Ready to Run by Lauren Layne is the more fun, playful side of her books. The reality show bachelor setting is popular these days. Yet, Ms. Layne is able to bring her own spin to the story with the commitment phobia added to her trademark, sassy and witty characters. I am a small-town girl at heart so I adored Lucky Hollow.

However, I did have some trouble seeing the chemistry between the two main characters. Jordan is a go-getter producer which I could appreciate in the dog-eat-dog world of media. Luke is well, the firefighter who leaves the women at the altar. Their interactions are funny but not sizzling like some of her characters relationships.

I liked Ready to Run but can’t say I truly loved it. For me the secondary characters made this story. Often, they were just as witty and maybe smarter and kinder too. Fans of Lauren Layne will love this one as well as fans of chick lit books.

When I first started this book, I really sure how I felt about the hero. Luke had supposedly left 3 women at the altar, he was gruff and rude, but the town around him all considered him a good guy. So who was the real Luke?
Jordan (our female lead) was definitely easier to connect too and I enjoyed how she went about getting to know Luke and the people of Lucky Hollow.
The story surrounding Jordan and Luke was cute and a unique premise, but to be honest the stellar secondary cast is what made this book work.
I appreciated how we saw Luke pushed from the funk he'd grown comfortable in and Jordan was reminded that there were good times to in her own small town to remember, not just bad memories. They really were exactly what the other needed.
Fans of Ms Layne will not be disappointed with this latest effort!

Meet Lauren Layne's newest Hot Hero, Luke Elliott. He's a firefighter, an animal lover, and he's already had three fiancées, so you know he's open to marriage. Some of you may be bothered by him having left those women at the altar, but, when you think about it, this makes him all the more appealing, non? That whole "chase" thing?

Running certainly is an ongoing motif in this deliciously hot romance novel. You have Luke running away from his three would-be marriages, and you have Jordan, a New York City-based television producer running after him, trying to get him to commit to a Bachelor-esque reality show. You also have Luke and Jordan both running toward and running away from each other. 

Perhaps the most significant running, though, is Jordan's running away from her past. Luke does this, too, to a certain extent, but Jordan's is more poignant, more emotionally devastating. 

Lauren Layne does so many things well in this book. She hooks you immediately, making you wonder if Jordan can convince the runaway groom to appear in the TV show. She makes you want to know more about Luke's flights, and she makes you want to know why Jordan feels at home in this small Montana town. And she writes some pretty fabulous sexy times. I've got to say that I'm mighty intrigued by the men in Lucky Hollow, Montana.

I can't wait to dig in to Lauren Layne's take on this Bachelor and Runaway Bride cross story. She always has fun, witty romantic stories. Plus I adore small town romances always great time. To sum it up show recruiter Jordan Carpenter heads to Montana is search of the elusive Luke Elliott well known runaway groom. The guy wants nothing to do with the show and it's premise. Both felt that chemistry but choose to avoid for their own reasons. But still they butt heads and have their battle plans ready.

At the heart of this story is people looking for love. One escaping small town past and one has things to keep hidden. They have a common similarities too. The banter is full of teasing and jabs. I found the situations they were caught in entertaining. Luke definitely fit their profile his refusals may seem empty but he has good reason. Jordan values her job will she let this little entanglement get in the way? There's more than meets the eye with these two hopefully they can see it.

Another fabulous fun read from Lauren Layne with her usual touches of feels, sweet and sexy. The characters are all likable and endearing. Ready to Run is off to a easy very enjoyable start and makes me look forward to the next!

Cute, sweet small town romance with a city girl, a firefighter hero and lots of nosy neighbors. Given how much interference and meddling Luke's neighbors and exes add to Luke and Jordan's rocky relationship, this was a blend of Runaway Bride and Sweet Home Alabama, but with a touch more angst.

Jordan and Luke were a great match - how can you go wrong with a firefighter who has a golden retriever and a cat? I'm a big fan of Lauren Layne, but this one was not my favorite. I'm not a fan of romances set in the world of reality tv shows (poor Luke just really wanted to be left alone). Also, unlike the usual cosmopolitan flair of the author's NYC-based romances, I tired of the endless small town antics, not to mention the long drawn out mystery of Luke's three abandoned brides-to-be.

4 - "Even Jimmy Choo can’t disguise your roots." Stars!

