*4.5 stars*

Delicious Wall Street drama…

I was hooked from the first page as Ian and Lara squared off! Ian was a wealthy stockbroker who made his way to the top through sheer hard work. He handled stocks and ladies with the same intensity, with honesty at the core. Lara was still working towards her career dream of working at the FBI and Ian was another step in that direction. If he was dirty, she was going to prove it…

Oh, the chemistry that these two had! Ian tried his usual charm but Lara was having none of that. Their banter was electric, honest and a surprise to them both. They were on opposite sides of the fence but as their feelings grew, so did the need to find the truth. Ian had friends at his back and Lara soon fit in with them all. With a touch of mystery/suspense, this undeniable love story came together for a great read. I’m so happy there will be more!

Lauren Layne is amazing! She creates characters that are so warm, funny and sexy that I can't put her books down. Hot Asset was no exception. The protagonists were Ian, a rich, good looking and successful Wall Street trader with more than a touch of arrogance about him, and Lara a quieter but equally funny and engaging SEC investigator. From the moment they meet sparks fly and I was fully invested in them resolving their issues and getting their HEA. I thought the supporting characters were amazing as well and can't wait to read the next book in the series.

*Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher*

This was my first read by Lauren and I absolutely loved it!

4.5 🌟

A slow burn romance, enemies to lovers told in dual POV.

Ian – the Wall Street, sexy, cocky Ladies man that never goes with the same woman twice! Always goes for the same type and has them falling at his feet or he usually does anyway…. That is until he meets Lara!

Lara, beautiful strong and determined workaholic!
She doesn’t give into Ian’s charm, knocking him back from the off which then only gives Ian more determination and challenge accepted but then he finds out she works for SEC and she is the one to investigate him for Insider trading!

These two have a great banter and an unbelievable mutual attraction but something neither can act upon giving the circumstances! This in mind the chemistry just keeps building and gets more intense, so much so that you know it’s going to be explosive when they finally give in to their desire!

As well as these two, I loved all the other characters in this story, they brought humour and the intense chemistry between some of them you know there’s some great stories to come!
A brilliant fun read that has you hooked from the beginning, one I couldn’t put down!

Hot Asset is the first book in the new 21 Wall Street series by Lauren Layne and if this is the first I can't wait to see the rest!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

OH MY!!! Ms Layne has done it again. I swear you can't read a bad book from her. Which is always an exciting event when she has a new book released. I'm so distraught when work/life gets in the way of my reading fix. Be ready to be entertained and wanting more. And on that note....I've got another Lauren Layne "Wall Street" series book to get to before something intrudes into my life!

Hot Asset by Lauren Lauren was such an intriguing and time investing novel!

I could tell that as soon as I read the synopsis and saw the cover, that this would quickly become one of my fave reads from Lauren. You know what?? My initial impression turned out to be 100% accurate. This novel surprised the heck out of me. I new that I would enjoy it, I just didn't expect to love it as much as I did.

Ian and Lara had such an amazing chemistry. I Loved that they started off as enemies, and eventually turned into lovers and friends. I really liked that neither one of them ignored their job to be with one another. They kept professional when they needed to.

I cannot wait to see where Lauren takes this series next. It is bound to be incredible!

5/5 Stars!

A new series from Lauren Layne and for the first book you are introduced to bad boy finical wiz Ian Bradley. Grew up in Philly in different foster homes and never had a family. Worked from nothing and now feels he is at the top of his game. He also is a manwhore, asshole, dickhead and a finical director who is sexy as hell and women tell him that all the time. Do believe he does take advantage of that. He also says all of those things about himself. His day becomes changed for many reasons when he comes in for what he thinks is for a meeting only to find out that the person who he has been trying to flirt with at the coffee station in the break room is really an inspector from the SEC. Those letters cause many of brokers to have breakdowns, but not Ian for he knows he has done nothing wrong. Laura McKenzie is the investigator and is also the daughter of two FBI agents, and that is where she would like to work one day but on her own record not with her parents help. This case will make one fine feather for her and should help her to be on her way. Her first problem is getting past Ian and his looks and though he is good looking she knows he will not be attracted to her. Her second problem is finding evidence leaking him to a crime. The more you get into the story you start to see that he is being set up and when you find out that there is an attraction between them she waits until after her report is turned in before acting on that. Really this is when the story takes off and you get a look at all of the characters in the book and you begin to wonder if there is any chance for the two of them? Read this good story with many good characters to find out.

Lara has one dream. She wants to work for the FBI. After receiving a tip regarding a possible inside trader she begins investigating Ian. How could he have possibly have been the only person to save his clients millions of revenue before the company collapsed. Staying away from the desires she feels every time he is near is impossible. Finding the truth and securing her dream are all that matter until she proves he is guilty or finally believes he is innocent. Finding who filed the false tip is something Ian will stop at nothing to find the one who threatened his very existence. Great story! 🙌🏼

I didn’t want to bash my (used to be) favorite author because it seems trashy, but also because I DID like this story, but not enough to tell people to read it. So I’ve yet to write a review about it-but, when I do, I’ll edit and post it here on my feedback.

Who'd have thought pairing up a Wall Street investor and the SEC agent investigating him for fraud and insider trading would result in such magic? Lauren, apparently. I freaking loved Ian and Lara and their story. The forbidden nature of their relationship, combined with their wicked hot chemistry, made Hot Asset an absolutely delightful read. One that I devoured in a few short hours. 

Without giving too much of the story away, I have to say I love watching the cocky playboy guy fall hard for a heroine. There's something that's so fun when that guy is the who is one absolutely smitten. As was the case with Ian in this book. I loved the banter between him and Lara. Plus, I loved that I was kept guessing about whether or not he really was guilty... (And no, I'm not going to tell you.) There were some interesting twists, enough feels to make it interesting and sexy times so hot I thought might iPad might catch fire. The perfect combination!

I'm convinced Lauren Layne could rewrite the dictionary and I'd totally love it. There's a reason she's one of my go-to, auto-buy/auto-request authors. Everything she writes is pure freaking gold. Hot Asset is no exception. I'm super excited about this new 21 Wall Street series and I can't wait for more! The good news is I have a review copy of the next book, Hard Sell. I just need to make time to read it — something I'm aiming to do quite soon.

FAVORITE QUOTES
I've kissed my fair share of women—more than my fair share. But I've never needed to kiss one like I do this woman, never felt like I'll regret it the rest of my life if I don't take my chance.

But Ian's real. He's real, and he makes me feel both feminine and powerful, and it's a delicious feeling.

"So, fair warning... the next time we see my friends, there's a good chance there will be a sing-along. You're to tell them that I was sweet. Just turned eighteen."

This is the first book in this series by this author and what a start. The characters were amazing with hot chemistry and fantastic banter between them. This story has a fantastic storyline which will keep you reading long into the night. I can't wait to read more in this series and by this author in the future.



Highly recommended start to this series

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

I'd never read Lauren Layne before. *hangs head* I know, I know. But I honestly think I picked a great story to serve as my introduction to her writing. Hot Asset was funny, romantic, suspenseful, and HOT! I absolutely enjoyed every minute.

Ian Bradley, a man who has climbed from essentially the streets to become one of Wall Street's elite, finds himself in hot water. Not only is he under investigation by the SEC but he's also insanely attracted to the investigator. And they may have gotten off to a rough start. ;)

Lara McKenzie, an SEC investigator with her sights set on the FBI, prides herself on being thorough and following protocol to the "T". In her investigation of Ian, she finds herself in uncharted territory. Not only is she attracted to Ian but she's also hoping he's not guilty while also wanting him to be because he's just the sort of high profile case in which a win would guarantee her the FBI's notice.

The character development and growth of Ian and Lara was impressive and y'all know how I like that. Both Ian and Lara slowly come to realize what was really important to them and I appreciated how LLayne handled the delicate navigation of the laws where Ian and Lara were concerned. Their histories and backgrounds, also slowing revealed, helped develop their characters, explaining the things that defined them. I haven't read any (that I recall) books set on Wall Street like this and I liked the relevancy of the topic. And I most admired how LLayne developed the romance. The attraction between Ian and Lara was abvious and I quite enjoyed the snarky banter. But as things advance between them, even with the chemistry being electric, it all felt organic and realistic.

LLayne also created a wonderful secondary cast, which is brilliant seeing as this is the first in this series and I'm now extremely eager to get Ian's friends' stories. Besides serving to hook me into wanting to read the next in the series, Matt, Sabrina, Kennedy, and Kate also served to give depth not only to Ian and Lara but also to the story overall. The interactions between them all further conveyed the type of people Ian and Lara are.

Hot Asset was an exciting read with an inherently readable story, compelling characters, humor, a little suspense, and a completely satisfying romance. LLayne is one of my favorite new-to-me authors of 2018!

Loved, loved, loved this book. I've read many titles by Ms. Layne and have enjoyed all of them and this does not disappoint. I read it in one day, loved the main characters, Lara & Ian, and the secondary characters were great support throughout the book; I can't wait to read their stories.

I kinda adored this book. Its about a hotshot guy and a by the book girl. Ian and Lara seem like complete opposites in the beginning. And while they are its not as far apart as it seems.. They're both hard-working, passionate about their respective careers, and are the kind of people who won't stop until they get what they want.

The banter between Ian and Lara is comical and the best part of the book. The attraction undeniable hot and I appreciated how they didn't just jump into bed. You shouldn't start an affair with the person you're investigating. It's a conflict of interest, and I'm no expert but I think it might violate a few policies, just sayin,. I did love how both had individual goals and they didn't loose sight of them because, hey look love. Which was super super awesome.I also loved the try the long distant thing because it can work.

