Hot Asset

21 Wall Street Series, Book 1

By: Lauren Layne

Narrated by: Samantha Cook, Zachary Webber

A sexy agent hounds Wall Street's hottest new wolf in an exhilarating novel from New York Times best-selling author Lauren Layne. Ian Bradley is the definition of a Wall Street hotshot: seven-figure salary, designer suits, and a corner office. His drive off the floor is just as potent. Every woman who knows him has felt the rush. But now he's met his match in Lara McKenzie - a woman with the power to bring Ian to his knees. An ambitious, whip-smart daughter of FBI agents, Lara is a rising star in fighting white-collar crime. Her latest case - the investigation of Ian Bradley for insider trading - could make her career.

She knows a scoundrel when she sees one, and Ian fits the bill: a cocky, ridiculously handsome bad boy with a slick swagger. She'll do anything to prove he's guilty. He'll do anything to prove he's not. But it's only a matter of time before their fierce battle of wits gets oh so hot and personal. Now taking down Ian has become more than business for Lara. It's become a pleasure-and there's more at risk than she ever dreamed.

©2018 Lauren Layne (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

I’m a fan

Super cute enemies-to-lovers. More character development than I usually find in these stories amen I loved the build up. Great chemistry between characters and I loved the hints at future story lines too. And Zachary Webber. I could listen to him talk to me all day long.

Great Book ! Great narration

The last few books that I chose .... I couldn’t finish - just skipped to the end . I was worried because I thought
“ OMG am I sick of romance novels ? What on earth will I do with my time ?!😱” but

THIS one was different . I truly couldn’t stop until it was done !
Not gonna lie though - Zachary Webber was the draw - that guy could read the alphabet and make it compelling , he’s fantastic! Audio books ARE acting .. just on a different level and he’s great at adding the nuance that reading the book couldn’t even do (and the voice ain’t so bad either lol)

Cute👏

Oddly enough, I get this and the other 2 related books confused with Laurelin Paige’s media moguls. Powerful, rich, smart, cocky, alpha men who go head to head with equally-headstrong and witty women. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I actually like this book about Ian and Lara. Their attraction is obviously instant, but it’s Ian who’s lovesick while Lara focuses on her task at hand. He really does try to woo her and isn’t the type to push her away when an issue comes between them. He actually stays and listens. His past as a flirty man-whore makes him feel...ughs 😂 Lara is Miss Prim and Proper Justice on the way to being an FBI agent. She knows something is amiss after she turns in her report and does the right thing even though it cost her (only for that period). That just makes Ian love and appreciate her more. She’s a workaholic, as indicated by her lack of fun clothes, but she does try to make an effort to be herself when Ian is around. Heck, she has more restraint than he does 😂 Don’t worry! It’s still a HEA lol Also, their banter is pretty hilarious 😂

Zachary Webber is ahhhmazing!!!! I love how he narrates at a normal pace without over-enunciating and without trying to “sound” like a handsome hotshot. I can hear the sarcasm, breathlessness, shock, frustration, etc. Ian experiences. He doesn’t just “read” the script, he acts like it IS him.

Samantha Cook is good, but she needs to quicken her narration. She talks slow...It’s not super slow, but it’s almost like how you’re reading a storybook to a toddler. Other than that, I think she actually did her best.

LOVED IT!!!!

Lauren Layne is such a great writer. I really loved the plot of this book. It starts off great in the beginning. But then it went slow. However, it picked back up again with an element of suspense and surprise toward the end.
Definitely worth the credit.

Hot Asset

I would like to know, when you have two readers, why not just have the girl only do the girls part ant the same for the guy. It spoiles it so much.

Female voice

The story was original, the man reading has an extremely sexy voice. But I didn’t care for the female reader. Especially when she’s depicting a male voice. I think she was trying for sultry, but she just sounded like she had a cold.

Propagandist literature

Before delving into this review, I’ll give a background on myself. I’m a public policy specialist. I love romance/Rom-Coms/chick lit but there is a way to tell a romance about people in “opposing” fields without using moral absolutes. I found it a bit troubling that the author so easily portrayed the SEC as a villainous organization and a financial analyst/hedge funder as a good guy (the female protagonist uses those words to describe the male lead). The author does a major disservice by romanticizing Wall Street brokers and hedge fund types when much if the economic woes in this country are actually the fault of brokers and large financial institutions. We as a nation still have not recovered from the recession of 2007 and there is a massive lack of accountability when it comes to oversight of such institutions. I understand that there are definitely people who abuse their power, but insider trading is very rarely pursued and people are very rarely convicted for financial crimes. The 2007 recession shows us that exactly. This is fiction, yes. But this also romanticizes an industry that is filled with people who do things that morally and ethically wrong. This book tries to white wash the actual bad and show a glorified version of this industry and tried to undermine government entities that attempt to pursue oversight. I wish this book was actually about real accountability without taking moral absolutes. Nothing is morally absolute. Nothing is 100% good. And it’s harmful and a disservice to use a platform such as escapist literature to paint a false narrative that could sway opinions of people. Especially when stocks and trading and investments are not very regulated and plenty of unethical things go on.

Good listen

Good story. narration was good. a little drawn out but over all great time spent.

Good short story

It was a pretty good story not super predictable as to the whole insider trading thing but the 2 getting together was. Zachary Webber was amazing he is definitely my favorite narrator and the reason I listened to the book. But the woman was tough I almost gave up, she spoke so slowly. It almost made Laura sound dumb rather than analytical. I sped her portions to 1.35x it made it easier to listen to and also made it sound like there were actually inflections in her voice. If it wasn't for this little hack I don't know if I would listen to the other 2 books.

interresting

Wallstreet and the people who investigate them...new for a romance for me anyways...I liked it. Seemed believable enough. I liked all the characters.