Made in Manhattan

Oh, it is so much fun to read a new Lauren Layne book! She is the queen of NYC books, and I love her stories! Violet and Cain were such a great couple, and they took FOREVER to get together which is also just the kind of relationship story I love to read. Violet is the perfect “good” girl, having been raised mostly by her grandmother after her parents died in a helicopter accident. Then her grandmother died, and her grandmother’s best friend, Edith, became a surrogate grandmother and Violet felt very indebted to her. Edith finds out she has a grandson she didn’t know about, and proceeds to bring him to NYC to take over the family company, but he is nothing like the well groomed,sophisticated men of the big city. Cain, from New Orleans, comes with a chip on his shoulder and curmudgeonly ways! To say Violet and Cain butted heads at first is an understatement but Ms. Layne is such a master author, this book was a joy to read!

This was a really enjoyable read. Low angst…great dialogue, and characters that were easy to like. I especially liked the lack of typical supporting cast members…like an over the top gay friend, the dastardly coworker, or the evil relative. There was none of that, which was refreshing. Good book!

I really enjoyed this story: the plot was essentially a gender-flipped My Fair Lady and it was very nicely done. Lots of cute banter, a bit of angst and the all-pervasive love of Manhattan that is present in all of Layne's stories. I liked the way, without giving us the Hero's point of view, his character came through in his actions -- as his true self was being revealed, I liked him more and more. H/h's deep-seated need to be loved for themselves came through early on and the reader feels the hurt (and then healing) right from the start. If I had a quibble it would be that there could have been still more depth to H/h but as it was, I was with them all the way and didn't want to put the book down. I hope Layne writes more like this one.

The rating is more 2 ½ stars.I don't own the book, borrowed it from the library.Characters:Violet: female protagonist. Repressed. Does what she is expected to do until...Cain: male protagonist. Long lost grandson. Fish out water. Has some biteAshley: Violet's best friendKeith: man Violet has been in a stale & boring relationship for years. Also a sleazeEdith: surrogate grandma to Violet. Actual grandma to Cain.Alvin: Edith's hypochondriac servant.I like Lauren Layne's writing style so I wasn't bored, but she slacked off some. We didn't really get to know our characters well enough. Things were brought up and just dropped. There's line where Violet tells Cain about it being good having family still alive wanting to know him. Implication about her family and it doesn't go anywhere.We get implications about Cain's mom but nothing solid. And the same with Adam (Cain's dad), we get a snippet from Violet and that was it. It might not be a big deal but it's the reason for Cain. We should know more about his ticks.We don't get much interaction between them. There's not much dialogue. Heck, Cain & Violets interactions are just a little more than Violet & Ashley.We needed more interactions between them all. Hell, I enjoyed Alvin, but when we don't get enough of our protagonists, those moments ended a waste to the storyline.Honestly glad that Keith wasn't a big factor and by that I mean slimy. I mean, he was but it wasn't shown. Told to us, but his part was cartoon villainous, just sleaze and pretty small to the storyline. Just a hindrance really. A minor bump.Oh! Some have said that Violet & Cain are opposites attract. That's not the case. They were raised with different backgrounds, but are alike. We don't actually see much of that besides their love of Jazz. It's just their background that is different and it really doesn't play a factor. Lauren didn't show it really.Can't even call it a Pygmalion retelling when all that is told is the shopping. A makeover in clothes. Yes, there is a haircut & shave but that is at the end & it came from Cain. It was supposed to be a way to forced them together but there was nothing on comportment or etiquette lessons. Mentions of dinnerware but that happens twice & no lessons. Just glazed over.So, while I liked the character, the story was bare bones. Shallow. It needed more meat. I'm not saying conflicts. More background info. Especially on Cain. More of what went on at Rhodes.So, in conclusion - borrow from the library or buy it really cheap. Like $1.99 or so. Don't spend more than $3 on it.I'm sorry if this review comes across as disjointed. I'm writing from my phone & don't want to scroll to make it fit better.Books of Layne that I would recommend:Prenup - opposites attract w/ forced togethernessOnly With You - opposites attract. More angtsyWalk of Shame - what Made in Manhattan reminds me the most but more character interactions.

This is an opposites attract trope that is full of conflict and angst. Violet is recruited to do a pygmalion makeover on Cain Stone her friend Edith's grandson and turn him into a Manhattan NY Billionaire CEO of her family owned company. This is a come together and pull apart romance that sizzles with Cain's black pony tail and beard. He is a large hunk and Violet gets butterflies in her tummy when he is near and barely touches her. This is a story on how you should be loved for who you are and be your best authentic self and fall in love for real. The ending of this romance was terrific. Lauren Layne is a master romance writer and I read this novel in 2 days. I could not stop turning pages. Sigh for love . . .

This was a lovely, easy read that just made me smile. One can't go wrong with a Lauren Layne book. If you looking for something light with a little bit of a bite then get this. Violet and Cain were perfectly matched in all ways and I loved their journey to a HEA.

“Maybe I can teach you something in all this, Duchess.” “Like what?” she dabbed at a bit of syrup on her lip. He cut off a piece of his omelet, then caught her gaze. Held it. “Like the fact that life should be better than fine.”LOVED. Adored. Cherished! Treasured. Precious. Favorite. SO GOOD.If you don’t read this one, you’re making awink✨ THINGS & STUFF ✨:-gender reversed pretty woman-opposites attract-NYC x New Orleans-folding your giant slice of greasy pizza-beignets-grumpy x sunshine-hate to love-purse pup a la Paris Hilton-Charlotte York meets Blair Waldorf heroine-stubborn, bad boy, sour patch brute (hero)-sLoW bUrN-#IsThisAKissingBook: 18+. “Maybe you’ve been kissing the wrong women,” Violet countered…”Maybe I have.”🎶 Song: In a Sentimental Mood by John Coltrane 🎶