Just One Night

Sex, Love & Stiletto #3

by Lauren Layne

In Lauren Layne’s sizzling Sex, Love & Stiletto series, New York’s hottest “sexpert” has been living a lie—and it’s up to one man to keep her honest…all night long.

Riley McKenna knows sex—good sex, bad sex, kinky sex…Her articles in Stiletto magazine are consistently the publication’s most scandalous—and the most read. But Riley has a secret…all that sexy talk? Not an ounce of it comes from personal experience. Her own bedroom escapades are more limited than even her best friends know. When her editor requests that all columnists write something more personal for Stiletto’s anniversary issue, Riley turns to the one man she’s always been able to count on and calls in the favor of a lifetime.

Sam Compton would do anything for Riley McKenna. Anything except be her experimental sex toy. He refuses her request. At least until she tells him that it’ll either be him or she’ll go to someone else. And that, Sam can’t accept. Reluctantly he agrees to her terms—one night of completely meaningless sex in the name of research. Riley thinks she’s prepared for what awaits her in Sam’s bed. After ten years of writing about sex, actually doing it shouldn’t be that different, right? So wrong. What starts as “one time only” becomes “just one more time.” And then one more. And before they know it, Riley and Sam learn first-hand that when it comes to love, there’s no such thing as just one night.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult, Humor, New Adult

252 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Lauren Layne is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Hot Asset, Hard Sell, and Huge Deal in her 21 Wall Street series, as well as her Central Park Pact series. Her books have sold more than a million copies in nine languages. Lauren’s work has been featured in Publishers Weekly, Glamour, the Wall Street Journal, and Inside Edition. She is based in New York City.

Reviews

[• Lisa • · Rating 5 out of 5]

FIVE STILETTO GIRL STARS.



I loved this book with all my book-loving heart. I have the biggest, most ridiculously silly smile on my face right now. I love this author and her gorgeous love saga's and I have to confess I'm feeling a little sad that I have to say goodbye to the Stiletto girls but for now I am one overly-excited, romance addict and I can gladly confirm that everything this author touches is pure romance gold. Here are my 'just one night' book thoughts ...

What's it all about?
Riley McKenna is a society princess and resident 'sexpert' at Stilletto magazine. This gorgeous sex kitten delivers her inside knowledge of all things kink and spice in her regular column, and has quickly become a popular go to girl for her vast knowledge of everything that goes on between the sheets. But this sassy, beauty has one big secret, she has zero personal experience of all her sexy talk, instead over the years she has harboured the biggest love crush on her brothers best friend and no man has ever measured up. But when an up and coming anniversary piece for the magazine means she needs to get down and personal Riley reaches for the only man that she has ever dreamed of getting close to. Sam Compton has had feelings for his best friends sister ever since he clapped eyes on her, but how could he ever let his real feelings show when she's apart of a family that means the world to him. So with a huge proposition and a yearning for each other, will Riley and Sam finally give into the desire to be more than just friends?



What did I love ...
I've said this a million times and I'll probably say it a million more, my favourite romance story, hands down has to be a friends to lovers style, add into the mix that this friend is a brothers best friend and I'm in complete story heaven. Lauren Layne is the type of author that writes books that make me feel like she is writing them just for me, I love her style and I hope she continues to write books for a long time to come. I have been a fan of the Stiletto series from the start, and aside from the 'butterfly in tummy' type of romance this author has a special way of drawing her readers into the lovely friendships in the story, the girls in this book have conversations and true to life girly problems that make me smile and relate and even though this book is the last in the series, I simply want more. The writing style is easy going and uncomplicated and although this book doesn't have the full out humour of the previous books in the series, it has a light, easy, heart and soul feel to it that grabbed my romantic attention and made it my most favourite book of the series. The main characters of the book Riley and Sam were both given there own point of view, which for me made the story 'squeeze a pillow to your chest' style cute, I could not get enough of their thoughts and feelings towards each other, my heart was full to the brim hoping these too would finally get together and when they did, hello scrumptious hotness these two were perfection, I fell in love with their love. Don't let this generic book cover fool you, this author is the queen of sexy, flirty stories and her writing is flawless. Lauren Layne delivered both the sweet and the saucy, a perfect combination to make the perfect five star book. Overall this book delivered on all counts, an easy reading sexy romance with an added lovely storyline from one of my most treasured authors.



Final thoughts ...
The stiletto series is the best kind of flirty romance. You're not going to be troubled by the storyline's or left thinking what is going to happen next, but you will fall in love, have some fun and meet characters that will leave you with a smile on your face. If easy reading romance is your style then you don't want to miss out on this series. I'm sure I'll be re reading over and over again, but for now it's goodbye to the stiletto series and hopefully hello to more from the lovely Lauren Layne. Go grab the whole series readers, enjoy ... Kisses.



Please click below to see reviews for book one and two in the series:
AFTER THE KISS (Sex, love & stiletto, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH (Sex, love & stiletto #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

*ARC generously provided by random house publishing via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Alba and Her Secrets..♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 "Not Enough" Stars!



Obviously, I am becoming addicted to Lauren Layne's books. So, continuing my reading of her Stiletto series, now it's time for the third book. Just One Night is the story of Riley McKenna (the sex journalist in Stiletto magazine and a woman who is not what she appears to be: she knows a lot but she does not practice a lot LOL) and Sam Compton (her long-time 'i-want-you-but-I-can't-have-you' beloved and also he is Riley's brother best friend).

“I think you’re right. I think I’ll find someone who knows how to use his hands on something other than a copper machine.”
“Go for it,” he muttered. “We’ve both been seeing other people for years.”
She paused for a heartbeat, letting her eyes linger on his mouth. Letting the tension build. “Have we?”

