REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: FROM THIS DAY FORWARD by LAUREN LAYNE

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From This Day Forward
The Wedding Belles #0.5

By: Lauren Layne

Releasing June 6, 2016 
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In From This Day Forward (The Wedding Belles #0.5) by Lauren Layne, Leah McHale is thrilled to be asked to photograph the wedding of a former president's daughter. However, there's one downside to accepting the job. She's expected to work alongside her ex, Jason Rhodes, because the job is too big for one person to handle.

 

Jason Rhodes is determined to win Leah back, especially since she broke up with him due to a simple misunderstanding. Working side by side with her during a big wedding will give him the perfect opportunity to talk to her, but when she keeps giving him the cold shoulder, he doesn't know what to do. Still, he's not willing to give up trying, not until she realizes that she's the only woman that's ever managed to capture his heart.

Ever since reading my first book by Ms. Layne, she's become a must buy author for me, and with every story I've read by her, I find they get better and better. Right from the beginning, this book swept me in to it's fast-paced and solid plot, due to the main characters and the history between them. Leah needs the job she's been offered, yet it's hard for her to have to work alongside Jason because she thinks he betrayed her when they were together. Something she can't get past, even though it was all a simple misunderstanding. Would the heroine allow Jason to explain the truth once and for all?

Both the main characters, as well as the secondary ones were so entertaining. Leah and Jason's friends want both to be happy, and aren't afraid to offer their advice. Jason's friend, Heather, was a real hoot the way she teased the hero about Leah. Her cheeky attitude towards him definitely shows the tight bond they have, and how she can get away with giving him a hard time.

The dialogue between Jason and Leah is a nice mix of intense and playful. Jason will do anything to get a response out of the heroine, no matter whether it's a negative one or a positive one. At least if he can get her to respond to him than there may be hope of her giving him a second chance. Or at least the chance to explain that he's not the womanizer she believes him to be.  However, the fact that Leah is so stubborn doesn't work in his favor, so it's lucky that she still has strong feelings for him and can't seem to stay away. Until eventually, their intense chemistry spills over onto the pages through hot sex scenes, and prove that these two are so right for each other.

Overall, Ms. Layne has penned another incredible novel that captivated my attention from start to finish with its solid plot, relatable characters, an ending that had me cheering for this couple and has me so looking forward to future books for this series. I liked that Leah finally realized that if she didn't allow Jason to explain that she would be miserable and lonely for the rest of her life. I would recommend From This Day Forward by Lauren Layne, if you enjoy second chance romances. 

 
OVERALL RATING:

 

BLURB
Sex and the City meets The Wedding Planner in this prequel to USA TODAY bestselling author Lauren Layne’s The Wedding Belles series about three high-powered New York City women who can plan any wedding—but their own.

Up-and-coming wedding photographer Leah McHale’s career is on the rise–thanks in no small part to the Wedding Belles, the elite New York wedding planning agency that always throws top-tier business Leah’s way. So when one of the Belles asks Leah to fill in at the former First Daughter's wedding, Leah is overjoyed to say yes–until she finds out who she’ll be working with.

Jason Rhodes is the one man who was able to capture Leah’s heart and, once he had it, promptly stepped all over it and left her broken. Now he’s working side-by-side with her at the biggest wedding of the season and Leah is determined to give him the cold shoulder. Despite his persistence, she is not going to fall for his charming, impish ways again. Not even if he still has that killer, irresistible smile...

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“Do you have any plans for your unexpectedly free weekend?” Alexis asked as she perused the menu.

Leah’s eyes narrowed on her friend. Alexis Morgan might be the queen of poker face, but Leah had known Alexis for close to a decade now. She knew when she was being handled, and right now, Alexis was definitely working up to something.

Instead of answering the question, Leah took a sip of her mimosa and waited. When Alexis’s brown eyes flicked up to hers, Leah merely lifted her brows. Waited some more.

