Hot Asset (21 Wall Street, #1)

by Lauren Layne

Featured on Inside Edition.

A sexy agent hounds Wall Street’s hottest new wolf in an exhilarating novel from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne.

Ian Bradley is the definition of a Wall Street hotshot: seven-figure salary, designer suits, and a corner office. His drive off the floor is just as potent. Every woman who knows him has felt the rush. But now he’s met his match in Lara McKenzie—a woman with the power to bring Ian to his knees.

An ambitious, whip-smart daughter of FBI agents, Lara is a rising star in fighting white-collar crime. Her latest case—the investigation of Ian Bradley for insider trading—could make her career. She knows a scoundrel when she sees one. Ian fits the bill: a cocky, ridiculously handsome bad boy with a slick swagger.

She’ll do anything to prove he’s guilty. He’ll do anything to prove he’s not. But it’s only a matter of time before their fierce battle of wits gets oh so hot and personal. Now, taking down Ian has become more than business for Lara. It’s become a pleasure—and there’s more at risk than she ever dreamed.

• ISBN10: 1503901068
• ISBN13: 9781503901063
• Publish Date: 22 May 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Montlake Romance
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 270
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

And my love affair with Lauren Layne continues.

Once again, she assembled a fabulous group of characters, who I want to get to know better. The seeds for future romances were so well planted, and I can't wait to sow those seeds.

Ian and Lara were such a great couple to kick this series off with. I am always up for a good enemies-to-lovers, and these two were great together.

There was the chemistry and banter we have grown to expect, but there was also some really sweet moments, which made me let out a wistful sigh.

LOVED the ending a whole lot. I swear! I clapped my hands, because I was so happy for a certain character, and I liked that there was sacrifice, but not the kind that compromised their dreams.

Another great Layne series!

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[thebookdisciple]

Hot Asset kicks off a new series by Lauren Layne and its centered around powerful stock brokers! I have never had any interest in stocks or the stock market, but leave it to Lauren Layne to make it seem sexy!

Ian is a douche. He pretty much tells us that on the first page. He is rich, powerful, sexy, and he knows it. But he isn't the guy who cheats to get ahead, so he knows when the SEC comes sniffing around, something is up. Lara is trying to get into white collar crimes for the FBI and is cutting her teeth in the SEC. She is sure Ian is guilty of insider trading, but he has a way of making her doubt herself. In classic Layne fashion, the banter is on point. Both Ian and Lara are well educated and whip smart so their verbal repartee is just as witty as they are. Both are passionate about their jobs and I enjoyed that aspect of the story. While I know little about the world of wall street, these two are both deeply engaged in the good and the bad about it! I liked that both Lara and Ian found it important to be ethical. Their relationship felt more real because you can tell they are both good humans. With each chapter I fell more in love with them both.

Hot Asset gives us a blistering enemies to lovers in a world filled with adversarial relationships. I really enjoyed Ian and Lara even though I didn't expect to. They are driven and mature, which I really appreciated; sometimes I get so tired of the unsure, woe is me, angsty romance. I also loved that they are genuinely good, honest people. There was something sexy about that for some reason. Finally, I found the resolution of the story (before the epilogue) to be incredibly satisfying. I would explain, but... spoilers. Just know that once again, Layne gives me characters I loved with a plot I appreciated for its realism.

Side note: I haven't listened to the audio, but its narrated by Zachary Webber so I want to listen to the audio!!!!

 

• POV: dual 1st


• Tears: no


• Trope: enemies to lovers


• Triggers: none


• Series/Standalone: stand alone


• Cliffhanger: no


• HEA: yes with a great epilogue

The Allure of Dean Harper by RS Grey, Seducing the Defendant by Chantal Fernando, After the Dark by Cynthia Eden...then you will probably like Hot Asset!

 

Hot Asset

See full review on The Book Disciple

[stacey_is_sassy]

***IT'S ALIVE!!!***

Even Prince Charming needs to move with the times…

Oh, how the times have changed. Gone are the days where Prince Charming rides in on his steed and saves the day. We don’t want our heroes to take over and make everything all right. We don’t need him to throw money at a problem to make it disappear. He doesn’t need to protect the damsel. He doesn’t have to rule the world to show us he’s in control. Now, Prince Charming needs to help us fix our own problems. Now, we have our own money and spend it how we want. Now, he stands beside his fair maiden and shows support. Our hero needs to work with his heroine to make their world work together. Basically, Prince Charming just needs to be a good bloke.

