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cobaltbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
“My brothers said that saying it would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. They were wrong. It was the easiest. Because loving you is easy.”
The best book of the entire series, great friends-to-lovers story.
The best book of the entire series, great friends-to-lovers story.
bookdevouringmisfit's review against another edition
3.0
Oh man, from that blurb alone I know that this will be another sure fave of mine--if not the favorite from this series. I just have a feeling. Lauren Layne never disappoints. Even when she does, she doesn't.
shh_reading's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 My first book by Layne, I believe. Really enjoyed the construction of the hero, a quiet onlooker in a family of extroverts, someone who feels a bit like an outsider because of it. And worries that he doesn't know how to love, or simply can't feel love, because he doesn't have any big angsty past that is causing him to be cold. Having had some of the same worries myself, I could easily relate to Vincent, even though he's a big tough NYC Italian cop and I'm not any of those things... The banter between Vincent and his partner, Jill was quick, funny, and quite entertaining. Jill's dithering about whether she should marry the perfect guy she's become engaged to, or to dump him because she's still crushing on Vin got a bit old, though, and the mystery plot of the novel fell flat.
norwayellesea's review against another edition
5.0
Highly anticipated, Cuff Me exceeds my expectations and more as the spotlight for this final book in the New York's Finest series falls on homicide DT Vincent Moretti. His relationship with Jill is everything I expect it to be; sexy with lashings of mental anguish!
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder." A painful realisation for Vincent Moretti. He's missed his partner during her three months absence from work, not that he'd made much effort to keep in contact whilst she was away. Now Jill's back, eating the doughnut he bought for her with her left hand adorned with a sparkling diamond engagement ring!
Jill Henley's leave of absence in Florida turned out to be much more than just time spent helping her mother recuperate from a nasty fall. She began a whirlwind relationship with Tom and accepted his unexpected proposal of marriage. Now back in NY, she's happy to be amongst all that's familiar, the Moretti gang, Vincent. Especially her partner Vincent Moretti because she missed him. Something she hadn't realised until now.
Jill and Vincent's first day back at working together is an eventful one. The crime victim was once famous...a Hollywood star from another era. Something is wrong, very wrong! Vincent's instinctive detective skills are off and Jill's are rusty. All Vincent can truly decipher and be 100% sure about; Jill can't fool him she's as happy as she claims!
Vincent is a complex character. He's viewed differently by many people; To strangers, he comes across as unsociable and gruff. His work colleagues… "Robot. Machine. Automaton." Those that see him as "Quiet, Reserved. Broody." Yet he's confident and intuitive but shyness has crippled him emotionally, when is comes to matters of the heart. Something his mother can see in her second son, prompting her to say some appropriate words to the right person.
Jill is the sunshine to Vincent's darkness but his social awkwardness hasn't been a barrier until now. She's getting married when the one she's always wanted is Vincent. Only he can't give her what she wants because he's incapable of showing his feelings. I sympathised with Jill and her desire to want what other women have in their lives...romance. To feel included and instead of excluded on Valentine's Day...chocolates, red roses and candlelit dinners. To come to the realisation that a random gesture of buying you your favourite doughnut is his way of telling you he cares. It's random. It's spontaneous. It's a sign to take fate into her own hands.
One of the high points in this humorous series has been the banter and witty dialogue between the characters. Ms Layne doesn't disappoint. Nonna is as inappropriate as ever! Brothers Luc and Anth, are now settled in their own domestic bliss offer unwelcome advice when they see fit. We also get to meet Marco, the laid back brother who followed his wannabe-actress girlfriend to California and works for LAPD. Oh, not forgetting the parental interference.
Every once in a while, a book overwhelms me simply because the protagonists are so relatable. Their actions trigger memories and similarities in my own life, it's unsettling, but in a good way.
Cuff Me is a standalone novel so if you haven't read Steal Me and Frisk Me then I recommend you do because why settle for just one Moretti brother?
***arc generously received courtesy of Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley***
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder." A painful realisation for Vincent Moretti. He's missed his partner during her three months absence from work, not that he'd made much effort to keep in contact whilst she was away. Now Jill's back, eating the doughnut he bought for her with her left hand adorned with a sparkling diamond engagement ring!
Jill Henley's leave of absence in Florida turned out to be much more than just time spent helping her mother recuperate from a nasty fall. She began a whirlwind relationship with Tom and accepted his unexpected proposal of marriage. Now back in NY, she's happy to be amongst all that's familiar, the Moretti gang, Vincent. Especially her partner Vincent Moretti because she missed him. Something she hadn't realised until now.
