Planning For Love by Erin Dutton is a lesbian romance that shows how love can develop from the unlikeliest of places.
Faith McKenna is a wedding planner and she’s damn good at her job, helping brides achieve the weddings of their dreams. She doesn’t believe in marriage or happily ever after, though, so she’s more than happy to oblige if a bride’s dreams include one last fling with a woman before settling down for the rest of her life.
Rachel Union is shocked and horrified when she walks in on her very straight best friend, Violet, getting down with her wedding planner. Against her better judgement, Rachel agrees not to tell Violet’s fiance, under the condition that Faith makes sure Violet walks down the aisle. Rachel doesn’t trust Faith and doesn’t know what to think about Violet, so she watches them with an eagle eye to ensure their botched tumble doesn’t get a second chance. Despite their first meeting, Rachel finds that the more time she spends with Faith, the more she sees that Faith is funny, lovely and someone Rachel can’t seem to get out of her mind.
The Characters
Both Faith and Rachel do a lot of changing and growing in this book, and I like that they do it in ways that are good for them as individuals and not just so that they fit together as a couple. I didn’t love that Rachel is an enormous jerk to Faith for quite a while, but I also understand why and I appreciated the way her change of heart happened.
Also, high five to Swan for being one of the cutest kittens in lesfic. The interactions between him and Faith were adorable and I loved when he’d push his luck with her!
The Writing Style
Planning for Love has an engaging style that kept me hooked from the first page to the last. While I can’t really call it an enemies-to-lovers romance, there’s definitely a hate-to-love aspect that’s so well done that it’s delicious.
The Pros
Everything worked for me!
The Cons
People who don’t like to see cheating in romance novels won’t love that the story opens with Violet and Faith getting it on or that Faith has a history of banging brides. It didn’t bother me at all, but it’s one of those “your mileage may vary” kind of things.
The Conclusion
Erin Dutton knows what’s up when it comes to writing romance, and she did a fabulous job with Planning for Love. It’s sexy, sweet, and well worth checking out. I’ll be reading this one again!
Excerpt from Planning For Love by Erin Dutton
“What’s next?”
“We start looking at photographers, caterers, entertainment, and florists. It’s early yet to book, but she should get an idea of what she wants. There’s actually a wedding expo next week at the convention center. If Violet is free, I’d like to take her. It’s a good place to see a number of vendors in one place. You’re welcome to tag along, of course.”
“I will. Tag along. Of course.” Rachel didn’t bother trying to cover up her sarcasm.
“This must be tough for you.”
“What?”
“Babysitting us, when you so clearly hate me.”
“I don’t know you well enough to hate you. Though you’ve certainly done some things I don’t like and can’t respect.”
“I suppose you’ll get to know me better over the next eight months. Then you can hate me properly.”
Faith’s self-derisive tone caught Rachel off guard, and she didn’t censor her next words. “Why do they do it?”
“You should ask Violet.”
The teenage boy collecting the shopping carts from the parking lot came to the cart corral nearest them and began loudly pushing all the carts together.
Rachel stepped closer, both so she could be heard and so they wouldn’t be overheard. “I’m asking you.”
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Bits and Bobs
- ISBN number: 9781626399549
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Erin Dutton Online
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Note: I received a free review copy of Planning For Love by Erin Dutton. No money was exchanged for this review. I will always review books as honestly as possible and on occasion I refuse to review books.
