Saturday, September 3, 2016

BLOG TOUR: For Better or Worse by Lauren Layne - REVIEW + GIVEAWAY!

Hi there!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

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It feels good to be back, even if I am still a bit pressed for time.  Sometimes that bit of pressure can work wonders in the creativity department thus pushing us to push ourselves THAT much further...a concept the female lead of today's selection knows all too well.  Speaking of which, do you remember a post earlier this year where I was singing the praises of a new author on the Contemporary Romance scene that had real talent and a series with potential to blow our socks off?  Yeah, well if you don't, click the link; if you do, I'm here to tell you....SHE'S BACK!

That's right.  If your calendar reminder was going off and you had completely forgotten why it was set, well...THIS was the reason; the release of book 2 in The Wedding Belles series!  I know I was excited and having just finished reading it, it was with DEFINITE good reason.  Ready or not, we're taking a walk down the aisle with today's blog tour guest and book of choice...



For Better or Worse
The Wedding Belles, Book 2
by
Lauren Layne
9781501135156
Pocket Books

About the book...

In For Better or Worsethe sexy second novel in USA Today bestselling author Lauren Layne’s irresistible new series, an up-and-comer Wedding Belle butts heads with the literal guy next door. Will their brewing tension boil over into something more?

He’s driving her insane . . .

When small-town girl Heather Fowler finally gets promoted from elite Wedding Belles assistant to full-fledged planner, she’s determined to put her best foot forward. Unfortunately, her first celebrity client demands an opulent black-tie affair at the Plaza…in three months. Heather’s days 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. Heather vows to put this entitled man-child in his place, whether he likes it or not.

But a little crazy might be just what she needs.

Five years ago, Josh Tanner was a young rising star on Wall Street, complete with the penthouse and the migraines. But a grim cancer diagnosis made him realize there’s more to life than the corner office. He kicked the cancer and dedicated his life to following his passions; now, if he could just convince his pretty, workaholic neighbor to let loose, too. Once Heather begins to show him her softer side, 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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Okay, first things first, can I just say that the covers in this series seriously just keep getting better?  I mean look at the simplistic beauty represented there!  After reading the story, everything from the dress to the details makes even MORE sense, just like the others.  I definitely applaud the team that put these eye catching beauts together.  BRAVA!  Now, on to that story...

I quite literally read this 350+ pager in about two days...with having to work a at least half of that time.  Yes, that's right.  It was THAT good.  I couldn't put it down when I picked it up and was longingly counting the moments until I could return to its pages when I had no choice but too.  Don't look at me like that...you're a fellow reader, you know DARN well how hard it can be to break off from a book sometimes!  This is definitely one of those types of books.

Heather is as sweet as the day is bright.  She's ambitious but not bitter, cheerful without being aggravating, willing to go the extra mile to achieve her dreams...and even give her heart a chance to take flight despite the risk.  She's a perfect fit with The Wedding Belles agency and shows the depth of her character in everything she does, including handling a super starlet that seems more intent on her social media status than on actually planning her wedding (what gives?).  Hmm...something is amiss with that situation, and while that is a worry, it's not the first one on her mind, nor the most tantalizing. Enter Mr. 4A...the neighbor she never wanted...until now. *wink wink*


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If you've a thing for musicians, this will only make it worse.  If you like the analytical, smarty pants with a mouth to match, again...you've found your new book boyfriend.  If you go for that rock hard abs, devil may care attitude, and flirty snarky conversation maker than...get in line because I was here first.  ^-^  JK!  Heather may not have been first but she just might be the last in more ways than one....but that's a story for another day because let's face it, everyone has secrets and sometimes they're a doozy!  Now, where were we...oh yes.  We're here to talk about MY adventure through the pages and BOY WHAT AN ADVENTURE IT WAS!

I was captured from the moment 4A met 4C and they knocked each other for a loop neither was looking for.  The characters are one for the books with qualities to both love and loathe, like selflessness...or is that selfishness?  Both seem to rear their equally gorgeous and ugly heads here, but in the end, everything comes full circle with a little help from a few fabulous friends.  Speaking of those friends, it was great to catch up with the folks we've come to love from the other books in the series as well as get a little deeper into Alexis' character.  Can't wait to see what's in store for her in the next installment!  Getting back on track here, Heather is definitely someone I would call friend and Josh is not as much of a butt as he presents once you get through the protective layers he's caked on his heart.  There were times I wanted to smack them both upside the head but in the end, watching their story unfold was sweet, funny, and explosive...in both the good ways and the not so good ones.  It's funny how close you get to fictional characters if they're written just so and believe me, these are definitely a perfect example of just that.

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In the end, you get ALL THE FEELS with a story to wile away a weekend or an afternoon, depending on your available time and ability to commit...or option of putting EVERYTHING ELSE OFF to binge read!  It's a great addition to this Contemporary Romance series perfect for adult readers (thanks to some definite sexy times) that have found or perhaps are still looking for their own happily ever afters.







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About the author...



Lauren Layne is the USA Today bestselling author of the Sex, Love, and Stiletto contemporary romances and the all-new Pocket Books series The Wedding Belles. She lives in New York with her husband and spoiled Pomeranian. Visit laurenlayne.com, meet the author on Facebook at LaurenLayneAuthor, or follow her on Twitter @_LaurenLayne.



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Special thanks to Melissa at Simon & Schuster for the copy for review as well as the chance to bring this tour to you.  (THANKS!)  For more information about this title, THE TOUR, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title just celebrated its BOOK BIRTHDAY a few days back via Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Stay tuned for the upcoming final (really? *sad face*) release in the series, To Love and To Cherish (10/18).  Not keen on remembering things?  A little lax in the calendar department?  Tisk tisk...but we've got your problem solved with a capital "S"!


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Thanks to the FAB folks at S&S, I have the chance to give you the opportunity to win THE WHOLE BOUQUET!  That's right!  THE WHOLE BOUQUET!  Now, I know what you're thinking...why do I want a bouquet...that can't POSSIBLY ship well!  You'd be right of course, but in this case, the BOUQUET is a collection of books...THESE books...sent to you as they release.  Feel free to SQUEE now...I've plugged my ears. 
*waits*

All done?  Good!
Now, here's all the details...




We are excited to host The Wedding Belles Bouquet Giveaway once again to celebrate the publication of the SECOND in the series! The Wedding Belles Bouquet will include To Have and to Hold (7/26), For Better or Worse (8/30), and To Love and to Cherish (10/18). You can visit all sites on the Bouquet Giveaway Tour to enter to win–but keep in mind you can only win once! U.S. only. Each winner will receive one copy of each book during the week of its publication date. Entries accepted through midnight September 10th, 2016.


Ready?  Set?  ENTER!



To check out the AMAZING posts throughout the tour, here's the official roster...


Sunday, August 28th
·         Romancing Rakes

Monday, August 29th
·         The Reading Cafe
·         Dirty and Thirty

Image result for sparkling stars gifTuesday, August 30th

Wednesday, August 31st
·         Book Reader Chronicles

Thursday, September 1st
·         Stuck in Books

Friday, September 2nd
·         The Book Binge

Saturday, September 3rd



Until next time, GOOD LUCK and remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

3 comments:

  1. Wonderful series, very talented author and great feature and giveaway. Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sweet as sugar and spice there's nothing like a love story to make you smile and feel good

    ReplyDelete