Oh dear, my two least favorite tropes: enemies-to-lovers and "this could all have been avoided if we communicated like adults." There's not even an interesting plot or engaging characters to save this flop.

Makeup artist Lane is a pro at wedding make up by this point. So when her best friend Darcy’s picks her sister as maid of honour instead of herself as planned.... things go a little off course. Add to it the fact that her industry 'enemy' Helen will be wedding planner for the event and it's sure to be an interesting event...

I love wedding planning, enemies to lovers romance and LGBTQIA+ rep... despite that this wasn't really my cup of tea. The characters felt frustrating and the relationships annoying. It probably doesn't help that the miscommunication trope is my achille's heel.

Interesting story, but not for me.

This book focuses on Lane and Helen. Lane is a make-up artist who was going to be her friend, Darcy's , maid of honor until she is persuaded by her mother and picks her sister instead. Lane is disappointed, but not as disappointed when she finds out who the wedding planner is, Helen.
Lane and Helen have worked on many weddings together and they both dislike the other. However, for this wedding to work, the two must put aside their differences and try to get along. Once they do that, the disllike for one another turns into something else.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Who doesn't love an enemies to lovers trope filled book involving the wedding industry. I could totally see this as tv movie if any of those channels ever get the nerve.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC for an honest review.

It’s All in the Details by Dena Blake

Romance | LGBT representation | Age Gap

•Makeup artist Lane is gutted when her best friend Darcy chooses her sister, Audrey to be her maid of honor. Darcy also picks Helen to be her wedding planner who Lane can’t stand. When the matron of honor throws their plans into a chaotic mess, Lane and Helen team up to give Darcy the wedding of her dreams.
•Let’s begin with my biggest question. Why is the matron of honor planning the wedding when there is a wedding planner? Did I miss something? It seemed like the dialogue was forced and unnatural to me. Moving on to positives. This was unique and fun read where the main characters had interesting careers. I just didn’t gel with this book overall but you might so if you are looking for a short read this could be your next book.

★★★ 3/5

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really have mixed feelings about this one.
I will start with the things I liked : I am always in for an enemies to lovers trope. I liked seeing Lane opening her eyes on Helen. And it is explained later in the book why Helen behave that way and I appreciate the twist. I really liked Helen's character and I loved to read her finding her happiness. The book has a really good pace with some drama all along, keeping the reader on his toes.
Now there were points that prevented me from embracing the book totally.
First point is the other side of the coin about the drama taking place the whole book. Of course no relationship is easy, but in this case the relationship between our two MCs felt like two step ahead, one step backward and it was frustrating. There were also some repetitions of Lane realizing Helen wasn't the one she thought even after 52% of the book. I think the term she was learning more and more about things about Helen she didn't expect would be more adequate, past the step of realizing her first impression was wrong.
Second point was the miscommunication tool : it was used a lot and it's not my favorite but it's 100% personal. I still dont understand Darcy's lack of interest in her own wedding.Third point was my main issue : like expected, I really hate Audrey and Gwen because they were just plain mean, but I didn't really like some characters I was supposed to. I think Darcy is a terrible friend and Lane's behavior toward Helen was close to be deal breaker to me. Even if it is by fear of getting hurt, I could not forgive her in the end. Maybe it was because the drama is resolved really late in the book and I couldn't help but have a taste of unfinished in my mouth : unanswered questions like Helen's professional future, does she open a business, maybe include Lane? How are they as a real happy couple? I would love a bonus epilogue here.
This book didn't speak to me but it's a light fun read and maybe I will speak to other readers.

Dena never disappoints, her catalog is the best. This book will definitely go into my collection of yearly re-reads. I love a good enemies to lovers and this book did not disappoint.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Dena Blake does not disappoint when it comes to deliver love stories. This new book is a light and entertaining read that will keep you turning pages.
Lane and Helen keep running into each other thanks to their jobs, and the hostility between them is palpable. When in a turn of events they are forced to collaborate with each other, their chemistry flares and what Lane saw as a snobbish and standoffish attitude in Helen might have been a cover for something else. Watch this two women navigate the difficult world of trying to please a bride and keep family ties tight, while an old secret is uncovered that just might have the power to pull these women apart.

Good story. A true enemies to lovers romance. The antics that happened throughout this story was both cringe worthy and hilarious. The main characters couldn't stand each other, but there was always something more to it especially when both had to work together to make Daddy's wedding a happy one. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and family and if you like anything that mentions weddings and enemies then this is the book for you. I look forward to what's next from this author.

Bring on the drama!

Lane and Helen have a complicated relationship working at weddings and trying to deceive themselves they don’t have feelings for one another. When Lane’s best friend Darcy involves her in her wedding, she is forced into close proximity with Helen to help with the planning, but as things start getting chaotic, they have to put their differences aside.

This was everything I expected from a romance where the main characters are partly in denial and have a complicated relationship already. It was great how circumstances forced them together and made them realise that when they really took time to try to get to know one another they were pleasantly surprised about what they discovered. As was I. Helen and Lane had this tension right from the beginning that set up the premise they were never going to get along, even if once they were further away from one another they knew neither was as bad as they were making them in their head.

There were so many fun moments when they really got planning the wedding but you just had this feeling that something was going to creep up and cause the drama. Of course that came in the typical form when Darcy changed her plans to have her sister as her maid of honor rather than Lane, I was actually glad she had Helen to reassure her that they were doing the right things. And that was actually the catalyst that really gave them the chance to connect and explore the feelings they actually had for one another.

