Cuff Me by Lauren Layne (New York’s Finest #3)
Released: March 29, 2016
Contemporary Romance
Forever
Reviewed by Mandi
Favorite Quote: “What?” Jill asked.
“You didn’t even flinch when ordering carbs!”
“She’s a homicide investigator,” Vincent said irritably. “If she doesn’t flinch at the sight of a decapitated drug dealer, I don’t think pasta’s going to do her in.”
I enjoy this series by Lauren Layne featuring brothers from a big Italian family who are all involved in the NYPD. There is great banter and sexual tension. This is book three, but they can be read out of order.
Vincent (Vin) is a homicide detective in the NYPD and for the past six years has been partnered with Jill. They work great together – Jill is a ray of sunshine with the world’s biggest smile, and Vin is the most grumpy, cranky man who ever lived. They solve cases and are good friends – maybe even more like family. Vin’s large Italian family has adopted Jill as one of their own, and she loves them all dearly. When her mother falls ill, Jill moves to Florida for three months to help her recover. During this time, Jill meets someone, and gets engaged. When Jill returns to New York, work and to Vin, he completely freaks out (on the inside) that she is engaged. Vin realizes he has intense romantic feelings towards Jill now that she is taken (he refuses to use the word “love”) but being a dumb man, he refuses to tell her how he really feels. Instead he gets even more grumpy (his grumpiness is off the charts and I loved it) and they start to have problems working together. Jill thinks she loves her fiance, but being reunited with Vin starts to make her question things.
Basically, everyone in the world can tell these two love each other but the stubbornness between Jill and Vin prevents them from accepting this. The first 3/4 of this book is so good. Vin and Jill have such a sexually charged relationship – and they also know exactly how to push each other’s buttons. Constantly. It made me smile a lot in this book.
“Come here often?” he said dryly, watching as she located Elena’s corkscrew and wineglasses without having to search.
“She hosts a lot of our girls’ nights,:” she said, defiantly opening the bottle and pouring them two generous portions.
“where you talk about boys and lipstick?” he asked, accepting the glass she handed him.”
“God no,” she replied. “Mostly we talk about the kind of sex we’re not getting.”
Vincent choked on his wine. Don’t ask. Don’t ask.
“What kind of sex is that?”
He’d ask.
Jill merely looked at him over the rim of her wineglass before giving a little shrug. “You know. Hot. Raunchy. Often.”
Vin is a leather jacket, dark clothes, sunglass wearing man. He is all grouchy sexiness and I really enjoyed him. His gruffness was sexy as hell (at least in romance book world!) and Jill could give it right back to him. This is the kind of book where the author makes you wait a really, really long time for them to actually admit they like each other and start making out. The sexual tension builds up like crazy, and I love books like that.
I did have a disappointment – the end. After waiting so, so long for these two to get together, I wanted a big, explosive romantic ending. I felt like the reader deserved that! But instead it just falls flat. There is a definitely happy ever after ending, but – I needed something with a little more punch. An ending that matched the high level of sexual tension throughout the book, and I don’t think we get that.
But that is really my only complaint. I was happy with the play Jill’s fiance was portrayed and how their relationship ended before Vin stepped in. (although Jill chooses not to tell Vin she is no longer engaged and that seemed really weird to me).
Besides the romance, Vin and Jill are investigating a murder – it was okay but I just wanted to turn the page and get back to Vin and Jill dancing around their lust.
I’ve enjoyed all three books in this series – definitely recommend (besides the ending to this one).
Grade: B
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