When Best Friends Become More
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Source: Review Copy from Author
NOTE: This is the second installment of The Wedding Planners series by L.L. Diamond. While each story is stand alone, I’d recommend reading them in order to better become acquainted with each character and the origins of their individual story/relationships.
The Wedding Planners by L.L. Diamond is a fun and flirty contemporary romance series that takes place in the small-town of Marysville, South Carolina. Sisters Ellie and Jena Barrett run a wedding/event planning business with their good friend Charlie Taylor. Each story in this series focuses on a specific heroine and is loosely inspired by a different Jane Austen novel. It’s Always Been Us has some lovely Sense and Sensibility vibes (just a little bit) and follows Jena Barrett, who has had some bad luck with romance lately, and is looking at her dear childhood friend Brandon Taylor in a new way…
As I mentioned in my review of book one of this series, It’s Always Been You, some of what I love most about this series is its charming small-town setting in South Carolina and the fact that these three friends work together and are savvy and successful women business-owners. I was so happy to return to this cozy and warm setting L.L. Diamond constructed, and I thoroughly loved her details and descriptions of southern living, summer fun, and weddings…I kinda wish I can take a week-long trip to Marysville to hang out with these characters and explore all the places mentioned in these books – including the plantation home in Beaufort!
But what I loved most about this story is Brandon Taylor – oh my goodness – dare I say it? I loved him more than William Davies (from book 1)! I loved everything about Brandon. Everything! He is genuine, gentle, and patient. I love how he understands his own heart, and like Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility, he selflessly and patiently waits for Jena to be ready for his love. And one last point in his favor is that he works as a veterinarian alongside his dad – I mean c’mon…if he isn’t the unassuming, dependable, yet swoon-worthy boy next door, I don’t know who is!
While Brandon Taylor has Colonel Brandon written all over him, we don’t see many other Sense and Sensibility connections. Although Jena did have her heart-broken by Conner Willoughby, she is more reserved in her emotions and has grown more cautious when it comes to her heart (she seems to have more in common with Jane Bennet than she does Marianne Dashwood – which is an interesting twist!)
I am so happy L.L. Diamond chose to explore a friends-to-lovers romance with these characters. And while I loved many aspects of Brandon’s and Jena’s relationship together, I found myself wanting a little bit more. They had the chemistry and the history, but it felt like maybe they were missing some depth and dialogue. Both characters have a habit of avoiding each other or isolating themselves when faced with obstacles, and I would have liked seeing some internal reflection and analyzation happen in those moments alone and honest discussions together afterwards.
2nd NOTE: Similar to It’s Always Been You, this story has several intimate romantic scenes and uses of strong language – I’d recommend it for Mature Audiences.
It’s Always Been Us is another vibrant and engaging contemporary romance by L.L. Diamond – perfect for summer! Ms. Diamond has a wonderful talent for creating likable characters, capturing charming small-town vibes, and crafting together a captivating modern-day romance! I cannot wait to read the last book in this series, It’s Always Been You and Me.
I have enjoyed reading Leslie’s series that includes this book. She has a way of pulling me into the story! Congrats on another winner!
Thank you, Brenda!
Agreed!! I am loving this contemporary series!
I’m glad that you enjoyed Jena’s story! I love Marysville and can’t seem to leave it. LOL! I’m 15 chapters into Maggie’s story and hopefully, I’ll get to finish it soon! Thanks for the great review!
This is the most fantastic new!!! I had no idea!! Yay!! I am wondering what Austen slant it might take…maybe I will have a clue when I read book 3!!!
I honestly don’t know how much of an Austen slant this one has. With the others, I had that slant in mind before I started writing. This one I just had a storyline I went with and didn’t consider the slant so it’s more of an original story than the rest. I felt like I had a loose end with something I had in Maggie’s story that I became interested in. There are the original couples and of course an entire host of Austen-inspired characters that we’ve either heard about or met in the previous books. It was just fun to be back in Marysville again. 🙂
What a great series this is! I love my Darcy and Elizabeth stories but these are close enough for me!
Like you Meredith, I’d love to visit here (especially if we could meet up with these characters, wink wink)
What’s this Leslie? Another in this series? I’m looking forward to that!
Thank you!
I have a 4th in the works. Maggie came into the picture a bit more in Charlie’s story and so did Elliot 🙂 I decided to have some fun by writing their story. I also have an idea for a short novella at some point. It would be more of a follow up than a love story. I’m not definite on that one yet. I’m itching to write another Regency once I get these last few chapters pounded out (I’m in the middle of 15). The move has slowed me down considerably. Right now without furniture, I can’t get comfy and write. I’ve tried, but my back injury is making it impossible. I just can’t write while I’m hurting. It’s slowly healing, so hopefully I’ll be able to get really moving with it again soon. Thanks, Glynis!
I am thrilled to hear it, Glynis!
Yes, we can grill in the backyard together, walk to the river and play with sweet Freya!
It sounds like the perfect summer read!
It truly is…I feel like it is just what I needed!
another beach read!
A bit of one. This one starts 4th of July and takes us from there 🙂 Thanks!
Coastal small towns are a fab setting for any time of the year!
I have enjoyed this series so much!! Another wonderful and compelling read, Leslie!! Thanks for a terrific review, Meredith!!
Warmly,
Susanne 🙂
Thank you so much, Susanne!
I am so pleased to hear you are loving it as much as I am!
It goes without saying that I’m kind of partial to L.L. Diamond’s writing, and The Wedding Planners series is one area where I go out of my comfort zone of reading only Regency romances to enjoy her skill at contemporary romance. I look forward to the fourth book. I appreciate your review, Meredith.
And I’m so close on that 4th book! This move just coincided with that lull that always happens at about 3/4 of the way through. I’ll get there eventually 🙂 Thanks, Suzan!
Thank you so much for checking out my review! I for one am so glad Leslie is writing more contemporary romance stories – she does it so well!