Book Tour & Review: Cuff Me by Lauren Layne

 

Cuff Me
New York’s Finest #3
By: Lauren Layne
Releasing March 29, 2016
Forever

Blurb

Vincent knows he’s not the most charming of the Moretti brothers. He prefers brooding to flirting, reading to talking, and he sure as hell isn’t about to give into his mother’s insistence that he ‘settle down with a nice girl.’ Luckily, Vincent’s gig as one of the NYPD’s top homicide detectives keeps him busy. As does his long-time partner, Jill Henley–a tough-as-nails cop with the face of an angel and smart mouth that makes Vincent crazy in all the worst ways.

After six years of working the homicide beat with the tight-lipped Vincent Moretti, Jill figure she knows him better than anyone. Which is not at all. But when their most recent case points to a
potential serial-killer situation, the higher-ups send them on a rare undercover mission to a place no NYPD officer dares go: the Upper Eastside.

Now the bureau’s most antagonistic set of partners is posing as Mr. and Mrs. Brooks of Park Avenue. Spending 24/7 in the suspect’s territory brings them closer and closer to their killer . . .
and closer to each other. Soon Vincent and Jill are playing good cop/bad cop in and out of bed, and Jill’s falling hard. But can she convince Vincent to give her a shot as partner in life, as well as at the bureau?

Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2016/02/cuff-me-new-yorks-finest-3-by-lauren_7.html

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25862018-cuff-me

Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/142511-new-york-s-finest

 

Review:

I am definitely a big fan of Layne’s and this story reinforced my commitment. I’ve been waiting on Vincent & Jill’s story for what seems like a long time, and it was well worth the wait! Vincent is tough and brooding with way too much attitude, and I absolutely love him. The only thing he loves more than his aviator sunglasses and leather jacket is his partner Jill, unbeknownst to her. Jill has been crushing on Vincent since she partnered with him six years ago, and the heat between them is enough to grill a steak – well done! The exchanges between the two are their own way of communicating with each other, and even when Vincent is being difficult, Jill can’t help but to love him. She’s a perfect compliment to him. She’s bubbly and sociable and they love working together.

A high-profile murder case keeps the lovers on their toes, and the connection between them – emotional and physical- tugged at my heart and kept my attention full-force. The murder was flawlessly woven into the romance, and it was captivating. I was all in and tried my best to figure it out. There wasn’t too much going on – just enough, and when you throw in beautifully flawed and loyal family and friends, this story is a crafty treat of the highest caliber.

Nonna is still one of my favorite characters of all time. She’s feisty and fun, and if she was in a historical romance she’d create the need for a lot of smelling salts. I laughed a lot while reading this – the exchanges are often hilarious, and I want so much to be a part of the family. Although mom and dad have small roles, their words are meaningful and the stories wouldn’t be right without them.

This expertly written story was an outstanding ending to a beloved series. I so wish there would be more.

Rating system: The less the better.

0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.

My rating: 0 cups of coffee

 
 
 

Buy Links: Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes Kobo

 
Author Info

Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of more than a dozen contemporary romance novels.

Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. A year after

moving from Seattle to NYC to pursue a writing career, she had a fabulous agent and multiple

New York publishing deals.

Lauren currently lives in Manhattan with her husband and plus-sized Pomeranian. When not

writing, you’ll likely find her running (rarely), reading (sometimes), or at happy hour (often).

Author Links Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest

 

Excerpt

Only a week after, he’d stuck out his hand and introduced himself as Tom, Tom Porter, in a sort

of James Bondian way that made her giggle. They had been eating dinner at that very same

hotel restaurant.

Only a week after that, dinner with Tom had become the norm rather than the exception.

The week after that?

They occasionally threw lunch into the mix, either her coming to meet him at some fancy place

while her mom was in physical therapy, or him bringing fabulous picnicstyle lunches to her

mother’s house, where he’d proceed to charm Jill’s mom almost as thoroughly as he charmed

Jill.

Five weeks into Jill’s stay in Florida, Jill had stuck around for breakfast.

In his hotel room.

And then there’d been last night.

“Okay, okay, so he’s a dreamboat,” Elena said as the car crept slowly through rush hour traffic

toward Manhattan. “How’d he pop the question? Champagne? Roses? Fancy restaurant with a

water view?”

“Holy crap,” Jill said with a laugh. “Were you there?”

“I know all,” Elena said, extending her hands to the side as though she were some wise sage.

“Did you see it coming at all?”

“Not even a little bit,” Jill admitted.

Not even with the expensive champagne, or the two dozen roses, or the fact that the restaurant

staff seemed to be going out of their way to give Jill and Tom privacy at the terrace table

overlooking the ocean.

She’d simply thought it had just been a really fantastic good-bye.

Instead it had been a bit more of a be mine forever and ever.

And Jill had said yes.

She’d said yes almost the second he’d gone down on his knee, not because she’d been that

sure—she’d been pretty sure . .. sort of sure—she’d said yes because in that moment, Jill had

wanted what Tom Porter was offering her.

A companion. A partner. Love.

And that’s what it came down to. Jill wanted to be loved. She wanted to love.

She loved her mother, obviously. And loved the memory of her father, God rest his soul.

And though she had no siblings of her own, the Morettis had filled that gap. And with the recent

addition of Luc’s girlfriend, Ava, and Anthony’s new wife, Maggie, she had some amazing

girlfriends to add to the mix.

And last, but never least, there was Vincent. Her partner. In some ways her best friend,

although in a way that was different from her relationship with Elena.

But as much as Vincent sometimes seemed like two parts of the same whole, he’d always held

a bit of himself back from her. From everyone.

He’d made no secret of the fact that he had no intentions of getting married, ever. Any fantasies

Jill had had that her partner would one day wake up and see her were long gone.

Which left her a bit.. . lonely.

She wanted someone to come home to at the end of the long day who would just be there.

Who’d pour her a glass of wine, maybe rub her feet and just listen.

Tom offered Jill what nobody else had offered her… ever.

Love. Commitment. A future.

And she knew that he loved her. Fast as their relationship had developed, she could feel it. And

she loved him too. At least she was pretty sure.

“Aww, you like him,” Elena said teasingly, reaching out a finger and poking the dimple in Jill’s

left cheek.

“I want to be happy, El. I want the happily-ever-after with someone who wants it with me.”

She met her friend’s eyes and saw from the flash of regret on Elena’s face that El understood

what Jill wasn’t saying out loud.

I can’t wait for Vin forever.

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