Goodness. Lauren Layne does it again. She continues to blow me away and has very quickly hit the top of my "one-click" author list.
Yes, her books are that good. Her writing is that good.

Matt and Sabrina have a frenemies vibe going on. We sensed the tension in Hot Asset, but--holy moly!--that's nothing compared to how we feel it in Hard Sell. The chemistry, the burn, the push and pull is flawless. It's hot, it's tense, and it's everything I want in a book.

The book is exactly what I needed. I can't wait to read the next one.

This is the second book in the 21 Wall Street series and I think that I liked it better than the first.

Matt Cannon is a bit of a boy wonder and numbers are his game. When he is photographed at a Las Vegas bachelor party getting a lap dance, his playboy reputation takes a huge hit. In an attempt to save his job Matt hire Sabrina Cross, Fixer extraordinaire. The two of them hammer out a contract that Sabrina will be his fake girlfriend and help convince his clients that he's a changed man. But Matt and Sabrina have history that is rearing its head and the two of them will have to decide what is real and if its worth fighting for.

I found Matt and Sabrina to be interesting characters. Neither of them in love and neither want a happily ever after. Matt's background explains a lot about his attitude. Sabrina's isn't quite as surprising and neither is her resistance to Matt's charm. Although Sabrina could be okay with steady commitment.

These two make the best frenemies. I love the push pull of these two and the discovery that sometimes the person you fight with most is the person you should fight for the most.

I've read a lot of Lauren Layne books and enjoyed many, but I find myself losing interest and getting frustrated with each new read. Hard Sell had me indignant from the first chapter setting up the plot: Matt Cannon, Wall Stree wunderkind, is at a cousin's bachelor party in Vegas and a Wall Street Journal reporter happens to see the carousing and writes a story. Matt's bosses threaten his job unless he gets a girlfriend and appears to settle down to calm clients who are worried about him managing their investments.

Where do I start. First, I am skeptical this would even BE a WSJ headline story. Second, the reporter wrote a smear piece without asking Matt or the firm for comment which is NOT how a reputable publication would handle this story!! It's not Page Six!!!! Third, wtf is up with that ultimatum from the bosses? What sophisticated investor is going to be seriously worried about seeing their broker photographed with cocaine but those worries are assuaged by the guy dating someone?

So... I was not in love with this plot, but once the parameters were established, it was a typical breezy Lauren Layne read, but ugh that premise still killed me. I have no interest in continuing this newest series for a while... I may just need a break.

Hard Sell is the second book in the 21 Wall Street series by Lauren Layne, and let me just warn you now! You will become addicted to it! So sit down, buckle up and let the Wolves of Wall Street take you on a journey of a lifetime.

Now I will be completely honest with you, I did not read the Hot Asset (the first book in the series) until AFTER I read Hard Sell the first time! But it didn't matter! It just made me rush out and buy Hot Asset, just so I could love all over Hard Sell Again.

And speaking of Hard Sell, let's get into shall we! This book has set a whole new sub-genre all to itself! It's literally the only mortal enemy/bootie call relationship I have ever read about! But it's truly even more than that! It's about Matt and Sabrina, two people who have seen what "love" can do to each other, and decided it wasn't for them! And even though Matt and Sabrina's relationship could have been far different, if Matt hadn't ballsed it up beyond belief, in the beginning, I don't think either of them were mentally prepared to be in a relationship.

I have to say, the author really knocked it out of the park with this series, I'm totally in love, and though I recommend that you read Hot Asset first, Hard Sell can totally be read as a stand-alone, and then you can do what I did! Read this book, go back and get book one, and read it all over again!

I give Hard Sell 5 well-deserved stars!

I was desperate to read this book since I read Hot Asset.
I loved how Sabrina and Matts sassy, witty conversations had me hooked and I wanted to know their story. So as soon as I seen this, I knew I had to read it.
And it didn’t disappoint.
I love Sabrina’s strong in the face of others but hidden vulnerability. Matt, sexy, opinionated. Perfect for each other.
Absolutely loved this story and think I actually preferred it to Hot Asset.
Will definitely be reading Kate and Kennedy’s story when it comes out.

