Meant for You

The Connor Family #3

by Layla Hagen

Will Connor lives his life by simple rules: take care of those he loves, give one hundred percent to his job, and never ignore his instincts. So when he meets Paige, he doesn't plan to ignore their crazy chemistry, or the way her pretty smile strips him of all defenses…

As the development director of a nonprofit, Paige Lamonica has met her fair share of people. But Will is something else entirely. The sexy detective is a little too confident. With sculpted muscles and a chiseled jawline, he's also far too easy on the eye. She loves that he goes toe-to-toe with her at every turn.

When Will asks her to attend his sister's wedding with him, Paige thinks he just wants to throw some relatives who want to play matchmakers off his scent.

She couldn't be more wrong. Will wants her.

When she teases him, he teases her right back. When she pushes his buttons, he repays her with dangerously hot flirting...and even hotter kisses. As they spend more time together, Paige discovers there's more to Will than she thought. With every layer she peels away, she craves more…

But as the daughter of an Army man, Paige has never wanted to get involved with someone on the force. Can Will persuade her to explore their growing connection with him?

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Police, Chick Lit, Adult

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2018

About the author

Welcome! My name is Layla Hagen and I am a Contemporary Romance author.

I fell in love with books when I was nine years old, and my love affair with stories continues even now, many years later.

I write romantic stories and can’t wait to share them with the world.

And I drink coffee. Lots of it, in case the photo didn’t make it obvious enough ;)

Reviews

[DJ Sakata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite Quotes:

I practically flew to him. It felt that way, at least. Like I was so light that my feet weren’t even touching the ground, merely skipping over the surface.

“Just keep your eyes open for a smart and very sexy guy. Strong arms are important. Six-pack always a plus. Great skills in bed are also a requirement, but obviously, there’s no way to check that beforehand.” … I made a mental note never to ask about girl talk again.

My Review:

Layla Hagen is my go-to gal when I need something light and amusing as well as sweet and steamy. Her alpha males are full of swagger but quickly learn the importance of groveling when needed. I enjoyed the sweet pairing of Will and Paige, they were a feisty and sweary couple who could go toe-to-toe as well as scorch the sheets with their volcanically hot sexcapades.

[Nate Brightman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I honestly don’t know how to rate Meant for You the third book in Layla Hagen’s Connors series? For the first 80% of the book I’d give it a solid 3.5 stars inching towards 4. Okay so from the moment our heroine Paige returns to her L.A. office you don’t have to be Nostradamus to predict her career path or the future of her late grandmother’s inn. And maybe I’m the only guy in the world who thinks oral sex is every bit as sexually intimate as intercourse, so Will only going down on Paige sticking his tongue instead of his cock in her because “he wants to take it slow,” seemed ridiculous to me. Reminds me of another Will (William Jefferson Clinton). Other than those two minor reservations, I loved the first 80% of this book. And I know it’s 80% because my Kindle told me so. I loved the two main characters Paige and Will. I loved the way they pushed each other’s buttons in a good way and the sparks between them. I loved watching their relationship develop as they learned more about each other. I loved the way Paige fit so seamlessly in with Will’s family. I loved that the Connor family characters from the first two books were a big part of their story. But then I got to the final 20% and even after a night to sleep on it I can’t help feeling the author fumbled the ball with the ending. ***Major Spoiler Alert*** Don’t read further if you don’t want to know how the book ends.
As a veteran reader of modern romance novels I knew that at some point our lovebirds would have to overcome a major obstacle in their relationship in order to have their happy ending. Ms. Hagen pretty much telegraphed what the bone of contention would be early on when Paige expressed a reluctance to be involved with a man whose job put his life at risk on a regular basis and her uncomfortableness at Will’s constant vigilance in public for trouble. So as Will’s and Paige’s lives became more and more entwined even though everything was going great, I kept waiting for the proverbial other shoe to drop because it had to. And as I expected it would, it happened when Will was hurt on the job. But I certainly didn’t expect Will’s attitude to be the driver behind the discord. And I really think Will got a bum deal here. The guy expresses real concerns after what Paige had said early in their relationship and her emotional response when he’d been hurt that perhaps she’d never be truly comfortable with his chosen profession and it would eventually drive a wedge between them. So instead of telling Will she understands his concerns and reassuring him that she has accepted and embraced his career as part of who he was, she goes ballistic on him telling him he doesn’t respect her ability to know what she wants and he can come find her at the inn if and when he gets his head out of his ass and is ready to talk. Of course when he goes to talk to her a couple of days later giving her time to cool down, she refuses to listen to him. And does Will get any sympathy or support even from his family? Any acknowledgment that he was trying to be thoughtful of Paige’s long term happiness? No, they all call him an idiot and tell him he needs to go apologize and grovel for Paige’s forgiveness. So he does grovel for days while Paige starts wondering where they are in their relationship. Is it over between them? Which made no sense to me since Will had told her again that he loved her before she sent him packing. He was giving her all these little gifts to try and win her back while at the same time giving her the space she’d demanded from him. WTF? How did she not realize the future of their relationship was in her hands not Will’s? And she only kind of sort of acknowledged that Will was thinking of her long term happiness over his own when he expressed his concerns about how his career might affect their relationship when she forgave him.
Then there’s their Happily Ever After which is usually pretty hard to screw up. When Paige seemingly fishing around for a marriage proposal (or at least some assurance that they’re heading in that direction) it causes Will to sort of propose but he doesn’t really. Like it’s a pre-proposal, to test the waters. Like at this point with their lives so thoroughly entwined both personally and professionally there’s any chance she’s not going to say yes. And now that she knows pretty much when and where he intends to propose to her, how anti-climactic will it be? Better if he’s got down on one knee right then and there and proposed. And now I know I’m knit picking but let me get this straight, they’re going to open their new training institute and then the very next week take off on a vacation? Well that makes perfect sense. Not.
I’m sorry Layla, I loved so much of your work in this book but that last twenty percent…... Looking forward to Val’s book next. Glad to know the defacto Connor family matriarch finally gets her special someone.

