By Lauren Layne
Publisher: Forever
Release Date: March 29, 2016
Vincent Moretti and Jill Henley, NYPD Detectives, have been
partners for years. And they’d been friends for just as long. So close, in
fact, that Jill is an honorary member of the big, boisterous Italian Moretti
family. And everyone, from Vincent’s Nonna on down, has been waiting for
Viincent to come to his senses and admit that what he feels for Jill is more
than just friendship. None more so than Jill herself.
So, when she’s in Florida on a leave of absence to take care
of her mother following surgery, and she meets a handsome, sweet, funny, rich
guy, and after three months of dating he pops the question, of course she says
yes. After all, it’s not as if Vincent Moretti is going to come to his senses
and propose. And after years of waiting for him to fall for her, she’s tired of
waiting.
Meanwhile, Vincent, unbeknownst to anyone else, because like
a guy he’s told no one, is thrilled for Jill to get back from leave. He’s
missed her, though again, like a guy, hasn’t bothered to tell her that or to
text more than a few times while she was away. He’s not quite sure why, but
things just haven’t been the same while she’s been away and he’s ready to get
back to their routine together. Imagine his shock then, when she arrives wearing a diamond
on the fourth finger of her left hand and making wedding plans. To say Vincent
is displeased, is to put it mildly.
Cuff Me features
one of my favorite romance tropes: Friends to Lovers. And in the skilled hands
of Lauren Layne, the tried and true feels fresh and fun. Jill and Vincent are
both believable, endearing characters and Jill’s decision to leap into an engagement
so quickly makes sense given how long she’s waited for Vincent to realize he’s
crazy about her. And Vincent’s inability to recognize his own feelings when it comes to Jill seems perfectly in character given that he’s the strong, silent type and
not given to demonstrations of emotion. Once he realizes them, though, wow!
The Moretti family, complete with Vincent’s brothers Luc and
Anthony, the heroes of the two previous books in the New York’s Finest series,
play a big role in this story. And they’re hilarious. The grilling Vincent’s
brothers give him over his cluelessness over Jill is especially funny. And
their attempts to soften the blow for him when she announces her engagement to
another man were especially endearing. They might like to give him hell, but
it’s clear that there’s a lot of affection there too. For Vincent, but also for
Jill who has been welcomed into the Moretti clan like a long lost sister.
There is a mystery for the reunited partners to solve, the
murder of a long ago forgotten Hollywood starlet, but it’s more of a background
element than the star of the show. This is more contemporary romance comedy
than romantic suspense. And along those lines there is one element in the
otherwise entertaining and charming Cuff
Me that bothered this romantic suspense reader. Moretti and Henley are
partners. And any longtime reader of romantic suspense or watcher of crime
shows knows that it is generally frowned upon for partners to get involved
romantically. Obviously, this would have been a bigger issue if Vincent and Jill
were beat cops, or SWAT, but still, it’s not something that’s a good idea and
nowhere in the book is it even mentioned that they should be separated as
partners when they start sleeping together. In Lauren Layne’s lighthearted cop
world it doesn’t seem like a huge consideration, but it did bother me a little.
Your mileage will, of course, vary.
Overall, I thought Cuff
Me was a fun, funny, sexy romance
and a fine addition to the ranks of friends-to-lovers tales. And though I did
not read the first two books in the series, I didn’t have any trouble keeping
up. If you’re looking for a lighthearted romance with two of the sweetest
romantic gestures I’ve seen (one involves a donut, the other some very ugly
flowers) then give Cuff Me a try.
~Manda Collins
Manda Collins writes smart, sexy historical romance laced with a touch of mystery. Her most recent book, Good Dukes Wear Black, third in her The Lords of Anarchy series releases today, April 5, 2016. You can find more information about Manda and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.
Manda Collins writes smart, sexy historical romance laced with a touch of mystery. Her most recent book, Good Dukes Wear Black, third in her The Lords of Anarchy series releases today, April 5, 2016. You can find more information about Manda and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter.
You got me at donut and ugly flowers. LOL.
ReplyDeleteladbookfan
I know! It's so painfully sweet. Sigh.
DeleteI'm really liking her books and am looking forward to this one.
ReplyDeleteI'm beginning to think she can't write a dud. Which makes me jealous as a writer, of course, but happy as a reader!
DeleteI obviously need to give her a try. Thanks for the review, Manda!
ReplyDeleteYou really do, PJ! Ask, Janga. She's read some of the Stilettos books.
DeleteI have my reading choices laid out for my trip but I may have to squeeze this one in.
ReplyDeleteIt's a fun read:)
DeleteIntend to check this out.
ReplyDeleteHope you like it, Debbie!
DeleteI've heard lots of good things about the whole series. I already own the first two so I guess I just need some time to start reading it :)
ReplyDeleteIt's fun. I'm going back for the first two:)
DeleteLove this author. I read the first two books in this series and have Cuff Me on my wish list. But your review just convinced me to skip my morning Starbucks and buy this book instead.
ReplyDelete:)
DeleteLove this author. I read the first two books in this series and have Cuff Me on my wish list. But your review just convinced me to skip my morning Starbucks and buy this book instead.
ReplyDeletei CAN['T WAIT TO GET THIS ONE LOVE THE SERIES
ReplyDeletei CAN['T WAIT TO GET THIS ONE LOVE THE SERIES
ReplyDelete