To Love and to Cherish (The Wedding Belles, #3) by Lauren Layne

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Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Headline Eternal

Published: 18th October 2016

Pages: 320

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Alexis, Logan,
Date Read: 29th November 2016 - 4th January 2017

Rating Given:

Synopsis:

Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in To Love And To Cherish, the third witty contemporary romance in Lauren Layne's The Wedding Belles series, about three high-powered New York City women who can plan any wedding - but their own. For fans of Jill Shalvis, Julie James and Rachel Gibson.
Alexis Morgan has spent the past six years devoted to turning her tiny start-up into Manhattan's premiere wedding planning company, The Wedding Belles. Now that her business is thriving, it's time to turn towards her much neglected personal life, and Alexis approaches her relationships like she does everything else: with a plan. Not a part of that plan is Logan Harris, the silent partner in the Belles, and the one person who's been there for her since the very beginning. But Alexis needs someone fun, and Logan's all business, all the time-except when a late night at the office ends with an unexpected kiss that leaves the usually cool and together Alexis reeling.
Logan has lusted after Alexis since the day he walked into the tiny Harlem apartment that used to double as her office. But the ambitious wedding planner has always been untouchable...until now. Alexis has made it clear that she's on the dating market-and equally clear that he's not in the running. But when Alexis finds herself in need of a date for her sister's last minute wedding in Florida, Logan knows it's the perfect time to show Alexis that there's more to him than numbers and spreadsheets-and beneath the pinstripes and glasses lies a hot-blooded heartthrob. As Florida's sultry days turn into even hotter nights, Logan's out to convince Alexis that the fling of a lifetime could just maybe turn into forever...

I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

With all of the covers in this particular series I've been in two minds about until this one. I love this cover and I think it has everything to do with the colours that have been used as it gives a seasonal feel about it and even though the season has nothing to do with the actual book I find myself not minding as for me it kind of sets the scene.

I was looking forward to reading this book especially after loving both of the previous books and no Lauren Layne book for me has rated under 4 stars that is until I read this one. I was so disappointed with this book as I just couldn't get into it which even though I didn't have as much time to read it with it being the Christmas period but also I found myself not even wanting to pick it up. I didn't believe in the romance between the two main characters as it felt for the most part very much one sided and felt Logan was far too good for Alexis. I understand why Alexis was so stand offish to a point but I think she let it affect every aspect of her life and made her an unlikable person. What I loved about this book is that we got to catch up with the previous couples. The ending was sweet and more enjoyable than most of the book.

Just about every character but the main female character was likable. Alexis was such a selfish person that didn't treat Logan the way in which he deserved. There was moments when I thought she was nicer but it wasn't until closer to the end when I started to like her. It was Logan that really saved this book as he was such a great character and I loved everything about him.

Overall, I felt let down by this book but I'm still excited about any future books by Lauren Layne in the hope that they are like the previous book that I've read by her.

For Better or Worse (The Wedding Belles, #2) by Lauren Layne

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Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Headline Eternal

Published: 30th August 2016

Pages: 368

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Heather, Josh
Date Read: 7th November - 17th November 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:

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.

I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

There's not much difference between this book and the first book so for me there's no improvement but it's a descent looking cover.

I didn't think Lauren Layne could improve on the previous book but this one has definitely done it as it was more enjoyable even if it was ever so slightly. I think what made this book slightly better was the humour as this one seemed to be a lot more funnier than the previous book. There was never a dull moment in this book as not only was it funny it also had a very serious subject matter involved which I actually liked that it was tackled more light hearted. The chemistry between the two main characters was smoking hot and I loved their banter. I loved the ending of this book as I felt it ended perfectly for this book and now I'm very excited to start the last book.

I loved every single character in this book with no one that I disliked. Heather was a great female character who held her own throughout. Josh has to be one of my favourite ever male characters as he was so funny and such a scene stealer. What worked even more with this book was the interaction between Heather and Josh as there was plenty of banter and on top of that they where there for one another which was nice to see.

Overall, I loved every minute of this book and there was not one dull moment, bring on the next book is all I can say.