[Steffi · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Im dritten Teil der "Flowers of Passion" Reihe geht es um Will und Paige. Die beiden sind mir von Beginn an sehr sympathisch gewesen und ich war sehr neugierig darauf wie die beiden sich näher kommen.

Die Geschichte konnte mich gut unterhalten, auch wenn mir Will und Paige irgendwann ein wenig zu häufig im Bett gelandet sind und die Handlung ein wenig darunter gelitten hat, denn teilweise ist dann leider nicht mehr allzu viel passiert. Dennoch mochte ich die beiden wirklich gerne und auch als Paar haben sich perfekt ergänzt.

Das Setting konnte mich auch dieses Mal wieder überzeugen. Die Connor-Familie ist rund um sympathisch und man muss die Familie einfach ins Herz schließen. Ich bin sehr gespannt auf den nächsten Teil der Reihe.

[Ela's Welt der Bücher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich habe meine Schwäche für Layla Hagen entdeckt und daher wollte ich unbedingt weiterlesen, da ich Band 5 und 6 unbedingt bald mit Jessi lesen will. Ich habe es gestern schon bis auf 100 Seiten durchgesuchtet, weil ich einfach nicht aufhören konnte. Dann musste ich einfach schlafen gehen, damit ich noch genug von der Handlung mitbekomme. Es war wieder so toll in die Geschichte rund um die Connors einzutauchen. Hier lernen wir Will besser kennen und ich muss sagen, er hat das Zeug zu einem Bookboyfriend, aber gegen Spencer kann er trotzdem nicht gewinnen. Ich bin einfach so durch die Seiten geflogen und ich wollte nicht aufhören. Es hat wieder so viel Spaß gemacht und ich muss unbedingt bald den nächsten Band lesen.
4,5 Sterne

[Melissa J (Book Addicts Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!

Oh how my love for the Bennett’s has now morphed onto the Connors!! This is book three of “The Connor Family” series and can be read as a complete stand alone.

To be honest I think the Bennett’s set the bar really high for me because I just can not seem to get into the Connors book nearly as much. I love all the characters. Will is a sexy, slightly egotistical police officer who is out for justice. His brother Jace, ahh I can’t wait to find out more about this good boy. And the other siblings we all know. I think Paige is sure of herself and smart. These two together make one hell of a team!!

Sadly I couldn’t focus. This book didn’t reel me in and maybe I will try again another day but for now I will say the heat is there and the plot is good. This couple goes through some ups and downs like all good relationships do. In the end these two belong together.

**I received this book as an ARC and in return gave my honest and very late (I am sooo sorry) review**

[♡ Jeri's Book Attic ♡ Jeri the Romance Bibiliophile ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Sofia Lazaridou · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe that book 3 in The Connor Family series is already out! Three books in a year has been a lovely treat to us as readers and I am happy to say that the writing quality hasn't dropped! I devoured the book and I was very happy and satisfied with the ending result. There was some conflict between Paige and Will that wasn't to my liking, but overall Meant for you was another great addition to the series and on the author's works. We even got a crossover with some of the Bennett's and that made the book even better. I was very happy to catch up with a few familiar characters and I loved the part where the men join forces in order to help Will with a certain situation he was in.

