In Honor of Superbowl Winning Quarterback Jackson Burke,
Enter to Win a Ladies "TEAM" T-Shirt from
Lady Fanatics Sports Apparel Winners Choice
(up to $40.00 Value)
I WISH YOU WERE MINE
Oxford #2
Lauren Layne
Releasing on February 2, 2016
Loveswept
Perfect for fans
of Alice Clayton and Emma Chase, Lauren Layne’s Oxford series heats up in this
story of forbidden desire as a brooding jock hoping for a comeback falls for a
woman who’s strictly off-limits.
A year ago, Jackson Burke was married to the love of his
life and playing quarterback for the Texas Redhawks. Now he’s retired, courtesy
of the car accident that ruined his career—and single, after a nasty scandal
torpedoed his marriage. Just as he’s starting to get used to his new life as a
health and fitness columnist for Oxford magazine, his unpredictable ex shows up
on his doorstep in Manhattan. Jackson should be thrilled. But he can’t stop
thinking about the one person who’s always been there for him, the one girl he
could never have: her younger sister.
Mollie Carrington can’t say no to Madison. After all, her
older sister practically raised her. So when Madison begs for help in winning
her ex-husband back, Mollie’s just glad she got over her own crush on Jackson
ages ago—or so she thought. Because as Mollie reconnects with Jackson, she
quickly forgets all her reasons to stay loyal to her sister. Tempted by
Jackson’s mellow drawl and cowboy good looks, Mollie is sick and tired of
coming in second place. But she can’t win if she doesn’t play the game.
Kristine's Thoughts:
** I received an advanced readers copy from Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**
Let me start off by saying that I haven't read a
Lauren Layne book that I haven't loved and after reading
I Wish You Were Mine I can still stand behind my words. Her writing is sassy and her characters are even sassier (is that a word?) and they draw me in every time.
I Wish You Were Mine is the second book in the
Oxford series but it can be read as a stand alone. You don't need to read
Irresistibly Yours in order to follow along but you'll want to because it's worth it.
The story begins eight years earlier and gives the readers a really good look at the type of relationship that a young Mollie and Jackson have. It shows the depth of caring and the strength of their bond. Not only that but it grabs the reader hook, line and sinker so that you are dying to know how it will all play out.
"Tonight at her sister’s wedding, Mollie Carrington had gone and fallen head over heels in love. With the groom."
Fast forward eight years and Jackson is no longer married to Mollie's sister and his football career is over. He leaves Texas for New York City and the offices of Oxford as the new health and fitness columist. He is bitter and resentful at his situation and finds himself alienating his coworkers and the city he lives in. There's nothing great and wonderful about the place except perhaps Mollie, his ex wife's younger sister. When he finally reaches out to her he is shocked to find out that she is not the awkward young girl anymore but a beautiful and sexy twenty eight year old woman. Even more so, he is shocked by the way is body reacts to her. Circumstances have him offering her a guest room in his penthouse and the story just gets hot and complicated from there.
I wasn't sure how I would feel about the whole sister storyline but as it turns out, I was ok with it. Perhaps it was because I adored Mollie from the beginning but I think it was mostly because Madison was a poor excuse for a human being. The complications that came from the sister situation made for some page turning reading.
It took me a little while to warm up to Jackson. Don't get me wrong...his physical attributes were on the mark and he was (at least in my head) sexy as hell. It was his personality and the way he was with his coworkers at Oxford that had me concerned. He was cold and unfriendly and didn't seem interested in making friends. WHAT!!!! WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO BE FRIENDS WITH THE MEN AND WOMAN OF OXFORD??? I WANT TO WORK THERE. I WANT TO BE THEIR FRIEND. I wasn't sure if I could like a character that couldn't see how quirky and awesome this group of people were. His personality and behaviour around Mollie was always swoon worthy but the rest needed work. I really enjoyed how his character evolved and by the time I was done reading I loved him.
