of the other characters in the series without making it boring or confusing. The background characters were so much fun and relate able, Cassidy’s friends and Emma’s friends lending much needed advice and sometimes comic relief.
As I found out more and more about the heartbreak both Emma and Cassidy suffered from their failed wedding seven years ago I became very emotional. This book made me laugh, it made me cry and ugly cry. I highly recommend this book and I am looking forward to going back to find out how the other couples in the series got their happily ever after. Just added this author to my favorites list.
RECEIVED AN ARC FROM NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
The elevator doors had just started to close when a male hand stuck between them, activating their sensors so that the doors reopened.
Great. Really freaking fantastic.
A lesser woman would have groaned in dismay at the sight of the man in front of her.
Emma merely straightened her shoulders, ignoring Julie’s softly uttered “Oh, dear.”
It was him.
The man was gorgeous in the sort of way that made women stop and stare. The tall and lean athlete’s body was as impeccably dressed as ever in a trim, perfectly tailored black suit. No sign of a tie today, although there often was one.
His dark hair was perfectly styled, the clean-shaven face showing off a strong jaw and symmetrical lips.
And the eyes . . . green today, although they often could burn blue.
But Emma didn’t have to look at the man to know all of this.
She knew it all from her memories. Bad memories.
He didn’t falter at the sight of Emma and her low-cut cocktail dress and ugly wet bun.
In fact, he didn’t look at her at all.
Nothing—not surprise, not even acknowledgment—fluttered across his features at her presence.
The man was in control.
Always.
Julie shifted to the corner of the elevator to make room for him, and he nodded briefly at her before turning so that he and Emma were standing shoulder to shoulder.
The doors closed, and Emma lifted her eyes to the little screen that indicated the floor number.
He mimicked her posture, his eyes also focused on the spot where the L became 1, then 2 as they ascended.
“Emma,” he said politely, not looking at her.
“Cassidy.”
“You’re looking well.”
“And you,” she said, her tone smooth. Monotone.
“You didn’t get dressed up on my account, I hope.” His voice never lost its casual politeness.
She didn’t so much as glance at him. “Oh, do you not like it? I’ve been so hoping a fancy dress is all it would take for you to ask for my number.”
The elevator stopped on the seventh floor, and Emma and Cassidy stepped to the side so the man in the back corner could exit. In sync, they moved immediately back into their previous positions as the door closed.
They still had not looked at each other.
“You know, it’s a little bright for my taste,” he mused, as though they’d never been interrupted. “I like more subdued colors on a woman. Say . . . w hi te
Julie cleared her throat, although Emma couldn’t tell if it was a warning or a laugh.
The elevator stopped at 12. Emma’s stop. Finally.
“Excuse me,” she murmured to Cassidy as she stepped off, her voice sugary sweet.
Julie followed her.
And much to Emma’s dismay, so did Cassidy.
“Wrong floor, Cassidy,” Julie said sweetly, with a pretty smile for the wretched man.
Traitor.
“Not today it’s not,” he replied.
“Ah,” Julie said. “Got a meeting with Camille?”
“I do.”
Camille Bishop was the editor in chief of Stiletto magazine, and Julie and Emma’s boss. Since Cassidy was the editor in chief of Oxford magazine, Stiletto’s brother publication, it wasn’t strange that he occasionally stopped by the twelfth floor.
Didn’t mean Emma had to like it.
“See you ladies around,” Cassidy said with a smile for Julie. Emma barely warranted a glance. “Oh, and Emma, just a friendly reminder that winter’s right around the corner. Careful you don’t catch a cold with that wet head .”
He moved away before Emma had a chance to respond. Or give him the finger. Not that she would have bothered.
Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.
Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren's gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.
Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you'll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.
Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren's gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.
Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you'll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.
Start the Stiletto Series from the Beginning
AFTER THE KISS
LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH
JUST ONE NIGHT
Stiletto Spin Off:
IRRESISTIBLY YOURS
OXFORD Series #1
Coming October 6th
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