Ivy Rhodes is the best wedding planner in Chicago. She’s professional, competent and highly in demand…until one of her brides signs up for a trashy reality TV show filmed by irresistible videographer Bennett Westcott.
Bennett used to have an exciting career in journalism before a scandal took everything from him and left him working on bridal TV shows. But there are perks – like meeting beautiful women at weddings.
The chemistry between Bennett and Ivy is scorching hot, and he thinks he’s hit the jackpot with a woman who knows their relationship will be limited to one night and one day. But when Ivy’s desire for love and a family becomes clear, he takes off…only to discover his next assignment is to follow her around videoing her for her own TV show.
This is the first Christi Barth novel I’ve read but it certainly won’t be the last. Christi Barth writes exactly the kind of contemporary romance I love: smart, sassy and real. She wraps deep emotion in humor, like in this scene where Ivy tells Bennett he should be proud of what he’s made of his life after he lost his first career:
“Against all odds, you persevered. Forged a new path for yourself. Succeeded so well you were promoted after a year. You’re not a quitter, and you’re certainly not a failure. That took courage, and strength, and drive and talent. I’m so proud of you, Ben.”
The break in her voice undid him. He turned into her embrace, wrapped his arms around her and hugged like he’d never hugged before. How did she see things in him he didn’t even know were there? Ben breathed deep of her sunny scent, burying his face in the silken brown strands cascading across his face like a soft river.
“You make me sound like an amazing man. A guy I’d like to sit down with and have a beer.” He pulled back to drop a kiss in the center of her forehead. Better lighten the modd, before he broke down into a blubbering fool at Ivy’s knees to thank her for propping him back up. “And then pick his brain for tips on women, because anyone that awesome must have an easy time scoring.”
“I don’t think you require any help in that department. Your bedpost is probably whittled down to the width of a toothpick from all the notches it’s racked up.”
“Ouch. From her to man-slut in two sentences. You know how to keep a guy’s ego in check.”
“All part of the package.”
Funny, hot, clever and full of fantastic female friends – Planning for Love has it all!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Heat: Hot
Have you read Planning for Love or any other Christi Barth novels? What did you think?
Lovely review, Kat! And the excerpt is very intriguing. Bennett is a great name & I immediately thought of Austin Bennett from one of my favorite books “One Fine” Day” by Theresa Weir 🙂
I haven’t read any of Christie Barth’s books, but I love watching the wedding shows (my guilty pleasure) and this sounds like a really great read. Can’t wait to get my hands on it.