Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne-dual review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 18, 2022

Violet Townsend has always been a people pleaser. Raised in the privileged world of Upper East Side Manhattan, she always says the right things, wears the right clothes, and never rocks the boat. Violet would do anything for the people closest to her, especially her beloved grandmother. So when she asks Violet to teach the newly-discovered grandson of her friend how to fit in with New York City’s elite, Violet immediately agrees. Her goal? To get Cain Stone ready to take his place as heir to his family company…but to say he’s not exactly an eager student is an understatement.

Born and raised in rural Louisiana and now making his own way in New Orleans, Cain Stone is only playing along for the paycheck at the end. He has no use for the grandmother he didn’t know existed and no patience for the uppity Violet’s attempts to turn him into a suit-wearing, museum-attending gentleman.

But somewhere amidst antagonistic dinner parties and tortured tux fittings, Cain and Violet come to a begrudging understanding—and the uptight Violet realizes she’s not the only one doing the teaching. As she and Cain begin to find mutual respect for one another (and maybe even something more), Violet learns that blindly following society’s rules doesn’t lead to happiness…and that sometimes the best things in life come from the most unexpected places.

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Sandy’s Review: MADE IN MANHATTAN by Lauren Layne is a contemporary, adult, stand alone romance story line focusing on Manhattan socialite Violet Townsend, and New Orleans’ businessman Cain Stone.

Told from third person perspective (Violet) MADE IN MANHATTAN focuses on Violet Townsend’s assignment to turn New Orleans businessman Cain Stone into a civilized and respectable Manhattan heir. With the death of the father he never knew, Cain Stone discovered he was the sole heir apparent to the billion dollar Rhodes Industry, a company currently controlled by Edith Rhodes, the grandmother he never met but Cain has not been raised in the finer points of society’s upper crust, and Violet Townsend, Cain’s grandmother’s ‘helper’ has been tasked with ensuring Cain is presentable to the Board in control. Constantly at odds with one another, their barely veiled, palpable sexual attraction finds Violet reconsidering her own future, a future that may or may not include the man with whom she is falling in love. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Violet and Cain, and the potential fall-out as Violet wants something more than Cain is willing to give.

Cain Stone never knew his father, in fact, he never met the family that now wants our hero to take control but Cain’s lack of refinement, and rugged appearance does not bode well for his future prospects. Violet Townsend is a socialite, a snob who is used to the finer things in life but a woman who has suffered many losses along the way. Struggling to remain neutral in the face of her attraction to her mentor’s grandson, Violet will find herself falling for a man whose future may not include our story line heroine.

The relationship between Violet and Cain begins as a reverse ‘My Fair Lady’ in which Violet has been tasked with making Cain Stone presentable to the rich and powerful of Manhattan society. Already in a committed but lacklustre relationship, Violet must come to terms with what she wants, and whose heart she is willing to break along the way. Cain Stone never wanted to take control of his absentee father’s business but learning the ins and outs of Rhodes Industry finds Cain reevaluating and reassessing his long term goals. Keeping his distance from our story line heroine proves to be more difficult than Cain could have imagined but falling in love was never in the cards. The lone $ex scene is passionate but mostly implied.

We are introduced to Cain’s grandmother Edith Rhodes, as well as Violet’s boyfriend Keith, and Violet’s friend Ashley Shores.

MADE IN MANHATTAN is a story of family and relationships, perception and love. The premise is charming and engaging; the slow building romance is seductive; the characters are determined, desperate and dynamic.

Barb’s Review:
Made in Manhattan by Lauren Layne is another one of her wonderful romances. We meet our heroine, Violet Townsend, who grew up living a privileged life in the Upper East Side of Manhattan; her parents died when she was a child, and lived with her grandmother, who passed away when she was an adult.  Violet loved the life she lived, always wearing the right clothes, shoes, as well as being well liked by everyone.  Violet worked closely with Edith, her grandmother’s best friend, who treats her like her own granddaughter; Edith owns a multibillion-dollar business, The Rhodes Company.  To Violet’s surprise, Edith gives her an impossible task: to train Edith’s newly discovered grandson (who lived in Louisiana, and doesn’t want to be here), how to fit in with the elite of New York and eventually take his place as heir.  Needless to say, Violet has her hands full.

Cain Stone, our hero, was also surprised to find out about being Edith’s grandson, and is he was a bit grumpy early on, not eager to listen to either lady; especially since he was happy in New Orleans, but he knew he couldn’t ignore the possibility of becoming a billionaire.  Violet goes above and beyond to teach Cain how to act, as well as how to dress to make a good appearance, since he will need to eventually interview with the Rhodes Board of Directors. They clashed often, with Cain acting resentful, impatient, rough around the edges, and wanting to do things his way.

The more time they spend together, each begins to learn more about each other, and find common grounds; respecting each other, leading to slow burn opposites attract romance.  I really liked Violet, and despite his smugness and complaints, she began to find him more charming each passing day, not to mention hot. I did not care too much for Cain in the beginning, but he too started falling for Violet, as well as listen more to his grandmother, by the last half I really started liking him.  Layne gives us some great secondary characters, with Edith, Avery, Alvin and of course Violet cute adorable dog (who Cain kept calling ‘Toto’)

What follows is a sweet slow build romance between two unlikely people.  Made in Manhattan was a fun, enjoyable, uplifting, fast paced story that was very well written by Lauren Layne. I absolutely loved the wonderful epilogue which left me smiling.  I have enjoyed everything I have read by Layne, as she writes such wonderful fun pure romances.  If you enjoy pure romances, great couples, and secondary characters, you should read this story.  If you have not read Lauren Layne, you need to start now.

Copies supplied for review