November 15, 2021
Layne (To Sir, with Love) brings a light touch to this delightful, gender-swapped My Fair Lady tale in which the city itself is a nuanced character. Manhattan socialite Violet Townsend occupies herself with charity engagements, volunteer work, and helping family friend Edith Rhodes, the soon-to-be retired CEO of a global conglomerate, to manage her daily affairs. It all fills her time, but it doesn’t fill her heart, something she only discovers after meeting Edith’s long-lost grandson, Cain Stone, who’s poised to inherit Edith’s company. Rough-around-the-edges Cain is already well established in New Orleans, and he’s not super interested in getting the polish Edith and Violet think he needs to please the company’s board of directors. As Violet takes him under her wing, she learns that under his gruff exterior lies sweetness and charm. Their growing connection combined with Cain’s kindness to Violet’s dog is sure to tug readers’ heartstrings. Layne has a skill for building unique heroines, and Violet, who has anxiety about expressing herself stemming from losing her family at a young age, adds depth to this contemporary. Layne’s fans are sure to be pleased. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, the Seymour Agency.
November 30, 2021
Violet is the quintessential socialite, having fit herself perfectly into the mold others expect--even if that means settling for a bland boyfriend, living with the decades-old d�cor in the apartment she inherited, or working as a volunteer assistant for her late grandmother's best friend, Edith. She agrees to help Edith's newly discovered grandson, Cain, fit in with Manhattan society so he can take over the family business. Born and raised in New Orleans, Cain resists Edith's and Violet's attempts to make over his wardrobe and manners just to prove his worth. He is headstrong, defiant, and much crasser than Violet is used to. Naturally, the attraction is undeniable from day one. In between arguments, Violet comes to appreciate how Cain doesn't define himself by other people's standards, and she sees there's more to him beneath the surface. She reflects on her own life choices and decides it's time to finally be the self she's been hiding her whole adult life. With amusing minor characters and dialogue that's both clever and steamy, Layne (To Sir, with Love, 2021) delivers a satisfying HEA with this standalone novel.
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