I’m so happy that Lauren Layne is here today to tell us about her newest book. It’s the first in what is sure to be a fabulous series!
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Tell us about your new series.
The series features three men who are named โMan of the Yearโ (think:ย Peopleโs Sexiest Man Alive) and the unexpected ramifications that come with that!ย Yours in Scandalย kicks off the series with a young, wealthy mayor of NYC who falls for his political rivalโs daughter.
Why was it important for you to start your series with Addie and Robert?
Theย realย answer? Thereโs is the book listed first in the contract ๐ In truth Iโm equally excited about all three books in the series, and could have happily jumped in anywhere! That said, writing a politician was a unique and fun challenge for me (I tend to write a lot of businessmen!) so a new take on my โhot guy in a suitโ was a fun creative challenge!
Even though she is still young, your heroine Addie has lived quite a life. Where did her teenage rebellious streak come from?
The first thing I always do when I get a new story idea is to figure out where the conflict isโI have to make sure these two people, however attracted, canโt get together (easily) by chapter three. When I decided to take on a hero whoโs a mayor, I took a step back to think which woman would be most off-limits to him. One with a bit of scandal was the obvious answer, since the spouses of politicians are usually held to the same exacting standards (if not more so) than the politician him/herself! From there, I dug into Addieโs character and her scandal-laden past.
Do you have anything in common with your heroine?
Honestly? No ๐ Other than being a little mouthy during puberty, I was a pretty easy kid and teenager, and skipped the rebellious phase, at least according to my parents! I sort of skipped the whole rebellious phase growing up no underage drinking, no missed curfews, Iโve never even gotten a ticket. Though, I think perhaps I was saving up all my rebellious urges for my mid-twenties, where I seemed to chafe really hard at being managed in the corporate world, and quit my practical, well-paying job rather spontaneously and irresponsibly with almost no safety net, and dove headfirst into being a full-time writer. And I suppose, for that matter, Iโve made some rebellious choices as an author (quitting Facebook, not doing ARCs on my self-pub title, etc). So, I guess I change my answer! Yeah, I have a little in common with Addie after all!
Your hero Robert is fantastic! He is smart, successful and just earned the titleย โMan of the Yearโ. What made you fall in love with him?
He really is great, isnโt he? ๐ย I actually knew from the start that Robert was going to be a pretty stand-up guy. I wanted to steer as away from the cliche, corrupt politician as possible, and show that itโs absolutely possible for people to be in public office simply because they want to do good, not because theyโre power hungry. I think what I love most about him is how he never wavers in wanting best for Addie and the people around him, even if it hurts him personally. Heโs a really unselfish guy, and that is so, so appealing to me!
Would you say that there are similarities that all of your heroes share?
Iโd say theyโre all pretty quick with a comeback. Whether theyโre the charming playboys or the more reserved, Mr. Darcy types theyโve got a bit of a sharp, clever tongue! Also, the vast majority tend to be wealthy and suit-wearing. Iโve got a few exceptions, but I think thereโs something so sexy about a buttoned-up guy in a suit coming undone over a woman, so I tend to come back to that again and again!
Some of the best moments inย Yours In Scandalย happen when your heroine and hero are around their trusted friends. Are any of the secondary characters we meet destined to get their own happily-ever-afters?
No plans for any spinoffs with those characters! Not because I donโt love them, but because the writing scheduleโs pretty jam-packed!
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Yours in Scandal
A Man of the Year Novel
by Lauren Layne
Release Date: March 10, 2020
Publisher: Montlake
Blurb:
Fresh off being namedย Citizenย magazineโs Man of the Year, New York Cityโs youngest mayor, Robert Davenport, decides itโs time to strategize. Next move: a bid for the governorโs seat. In his way: an incumbent with a flawless reputation. He also has an Achillesโ heel: an estranged wild-child daughter with a past so scandalous it could be Robertโs ticket to victory. And a charm so irresistible it could be Robertโs downfall.
Rebellion is a thing of the past for Adeline Blake. As New Yorkโs premier event planner, sheโs all about reform and respectability. Then sheโs approached by Robert to organize the party of the season. Curious, considering heโs her fatherโs most formidable opponent. And alarming, too. Because Addie canโt help but fall for the righteously popular candidate with the movie-star smile.
Now itโs Robertโs choice. Does he pursue a future that holds his legacy? Or the woman who holds his heart?
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Excerpt:
โI just need to be sure . . . am I going crazy? I am, right? Our girlโs not seriously telling us she had dinner with the mayor,โ Rosalie said, turning to Jane.
โYouโre not the crazy oneโshe is,โ Jane said, emphatically pointing at Adeline.
Adeline nibbled on the corner of a chip. โItโs really not the big deal you two are making it out to be. It was just dinner. Pizza.โ
โThatโs even worse!โ Jane said shrilly. โItโs so intimate.โ
Adeline glanced over at her calmer friend. โPlease tell her thereโs nothing intimate about Italian sausage.โ She winced as she caught herself. โYeah, I heard it.โ
โIt is a little out of character,โ Rosalie said slowly. โYou havenโt exactly made it a secret how you feel about men these days. To say nothing of your thoughts on elected officials.โ
โI didnโt sleep with the guy, we just had pizza.โ
โIโd actually be less concerned if youโd slept with him,โ Rosalie admitted.
