Thursday, September 1, 2016

For Better or Worse (The Wedding Belles, #2) by Lauren Layne ~ Review & Giveaway

Source:  Received a finished copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. 


Will a budding wedding planner and her bad boy neighbor stop banging heads and start hearing wedding bells in the sexy second novel in USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series that marries Sex and the City with The Wedding Planner?

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from assistant to actual wedding planner, she’s determined to make it as one of Manhattan’s elite Wedding Belles. Unfortunately, her first client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in five months’ time. Heather’s days quickly become a flurry of cake tastings, dress-fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she’s really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor’s apartment all night.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was an up-and-comer on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there is more to life than the corner office. If only he could convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. As Heather lets down her guard, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon, it’s Heather’s turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love.


Now available from Pocket Books

For Better or Worse
The Wedding Belles, Volume 2
Lauren Layne
Pocket Books
August 30, 2016
ISBN 9781501135156
$5.99

“This engaging tale has a light, fun style…enough teases are given about the other “Wedding Belles” to create genuine interest in where their stories lead.”
Publishers Weekly (To Have and to Hold)

“There are family and friends, coworkers, people that aren’t as they seem, wedding information galore, dinners, drinks, chocolate, fear, anger, hurt, sadness, secrets, lies, deceit, tears, laughter, happiness, romance, loving and loveI look forward to reading the next two books in the series, For Better or Worse and To Love and to Cherish…I look forward to seeing what the Wedding Belles will be up to next!”
—Romance Junkies (To Have and to Hold)

“Layne packs as much into this sexually charged and emotionally intense novella (an introduction to her upcoming Wedding Belles series) as most authors do in a full novel…The heat between [Leah & Jason] is enough to melt steel, and the emotional connection and psychological struggles will keep readers engaged.”

Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW (From This Day Forward


“[From This Day Forward] is trope-nip to me. Weddings/wedding planners, check. Second chances, check. Sassy heroine,check…As this book is the prequel to the forthcoming Wedding Belles, I cannot wait to get all of their stories!...From This Day Forward is 100% recommended for anyone who likes stories about weddings, stories about people who are a really good at their jobs, relationships that are a tad explosive both in and out of bed, and introductions to new tribes of characters to get to know over the next few books.”
—Fresh Fiction “Fresh Pick” (From This Day Forward)

From This Day Forward  is a delightful book. Now I can't wait for the other ones in this series…Lauren Layne hit it right on the nose on what goes on behind the scenes…Can Jason and Leah see wedding bells in their future? We can only hope and wait for the next book in the “Wedding Belles” series. From This Day Forward was a great kick-off to the series.”
—Fresh Fiction (From This Day Forward)

About FOR BETTER OR WORSE:
In For Better or Worsethe sexy second novel in USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series, an up-and-comer Wedding Belle butts heads with the literal guy next door. Will their brewing tension boil over into something more?

He’s driving her insane . . .

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from elite Wedding Belles assistant to full-fledged planner, she’s determined to put her best foot forward. Unfortunately, her first celebrity client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in three months. Heather’s days become a flurry of cake tastings, dress fittings, RSVP cards, and bridal tantrums. But what she’s really losing sleep over is the live music blaring from her playboy neighbor’s apartment all night. Heather vows to put this entitled man-child in his place, whether he likes it or not.

But a little crazy might be just what she needs.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was a young rising star on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there’s more to life than the corner office. He kicked the cancer and dedicated his life to following his passions; now, if he could just convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. Once Heather begins to show him her softer side, Josh is surprised when he starts falling for the sweet, vulnerable woman hiding beneath those power suits. Soon it’s Heather’s turn to convince Josh to take the biggest risk of all: love.

For Better or Worse will have readers engaged from the start, and wedded to the idea of a summer and fall season filled with Wedding Belles! 

