Good Girl (Love Unexpectedly)

Super cute beach read. I love Lauren Layne's writing style and laughed out loud several times during this book (possibly because I hate kale, lol). Noah's language and crassness made me cringe and there was nothing earth shattering about the plot, but on the whole it was an enjoyable read.

Absolutely LOVED Noah and Princess! ;) This had just the right amount of angst and tons of laugh out loud moments. Crazy hot stuff happening in there too. I need to read more by this Author! I'm a sucker for animals and couldn't get enough of the relationship between their dogs. So cute!! Hoping Finn gets his own story. Would like to read it.

Received a copy for an honest review. Reviewed for Author Liaisons.

This book was a different type of story that Lauren Layne wrote. I loved how she is branching out. Jenny was down on her luck as she was always in the spotlight and not always in a good way. Noah wanted a different identity to escape his father and life.

I just always love a good Lauren Layne book and I am definitely looking forward to more from her!

I loved this book. I loved the banter between Noah, Vaughn and Finn. I loved the dogs and just the sweetness of the whole story.... I cant wait for book 2 in the series. Im hoping its about Vaughn or Finn

Will there ever come a day when Lauren Layne writes a bad book? I sincerely doubt it. She's not only a writing machine, but every book that she writes is better than the previous ones. For the romance lover in me who loves all things banter, strong characters and deliciously swoony scenes, her books are the absolute best and I'm always looking forward to whatever she has to release next. I plunged into Good Girl one evening and could not stop reading. If the word "book-crack" were to make it to the dictionary, then it should have a picture of Good Girl next to it.

Jenny Dawson is an up and coming country star loved by many around the country. When she is thrust into the middle of a fake scandal with false rumors about her involving herself with married men, she is forced to flee the limelight into a mansion in the middle of nowhere, Louisiana. I loved Jenny so much! Good Girl is told in the POV of both Jenny and her love interest, but Jenny was beyond question my favorite. She had such a bubbly, positive and loveable personality and I loved how she faced her scandal with her head held high instead of wallowing. Her confidence, sass and wit shone through Good Girl and it's so easy to want to root for her and her happiness. I honestly wasn't expecting her to be so lively and cheerful given her circumstances, but I was sure glad that she wasn't an angsty heroine.

Noah, her love interest, brought about much more conflicting feelings for me. I didn't know if I wanted to smack the heck out of him or rip his clothes off ... He was honestly a big jerk to Jenny multiple times throughout the story. He said hurtful and cruel things to her that will make you want to throttle him, but he almost always immediately regretted his words, but there were definitely times when it wasn't easy to forgive him and I needed him to grovel a bit more. Still though, there was something about this grumpy and gruff hero that I honestly found irresistible and so did Jenny. He had a lot of anger in him because of his past and it's hard not to want to feel anything for him when he opened up emotionally. I do think Noah is not going to be a hero who sits well with some readers, but if you're easily forgiving (as I am), you'll be able to see through his grouchiness because he certainly had his share of swoony scenes and dialogues.

Jenny and Noah's romance was hot hot hot! The lust and attraction between them was on fire since their very first meeting. The banter, the bickering and the swoons were my favorite part of Good Girl because Lauren Layne did all those so well. Things aren't always easy between them, but they made me ship them like crazy. When they did finally give in to their passions, wowzah! This has got to be the sexiest Lauren Layne book I've ever read - every time that Noah and Jenny would get together, I'd be red-faced and fanning myself non stop. Another bonus? The angst and separation was kept short and sweet, just the way I like it! Good Girl was also filled with so many funny scenes thanks to Jenny's little Pomeranian, Dolly and Noah's big horny dog, Ranger. I also loved Noah's friends Vaughn and Finn and their bromance and I'm crossing all my fingers and toes that we get to see them in their own books!

Good Girl was a really addictive book that I honestly couldn't get enough of. Soon after I finished reading the book, I went back and re-read some of my favorite scenes. This is certainly a book that I'll be re-reading over and over again. Good Girl is the perfect book for fans of antagonistic romances with plenty of banter, humor and sexy times.

I will admit, I prefer Lauren Layne's adult romantic comedies to her new adult books (largely because I prefer adult-targeted books over new adult books in general; few new adult books have done it for me). Yet, Layne is one of my go-to authors when I'm looking for a fun and funny read.

Still, I wasn't a huge fan of Good Girl the first time I read it. I normally enjoy celebrity romances, and in a way, this one had two celebrities, with the heroine being a star singer and the hero being a wealthy estate-owner instead of the caretaker he's pretending to be. The premise is one that's familiar: Jenny, the heroine, flees California after gossip about an affair sparks scandal, going to a small Louisiana town where she wrote her first song. There, she meets Noah (really Preston Walcott), and sparks fly. I felt the plot was a little too cliched.

However, on my second read (or skim, rather), I'm seeing some highlights. I like that Layne's new adult books, Good Girl, included, employ flawed but real characters that don't necessarily come from or descend into extreme darkness, unlike numerous other books in the subgenre. As someone who's sensitive to what other people say about her, I appreciate Jenny's strength in the face of gossip and scandal. Layne writes explosive sex scenes, artfully. I like when pets add an extra (and fluffy) angle to books, so I enjoyed the couple's dogs, Ranger and Dolly. I also liked Noah's two best friends, Vaughn and Finn, but sadly Layne seems not to have any plans to address their individual stories.