I don't know exactly why but I feel this book is the one that I enjoyed less. I still loved it but not as the other two. I think this time, the back and forth between these two was a tiny bit annoying. Also, I believe that Sam took too much time to resolve everything and finally accept his feelings for Riley. However, as all Layne's couples, they have amazing chemistry and I really enjoy the interactions with the other characters.

She was a woman completely crazy about a guy.
It was time to get her happy ending.
It was time to get her man.

What I loved the most was the ending. It was BEAUTIFUL. The letter, I mean, I was crying like a baby together with the Stiletto girls LOL That was soooooooooo sweet.

Can you still love the man who can’t stop loving you?

Therefore, my rating is 4.5 STARS because I enjoyed the story and the characters but I think Sam could have been I little bit more brave with his feelings for Riley. Still, loved the ending and the epilogue! And, of course, I am highly recommending this series!!

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[Robin (Bridge Four) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Thank-You For Introducing a Bro-mance Stars

I went and binge read the entire series in a weekend #sorrynotsorry and it was fantastic. While I still very much like the romance of Just One Night it isn’t as strong as the others of the series I just didn’t buy into the fact that the star sex columnist is practically a virgin. I think it is hard to be such an expert on something that the character had practically no personal experience with it detracted my love of the story a little bit.

The Story Skinny:

Riley and Sam have known each other for 10 years and in all that time BOTH of them have lusted after the other. They are in this weird pre-flirt state sorta like in the second grade when you liked a boy and kicked him or he liked you and pulled your hair….only adult style

Riley: I’m a sex columnist. It’s my responsibility to spread the word about safe sex.
Sam: This had nothing to do with safe sex, and everything to do with you making sure I didn’t HAVE any sex.
True, true. The man did know her well.
Riley: Well then clearly Angelica didn’t read the pamphlets. It says VERY clearly that there are multiple treatment options.
Sam: Her name is ANGELA, and she didn’t stick around long enough to read the pamphlets, and I DO NOT HAVE GENITAL WARTS.

But both have not ever just pounced on the other since Riley’s brother is Sam’s best friend and once upon a time Liam said Riley was off limits. Okay so this part of the story is a bit weak, about as weak as a sex columnist not having any real sexual experience. But still both characters are pretty likable and I couldn’t wait for them to get together.

But what I love are the Characters and the Friendships. They were actually more enjoyable than the actual romance for me in this one.

The Boys:

I love Bro-mances, they are really some of my greatest reading moments in some books. The ways guys communicate with one another can be fantastic. LL totally captured that now that we have a few male characters to really play around with. I loved Mitchell (still swoons for him) and Jake in their own stories but now that all the boys are hanging out together it is even better. We get stuff like:

”She knows more about male anatomy than most penis doctors.”
“They’re called urologists,” Mitchell said. “Or an andrologist, depending on the issue.”
Jake pointed his bottle at Mitchell in warning. “Seriously? Don’t be that guy.”

“Uh-oh, he’s got the look again,” Jake said.
“What look?” Sam asked.
“The one that I had on my face when I realized Julie wasn’t just going to be a shits-and-giggles fling, and the one Jake had on his face when Grace handed him his balls at a softball game.”
“Hey!” Jake said in protest. “It wasn’t that.”
“It was,” Sam interrupted. “I was actually there, although I didn’t really know you then.”

And

“Now hold on. We’ve only been a thing for two weeks. It’s mostly just sex.”
“Really? Then how is it that you’re at my apartment for his engagement party,” Mitchell asked with a gesture toward Jake.
“That’s not on me! You two are the ones out buying engagement rings and cohabiting—”
“Cohabiting? Grandma? Is that you?”

Seriously I wanted more of just the boys hanging out. But don’t let that fool you the girls still have plenty of great moments.

The Girls:

They make this series great. I don’t have many girlfriends, well at least ones that I don’t mostly talk to on-line, but I’d like to think that if I had some chicks to hang with in my real life this is how they would be. These girls have so much fun together and I love how much they are in the picture throughout the story. The female dialogue is just as strong as the male dialogue in the series and I love every line of it.

Wordlessly the other three stood. Well, Grace and Emma stood. Julie had to be coaxed out of her chair, and luckily Grace had the forethought to grab the box of tissues on the way out.
“Nice one, Samuel,” Emma muttered as the three women slipped past.
“I want to watch,” Riley heard Julie say.
“And I want Ryan Reynolds for my birthday,” Emma snapped. “Get it together.

“What’s wrong, sugar?” Riley said, linking arms with the shorter woman. “Don’t want to have a tête-à-tête with your ex-fee-ance-say?”
Emma’s brow furrowed just slightly. “Not a sober one. And I thought we agreed never to speak of that.”
“Nope,” Julie said happily, taking a sip of her red wine. “You instructed us never to speak of that. We all nodded and crossed our fingers behind our backs.”

This series is such an easy read and I’ve had the best weekend hanging with the girls of Stiletto. I’m sure that I’ll revisit them all again. As soon as I finished the last book in the series I was ready to go back and read Julie and Mitchells story all over again.

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Sweet Stars.

Riley and Sam know each other since kids. He is her older brother best friend and basically a part of her family.
Riley works in Stiletto along with Grace and Julie, she is the “sex expert” and since is the magazine’s birthday every journalist will have to do an issue related with their own personal experience. There’s only one problem: Riley does her work based on research, her personal experience is pretty much close to zero. So, she decides to ask Sam to sleep with her in order to “research”. (What a great excuse, right?!)



But there’s the catch: they both had feelings for the other for many, many years and neither of them has ever acted on them. But well, when you add supposedly meaningless sex to the mix, things are bound to chance completely… and complicating.