The pages steamed up quite a bit in this book. In fact, I think this might be one of Lauren Layne's steamier books. The sexual chemistry between Mollie and Jackson was through the roof. It was sexy but tasteful at the same time. Layne managed to capture the emotion and beauty of their time together while fogging up my e-reader all at the same time.
Needless to say, I am loving this series and I really enjoyed this book. It was nice to revisit the characters of both Oxford and the Stiletto series and get to know Jackson and Mollie. I can't wait for the next one!
“You seriously didn’t have to hire movers,” Mollie said for the hundredth time as she watched two burly dudes easily maneuver yet another stack of boxes to Jackson’s guest room.
Jackson pointed at a barstool. “Sit. Relax. Want a beer?”
“No, I still need to unpack,” she muttered, reluctantly plopping onto the stool.
“Have a beer, Molls. Unpacking your nightstand contents isn’t like operating heavy machinery,” he said, going to the fridge and pulling out two beers.
“Clearly you don’t know what’s in my nightstand.”
Jackson lifted his eyebrows. “Exactly how big is your vibrator?”
“I meant I have like a zillion books.”
“Which are not breakable,” he said, handing her a beer. “And is that a no on the vibrator?”
She gave him a look as she took the bottle from his hand. “I just want to state for the record that I have moved several times, on my own, without the help of movers, and I could have done it again.”
“Moving yourself is for college kids. You’re an adult. Hire movers.”
“No, moving yourself is for people without extra income,” she said. “Snob.”
“So what was the plan?” he asked, tipping the bottle to his lips. “You were just going to maneuver all those big-ass boxes around with those skinny sticks you call arms?”
“Don’t be silly. I was going to hire some big beefy dudes from campus to help me. Perk of working at a university.”
Jackson was about to set his bottle on the counter but his hand froze, just for a second, and Mollie felt a sting of regret as she realized she’d inadvertently hit a nerve. Not so long ago, Jackson Burke had been absolutely the type of muscled guy friend who’d’ve been really helpful to have around on moving day. Her eyes flitted to his shoulder. Now he was the guy who wouldn’t be doing any heavy lifting for a long time. Maybe ever.
She looked away, her brain scrambling to come up with a quick subject change.
Only maybe that wasn’t what he needed—for people to dance around his injury like it was the elephant in the room. Physically, he was on the road to recovery. He needed to get there mentally as well.
“You said the other night that it didn’t hurt,” she said. “Was that a big macho man moment?”
He stared at the counter. “I’ve told you. It’s fine.”
She rolled her eyes. “Please. Be a little more vague and manly.”
“Well, what do you want me to say, Molls?” he ground out. “That the pain wakes me up at night? That any motion more vigorous than brushing my teeth hurts like hell?”
“Are you going to physical therapy?” she asked, purposely ignoring the wounded-bear routine. That might scare off other people, but she was made of stronger stuff. Knew him better.
He looked away.
“Oh, Jackson.”
He shrugged. “What does it even matter? All the PT in the world isn’t going to help me play football again.”
“Well, gosh,” she said dramatically, “you may as well be dead.”
Jackson was in the process of taking a sip of beer and choked. “Jesus. You are such a smart-ass.”
“I’m just saying, you have a lot going for you,” she said, gentling her tone. “You don’t need a football in your hand or to help a girl move to be an amazing guy.”
“Yeah?” he said as he leaned on his forearms across the counter. “Want to tell me more about how I’m an amazing guy?”
If I did, I might never stop.
BUY NOW
Lauren Layne is the USA Today Bestselling author of more than a dozen contemporary romance novels.
Prior to becoming an author, Lauren worked in e-commerce and web-marketing. A year after moving from Seattle to NYC to pursue a writing career, she had a fabulous agent and multiple New York publishing deals.
Lauren currently lives in Manhattan with her husband and plus-sized Pomeranian. When not writing, you'll likely find her running (rarely), reading (sometimes), or at happy hour (often).
Don't Miss IRRESISTIBLY YOURS
Oxford Book One