I'd recommend Good Girl to those looking for a light but substantial new adult read. However, for me, it still pales in comparison to Layne's deeper (in my opinion) adult-focused novels.

A young singer/songwriter, Jenny, is suffering the downside of her new fame and fortune. Lies in the tabloids are getting to her, so she packs up Dolly, her adorable Pomeranian, and leaves her home in L.A. for a little quiet time in Louisiana, where she has fond memories from childhood.

The house she rents is a bit rundown, so it comes with a caretaker. Unfortunately, she and Noah, said caretaker, rub each other the wrong way. Jenny doesn't know he actually owns the house.

Noah is unhappy with his life and looking for a new direction. Jenny reminds him too much of things he doesn't like about his old life, so he lashes out at her. He didn't mean to lie to her about being the caretaker instead of the landlord, but sticks with his fib anyway.

The dislike between Jenny and Noah is over-the-top and he was very mean. It also made it hard to see how they eventually fell in love. They definitely had the sexual attraction, but when their feelings changed wasn't shown or given behaviors to justify it.

On the bright side, I really enjoyed the characters and humor, which is how I landed on the 3.5 rating. Jenny is extremely likable and her dog charmed my socks off. Noah had an entertaining dog too, and was enjoyable when he was with his friends and not spouting nastiness to Jenny. Noah and Jenny both had friends that added fun elements--hers because she was sweet and supportive, and his because they were like oil and water, bickering constantly...while being sweet and supportive.

This was such a quick and enjoyable read. I laughed and swooned throughout the entire book! Seriously, the perfect mix of fun, sweet and steam! I immediately liked Jenny and this book was a rare instance in a contemporary romance where I never felt that she did something stupid or there was a miscommunication that led to conflict. Noah, he did do something stupid but it was refreshing for the entire wrong to be on the guy in this book rather than just one massive miscommunication that resulted in drama. I would say this was relatively free of drama as well. I also loved and thought it was kind of cool that this book employed one of my favorite tropes in a unique way -- the "stranded" trope (usually in a cabin in the snow or on an island) but, here, they were both in this dilapidated mansion with only each other for company (largely). There was definitely a little bit of enemies to lovers in the best possible way. I'm not a big country music fan but this turned the stereotype on its head and I think you'd love this even more if you were a fan of country music.

I liked this story quite a bit. This one definitely had some wonderful moments and I really liked Jennie and Noah. This book had a wonderful balance of the things that I love in a contemporary romance. There was a thread of humor throughout the story and the banter between the couple was great. The chemistry between the pair and the overall romance was well done. This was such a fun read.

Jenny Dawson is a country music star. She finds her pictures on the cover of every tabloid out there. When the story being told becomes a bit more vicious, she decides to leave Hollywood and go Louisiana to work on her next album and get away from it all. She makes plans to go to the home that she went for a music retreat when she was younger despite the fact that it has fallen in disrepair.

Noah owns the home that Jenny has rented out to work on her album. He is working to get it in a somewhat decent condition before Jenny's arrival. When she shows up early and assumes that he is the caretaker, he doesn't correct her but instead assumes that role. Noah stays in the caretaker's cottage during the length of Jenny's stay working on the house while Jenny works on her music.

I loved these characters! I was worried that Jenny would turn out to be a diva but she was so down to earth. She really wasn't bothered by the condition of the house or much at all. She really had a tough skin regarding what the media said about her and was able to focus on real relationships. Noah was more of a mystery for me. He was really learning about himself during the course of the book and learning to live the life he wants instead of what was expected of him. The dogs in this story played a really important role and I loved both Dolly and Ranger.

I liked Jenny and Noah as a couple. I thought that they were perfect for each other even if they didn't seem to realize it for a long time. The chemistry between them was great. There were a few moments that I thought Noah was a bit mean by throwing the things the media was saying about Jenny in her face. I really wish that she would have stood up for herself a little more with him. By the end of the story, I was really excited to see them work everything out.

I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This book is listed as the second book in a series but it can be read as a stand alone. I have read both books in the series and seriously don't even remember how they might be connected. Lauren Layne is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.

Good Girl is the second book in the Love Unexpectedly Series but can be read as a standalone. It's also the first book by Lauren I have read and I know that it won't be my last. It was a fast, fun and flirty book. It was so what I needed today...

Jenny Dawson is a famous country singer living in Hollywood. She is so not the Hollywood type but needed a place to be seen and to write her next album. Well...that was the plan until rumors surfaced and she wanted to get away from everything. All she wanted was some peace and quiet and her guitar. And of course her dog, Dolly. A little pile of fluff. So, she decided to go off the grid to write her album, and to get away from the tabloids that were eating her alive. She hated that she cared what everyone else thinks but that was Hollywood. She wasn't just a small town girl anymore, she was a star...

