To Have and to Hold
Series: The Wedding Belles #1
Author: Lauren Layne
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: July 26, 2016
Source: Publisher for Review
Buy Links: Amazon - B&N - Google Play - iTunes - Kobo
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Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in The Wedding Belles, her sizzling brand new contemporary romance series about three ambitious wedding planners who can make any bride’s dream come true…but their own.
Discovering her fiancé is an international conman just moments before they exchange vows devastates celebrity wedding planner Brooke Baldwin’s business—and breaks her heart. Now a pariah in Los Angeles, she seeks a fresh start in New York City and thinks she’s found it with her first bridal client, a sweet, if slightly spoiled, hotel heiress. Then she meets the uptight businessman who’s holding the purse springs.
Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank check and be done with his sister’s fancy-pants wedding. Unfortunately, micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving Maya’s fiancé is a liar. Standing directly in his way is the stunning blonde wedding planner whose practiced smiles and sassy comebacks both irritate and arouse him. He needs Brooke’s help. But can he persuade a wedding planner on a comeback mission to unplan a wedding? And more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning…is theirs?
I adore Lauren Layne. I've been a new fan of hers after I discovered her books last year. And while I haven't picked up any of Lauren's back-list, I have been on a mission to read all of her new releases. I get so excited that I immediately jump in head first. To Have and to Hold had all of the fabulous elements that I've come to look forward to when picking up a new book. There was one tiny flaw... Brooke and Seth frustrated me. Now let me explain... I loved each of the characters as individuals. Brooke is a hardworking, intelligent woman that is healing after the devastation that her ex-fiancé left her in. I don't know how she was able to pick up the pieces and continue being a wedding planner. Kudos to you, Ms. Baldwin. If it were me, I'd probably hole up with a gallon of chocolate chip cookie dough. But she powered through and, with the help of her new friends, she's able to move past the pain. As overbearing as he is, I actually really liked Seth. You know that his heart is in the right place, he's just doing things all wrong. When he learns that he's actually pushing people away instead of helping them, it's a wake-up call for Seth. It was when Brooke and Seth were together that I got a bit frustrated, more so Brooke than Seth. I wanted Brooke to stop and think about what she's saying/doing before acting on impulse. She's so focused on keeping Seth at arms length that she's not aware of how hurtful her words can be. Seth is just as confused about his feelings, but at least he's trying. As weird as this may sound, he was sexy as hell when Brooke pushed him a bit too far. Images of him sending food flying at a closed door is hot, oddly enough.
Overall, To Have and to Hold was another fantastic Lauren Layne book. Even though there were moments when I wanted to throttled Brooke, I loved the characters. I loved meeting the other three Belles and I can't wait to get to know them better. Actually, I would love to get a novella with Maya. We're left wondering what happened between her and a certain fella and I want to know more. There's a story there, I know it. Lauren's writing was fun and sexy as usual. And it is the beginning of a new series. Score!
Lauren lives in New York City with her husband (who was her high school sweetheart--cute, right?!) and plus-sized Pomeranian.
Five years ago, she ditched her corporate career in Seattle to pursue a full-time writing career in Manhattan.
She writes smart romantic comedies with just enough sexy-times to make your mother blush, and in her ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.
When not bringing The Sexy, she likes to blog about her Instagram addiction, and why mean girls are the worst.
Thank you so much for sharing your lovely review! You are going to LOVVVVVVVVVVVE Josh Tanner! You might want to strangle him a little but he's a keeper!
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