Book Review: To Have and to Hold (The Wedding Belles # 1) by Lauren Layne

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Format: Paperback

Publishers: Headline Eternal

Published: 26th July 2016

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Maya, Seth
Date Read: 4th October - 25th October 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:

Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in To Have And To Hold, the first sizzling contemporary romance in Lauren Layne's The Wedding Belles series about three ambitious wedding planners who can make any bride's dream come true...but their own. For fans of Jill Shalvis, Julie James and Rachel Gibson.
Discovering her fiance is a con man moments before they exchange vows devastates LA celebrity wedding planner Brooke Baldwin. With a fresh start in New York and her first Wedding Belles bridal client, things are looking up. Until she meets the uptight businessman who's holding the purse strings...
Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank cheque and be done with his sister Maya's wedding, but micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving that Maya's fiance is a liar. He needs the help of her stunning, sassy wedding planner who he finds both irritating - and undeniably tempting.
Can Seth persuade Brooke to unplan a wedding? And, more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning...is theirs?

I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I like this cover but it wasn't what drew me to the book as I think it's a little bit too plain but it has everything you need to see in the book on the cover which is why I'm ok with the cover.

I've read a few Lauren Layne books now and even though I have really enjoyed each and everyone of them I still hadn't read a 5/5 (in my opinion) until now. I wasn't sure I was going to like the whole wedding concept of the story as I've read recently an amazing weeding based book so I didn't think anything could get any better but this did and then some. I loved reading every minute of this book there was nothing that stopped me from falling deeper and deeper in love with it. It had everything I could want in a book as it had the romance and it had the humour which is a favourite in any contemporary romance book there was just something magical about this book. The romance between the two main characters sizzled straight off the pages they felt so right for one another. I wasn't sure I was going to like the whole wedding concept of the story as I've read recently an amazing weeding based book so I didn't think anything could get any better but this did and then some. The ending was so sweet and heart warming it's got me excited to read the rest of the series.

I pretty much loved every character in this book. Brooke was a great female character as she didn't want the past to effect her present and even though it did at times, she was still trying and that's different to other female characters I've read about. I felt Brooke was a sweet character and only Seth was able to bring out her darker side which I actually liked as well. Seth I loved from the moment Lauren Layne introduced him even if he was a bit annoying at times I was still able to like him. There was some great secondary characters including Seth's sister and best friend. I also loved the other Belle's and I'm very much looking forward to their stories.

Overall, I adored this book there was nothing that I didn't like about it.

Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

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Format: Hardback

Publishers: Headline Publishers

Published: 2nd January 2012

Pages: 236

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Hadley, Oliver

Date Read: 25th February - 28th February 2013

Rating Given:

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.
 

I had been after this book for awhile so imagine my delight when someone sent me a copy as a RAK, yet for some reason it took me awhile to read it but now I have I wish I had read it sooner.

I really like the cover in the way that it's all black and white apart from the heart as I feel you can can get a sense of what the book is about. Also I can imagine this cover as a part of a scene from the book which I love when that happens.

When I first started this book I wasn't quite sure I was going to like it as I wasn't too sure about Hadley but the more I read the more I could understand where she was coming from. I did find the relationship between Hadley and Oliver sweet to read about but I didn't feel as though it was a sizzling romance which I love to have in the contemporary romance books I read. I felt a lot of emotions when reading this book which did nearly have me in tears at one point but for the most part I felt it was sweet. This book wasn't just about love at first sight but also the relationship between a farther and daughter which I found a refreshing change. What I really enjoyed about this book was that it was set in 24 hours which I haven't read a book like that before but because of this I felt there was a few unanswered questions at the end of the book which was a shame.

As I said in the above character Hadley was one of the characters that I couldn't warm to at first but by the end she seemed like a sweet person who just had a few father issues. Oliver I felt was so sweet and caring although I didn't feel a huge love for him like I normally do with the male leads but I did really like him and I definitely felt for him towards the end.

Overall a very quick and enjoyable read but I didn't feel any spark there and I wish it wasn't a standalone book.