Title: An Ex for Christmas
Author: Lauren Layne
Publisher: Loveswept
Series: Love Unexpectedly # 5
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"An Ex for Christmas" by Lauren Layne

My Thoughts....

This is definitely one of those read where one will say wow and shaking ones head! Poor Kelly Byme was really having a lots of trouble not being able to see the forest for the woods syndrome but being caught in in 'tea leaves, tarots cards, magic eight balls and gypsies telling the future. So, when Kelly psychic has her thinking she is getting back together with a ex by Christmas...her search will start and oh my god where it will lead her! So, instead of Kelly seeing Mark Blakely who had been her best friend for years, one she could and did count on and was right their in front her her she still goes through her long list of exes. However, I did keep in mind that Mark was just a friends and not a ex. Oh, yes they did share a spunky dog! This will be one funny and have you laughing out loud as this story goes on as Kelly takes Mark along with her on this venture of hers. Will this put a strain among these two friendship? What will happen as Kelly finally starts to see what is right in front of her? This author does a good job at pulling the reader into this story wanting to know what will happen next in this emotional hot, sweet and sexy romantic story. So, as we find Kelly 'working around getting ready for the holiday, working around superstitions, ex boyfriends, ex friends, a friend and a dog' the reader will get one heck of a good holiday story.

In the end will Kelly and Mark get their HEA? Well, you will have to pick up "An Ex for Christmas" to see how this author will bring the readers one entertaining 'fun read with lots of humor and chemistry' giving us a good Christmas read. Would I recommend this novel? YES!

Title: To Have and To Hold
Author: Lauren Layne
Publisher: Pocket Books
Series: The Wedding Belles # 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:

"To Have and To Hold" by Lauren Layne

My Thoughts....

After what had happened to Brooke Baldwin as she starts a new life in NY being a wedding planner working for Wedding Belles after her own disastrous wedding came to a abrupt end in L.A. Brooke had high hopes about her new job until she meets her first clients older brother Seth Tyler. We find from the read that Seth wanted to give his sister Maya the wedding of her dreams but he wasn't to sure about her groom Neil that she had only known for a few months. This is where the plot thickens and we get a very interesting story that will involve the wedding planner,Brooke, Seth, Maya, Grant and a few other secondary characters [Heather, Alexis & Logan] that will add to this delicious story that seems genuine and so realistic. What happens when Brooke has to deal with the unhappy Seth...the brother of Maya the bride? There will be some misunderstanding about this hold deal...[hiring a PI,]? Will Seth stop his controlling ways? Now what was that all about? What about Brooke with her trust issues? Will there be some chemistry between Seth and Brooke? Well, to find out you will have to pick up this good read to see for yourself how well this author brings it all out to her reader. I will say this author has a way of capturing the readers thoughts, emotions and even weaving them into the read where you will seem to be right there in the midst of it all. The reader will be left wanting more answers that I am sure will come out in later series. So, if you are looking for a good romance read "To Have and To Hold" will bring it to you featuring Brooke and Seth.

I received this book from NOR for an honest review.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review
Rating~ 4.25 Stars

Sometimes your just minding your own business looking for good book to read and BAAM you find a book you really love so what do you do next, get the next one in the series obviously!!! Especially if its by Lauren Layne cause I am pretty sure now that she can write anything and I'll read it. 

Meet Olivia Middleton who was kind of the bad guy in the last book in the prequel 'Isn't She Lovely', Ethan's ex-girlfriend and Paul Langdon who is a war veteran, a recluse, disfurged, damaged and so not the old guy Olivia thought she was going to be taken care of to earn  penance. Both of the characters are fighting their own demons and drowning in guilt hence the title 'BROKEN' because in all honestly that's what they believe they are. 

But the difference that's obvious from the first page is that that Olivia wants to fix herself and stop being that person she was while Paul does not want that at all and does not want Olivia to help him because he doesn't need any. 

Pauls father forces him to accept 'care giving' from Olivia as a one last chance to bring back to life and from then on we see witty banter, some catty comments, some sweet moments, pushing and hurting each other ,some emotional moments and through all this falling in LOVE. With Paul finally feeling hope because of Olivia.   

 Paul: "She makes me forget to breathe. She makes me forget everything."

This book is a roller coaster ride that makes you glad you experienced it which ends with leaving you with a simile,happy and content.  
Minor quibble: I do wish Lauren Layne had given us an epilogue.Other than that I 'hope' you read the book as soon as it releases. Happy reading.