Rating: 4 Stars.
Storyline: A little predictable (but that’s probably the problem with too much reading, you start to fathom the story since the beginning.), but very enjoyable. This was probably the “angstiest” book in the series, but as sweet and romantic as the others. I really liked it.
Writing Style: Third person, dual Pov. Well written and engaging.
Character Development: As a change of scenery, this time Sam was the one that annoyed me a bit, but I liked him nonetheless. Usually is the girl that annoys me. Riley was very likable and I loved to see more of the previous main characters and the continuation of their story. There was a nice opening for a fourth book that I’m very curious to read.
Steam: Several heated moments.
HEA: Yes.

[♥Sharon♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 I Want My Happy Ending Stars



Lauren Layne has become that type of author I will go to when I am in the mood for a sweet, get butterflies in your belly reads. Her books are what I call my comfy reads! They are just an easy escape for me. ❤

This is the 3rd book in the Sex, Love & Stiletto’s series by Lauren Layne. I.LOVED.IT! This is my favorite of the three. Riley and Sam had such natural chemistry that I instantly fell in love with their story.

One of the best things about reading is that I escape my reality. But there are times when I sit down, start reading a book, and get that feeling that these characters could truly be part of my reality and I love that.

That is how I felt while reading Just One Night. The two main characters Riley and Sam were great. I instantly connected with both of them. I felt like I could be sitting in the office with Riley chatting up her personal life or pulling up a bar stool at the whiskey bar listening to Sam go on about unimportant manly stuff.

Riley is stunning. She is also sassy and sexy as ever. She writes all about sex for Stiletto’s the high society magazine and the things she writes about will leave you tingly inside. She is also that type of girl who has a tough outer shell to protect and hide pieces of herself. Just under that shell, you will find soft edges of someone who cares deeply, loves hard and just wants to be happy.

Sam is definitely sexy but in a simple way. It wasn’t like he knew “it” he just was and I loved that. He is also a lot like Riley. He has soft edges too but he buries them deeper than Riley does. Because of things that have happened in his past, he thinks he is a failure at the important things in life and is unworthy. The truth is, Sam is a good kindhearted person and gives so much of himself.

Riley and Sam have been friends for the last 10 years and Riley has always wanted their relationship to be so much more. Truth is she has always loved Sam. Her heart was holding out hope that he would love her back. Riley doesn’t know it but Sam would kill to have her in his bed and to have the chance to love her they way he has always wanted to but things just aren’t that simple. Sam’s best friend is Riley’s brother Liam and we all know the man code in regards to baby sister’s right. Sam promised Liam he would never touch Riley and that is how it was supposed to be. However, life is never that simple. Sam would soon find out that he can’t always control what his heart wants.



Riley has been given an assignment at work. The article would have to be “a sort of real-world account of how they live the Stiletto way in their own life.” This sends her into a bit of a frenzy. By writing this article, she would be exposing that piece of herself that she has been hiding but it could also be the opportunity to get what she has been wanting for so long.

Riley comes up with a plan and approaches Sam for a “favor”. Just one night of hot and crazy sex, so she would be able to write this article. Sam doesn’t know what to think other than he doesn’t want any other guy doing this “favor” and even though his gut tells him not to, he can’t resist Riley. Though he knows once he has her, one night will never be enough.

Things start to heat up between Riley and Sam inside and outside the bedroom. Their sexual chemistry was great and I loved how they fit together. They had a lot of fun and Sam just seems to fit perfectly in Riley’s life. But he is having a hard time letting go of his gut feeling that he doesn’t deserve her. Riley is ready to give everything of herself and hates that Sam feels way. She doesn’t know what to say or do to change that. Then something happens and Sam makes a decision that breaks Riley’s heart. That’s when Riley lays it all out for him and gives him an ultimatum. What will Sam do?

Not everyone sees things clearly especially when the heart is telling you one thing and your mind is telling you another. That is how it is for Riley and Sam. Watching them teeter made me sad and I wanted to lock them both in a room and not let them out until they realized how perfect they were for each other.

Sam does some soul searching and finally has that much-needed conversation with Liam. What happens after with Sam and Riley will give you that “butterflies in your belly” feeling. Their story was tender, honest, fun and their chemistry was great. I adored their conversations, their flirting, their attempt to resist each other and everything in between.





This was such a great book. I loved that Grace, Jake, Julie, Mitchell, Emma and Camille were all so very present in the book. We get more of the girl talk that is always so enlightening (hehe) and even the guys were putting their two cents in too! It was a lot of fun to read.

If you have yet to read books by Lauren Layne please give this series a try! I know you will love them!

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lauren Layne is one of my favorite contemporary romance writers, not because what she’s writing is so original, let’s face it, it’s hard to be original in this category, but because she writes romance with a flair that sets her stories above the rest. After the Kiss is my favorite of the Sex, Love & Stiletto series but Just One Night is a close second. One big reason for that is because Riley and Sam have a history. Years of longing from afar lent a gut wrenching quality to their situation that made it oh-so-much sweeter when these two finally figured things out!

Riley McKenna is the “sex expert” of Stiletto Magazine but no one knows that she has little experience in that department; a secret that she keeps closely guarded. With a new assignment to write about an actual personal account, Riley has nothing to go on, but she has one man in mind to change that: Sam. The man she’s always wanted but has never managed to snag.

Little does she know that Sam yearns for her, too, but he feels Riley is off limits. He doesn’t feel good enough for her, his mother has made that abundantly clear for years. But Sam can’t help himself when Riley makes an offer he can’t refuse; it’s just one night after all. Famous last words!

We’ve met both Riley and Sam in the previous novels and I they had back and forth drama that made it obvious they both had it bad for each other so I was excited to read their story. Sam has been best friends with Riley’s brother for years. He’s sort of a surrogate member of her family, but Riley’s feelings for him are anything but familial. She’s had a huge crush on him and has had to bear the hurt of watching him carrying on with other women through the years. Ouch! They always seem to skate the line between flirting and friendship and Riley longs for more:

She did this to herself every damn time, holding on to hope that she and Sam would actually cross that line between bickering and flirting, curiosity and jealousy. Between friends and lovers. But it had been a decade. Sam had had a freaking decade to stake his claim. He hadn’t. He wouldn’t.