โAgreed,โ Jane said, smacking the table. โA sexy fling with the Man of the Year is one thing. A cozy dinner at his place is just . . .โ She threw her hands up. โI canโt. I literally canโt process it.โ
โYou donโt have to process anything,โ Adeline said, dunking the chip into the salsa and stuffing the whole thing in her mouth. โIt was a one-time thing. The partyโs next weekend, and then Iโll probably never see him again.โ
โWhat if he wants you to be his forever event planner?โ
โHe wonโt. His regular plannerโs one of the best in the city, and Iโm sure sheโll be back from maternity leave by the time he needs to hire someone again.โ
โIs his regular event planner hot and single?โ Jane pointed out.
โSheโs married.โ
โExactly. Much less susceptible to his sexy face than single you.โ
Adeline sighed and looked again to the perpetually calm Rosalie. โMake it stop.โ
โJust promise youโll warn us if you start to fall for the guy,โ her friend said, fiddling with her chip. โMuch as I love the idea of you landing the hottest guy in the city, I also know just how tricky that would be for you.โ
โTricky is an understatement given heโs likely running against The Bastard in the next election,โ she said, knowing that both of her lifelong friends knew she was referring to the father sheโd all but disowned.
Adeline hadnโt known Rosalie as long as sheโd known Jane, but they still went all the way back to high school. Adeline had been the loose cannon, Jane the genius, and Rosalie had been, well . . . perfect.
โYou know,โ Adeline said, looking thoughtfully at Rosalie over the top of her margarita. โI actually thought about setting you and the mayor up.โ
โWait, what?โ Rosalieโs eyes went wide.
โYou said yourself he was hot,โ Adeline pointed out. โYouโre also beautiful, well spoken, polished. You never look bad in a photograph, and you never say the wrong thing. I literally canโt think of a more perfect future First Lady of New York.โ
โOooh, I see that!โ Jane said, pivoting in her chair to stare at Rosalie.
Adeline gave Jane an exasperated expression. โYou were just warning me off of the guy.โ
โWarning you off, yes. But Rosalie . . .โ
Adeline tried to ignore the sting. It wasnโt as if Jane were saying anything Adeline herself hadnโt thought. Even if she were inclined to pursue the mayor, and she wasnโt, she knew that she was the last thing someone like him needed. Her past alone made her an inconceivable choice for him, and even if she could keep her past mistakes under wraps, she would never be the right woman for him. She may have mastered the bun and the blazers, but she was still the woman who collected adventurous lingerie and loved tequila.
โThe guyโs definitely attractive,โ Rosalie said. โBut I donโt know that I want one of Adelineโs rejects,โ she said with a smile intended to annoy Adeline.
โI wouldnโt let that stop me,โ Jane said, fanning herself. โIf it werenโt for Dan . . . . Too bad I love that man so damn much. Seriously, Rosalie, let Adeline fix you up, so I can live vicariously.โ
โHello,โ Rosalie said, staring at the admittedly, occasionally tone-deaf Jane. โAre you not seeing what Iโm seeing?โ She pointed at Adeline.
Jane glanced over and narrowed her eyes.
โEver since she came back from New Mexico with her hair brown, sheโs been like this buttoned-up ice woman. But when she talks about him . . .โ Rosalie made an unrecognizable hissing, clicking noise.
โWhat was that?โ Jane asked.
โFire igniting,โ Rosalie explained. โWhatever, so sound effects and act-outs arenโt my strong suit. The point isโโ
โIf I sound fiery when I talk about the mayor, itโs only because heโs a control freak and pain in the ass,โ Adeline interjected. โThe man doesnโt know how to delegate, is hell-bent on carrying on his fatherโs legacy without ever checking in with himself, and . . .โ
Adelineโs thoughts scattered a little as she realized she wasnโt being entirety fair to the mayor. Yes, he was obsessed with his image, as a man in his position had to be. But he could also be funny and irreverent. He could also be spontaneous and casual.
Heโd proven that yesterday, first with the tour of his home, then the invitation of dinner. Even the way he ate pizza was appealing, somehow both buttoned-up precise and outright relishing, all at the same time.
โWe need more margaritas.โ
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Author Info:
Lauren Layne is the New York Timesย andย USA Todayย bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, includingย Hot Asset, Hard Sell,ย andย Huge Deal in her 21 Wall Street series, as well as her Central Park Pact series. Her books have sold more than a million copies in nine languages. Laurenโs work has been featured inย Publishers Weekly, Glamour,ย theย Wall Street Journal,ย andย Inside Edition. She is based in New York City. For the latest updates, be sure to check out her website atย www.laurenlayne.com.
Website:ย https://laurenlayne.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurenLayneAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlayneauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6969772.Lauren_Layne
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