Paige and Will had an easy relationship. She might have been reluctant to begin something with a man whose life was in danger due to his work, but the author decided not to drag it, which was all I could ask. These two had a meant to be vibe from the moment they met and I didn't want to wait too long. The pace was good and well balanced. We got that instant connection, but they took some time before they decided to sleep together, say I love you and even date. It wasn't rushed in other words. The appearances of other beloved characters didn't take the spotlight away from them but rather enchanted it.

The book can be read as stand-alone, so you basically have no reason to not read the book. Whether or not you are familiar with the author doesn't matter. You should pick this book up and get to know Will and Paige.

[Tami czenkus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love each and every story Layla Hagen publishes, And Meant for You was just as good as the rest!
Will knows what he wants out of life and he's content until he runs into Paige and all of his well thought out plans dwindle in the wind.
Paige Loves her job and family, she wasn't expecting love to knock on her door and take her by surprise.
My favorite things about This series is that you get to see all of the characters and their significant others as well as The Bennett clan. I love the camaraderie within the entire family and you feel like you are sucked into the story.

[Norwyn Schäfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Sterne
Flowers of Passion – Zärtliche Magnolien (Flowers of Passion 3)
Roman
von Layla Hagen
Piper Verlag
„Die Erfolgsstory von USA-Today-Bestsellerautorin Layla Hagen geht weiter: Nach der »Diamonds for Love«-Reihe kommen die »Flowers of Passion«!
Paige ist gerade erst zurück nach Los Angeles gezogen, als eines Abends der attraktive Kriminalpolizist Will Connor an ihrer Tür klingelt. Vom ersten Augenblick an sprühen zwischen den beiden die Funken. Unter einem Vorwand sucht Paige den ansehnlichen 33-Jährigen bereits am nächsten Tag im Polizeirevier auf und eine heiße Romanze beginnt ...
Wunderbar romantisch und wahnsinnig prickelnd - USA-Today-Bestsellerautorin Layla Hagen lässt die Herzen höherschlagen!“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem Piper Verlag für das kostenlose Rezensionsexemplar des Buches. Ich gebe hier meine unabhängige und unbezahlte Meinung zu dem Buch ab.
Mein drittes Buch aus dieser Reihe und ich muss sagen, es reiht sich auf nahtlos mit meiner Bewertung bei den anderen beiden ein. Ich vergebe sehr gute 4 Sterne, muss aber auch gleich zu Beginn sagen, dass es aber bisher mein Lieblingsbuch dieser Reihe war.
In gewohnter und gekonnter Weise liefert die Autorin auch hier eine sehr eingängige und schöne Liebesgeschichte ab.
Man kennt den Protagonisten dieses Buches bereits aus den beiden Vorgängerwerken, da er einer der Brüder ist und nun auch endlich sein Glück in der Liebe finden darf. Man lernte Will bereits als einen sehr sympathischen und angenehmen Typen kennen und genau diese Eigenschaften werden auch in seinem Buch seine hervortretenden Merkmale. Was mir allerdings aufgefallen ist, war sein doch recht ausgeprägter Beschützerinstinkt, den ich zuvor noch nicht in diesem Umfang wahrgenommen hatte.
Paige ist eine ebenso freundliche und aufgeschlossene junge Frau, die aber auch gut allein mit allem fertig werden kann es aber dennoch hin und wieder zu schätzen weiß, wenn eben diese beschriebene Eigenschaft bei Will durchbricht.
Die sinnlichen Momente in diesem Buch sind meines Erachtens nach wesentlich öfter und intensiver vorhanden als in den beiden ersten Werken dieser Reihe. Was ich in Bezug auf die beiden Protas und ihre Charaktereigenschaften auch angemessen und passend empfinde.
Auch wenn es eine Liebesgeschichte ist, kommt diese nicht ohne ein gewisses Maß an Drama und Aufregung aus. Aber dies wurde geschickt plaziert und eingebettet in die Handlung und bildet daher einen gelungenen Rahmen für den Plot.
Zum Glück hält sich das Drama aber in Grenzen, so dass man von der eigentlichen Geschichte nicht abgelenkt oder beeinflusst wird. Oftmals überschatten zu hochgespielte und gekünstelt wirkende Dramen die Story. Was hier nicht der Fall war zum Glück.
Mir hat dieses Buch wirklich sehr gut gefallen und die Lesefreude war während des gesamten Buches gegeben. Ein sehr erfreulicher Leseabend für alle Fans dieser Literatur steht jedem bevor, der sich entscheidet diesen Roman zu genießen.
#liebesroman #frauenunterhaltung #newadult #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #laylahagen #piperverlag #piperverlag.digital #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #FlowersofPassionzärtlichemagnolien #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ 3🌶️