Poor Riley. Poor Sam. Fortunately for Riley she has her girls Julie, Grace and Emma at her back, the other writers for Stiletto magazine and her closest friends. With their help she manages to make a one night stand play out into much more. Sam never knew what hit him, but he needed some major plotting to wake him up, and I loved the strategy!

Just One Night had fiery hot scenes, but as with the other books, they were done with class. Riley and Sam’s journey had rocks and bumps, but there were doses of clever humor to keep it lighthearted and fun. But best of all we get the satisfaction of seeing two people finally get what they’ve desperately wanted for years: each other! *sigh*

I hope this isn’t the end to the Sex, Love & Stiletto series because Emma HAS to have her story! Until then I’ll be over here tapping my foot patiently and waiting, Lauren Layne!

A copy was provided by Loveswept through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 3 out of 5]

**3.5 stars**

JUST ONE NIGHT is book 3 in the Sex, Love & Stiletto. It will be released on March 11, 2014.

Stiletto magazine is getting ready to publish their 50th Anniversary edition and each of the columnist have to write a personal article.

Riley is the "sexy" columnist for the magazine. Her reputation is a facade that she uses to keep unwanted men away.

Sam is Riley's brother's best friend for the last 10 years. Feeling like a failure for his whole life he becomes distant with family and friends. When Riley propositions him to spend just one night with her for her upcoming article he struggles with his feelings towards Riley.

Overall this book had less of a chick flick feel to it. Not as much humor with a little bit of a heavier feel to it. Still a cute read.

SERIES:

No cliffhangers. Spinoff. Each book will feature one of the three columnist.

Book 1 - AFTER THE KISS review | Book 2 - LOVE THE ONE YOU'RE WITH review | Book 3 - JUST ONE NIGHT

**ARC courtesy of Random House, Loveswept, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should have trusted their first instinct

I enjoyed Just One Night. It was great to catch up with the Stiletto girls and see where they are at. In this story, we get some very surprising truths out of Riley, the sex expert. Riley's got the hots for her brother's best friend, that she's kept a secret for ten years. Turns out it's not much of a secret...AND...it's time for her to finally let the cat out of the bag.

Sam can't believe he is forced to face his biggest fear when Riley asks for a favour. Sam may have to face his feelings for his best-mates sister. Now, this is not the normal sort of favour a best-mates sister would normally ask. He knows he should say no, but because it's Riley who's asking, there is no way in hell he can deny her. After all, it's not every day the most beautiful woman in the world asks for just one night.

Honestly, I wanted to knock these bozos heads together. Bloody scaredy cats. Ten years is way too long to fight their feelings and they both suffered for it. Should have trusted their instincts.

I really love this series and have enjoyed each instalment. The characters are far from perfect, a little zany and the best (sometimes worst) specialists on sex, love and relationships. I definitely recommend and I can't wait to read more.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well, to say that I’m a teeny tiny disappointed will be an understatement. And I was really looking forward to read more about Riley. I was super invested, and I liked Riley so much in the previous book… but maybe I had too many expectations.

And while I liked Sam enough (I actually liked him a lot when he was surrounded by other people and the other couples) I think that maybe he wasn’t the best fit for Riley. Not only did this book was very Sam centric -like, it was all revolving around him and not enough around Riley and/or being together and that bothered me.

Maybe it’s the fact that Riley was too perfect. She got nothing going on, nothing to really work on and that made her journey focused solely on Sam’s. Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s great that Sam is better and working on his self-esteem and allowing himself to be happy but Riley didn’t get a proper arc and that is what, ultimately, made this book somewhat boring and forgettable.

There was no challenge at all.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★ 4 stars!



Just One Night is the third book in the Sex, Love & Stiletto Series by Lauren Layne and I think this might be my favorite of the series thus far. This author perfectly combines romance, humor and a bit of drama in a exhilarating mix situated in the vibrant city of New York. I loved the fact that this was a friends to lovers story and a very well written one at that.

The history Sam and Riley shared made their relationship all the more meaningful and unique. At first I wasn't that big a fan of Sam and his "jerk-ish" attitude but after a while he really grew on me and I came to understand why he acted so closed off in the first place. Riley, on the other hand, I loved from the start. She was a strong heroine with a quirky personality and it's nice for a change to read about a less" experienced" heroine.

Overall, this was once again a fun, relaxing, standalone read with a happy ending that I would hightly recommend anyone looking for a feel-good read to give a try!

**ARC courtesy of Random House Publising Group via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

[Nikki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I re-read this past weekend because I loved the 1st 2 books in the series so much. I started out of order with this one, and figured I should give it another shot. Eesh, continues to be my least fav of the bunch. I still was just bummed out that Riley wasn't the sex kitten hoochie her magazine column led you to believe.

I wanted her to be the Samantha not a Charlotte :(



A girl can dream...

[Lady Gabriella of Awesomeness (SLOW) · Rating 1 out of 5]

If this was one of those rom-coms that re-runs on Saturday night...I probably would have fallen asleep halfway :/

[Phuong ✯ · Rating 2 out of 5]

congrats, sam compton made it to my pile of garbage book boyfriends

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4 I've Always Loved You Stars!)
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
(BR with Patty & Denisse)





Riley McKenna is a sex columnist for Stiletto magazine. She is one of the most sought after women in the city. She is a single, gorgeous woman, whom all of New York thinks is an expert on sex. We find out Riley isn't as experienced as her articles make you believe.