With a sigh, Alexis set the menu aside and folded both arms on the table, leaning toward Leah. “I need a favor.”

“Anything,” Leah said automatically, meaning it completely.

Her relationship with Alexis may have started as a business arrangement—they’d both arrived in the city ten years earlier with big dreams of pursuing their dream careers.

 But somewhere along the way, Alexis and Leah had transitioned from sometimes business associates to friends. Alexis had been there for Leah when she’d needed her, and Leah fully intended to repay the favor any way she could.

“I need you to work the Preston wedding.”

Leah blinked. “The Preston wedding. As in, the wedding of the former First Daughter we were just talking about? The one this weekend?”

Alexis nodded.

Leah sat back, stunned. “Holy crap, Lex. That’s not really me doing you a favor, hon. More like the other way around. This would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me. For any photographer.”

“I know, but I still hate asking last minute like this. If it were up to me, I’d have recommended you from the very beginning, but Kylie’s college roommate and her husband are a two-person photographer team, and Kylie wanted to give the opportunity to her friend.”

“So what happened? They had a falling-out?”

Alexis shook her head. “They live in San Francisco and she’s a few months pregnant. There was some complication; she’s been put on bed rest. Nothing serious, just a precaution, but ergo . . . she’s certainly not going to be flying to New York any time soon, and certainly can’t be photographing a wedding.”

“Ugh. That sucks,” Leah said sympathetically.

Alexis smiled. “This is why I knew you were right for the job. You get it. You get people.”

Leah rolled her eyes. “You hardly have to sweet talk me into taking a job that’s likely to be the highest-profile wedding of my career.”

Alexis glanced down at her Bloody Mary, stirring a pickled green bean. “Well there is one tiny thing I haven’t mentioned.”

“Bring it.”

Alexis looked up. “It’s a huge wedding. One photographer’s not going to cut it.”

Leah waved her hand. “Oh please. My ego’s not so big I can’t handle a little teamwork. Who else you bringing in?”

Alexis bit her lip, and Leah tensed at the rare unease she saw on her usually confident friend’s face.

Alexis leaned forward and touched her arm. “Leah, you have to know how impossible it is to book one good photographer on short notice in June, much less two, and I’m counting myself lucky because two of the best happened to be available, but . . .”

“But what?” Leah asked, her heart pounding faster as she somehow knew what her friend was trying to say. Knew whose name Alexis was terrified to say.

Alexis’s gaze cut away from hers and fell somewhere over Leah’s shoulder, even as Leah felt the shiver of awareness that someone else had stepped into her personal space.

Alexis glared at the newcomer. “You’re early, Rhodes.”

Leah’s heart stopped, just for a moment. Slowly, she turned around and glanced up into the dark brown eyes of Jason Rhodes.

He pulled a toothpick from his mouth and gave her a slow, sexy once-over. “Hiya, Red. Long time.”

Leah could only shake her head. It had been a long time, but not nearly long enough.

Not only was he the one man on the planet she could absolutely, positively not work with.

He was the one man who Leah had let in close enough to break her heart.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  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!
 

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: HANGING BY A THREAD by JENNA SUTTON

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Hanging by a Thread
Riley O'Brien & Co. #3

By: Jenna Sutton

Releasing June 7, 2016
Berkley Sensation

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In Hanging by a Thread (Riley O'Brien & Co. #3) by Jenna Sutton, Bebe Banerjee knows thirty is too old to still have her virginity. But with spending her time studying and working, she's never had much time to date, let alone find a man she trusts enough to get naked with. However, when Cal O'Brien makes her an offer, she's reluctant but eventually agrees. Not only because she wants him, but because he'll be a good distraction from her other problem -- trying to get out of her upcoming nuptials.

 

Cal O'Brien doesn't know whether to be pleased or shocked that the woman he wants is still a virgin. Too bad she doesn't like him, and would rather trade insults with him than get up close and very personal. Still, he's not about to let her first time be with some random stranger, so he decides to confront Bebe and make her an offer she can't possibly refuse.