Noah had no idea that he inherited a house out in the middle of nowhere, Louisiana. Not until he received an email that someone wanted to rent it. And not just anyone but Jenny Dawson. A spoiled country star. His plan was to fix the house to "usable" since it was rundown since his father lived in it and go back to his penthouse in Baton Rouge. But then she showed up early and he couldn't walk away. After-all, he was the caretaker and not the owner. He wasn't sure why he lied but that princess named Jenny was already getting under his skin from the minute she arrived. And now, he also wanted to be under her as well. F-...he shouldn't want her after what he just went through. He should stay away from her. Far away but now he will be staying on the property with her and her little pile of fluff.

Jenny thought Noah was hot until he opened his mouth. Jerk was more like it. A hot one still...If he thinks she is a diva then she will show him diva. That was the plan anyway and well, her plans don't exactly go the way she wants but it's exactly what she needs. Jenny and Noah don't exactly get along but they find their routine and it works for them until it doesn't anymore. There is tension around them and they both don't know what to do about it. Jenny has to go home at some point and Noah doesn't want to be in her world. And she can't be in his. They just can't be together. They want different things in life. What will happen will Jenny goes home? Will she write her next hit album and walk away?

I thought this was a great story! It was exactly want I needed today. A fun, light, funny with some added steam kind of book. I feel for Jenny, she wants to be herself but also wants to see her name in lights. And Noah. He is torn between two worlds and wants to do what he wants to do and not what everyone else thinks he should do. They both have to figure it out. Balance. Its what they need. I thought Jenny was very sweet, funny, and a bit crazy in a good way! Noah is sexy, funny, has some a-- moments but also some sweet ones. Together, their banter is fun, flirty, and smarta-.

Overall...it was a great book. I laughed. I teared up. I wanted to smack a fool. And made me also want to head to the hardware store.

Quotes:

I shake my head. “So sad. A mind so young, dementia settling in so soon.”

I glance down at my wine. “Will you laugh at me if I say I’m just a small-town girl?”
“Only if you tell me you’re livin’ in a lonely world.”

That girl is like crack to me. Sweet, addicting, and f- dangerous.

It was actually the first book ever written by Lauren Layne that I read and after loving her writing style I am absolutely gonna go back for more :) it's a standalone but I can definitely see a potential for some future stories involving some secondary characters... and by that I mean that I would love to read books about them and not that there is something indicating that they will appear at some point :) so before I go daydreaming about some future books that may never come to exist... ;) let us focus on the one that you can all get your hands on :)

So first of all, we have our main couple :) Jenny is a country singer / songwriter... she's 22 and on the run from the world after an imaginary scandal about her romancing with married men hit the news... because apparently when a guy confesses, even to something that's untrue it doesn't really matter what you say... or if you say anything at all... you're always the "bad guy" in that story... so she decided to go back to the place she visited during one summer as a kid for some sort of musical camp :) there she meets Noah... or he introduces himself that way... because little does she know, he's actually Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott Jr... I kid you not... it's a lot of names ;) she thinks he's just the caretaker of the property, when in fact he's the owner... and he runs from a story of his own... mainly from ex-fiancee who didn't exactly took him seriously when he broke things off between them... but I get ahead of myself a bit... anyway, I can't tell you much more besides that ;) I totally loved Jenny :) she was fun, vulnerable but spunky, trying to navigate this whole messy situation as best as she can... and her inner monologues were spot on :) and Noah... well, he was kind of a mean jerk at the beginning... and in the middle... yeah... I think he reminded me a bit of a hedgehog or a porcupine... :) all pinpricks and spikes hiding a much more emotional side... but it definitely takes time to get to know him like that :)

So there's definitely a mutual attraction between them from the moment they meet... although I have to say that it was very entertaining to see how much that attraction is unwanted on Noah's side ;) he really didn't want to want her... :) so we have sparks, definitely... and with time, that they are kind of spending all alone in the middle of nowhere, something more builds between them... bit by bit he starts to see her as more than just a starlet and a homewrecker... and yes, I know that she's not one but he doesn't know that at first... :) and she starts to see that there's more to him than just mean and snarky comments... but don't worry, I won't tell you anything else... no spoilers so you can enjoy their journey for yourselves :)

Besides our main couple we have a few secondary characters :) well, not a lot of them, since they spent most of the book alone in the middle of nowhere in Louisiana, but there were a few :) Amber, Jenny's friend plus Vaughn and Finn, Noah's friends :) and I actually totally wouldn't mind to get to know more about them... :) but my favourite scene-stealers were the dogs :) Ranger, Noah's rescue labrador and a very cute and feisty pomeranian that belongs to Jenny and is very aptly named... Dolly ;) you may not know this about me, but I am a huge dog person :) the breed don't matter, I love them all :) so every book with dogs is automatically more loved by me ;) so imagine my joy when I had not one, but two lovely and absolutely entertaining dogs in this story :)

Now about my overall impressions and opinions :) I wasn't sure what to expect from this book... it was my first contact with this author but I fell in love with her writing style from the very first chapter... and I believe I haven't mentioned yet, that we have two perspectives in this story people... :) and you know how I love that in books... especially when it is done well and you can actually see the differences between those chapters :) and I love the insight they provided into the minds of our main couple... :) I loved the story and the slow-but-not-really build up between Jenny and Noah :) the whole book took place over a few weeks but it has a lovely epilogue set a few months in the future... <sighs happily> another thing I love in books :) it definitely was a very entertaining, funny and surprisingly sweet and emotional book at times :) I absolutely loved it and it only made me more curious about other books written by Lauren Layne :) so either you're already a fan or not, be sure to give this one a try ;)

Amidst a scandal, country singer Jenny Dawson alongside her pup Dolly, decides to uproot her life and move to small-town Louisiana to get away from the public eye. She is going to take this time to focus on her third album while putting her public issues to rest. There she meets the caretaker Noah and his crazy dog, Ranger.