Riley's boss announces to all the Stiletto ladies that each columnist will write a story in first person. A in the real-world account of how they each live the Stiletto way in their own life. The truth behind the headlines. The problem for Riley is she writes all these fantastic articles about sex, but has little education on the topic to pull from. She doesn't want to be revealed as a fake, so she figures her choices are to either come clean on her lack of personal sexual experience, or get laid. :D



Riley comes up with a plan to seduce her brother's best friend Sam Compton. She has had a platonic relationship with Sam for the last ten years. They grew up together, and she has been crazy about him since she was a teenager. Sam has been her best friend for years, but she has always wanted more. He is the only man she has ever wanted, but has always worried he thought of her as a sister, and wasn't interested. With desperately needing to find a guy to make her article personal, she turns to Sam. He is the only guy she is comfortable enough to ask. Since she isn't in a relationship, she decides to proposition the one guy she has always secretly longed for.



Sam Compton grew up with a mother who has always put him down. His only real family has been his best friend Liam McKenna's family. He feels a part of their family, so when he was asked as a teenager by Liam to promise never to lay a hand on Riley, he agreed. Riley was Liam's little sister, and was always considered off limits to him. As they became adults Sam continued to remain close to Riley, and attempt to keep her in the friend zone. Sam always felt he didn't deserve Riley, and wasn't worthy or good enough for her.



After a decade Sam has never staked his claim on Riley. He has been jealous when she dates other men, and has tried to deny his attraction for her. When she comes to him and complicates their relationship by asking for sex, Sam realizes how hard that promise is going to be to keep, that he made to her brother so many years ago.



Sam tries to tell Riley what a bad idea it is for them to get physically involved, even if it is for one night. He has wanted Riley for so long, he can't resist her, even though he tries his best. The chemistry has always been there, and once they act on it, there is no turning back.



I really enjoyed this book, and thought the off limits, brother's best friend Sam was absolutely delicious!!! This whole series is fantastic, and I would love a fourth book for Alex & Emma, and maybe even a book for Liam & another Stiletto's lady. :))

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 stars

“To Stiletto –for showing three different couples they were made for each other”

*sniff sniff*

I wanna work at Stiletto too.

Favorite character: Emma.

“All four women turned to stare at the man in the doorway. But he was staring only at Riley. And his eyes were full of….Everything. Wordlessly the other three stood. Well, Grace and Emma stood. Julie had to be coaxed out of her chair, and luckily Grace had the forethought to grab the box of tissues on the way out.
“Nice one, Samuel,” Emma muttered as the three women slipped past.
“I want to watch,” Riley heard Julie say.
“And I want Ryan Reynolds for my birthday,” Emma snapped. “Get it together.”

Favorite love interest: still Mitchell

“Now hold on. We’ve only been a thing for two weeks. It’s mostly just sex.”
“Really? Then how is it that you are at my apartment for his engagement party’’ Mitchell asked with a gesture toward Jake.

Hehehe my boy Mitchell has a good point. Also bonus points to bro-romance <3

Favorite Stiletto character: Too hard to choose but favorite boss ever: Camille :)

Why I love this series so much: Strong VERY VERY strong friendship, previous MCs and their love interest are not secondary characters that are just there (they are still there for each other. A LOT.), likeable love interests, strong female characters

The things that drove me crazy in this book:
-There is one huge thing in a any book that drives me bonkers -when someone is hiding something from the other person that really does not need to be hidden. Yeah, you guessed right, there is one of those there. But hey, at least watching Sam torture himself over whether or not to take Riley up on her offer makes for entertaining reading ;)

-Sam acted a bit too cowardly for my taste? I wish we get to know him more.

-Riley dear: book smart my ass. There is no way I'm buying that shit.

OVERALL:


A quick and fun read even with the issues I had with the story.

[Beverly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a really hard time with this one. Although, a lot of my friends really liked it so please keep that in mind when deciding to read this one.

As most of you know, I have a real issue with women hiding from their feelings, running, or allowing communication issues to stand in the way of happiness. Now lets discuss Sam and Riley...

In this story I had a tough time with a few things. First being that Riley hadn’t had sex in 10 years, but was a sex advice columnist. I am not saying you have to be a straight up slut, but wouldn’t you need to at least be mildly experienced?? I am not sure I could fake that.


Second, Riley…you are a hot successful female…why are you pining away over a guy?? It bothered me that she lacked the self respect to move on.

Sam don’t get me started…to me the male can usually save the book, but Sam had no back bone. I don’t know…I feel I am being harsh but this chick doesn’t like momma’s boys and Sam was a momma’s boy…he even allowed her to cock block the sex


Other people have loved this book, and series. I have only read this one book, so maybe I would have enjoyed it more had a read the others. I hope you give it a chance, it just wasn’t for me.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Elisa ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i've been having a hard time when it comes to reading, and this book just made it worst.

Riley deserved a better guy, i'm sorry if you like him but i hate when a character has to go after the other and the person acts like they don't care.
she always wanted him and he never admitted he liked her, through the book she makes plans to finally be with him, but i think she deserved a guy who would appreciate her more.

[shush · Rating 3 out of 5]

LL ily but grovel maam. u need to teach those to ur jackass albeit clueless heroes

[Chelsea ✨Arielle’s Nebular Ally and Team Acrux✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

**ARC kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**


The truth was, she could count her sexual encounters on one hand.
On one thumb, actually.
Because Riley McKenna, sex expert extraordinaire, was exactly one tepid, beer-fueled college encounter away from being a virgin.

Aaaah okay. Something weird is happening here. This is my THIRD Lauren Layne book, and while the beginning did scare me a bit, what with it's content, I still ended up giving this five stars...for the THIRD time. 3/3. That's crazy. I don't know what it is about his author that makes me so happy while other NA/Contemporary authors don't, but MAN this woman can write. No matter how skeptical I am of the storyline, she always somehow manages to make me smile like crazy and giggle like some deranged loon.