 

Although I haven't read the first two books of this series, I absolutely enjoyed this story from start to finish. It was riveting, fast-paced and captivated my attention right from the beginning. Not only because it encompasses the sister's best friend trope, but because I liked how Bebe was trying to decide whether the words she was thinking to describe a virgin were pretty or downright ugly. Yet, it was from the moment she and Cal started to converse that made me read quicker than normal to see how things would progress between them. 

 

The dialogue was entertaining and amusing at times, as Bebe and Cal traded insults. The one at the start where they try to guess what each other would go as to a Halloween costume party made me laugh. However, the dialogue was also intense due to the main characters back stories, especially Bebe's. Her parents are a real piece of work, and I've got to say with parents like hers who needs enemies. Really, the heroine's lucky she has the love and support of not only her best friend but the entire O'Brien family. 

 

I really liked both the main characters, as well as the secondary ones, except for Bebe's family and her fiancé. They were people she didn't need in her life, not when they continued to be so mean towards her. However, Cal's family were the total opposite. They support each other, and aren't afraid to voice their concerns about him getting involved with Bebe, even if Cal tends to ignore them because he's so taken by the heroine and wants her more than he's wanted any woman in his entire life. 

 

Bebe is strong and brave. I liked that she was upfront about her demands that she wanted more than sex with him. That she actually wanted to spend time in his company, and get to know him without them trading insults. But what I liked most about the heroine was that the more time she spends with Cal, the more confident she gets. She's bold in her approach to sex, especially when Cal keeps putting on the brakes until he believes she's ready. So, I could understand why she decided to try to rush their first time together, because after being together for a while and not doing much else but kissing, a woman's patience could start to wear thin.       

 

While Cal, he's kind, confident, and definitely knows how to show a woman a good time in more ways than one. Their dates sounded exciting, and had me smiling because Bebe was getting to do a lot of things for the first time such as learn how to play different sports, and she totally surprised me with how good she was. Then there was the nickname the hero had for Bebe. It was cute, even if she didn't think so.

 

Overall, this was an incredible read where the scorching sex scenes heated up the pages, and illustrated the amazing chemistry these two had from the moment they conversed in the opening chapter. They both went into the arrangement for Cal to show her how good sex could be with eyes wide open, yet it was palpable these two were meant to be together, no matter what obstacles they had to face to achieve their happy ever after.

 

The way this story ended was delightful, as Bebe made the right choice by telling Cal everything about the man she was to marry, and what she did to be set free from her upcoming nuptials. I cheered when she explained what she did. However, it was the epilogue that tied everything up nicely. With the way it revealed the growth of the O'Brien family and how much love they have for each other. I would highly recommend Hanging by a Thread by Jenna Sutton, especially if you enjoy the sister's best friend trope.

 

OVERALL RATING:

       

 

 

 

BLURB
Thirty-year-old Bebe Banerjee is desperate to get rid of two things: her fiancé and her virginity. Escaping her arranged marriage might be impossible, but she refuses to give her firsts to an entitled jerk who lives on another continent. Instead, she devises a plan that guarantees another man will get her momentous firsts. But she never imagined that man would be Cal O’Brien, the gorgeous heir to the Riley O’Brien & Co. denim empire…
 

Although Cal has always been fascinated by Bebe’s brilliant mind and beautiful eyes, he’s never pursued her. She can’t stand the sight of him, and every time they’re in the same room, they end up trading insults. Yet when he finds out about Bebe’s bold plan, he makes his move, unaware of her upcoming nuptials. He promises to make her firsts unforgettable, but he doesn’t know how hard it will be to forget her when their arrangement ends.