I knew with a certainty I couldn’t explain that she was my match. It was a powerful feeling—and frightening too. I hoped she felt just a strongly. I wanted to earn this woman’s love.

What this lacked in plot it definitely made up for in chemistry and spice! Will and Paige were insatiable, but not egregiously though. It was still very tasteful and fit the story, but dang I was envious of the type of effortless desire they had for each other.

I’ll say that I was a tad disappointed with the storyline though. From what I knew of Will in the first two books, I was hoping he’d be a little more grumpy or a tougher nail to crack, given his line of work and approach to dating. Everything was a little too easy. As with the others in the series the MCs have a strong connection to each other that sets them apart and there is good progression of the developing relationship. However something about this one just didn’t grab be like it did in the others. I found myself a little bored at times.

The small conflict if you can call it that, to me wasn’t a big deal that needed any grovel, nor did I think it worked as well because these characters didn’t really have a miscommunication problem. It was a sweet gesture what Will did to show Paige how he was sorry he hurt her, but it wasn’t exactly necessary.

Additionally I expected there to be more to the issues Paige had at work (with the potential donor and her boss) but they really didn’t go anywhere and were a little too one dimensional for me 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This is Will Connor and Paige's story. Will is LAPD, it's how he copes with the death of his parents and the fact that the person who hit their car was never found and tried. For a long time, his work has been his salvation. Then he meets Paige, a woman who gives him a whole new set of reasons to care about life and open up to love.

Paige is an Army daughter. She knows what it's like to have people you love in combat, potentially lost, potentially die. She longs for love but as her Mom points out maybe she's been closed to it out of the same fear that she might lose that person.

This is Will and Paige's story, how their irresistible draw to each other morphs into something stronger, something that will survive and find its way to love. It's also another delightful book from the desk of Layla Hagen, all the things you expect, tender and sweet, hot hot hot, a good plot with beautiful characters.

[Angie McGuire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It's extra awesome when you mix the Bennett's with the Connor's, because it gets extra fun. Will is the safe, guarded cop that doesn't need help finding someone for himself (despite his families interference). When he meets Paige for the first time, there was a definite connection , but she takes some time to realize they are perfect for each other. She has her own personal hesitation to get over, which makes sense, even to Will.

During this book, things happen, relationship struggling occurs (like with any relationship) but are these stead-fast issues that cannot be overcome? You'll just need to read to figure out the ending. I voluntarily reviewed this book from the author. I hope you one-click this book now.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

* A review copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. *

~ 4 Hunky Detective Stars ~

Meant For You was an enjoyable read and another great addition to the Connor Family series. But I have to be honest and say, it didn’t WOW me. Something was missing and I can’t figure out what it was.

I found the storyline entertaining and the characters were definitely relatable and easy to love. Maybe the lack of major drama is what was missing...that element that keeps you turning the pages.

With that said this is a story I would recommend to anyone who likes a sweet romance without a lot of drama.

Meant For You is the third novel in Layla’s Connor Family Series. I have to say I love Layla’s Family saga stories. She writes them in a way that you feel a part of the family and I am always sad when they end. Each of these books can be read as a standalone and are told in Dual POV. I thought the flow and pace of the story worked well for Will and Paige’s story.

In this story we follow Will and Paige. Will is the middle child in the Connor family and is a detective for the LAPD. He turned to the force to help him cope with the death of his parents. Paige is the daughter of a man who was in the Armed Forces. Growing up always worrying about her dad and him going into combat, she swore she wouldn’t be with someone who is that type of field. But the day that Paige and Will meet, things change for the both of them. Can Will open up to love and welcome Paige in?? Will Paige be able to get past her fears of someone in a dangerous field?? Can these two find their HEA?? Read this book to find out.

As I have said with the other books in this series, I would recommend this book/series to be read in order. They don’t have to be, but I think to get the full dynamic of the Connor Family and the ones who they love, you will want to read them in order. I always love when we see the past couples and the other family members in this story. It was even fun seeing some of the Bennetts in this story.