I don't want any of them. "I don't want this to be just another meaningless how-to article."
"What the hell headline do you have in mind? 'I Slept with My Brother's Best Friend and Lived to Tell About It?'"

This story centered around Riley and Sam. Riley is a writer for Stiletto magazine and Sam is her brother's best friend. Riley's column centers around sex advice and totally off the wall sexual experiences...so naturally everyone thinks she has a wild and fruitful sex life considering how knowledgeable and realistic her stories are. But what if it's all a sham? Anyone can write about sex....but doesn't it take a sex expert to make the articles so noteworthy and helpful and realistic? Or is Riley just a natural at 'faking' it?

He turned back around, disappearing into the kitchen, and thank God for that, because letting Sam Compton see her tears was one path she was never going down.
But beneath the tears threatening to overflow was something else. Something deeper and darker.
It was the desire to tell Sam just how wrong about her he was.

And then there's Sam-the minute he walked into her family's door she's had a huge crush on him. Many long years have passed with her pining for the guy who has never seen her for anything other than his brother's baby sister...but yet she still wants him. So, when Stiletto asks Riley and all the rest of the staff of the magazine to write a 'personal' article, Riley knows she needs to end her years of celibacy (and practically virgin-hood) or she won't have an article to write. So, in the end, she propositions Sam to help her out for 'just one night', but what happens when he has been wanting the same things...and what happens when just one night isn't enough?

Riley ignored her, her eyes scanning for the white shirts of the serving staff. Yeah, so she had a great metabolism. She liked to think it was the universe's way of evening the score for depriving her of sex.
Ah. There was the crab cake lady.

I'm going to be frank: There are quite a few things I hate in a book. I hate insta-love. I hate alternating POV if not done correctly. I hate books that center only around sex. I hate books where both people are intertwined with the family and fall for one another. Inevitably...this book had all of those-aside from insta-love, that is. But, and I am being as candid as I can be, Lauren Layne takes all of my issues and makes them completely vanish. They both have liked each other for a while? Poof. Gone-don't care. She propositions him for just sex? Who cares...it's hot. Oh, another alternating POV book? I LOVE BEING IN HIS SEXY, JEALOUS MIND. Oh, friends of the family and bro's best friend and his lil' sis'? All the better for a secret romance. Literally everything I could complain about is handled so well. Even in her last book, Broken, the guy was damaged and mean beyond repair-She made me love him, too. I don't think this woman could write a bad book. And that's the most honest thing I've said in this review.

This was it. Sex. Making love. Hell, it didn't matter what she called it. She was finally going to figure out what all the fuss was about.
And then her hands did shake. Oh God. What if she was bad at it?

One point I want to center around that I mentioned above is the sex as a main point in the story. I got really nervous because at one point early in the story...they decide to try it. I mean, it was SO EARLY in the story and I just had these thoughts scrolling through my mind in rapid fire like-'Oh gosh the whole book is essentially going to center around this night and they are going to do some weird BDSM and....' yeah that was what I was thinking. But, no! I was SO wrong! Somehow, in every one of her books, she makes the lust and sex tasteful. It's never overdone, there's just enough to satiate us. And this book literally centered around sex...now how does one make this work without it being overdone? I don't know...but she does it. And she makes companionable relationships on top of it to boot.

Riley reclaimed her glass off the table and settled back into the couch. It wasn't that she didn't like vegetables. She just liked other stuff better. Like carbs. And fat. And stuff that didn't taste like, well...healthy.

Some people complained Sam was boring. Why? Because he wasn't a kinky business man with a throbbing cock? Hmm. I don't get it. He was kind, caring, flawed, slightly tortured, and he was in the closet about his business plan. He was scared to upset his best friend and yet couldn't get enough of Riley. He was jealous, protective, and absolutely adorable. A certain puppy scene comes to mind ;). Everyone who knows me knows I'm a sucker for puppies. He made me laugh, he made me swoon, and he made my heart hurt. I don't understand why not as many people liked him-not every hero can be a flashing neon lights type of guy-he's simple, understated, he never rushed Riley into sex, and he was kind. I would take him as my own man any day.

"So sneaking in the back door of a man's home, snooping through his stuff, and then startling the shit out of him isn't your typical MO?"
"How do you know I snooped through your stuff?"
"Didn't you?"
"Well, of course," she said, fishing the cherry out of her drink. "But it was a total waste of time. There was no diary or dirty magazine or leopard-print boxers."

And, ya know, lastly-I laughed a ton. Again. It's hard to make conversations funny, but Layne does it. I won't dwell on it because I have mentioned this a million times for her Redemption series, but I just wanted people to know that the snark and humor was there in spades-as always. I can't wait to pick up her next work and add it to my collection. She is an amazing author and she never fails to brighten my day. To any who haven't read a Lauren Layne book-what are you waiting for?? You will most likely find your happy place in one of her novels-take a pick, any of them would suit you.


For more of my reviews visit

[Jen ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just One Night was an adorable friendship to lovers story.  And when you became entangled in the heart of it all, it took an amazing turn into something that was raw and emotional.  I tried my hardest to keep quiet, while my husband slept peacefully next to me, as I devoured this book.  But it was impossible.  The laughing couldn't be stopped and neither could the sobbing.  Riley and Sam’s story is definitely a must read!

But it had been a decade . Sam had had a freaking decade to stake his claim on her.
He hadn’t. He wouldn’t.
No more waiting, Riley.

Riley McKenna is the sex columnist for Stiletto who has only had sex with one man.  And that was in her college years.  For the last ten years she has pined after her brother's best friend, Sam, who has never once made a move on her.  But fate has intervened and now she has to write a personal article about the woman behind her stories.  Not wanting to admit that she is a farce, she is going to need some help.  So of course that help has to come from Sam.