Unbeknownst to her, there is a bit of miscommunication on Noah’s part as to who he really is. You see, he is taking a break from his normal life after ending his engagement. He is also recently fallen into a lot of money and doesn’t like the privilege that comes with it…hence not being honest with Jenny.

Right off the bat, these two have insane chemistry. But it’s more a love/hate thing going on. They fight but it’s laced with sexual tension. Jenny’s days are mostly spent writing music while Noah fixes up the house. Eventually they end up giving into the tension and start a very casual fling. But it’s very obvious that there is more going on there. But obviously she has to find out the large secret he’s holding onto, right?!

This book is definitely my favorite of Lauren’s. I can’t honestly pinpoint exactly as to why…but I literally finished this book almost as soon as I started it. I literally didn’t want to put it down. Noah’s defense mechanism to keep himself from falling for Jenny was to be mean to her. But she is not the type of girl to allow it…at all. And I really liked that about her-she wasn’t going to let herself be trampled on. I was a bit nervous as to how the whole “I’m really the person who owns the house” reveal was going to happen but I think the way it happened was perfect.

The epilogue. I have no words for that epilogue…except that I loved it. I don’t know why, maybe I’m emotional right now but this book was just the right bit of angst, sweetness, and yes HOTNESS that it is a book I will definitely be recommending!!

5 Stars

Country music's newest good girl Jenny Dawson is knocked off her star in the sky when the tabloids expose her for the home wrecker she is. At least that's what makes a good story right? And makes you a bigger star if you're covered in scandal. It's bad enough she's rumored to be pregnant because of a burrito baby carries but when more "ex-lovers" come forward with their stories of all of her illicit affairs - she is done. She seeks refuge in an old music camp she visited as a young girl. Even though the camp no longer exists and all that is left is an empty rundown house with a equally rundown servants quarters she knows the seclusion is exactly what her and her Pomeranian Dolly need. What she doesn't need is a sexy as all get out in the caretaker of the house Noah. Noah has his own reasons for taking a break from the world who knows him as Preston Walcott including running from his cheating ex-fiance.

Jenny wants to focus on writing her next album while Noah wants to work on building his carpentry skills. But how do you do that when Noah likes to work most of those hot Louisiana days without a shirt and Jenny on her bedroom balcony in the tiniest of bikini tops.

These two will fight tooth and nail to ignore the attraction they feel through avoidance and words. Jenny doesn't need another scandal even if all the rumors are just that, rumors.

This is my first Lauren Layne novel and Good Girl was such a surprise that held my attention thorough out the entire book. Jenny and Noah are the cutest of couples and just fell into place. This is a great beach read so download it or grab a copy and get comfortable while you fall in love with Jenny and Noah.

I LOVE IT. LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. THAT ENDING WAS JUST PERFECT. It may be my favorite LL read...maybe a close second to The Trouble with Love. GAH!! I just want more!! If you haven't read LL before, do it now! You are missing out :)

Thoughts:

PLOT LINE - Jenny Dawson is a country star caught in a made-up scandal. When tabloids try to get a hold of her life, her musical inspirations are on hold. To get away from it all, she went to a place that first inspired her music. A secluded mansion in Louisiana. Can she finally get her rhythm back without any distractions. Noah Maxwell needs to get away from it all. A much needed break from high expectations from work and family. After inheriting the family mansion, taking on major repairs, before a guest arrives, will be a great distraction. He didn't expect another set of eyes to be a distraction.

CHEMISTRY - Wow...this story may be her sexiest one yet! I did not expect it but I did get a little jealous of Jenny. ;) When you fall for a guy, you want to fall hard. Oh boy did Jenny fall hard for Noah. He can be hard headed at times but when those feelings are on the line, it has to work out somehow. Jenny knows all the moves to tempt Noah. Although Noah wants to stay away, when sparks start to ignite, flames will start to burn. Gosh...it was so hot! If you are in the mood for a steamy read, pick this one up next!

ENDING - While things can get a little hot, there are so many sweet moments through out the book. As much as I love the addition of their dogs, that scene on the porch was the sweetest moment. Noah just have the right words to say that will make you SWOON. Male characters should always make you swoon in some way ;)

BOOK REVIEW: Good Girl
BOOK SERIES: Love Unexpectedly #2
AUTHOR: Lauren Layne
GENRE: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Musicians
PUBLICATION DATE: May 17, 2016
CLIFF HANGER: No

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS:
Lauren Layne brings all the unpredictable heat of her USA Todaybestseller Blurred Lines to an all-new cast of characters! Country music’s favorite good girl is hiding away from the world—only to find herself bunking with a guy who makes her want to be a little bad.

