Lauren Layne

"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 [three] month's 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"--Amazon.com.

For Better Or Worse

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance 
  
    
  
  
    Summary 
  
 
Budding Wedding Planner, Heather Fowler, has just gotten a promotion and she has a chance to become a full fledged wedding planner, with a new client who has money, class and prestige and she could make a name for herself. Her days are long and busy, but right when she needs some sleep, her noisy neighbor is keeping her up at night with his band. So she decides that she has had enough. But her bad boy neighbor, isn't going to just cave into her demands. He fights fire with fire....making her pancakes in the early morning. Josh wants to show his workaholic neighbor, how to relax and get into his bed. The last thing that Heather needs is to involve herself into a fling with a man that has countless women at his disposal. Heather realizes that she can show Josh a thing or two about life and about fighting for what is real and for love...
 
  
    Plot and Story Line 
  
 
For Better Or Worse, is the second book in the latest series by Layne and it was my second shot at this author and I have no regrets. For quite some time, so many were telling me so many wonderful things about her writing, and I finally decided to pick this one up when I was offered the ARC. I was really intrigued when I read a excerpt of one of their first meetings. I was purely fascinated by this story. For one, the heroine is a wedding planner which is what I am wanting to have as a career personally. So I just had a blast seeing what this heroine goes through in this story here. Now these two characters were simply outrageous, fun and witty and I loved every moment they were together.

  

  
    
      “Tell me you did not just call your red-haired one-night stand Ginger.”
    
    

    

    
      “That was her name.”
    
    

    

    
      “A ginger named Ginger?” Heather asked skeptically.
    
    

    

    
      “Don’t know if it was her real name,” Josh said with a shrug. “Didn’t ask.”
    
    

    

    
      “You’re a pig,” she muttered.
    
    

    

    
      “Hurtful, 4C. Very hurtful.”
    
    

    

    
      “Yeah, you seem like a real softie underneath all those muscles,” she muttered…
    
    

    

    
      “Noticed those, did you?”
    
    

    

    
      Heather raked her gaze over him. “Hard not to, what with the too-small shirts and all. Do you shop in the children’s section?”
    
  
  


Josh, on the surface seems like your typical bad boy but he is anything but. He has gone through some rough patches, and won't have anything serious with anyone. Our heroine, wants love and isn't afraid of going after it even if the man she chooses is highly stubborn but she wants to bring him to his knees. I love how feisty these two get, and that Heather doesn't just give into the "fling" right away, just because Josh is gorgeous. This story just gave me all the feels and I just wanted more.  The romance was so well done, and there were so many moments I was just smiling because I was loving it so much. It was sweet and fun and heartwarming.
 
  
    The Cover 
  
 
Such a classy cover and I love the simplicity of it
 
  Overall View 
 
For Better or Worse is a love story that is carefree, real and packed with emotion any reader can relate with!!! TRULY FANTASTIC!!
 
  
    
  
  Click On Cover For Buy Link 
 
[foogallery id="23348"]

Connor 

I’m not sure this is a full 4, but I liked it more than the first one and, due to the author’s actual understanding of how curly hair works (a diffuser??? In a NOVEL? WHAT A CONCEPT) and her appreciation for a gray henley, I think it deserves the round up.

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.

For Better or Worse

Sven Test

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

I don't know what magic Lauren Layne possesses to write alluring, engaging, fun-filled stories. She always succeeds at delivering a masterpiece and always leaves me amazed. I enjoyed To Have and To Hold so much that I thought the first book would be the best one of the series. Ha! Cue moment of laughter for my incredulous nature. This sequel threw the ball out of the park, if that's even possible. Usually sequels tend to be over-shadowed by the other books in the series, but this?! No no no, my friends. For Better or Worse has to be the best one yet! I don't know how the third book will top this one, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Heather is a very passionate and dedicated woman. She thrives to be a wedding planner and not be an assistant anymore. She's given the wedding of the year and she wants to give it her all so she can finally have that title she desires. I think we can all learn a lot from Heather. She went from having nothing to packing her bags and moving to New York to follow her dreams. Her only flaw—that's not really a flaw since we've all been through it—is wanting to prove to her mom, her boss, anyone, that she can be successful. I say it's a flaw because she felt like she needed to keep going up and up. She would never take breaks for herself to enjoy life. Her devotion to her job was so much that she didn't have a social life.

Josh used to have a job at Wall Street, but he resigned due to an illness. He started focusing on his music and "living life", but he's not really living it. He's also a little bit of a man-whore, but it's not fully shown in the story. When it it is, he tells the women that it's only sex and that's it. When Heather can't go to sleep because Josh is her neighbor and is playing music so late at night, she decides to give him a piece of her mind. The bickering and flirty banter is immediately thrown into the story and I was loving it! Once Josh got a taste of Heather, he couldn't get enough.