About LAUREN LAYNE:
Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of the Sex, Love, and Stiletto contemporary romances and the all-new Pocket Books series The Wedding Belles. She lives in New York with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. Visitlaurenlayne.com, meet the author on Facebook at LaurenLayneAuthor, or follow her on Twitter @_LaurenLayne.

Lauren Layne interviews with THE LIBRARIAN:







Review...


I so loved the first book in this series but this one?  I loved this one even more!  Why?  Josh.  So love Josh.  Both characters are perfection but I just fell hard and long for Josh.

While we know his reason, we don't know the details, lots of little secrets he holds close.  He's such a great guy with a complex character that so appealed to me yet he won't let others love him.  He even holds his family at bay.  It's an interesting take on the mindset of someone who has gone through a life threatening experience.  His reactions rang true to me and I loved how his mindset changed over the course of the story.

It was really the characters that captivated and held me in the pages of this book.  The banter between these two had them drawn to each other despite the understanding that Josh didn't do relationships.  They were good together.  And I was hoping the banana bread would finally get made.  It was just so much fun watching these two fall for each other.  No way was Josh going to let a women in but 4C became a friend and the attraction was real.  It just so overpowered this sexy musician who loves numbers guy.  And my emotions were involved.  I was cheering and hoping and caring and at one point crying for these two.  I wanted so much for things to work between them.

I loved Heather too.  She had the strength to stand up against the experience of meeting Josh shirtless at 2AM when he was playing music loud enough to keep her awake.  To stand up to that much male charm at 2AM is nothing short of miraculous.  But she's fighting hard to become a full wedding planner while she figures out what part relationships play in her life.  I loved her self discovery and her spunk.

Different from the last book, this one doesn't focus on a wedding so much as this couple.  Yes, Heather is planning a wedding where the circumstances are driving her crazy.  Josh ends up being able to help.  That's an interesting twist, btw, and we learn so much about Josh from that.  I loved the more couple focused storyline this time.  And the ending?  I freaking LOVED the ending.  Perfection.

Well written, sexy and with characters I just loved, this book was such an enjoyable escape.



                                            




BOUQUET GIVEAWAY:
We are excited to do a Wedding Belles Bouquet Giveaway to celebrate the publication of the second in the series, For Better or Worse. The Wedding Belles Bouquet will include To Have and to Hold (7/26), For Better or Worse (8/30), and To Love and to Cherish (10/18). You can visit all sites on the Bouquet Giveaway Tour to enter to win–but keep in mind you can only win once! U.S. only. Each winner will receive one copy of each book during the week of its publication date.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the rest of the blogs reviewing this week


Sunday, August 28th
·         Romancing Rakes

Monday, August 29th
·         The Reading Cafe
·         Dirty and Thirty

Tuesday, August 30th

Wednesday, August 31st
·         Book Reader Chronicles

Thursday, September 1st
·         Stuck in Books

Friday, September 2nd
·         The Book Binge

Saturday, September 3rd

16 comments:

  1. Wonderful review. I have this series, bur haven't dived in yet. I need to get to you. thank you.

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  2. Wonderful review. I have this series, bur haven't dived in yet. I need to get to you. thank you.

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  3. I like when books are set in places I've visited,

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  4. I don't have a particular favorite settings for books, but I do like it books set in places I haven't been before especially those in Europe like Scotland or Italy.

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  5. My favorite palce for books to be set is in foreign countries so I can see the world and experience different cultures.

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  6. I'm going to have to look for the first book.

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  7. I love settings in foreign countries. It's fun to see another country through the perspective of the author and characters.

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  8. I don't really have a favorite place as far as settings are concerned

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  9. NYC is always a fun setting, and one of mine...except when errors are made. I also like books set in London.

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  10. I'm happy with any setting, just so long as it fits the story.

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  11. I like books set in small coastal towns

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  12. The New Jersey coast, anywhere in Wales or Scotland, Boston. I could just keep going.

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  13. I like small town settings. Where everyone knows everyone else's business. (But not in a bad way.)

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  14. I like books that are set in Charleston, SC.
    Dianna

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