 

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Chaste. Untouched. Maiden. Pure. Innocent. The words that described a virgin might sound pretty, but the truth was downright ugly, at least in Bebe Banerjee’s opinion. She was convinced her virginity was the reason her heart raced, her breath seized, and her palms sweated whenever she was near Cal O’Brien.

Bebe surreptitiously studied Cal, trying to ignore the wave of lust that surged over her. If she’d had some experience between the sheets, she was sure she’d be able to handle the way he made her feel.

If she had gotten naked with a few guys, maybe she wouldn’t obsess about his glacier-blue eyes and his thick, dark hair. Maybe she wouldn’t notice the way his jeans clung to his tight behind and long legs. Maybe she wouldn’t fantasize about his lips, his smile, his big hands . . .

Bebe desperately wished she could just avoid him, but his little sister, Teagan, was her best friend. If she wanted to spend time with Teagan, she had to put up with Cal. She said no to a lot of Teagan’s invitations to hang out because of him, and she had to be very careful not to offend her best friend.

That was why the object of her X-rated fantasies stood next to her in a club-level suite at PacBell Park. The San Francisco Giants were in the playoffs, battling against the Atlanta Braves to win the National League pennant, and Teagan had invited her to attend the game in the Riley O’Brien & Co. suite.

Founded by Teagan’s great-great-grandfather, Riley O’Brien & Co. was the nation’s oldest designer and manufacturer of blue jeans. Americans had worn Rileys for nearly two centuries. In fact, Bebe was wearing a pair right now.

Teagan and her brothers were involved in the day-to-day operations of Riley O’Brien & Co. She managed the company’s law department, while her oldest brother, Quinn, served as president and CEO, and Cal handled global marketing and communications. Even Quinn’s wife, Amelia, was involved in the company, heading up the women’s division.

Beside her, Cal shifted slightly and took a pull on his Shiner Bock. He was close enough to touch, and she clenched her hands into fists just in case her fingers suddenly decided to act out her secret fantasies. He didn’t even look her way, and he probably wouldn’t unless he felt the need to toss an insult at her.

“How was Antigua?” Cal asked, directing the question to his sister and her new husband, Nick Priest.

“It was the most amazing place I’ve ever been,” Teagan said, her blue eyes shining and her glossy lips turned up in a smile.

Teagan and Nick had just returned from their three-week honeymoon to the Caribbean island. Both of them were glowing from their tans and their newlywed status.

“We were lucky we had our own private beach because Nick is apparently an exhibitionist,” Teagan added with a lustful gleam in her eyes.

Nick was a former professional football player, and he had been voted as one of the “Sexiest Men Alive” by People magazine. With his blond hair and bright green eyes, he was gorgeous, no doubt about it. But in Bebe’s opinion, he wasn’t nearly as gorgeous as Cal.

No one is as gorgeous as Cal.

Nick leaned down and whispered something into Teagan’s ear, something that was obviously naughty because her face turned the color of cherries. When he straightened to his full six-five and saw her red cheeks, he chuckled.

“You’re so bad,” Teagan muttered, lightly slapping Nick’s chest. In response, he grabbed her hand, hauled her up against him, and kissed her . . . with tongue.

Cal made a gagging noise. “Jesus Christ,” he groaned, “do you have to do that in front of me?”

Teagan pulled away from Nick. “Please,” she shot back, her voice full of disgust. “Do know how many times I had to listen to my high school friends talk about you and your big—”

Much to Bebe’s disappointment, Cal covered his sister’s mouth with his hand and cut off the rest of Teagan’s sentence. She tried to pull his fingers away, and finally she got free by elbowing him in the stomach.

Laughing, Cal stumbled sideways into Bebe, almost knocking her over. He grabbed her forearm to steady her, his hand hot against her skin, and she gasped. Even the slightest touch from him made her pulse pound, and she tugged her arm to get away from him.