Jenny Dawson moved to Nashville to write music, not get famous. But when her latest record goes double platinum, Jenny’s suddenly one of the town’s biggest stars—and the center of a tabloid scandal connecting her with a pop star she’s barely even met. With paparazzi tracking her every move, Jenny flees to a remote mansion in Louisiana to write her next album. The only hiccup is the unexpected presence of a brooding young caretaker named Noah, whose foul mouth and snap judgments lead to constant bickering—and serious heat.

Noah really should tell Jenny that he’s Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, the owner of the estate where the feisty country singer has made her spoiled self at home. But the charade gives Noah a much-needed break from his own troubles, and before long, their verbal sparring is indistinguishable from foreplay. But as sizzling nights give way to quiet pillow talk, Noah begins to realize that Jenny’s almost as complicated as he is. To fit into each other’s lives, they’ll need the courage to face their problems together—before the outside world catches up to them.

MY THOUGHTS:
Let me start off by saying that I love books about musicians, whether they’re solo or in a band. So when I got the chance to read Good Girl, I jumped at the chance and I wasn’t disappointed. This is the first book that I have read by this author and thoroughly enjoyed this sweet, funny, and sometimes infuriating story.

Jenny just needed to get away to the place she could discover her music again and be anonymous. She returned to Louisiana to the safe haven she wrote her first hit single at and was learning how to be the country girl she really was. Not only did Jenny have to deal with the paparazzi in LA, but also she had to deal with the self-image issue, as she was a typical LA actress/singer. Jenny had curves and she often referred to her stomach pooch as a baby burrito as she was accused of being pregnant multiple times in the tabloids after eating at her favorite burrito joint. She had no intention of getting involved with another man, let alone the crabby caretaker that really acted like a jerk.

Noah is a complicated character. He was born on the wrong side of the tracks in a trailer park to a woman that had an affair with a rich married man and Noah was the product of the affair. Noah had no idea who his father was until his father came to him and told him that his sibling had died of cancer and that Noah was his heir. Noah then attended private school and attended college and joined the country club scene. His father and best friend wanted him to take over the family empire and change his name to his father’s name. So Noah had two identities. Noah Maxwell and Preston Walcott Junior. Noah wanted to be Noah Maxwell. His ex-fiance wanted him to be Preston Walcott. Noah had enough, called off the wedding and moved to the old house.

There are some fun characters with great witty banter between Noah’s childhood friend from the trailer park and his country club friend, and also with Jenny. There are some areas that I wanted to scream in frustration because Noah was mean. He said hurtful things to Jenny and she called him on it. He would be mad at himself and apologize, she would forgive and give him the benefit of the doubt again and again until he finally wore out all of his chances.

Noah had not only been an ass to Jenny countless times, but he also deceived her. I will just leave it at that. There are some twists and turns in the story that you could see be a possibility; but when it all goes to hell, my heart sunk.

This is a sweet, funny, new adult read. If you don’t like the hero to be a grumpy pain in the ass most of the time and the heroine a hopeless optimist, then this isn’t the book for you. However, I really liked it. I felt the characters developed and learned to deal with their issues and in the end had self-discovery of their own self-worth.

ARC kindly provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

3 stars -- I received a free copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion from NetGalley.

Not one of my favourite Lauren Layne books, but not a bad standard romance. I think I was just missing some chemistry or something. It could have been I just wasn't in the right mood, but I just wasn't feeling that butterfly in the tummy feeling between Jenny and Noah, you know? And since this is a romance, that's kind of important stuff. And without it the steamy scenes were only meh for me. It's like they had all the right moving parts, but the magic was missing.

It didn't help that Noah was a bit too mean sometimes. I know he's supposed to be a jerk and all, part of his grumpy exterior or something, but some of his angry words were shocking and turned me off. Just wasn't book boyfriend material for me. Didn't see as much of his redeeming qualities. I get that he kept apologizing, and he did seem sincere, but what about learning and being better?

And Jenny kept taking him back. *shrugs* I guess that's admirable, sort of, but I don't know... *shrugs again* I just couldn't empathize with that or something. There were a few character traits about Jenny that just weren't me, you know? Sometimes she was hard to peg too. She had a moment of being a diva, but she didn't really feel like one most of the time. Was she laid back and down to earth? Not really either, but she was some of the time.

I did appreciate the brief glimpses of side characters (Finn and Vaughan mostly), and obviously the dogs were show stealers. But when it comes down to it, that's just not enough to win me over completely. So yeah. It had some good moments, but was missing the magic for me.

The Good Girl by Lauren Layne was a sweet, heartfelt love story with that added splash of country thrown into the mix. When it comes to reading a Lauren Layne book, I can assure readers that you can always expect her stories to be sexy, sweet and beautifully well done. And in her newest release, The Good Girl, Ms. Layne introduces readers to America’s sweetheart singer who to falls for the handyman. And this is no ordinary handyman especially when the truth of his real identity is revealed. So what happens when romance brews between two unlikely people? Well, you get lots of laughter, banter and fun times ahead.

While I love reading Lauren Layne’s books, The Good Girl was one of those reads I liked not loved. I’m sure there are plenty of romance fans that will love and enjoy this book but I felt there was something missing in the connection with the hero and heroine. Maybe I was expecting more of that burning connection that I was used to when reading her books. Other than that, I will say that this book did have the playfulness, banter, and fun romance that kept me entertained. Overall, it was a fun, sweet, and cute read.