I received a copy of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley but this has in no way influenced my review or opinions.

You can never go wrong with a LL book. I loved Matt and Sabrina's story. They were raised with jaded views on love and marriage and am glad they were able to overcome those beliefs.

This is the first book I have read in this series and I am looking forward to more. I liked the frenemies to lovers story and the background of both main characters. You understood why they both have been reluctant to commit to a relationship. I think Matt and Sabrina make a great couple and even though they had been intimate before, I was rooting for them to see what is right in front of them.

Thank you to Net Galley and Lauren Layne and Montlake Roamnce for my ARC of Hard Sell by Lauren Layne
This is book 2 in the 21 Wall Street and though I liked the first one I thought this installment was so much better than the first. Though it’s book 2 it can be read as a stand-alone but these characters were introduced in book 1.

Matt is young, successful and rich. Everything is going his way, that is, until he’s photographed being a playboy and his bosses aren’t happy. Enter Sabrina, the best fixer, and though they are former lovers now enemies she agrees to help him change his image by pretending to be his girlfriend. How long can they pretend until feelings stop being fake and turn real?

I enjoyed the back and forth between Sabrina and Matt. I had a permanent smirk on my face while reading this one. I loved the character the story and the plot.I just loved the writing in this one and I cannot wait for the next story in the series!

Happy Release Date! This book is available day and is also available on Kindle Unlimited!!!

HARD SELL is the second instalment in Lauren Layne’s contemporary, adult 21 WALL STREET romance series focusing on best friends and Wall Street investors-Ian Bradley, Matt Cannon and Kennedy Dawson who work for Wolfe Investments. This is twenty-eight year old Wall Street broker Matt Cannon, and PR ‘fixer’ Sabrina Cross’ story line. HARD SELL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Sabrina and Matt) HARD SELL follows the fake relationship between twenty-eight year old Wall Street broker Matt Cannon, and PR ‘fixer’ Sabrina Cross. At his cousin’s recent Vegas bachelor party, Matt’s behaviour and ultimately his reputation made headlines in the world of Wall Street investors. Precariously straddling the line between employment and not, Matt is desperate to restore his reputation, in order to rein in the billionaire clientele. Enter ‘fixer’ and PR specialist Sabrina Cross, and the woman with whom Matt will fall in love. What ensues is the acrimonious and fake relationship between Matt and Sabrina, and the potential fall-out as Sabrina wants something more, and Matt is unable to give her what she wants.

Matt Cannon doesn’t do love; his parent’s dysfunctional relationship has damaged Matt’s view for a happily ever after. A friends with benefits arrangement with Sabrina, is as close to a relationship that Matt is willing to cross. Sabrina Cross’ childhood was plagued with hardship and neglect a childhood that has burned a hole into our heroine’s heart. When Matt Cannon begs Sabrina to help him clean up his tattered reputation, Sabrina struggles with her growing attraction to a man who isn’t willing to give love a chance.

The love-hate relationship between Sabrina and Matt is contemptuous; their acrimonious back and forth is riddled with insults and accusations so much so the emotional fall-out is painful and wrong. As days turn into weeks, Sabrina begins to develop feelings for the man that calls to her heart as Matt reconsiders what it is he truly wants. The $ex scenes are passionate and intimate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The world building continues to look at the friendships between Kennedy, Ian and Matt, as well as the ramifications and repercussions of crossing the line where Wall Street is concerned. The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Ian and Lara (Hot Asset), as well as Kennedy Dawson, and PA Kate Henley; Sam and Samantha Wolfe, and billionaire Jarod Lanham.

HARD SELL is a sexy and sassy story line about friendships, family, heart break and love. The premise is spirited and engaging; the characters are dynamic and energetic; the romance is sensual and captivating. HARD SELL is a breath-taking and delightful addition to Lauren’s 21 Wall Street series.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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4 1/2 Stars ... A great addition to the series.