This is not happening,” Riley muttered, glancing at the ceiling. “My mother is not telling me my spanking article lacked passion ."

Eeks, you know what?  I loved Riley!  In the previous books she came across as this put together, sex goddess, but that is far from the truth.  On the outside she portrays that image perfectly but on the inside she is insecure.  It was so easy to relate to Riley.  Not only because of her insecurities but the fact that she is down to earth when she is around her family and friends.  But my heart bled for her because of how much she cares for Sam and how each time she seemed to have a grasp on the situation it would always slip away from her.

Don’t do this, man , he ordered himself. He’d promised Liam. He’d promised himself.
He was no good for her, and one of them was going to get hurt.

Sam was alluring without even trying.  I loved him, but I also wanted to scoop him up, fix everything that was broken, and make it all better.  That’s because Sam Compton has found in the McKenna family what he is desperately lacking in his own life, love and family.  Sam's mother is a wretched, evil woman who constantly belittles, diminishes and crushes Sam's self-esteem and happiness every moment she can.  And this has taken a huge toll on Sam's personal and business life.  He's afraid to move forward with his whiskey business or pursuing Riley because he doesn't feel as though he deserves them.  Well, and let’s not forget that another reason he can’t have Riley is because he made a promise to his best friend, her brother, to never touch her.  Worst promise ever!  So what's a man to do when Riley comes to him with a very sexy proposition?

His hand paused on the doorknob, and he gave her one last look over his shoulder. “It was good though, wasn’t it? While it lasted.”
The lump in her throat doubled in size. “Yeah,” she whispered.

Anytime Sam and Riley were together it was fun, sexy and emotional.  Their long friendship allowed them to know each other's faults and downfalls and that added so much depth to their relationship.  Because underneath it all, they are good friends who care for one another.  Their friendship always bordered on platonic but there was an underlying simmering of need and lust.  And when they start to cross that line, WOW, they are breathtaking together.  You HAVE to read Sam and Riley's story!

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[ana clara · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Now. Where were we?”
“On the way to forever, I think.”

I love Riley and Sam, and I love the Stiletto(/Oxford) family so much.
I didn’t completely fall for them throughout the story (even though, not gonna lie, I loved seeing them together in all other books), because I truly feel they could’ve gotten something much better, and I think they had so much potential. Still, I loved them, individually and as a couple. Riley is a hot-tempered, honest, beautiful, determined, and fierce woman, and Sam, he is a handsome, loyal, and very insecure man (I hate his mother for this). After all and through his differences, they have a beautiful story, and they make a good match.
But being honest, my favorite thing about this book was the Stiletto women and their friendship. I really do love all of them and their friendship so freaking much, it’s unreal. Also, GRACEJAKE GETTING ENGAGED!!! For my sake, that’s all I was needing. And Emma and Cassidy are so into each other, they just haven’t figured it out. Yet.

[jordane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Riley deserved so much better

[Wendy'sThoughts · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Sexy, Little Black Dress, High Heeled Hot Stars
* * * * 1/4 Spoiler Free
This was a terrific read... the series ... a complete winner in my book and I am sorry to see the characters go... which shows the author did her job. Everything about it made me happy and I could feel all of the conflict and concerns for theses characters.

The most important concept from this book was really just be yourself and own it... if you get yourself into a situation which is not you... don't take the easy way out... and keep being what everyone thinks you are... No ... instead pull up your big girl panties and own your life...

And that also was the message for the guy in this, as well. He had the worst parent... yet as evil and cruel she was to him... he still would wish for that one moment for her to look at him and say I love you son for who you are...Sometimes we just have to admit... and see certain people are toxic to us; we must let them go for our own survival.

I got exactly what I wanted from this book and if you love friends to lovers with really smokin' chemistry, you will too.

After the Kiss (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Love the One You're With (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Just One Night (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Trouble With Love (Sex, Love & Stiletto, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A gifted copy was provided by Random House Publishing Group-Loveswept via Netgalley for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

[Lady Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars!

This was a quick, "hook me in the first chapter" read for me.
I really enjoyed the characters, their history & story.

This is the first book I've read in this series (even though this is the 3rd book in the series), and I had no trouble following the secondary characters and their story-lines.
So, I'd say this could be read as a standalone, but I think I would have gotten more out of the secondary characters if I'd have read their books.

Good story.


"An arc has been provided by Random House Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review."

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 Stars!
Well I loved this one but not as much as the first two. Not sure what it was about this one but I think the biggest thing was that Riley wasn't what I thought she was. I didn't expect her to be almost virginal. lol Loved her Sam though!

Can't wait to read Emma and Alex next:)

[Jacob Proffitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, standard read-the-others-first series prompt, here. Seriously, you kind of do need that, this time, as the others are very present in this story.

I expected to like Riley, and I did. Mostly. I had a bit of a problem with her manipulative approach to Sam and didn't like that she wimped out for so long in telling him her big deal. But she was likeable and doing her best despite getting severe mixed signals from Sam and she was brave when it counted.

Sam was a dead loss. I never enjoy extreme self-hate and Sam had it to an unlikely degree. I mean, he's in his mid-thirties and still hasn't realized his mother was full of abusive crap, yet? He's had a decade and more of success (and yes, being successful enough as an investment banker to finance two years of building your dream is success. Huge success!) to counter her harping and he's done nothing with it. He has good friends and huge found-family support (including Riley and her family) and he still thinks he's worthless. I just couldn't respect someone that reality-averse. His only saving grace was his care for Riley once they started their relationship. But then, I'd expect that of a sea anemone as Riley is just that engaging. The eventual, inevitable crash was dreadfully predictable and yet more stupid.