~Michelle of Four Chicks Flipping Pages

4.5 Stars

Jenny Dawson just needs to get away. The negative side of Hollywood is rearing it's ugly head and it's overwhelming. Escaping to a childhood retreat, Jenny hopes to rediscover her spark and get out of her writing slump. Hit records don't just write themselves after all.
Noah Maxwell is running away from his life, and hiding out at his newly inherited estate is just the break he needs. When country music star and Hollywood's latest "homewrecker" contacts him to stay at the house, he figures it's just the distraction he needs. As Noah gets to know Jenny, the less he believes in the rumors and the more he starts to fall for her. Unfortunately, Jenny isn't the only one being less than honest. What happens when the real world starts seeping in to their little dreamland? Are the secrets they keep going to destroy any hopes they have for a future?
My feelings about Noah were a bit conflicted, much like the man himself. One minute he's a complete and total jerk whose face I wanted to punch, and the next he was sweet and sexy and completely turning me on. There were times I had difficulty moving passes just how mean and hurtful he could be but the more I read the more I began to understand. Now, it doesn't excuse his behavior but gives reason for it. As he starts to let down his walls we get glimpses of the charming and kind man underneath. He went through quite a change throughout the story and I really loved watching his development.
Jenny also went through her own changes, although different from Noah's, they were just as profound. Jenny was genuine, sweet, and thoughtful. While she was a strong and independent person, she wasn't necessarily the most self assured. Throughout the story we see her gain so much self confidence, it was wonderful.
The sexual tension between these two was off the charts. One minute they want to strangle one another and the next they want to rip each others clothes off! It was hot. On top of that, Layne wove in a sweet and passionate romance.
Layne delivers a wonderfully written and utterly captivating story.

Any Lauren Layne book, for me is a guaranteed success. I’ve yet to read any of her books that I haven’t loved. The cover for one made me think that this book could be set in the same world as Blurred Lines, but Good Girl is a definite stand-alone with a new set of characters, and what an amazing set, I must say. I absolutely loved the main as well as the secondary characters in this book. It makes me wish, Lauren would write about the secondary characters as well.
Good Girl is written in a dual POV, first person, and this gives the book and the characters a lot of depth. Here you won’t have the complaint that who were unable to get into the head of the character, because the characters make sure that they reel you in.

Jenny Dawson,an award-winning country music sensation, recently moved to the city of angels, L.A, because she was having trouble the good ole writers block. Unable to write any music, she figured a change of scenery would do wonders. But unfortunately the city of Hollywood is also the city of paparazzi and gossip-mongers. Soon she is plastered on the front page of magazines and on prime time TV for sleeping with a fellow musician, a married one at that, irrespective of the fact that she has absolutely no relationship with the man. In order to get away from all the drama, Jenny goes to a remote mansion is Louisiana to write her next album. Except there is a little problem of the hot but rude Noah Maxwell.

Noah Maxwell is a man with a dual life. He is from the wrong side of the tracks, but he is also from the high end society. But all he wants is a little peace and anonymity. And some alone time, which is disrupted when Jenny Dawson walks in on perfect 10 legs, and a Pomeranian that would fit into her bag. He knows who Jenny is and that’s exactly the reason why he wants to stay away. But what’s a man to do when you have a beautiful, hot girl, you are attracted to in front of you?

I loved Jenny. She was so… good. Like a genuinely good person. So forgiving, but not a doormat. She was feisty and full of energy. You could actually feel how much she enjoyed her music and how easy it was to get lost in it. Noah on the other hand was rough around the edges. The man should have been named Mr. Grumpy. But there were sweet moments with him too. He knows how to apologize for his mistakes and make up for them. The worst part about Noah though was how much he deliberately did things that hurt Jenny. And like she says, he can’t always make mistakes and then expect to be forgiven.

The chemistry between Noah and Jenny was so palpable and sizzling. You could actually feel it through the pages. This is one gift that Lauren Layne has in spades. She knows how to make her characters realistic. Overall, this book was absolutely amazing and one that I’d love to read over and over again.

P.S I’ve already read it twice.

3.5 Stars

Noah Maxwell has two very different sides to his life and personality he even goes by another name, Preston Walcott who was ripped from his life as Noah and sent to private school to become his father's replacement when he retired. Sadly his father passed away and Preston inherited a lot of things including property he didn't even know existed, that is until Jenny Dawson emailed him to enquire about renting the place. 

Jenny Dawson is a Country singer who moved to LA to try to get over a song writing block her label thought the change of scenery would do her good and elevate her in the public eye. It did just that but not in the way she had hoped, waking up one morning to the LA rumour mill going wild about an affair that never happened but the other person supposedly involved didn't deny it so of course it spun out of control and she felt like she had to just get away for a while, she wanted to return to a retreat where she first harnessed her passion for writing music so she gets in contact with The owner Preston Walcott.