I found this story to be sweet with a HEA, that will leave you with a sappy happy smile

You can always count on Lauren Layne to give you good story! Hot Wall Street guys!
Ian is Mr. I have everything I want ladies man. Lara is the woman sent to possibly take him down a few pegs.
They have instant chemistry, but Lara is serious about her job and won't get Ian ruin her chances with the FBI.
Ian knows he's innocent, but also wants something more serious with Lara than he's had with anyone else. She can't take him seriously because she needs to prove he's guilty.
Enemies to lovers, crazy chemistry with a twist and a bit of drama. I have to say when I started this book I didn't think I'd click or like the characters too much, but I enjoyed that change of pace.

I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest
The characters + storytelling were very captivating
Ian has been accused of inside trading.
Lara is assigned to find out the truth.
Howeve, both were not prepared for the hot chemistry between them.
Now what ?
Business, pleasure, or both ?
The storytelling + the character's build were awesome!
It has all the ingredients that you need for a great book!

What a wonderful book! I'm not new to Lauren Layne's work and I really enjoyed this book. The characters are incredible - smart, self assured, witty, successful,loving and determined - all in their own ways. This book gave me warm fuzzy feelings. I am so glad it's the first installment in her "21 Wall Street" series because I can NOT wait to read more!

I received an advance readers copy through NetGalley. I'm very thankful for the privilege of being one of the selected few. This is not the first book that I have read by this author. She does mix comedy well with romance and sexual tension.

In this story we meet Ian who is known for being a womanizer. He and his two best friends work on wall street. Ian stays away from relationships due to his childhood. He is a formal bad boy with a big heart. Who doesn't love a bad boy in a sexy suit.

Within the first page I was captured by him. Then towards the middle I found myself just reading it to finish it. I did have to skim thru majority of it. I think it needed more drama or romance for me. This is written in Lauren traditional fashion. If you loved her previous books you will love this.

HOT ASSET - Lauren Layne

#1 in the 21 Wall Street romance series

WONDERFUL CHARACTERS! - 5 stars

Plot - 5 stars - Ian is a Wall Street success story who has been accused of insider trading. Lara is the SEC investigator assigned to the case. Even though Ian is innocent, he's having a hard time proving it. Lara is acting on an anonymous tip from her boss, but she needs to succeed in order to get her dream job with the FBI so she's playing it by the book.. When their attraction turns into romance, things really get complicated.

Writing - 5 stars - Layne almost always grabs my attention right from the first page. She writes in a casual and comfortable style that suits me perfectly, with just enough humor and snark to make the story interesting, but without overdoing it.

Characters - 5 stars - This is where the story particularly shines for me. Ian is, yes, your typical manwhore romantic hero, with too much money and too much confidence for his own good. But when he meets Lara he starts to feel things he's never felt before, and they throw him off balance. Lara, for her part, feels she's totally out of Ian's league, but she's also feeling something for him that she shouldn't since it's a total conflict of interest. So it's fun to watch them push and pull, trying to stay away from each other (for good reason), but being unable to resist. The additional camaraderie and joking between our main characters and the secondary characters (mostly Ian's coworkers) added another layer of fun and interest.

Format - 5 stars - The back-and-forth format between Ian and Lara is particularly good because it keeps the storyline filled, keeping us informed about both of their thoughts and the reasons behind their actions. And adding the day to the beginning of each chapter keeps the story moving forward, allowing us to keep track of the timeframe.

Title - 5 stars - A Wall Street term, the title could also refer to Ian as a hot asset to his company and, to a lesser extent, Lara as a hot woman he'd like to be with.

Cover - 5 stars - Nothing sexier than a hot guy in a suit. And this picture fits our main characters very well--sexy in a business-y way.

Overview - 5 stars - What a totally fun romance! I haven't read a Layne book in a while, and this reminds me why I love her writing so much. She is able to create a setting that makes sense, peopled with characters who add great warmth and personality to it. I loved the main characters, but the secondary characters were bonuses, adding a lot of entertaining fun. Let's not forget the intrigue of the mysterious informant behind Ian's case. That kept me guessing until the very end. All in all, another Layne winner and the beginning of what promises to be a very enjoyable new series.

Ohhh where to even begin?

I finished Hot Asset in ........ ONE DAY! I literally could NOT put it down. Ian freakin Bradley, oh how I love you. Lara, - so adorable and so funny. I am ridiculously excited about this series and am absolutely tortured by the fact I have to wait a long time for Matt Cannon's story and even more for Kennedy - I just know Kennedy's is going to be the best.

I was so sad when the book came to an end, I had to immediately open up another LL book to keep the feels going.

Lauren Layne - thank you for being YOU. There are so many authors that are in your genre and write light, romantic but funny books, but NOTHING like you. It's hard to come across someone that can do what you do, the way you do it. <3

This story has every great thing about it; humor, those cute-moments, challenges and hotness... so much hotness!