So this was a consistent two stars with occasional flashes of higher. Until the end. Layne nailed the grand gesture and put all the right emotional cues together and there were feels and maybe even tears. So this ended up about the same place the first book did, but rose to a three on the ending instead of dropping from four.

A note about Steamy: Mid steam level, though on the high side. There are two explicit sex scenes, but a third that's almost as heavy. Part of the screw up for this book was the sex, actually. Indeed, Sam's stupidity of ditching in the midst on their first "session", while a relief in giving Riley a chance to come clean before the deed, was such a stupid fear-based cop-out that I changed from dislike to active hatred of him. He never recovered (until being perfect at the end). It was so bad, it needed a grand gesture of its own and Riley was a fool to forgive him without him groveling a bit, first.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a truth universally acknowledged when it comes to tropes:

☛ brother's best friend, friends-to-lovers, guy pining after the heroine?



☛ brother's best friend, friends-to-lovers, heroine pining after the guy for long, long years, never forming any meaningful relationships, basically putting her romantic life on hold and living in celibacy for years while the guy maybe also wants her, but never does anything about it and goes about his life as usual, having sex with whoever and whenever he wants, even goes so far as to get married and then divorced?



Now guess which one was it 🙃🙃🙃

[h o l l i s · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I never know whether to hug them or punch them."
"Seriously. It's like a nonstop romantic comedy up in here."

After reading book two and three in Layne's Sex, Love & Stiletto series I kind of want to go back and nudge up book one's rating to a five. Because so far none of these have been as good. They aren't bad, far from it, but in hindsight I think I did AFTER THE KISS a bit of a disservice.

She doubted there were very many mothers out there who would be excited that their baby girl's career involved reviewing dildos. Particularly conservative Irish-Catholic mothers.

Where book two's downfall, for me, was Grace's internal voice(s), JUST ONE NIGHT fails for me in the love interest column. I absolutely loved Riley, her family (seriously, Layne does good family, except for a certain mother character that was supposed to be terrible), and I felt book three had a super strong and much more present girl & guy-friendships vibe. And yeah, we're here for the romance, but it's important to like the characters. And nothing makes you like a character more than them having friends and being.. well, likeable. The supporting cast was very supportive and very part of the story and I just loved all them. And the epilogue? So sweet, so funny.

When she put aside her sass and her pride and her carefully crafted sexy reputation, Riley was just like the thousands of women Stiletto spoke to every month. She was a woman completely crazy about a guy. It was time to get her happy ending. It was time to get her man.

But. Then there's Sam. The guy Riley's measured everyone against, for ten years, and the guy who is convinced he's not worthy of good things.. and that includes the girl he's tried so hard to notice, and the little sister of his best friend he's promised not to touch. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm totally here for guys who have confidence and self-esteem issues. It never manifests the way it does for women, and that's fine, but it's nice to mix it up amongst all the swaggering alphamales in romancelandia.

"Riley. I should take my time with you."
"You've taken ten years."

How. fucking. ever. The problem becomes when said dude occasionally crosses the line into overwhelming dick territory because of said issues. Also, there were way too many times when he inferred or outright implied that Riley was akin to a hooker, etc, which was Sam's reason for up and storming out of his mother's house. So, she can't do it, but he can? Thankfully he acknowledges this double standard but it happened one too many times for me to forgive.
I expected way more groveling after all was said and done and honestly, considering the precursor to said reunion, I thought we'd get it. And we didn't.

"I figure I've got two choices here. One : challenge you to a duel."
"Um, pass?"
"Or two : help get you two weirdos back together so I can continue to eat my mother's mediocre cooking with my best friend and my sister."

But honestly I loved everything else about book three in this series. Riley's story, the sex expert who wasn't having any sex, was a nice twist, made doubly so by how romantic it was to be waiting for the guy she'd always loved -- romance that was distinctly not part of her previous vibe -- I just wish that there'd been more of Sam to love than what we were told. I've loved the evolution of Camille, the editor, who is such a hardass and also takes such good care of her employees. I got so excited by the extra glimpses of Emma and Alex's story (book four, I see you!). And I adored Riley's obsession with food.

Here's hoping for a AFTER THE KISS-style homerun in book four to wrap this series.

3.5 "is there, like, a safe word I can use to escape this conversation?" stars

[❦ jazmin · Rating 4 out of 5]

“But I don’t think I’ve ever experienced what you’re experiencing.”
“And what’s that?” Sam asked warily.
His friend’s eyes met his over the puppy’s head, and they were both sympathetic and curious. “Happiness.”

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

⇢The Plot

THIS BOOK WAS HILARIOUS! I may not be the biggest fan of some of the tropes that this book had (brother’s best friend, to name one) but I can’t deny that it was super funny and entertaining.

I really liked the conflict in this book and how it was different than those in the first two. It really allowed us to learn more about both the LI and the MC, which was something that had been lacking in the other books.

⇢Riley and Sam

Riley and Sam- a couple I didn’t expect to like nearly as much as I did! This book has some of the worst reviews out of the 4 in this series so I definitely expected to have more complaints than I do.

I really liked the progression of their relationship, and the almost friends-to-lovers vibes were definitely something I enjoyed.

“It was good though, wasn’t it? While it lasted.”
The lump in her throat doubled in size. “Yeah,” she whispered.”

AND THAT FINAL LETTER >>>>> SO GOOD GIMME ALL THAT GROVELING

*3.5

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

My Just One Night Playlist:
Message in a Bottle by Taylor Swift

MY LINKTREE ❦

BOOKISH PRODUCTS: USE MY CODE JAZ10 ❦

[kels · Rating 4 out of 5]

don't be fooled, the stars are for riley and the stiletto gals and the gracejake crumbs because i can't help but think she deserved better.