Karen Booth

“You could use a lesson in giving in to temptation.”

Best Laid Wedding Plans (Mills & Boon Desire) (Moonlight Ridge, Book 2)

Lauren Sullivan

I enjoyed the first book in the Moonlight Ridge trilogy so I was very much looking forward to this one, especially since it seemed to feature that sunshine/grumpy dynamic I like so much. While this is the second in the series, there’s enough backstory that it could be read as a standalone.

Autumn’s bringing in the press for Moonlight Ridge, but not due to the amazing weddings she plans there. Her estranged father is a Hollywood hotshot who’s been accused of multiple cases of sexual harassment, and then her fiancé canceled their wedding. She’s great at her job, though, and just needs to convince her brides to hang in with her. Enter Grey, son of the resort’s owner. It’s been ten years since he’s been back for more than a weekend, but he’s in Asheville until Labor Day. His oldest brother, Mack, recently extended an olive branch, asking him to help with architectural design for his brewery locations across the country, including one at Moonlight Ridge. Grey’s not sure what he can do to help with the wedding planning side, but he’s eager to help out. And it doesn’t hurt that Autumn is easy to work with and beautiful. But on top of all that Mack and Molly want to get married at the new on-site brewery… in ten weeks. With the resort in trouble and both of them swamped with work, what chance does a relationship between them have?

“You’re not nearly as much of a grump as people told me you were.”
Grey had to laugh. He knew he had that reputation. It didn’t bother him. His seriousness had served him well. It had kept him on a narrow path, where life was stable and predictable and that was exactly the way he liked it.”

Autumn is a natural optimist – plus, as she points out, no one wants a sad wedding planning – even if the last few months have been trying. But rather than dwell on her feelings, she just wants to move on. She’s confident that with a few changes she can make Moonlight Ridge more competitive as a wedding venue, but not if she can’t get people to focus on her job instead of her dad’s gossip. The last thing she needs is to babysit one of the owner’s sons, especially one who doesn’t even believe in romance. But maybe if she can convince him, it’ll prove she’s good at her job – and good for him. There’s one thing for sure they had in common: neither of them have had great parental role models for marriage, though they each responded in opposite ways. Grey’s very controlled with his feelings. After all, the one time he let loose led to the accident that caused the rift between the three brothers. Since then, he’s had little time for anything but work. He’s rational, he’s calm, and he likes his nice, orderly life.. or at lease that’s what he tells himself until he meets Autumn. Autumn reminds him that maybe there’s more to life than just work – things like love and family – but the last thing he wants to do is hurt her. After all, there’s no chance he could catch feelings…

“It doesn’t make me feel bad to be around people who are in love. If anything, it reminds me of the possibilities. It reminds me that love exists and it’s still worth holding out for.”

Overall, another enjoyable entry, and I’m looking forward to the last book!

Content notes: (view spoiler)[discussion of sexual harassment, alcoholic parent (before book starts), alcohol  (hide spoiler)]

I received an advance review copy of this book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Best Laid Wedding Plans (Mills & Boon Desire) (Moonlight Ridge, Book 2)

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