This book was cute, very much about the good girl turned sexy but not really bad. There were a couple of funny moments throughout the book but mostly it was a cute high school kind of connection, their romance blossoms from a mutual instant dislike / disinterest of each other as they both misread each other when they first met. They both had the same idea and started off being the stereotype of what the other assumed they were. Spoiled country princess and a handyman who's no more than eye candy. It's only upon living in close quarters that they actually get to know a little of what the other is truly like after spending quite a bit of their time avoiding each other. Their 'get it out of your system' sex develops into something more and they both start to feel things. This is where things get complicated, Jenny has to decide if she wants Noah or if she wants to be a superstar. Noah has to decide wether or not to tell Jenny who he really is.
The things that brought them together are just that, their story and this relationship could have happened without the other factors. Noah's friends are hilarious they hate each other but tolerate each other for his sake Finn is the friend he grew up with the one that knows his true self Noah and Vaughn knows him as Preston the guy he became when his father took control of his life and sent him to boarding school.

I could totally take or leave this book. It was good but not great in my opinion it wasn't a book that i was desperate to sit down and continue reading but it wasn't a struggle to read either. For that reason I have to give it 3.5 stars. I would definitely be open to reading more of Lauren's work though.

Originally posted on Smitten by Books

Lauren Layne is one of my favorite authors. The first book I read of hers was After the Kiss. I was pretty much hooked from that point on. So of course when I saw her new adult romance, Good Girl, pop up on Netgalley, I didn’t waste one second clicking request.

Now Good Girl is the second book in her Love Unexpectedly series, but if you expect to see Parker and/or Ben from the first book, Blurred Lines, you’ll be disappointed. Actually, when I was reading it, I totally forget this book was part of a series. Luckily, that didn’t take away from a great book and a sexy romance.

Jenny Dawson is a famous country singer. And she’s so refreshingly honest and self-deprecating, you can’t help but love her. Her big problem at the beginning of the book? Her burrito baby.

It happens that way sometimes, at least in Hollywood, land of the flat bellies.
See, if your belly isn’t completely flat, if maybe you’ve put on a few pounds courtesy of a penchant for extra guacamole on your Chipotle burrito…

Bam. You’re at the grocery store buying tampons and M&M’s and you glance over, and there you are, all over the rag mags. Pregnant.

Honestly, Jenny is a gem; engaging, funny, pretty. She’s the kind of girl you’d want as a friend. But as down to earth as she is, when she’s falsely accused of having several affairs with married men, she knows it’s time to go into hiding until things blow over. She decides to seek anonymity from the paparazzi and write her next album at a mansion in Louisiana she fondly remembers from her childhood. A mansion that now belongs to our hero Noah Maxwell.

The second Noah sets eyes on Jenny, he knows she’s trouble with a capital T. He immediately pegs her as a beautiful (hot), spoiled, Hollywood diva. When she mistakes his best friend, Vaughn, as the owner of the house, he doesn’t correct her and introduces himself as the “caretaker”. From that point on, things are tense between them. Jenny isn’t stupid. She knows he doesn’t like her. The real problem, of course, is that Noah is far from immune to her despite the fact that he desperately wishes that was the case.

There’s nothing like proximity, sizzling sexual tension and a bit of mutual dislike to get the blood pumping. I love to see my hero and heroine fight the good fight but inevitably lose it (or succumb to it) in the end. And Noah does fight his feelings for Jenny, even as he gets to know her better. Even when he discovers she’s not spoiled, and she’s not the Homewrecker the rags have painted her. But he’s just getting out of a serious relationship and he’s not remotely ready to take up with Jenny. Or so he thinks.

Getting together isn’t easy for two people who live very different kind of lives— especially when one of them is particularly gun shy—and that’s what makes this such a great romance as readers get to watch Jenny and Noah navigate their romantic journey. Oh, and watch out for best friend shenanigans. I expect Noah’s best friends, Vaugh and Finn to be getting their own books—and I can’t wait! I’m thinking maybe one of them will hook up with Jenny’s best friend, Amber. I guess I’m going to have to wait and find out…

4.5 Stars - TOP PICK

- Beverley

I enjoyed this book so freaking much. I requested it from NetGalley before even realizing what it was about, I just knew Lauren Layne wrote it and I had to read it. Once I started it, I was even more excited about it. Country music star in the middle of a scandal because of a misconstrued photo and a couple attention-seeking jerks? Yes, please. Give it to me! Good Girl truly was of the unputdownable variety. I literally carried my iPad to the kitchen with me so I could fix lunch and read at the same time. So, yeah.

I loved Jenny. No question. I sympathized with her over what she was going through and appreciated how she opted to deal with it. I mean, sure, she ran away but I thought it was the right choice. It gave her time to focus on her and her music and I think that was the best thing she could've done in the situation she was in. Sometimes the best way to avoid the tabloids is just to totally stay out of their way, right? Especially when it seemed like everyone desperate for another few minutes of fame was bent on using her to get it. Of course, I'm also going to think she did the right thing because it put her directly in Noah's path. If I'm honest, I DIDN'T love Noah at times. I mean, hell, he had his swoony and sweet moments, but he also behaved like an utter jerk every now and then. (So, normal guy, right?) I'm all for banter and whatnot – in the name of chemistry, of course – but he was downright cruel at times. That I struggle with. I mean, he had his reasons – mainly trying to keep things between them simple – but I hated when he was hurtful to Jenny. Then he'd turn around and do something super sweet or say something sexy AF and I was back to swooning over him. In some situations I'd write off a character like Noah as a DB, but not here. At the end of the day (er, book?) I found myself really liking him once I let go of the more frustrating part of his character.

