Passion on Park Avenue

Naomi Powell has spent her entire life trying to prove she is better than that little girl who got kicked out of the Park Avenue household her mom worked at because her mom was caught in a compromising position with the man of the house. Now, Naomi run a billion dollar jewelry company and has the world at her hands. When Naomi receives a phone call about her application for an apartment at the same Park Avenue building that they were kicked out of she is intrigued. Once realizing that her deceased mother filled out her application, Naomi is ready to leave when who walks in but Oliver Cunningham, the son of the family that threw them out. Too bad Oliver doesn't recognize Naomi. After exchanging a few choice words, Naomi walks out with her head held high. Imagine her surprise when she is later called and told that she has the apartment. Imagine her further surprise when Naomi already realizes that her neighbor is Oliver....it seems he is very intrigued by her. Naomi decides that she must confront her past and confront the Cunningham men but quickly learns that Walter Cunningham is not the same man she knew....he know has Alzheimer's. As much as Naomi wants to hate the Cunningham men she is starting to realize that she actually likes them. As Naomi is trying to make her way through all that life has thrown at her, she must decide if she can let go of the past in order to be able to move on into the future. I really liked Naomi. She is so strong willed. Sometimes she is a little stubborn but based on her past it is easy to see why. I really loved Oliver. He just seemed like my perfect type of hero....strong, sexy but compassionate and the sexual attraction between these two was crazy. I really also enjoyed Naomi's friends that she had met through an interesting circumstance and I can't wait to read their story's. Overall this was a fun, sexy enjoyable read.

PASSION ON PARK AVENUE is the first instalment in Lauren Layne’s contemporary, adult CENTRAL PARK PACT romance series focusing on three friends: Naomi Powell, Audrey Tate and Claire Hayes-three woman who would discover there were all in a relationship with the same man. This is thirty year olds, successful business-woman Naomi Powell, and architect Oliver Cunningham’s story line. Told from dual third person perspectives ( Naomi and Oliver) PASSION ON PARK AVENUE follows Naomi Powell days after the death of Braydon Hayes, a man whose infidelities would bring three strangers together, forming a friendship that would push them closer together. Six months after the death of her mother Danica Fields, millionaire business woman Naomi Powell would be invited to join one of the wealthiest apartment units on Park Avenue-the caveat- it is the same apartment building where her life had spiralled out of control twenty years earlier, when her mother was caught having an affair with the man that she worked for. Fast forward twenty years, wherein, Naomi will come face to face with her past in the guise of thirty year old Oliver Cunningham, the son of the man that destroyed her mother’s life. What ensues is the enemies to lovers relationship between Naomi and Oliver, and the potential fall-out as Naomi is reluctant to reveal the source of her animosity towards Oliver and the Cunningham family, a reluctance that is about to blow up in her face. Naomi Powell wanted retribution for her mother. Six months after her mother’s death, Naomi would discover that Danica Fields put into motion Naomi’s path for revenge, revenge that would stutter when Naomi comes face to face with her childhood nemesis. Oliver Cunningham has no idea why his new neighbor despises the ground upon which he walks. With her unwillingness to reveal the source of her animosity, Oliver can only presume that the woman with whom he is falling in love has suffered greatly at the hands of a previous love. The relationship between Oliver and Naomi is a frenemies to lovers romance wherein Naomi battles between head and heart knowing that torment and loss her mother suffered at the hands of the Cunningham family. Oliver’s attraction to Naomi is instant but our heroine tries to keep her distance from the man with whom she will fall in love. The lone $ex scene fades to black and is mostly implied. We are introduced to Audrey Tate and Claire Hayes; Naomi’s assistant Deena; Audrey’s best friend Clarke West; Oliver’s father Walter Cunningham; his caretaker Janice; Oliver’s friend and fellow architect Scott Turner. Claire and Scott’s story line is next in LOVE ON LEXINGTON AVENUE. PASSION ON PARK AVENUE is a story of betrayal; of vengeance; of broken memories, heart break and loss; secrets and lies; forgiveness, romance and falling in love. The premise is captivating and emotional; the slow building romance is sweet; the characters are energetic, colorful and lost.

Count on Layne to help you find your smile. Hidden in every heartache is a ray of sunshine that her stories always manage to find. Passion on Park Avenue is a tad cliched but no less fulfilling. I love the message lurking in the shadows of Naomi and Oliver's relationship. The housekeeper's daughter and her childhood nemesis are at a crossroads. Do they leave the past behind or allow the painful memories to destroy any chance of a future? Ms. Layne picked the sweetest way to voice her opinion on the value of self worth. With love, laughter and insight.