STEAL ME
New York’s Finest #2
Lauren Layne
Released November 24th,2015
Forever Romance
Being a cop might be in Anthony Moretti’s blood, but protecting and serving the city of New York has always been more than just the family business. If that means his love life stays locked up, well then that’s just another sacrifice made in the line of duty. That is, until he sets eyes on the gorgeous new waitress at The Darby Diner and suddenly Anthony’s morning coffee is leaving him a whole lot more hot and bothered than usual.
Though waitressing at The Darby isn’t exactly Maggie Walker’s dream job, it pays the bills and gives her time to work on her novel. Now if only she could stop fantasizing about gorgeous Anthony Moretti every time he sits down at her table, she’d really be in great shape. But when he needs her help identifying a criminal threatening The Darby-and Maggie recognizes her ex-husband-she fears her fresh start might be a pipe dream. Faster than a New York minute, Maggie and Anthony find themselves in one perilous pursuit that only gets hotter with each and every rule-breaking kiss.
Omg these Moretti brothers are the worst… I mean the best… But the worst.
They are the epitome of pigheaded stubbornness that is high blood pressure enducing and yet oh so endearing. I’m really surprised any of them made through adulthood. Even coming from a perfect family they are plagued by some decisions in their love life that holds them back from reaching toward romantic happiness. Yes they are all driven but taking cues from their successful parents is something foreign to them. Big brother Anthony is no different.
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“Why don’t you go find out?”
“Huh?”
Kim jerked her chin over Maggie’s shoulder. “Table seven.”
Maggie spun around, her heart pounding at the thought of seeing him. It wasn’t Anthony Moretti at table seven. It was, however, his mother and sister.
“Too bad,” Kim mused. “Today’s berry cobbler would have looked really good all over his uniform.”
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Maggie Walker is a waitress at a diner that Moratti family frequents at. She is a big dreamer of being a ya romance writer but unfortunately to support herself and mooches in her life she must waitress. She is great at her job except when she is around Captain Anthony Moretti. The big brother of the Moretti brood, the ever scowling, the ever strict, the ever focused career climber maker her a klutz around him.
The chemistry is definitely there for the two but like a good romance story there are always obstacles and perceived misconceptions that keeps our main characters apart.
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“Weird. I didn’t get any extra bacon,” Luc mused. “Did you, Vin?”
Vincent lifted a corner of omelet with his fork and pretended to look under it. “Nope, nothing here. Do you think…is it possible…could our Mags prefer the captain to us?”
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Anthony is sworn off everything except succeeding in following his father’s steps in becoming a “Police Commissioner Moretti the Second”. Because of his tragic love life and suffering Big Brother Syndrome he has convinced himself that he can only have one… a successful career or great boyfriend status. Therefore the jerk stubbornly doesn’t even try and continually fights his attraction to Maggie. There were many times where I wanted to reach into the book and shake him. Not that I would be able to as he is a tall trunk of rugged man which means I probably won’t even make him sway a little but hell I wanted to try.
Maggie was a sassy little thing who was right there with me in wanting to put Anthony in his place or at least knock him down from his high perch. She is a true survivor and although a bit of a push over in the beginning she does develop as a character. Her family only uses her for money and she has given up her whole life and moved to a crappy small apartment to escape her ex-husband. However, I do have to admit that is with encouragement and support of the rest of the Moretti clan, even (reluctantly agree here) with Anthony’s ‘friendship’ she does grow out of her own Carer of the Mooches role, however I do feel like she has helped Anthony heal more.
The whole Moretti clan gave me lots of giggles especially the crazy grandmother.
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Nonna pointed at her youngest grandson. “See, he has a nice girl. Luca, at what point did you show Ava your wang?”
“Not answering that,” Luc muttered. “Also, I’m with Anth. Can we stop using the word ‘wang’?”
“Penis?” Nonna suggested. “Appendage? Or in my day, we called it—”
“Please don’t finish that sentence,” Anth muttered, heading toward the fridge for a beer.
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I am happy with where the series is going. The development of secondary characters is just a cherry on top of a great story that Lauren has weaved, as well as the set up of the next ‘love conflict’ of the middle Moretti brother Vincent and his awesomely sassy and awe-inspiring cop partner Jill. Seriously without reading the next book I think she will be my favorite heroine of the series.
… And to leave you off with a favorite quote for me as New Yorker:
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A little-known fact about life in New York City: the subway gods rarely had your back. In fact, it was a pretty sure bet that there were no subway gods, much as one might pray to them when running late or really wanting a seat, or just plain hoping for a BO-free subway experience.
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Vik’s 4-Bean REVIEW
Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.
Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. In 2011, she and her husband moved from Seattle to New York City, where Lauren decided to pursue a full-time writing career. It took six months to get her first book deal (despite ardent assurances to her husband that it would only take three). Since then, Lauren’s gone on to publish ten books, including the bestselling Stiletto series, with several more on the way in 2015.
Lauren currently lives in Chicago with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. When not writing, you’ll find her at happy hour, running at a doggedly slow pace, or trying to straighten her naturally curly hair.
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