I couldn’t wait for book 2 in this series! After both getting to know the girls and getting Naomi’s story, I knew that I couldn’t wait for Claire’s especially with her role in the trio. After taking a look at her life and the betrayal she endured, Claire has decided to get out of her comfort zone and do things that are less “vanilla” and more out of the box. In an attempt to implement that into multiple aspects of her life, she decides with her upcoming home renovation, she will throw away the home dreams she’s had for years and yet start fresh and with whatever comes to mind. Referred by Oliver, Scott is determined not to take this job, but one look at the house and the woman who owns it and he’s already lost his battle. As the two get to know each other, both being unforgiving and abrasive in their personalities, they develop a common bond and friendship, which quickly turns into more. But with Scott never staying in one place for too long and denying the relationship and feelings he has for Claire, the ultimate question is if they will end up together or implode. I love Lauren’s storyline ideas and her style of writing. After reading book one, these things are what kept me coming back and anticipating book two and beyond!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Having read and loved Passion on Park Avenue earlier this year, I’ve been eagerly anticipating Claire’s story in Love on Lexington Avenue. This turned out to be everything I wanted and more.

Just like its predecessor, this reads like you’re losing yourself in watching a movie. You can visualize every single scene playing out like it’s on screen in front of you. I love books like this.

In my opinion we got a lot more depth to the friendship between the three ladies in this book. It was so wonderful to see them bonding ever more.

I knew reading Claire’s story would break my heart a little. She was obviously the one who had to deal with the Brayden fallout in a much more public way. Reading her journey of healing made me shed a fair amount of tears.

Her story truly was emotional, beautiful and touching.

I’m enamoured with this series and I’m full of giddy and anxious joy over the upcoming Marriage on Madison Avenue.

I enjoy all of Layne’s novels. She continues her trilogy of novels about three women who discovered that they all had been sleeping with the same man and have, surprisingly, become the closest of friends.. This one centers on Claire, the widow. She’s wealthy and wounded from her discoveries about her husband. She decides to redecorate her brownstone. Enter Scott, a prominent contractor who has done important projects all over the world. But something about her house appeals to him and he takes on the job.

Both Claire and Scott have been wounded by past romances. They now have to navigate their mutual attraction as well as their resolve not to get involved in anything permanent. Of course, that resolve is not going to last.

I enjoyed seeing Claire bloom with the help of her two friends. Scott is an appealing guy who also has a genius for renovation. And his dog is a sweetheart. It all adds up to an entertaining and fun read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

4.5 Loving This Series Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
When Lauren Layne ponders on a series, she is laser-focused on just what works. She creates a world we all would want to be a part of...We are given characters who are smart, unique, capable in their own right and believe in having each other's back. Having these type of women friends out there overcoming real emotional obstacles has always been Layne's strong suit. The huge plus is she also knows how to write men who are equals to the women.

With The Central Park Pact series, we have three women who ended up having a singular thing in common...someone who had turned out to not be who they thought they were...By bonding over this, the women decided to be solid in making sure each did not fall into the same trap again...No More AssHat Men.

Claire Hayes has had to overcome more than most in life. She had a cheating husband, he had done it in secret to her but her social circle seemed to know what a sh!t he was. She is now at a point where she is questioning most of her choices and has discovered being the good conservative widow doesn't feel quite right. Her new friends, the women who have been there for her, seem to know how predictable she is...and Claire realizes in a moment she no longer wants to be BEIGE...

A change is needed...No, not just a change, an overhaul. With the influx of insurance money, Claire will finally be able to redo the townhouse. No one telling her what to do, all the choices will be hers.

Scott Turner is in need of a project that was NOT a corporate building or swanky hotel. Those jobs can sometimes be mind-numbing with no outlet for creativity. Scott found himself working with friends in the city for a quick little reno and they suggested his name to Claire. The idea of working with the classic type of brownstones known in the city piqued his interest. What didn't thrill him was the idea of dealing with a pampered, damaged princess.

Being a bit of a jerk, Scott showed up extremely early with attitude. Claire being the polite person takes all of this in and starts to explain what she is interested in doing with the house. She wants to make it her own... no trace of her past life. And the way to do it is to not have any beige. The new color she has decided will be her is PINK...

Oh, Hell No.

Scott and Claire banter back and forth and a compromise is made. He will work with certain colors if he is given free rein in the kitchen. This is something Claire can work with. The other thing which Claire can work with but is shocked to feel is her attraction to this rude manly man.

Scott is also confused about his attraction to Claire. During the time he is working in her home he sees how strong this woman is. He is taken by her caring for others and the way she looks out for him even though he has been an ass at times to her. Soon the both of them become too interested to ignore the pull and fireworks happen.

