REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: FOR BETTER TO WORSE by LAUREN LAYNE

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(Book 1 of Ms. Layne's Wedding Belles series)

For Better or Worse
The Wedding Belles #2

By: Lauren Layne

Releasing August 30, 2016
Pocket Books

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In For Better or Worse (The Wedding Belles #2) by Lauren Layne, Heather Fowler followed her dreams by moving to New York City and finding the perfect job as an assistant wedding planner. Now that she's up for a promotion from assistant to being able to handle her own clients without assistance, Heather just has to overcome the big hurdle thrown her way -- a rich, annoying client that wants Heather to plan her wedding without much input from the bride-to-be in what she wants for her special day. However, it's not just planning this particular wedding that's creating stress for her. It seems she has to deal with her too charming and annoying neighbor as well.

Josh Tanner's life was turned upside down by his cancer diagnosis. Now that he's in remission, he's living life doing what he wants instead of returning to his finance job and being bogged down in numbers. When his feisty, workaholic neighbor gives him a verbal lashing for playing his music too loud, Josh finds himself intrigued. Can he convince Heather that there's more to life than work?

Ms. Layne always has a way of gripping my attention immediately once I start reading any of her books, and this one was no different. Right from the beginning, this book was riveting, fast-paced and one I could not put down for even a second due to the main characters back stories; the well-written dialogue, which was a good combination of intense and light-hearted moments; and everything the hero and heroine go through to be together.

I really liked both the main characters as well as most of the secondary ones. Josh is quite the charmer, which is proven through the way he teases Heather in hopes that she'll lighten up; stop being so uptight and let her hair down once in a while -- so to speak. Moreover, he's been through so much and I could understand why he made the choices he did about his job and relationships. He didn't want to leave anyone in the lurch, and put other people he gets close to through the pain his family went through when he was diagnosed with cancer and then going through treatment. However, in saying that, it was palpable that he needed Heather in his life just as much as she needed him in hers. He was living again with her around, instead of continuing to isolate himself from people.

While Heather, she's strong, brave and I liked how determined she was to achieve her promotion. Even when the bride-to-be was an absolute witch with what she does to the heroine. Furthermore, Heather hasn't always had it easy with her mom; a woman that clearly loves her daughter but doesn't always do right by Heather by expecting the heroine to bend to her will during special holidays. So, I liked how Josh's family welcomed her without making her feel like an outsider. Then there's the close friendships she's formed with her colleagues. They can talk about anything, even topics that could lead to blushing moments.

Overall, Ms. Layne has again penned a really good novel where the teasing banter between the hero and heroine certainly leads to explosive sex scenes, which illustrate this couple's strong chemistry. The way this story ended was perfect, as Josh had the saying 'Go big or go home' down pat when it came to making things right with Heather. What better way to propose than in front of lots of people and then the surprising news he gives her about their apartment building. I did not see that one coming. No wonder he played his music the way he did.

As for the epilogue, I loved it. It made me laugh that Josh finally got his way with what he kept asking Heather for when it came to food. I would recommend For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne, if you enjoy the TV show Sex and the City or The Wedding Planner movie, as this story combines the two to make a worthwhile read.

OVERALL RATING:

BLURB:
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.

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“So this is where the noise happens, huh?” she asked.

Josh’s eyes narrowed as his friend’s hand touched Heather’s back briefly. “Absolutely,” Trevor said. “We’re sorry it keeps you up though.”

“Oh, it’s okay,” she said, waving her hand. “I mean . . . it’s not. But tonight I couldn’t sleep anyway, so you get a free pass. What do you all play?”

“Donny’s bass, Felix is on drums. Josh is lead guitar, and I, as the most important member, have the pipes.”

“Oh! I thought Josh was the singer,” Heather said with a quick glance over her shoulder at him.

Their eyes locked, and Josh felt a flicker of . . . something.

“Ah, is that what he’s telling the women these days,” Trevor joked.

“No, I just . . . I hear him, singing sometimes,” Heather muttered.

“Our boy can carry a tune well enough, but wait until you hear me, love,” Trevor said.

Josh turned away in mild disgust, pulling a beer out of the fridge as Trevor and the other guys coaxed Heather into the practice room, thrilled to have any sort of audience, even a reluctant one.

“Yo, Tanner,” Felix called.

“What,” he called, popping the lid off the bottle and tilting the beer back to his lips as he tried to shake off whatever was bringing down his mood tonight.

“Let’s show Heather here that we’re more than a bit of noise coming through her bedroom wall.”

Josh turned around to see Donny dragging one of his kitchen chairs across the room, disappearing into the practice room.

“All right, love, you just sit down and get comfortable,” Trevor said. “Tanner! Come on, man.”

Josh heard the low strum of Donny’s guitar, heard Felix do a little warm-up rhythm, and knew there was no way of getting out of it. If he refused to play a song now, he’d look like an ass.

Still, his feet didn’t move, and he took another sip of beer.

Feeling eyes on him, he glanced up to see Heather in the doorway, leaning one shoulder against the doorjamb as she studied him.

“Okay, 4A?” she asked.

Her tone was lighthearted, almost slightly reluctant, as though she didn’t want to care about why he was out here alone, feeling oddly itchy with his life.

He appreciated it. He’d spent enough time in the past few years dealing with people who walked on eggshells around him, cooing sweetness. Some of it genuine, some of it not so much.

Heather’s no-nonsense question was refreshing—and exactly what he needed.

He was happy and healthy and living the dream, damn it.

Even if he was no longer sure it was his dream.

“You going soft on me?” he asked, taking one last sip of his beer before setting it aside and strolling toward her.

Heather’s eyes narrowed. “Hardly. I just wanted you to get your shit together so I can see your cute lead singer work his magic.”

He deliberately stepped into the doorway so she couldn’t move in either direction without brushing against him, grinning at her discomfort.

“You’re in a better mood tonight,” he said, his eyes skimming over her crazy curls and relaxed expression. “Why?”

“Believe it or not, I’m not a shrew.”

“Huh.”

Heather shoved his shoulder with a little scowl. “I’m not!”

“Does that mean you’re going to start making banana bread like Mrs. Calvin?”

“Yes, definitely. And coffee cake and sugar cookies and whatever other goodies you might like. All while wearing a frilly, feminine apron.”

“Dare I hope there’s nothing under the apron?” he asked, leaning in slightly.

“Right again!” she said, in mock delight. “I just love to bake naked.”

Josh’s pulse leapt, but Trevor interrupted before the sudden X-rated picture in his mind could turn into a full-fledged fantasy.

“Dude, we doing this or what?”

Josh looked at Heather.

“One song,” she said, holding up a finger. “I may as well see what the music sounds like on this side of the wall.”

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Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen romantic comedies. She lives in New York City with her husband (who was her high school sweetheart--cute, right?!) and plus-sized Pomeranian.

In 2011, she ditched her corporate career in Seattle to pursue a full-time writing career in Manhattan, and never looked back.

In her ideal world, every stiletto-wearing, Kate Spade wielding woman would carry a Kindle stocked with Lauren Layne books.

For a list of all her works, please be sure to check out her official website!