If you are a fan of family saga’s then jump into the mix with The Connor’s. These stories will entertain you and leave you smiling. Oh…and the Heroes will melt your kindle ;) Don’t miss Layla’s newest romance novel….it’s worth the read!!!!

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[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meant for You (The Connor Family) by Layla Hagen  
 
It happened in an instant. He lost his head and found his heart. For Will Connor, Paige Lamonica spells the beginning of the rest of his life. Now he just has to convince her to take a chance on him. Hagen keeps the sparks, but tones down a bit on the sizzle. Meant For You requires patience, because it packs a great deal of heart into a sometimes steamy, yet always enchanting read. 

[Anjie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cite but kinda got over it towards the end

[Fos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook

Paige and Will

[Lorena Fuentes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonito

Es una historia sencilla, sin muchos giros, pero son bonitas y te conectas con los personajes.
Me gustaron mucho Will y Paege.

[Pirra Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me ha gustado especialmente esta protagonista femenina porque era bastante clara con lo que quería y buscaba, me ha parecido algo diferente al resto de protagonistas femeninas, aunque son todas diferentes entre sí tienen unas vibraciones similares.

Supongo que cuando escribes chococientos libros de hermanos y primos poco te queda para ser novedosa.

Una historia bonita en la que hay protección (sin sobre) y amor que entiende que quizás lo que uno necesita y quiere no es lo que la persona de la que se ha enamorado le puede dar.

Recomendable como siempre.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Connor Family series. As with the others, the characters are well written and the story easily draws you in. Will and Paige are perfect together. Their chemistry is immediate and they bring out the sassy in each other. It is fun to watch their relationship develop. Sexy cop meets tough business woman. This story seems to have a little more “sexy time” than the others too. As much as I did enjoy the overall story, this one is the first one that left me wanting more at the end. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Anne-Kathrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely book in the series :) Will and Paige keep things interesting and as usual I love the whole family.

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meant for You is the third story in The Connor Family series and I love each story. Layla Hagen is an amazing storyteller and I just love her books. I love how she mixes in bittersweet moments for each of the Connors. I love the dynamic of the Connor family and their extended family, the Bennetts. Meant for You is the story of Will Connor, who is a police officer and Paige Lamonica. Will is the third oldest of the Connor children, behind Landon and Val. It was Will's job to take care of Lori, Jace and Hailey after their parents died. Paige has just returned home from spending several years in Paris for work. She and her friends are getting together at her late grandmother's house and a neighbor calls the police, because he does not know that Paige is in the house. Will decides to take the call on his way home even though he is not on patrol. Will is so attracted to Paige that he decides to ask her to be his plus one at Lori and Graham's wedding. It is lust at first sight between Will and Paige, and this sets up some very sexy scenes between Will and Paige. Paige grew up as an Army brat and has some misgivings about Will being a police officer. I love that Paige is a strong woman and that she goes for what she really wants, in her career and her personal life. Meant for You is an outstanding story and I love the plot twist. But I really loved everything that Will did to get Paige back and get their happily ever after.

[Babel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flirty, fun and exquisitely sensual, this novel is a joy for all the reading senses.

This series is the right kind of addiction. I've been more than ready for the cop in the family. I couldn't help but fall in love with Will Connor. He's a good man, a detective riding a bike, and a god giving kisses. To be honest, the female character is equally important for a good connection and I adored this woman. She is sassy, smart, funny, and has a job that drives her with an aim to help people.

The big hurdle in the relationship has to do with life and death, and I felt very related to Paige's misgivings about commiting to a love that could be lost in the blink of an eye. Despite that very deep concern, the dynamics in this couple are playful and natural, the dialogues are so much fun I never wanted to stop reading, and every interaction felt momentuous.

Paige and Will fall spectacularly in love. Family time is also heart-warming and full of banter and good advice. In the end, the issue of Will's job and Paige's fear catches up to them in an unexpected way. I wasn't particularly fond of that, but it added the right tension for a sweetly romantic reconciliation.

The heat can only equal the good times they share, and I loved the way they merge their lives and dreams without losing their fantastic humour and chemistry. Another great story to add to a wonderfully growing list of them.

[Stella Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot, sexy love!