Jill and Vincent's first day back at working together is an eventful one. The crime victim was once famous...a Hollywood star from another era. Something is wrong, very wrong! Vincent's instinctive detective skills are off and Jill's are rusty. All Vincent can truly decipher and be 100% sure about; Jill can't fool him she's as happy as she claims!
Vincent is a complex character. He's viewed differently by many people; To strangers, he comes across as unsociable and gruff. His work colleagues… "Robot. Machine. Automaton." Those that see him as "Quiet, Reserved. Broody." Yet he's confident and intuitive but shyness has crippled him emotionally, when is comes to matters of the heart. Something his mother can see in her second son, prompting her to say some appropriate words to the right person.
Jill is the sunshine to Vincent's darkness but his social awkwardness hasn't been a barrier until now. She's getting married when the one she's always wanted is Vincent. Only he can't give her what she wants because he's incapable of showing his feelings. I sympathised with Jill and her desire to want what other women have in their lives...romance. To feel included and instead of excluded on Valentine's Day...chocolates, red roses and candlelit dinners. To come to the realisation that a random gesture of buying you your favourite doughnut is his way of telling you he cares. It's random. It's spontaneous. It's a sign to take fate into her own hands.
One of the high points in this humorous series has been the banter and witty dialogue between the characters. Ms Layne doesn't disappoint. Nonna is as inappropriate as ever! Brothers Luc and Anth, are now settled in their own domestic bliss offer unwelcome advice when they see fit. We also get to meet Marco, the laid back brother who followed his wannabe-actress girlfriend to California and works for LAPD. Oh, not forgetting the parental interference.
Every once in a while, a book overwhelms me simply because the protagonists are so relatable. Their actions trigger memories and similarities in my own life, it's unsettling, but in a good way.
Cuff Me is a standalone novel so if you haven't read Steal Me and Frisk Me then I recommend you do because why settle for just one Moretti brother?
***arc generously received courtesy of Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley***
nellesnightstand1's review against another edition
4.0
Vin is the strong silent type. He's been separated from his parter of 6 years for 3 months and he's so looking forward to her return. Poor Vin, I felt his pain so deeply when she came home engaged. I love how Lauren kept him honorable! Jill!! She is so confused!! She just needed tiime and guidence! This was my favorite of the series.
I can tell I'm not the only one who feels like we were left hanging with Marc and Elena's stories didn't get told. I read that LL has stated it's a maybe situation. IMO, if you are going to write such good secondary characters you should have a plan to tell their stories too!!
tessisreading2's review against another edition
2.0
I was really hopeful about this one - I like the trope of partners-to-lovers - but alas, it just was kind of mediocre. Once again the police work seems pulled from watching a bunch of episodes of "Law & Order." Additionally, the hero is kind of a jerk, as is the heroine, and the idea that the heroine needs to be MORE accommodating of the hero's incomprehensible fear of commitment is ridiculous... although at least other characters point that out to the hero. Basically it was just a big "meh."
blodeuedd's review against another edition
3.0
Vin and Jill has been partners for years, and they are both idiots. His family love her. He obviously has feelings for her, and she for him. But this is the story of two idiots who can not see what is in front of them. And hey, that is the fun part.
Vin, aww, I did not know how guarded he was at first. But he, awww, he was a sweetie. He so wanted but did not dare.
Jill just wants love and would settle for second best. But I get it and why she went for the nice guy who proposed, but the guy that did not rock her socks off.
The book is about the dance between these two. And there is the murder case they are investigated, made me think of Castle. Not that they are alike but you get the point.
A good romance that takes time. A good mystery to solve. And it did make me want to read more about this family.
Vin, aww, I did not know how guarded he was at first. But he, awww, he was a sweetie. He so wanted but did not dare.
Jill just wants love and would settle for second best. But I get it and why she went for the nice guy who proposed, but the guy that did not rock her socks off.
The book is about the dance between these two. And there is the murder case they are investigated, made me think of Castle. Not that they are alike but you get the point.
A good romance that takes time. A good mystery to solve. And it did make me want to read more about this family.
nellesnightstand's review against another edition
4.0
Vin is the strong silent type. He's been separated from his parter of 6 years for 3 months and he's so looking forward to her return. Poor Vin, I felt his pain so deeply when she came home engaged. I love how Lauren kept him honorable! Jill!! She is so confused!! She just needed tiime and guidence! This was my favorite of the series.
I can tell I'm not the only one who feels like we were left hanging with Marc and Elena's stories didn't get told. I read that LL has stated it's a maybe situation. IMO, if you are going to write such good secondary characters you should have a plan to tell their stories too!!