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.
This is the second book in the Wedding Belle Series. Now I thought the first book was good but this is bloody brilliant. It exceeded my expectations. I love every moment of this book and the time passed too quickly while reading.
Personally I think that Ms. Layne could write a technical manual and I’d still give it 6 Stars. Damn shame that GR doesn’t offer more stars. I love her books. I have a total girl crush on her. I think I’d even squeal if I met her. But moving on…….. Maybe at RARE #17
I wasn’t sure about this one as I couldn’t connect with Heather in the first book but reading her and what she was like as a child and what her dreams are. She always dreamed of going to New York. She gets to New York and has the chance for a promotion from assistant wedding planner to wedding planner. Heather is ambitious, funny, and sassy but she has forgotten the important things in life. But she has never been in love and doesn’t believe in waiting for the one but that is due to her mother and her relationships.
What can I say about Josh Tanner? Okay I’ll lay it all out on the table. He has some slight man whoring tendencies and well I was happy about it? No. Do I love him anyway? Yes. Because I get him. I get why he decided to live the life he wanted to live for the moment at least. He is the lost soul that we want to help. The hunk that you want to lick from top to bottom and back down again, maybe stop in the middle. He is funny, sweet, and intelligent. But he’s not leading his life to the full. And he is very fixated on banana bread.
But things start to change for him as he meets a wedding planner.
They don’t get off to the best start because they are neighbours.
Was the music actually getting louder? Was that even possible? [……]
“So that’s a yes on the new band, then? Instead of answering her question, he extended his hand. “Josh Tanner”
“Pretty manners for someone with no neighbourly consideration,” she muttered as she reluctantly put her hand in his. “Heather Fowler” “Heather Fowler,” he repeated slowly, as though trying to decide whether or not her name fit and coming up undecided.
I have to add something to her name though I used to watch Eastenders a very long time ago and there was a character there called Pauline Fowler and she was bloody awful. But as Heather’s surname wasn’t mentioned that much in the book it wasn’t that bad. Besides it’s not like Ms. Layne knew that name bothered me.
Heather is very close to her promotion and she has the wedding of the year to plan, Danica Robinson. But Danica is very hands off. And she wants Heather. She ropes Josh into helping her with the wedding as he used to date Danica but that was before. Before he realised that life is too short and that validation isn’t everything. Besides he wants Heather in his bed and well let’s say he likes to poke the bear with a stick.
They are so good together and they have chemistry and in regards to Heather Josh has absolutely no boundaries.
Josh Tanner was in her bedroom […] What. The. Actual. Fuck. “Seriously?” she managed, her voice still croaky with sleep. He glanced over his shoulder with a cocky grin. “Morning 4C. Aren’t you pretty in the morning. And by pretty I mean your hair is enormous.”
Life isn’t perfect and at every turn that Heather tries to get to know Josh. He blocks her. Until the gap is too big to bridge and as all men they can be fools sometimes and Josh is no different. Although women are fools as well you know. Her professional life goes slightly down the drain and she feels as if everything is crumbling.
I love that all the past characters were involved and that we got to see more of Alexis & Logan.
My parting words to this book
“Josh! What is that?” she said, barely managing to choke it down. Her […..] – merely grinned as she forced herself to swallow the god-awful piece of wedding cake. Josh Tanner had finally gotten his banana bread.