This entry was extremely solid and the way these two came together was delicious, perfect Layne. All of the other characters had their moments and we were given a strong nod to the next book and how it will unfold. Those who enjoy Lauren Layne, New York City and smart sassy women and their men will totally enjoy this.

Clair Hayes a widow from the upper east side who lost her cheating husband Brayden Hayes in a tragic boat accident (Karma much 🙄) . So now Clair is stuck trying to pick up the pieces trying to start over . Out with the old in with the new , she decides to have extreme house makeover/Renovation . Her best friend Oliver suggested Clair hires his old time friend Scott who is a successful contractor .




And that’s when the romance starts to unfold . Clair shares with Scott how she’s feels boring and forgettable, she’s never felt she was good enough or worthy and always doubted herself . And now that Brayden is gone and out of the picture for good, she wants to start finding herself again . Scott being by her side guiding her all the way through .


I personally thought this book was the cutest read ever ! So adorable loved all the characters in this book . Some parts made me laugh out loud with Clair and Scott’s witty comebacks and banters towards one another . However I felt this book was too fast paced for me which I don’t mind . I’m just a sucker for a slow burn romance and I personally felt Scott and Clair rushed things way too fast. It did not give me that slow burn feel that I normally look for in a romance novel . All in all I found this book to be super cute and such a great summer read I loved every bit of it !!

This wasn’t my favorite Lauren Layne book, but I still enjoyed it even though it took me awhile to get into it. I liked the first book in this series better, but am still interested in the next book.

Love on Lexington Avenue is the second in a trio of books about 3 women wronged by the same (dead) man. This book is about Claire, the widow (the other two are the mistress and the girlfriend. Don't ask me to differentiate, this is some next level daytime soap drama).

Anyway, Claire is….vanilla. She is blonde, she likes white decor, and her favorite flavor of anything is literally vanilla. In an effort to shake things up and become more exciting (strawberry lemonade is her desired flavor vibe), she hires a contractor to help redesign and redo her entire brownstone on Lexington Avenue. GUESS WHAT SHE FALLS IN LOVE.

Ok, I liked this story fine. Honestly, and sadly, despite wanting to reinvent herself and live a more colorful life, Claire is just boring and forgettable. I wanted to connect more with her - I mean honestly, vanilla is a delicious flavor and it's not boring, it's classic, and yes maybe I see a tiny bit of myself in reflected Claire and I was really rooting for her but anyway...I digress.

I literally could not remember the name of the contractor and had to look it up so that's how memorable Scott is. He is the typical hyper-masculine, flannel-wearing, scruffy construction guy to Claire's wealthy femininity and demurity.

I'm not saying this to be mean, I really like other books I've read by Lauren Layne, and this story is really cute and happy. But the characters are just...forgettable. Worth a read if you like romcoms and the author, but not worth jumping to the top of your TBR.

Lauren Layne has done it again!

This book is full of self discovery, passion, friendship and closure.
In book one, Passion on Park Avenue, Claire, Naomi and Audrey form an interesting friendship. They all have one thing in common, they were all involved with Brayden Hayes.

One year on Naomi is happily settled with Oliver. Now it is Claire's turn! Problem is Claire is still living in the house she shared with Brayden, surrounded by his stuff. If she was ever to move on properly, she needs to get out there a make changes. Starting with the house first. Enter Scott, Oliver's contractor friend. Claire and Scott do not hit it off, however the chemistry between them is blinding!

This book has so many layers. Each storyline is new and fresh! I cant wait for the next book!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was really enjoying this book until the end. When I got to the ending, it got bumped up to love! This was such a light and fun romance, with a completely dreamy ending. Both Claire and Scott were complicated characters and I really enjoyed watching them both grow and fall in love. This will be the perfect read to chase away the end of summer blues when it publishes on September 17th.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy.

Love on Lexington Avenue is the second book in the Central Park Pact Series and it follows the story of Claire and Scott. Now, if you remember from the first book, Claire is actually the widow of Brayden and it was Brayden's death that brought this whole story into motion. When Brayden passed away, Claire might have lost her husband, but she gained two amazing friends and has discovered the woman she lost along the way. 

When we meet up with Claire in Love on Lexington Aveune, Claire is ready for the next phase of her life. She's tired of the status quo and is ready to make some colorful changes with her life. And what better way to start this change, then a home renovation. What Claire didn't plan on was Scott.....Scott is looking for a change of pace from corporate renovation and despite his reservations, working with Claire might just be what the doctor ordered.....