Good Girl was a great read. It had humor, heart and hot times. The situations the characters were in seemed realistic (for them) and even with my conflicting feelings about Noah at times, I still wanted to see them work things out when it was all said and done. I liked how they helped each other grow and tackle their problems. The grand gesture made me swoon and there were definitely some serious feels when it came to one of Jenny's songs. All in all? I loved this book.

So basically I've come to the conclusion that Lauren Layne is just amazing and I'm destined to fall head over heels with all of her characters and love everything she writes.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

AVAILABLE: May 17, 2016

Country pop singer (I'm thinking T. Swift type), American sweetheart, and overall good girl Jenny Dawson needs to get away. After being accused of having an affair with a guy she's barely even met and being stalked by the paparazzi, Jenny needs a break from the Hollywood spotlight. She seeks refuge at a Louisiana mansion where she wrote her first song. But when she arrives, Jenny gets more than she bargained for in the form of a very broody "caretaker", Noah Maxwell. She's there to figure out her next steps and to complete her next album, not verbally spar with Noah.

Noah also needs to get away from his life. After being torn in two different directions for years, Noah just wants to figure out what HE wants out of his life. Is he more Preston Walcott, rich son and owner of Walcott International, or Noah Maxwell, son from a trailer park and wanter of a simple life. But he does know he doesn't want a spoiled princess messing with him.

But the longer they are forced to be in the same airspace, the more they discover that there is definitely more to the other than meets the eye. Only will they be able to figure it out before the outside world comes crashing down?

The ONLY reason why Good Girl isn't a solid 4 rating (or higher) for me are the moments when Noah was just... intentionally cruel. I can handle a jerk or even stupid MAN stuff, but there were a few moments when Noah was intentionally cruel to Jenny for no reason other than because he could. Those moments really bugged me. Jenny did call him out for those moments and after, Noah did (genuinely) apologize, but I thought they just made it hard for me to understand (and like) Noah.

I loved Jenny. I thought she had a good heart and was honest with herself. She wasn't jaded or bitter about what she was going through. AND she was a forgiving person (with Noah and her "situation"). I also loved Noah's two best friends, Finn and Vaughn ( I see future books!! YAY)!!

Overall, I really enjoyed Good Girl. I thought that the banter between Noah (when he wasn't being an a-hole) and Jenny were funny and kept the story an easy read.

Rating: 3.5/4 out of 5

**I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.**

A talented, sweet, good girl, famous country music singer heroine heads for the Bayou after falsely being accused of being a homewrecker and to work on her next album. There she meets Noah (also known as Preston), a wealthy currently not so sure who he is or what he now wants out of life hero, who deliberately lets her think he is just a caretaker, not the owner of the rundown estate she’s renting. I would oh, so love to help him with that, folks. This handsome hero could really use several trips to the proverbial woodshed for his repeated hurtful words/actions towards the heroine. I think there were at least five times I was shaking my head in frustrated disbelief at him and for Jenny for forgiving/putting up with it. Finding out about his past troubled childhood and his recent break-up with a cheating fiancée were the only reasons I decided to give him a shot at redemption.

Having taken an immediate dislike to Jenny for falsely believing she’s going to be a celebrity diva and assuming the worst because of the vicious rumors plastered all over the tabloids, Noah definitely doesn’t cut her a break or give her the benefit of a doubt. His plan to fight his immediate attraction to her? Just try to stay the heck away from her. Of course, that doesn’t work out so well, and this knucklehead hero, who is keeping secrets of his own, certainly isn’t one to talk. Naturally, the more time he spends around her he realizes the accusations are false, and it’s becoming impossible to resist her. But up until almost the very end, despite being intimate with her, he’s quick to strike out with hurtful barbs/actions to push her away, due to his self-imposed idea they would never work as a couple. Yeah, his actions often said one thing, while his words another.

It was actually quite a relief when the anticipated big reveal of his deception occurred, right down to Jen finally growing a backbone. If you like to see a reluctant to love/commit hero, who with the help of his two best friends, has to go after his girl, this book might be for you. The engaging writing flowed, and it had a great supporting cast of believable sub-characters. I feel like I broke some of my hero rules of conduct, however, in exchange for a romantic HEA. Personally, I would have liked to have seen him grovel more. Just showing up and doing what he did, well, seemed like he got off way too easy considering how many times he stomped on this country girl’s heart. It’ll be up to you to decide if you agree, my fellow romance book-loving friends.

Title: Good Girl, Series: Love Unexpectedly (Book 2), Author: Lauren Layne, Pages: 220, stand-alone, HEA, VERY steamy scenes that don’t hijack the storyline, heroine is famous country singer, reluctant to love hero who hides his identity from heroine, frustrating hero who repeated says/does things to hurt/push heroine away, several “Oh, no, he didn’t just say that!” moments, no cheating, no love triangle, emotional angst.

Book 1 – Blurred Lines (Parker & Ben), Pages: 221, 8/25/16
Book 2 – Good Girl (Noah and Jenny), Pages: 220, 5/17/16

(This review is based on ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher.)