BLOG TOUR - REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: READY TO RUN by LAUREN LAYNE

Named Best Book of the Month by Amazon and iBooks 

READY TO RUN

I Do, I Don't #1

Lauren Layne

Releasing Aug 22, 2017

Loveswept

In Ready to Run (I Do, I Don't #1) by Lauren Layne, convincing the man she thinks is the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms, is the only thing on Jordan Carpenter's mind. Heading to Lucky Hollow for a face to face meeting with Luke Elliott seems like a good plan in theory, but in reality, it doesn't look like she has a chance in hell of getting Luke to say yes to the show's plans. However, the more time she spends in Lucky Hollow with the friendliness and support of the townspeople, the more Jordan begins to find herself falling for the one man she should avoid falling in love with at all costs, especially if she wants to keep her job. The question is: what will Jordan choose -- happy ever after with Mr. Right or her career?

What a highly addictive, fast-paced, beguiling read Ms. Layne has penned in this first book of her I Do, I Don't series, which encompasses the enemy to lovers and opposites attract tropes; two enchanting main characters that I was absolutely charmed by due to their back stories and their growing relationship; and an incredible blend of intense, emotional and teasing banter that had me smiling because of Luke's reaction to Jordan and left me fighting back tears because of the heroine's past.

The way this story started had me liking the heroine immediately, as convincing Luke to do the show is very important to her. She's hopeful, determined and I could understand why she believes Luke is the perfect candidate, even though things aren't as they seem when it comes to him being a runaway groom. Will Jordan discover the truth about what happened between the hero and his three ex-fiances? I also liked how the heroine won the townspeople of Lucky Hollow over because of her friendliness and the fact that they believe she's good for Luke. Yet, what I liked most of all about the heroine was the decisions she made towards the end when it came to facing her past and her career.

While Luke, he was such an enthralling hero that I loved from the moment he was introduced into this story. He's stubborn and has serious trust issues, but I liked how he let the heroine into his life, even though he's been hurt by love before and betrayed by those he thought he could trust. I could also understand why he didn't like to talk about his past, because he doesn't need to be reminded of things he'd rather forget, especially when it came to his third ex-fiancé. Yet, what I liked most about the hero is the challenge the heroine provided Luke and how she brought fun to his life. Fun that made the secondary characters happy he was finally beginning to act like his old self before he lost someone important to him and before he ended things with fiance number three; the woman that destroyed his faith in love.

Overall, Ms. Layne has delivered an extremely entertaining read in this book where the chemistry was intense due to Jordan's determination and Luke's resistance to him being the perfect candidate for the reality TV show; the romance explosive since Luke and Jordan could only resist each other for so long; and the ending left me completely satisfied because of what Luke does to win the heroine back by being there for the heroine since she needs closure from her past. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly, as this time around Luke is finally getting his happy ever after because Jordan is his Ms. Right. I would recommend Ready to Run by Lauren Layne, if you enjoy the opposites attract trope, the enemy to lovers trope; books with The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride storyline; or books by authors Jessica Lemmon, Kristen Proby, Jennifer Probst and Julia London.

BLURB

The Bachelor meets The Runaway Bride in this addictive romance novel about a reality TV producer falling for her would-be star: a Montana heartthrob who wants nothing to do with the show.

Jordan Carpenter thinks she’s finally found the perfect candidate for Jilted, a new dating show about runaway grooms: Luke Elliott, a playboy firefighter who’s left not one but three brides at the altar. The only problem? Luke refuses to answer Jordan’s emails or return her calls. Which is how she ends up on a flight to Montana to recruit him in person. It’s not Manhattan but at least the locals in Lucky Hollow seem friendly . . . except for Luke, who’s more intense—and way hotter—than the slick womanizer Jordan expected.

Eager to put the past behind him, Luke has zero intention of following this gorgeous, fast-talking city girl back to New York. But before he can send her packing, Jordan’s everywhere: at his favorite bar, the county fair, even his exes’ book club. Annoyingly, everyone in Lucky Hollow seems to like her—and deep down, she’s starting to grow on him too. But the more he fights her constant pestering, the more Luke finds himself wishing that Jordan would kick off her high heels and make herself comfortable in his arms.