I was shipping Heather and Josh so hard! Their antics had me laughing, giggling and grinning all the time. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, yet they are also so very adorable and cute together. The talks they would have about banana bread (double meaning) had me in a laughing fit. Heather and Josh go so well together and complement each other a lot. As I mentioned before, Josh had an illness, and I was so scared for Heather to find out. I didn't want this to be a reason they would split. Heather, once again, shows the level of maturity she has and handles it incredibly. I was so happy she did because it showed just how much this couple is meant to be together.

Don't get me started on the ending! That was THE most beautiful thing ever! There's an airport scene that you guys need to read. You will adore it so much! I wanted more and more of it. I re-read that scene quite a few times because it was wonderful!

For Better or Worse is a rom-com that will charm you and give you all the feels!

I received an eARC from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

shar

Becky

Okay, I admit this book was pretty damn adorable (and also very sexy, can we all say yum to Josh?) and I really enjoyed it.

When I first started reading I was a bit concerned I wouldn't like workaholic Heather and lackadaisical Josh. They were both personalities which I don't always live but together they just worked and had me eager ti read more about them. With Josh and his pursuit of a purpose without realising he was looking for it and Holly and her pursuit for something (or everything) because something is lacking but she can't determine what.

I enjoyed this book but it did annoy me Josh kept his secret for quite so long. It made sense but was insanely frustrating to read. The secrets kept in romances are crazy and I just want to tell everyone to use their words. It was a minor complaint, though, and one I expect to suffer in many a romance.

Linda Quintanilla

Guess what came out recently? You have guess it, a new book in The Wedding Belles series! Lauren Layne has created another fantastic romance book in The Wedding Belles series that you will love this one even more! It has so much romance and comedy that you will enjoy every minute of it. 
For Better or Worse is the second book in The Wedding Belles series. You will get to know about Heather Fowler that you will want to know how she fall. Heather Fowler is a beautiful woman that she has wonderful talent in wedding planner that she gets a recent promotion in head wedding planner. But she will face her biggest client that she needs to be in her A game without no distraction at all but there is a big distraction and sexy one too, her next door neighbor, Josh Tanner.
Josh Tanner is sexy neighbor that I have no problem with it. Josh loves to live in the moment that he has no rules in his life anymore. He has recovered from a severe disease that he knows life is short that he wants to appreciate everything in life. And he makes his duty in helping his uptight neighbor, Heather to live a life.
Those two is definitely opposite from each other that you know they have hot chemistry between them. They have so much fire between them that it is only going to take a matter in time for them to fall. And boy do they. They fall hard with each other that it is unexpected for them. They definitely do get scary from their feelings for each other that they will fight over it but they will reunited with each other since they are meant for each other.
For Better or Worse is the perfect romance book that anyone can read since it has so much heart-warming moments that you want your own Josh or Heather in your life. Five stars!

Find this review and more at 
  kimberlyfaye reads.


I've said it before and I'll say it again: I. Love. Lauren. Layne's. Books. LOVE. Anytime I pick up something she's written, I'm all but guaranteed to have a four or five star reading experience. I love her characters and the relationships between them – romantic or otherwise. If she writes it, I'll be reading (and loving) it! 

If I'm gonna be totally honest, I did struggle a little bit with Josh in this book initially. I have an issue with manwhores (or the perception that a hero is a manwhore). It makes me a little twitchy. I'm a little better with the reformed manwhore, but if he's hooking up with someone else after falling for or becoming interested in the heroine, I'm not a huge fan – whether that's fair or not. I won't get too deep into this here – it's a discussion topic for another time, to be honest. I won't get too spoilerly, but I will say all wasn't as it seemed with Josh. He was a flirt. He had a playboy past. He was pushing for a no strings attached thing with Heather. BUT there was more to all of it than meets the eye. He had his reasons. 

Despite my initial issues with Josh, he grew on me. He was a complicated guy and my heart ached for what he went through in the past. I really liked Heather. I bonded with her as she struggled through the ridiculous expectations of her client and the building sexual tension (and annoyance) of her noisy, but sexy as hell neighbor, Josh. I loved the banter between these two. Their sizzling sexual tension and crazy chemistry, even as they were ready to strangle each other, made me smile. I was a little surprised by the feels that this one gave me, but I'm happy to say it all ended with a huge smile... and even a couple happy tears. 

I'm absolutely loving The Wedding Belles series. Which is so NOT a surprise to me. See above re: loving Lauren's books. I love the friendship between these strong, successful women. And, of course, I kind of adore the men who enter their lives. I CAN'T WAIT for the next book. I'm all grabby hands over the possible connection between Alexis and Logan. The build up has been killing me! 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

FAVORITE QUOTES

  "One day you're going to find a girl that you can't look away from and I hope I'm there to relish every minute."

"Oh, I don't want you to love me, 4C. Doesn't mean I don't want you to want me."

Their mouths collided hungrily, and it was like the Fourth of July and New Year's Eve all rolled into one. Fireworks. In her mind, her belly, her... other parts. 

Cute wasn't the word for Josh Tanner's appearance. Ridiculously hot, maybe. It was almost hand, how good-looking he was. It was like a constant reminder not to fall for him, because men who looked like that were not the kind you fell in love with. They were the ones you admired from afar, sparred with occasionally, and kept at a very, very safe distance.

Lacey

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life

4.5 STARS

I am falling more and more in love with Lauren Layne’s The Wedding Belles series with every new release! If you like wedding romances or sweet contemporary romance, this series – and honestly, this author – is a must read. The characters are adorable, the romance is swoony, and the wedding planning backdrop is perfect for a light-hearted, summery read!

Heather Fowler is living her life-long dream – to be a wedding planner living in NYC. Well, she’s almost living out the dream, since she’s currently only an assistant wedding planner. But her next wedding will make or break her career, since she’s given the opportunity of a lifetime to plan celebrity Danica Robinson’s wedding. But with the bride completely hands-off the wedding, the pressure and stress to get everything right and perfect starts to get to Heather… and it doesn’t help that her late nights become even more late thanks to a rowdy neighbor blasting music at inconsiderate times. She goes to confront the guy in 4A, but what she gets is something more, something better than she could have imagined.

Once again, it was this snotty, mouthy woman who’d managed to shake him out of his funk.
It was becoming increasingly clear that his intriguing new neighbor might be exactly what he needed to make him feel alive.

Josh Tanner is a cancer survivor who knows how short life can be and is living his life to the fullest… or is he? He threw away a job doing what he loved, and now he’s in a band making music and not having any worries. When the girl in 4C comes over to confront him about his late-night playing, he finds himself intrigued by her, and the more he gets to know her, the more he wants her – but only in bed, and not for a relationship. I’ll admit, I’m a little tired of heroes who are adamantly against having anything to do with love, but Josh is something else. He’s an adorable, frustrating, lovable man, with many layers to him that make him feel real and genuine. And he’s seriously the SWEETEST – with the things he says and does, how could Heather NOT fall for him!?

He was good.
He was the best.
He was everything.

I love when the MCs bring out the best in each other, and Heather and Josh do exactly that. Josh makes Heather realize there are other things to appreciate in life than a high-pressure job, and Heather makes Josh notice how he’s not exactly living the full life he expected to after surviving cancer. The two of them make the most adorable couple – I had a smile on my face practically the whole time I was reading their story! Their banter, their sweet moments, their inside joke with banana bread… all of it made for a fun, worthwhile read. For Better or Worse is a feel-good, slow romance with touches of meaningful moments that warmed my heart. I would definitely recommend this to those who loved the first book. And can I just say how freaking excited I am about the final book of the series!? I need To Love and to Cherish ASAP.

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change in the final version.

Amazon Ebook: http://amzn.to/1TFSaFO
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1TFS7d9

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Genesis (@whisperingchapters)

This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.

I don't know what magic Lauren Layne possesses to write alluring, engaging, fun-filled stories. She always succeeds at delivering a masterpiece and always leaves me amazed. I enjoyed To Have and To Hold so much that I thought the first book would be the best one of the series. Ha! Cue moment of laughter for my incredulous nature. This sequel threw the ball out of the park, if that's even possible. Usually sequels tend to be over-shadowed by the other books in the series, but this?! No no no, my friends. 
  For Better or Worse
 has to be the best one yet! I don't know how the third book will top this one, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Heather is a very passionate and dedicated woman. She thrives to be a wedding planner and not be an assistant anymore. She's given the wedding of the year and she wants to give it her all so she can finally have that title she desires. I think we can all learn a lot from Heather. She went from having nothing to packing her bags and moving to New York to follow her dreams. Her only flaw—that's not really a flaw since we've all been through it—is wanting to prove to her mom, her boss, anyone, that she can be successful. I say it's a flaw because she felt like she needed to keep going up and up. She would never take breaks for herself to enjoy life. Her devotion to her job was so much that she didn't have a social life.

Josh used to have a job at Wall Street, but he resigned due to an illness. He started focusing on his music and "living life", but he's not really living it. He's also a little bit of a man-whore, but it's not fully shown in the story. When it it is, he tells the women that it's only sex and that's it. When Heather can't go to sleep because Josh is her neighbor and is playing music so late at night, she decides to give him a piece of her mind. The bickering and flirty banter is immediately thrown into the story and I was loving it! Once Josh got a taste of Heather, he couldn't get enough.

I was shipping Heather and Josh so hard! Their antics had me laughing, giggling and grinning all the time. Their chemistry is off-the-charts, yet they are also so very adorable and cute together. The talks they would have about banana bread (double meaning) had me in a laughing fit. Heather and Josh go so well together and complement each other a lot. As I mentioned before, Josh had an illness, and I was so scared for Heather to find out. I didn't want this to be a reason they would split. Heather, once again, shows the level of maturity she has and handles it incredibly. I was so happy she did because it showed just how much this couple is meant to be together.

Don't get me started on the ending! That was THE most beautiful thing ever! There's an airport scene that you guys need to read. You will adore it so much! I wanted more and more of it. I re-read that scene quite a few times because it was wonderful!

For Better or Worse is a rom-com that will charm you and give you all the feels!

I received an eARC from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.