To Have and to Hold

Layne (Good Girl) begins a contemporary series with this lengthy, predictable story of a wedding planner recovering from the disastrous disruption of her own wedding and a CEO with very little use for the institution of marriage. Brooke had it all: a successful wedding planning career in L.A. and a wonderful fiancé with whom she was planning the wedding of her dreams. Then her groom was taken away in handcuffs. Now she’s in New York, trying to establish her reputation all over again. Her first wedding is for the sister of business magnate Seth Tyler. Seth had one bout with love that soured him on the idea—until he met his sister’s wedding planner. As the passion heats up between them, their pasts come calling. This engaging tale has a light, fun style, but the plot suffers from an excess of repetition and a rehashing of tired romance tropes. It borders on unrealistic without the diversion of actually slipping over into fantasy. However, enough teases are given about the other “Wedding Belles” to create genuine interest in where their stories lead. Agent: Nicole Resciniti, Seymour Agency. (Aug.)