Matt is the wonder boy of Wall Street and he has the attitude and bank account to prove it. But when he gets his picture in the Wall Street Journal ... and not in a good way, his bosses tell him to clean up his act and get a girlfriend or loose his job. So he hires Sabrina (his frenemy-with-benefits) to be his fake girlfriend for a month. Sabina knows that she should just walk away from Matt, but she just can't. She also knows that Matt is going to break her heart ... again.

The chaos that ensues from this arrangement is just hilarious! This is a laugh-out-loud book with lots of romance and steamy scenes. I just loved these two characters. Even though Matt is arrogant, he definitely has a soft side. And Sabrina pretends to be a hard a$$, but really she's just covering up a horrid childhood. I loved the first book in this series and I loved his book as well ... I can't wait till Kennedy and Lara's story in the third book. I highly recommend that you read this series from the beginning to get the full effect of the characters, because even the characters from the other books appear quite a bit in each book.

I received an ARC courtesy of Montake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Hard Sell is an puchase!

Hard Sell has all the Wolfes chomping at the bit. Seems Wall Street doesn't appreciate a good party, a playboy, and drama. After Ian's story, the Wolfes are barking for a change. Matt has no choice but to change his tune.

Tired of my corny jokes yet?! Well, Hard Sell doesn't have lame jokes but it has an enticing enemies with benefits relationship that any one can appreciate. Snark and sarcasm are the foreplay of choice in this book.

I was grateful we got Matt's downfall before Kennedy's. The chemistry between Matt and Sabrina and the hatred sparked so much interest in book one that I wasn't sure if be able to wait much longer. (Although now that I've read Hard Sell, a certain other couple is gnawing at my mind.)

Enjoy Matt and Sabrina putting on the show of their lives but watch out because the consequences are life changing!

The 21 Wall Street series by Lauren Layne is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. It’s just what I love in romance books. They are fun and swoony, with just the right amount of angst.

I loved book 1, Hot Asset, and I was looking forward to Matt & Sabrina’s story. They did not disappoint. They were perfection. They had such a complicated relationship. Frenemies to lovers. Complicated past.

From the get-go they have this push-pull connection. An undeniable attraction. On the surface there is hate, these two can’t stand being near each other, but when you look beyond the surface, you just know they are meant to be, and their journey will be delicious!!!

“I can’t imagine a world where Sabrina Cross and I can go longer than an hour without easing the ever-present sexual tension between us, either by fighting or by screwing.“

Matt is the wunderkid of Wall Street, he is smart, sexy and hot. A bachelor trip to Vegas leads to an unflattering article, leaving him in jeopardy with his job. He needs help and he turns to Sabrina.
Sabrina is a badass, a fixer. Sassy boss lady, I freaking loved her. She tries to say no to Matt, but in the end, she decides to help a friend. They both have aversion to relationships and marriage, what could go wrong as they become a pretend couple to save Matt’s reputation and job.

I loved everything about how they fall for each other. It’s sexy and hot. They not only uncover each other slowly but also discover who they are as individuals, and that what they want from life is really not that different. It’s enemies to friends, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, it’s complex and doesn’t fit in any box really.

“I kiss the corner of her mouth softly. Kiss me back. My lips drift over her stubborn jaw. Want me back.”

It’s perfectly built up, filled with sassy, funny dialogue and chemistry that will burn your kindle up. The added bonus is seeing Ian and Kate from Hot Asset and getting glimpses of Kennedy and Kate, I can’t wait for their book, Huge Deal!!! These two will be awesome I just know it!!!

This was a light-hearted story that I enjoyed reading for the sake of reading. Lauren Layne's books are always on my to-read-next lists and this book was no exception. Her.characters are relate-able and made me laugh. I enjoyed the dialogue and quips back and forth between Matt and Sabrina. Thanks for the opportunity to read!

Lauren Layne did it again.
Books like this, Matt and Sabrina's story, are the reason that she's a favorite author.

You can't help but be drawn to the characters, too their connection, to the relationship that's developed.

There's a lot in this book. Groups of friends, enemies who are really friends who fall in love. A phony relationship between these friends for professional gain. And it's all blended so perfectly that you find yourself drawn into the world from page one. Ian and Lara (from Hot Asset) feel like old friends and spending time with them in this book feels like walking into the house of people you have known forever.

