ARC REVIEW Love on Lexington Avenue by Lauren Layne

Central Park Pact #2, I'm happy we didn't have a very long wait for Claire's story. Claire, Aubrey, and Naomi all met when Claire's husband died, Aubrey's boyfriend died, and Naomi's lover died, unfortunately it was all the same man. Claire never knew he was cheating, she didn't find out until after he die. He never told Naomi he was married and he told Aubrey that they were in the process of a divorce. Claire felt betrayed in the worst way so scorned by her husband she said she would never marry again. A year after his death and her newfound friendship with Aubrey and Naomi, Claire is ready to start living her life again and kind of going through a midlife crisis, sort of. She realizes how boring her life was how everything is bland and she wants to change that she wants to be pink lemonade instead of vanilla.

Scott is the contractor Claire hires to do a complete reno of her brownstone, since it hadn't been updated since the seventies. Scott has long been jaded by the actions of his ex-fiancee and has had time to "get over it" he's also never in once place for too long always picking the international jobs. Claire's knows better than to start anything with him and not just because he's best friends with her best friend's boyfriend but he is definitely not her type, but then again.

Overall, another great story from Lauren Layne. Like so many of her other books this has great rom-com qualities, funny situations, quirky side characters, heated looks that lead to scenes that leave just enough to your imagination, and an absolutely adorable dog. I enjoyed the connection between Claire and Scott. I am also really looking forward to Aubrey and Clarke's book from the blurb it sounds like another winner.       

ARC REVIEW Passion on Park Avenue by Lauren Lane

Central Park Pact #1, The series is a new one from a favorite author of mine it's about an unlikely friendship between three women, socialite Audrey Tate, the classy Claire Hayes, and the self made billionaire Naomi Powell.What brought these three women together was they had slept with the same man, Claire's husband. They met when they were all supposed to be at his funeral all wearing the same shoes and all with identical watches. They all understood what a lousy excuse for a man he was and made a pact that they would protect each other from making the same mistake again. Over the next couple of months the bonds of friendship formed and they became close friends. 

Naomi Powell hit it big with a subscription based accessories box. Growing up poor in the Bronx toughened her up and lets her appreciate all her accomplishments.She's about to move into a perfect new office and apartment when she gets a call letting her know that her application for to move in to an apartment at 517 Park Ave has been accepted. She lived their for a short time as a child in the servants quarters with her mother, it was horrible and it ended just as bad and she knew the family that ruined her childhood still lived there. She planned to move in long enough to rub it in how successful she now was but what happened when she got there changed everything.

Oliver Cunningham was the ban of Naomi's existence when she lived at 517 Park, and unfortunately for her plans as an adult he's completely changed. Oliver was a disappointment to his father by not going into the family business, instead he became an architect. First his mother died of cancer and then shortly after that his father was diagnosed with alzheimer's; his life has revolved around his father's illness the only person to catch his interest is the redhead who moved in next door who seemed to have an instint hate-on for him. The more time Naomi and Oliver spend together however the more they like each other and one thing leads to another and they are in love but with Naomi's past a secret it's only another matter of time before the other shoe drops and Oliver finds out who she really is and why she moved in to 517 Park in the first place.

Overall, it's another great LL romance. Enemies to Lovers with plenty of snark and humor, and what LL does best bring a bit of New York to those of us who can only dream about it her descriptive narrative is wonderful. I love the connection Naomi made with Audrey and Claire the sisterly bond they formed to look out for each other, I look forward to their stories as well.