Lauren Layne begins her new I Do, I Don’t series with an opposites attract romance, when big city girl Jordan travels to the wilds of Montana, to try and lure fire-fighter Luke to sign up to be the lead in a new Bachelor type reality show.

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I’ll be honest and say me and Ms. Layne have hit the skids in 2017, everything I have read by her so far this year has been underwhelming, underdeveloped and pretty mediocre, something that has come as a bit of a shock after years of being one of my go-to contemporary romance authors. Ready to Run is the first book I have read since the latter stages of 2016 that even remotely resembles the writing quality of the author I have come to expect.

"You’re little more than a vulture in heels."

The story between Luke and Jordan could have been pretty run-of-the-mill frenemies-to-lovers, but the author keeps you on your toes through its telling by revealing in phases the reasons behind his three failed weddings, each woman that he at first assumptions (particularly by Jordan) left at the altar.

A man who’d left three women at the altar wasn’t the hero of the story...

The more Jordan and Luke get to know, and start to then fall for each other the more each of them reveals about their pasts, and I liked that. This isn't a book that’s all about the sex, it’s an easy-going story-line that delivers more on story than bedroom antics, I liked that it wasn’t rushed to be honest, bearing in mind they start out disliking each other the gradual move to admitting attraction and then to more kinds of builds as their personal backgrounds develop.

There was no future for a TV producer from New York City and a firefighter in Montana.

I still think the author is forgoing quality over quantity with the amount of books she’s pumping out at the moment, but Ready to Run did give me hope that this is a series that will give readers more of the engaging story-lines, likeable characters and quality writing that I have come to expect from her.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

Okay, that? Was completely adorable. What a fun read! A complete pick-me-up. Quick, easy, and incredibly swoony. This was my first book by Lauren Layne (seriously, I am always late to the party), and it definitely won’t be my last.

Things didn’t play out the way I expected them to in Ready to Run. I felt a little apprehensive going in thinking that I may be uncomfortable with parts of the story, but those fears were completely unfounded. The chemistry between Luke and Jordan pulled me in immediately and I loved how they sparked against each other, their irritation fueling a low burn that inevitably caught flame, and it was so satisfying. I liked that he was gruff and growly. I liked that she didn’t let him cow her. I liked the sassy, flirty banter and the playfulness between the two of them (when they weren’t driving each other crazy). And I loved - loved - the secondary characters and the small town charm that oozed into every single facet of this book.

In the end, this was the kind of read that just made me feel happy. I felt it the entire time I was reading, and I definitely felt it in that heart melting, knee-weakening ending. It’s light and sweet and I lost myself in it completely. I’m so glad there’s more coming because I’m definitely hungry for more where this come from!

A great blend of fun and sexiness to kick off a series you won’t want to miss.

Lauren Layne has a wonderful way of writing a story with good balance between delightful fun and hotness that grabs me from start to finish. I haven’t missed a single one of her books and I don’t plan on doing so because I know I’ll be getting an enjoyable escape every single time. With this first book in her I Do, I Don’t series, Ms. Layne sets the stage for an amusing and addictive series about runaway bachelors.

In Ready to Run we meet big city, reality TV producer Jordan Carpenter who is trying to recruit the small town, elusive firefighter Luke Elliot who’s left three brides at the altar. After being ignored via emails and phone calls, Jordan decides to head to the small and picturesque town of Lucky Hollow to talk to him personally, but no matter how much she tries to convince him to participate in the show he just won’t budge.

Much to Luke’s dismay and Jordan’s surprise, she’s having a good ‘ol time reacquainting herself with the small town life thanks to the warm welcome she’s getting from everyone else, from invitations to participate in the kissing booth at the county fair to his exes including her in their book club. Before long Luke and Jordan are incapable of ignoring their growing attraction, but as candidate he’s off-limits to her and her presence is dredging up old wounds.

There’s a lot more to Luke’s runaway groom story than he lets on and Jordan senses this because there’s no way a man who dedicates his life to saving people and even cats and is so liked by everyone would callously leave his brides, or would he? Can he let down his guard long enough to confess the reason behind his shielded heart and admit his growing feelings towards the sexy city slicker before it’s too late?

I really enjoyed Luke and Jordan’s story, especially the charming backdrop with all of the town’s endearing characters where everyone knows everyone else, and of course Jordan’s BFF, the colorful Simon. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

Ready to Run is the kickoff book in the Ready to Run series by Lauren Layne. It is a standalone, contemporary romance. Told from both points of view, with a happy ending.