The strength of the story, however, is the characters. Their actions, their reactions, who they are and who they become.

To really enjoy a romance, you have to fall a little in love with the characters so you are invested. There's not an author writing who does a better job and giving readers this romance with the book they are reading. More than once during the book I found myself feeling the perfection of the story, of the emotion, of the way you get to know the characters not only from what they say, but also what they don't say.

The frenemies to lovers in this was wonderful. You can tell they are both scared, Matt and Sabrina both have parents who didn't set the best example growing up of what a relationship should be, so they are scared when they meet the person who is meant for them. Add in a calous phrase that is even more cutting than it should be, and the chance of a relationship is buried in hurt and banter that disguises what they both are too afraid to admit.

What a wonderful ride. This book is a slow burn, but the relationship building keeps it moving quickly and holds the reader's interest. The connection they have, their attraction and passion, is so perfect when you get to it that you won't want it any othet way. Ms. Layne is true to her characters the entire time, and it makes it so easy to be drawn to them and their story.

Nothing about this was a hard sell for me. I loved this book and I recommend it.

I like when an author can surprise me and LL definitely surprised me when it came to Matt and Sabrina. I’ll be honest, their love/hate relationship with benefits sounded like a drama ridden train wreck but I liked Hot Asset (book 1) and I really want to find out what the deal is between Kennedy and Ellie. I was looking at this read as a means to an end but I’m happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised with how this all unfolded. With each encounter, the MCs revealed a bit more of themselves and I ended up really like both Matt and Sabrina. The push and pull and that bit of angst thrown in was well done and kept me glued to the story.

This was way more entertaining than I thought it would be and I’m glad I gave it a chance. Not only did I continue the series, I didn’t miss out on any teasers of Kennedy and Ellie! Bonus points to the author for introducing Jared Lanham. He is another character I hope we get to see more of. Hot billionaire bachelor looking to find a companion to share his life with? Yes, please! His take on marriage and companionship was enough to reel me in.

Would I recommend? Yes, this series is turning out to be really good. For the safety gang this might be border line. I’d say it was safe with exceptions.

Received this book through NetGalley very happy I did. I read the first and liked it. In the middle of the first one it was a bit slow. I was hesitant to start this one. I'm so happy I picked it up anyway. Matt and Sabrina could be so intense. We all know that their hate relationship was based on them being scared. They knew all along that there was something special about the other person.Their sexual chemistry was off the charts. Their story was so relatable and real like.I'm loving this series and can't wait for the next.

PR genius, Sabrina, is tasked with saving the reputation of the man she hates the most; her booty call, Matt Cannon. Both Sabrina and Matt are terrified of the other because they both know that they could be the one to finally break down all of their walls. With simmering chemistry, the two are bound to break the "no touching" rule instituted when Sabrina agrees to help restore Matt's reputation as his pretend girlfriend. The banter between the two and their unexpected love affair was magic, and I will revisit their story again and again.

4 1/2 stars

If it weren’t for writers like Lauren Layne penning funny, intelligent romances with realistic character portrayals, I probably would have stopped reading romances months ago.

We met Sabrina Cross in Hot Asset (my review is here), the first entry in the 21 Wall Street series. She was depicted as a take-no-prisoners type of fixer and Ian’s best friend since they were kids. It was obvious from the get-go that she and Matt Cannon, a colleague and good friend of Ian’s, as well as the hero of Hard Sell, were something more than the casual enemies they appeared.

After a bachelor’s party weekend is observed and written up by a Wall Street Journal reporter, Matt’s reputation is in ruins. Clients leave, his bosses, The Sams, are threatening to dismiss him unless he can find a way to salvage his reputation and seem reliable and “tamed.” Enter Sabrina, charming fixer who seems to know everyone and whom everyone loves, well, except for Matt, of course.

The good thing about Sabrina for Matt is that there is no chance she will fall in love with him when she plays his pretend girlfriend (and vice versa). Ha!

Both Matt and Sabrina are extremely likable characters, hard-working, successful, vulnerable, and realistic. And they sizzle as a couple.