This is the story of Will Conner and Paige Bennett. Paige is home to fix up her grandmother’s inn prior to selling it. Her grandmother has passed away, and Paige and her siblings are working together to fix up the old place. Will stops by the inn after hearing a call that there may be trespassers at the old inn. But when Will sees Paige (and vice versa), the chemistry sizzles. Paige is reluctant as she remembers her family waiting for her father when he was on a dangerous mission with the armed forces. She never wants to feel worried like she remembers feeling and watching her mother go through. Will, on the other hand, is a police officer and is trained to be ever vigilant.

I enjoyed this book, but I found the plot was a bit slow moving, other than sex scene to sex scene. Perhaps, having a bit more drama that the two would have to work through would have made me feel there was more to this than initial real love and lust. However, I still enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next book in this series.

I received an ARC copy of this book and am voluntarily reviewing it. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely.

[Night Runner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars for me!

My rating range of this story... 4 - 4.25 Stars
If significant, why?

Main Character Ratings...
H = 8/10
h = 8/10

Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? No

Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 30%
How much of the story? 20%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained

Heat Rating...
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above

Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? Almost

The back story... The H needs a date for a wedding to keep his family off his back.

The Romance... Easy build after a bit of a stand-off.

The drama explosion... The H gets injured
Did it feel real or contrived? Real
Was it OTT? No
Separation involved? No
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Properly

Final Notes... Cute low Angst story


HEA or HFN? HEA

[Shelleen Toland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will Connors is a cop and comes from a big family. He had lost his parents in an accident when he was a teenager. Growing up with his siblings has made them all close and they are always there for each other.
Paige also has a few siblings as well and they are also close. When Paige is asked to get the Inn, her grandmother owned, ready to sell, she meets Will and the sparks and sexual tension starts from the beginning. Paige has loved her job but her boss is making it harder for her to like it.
Things also change for Will that he needs to find something to do. He has always bought and flipped houses plus owns many places that he rents out.
The romance and the sex will want you to read even more. I read this all in one day.
I received this from Inkslinger for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lets be honest here, I just love all of Layla Hagen's books and this one is no exception. Meant for You is an absolute swoon fest. I just love reading about the Conner family and it is even better because you also get to catch up a little here and there with the Bennett family. This story is entertaining, sweet and sexy. I loved it from the beginning to the end, can't wait for the next one in the series. Don't panic though, it can totally be read as a stand alone.

[Laundry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will and Paige are going to knock your socks off, folks. Seriously. There is so much to love with these characters. He's a detective. She's a bigwig at a non-profit. They are two of the best fictional humans on the planet. So, not only are they amazing people, but they have some of the HOTTEST chemistry. EVER. I mean, I should expect no less from LH right? The woman can do no wrong, y'all. Meant For You was INCREDIBLE.

Story Line: Will is a smoking hot detective. He gets notice of a possible break in so he decides to check it out on his way home. Except there's no break in. It's just Paige and her two girlfriends reuniting after 3 years apart. The red flag the neighbors reported? They decide to meet at the B&B Paige inherited from her late grandma. So they have this adorable meet-cute, he gives her his card and the rest is history. Kidding. There's a whole heck of a lot to this story than a cute first meeting and some super attractive characters. There's drama with Will's job. There's drama with Paige's job. There's amazing family members on both sides. And there's a whole lotta hot laundry. It's not smooth sailing, which of course I loved. Because hi, have we met? I love drama. I love books that keep me guessing. And I definitely love books that give me new laundry ideas. ;)

Interaction: What is my number one favorite trait of leading ladies? SASS. GIVE ME ALL THE SASS. And Paige wrote the book on sassiness. She keeps Will on his toes, and he loves it too. Their communication is second to none. Every conversation between these two is absolutely flawless. The push and pull, the sarcasm and the flirting. It's all complete perfection. And can we just take a second to talk about how amazing Will is with his nephew? And how sweet Paige is with her nieces? Single aunts and uncles being rockstars? I seriously could not love these characters any more than I do right this very moment.

Laundry: The naughtiness level of this book is off the charts. Seriously. There were so many scenes that I wanted to highlight the heck out of. I even had my hubby read one because I was telling him he needed to take notes from Will. Good lord I'm lucky he's so tolerant of me. But in all seriousness, Meant For You was the perfect balance of storytelling and laundry. The laundry scenes were hot, but never out of the realm of tasteful. I never read a dirty scene thinking "well this isn't necessary". And believe it or not, I've actually thought that while reading a contemporary romance before. And before you start jumping to conclusions, you will not see that book I'm referring to in any of my reviews. All you need to take away from this section is this - LH delivered the steamiest laundry I've read in a quite a while.