Overall, I found this book to be a really fun and enjoyable read. I loved getting to know Claire and see how things with Brayden truley effected her. I loved that despite everything she had been through, she came out stronger than ever and formed an unbreakable friendship with two women that she should hate. I feel like Claire's character came a long way since we first met her. She wasn't just this meek and fraigle thing. She was strong and ready to take on the next phase of her life. She might not have been looking for love, but you know how the saying goes, it hits you when you least expect it. 

Speaking of love, I really enjoyed Scott and Claire together. Of course they butted heads in the beginning, but the tension and chemsitry was there. Both Scott and Claire had their own baggage and weren't ready to put their hearts on the line. Their romance had a nice slow burn to it. I enjoyed watching them try to figure things out and fight for their happily ever after. 

Love on Lexington Avenue was a terrific read from beginning to end. I loved getting to catch up with Claire and the girls. I enjoyed getting swept up in all that was Scott and Claire. Claire's story wasn't just a romance, but it was also a journey of self discovery and letting go. This story has real, strong characters. It is sweet, yet swoon-worthy all at the same time and has just the right balance of steam and angst. In the end, Love on Lexington Avenue will leave you with a smile on your face and butterflies in your belly. This is the pefect book to spend your summer afternoon getting lost in. And I for one, can not wait to see what lies ahead for us with the next book in this series!

Love on Lexington Avenue is the second book in the Central Park Pact series. This book focuses on Claire, Brayden Hayes widow who he cheated on with Naomi (heroine of book one of the series) and Audrey. After the two woman make a pact on the day of his funeral to look out for each other, Naomi found love. Claire decided to revamp her home, and Naomi’s boyfriend Oliver suggested his pal Scott. Scott is emotionally unavailable and only does one-night stands, and doesn’t stay in one place for too long. The two of them don’t like each other, but agree to be amicable to complete the project. Obviously, as in any romance novel, feelings start to brew.

To say I love this series is an understatement. When I was approved for the ARC of this book, within 24 hours of finishing the first, I was ecstatic! Lauren Layne is the perfect author for fans of Lauren Weisberger, Emily Giffin, and Sophie Kinsella. She has brought a new flair to chick-lit that I didn’t even know I craved. Her description of Manhattan is accurate to a tee, and makes me feel as if I am roaming the streets of my favorite city, while cuddled up on the couch with her books.

Overall, this book featured the same witty writing and great scenery present in the first one. I was also more invested in Claire’s story than I was in Naomi’s, because I had had two books to get to know her. I can only imagine how invested I’ll be in Audrey’s story in book 3.

Again, Layne has earned 5 out of 5 stars from me for Love on Lexington Avenue. This series is spectacular, as is this book. I am eagerly awaiting the arrival (and praying for an advanced copy again) of the third book in the series.

*Important Note* I was given a digital Advanced Readers Copy of this book thanks to the author, NetGalley and Gallery Pocket Books. All opinions are my own.

I don't know if there's a single thing in the romance genre that I love more than a grumbly, growly, reluctant hero. You know the type. With the scowling and the rolled eyes and the exasperation. With the cranky attitude and the biting wit and the absolutely irresistible warm soft underbelly. I live and die for these heroes, and so it should be no surprise that I am head over heels for Scott Turner and this story in general.

I was a little nervous going into this book. I liked the first book in the series well enough, but it didn't captivate me quite the way I wanted it to. And while I adored the sisterhood that was formed between Claire, Naomi, and Audrey - I wasn't so sure I was going to be fully on board for their happily-ever-afters.

So, it's extra super rewarding that I was here for every minute of this story. It felt softer and more emotional. I appreciated the sensitivity that was given to Claire's grieving process and the time she took to heal. I loved how unexpectedly gentle Scott was with her - that warm underbelly on display even as he tried so hard to hide it. I adored this love story and even better? I am now waiting in breathless anticipation for Audrey's story because this series just hit its stride and I am craving so much more!.

2.5 Stars

I struggled a bit with this one. It took me a while to get into and while I like both Claire and Scott, I had a hard time connecting to their story. I still loved all of the side characters just as much as in the first book and hope Audrey and Clarke’s story is next.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Another fun book in this series. Cleverly written, and thought out make this a book you wont want to put down. I will definitely recommend .

I LOVED this book – second in the Central Park Pact series, it eclipses the first.

Claire decides to try dating again, after all its been a year since her philandering husband died. Enter her contractor who is looking for a change of pace from his busy lifestyle and her brownstone is the perfect job! Sadly, Scott is not interested in dating, but eventually agrees to be her wingman, what could go wrong?

This book had so many funny moments, great dialogue between Scott and Claire, not to mention you could feel the tension coming off the pages. Claire was someone that you could completely empathize with, having been literally screwed over by her husband, you are rooting for her to get on with her life and to create a new normal for herself. Scott is easy to love in spite of his grumpy exterior, its easy to see that is not who he really is!

I loved the way Claire teased Scott when it came to what she wanted in her home, and how he always looked out for her even when he didn’t want to. Also I loved that there were so many facets to him! Its hard to put into words how much I really enjoyed this book, but when I finished the final page, I just had such a good feeling about this one! Some books just bring joy to you and this is one of them.

I CANNOT wait for the third book in the series – I have a feeling it’s going to be my fav!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review!

I am a sucker for a good romance series! After reading Passion on Park Avenue and really enjoying it, I knew I had to continue with Love on Lexington Avenue.

Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne continues where Passion on Park leaves off, but a year later almost to the day that Naomi, Audrey, and Claire met and made their infamous pact. This time the story is all about Claire, who has decided it is time to move on and overcome her grief and anger towards her newly deceased cheater husband. To start off she decides to renovate her house. What she didn’t bargain for was falling for her handsome, rugged contractor Scott Turner.

I loved this book! I thought Love on Lexington Avenue was even better than Passion on Park Avenue! Scott and Claire had the perfect slow burn romance that left me unable to quit reading because I wanted to find out what happened next. I also loved reading about all the same characters that were in Passion on Park, and I enjoyed the role each one played in this book and their altogether friendship.

I really enjoyed the characters individually too. Claire really develops throughout the entire book. I appreciated her ability to pick up the pieces and do something meaningful with her life. Her self-discovery and reinvention were inspiring.

And Scott---swoon I would like to have him as my contractor! All scruffy and hard on the outside, but inside super sensitive and just as jaded as Claire was!

I loved the ending when she finally got to see the kitchen remodel! That was probably my favorite part of the whole book!

I recommend this book and The Central Park Pact series, and I can’t wait until I can get my hands on the third one! Thank you so much to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this advanced ecopy in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this light romantic read. Although this was the second book in the series, I had not read the first and had no problem reading this one as a stand alone.

4.5 STARS!

Love on Lexington Avenue is the second installment in the Central Park Pact series by Lauren Layne. This charming second chance romance follows a young widower and a brooding contractor.

Claire Hayes has just turned 35 and she has come to the realization that she's vanilla and... boring. She needs some strawberry lemonade 🍓 🍋 in her life. Determined to rid her home of any reminders of her past, Claire sets out to redesign her home and make it her own. Enter Scott Turner, the gruff, brooding, and rather rude contractor assigned to take on Claire's project. However, sooner rather than later Claire realizes she's in way over her head with this particular project and man.

Scott Turner needs a change of pace from the corporate world and he's more than ready to take on the challenge of Claire's house. He makes it perfectly clear that he will not put up with a damaged pampered princess on his job site. Cue in the sexual tension and chemistry. The more time Claire and Scott spend together the more their attraction for one another grows. They are two very different individuals, scorned previously by love, yet they find love where it's least expected. Yes! The sweet, sweet angst.

Thank you, Lauren for another wonderful story. I'm so freaking ready for Audrey and Clarke's novel! It may just be my favorite 💜


*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited for Claire's story. She was sassy and sexy in a quiet way which fit her personality to a tee. I loved how she gave as good as she got and then some. The spitfire banter between her and Scott was fantastic. I loved how Layne was able to showcase Claire's vulnerability and her search for her identity after her marriage while highlighting Scott's protectiveness and his burgeoning feelings for her. This story was fantastic!

Scott Turner and Claire Hayes couldn't be more different if you tried. She is Upper West Side and he is low-key Williamsburg (at first glance) but when Scott is hired to rehab Claire's UWS brownstone, the back and forth banter and the attraction between them develop into a friendship that is amazing to watch. And Gah!! - their connection could not be denied!! I loved how different they were at first glance but the more they got to know one another, the more similar they were. I was obsessed with how they were drawn to one another despite Claire's vow to stay away from all relationships after her disastrous marriage and Scott's need for minimal ties and committments. This story hit me right in the feels and I now desperately need Audrey and Clarke's book now!!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review! 5 stars! ~Ratula  

Full Review: http://bit.ly/2JBXeiH

I just adore this series! These women are realistic and readers will have no issue connecting with them on a deeper level. Lauren Layne writes Love on Lexington Avenue with heart and I enjoyed following Claire's journey to love. She is the one I have really been wanting to read about since book 1 and I loved this book to pieces!