Having just read a slew of mediocre romance novels, I cannot convey the pleasure of reading this one, except to say that if there hadn’t been other things requiring my attention, Hard Sell could easily have been read in one sitting. Everything about it works: the pacing, the characters, the dog (!), and the story (and others elements as well). Layne seemingly effortlessly takes the reader on a roller coaster of smiles and tears, all within a low-on-angst page-turning story proving that once again she is a must-read romance writer.

If you haven’t read any of Lauren Layne’s novels and enjoy intelligent good-humored romances, go now and read one! I’m pretty sure you won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Matt Cameron is known as the wunderkind of Wolfe Investments. At 28 he's the youngest broker on wall street with an impeccable record. That is, until photos are published of Matt in Vegas enjoying himself a little too much. It doesn't matter that the photos were taken while Matt was at a bachelor party and that he wasn't partaking in anything illegal, the rumor mill has already started talking. Matt's bosses give him an ultimatum: cleanup you image ASAP by looking like a settled down man with a girlfriend, or he's fired.

In enters PR maven Sabrina Cross. While Sabrina and Matt have never gotten along particularly well, despite their chemistry being off the charts, she doesn't want to see him lose his job. When Matt comes to her with a proposition: Sabrina pose as his very serious girlfriend until his company's annual gala, she reluctantly agrees. But these two sometime lovers, longtime nemeses may begin to find the charade of their relationship has more truth to it.

I loved the frenemies-to-lovers scenario between Matt and Sabrina. It's very specifically "frenemies" and I like the distinction because it speaks to the fact that even though they have differing opinions about a lot of things and even though they tend to argue they are still friends as evidenced by Sabrina helping Matt with his situation. Even though she takes him on as an official client you can tell it's to put a barrier up between them to try to keep the emotional side of things in check since obviously there is chemistry between them.

Both Matt and sabrina have familial issues that has them convinced that love and marriage is unobtainable and has them their relationships at arm's length, but it's also one of the common threads that ties them together.

So far, Lauren Layne has done a wonderful job with this series. I loved that all the characters are such a tight knit group of friends. That the previous couple didn't just suddenly disappear now that their story is over, but continued to play an important part to the new front and center characters. I can't help but eagerly anticipate, hopefully, Kennedy and Kate's story next.

Lauren Layne has become one of my favorite authors ever since I read Walk of Shame, which to this day is one of my favorite books of all time. So when I saw she had a new series involving hot Wall Street guys I could not wait to read it! I mean, come on, guys in suits! I can't be the only one that pauses and swoons just a little when I see one walking down the street. Add in the fact that Hard Sell is an enemies-to-lovers romance and I was beyond excited.

Now, I'm going to just start off by saying that I didn't end up loving this as much as I thought I would. I'm honestly very surprised about my feelings towards this book because I started out really enjoying it. I don't know if it was because I wanted more angst between Matt and Sabrina since they have this "enemies-with-benefits" relationship in the beginning, or I didn't fully connect with either Matt or Sabrina but something was off for me with this book.

Despite these feelings, there is still a few things in this book that I really enjoyed. One of those being Sabrina Cross. Sabrina is an amazing heroine who has worked her ass off to get where she is today with her career, not letting her childhood define who she is as a person. She finds a formidable adversary in Matt Cannon and holds her own against him every time, not giving into any of his crap while also getting under his skin. I absolutely loved the banter between Matt and Sabrina; Lauren Layne's dialogue  as always was spot on to the point that I was giggling in public at some of the lines between these two. 

The physical connection between these two has been their from the start, hence the "enemies-with-benefits" relationship, but it is the development of their friendship into something more that was a key part of this book and one that happened so naturally. These two may be stubborn-as-hell especially towards each other but it is pretty damn obvious that they are made for each which was so sweet to witness when it finally ended up happening.

Even though, I ended up not enjoying this as much as I thought I would, this book still made my heart flutter. If you are looking for a hilarious yet sweet enemies-to-lovers/fake-relationship romance with a sassy heroine, then check out Hard Sell!