Omg, this book was absolutely perfect! It was everything I was hoping for, and even more!

First of all, I totally love Lauren Layne's writing style. The story was so captivating, and I devoured the book in less than 4 hours, because I really couldn't stop reading it!

This book was set mainly is a small town, and I loved this setting. It made me want to pack my bags and leave for it! It was so welcoming❤ The secondary characters made this book even more special, I felt like they became my friends to during my read.

Luke and Jordan story were 😍😍😍😍😍 I floved them as single persons and as a couple. Their relationship was full of sparks and soooo intriguing, the storyline really great, new and innovative, and I loved the way it was developed during the book.

Luke is a hot hot hot firefighter of Lucky Hollow, and his past history as fiancé seems to be not of the greatest 😉 but the reality is really different than what appears, and there were some twists that made the story interesting and surprising! I absolutely understood his reticence toward Jordan, considering also the reason why she went to his town, and I had a good time reading about him changing his mind and falling for her.

I loved Jordan. She too appears a strong woman and a cutthroat, but in reality, she has suffered too much in her real life, and her behaviour is due to the defensive walls put up to defende her heart. Little by little she rediscovers herself, thanks to the loving welcoming of the small town and mainly thanks to Luke ❤

This book filled my heart with happy feelings and warmth. I would gladly accept every novella or mention of this couple or town in the future, because I really fell in love with them ❤
Can't wait to read more books by Lauren Layne!

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of Jordan Carpenter, a tv producer from New York City, and Luke Elliott, a firefighter from a small town in Montana. Normally these two might never have crossed paths but luckily Jordan is trying to cast the star of a new tv show called Jilted (The Bachelor but for guys with commitment problems) and Luke has left three women at the altar, and by all accounts seems perfect to be the star of the show. And so Jordan travels (*cough*stalks*cough*) to Montana to convince him in person. Only problem is once she gets there she finds herself distracted by.. well by Luke himself. While he sure is surly he also has a heart of gold. But while Jordan's career rests on Luke's answer, can she really throw her life away and open herself up to this new opportunity with Luke? 
Overall this was a really good book. I really got hooked into the story and I didn't want to put it down. There was some great chemistry between the main characters and I thought the author did a great job of really developing their relationship, especially considering how short the book was. This was a fairly quick and easy read, and it would be just perfect for reading on your summer vacation. My only warning is don't think too hard in like a feminist mentality, Jordan seemed genuinely happy with her decisions and I like that the author accurately portrays how much her character likes the small town life. My only real complaint with this one is that I thought it would've been really fun to read about Luke actually being on the show but it sounds like we'll get a glimpse of that with the second book in the series, Runaway Groom. I liked this one a lot and I can't wait for the next one in the series!!

What’s it About? Jordan Carpenter is forced to travel to Montana after firefighter Luke Elliott refuses to answer her phone calls. She thinks he’s a perfect candidate for a new dating show about runaway grooms but he just wants to be left alone. Suddenly Luke is seeing Jordan everywhere, at the local bar, at the county fair, talking to his exes, talking to his friends and he realizes getting rid of her isn’t going to be easy. The bigger problem though is that everyone actually likes her, and Luke is starting to like her himself, so much that they’re spending time together like an actual couple. Only Jordan has to go back to Manhattan soon and she needs Luke to be on the show in order to keep her job.




Overall reaction to the story? Not gonna lie, I was skeptical about Ready to Run. I have a hate/hate relationship with reality dating shows but I was curious to see if Lauren Layne could create a believable romance set among the trashiness of reality “dating.” She did. Jordan and Luke seemed like total opposites on the surface which made them butt heads for awhile but Layne made them more than just the typical city mouse/country mouse couple. She gave them emotional backgrounds and surprising twists that had me smiling, laughing, and loving every moment of the book. My trust and curiosity were justly rewarded.



Describe the hero in five words: Secretive. Kind. Gruff. Stubborn. Loyal.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? I like the grumpy ones okay? I’m weird like that. Luke seemed like the brooding, cranky subject of local town gossip but he was so much more than that. He was a total softie and dedicated to protecting the people around him even if it meant he was target of gossip or the target of a sleazy reality show. I loved how Luke slowly started to show the man he really was which totally contradicted the gossip and rumors about him. He’s a protector through and through but at the same time he doesn’t even realize he needs someone to protect him back.



