I’m only on the second book in the series, and it’s becoming very clear that Lauren Layne rarely misses.

Love the One You're With is the second book in the Sex, Love & Stiletto series. The first book (After the Kiss) saw Stiletto reporter, Julie Greene, fall in love with Mitchell Forbes. And now this book focuses on her friend and also a reporter, Grace Brighton. Grace is a pro at writing articles about warning readers about cheating partners. She just never suspected her fiancé would be one of them. She reinvents herself as Grace 2.0 and swears off relationships to heal her wounded heart and soul. Well, that was the plan until her boss informed her that for her next assignment she had to go on a couple of dates with a reporter at the male counterpart of Stiletto – Oxford. Enter Jake Malone. He isn’t thrilled about his new assignment but agrees to the assignment as a way to get in on writing for the new travel section at Oxford.

This was a blast. Lauren Layne knows how to write a captivating relationship and a book that leaves you wanting more. The story is sort of like a “rivals to lovers” / “opposite to lovers” type of deal. And the connection between the characters is off the chart. They bounced off each other nicely. And it’s an overall fun journey.

I was afraid that I wouldn’t love Grace and Jake as much as Mitchell and Julie. And although Mitchell and Julie are still my current favorites in this series, Grace and Jake are very close up there. Grace had dated her fiancé for several years and it was clear in After the Kiss, that he was a terrible guy. So, it wasn’t a shock when the book begins, and they have broken up. And she has this great idea in theory, but it obviously doesn’t work. Because her and Jake are meant to be together. While Grace is refined and sophisticated, Jake is smart and cocky.

Individually and while together, both Grace and Jake are likable. They have such a lovable charm about them.

Final Thoughts

Love the One You're With is a great second book in the Sex, Love & Stiletto. Like the first book, this one manages to be funny, smart, romantic, and sweet and never dull.