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Luke started to load up the gear and, realizing he was doing it alone, glanced over his shoulder to see where the hell his partner was.

Unsurprisingly, his friend was chatting up City Girl. Neither Charlie nor Ryan seemed to mind in the least that these two fancy pants had swooped into their town to capitalize on Luke’s past.

What was more surprising was that Jordan Carpenter was chatting right back, her smile seemingly genuine, her laugh real.

Luke ground his teeth.

He couldn’t say he’d put much thought into the woman behind the name as he’d been unceremoniously deleting her emails and voice messages, but if forced to assume, he’d have guessed aggressive shrew.

He suspected he was wrong there. Because while there was no mistaking the ambition in the woman, it wasn’t the cutthroat, ball-busting kind.

Her lean body might be all angles and long lines, but there was a softness to her as well. The way her hair did its own thing. The easiness of her smile, the quick laugh. The small but pert breasts.

Damn. He was staring.

He slammed the door shut. “Bander,” he shouted at Charlie across the lawn. “Let’s clear out.”

Charlie leaned into Jordan, whispering something in her ear that made her laugh, before walking away with a last wink.

Luke rolled his eyes. Really? This was happening?

“Hey, Elliott,” Ryan called. “You want to come over for a barbecue tonight?”

Luke crossed his arms and studied his friend suspiciously, waiting for the catch. “Who’s on the guest list?”

He saw Jordan and her purple-shirt friend exchange a look. Well, that answered that question.

Damn. Ryan never had been able to resist the urge to stir up trouble.

“It’s no problem if you don’t want to join us,” Jordan called out, lifting her hand to shield the afternoon sun from her eyes. “I’m sure your friends here can fill me in on everything there is to know about Luke Elliott.”

All about Luke Elliott’s romantic history was more like it. City Girl wasn’t even pretending to be coy about the reason she was here.

All former positive thoughts about her evaporated. Only the worst sort of human would use another’s failed relationships to advance her own career—for entertainment.

Luke turned away without another word, hauling himself into the driver’s seat of the truck as he waited impatiently for Charlie to get done shouting goodbye to every single person within earshot.

He drummed his thumbs against the steering wheel, refusing to even think about going to the BBQ tonight. If his friends wanted to stir up trouble, they could do so without his cooperation.

As for the two New Yorkers, they’d flame out all on their own. Weren’t East Coasters known for being impatient and fast moving?

Surely they’d be off to find some other glory-seeking asshole if he ignored them. One of the other guys could play the role for all he cared.

As Charlie hauled his ass up, Luke started the truck, his eye catching on Jordan Carpenter, who was watching him with a stubborn, determined look on her pretty face.

Damn it. She’d stir up all sorts of trouble unless he ran interference.

Luke pulled out his phone to text Ryan.

I’ll be there. Have beer.

Charlie leaned over, unabashedly reading Luke’s iPhone screen. “Ha. Knew it.”

“What?” Luke glared at his friend.

Charlie grinned wider, gesturing over his shoulder. “You’ve got a boner for the hot blonde.”

“Are you kidding me with this? She wants me to be the next bachelor.”

How were Ryan and Charlie not getting the absurdity of this?

Charlie shrugged. “So? Maybe it’d be good for you.”

Luke stared at his friend for a moment longer before putting the truck in drive. “The only thing that would be good for me is to push you out of this truck.”

Charlie was waving goodbye to Jordan and Simon. “See you tonight!”

Luke ground his teeth harder. He was already dreading the BBQ, but not going would only make matters worse. Clearly he needed to have a very blunt conversation with Jordan Carpenter.

Lauren Layne is the New York Times bestselling author of romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband.

A former e-commerce and web marketing manager from Seattle, Lauren relocated to New York City in 2011 to pursue a full-time writing career. She signed with her agent in 2012, and her first book was published in summer of 2013. Since then, she's written over two dozen books, hitting the USA TODAY, New York Times, iBooks, and Amazon bestseller lists.

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