Ready to Run (I Do, I Don't, #1)

by Lauren Layne

[Lynn]

As Lauren Layne is one of my go-to authors, It's always exciting to dive into the first book in a new series; I Do, I Don't.

Jordan Carpenter's thrilled when she finally finds an ideal candidate for Jilted, the reality television show she works on. However, after numerous failed attempts to get any responses from her numerous messages, she has no choice but to travel to Lucky Hollow, Montana to get her bachelor candidate to sign the contract. Only, the man she finally meets isn't what she expected and the small town he lives is a reminder of her background she's spent years trying to forget.

Luke Elliott just wants to live his life how he sees fit. He's definitely not interested in taking part in a reality television show, so feels no guilt for ignoring the barrage of messages the pushy reality producer has been leaving. Yet, when a mystery blonde wearing an inappropriate pair of killer heels turns up where he's working, it irks him that it's the woman responsible for hounding him. So he's shocked when a tiny spark of electricity shoots up his arm and generates a physical reaction when they shake hands. It's unexpected and acts as a catalyst to rethink his current attitude to life.

I was pretty much laughing out loud from the very beginning of this novel. Ms Layne is one of only a handful of authors who's romantic comedy books I find funny. Intelligent humour and witty dialogue are her forte and Ready To Run runs true to her writing style. Captivating from the very beginning, there's an amusing collection of secondary characters who collaborate to push the protagonists together. It's entertaining and kept me turning the pages as fast as I could read them.

The overall feel of the narrative was a pleasant surprise. I've loved all Ms. Layne's sexy heroes in suits, so Luke Elliott; fire-fighter is a gloriously desirable book boyfriend and a caring and compassionate gentleman to boot! His attractiveness is amplified when we discover the guy beneath his notorious reputation is nothing how outsiders perceive him.
Jordan is the epitome of an LL heroine; polished, sassy and very ambitious. When the two protagonists combine, the result is combustible chemistry.

Any fans of Lauren Layne will love this novel and it's perfect for new fans to discover the delights of LL's writing too. Ready To Run is fast paced, amusing and I can't wait to delve into future books in this series.

5 stars

***arc generously received courtesy of Loveswept via NetGalley***