Book Review: To Have And To Hold

Author: Lauren Layne
Title: To Have and To Hold
Publisher: Pocket Books
Publish Date: July 26, 2016
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb:  Discovering her fiancé is an international con man just moments before they exchange vows devastates celebrity wedding planner Brooke Baldwin’s business—and breaks her heart. Now a pariah in Los Angeles, she seeks a fresh start in New York City and thinks she’s found it with her first bridal client, a sweet—if slightly spoiled—hotel heiress. Then she meets the uptight businessman who’s holding the purse strings.

Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank check and be done with his sister Maya's fancy-pants wedding. Unfortunately, micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving Maya’s fiancé is a liar. Standing directly in his way is the stunning blonde wedding planner whose practiced smiles and sassy comebacks both irritate and arouse him. He needs Brooke’s help. But can he persuade a wedding planner on a comeback mission to unplan a wedding? And more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning…is theirs?

Review: I really wanted to love this book. I heard good things about the author so I decided to give it a go.

It didn't work for me at all.

I slogged through this book.

I don't know if I'm losing my taste for romance or what but this book annoyed me.

The hero and heroine both had issues. Seth is super controlling and Brooke, well I found her to be stupid, especially when it came to what Seth was saying about his sister's fiance. The Maya and Neil relationship was probably the only reason that I finished this book. I wanted to find out what was up with the guy, because you knew he wasn't going to be the one for Maya.

In fact, that particular story line felt like something I had read before.

I also couldn't understand why there was such a huge deal made about Seth having the guy investigated. I felt a little less so when he investigated Clay, because his relationship with her was rather rocky, but his sister? To me that sounded like something any loving, wealthy brother would do when his sister seemed to be making a huge mistake.

The other thing that really bothered me was the lack of any real reason for a relationship between Brooke and Seth. They don't have anything in common at all. I never quite get it when characters have nothing to go on. I'm sorry if only gorgeous people hook up, no one would ever get married.

I think I'm going to stick by my standbys when it comes to romance or maybe just give up on this genre for awhile.