Instead of releasing her, his fingers tightened. She looked up . . . way up. He was almost as tall as Nick, and he loomed over her by more than a foot. He was a little leaner than Teagan’s husband but still solid muscle. His faded Giants T-shirt showed off his broad shoulders, impressive biceps, and ropy forearms. He’d paired the shirt with ancient Rileys that fit him like a glove and well-worn boots.

“Sorry about that, Cookie,” Cal apologized offhandedly.

“I told you not to call me that,” she snapped, trying to jerk her arm free.

She hated it when he called her Cookie, and he knew it. Of course, that was why he did it.

He had come up with the nickname right after he’d found out she had a medical degree in addition to her MBA and law degree. He’d claimed it was a better moniker than Bebe since she was such a smart cookie, but she knew it wasn’t a compliment.

“I thought you liked nicknames.” He smiled angelically and widened his eyes to look innocent. “You call Teagan kanya all the time.”

Kanya was Bebe’s nickname for her best friend. It meant “girl” in Hindi, the native language of her Indian ancestors. She had been born and raised in the United States, but using Hindi words was one way she stayed connected to her heritage.

“Teagan and I are friends,” she pointed out.

He got her message loud and clear because his eyes got all squinty. “I can be friendly.”

Yes, he could be friendly. In fact, he was friendly to everyone but her. He never had anything nice to say to her, and she returned the sentiment.

She wasn’t sure who had struck first, probably her, but now they launched verbal missiles at each other with frequency and precision. He went out of his way to be rude and antagonistic, and she did the same.

Bebe knew the real reason she acted like such a bitch around Cal. She liked him, and she didn’t want him to suspect how she really felt. She didn’t want to be the pathetic geeky girl with a crush on the hot guy.

Before Cal, she had never been attracted to any man. She’d never even experienced a high school crush because she had entered the ninth grade when she was twelve and had graduated when she was fifteen. She had immediately headed off to college, and she’d obtained two bachelor’s degrees in three years.

By the time she had been able to vote, she had been in her first year of medical school. She’d become accustomed to being viewed as a study partner rather than a sex partner.

She wasn’t oblivious, though, and over the years, she had noticed good-looking men. But she had never felt that zing of sexual attraction until she had met Cal four years ago. She hated the way he made her feel: gauche, nervous, and overstimulated. When he was near, sounds were louder, colors were brighter, and smells were stronger.

Right now, she could smell him, a panty-soaking aroma of warm male and expensive cologne. It was so delicious, she could barely concentrate on the conversation swirling around her.

“Even though Antigua was amazing, I’m glad to be home,” Teagan said, ignoring Cal and Bebe’s sniping. “I missed everyone. Mom and Dad. Quinn and Amelia. Bebe. Letty.”

“You didn’t miss me?” Cal asked, feigning hurt feelings.

Bebe knew Teagan had intentionally excluded Cal, trying to annoy him. The O’Brien siblings teased one another mercilessly. Their relationship was so different from the one Bebe had with her older brothers.

She rarely talked with Pritam and Ranjit, and when she did, they definitely didn’t tease her. They didn’t even call her Bebe. They insisted on referring to her by her full name, Bindu, which she hated.

“No. I missed Kim more than I missed you,” Teagan replied, referring to the woman who did her nails at the swanky spa she frequented.

Teagan’s snarky response made laughter well in Bebe’s throat. Before she could choke them back, giggles escaped her. Cal stiffened next to her, and she mentally prepared for their next verbal battle.

Ready. Aim. Fire.

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 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

  Jenna Sutton is a former award-winning journalist who traded fact for fiction when she began writing novels. Surprisingly, the research she conducted for her articles provided a lot of inspiration for her books.
 

Jenna is the author of the Riley O’Brien & Co. romances including All the Right Places and Coming Apart at the Seams. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Texas Christian University and a Master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.
 

Jenna and her husband live in a 103-year-old house in Texas affectionately known as “The Money Pit”. You can find out more about her and her books by visiting www.jennasutton.com.
 

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads