by Tracy Anne Warren
Series: The Graysons #2
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Last Man on Earth comes a delicious new novel about a young woman’s dreams of finding grand romance and success in the big city—and her schemes to make both come true...What’s a girl to do when the man she’s loved her entire life thinks of her as a little sister? Worse, her own big sister was the one who broke his heart years earlier. For Ivy Grayson, the chance to get him to see her in a different light comes when she receives an unexpected invitation to move into his luxury New York apartment building. Manhattan also just happens to be the perfect place to pursue her wish to become a successful artist. But how many dreams can one woman expect to come true? Billionaire financier James Jordon has everything a man could want—except love. When Ivy’s family asks him to keep an eye on their “little girl” in the big city, he agrees. But the innocent girl he knew is now a dynamic woman who knows what she wants, and how to get it. He may have promised himself to keep things platonic, but ignoring the game of love isn’t an option. Especially when Ivy is so eager to play.
Tracy Anne Warren’s Grayson series offers the perfect escape, and I laughed, swooned and cheered. The Man Plan is the second book, and it held me captive and I consumed it in a single afternoon. Warren created a hero and heroine readers will love.
Ivy Grayson has been in love with James Jordon since she was a toddler. At fifteen when her own sister broke his heart she asked him to wait for her. Now she is twenty and living in New York City pursuing her dream of painting. When her path crosses with James, she sees her chance. When Ivy’s parents ask James to keep an eye on their daughter he agrees and is shocked to find little Ivy all grown-up. The tale that unfolds was fun as they two tangoed.
The Man Plan, while predictable was sweet and romantic with just the right amount of angst and miscommunication to keep me flipping the pages. I connected with both Ivy and James. Ivy knows what she wants and is not willing to compromise. I wish more heroines refused to settle. James struggles with trust issues, but also with the fact that he is developing feelings for the little girl who idolized him. Ivy is all woman and does not make it easy for him. Which of course made the story interesting. While this is a fade to black romance, Warren allowed us to feel the heat and lose our hearts. Friends, family and little side stories outside of the relationship made the tale well rounded and added depth.
Fans of feel good contemporary romances will adore The Man Plan, the newest addition to the Grayson series. I am looking forward to the next Grayson story.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Diana Leigh
Cute. The guy on the cover looks like trouble. =)
kimbacaffeinate
Trouble is good *winks*
Paij Slater
Love the cover 😉
kimbacaffeinate
It makes me smile:)
Sharon - Obsession with Books
This book sounds like fun! I don’t tend to enjoy books where the MC chases after someone who has dated a sibling etc. but it sounds like this was done well.
A great review Kimba!
kimbacaffeinate
This was such fun Sharon, and the characters had some depth which I appreciated.
Berls
Love Love Love this trope! Does it work as a standalone? Just in case, though I’m interested in the series as a whole. I love a feel good romance 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, this is a companion series and totally works as a standalone!
Lola
I love his smile!! *.* Sweet and romantic is perfect for a relaxing read. I guess I’ll have to check this series out! 😀
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed Lola!
Christy
Aw, sounds like a fun one. I like those kind of romances.
kimbacaffeinate
These are just fun, with a little heart Christy!
Angela Adams
I, too, can’t help but comment on the book cover because it grabbed my attention. That guy looks extremely sure of himself. Thanks for the post.
kimbacaffeinate
He does ooze confidence
Lupdilup
I can do predictable as long as I enjoy the characters, and sometimes they are just what I need 🙂 This is another book Id not have given a second look because that cover doesn’t call me…The suit does, but not him..lol
Thank you Kimba.
kimbacaffeinate
psst *whispers* I prefer dark haired men, but he looks good in his suit
Braine Talk Supe
Books like this are the best types of reading vacation coz it doesn’t really require a lot from its readers. So easy to just kick back and swoon with the characters and feel all mushy from the story.
kimbacaffeinate
Totally agree..I can swallow them whole in a single sitting and close them with a smile.
Candace
This does sound like a fun read! Glad you enjoyed!
kimbacaffeinate
It was smashing Candace!
Heidi
Sounds like a fun little read. The only thing I read that made me pause was miscommunication but it didn’t seem to be an issue.
kimbacaffeinate
No worries, just enough to keep us hooked. It was well balanced Heidi
Melissa (Books and Things)
I like the sound of these characters and this looks like a fun little romance. This sounds like a series I would enjoy. Especially since there seems to be a good secondary character group going on. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
I love companion series and these have been such fun Melissa:)
Kris
The premise alone had me hooked, and your review has me itching to pick up this book right now. Ivy sounds like an AWESOME character. From the description of her alone, I’m going “poor James.” He’s got no chance against this girl. I love when a girl knows her mind and agree that I’d love to see more women who don’t settle.
kimbacaffeinate
Poor James didn’t stand a chance..LOL This series is a lot of fun Kris and I hope you read them!
Michele
I love a book that I can consume in a single afternoon! I truly like the sound of this story! Wonderful review, my friend. Thanks so much for bringing this series to my attention.
~Michele
kimbacaffeinate
It was a lot of fun Michele and perfect for an afternoon read:)
Tanja
I haven’t heard of this one but yeah from the blurb I could see where this is going so I’m not surprised that it was predictable. Still it seems like a bit more than that and that it deals with some real issues. Great review, Kim 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
It was fun Tanja, and sometimes predictable is just what we need
Cyn
Ha, I love the title of this! And the story sounds really cute! I like that the heroine didn’t settle for any less than what she wants! Might need to pick up this series when I need a cute, quick contemporary (: Thanks for the review!
kimbacaffeinate
I love strong heroines too Cyn and Ivy was great
Mary
This sounds really cute! In love with the dude since she was a toddler? Um…er…okay. That seems a bit extreme but I can overlook it.
kimbacaffeinate
No, she adored him as a toddler, he was a childhood friend and older than her. She followed him around..as a teen she fell in love with him *crush*
Stephanie Faris
“The Man Plan.” I like that title!
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed, both titles for this series have been clever
Jenea
I could use a feel good kinda of romance book right now. *sighs* Great review! I am glad that enjoyed it.
kimbacaffeinate
Ooo hope everything is ok. *hugs*
kindlemom1
I need a good humorous read every now and then and love that you had so much fun with this.
kimbacaffeinate
I had fun Ali..this series makes you feel good
Debbie Haupt
Love the premise thanks for the great, informative review Kimba.
kimbacaffeinate
You are welcome..this is a fun series Debbie
Katherine
This sounds like a fun romance! I love when characters have a history. It makes the whole fade to black bit more realistic. I’ll definitely have to give this and the previous one a read. Can I send you the bill when I have to build a room just to fill with books you recommend? You’re really the most terrible influence 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
I loved the back story. Ha…I would love a library myself!
Nick
Oh this sounds like a perfectly cute and delightful book to read in between darker reads. I can definitely see myself enjoying this book. Ivy and James sound like a great couple! I’m glad you liked this, Kim!
Lovely review! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Yes..you are right this is fun and good for cleansing the palate.
Maja (The Nocturnal Library)
The only contemporary romances I can enjoy are the ones that have humor in them, and since this doesn’t have too much angst, it might just be a read for me. I don’t mind predictability in my romances, but angst I can’t deal with.
kimbacaffeinate
These are fun Maja..with banter and low angst
Rashika
This book sounds SO CUTESY! Seriously! I am glad to hear you liked this one and I may just have to check it out!
I am glad you enjoyed this one, Kimba!
Lovely review! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
It was a lot of fun..perfect for summer 🙂
Melliane
I Looove the cover lol. I remember a review about the first one and it sounds perfect for a summer read. thanks for the nice review!
kimbacaffeinate
This series is total fun Melliane
blodeuedd
He sure looks sure of himself
kimbacaffeinate
He does doesn’t he 🙂
Siiri
Lol the guy on the cover reminds me of Jesse McCartney a little 😀 Anyhow, it’s a tad intimidating to read about a girl and guy having a relationship when the guy has previously been in a realtionship with her sibling, but seeing as I enjoyed Every Which Way where the MC dated 2 brothers throughout the book, and enjoyed it, perhaps I could like this one too. I’m glad you connected with the characters and that the book explored trust issues and whatnot. Yay for an adorable romance 🙂
Siiri @ Little Pieces of Imagination
kimbacaffeinate
I think this works because of the protagonists age at beginning. It was a really fun, cute romance Siiri