Describe the heroine in five words: Stubborn. Successful. Smart. Sassy. Kind.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? Jordan isn’t a heartless person but she was a determined businesswoman which I totally admired. She was a little clueless as to how all the attention affected Luke, she only had her eye on the big prize: Impressing her boss by getting Luke to be on the show. I liked her dedication to being successful but it was her personality that was the winner. She needed a chance to reconnect with who she was at heart and I really liked that journey. Jordan may have seemed very superficial in the beginning of Ready to Run but she definitely changed a lot and went back to who she was before she lived in Manhattan. Her back story was heartbreaking and explained a lot about who she was.



Let’s talk about the romance: Luke and Jordan were on opposite sides of the conflict so I loved that they butt heads a lot but there was also a strong attraction between them that didn’t immediately lead to anything but more bickering. Lauren Layne built up the relationship through their constant run ins, well to Luke they were a nuisance but to Jordan they were planned in a way. I liked that progression from reluctantly communicating to actively seeking each other out. There was plenty of heat between them but also some sweet, ordinary moments that I appreciated.



How about that supporting cast? The people of Lucky Hollow are a fun group of people. They love each other but they also love to gossip about each other too. They can close ranks around someone they care about too. They gave a real small town feeling to the story without making it feel suffocating.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. I was super surprised at how much I enjoyed Ready to Run and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Sweet small-town romance with the right amount of sexiness, steam and swoon-worthy moments! Great start to the new "I do, I don't" series by this author. Look forward to the rest of the series based on the characters and storyline of this one. Has just the right amount of suspense without getting away from the flirty, sexy, enchanting stories we expect from this author. Would definitely recommend this read!

​​​​​Small town goodness and reality TV come together in Lauren Layne's latest novel, Ready To Run. This book is about reality TV producer Jordan Carpenter, and Luke Elliott, a hot firefighter. Both characters are well-developed, interesting and fun.

Jordan grew up in a small town and loved every minute of her upbringing. When tragedy struck, she hightailed it out of Keaton, Kansas, and took up residence in New York City, where she became involved in TV production. Her new reality series is about a bachelor finding love after being jilted on more than one occasion. Jordan believes that Luke is her star, because he survived three unsuccessful attempts at the altar. Since Luke will not return any of her calls, emails or texts, she has no choice but to go to Lucky Hollow and offer him the job in person.

Luke has no desire to be a reality TV star, even though his good-looks, backstory, and heroism would make him an instant hit. Since Luke finds Jordan incredibly annoying, Jordan has her work cut out for her. To her surprise, Luke's friends also believe he would make an awesome celebrity bachelor. As Jordan plants herself in Luke's life, and the lives of the people who know him, she begins to feel at home in Lucky Hollow. Their dealings and conversations lead to a kiss, which evolves into lust and love.

Jordan and Luke share a chemistry that Ms. Layne wonderfully develops over the course of the story. Their sexy times are very hot. Simon, Jordan's colleague and best friend, is full of color and fun, which adds some spontaneity to the plot. I especially liked Luke's sister and former fiances, because they added a Sex and the City vibe to the present happenings. This is the first book in Ms. Layne's "I Do, I Don't" series and it can be completely enjoyed as a standalone.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Jordan has the sort of thankless job of recruiting stars for bachelor-esque shows. She thinks she's found a great candidate...but it turns out the guy is pretty resistant to the idea. Also, he's hunky but damaged, so basically cat nip to Jordan. What follows is a fun, surprisingly nuanced love story.

Lauren Layne has the touch. I really like how she writes incredibly successful, beautiful female protagonists who still manage to be relatable and interesting.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Cute romance that felt a little like a Hallmark TV movie to me - a hard-charging Manhattan TV executive in charge of a new reality show goes to Montana to recruit a reticent runaway groom to agree to be a contestant. Of course, sparks fly between the two of them.

This was sweet if a bit formulaic, but an enjoyable way to spend a few hours. I always enjoy a small-town setting. I've read other books by this author and this was definitely more on the PG side.

This is probably my least favorite LL that I've read so far but I still liked it because her books are just that good. I'm trying to put my finger on what didn't quite work for me in this one and I think it was the chemistry, or lack thereof. I am used to LL's books having insane chemistry between the love interests and the chemistry between Luke and Jordan wasn't what I expected. While there were flashes of LL's usual stellar chemistry created between Jordan and Luke, there was not enough of those although it could just be that I have very high expectations for LL's book after reading and loving quite a few of them What did work for me were all the secondary characters and the setting. LL is a genius at sidekicks, for lack of a better word. You know that person that the MC can bounce all his or her thoughts and feeling off of and who's the most amazing friends? She excels at creating just such characters. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!

