Good Girl
by Lauren Layne
Published by Loveswept
Jenny Dawson moved to Nashville to write music, not get famous.
But when her latest record goes double platinum, Jenny’s suddenly one of the town’s biggest stars—and the center of a tabloid scandal connecting her with a pop star she’s barely even met. With paparazzi tracking her every move, Jenny flees to a remote mansion in Louisiana to write her next album. The only hiccup is the unexpected presence of a brooding young caretaker named Noah, whose foul mouth and snap judgments lead to constant bickering—and serious heat.
Noah really should tell Jenny that he’s Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, the owner of the estate where the feisty country singer has made her spoiled self at home. But the charade gives Noah a much-needed break from his own troubles, and before long, their verbal sparring is indistinguishable from foreplay. But as sizzling nights give way to quiet pillow talk, Noah begins to realize that Jenny’s almost as complicated as he is. To fit into each other’s lives, they’ll need the courage to face their problems together—before the outside world catches up to them.
RATED: 18+ CATEGORY: MOOD:
Steamy #ContemporaryRomance Hot
Good Girl by Lauren Layne is a stand-alone romance centering on Jenny Dawson, America's "Good Girl" country star, and Preston Noah Maxwell Walcott, owner of the estate Jenny rents, when scandal forces her to go into hiding. When Jenny mistakes Noah's friend Vaughn as the owner, he goes with it, looking for an escape from that part of his life. As Noah and Jenny get closer, Jenny starts to realize, she wants more than music and fame - she wants Noah. The problem? Noah doesn't know how to tell Jenny who he really is.
Good Girl is a re-read for me, and basically, I re-read it because I needed a "G" book for a reading challenging, and I knew it was a quick read. It's a cute, tropey as hell romance, with a nice amount of smut. I will admit I enjoyed it more my first time reading it, and will probably never read it again, but it's not because it's terrible. It's uncomplicated, and sexy. The characters are okay. Jenny was enjoyable, if a bit unrelatable (Not really into the whole country music scene myself), and Noah was just prickly enough to make me take notice, but some of his barbs were brutal, which was a turn off.
If you are looking for a simple, quick read, that has lots of steam and a happy ending, you will enjoy Lauren Layne's Good Girl.
Jenny: "What is it? Is it twins? Am I having burrito twins? They run in my family, you know."
Noah: "Remind me again what you two clowns are going here?"
Finn: "Well, one of us can actually be useful. The other wouldn't know a hammer if it was shoved up his ass."
Vaughn: "Spoken like someone who probably has had a hammer shoved up his ass."
Finn: "Hey, at least I'm getting some soft of action. Bet the only pearl necklace you've ever given is to your great - aunt Maude."
Noah: "I'm staying. And not a word to the pop princess here about my real name."
Finn: "She's a country singer."
I snort.
Noah: "Barely."
Jenny: "Heard that."
Jenny: "How was it? The kiss, I mean?"
Noah: "What, you want like a star rating?"
Jenny: "No, I just ... you kiss different from the boys I know."
Noah: "Well, maybe that's your problem. You've been kissing boys."
Noah: "You fishin' for somethin'?"
Jenny: "I'm just wondering if I shouldn't contact the local news sources. If you're on the prowl, the least I cn do is warn the female population that they may want to steer clear of you 'kiss.' "
Noah: "Is that right?"
I shrug
Jenny: "Too much tongue."
Noah: "As I remember it, you seemed to like my tongue just fine."
I shake my head.
Jenny: "So sad. A mind so young, dementia settling in so soon."
Noah: "You can use the TV if you keep Ranger company. Also, wrote my cell number down. It's on the counter if you need anything."
Jenny: "What would I possibly need?"
This time his grin is more wicked than mocking.
Noah: "I don't know, princess. How about my tongue spending time somewhere a hell of a more interesting than your mouth?"
Jenny: "You think I'm pretty?"
Noah: "Shut up."
I smile.
Noah: "Carry this. One comes at you, swat hard at it's nose and run."
I stare at the stick. Then at him.
Jenny: "A stick? Are you kidding me with this? What about a gun?"
Noah: 'Illegal. More relevant, a bullet's not much good against a creature whose brain is the size of a nut. All you're gonna get is a pissed-off gator."
Jenny: "Right, because I'm sure he'll just love the bonk on the nose. That won't piss him off at all."
Noah: "Tell me this wasn't what you were doing all day. Buying ..."
Noah glances up at his wrists.
Noah: "Pink zip ties."
I give him a happy smile.
Jenny: "See, I knew you'd like the pink."
Jenny: "Will you laugh at me if I say I'm just a small-town girl?"
Noah: "Only if you tell me you're livin' in a lonely world."
Noah: "You need to not give a fuck what anyone says or thinks about you, me included. You get me?"
Jenny: "I'm working on it."
Noah: "Work harder. Because you're good, Jenny Dawson."
I wince, and his hand tightens on my hip.
Noah: "No, I don't mean it like that. I don't mean that you're supposed to be virginal and sugar-sweet and not make mistakes. I mean you're good in that you're kind and patient and only moderately annoying."
Vaughn: "I haven't been on so much as a decent date since college."
Finn: "I could hook you up with one of my castoffs."
Vaughn: "Great. I'll take you up on that when I get a hankering for herpes."
You know how I said Jenny's voice sounded like her heart?
I'm wrong.
Her voice sounds like my heart.
And I want it back. I want her back.
Finn: "Aaaaannnnddddd ... there it is."
Finn says softly, holding out a hand to Vaughn, who irritably slaps a twenty in his palm.
Vaughn: "You'll be driven to the premiere in another car, which Vaughn paid for -"
I hold up a hand, looking over at Finn.
Noah: "What did you pay for?"
Finn pointed to Ranger
Finn: "I'm watching your dog."
Vaughn: "Yeah, because that's even."
Finn: "Have you smelled this dog's farted? Trust me, we're even."
Noah: "Here's the thing, Jenny Dawson. I think I'm in love with you."
Jenny: "That was ... mildly inappropriate."
Noah: "You did say I shoulda kissed you."
I smile.
Jenny: "You heard the song."
Noah: "I did. And I seem to remember it saying there was something you would have told me if I had kissed you."
Jenny: "Hmm, no, not ringing a bell, sorry."
Noah: "Princess ..."
Jenny: "I think I love you too."
Reporter: "Mr. Maxwell, Amanda Taylor here with CBC Evening. You two have caused quite a scene tonight, and I just have to ask, because you make such a surprising could ... when was it you knew that America's redeemed sweetheart here was the one for you?"
Noah: "You know, Ms. Taylor, it's a little hard to say exactly ... but I think it was the zip ties."
Noah: "All packed for tomorrow?"
Jenny: "Yup. Short trip, so easy packing."
Noah: "Those are the best kind. Less jerking off for me. And probably for you too, you dirty minx."
Jenny: "What happens in hotel rooms stays in hotel rooms."
Noah: "In that case, maybe I'll have to come with you. See what those fingers get up to."
Jenny: "You can't. No pet care lined up."
He sighs and points a warning finger at the dogs.
Noah: "You and you ... very thin ice. How am I supposed to hump your mother?
Jenny: "Gosh, that's romantic."
Noah: "What are you smiling about, princess?"
Jenny: "Just picturing little Noah's running around the house. Imagining how grouchy they'll be."
Noah: "That so? Because I have frequent visions of little Jennys running around. Thinking how noisy they'll be."
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