Depth: Can I just say how much I adore Paige's job? I love, love, LOVE that she works for a non-profit. I think she's the best person ever for wanting to help kids who come from tough times. And she has the drive to make that happen. I LOVE HER. And Will being a detective - catching bad guys? Excuse me while I swoon into a melted puddle of butter. Their jobs are super admirable, but they also cause some heartache. These two have hurdles to get past, that's for sure. But trust me, if you're anything like me, you will finish this book thinking that was just about the sweetest HEA you've ever read. EVER. Now go add this to you TBR. Like, right now :)

[Babs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Da ich bereits die beiden vorherigen Bände der "Flowers of passion"- Reihe der Autorin gelesen habe, war ich auf "Zärtliche Magnolien" schon sehr gespannt. Und was soll ich sagen? Der Roman konnte mich sofort in seinen Bann ziehen und fesseln. Dies liegt zum Einen an den wirklich charmanten Figuren, denen man sich sofort nahe fühlt.
Im Mittelpunkt dieses Romans steht dieses Mal der mittlere Connor - Bruder Will, der zufällig bei einem Einsatz als Polizist Paige kennenlernt. Die beiden verlieben sich sehr schnell ineinander, auch wenn insbesondere Paige ihren Gefühlen zunächst nicht so ganz nachgeben möchte. Hatte sie sich doch geschworen sich nie in einen Mann in Uniform zu verlieben, da ihr Vater Soldat war und sie die Ängste, die ihre Mutter ausstehen musste, nicht erleben möchte. Aber manchmal ist wollen einfach nebensächlich, wenn es um Gefühle geht.
Will und Paige sind beide sehr willensstarke Figuren, die schon immer um das gekämpft haben, was ihnen am Herzen liegt. Beide geben sich zeitweilig stärker, als sie tatsächlich sind. Es fällt leicht sich in sie hineinzudenken, da sie sehr realistische Figuren sind. Man verliebt sich beim Lesen in Will, der das Sinnbild eines gutaussehenden und mit großen Ehrgefühl behafteten Polizisten wiedergibt.
Die Figuren wirken insgesamt sehr durchdacht. Bekannte Figuren aus den vorherigen Bänden und auch aus der "Diamonds for love" - Reihe dürfen hier zum Gelingen der Handlung beitragen. Die Chemie zwischen den Figuren ist überaus stimmig, so dass man nur so durch die Handlung fliegt.

Layla Hagens Schreibstil ist sehr unterhaltsam. Sie wechselt emotionale Szenen gekonnt mit lustigen Einwürfen ab, so dass einem als Leser eine Menge Kurzweil geboten wird. Man verliert sich beim Lesen in der Handlung und lässt sich treiben. Es fällt schwer den Roman zwischendurch aus der Hand zu legen.
Der Roman eignet sich perfekt für einen spannenden Lesenachmittag auf der Couch. Auch wenn man die vorherigen Bände des Romans kennt, nimmt das Buch einen sofort von sich ein. Die Geschehnisse der vorherigen Bände werden kurz angedeutet, so dass man alles sehr gut nachvollziehen kann. Der Roman weckt beim Lesen Lust auf mehr von der Familie Connor.

Leider hat es die Autorin geschafft mich im letzten Drittel des Romans doch noch ein wenig zu enttäuschen. Ich hoffe, dass ich nicht zu viel verrate. aber plötzlich entsteht zwischen Will und Paige ein Disput, der auf mich zu sehr konstruiert wirkte, als dass er als echtes Drama durchgehen kann. Die Versöhnung kommt mir persönlich ebenfalls nicht glaubhaft rüber. Es gab andere Elemente, die sich für ein besseres Drama geeignet hätten. Allerdings geht Layla Hagen hier nicht näher darauf ein. Insbesondere ein Thema, dass sie zunächst andeutet verläuft leider plötzlich im Sande. Hier hätte ich mir persönlich etwas mehr Fokus gewünscht.

Fazit:
Insgesamt betrachtet ist "Flowers of passion - Zärtliche Magnolien" von Layla Hagen überaus lesenswert. Er überzeugt mit sehr charmanten Figuren und einer Menge Herzschmerz. Der Roman garantiert einen entspannten Nachmittag auf der Couch mit sehr viel Kurzweil.
Ich freue mich in jedem Fall auf den nächsten Band der Reihe.
Für mich ist dieser Roman ein unbedingtes Lesemuss! Und zwar nicht nur für Fans der Autorin und ihrer Buchreihen!