Lauren Layne nails Prince Charming by giving us Ian, in Hot Asset. I really enjoyed this story and found myself falling for Ian from the very beginning. He’s far from perfect, even coming close to being an egotistical, arrogant manwhore. But, from the start, I knew he had some hidden depths. This guy has worked bloody hard to be where he’s at and, he doesn’t hesitate to share his good fortune with others who started out the same way he did. He takes full advantage of the money he earns and maintains a certain reputation to keep the women coming back for more.

If only he didn’t have a pesky insider trading accusation hanging over his head.

I really liked Lara, our heroine in the story. She’s strong, independent and determined to reach her dream position of working for the FBI. When she’s put in charge of investigating Ian, it’s another step closer to reaching her dream. Then, she meets him, her heart flutters, and if she’s not careful, he might distract her from her job.

I think I’m going to be a BIG fan of the 21 Wall Street (I sing it every time, like the 21 Jump St theme song) series. The characters are interesting and definitely not cookie-cutter representations of every other “suit” working finance in New York. I liked that while Ian, Kennedy and Matt are fighting each other to be the best in the workplace, they are also besties. They share the highs and lows of working and living in New York. Kate, Ian, Kennedy and Matt’s secretary was one of my favourite characters. I really hope she gets her own story with a certain nerdy man of money. Sabrina, Ian’s best friend from childhood is a ball-buster that I admired. All of them together are funny, sweet and thoughtful which balanced out their crass, nosy and opinionated sides.

I was hooked from the first page of Hot Asset and thought the pacing was perfect. The process of investigating white-collar crime was interesting. The love story was something I enjoyed seeing unfold. Both Lara and Ian know that they shouldn’t but their connection and attraction never dimmed even with a concentrated effort to ignore their feelings. Lara took her job seriously and wasn’t willing to risk the repercussions of a fling. Ian’s life was in limbo and he respects Lara too much to risk her job and the fallout if their relationship were to be discovered. These two actually proved their intelligence by being smart about starting a relationship. Kind of refreshing in romance these days.

I loved the ending of Hot Asset. Yes, all of it comes together perfectly, but who doesn’t like finishing their story with a big goofy smile on their face? We get to see our modern day Prince Charming work together with his fair maiden to reach their very own happily ever after. Ain’t love grand… ❤❤❤

I cannot wait for the next instalment of 21 Wall Street to see whether Matt can clean up his act a little to keep the Sam’s happy.

Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.

[Rowena]

Another winner in my book. I loved both Lara and Ian and am pretty anxious for Matt, Sabrina, Kate and Kennedy. They were all awesome. Full review to come.

[Lynn]

4.5 stars

Love. Love. Love. Men in suits..! This first novel in the 21 Wall Street series more than satisfied my appetite for sharp dressing, sexy businessmen.

Ian Bradley is blasé about his reputation and oozes confidence and charisma...or is it arrogance! He excels at what he does and has worked hard to achieve his corner office, seven-figure salary and stellar reputation within the financial community. So, when he's investigated for insider trading, he's determined to clear his name. Only, the woman investigating his case is someone he wants to get to know more intimately…only her interest in him doesn't extend beyond convicting him of wrongdoing.

SEC investigator Lara McKenzie has ambitions beyond her current role. The daughter of FBI agents, she hopes to follow in their footsteps. But for now, she's responsible for the case against a Wall Street hotshot she'd like to get better acquainted with if current circumstances were less conflicting. Besides, her future career depends on achieving a conviction with this case, only this man isn't going to give up, until he has proved his innocence and captured her heart.

On the surface, Ian and Lara seem to be very unalike from one another. However, once we get to know them, it's clear they are both very self-assured people and neither are fazed by their dissimilar working environments. When their worlds collide, resulting in a conflict of interest, they somehow manage to work around it...eventually. There's no denying the sexual chemistry between these very driven people, yet, the romance is a slow burn with lots of pent-up physical attraction as they circle around each other within the confines of the challenging plight which surrounds them.

I've read and enjoyed many LL novels but I admit to loving her 'men in suits' novels just a little bit more. With a glamorous Manhattan backdrop, how can you not fall for a powerful, wealthy man in a designer suit like Ian? Equally, Lara is independent, strong and somewhat unconventional, a perfect provocative match. This novel had a glossy 'Stiletto' and 'Oxford' feel which I adore but with a Wall Street backdrop, the stakes are higher and the risks greater for the protagonists and their captivating friends. All designed to make you eagerly anticipate the next instalment...which I am.

To sum up, an entertaining beginning for what promises to a fabulous series. Fans of Lauren Layne will love Ian and Lara. If she's a new author for you, Hot Asset is a recommended novel and place to start.

***arc generously received courtesy of Montlake Romance via NetGalley***