Ready to Run comes out next week on August 22, 2017, and you can purchase HERE.

His fingers spread wide over her waist as his mouth opened over hers, and Jordan's fingers gripped his shirt, holding him close.

It was a bit like being a teenager again, where you thought you'd die of the frantic want, where you didn't care that you were in a parking lot, pressed against a car, probably getting dirt on your blouse, because all that mattered was the boy.

Except this was not a boy.

The guy pinning her to the truck was all man, and his hands and mouth absolutely knew what they were doing.
Someone whistled as he walked by, and Jordan broke away with a gasping laugh. "Is this how you got three women to agree to marry you? Kissing them against your truck?"

The craziness of reality TV meets the beauty of small town living and creates some delicious down home scandal. Ready to Run doesn't take itself too seriously. Lauren Layne has concocted a bushel of joy with her usual sassy style and ingenious characters. A groom on the run, a woman in hot pursuit and a small town full of matchmaking citizens lead to some crazy antics. Lucky Hollow is dangerous to the heart but pure magic for the soul.

Ready to Run is quintessential Lauren Layne goodness - a sassy, feel-good and entertaining love story infused with laughter, sizzling chemistry and heartfelt romance. Associate television producer Jordan Carpenter travels from the bustle of New York City to the small town of Lucky Hollow, Montana, to recruit Luke Elliott to be the bachelor on a reality dating show featuring contestants who have been jilted. She’s never met Luke, but she’s convinced he is perfect for the show, because he is devastatingly handsome and has left three brides at the altar. She believes she has him figured out and just needs to persuade him to agree to her plan, but the closed-mouth, broody firefighter wants nothing to do with Jordan or her television show.

Jordan and Luke immediately clash and begin a feisty and flirty battle of wits and wills, but their verbal sparring masks a searing attraction that heats up with every exchange. Luke finds himself reluctantly charmed by Jordan, and she slips under his defenses and into his heart. This endearing and seemingly mismatched couple finds common ground where they least expect it and give into the unrelenting pull between them melting into each other with an exactness that is sigh-worthy. Ready to Run is sexy and engaging with endearing characters, and readers will be smitten with this emotionally satisfying romance. - Mary Dubé, USA Today's Happy Ever After

Another fantastic Lauren Layne book filled with her typical humor and snarky banter that will have you laughing out loud. This kicks off a new series and what a way to begin. Reality TV producers have come up with a new show concept and Luke Elliott would make the perfect contestant. It's Jordan Carpenter's job to go to small town Montana and convince the rugged firefighter to do the show. Ha, good luck with that!

I loved the small town romance feel of this one with all the great townspeople and the way the pulled Jordan in. I can't wait to read the next one in this series. I highly recommend this one.

I absolutely loved this book and was completely surprised by it at the same time. I have read all of LL's book and love them all. In saying that reading the description I wasn't all that pumped to read this book. Well guess what?!?! I was wrong!!! This book is awesome just like all her other books and I can't wait for the rest of this series!

Jordan is an assistant producer who is sent to Lucky Hollow, Montana to get Luke Elliott who has left 3 brides at the alter for her new show Jillted. Like has ignored all of her letters, emails and calls. So Jordan being a hard headed New Yorker goes to him. Their 1st meeting isn't the best because she goes to the Elementary school that he is at doing a fire safety presentation. Luke pretty much knows who Jordan is before his fellow firefighter Ryan introduces him bc she has City Slicker wrote all over her. He actually call her City and she calls him Country! Luke isnt interested in the show and is pretty rude about it. Luke's friends and everyone else thinks it's funny and are tying to help Jordan get him do the show.

Jordan and Luke constantly run in together it's part her stalking him and part his friends and sister throwing them together. Luke doesn't want to like Jordan because she is wanting to dig in his past. Jordan doesn't want to like Luke because he is rude to her and he "supposedly" left 3 women at the alter. Of course there is attraction any way.

This book is awesome. Great characters with dual POV, nosey friends and family. I honestly thought this book was going to be about Luke doing the show and him dating all the contestants......WRONG!!! I don't want to say anything else and spoil the book. READ THIS BOOK you will not regret it. Super sweet and funny boom!

I received a free copy for an honest review..... Loved it!!!!

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