Note: 2+ (💗💗💗💗)

[Readers Together · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layla Hagen is an automatic one-click author for me. I just love her style. The way she writes and the types of stories she tells. They always leave me with a sense of relaxed happiness. They’re so feelgood. And of course, sexy. They’re stories with heart. You just can’t help reading them in one sitting and wanting more. She’s definitely a binge read type of author.

Meant for You is the third book in the Connor family series and it might be my favourite so far. It is an interconnected standalone – so it’s up to the reader whether they want to dive right in, or start at the beginning. (Whispers…start at the beginning!) Will Connor is your typical alpha cop…but he also isn’t, he knows when to back off and he’s so sweet. He’s always been the one to watch out for his family and he wants to do that for Paige too. Only problem, Paige can take care of herself and doesn’t need an alpha all up in her business telling her what to do or think. I really loved Paige, I thought she was such a great character that could hold her own and really gave as good as she got with Will. Their relationship is super sweet – they’re both from big families that they’re close to and that showed and you could see that they were perfect for each other with the way they interacted with the families and never felt put out. The way Will was with his nephew was the sweetest thing. I could’ve had more of them and not been sad about it. So freaking sweet. The book contained the right amount of sexy time scenes and they fitted the couple and the book perfectly. The chemistry between the characters was fantastic and you could really feel it. I loved the banter between them – it gave their relationship that little something extra and I loved it.

I loved Jace. I want his story ASAP. I mean, the whole Connor family is awesome and I cannot wait to read about them all. But, in this book, Jace was featured a bit and I need to know more. Gimme gimme gimme.

Sebastian York and Andi Arndt were fabulous as usual. Sebastian was perfection as Will Connor- he really has that alpha cop act down pat. Andi, on the other hand, embodied Paige. The strong snarky woman who can hold her own…even against a sexy alpha. Their voices complement each other and it’s not too jarring when the PoV changes. It makes for easy listening. It’s becoming harder to say something different and original in their reviews especially when listening to them narrate books back-to-back like I am at present. But, it’s also kinda fun to unintentionally binge listen to them. They should be on everyone’s must-listen list. The production was fine, only one little proofing hiccup that I noticed and it’s something that would’ve been easily missed and hey, maybe it’s just me being weird. Who knows? Maybe I’m the one pronouncing it wrong, not Sebastian. (eek) It didn’t take away from the story or the performance- it just made me do a sort of double-take and check.

[B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Will Connor Meets His Match In The Independent Paige Lamonica

Twenty-eight year old Paige Lamonica returns home to L.A. after a stint working at her non-profit's Paris office for a few years. While she enjoyed the experience, personally and professionally, she feels like she has missed too much by being away from her family.

She and her family inherited her grandmother's aging inn months earlier, and she is determined to do her share of the work needed to prep it for sale. She is at the inn catching up with a couple of girlfriends when a knock comes at the door.

Detective William Connor doesn't normally take calls, but for some reason he answers to the report of someone breaking into an old boarded up inn. He is struck by the woman that answers, and can't get her off his mind afterward. When she shows up at his precinct a week later to file a vandalism report, he asserts himself by offering to help her purchase a security system, then offers to help with the installation.

Paige's father had a military career, and Paige grew up witnessing her mother's grief when her father faced danger. She has no desire to be in a relationship with a cop, knowing the grief and anxiety she would suffer as a result of the dangers of the job. She struggles in vain to resist Will.

Despite Paige's fierce independence, Will's patience and determination eventually win her over. Will had done his fair share of dating previously, even had a few relationships, but he had never become attached to a woman until he met Paige. He obsesses over her when he is not with her and cannot touch her enough when they are together. He knows she is meant for him. He is not one for words, but he shows his feelings by his actions.

Will's three sisters know him so well that they can read him by his expressions. They know when work is getting him down, for example, even though he cannot share particulars, and they know how to help. But they've had a lifetime to learn this skill; Paige has not. She struggles to understand what he is thinking.

Will and Paige work through career and communication issues, and with the help of their loving families, they find their HEA.

This can be read stand-alone, but it is the third book in the Connor series. I recommend reading them in order to get the most out of them.

Like the first two, this book is sweet and spicy. This one might be a little more on the spicy side, if for no other reason than the fact that Will's character demands it. He is a man of action, not words.

Will's lack of words probably contributed to me being slow to warm up to the couple. I really liked and respected Will from the earlier books, but I cannot say for certain how I would have felt if I had not read the earlier books.