I really loved every second of this and by the end was so happy for Lane and Helen for taking their own chance at happiness despite the chaos they were managing. It was a real drama packed, beautiful romance, with everything you could want from weddings, to cute moments with cake!

Helen Trent doesn’t like it when her mother asks her to plan the wedding for one of her friends, especially when it’s only three months away. In one breath her mom was asking her for the favor or complaining about her poor choice of being a wedding planner. Helen just couldn’t win. She has tried other careers but none bring her the satisfied feeling of pulling a special day for others.
Lane Donnelly looks forward to being the bridesmaid at her best friend's wedding, as well as providing her skills as a makeup artist for the bridal party. But when Darcy hires Helen she has no choice but to suck it up. Helen was the planner she and her bride had chosen but when her bride left Lane at the altar she was embarrassed that Helen would see her and know how broken she was after her escape from marrying, possibly to a woman that when she really thought about it just wasn’t for her.
Now here they are along with Darcy’s sister Audrey, a woman know one seemed to like, apparently for good reasons. Now Audrey is the matron of honor for her sister and Helen and Lane were left with the mess that was Audrey.
Ms Blake has given us a good story with some really likable characters
(Audrey isn't that likable). A very, very nice romance
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

A slow burn melting of the irritated, I am not sure you would call it Ice Queen. That irritation carried on to some of the supporting characters, Helen’s sister was hideous and then shallow BF Darcy and her idiotic sister, not to far behind and as for the Ex, what a piece.
I am so glad the MC’s got there in the end after all interference and misunderstanding. They had to work so hard to get there but they did, so kudos to their perseverance.
So I’m a little torn with this book, I think the drama was a little over done and this took away from my experience reading this book.

please why was this so cute? i just want to give this romance a good hug. have i gone mad? the third act conflict felt a bit rushed but because of the cuteness level, it's forgiven.

thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this one a lot. There was an enemies to lovers feel to it throughout. I did feel as though some of the drama was literally just some miscommunication stuff and could have been solved with a single conversation. Regardless, I liked how the main characters knees each other. I thought it was a pretty good read and would recommend it.

I thought the book was well written. The characters were interesting. It started out slow but picked up pace in the middle. Overall, a pleasant read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.

Lane Donnelly is a makeup artist who works for weddings, and she is continually running into Helen Trent, a local wedding planner. Helen is ice cold and really rubs Lane the wrong way. ALL THE TIME. The problem is, she's also hot AF.

Lane's best friend Darcy is getting married, and Darcy and Helen's parents are both part of the country club where the wedding is going to take place in only three short months. When Helen's mom offers Darcy's family her wedding planning services, Lane and Helen need to learn to work together, stat!

Part of the problem is that Darcy's mom and sister have convinced her to have her sister as the matron of honor, but Darcy wants Lane to work with the wedding planner and basically overrule her sister. Her sister is too busy to show up to any of the planning sessions, but is still determined to push for wedding plans Lane KNOWS Darcy would hate.

Although this started out a little slowly, I enjoyed the two main characters, and I really enjoyed the chemistry and banter between them. The plot (and a mini mystery to keep you reading!) was really engaging through the middle of the book, but it fell a little flat for me at the end.

I thought it was really strange that Lane was taking point on all the wedding stuff, for Darcy's wedding, but Darcy was not really ever consulted. I don't know anything about wedding planning, but that just felt weird to me.

This was a cute story with two strong and independent women. If you enjoy sapphic romance stories about makeup, weddings, and independent women, this one might be for you!

[Thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Lane is disappointed when her best friend Darcy chose her sister Audrey to be her maid of honor even though she was forced into it. Lane decides to make the best of it and makes sure Darcy gets the wedding of her dreams. Helen is the wedding planner after her mother rope her into it. Lane and Helen runs in the same circle and sometimes clash and there is reason why but when they have to work together they learn things about each other that have them seeing each other in a new light. Lane and Helen grow closer even though Lane has been hurt by her ex fiancé and she doesn’t know why but tries to put it behind her. Helen loves giving people their perfect wedding even if she doesn’t have one herself she happy that others has it. Sweet romance with enough angst to give Lane and Helen fighting a chance to be happy.

Lane Donnelly does the books for her fathers plumbing business and also runs a side business of doing make-up for weddings and events. Helen Trent in a wedding planner and loves bring about the perfect wedding for the couple. As the book starts there seems to be animosity between Helen and Lane as they meet at different weddings in the Dallas area. There is a reason and backstory that gets explained eventually.

Helen’s mother asks her to take on a wedding with only a few months lead time. As it turns out the wedding is for Lane’s best friend Darcy. And while Lane isn’t the maid of honor she is asked to help Darcy’s sister (MOH), plan the wedding. The sister is intentionally sabotaging causing Lane and Helen to work together to keep plans moving along. On the surface this is light story with lots of extras including involved family members, pressure to meet family expectations, etc.

But I was frustrated by small things. First Lane is essentially making decisions for the whole wedding, food, music, cake etc. Everything I know about MOH duties is they oversee the bridal party (dresses, shower, bachelorette) so the premise felt like a real reach. There didn’t seem to be a reason for Darcy not to be a part of all those discussions. I was very invested in Helen’s story of wanting to go into business for herself and that went no where. And I was confused if Helen was working for another company how she could also do this wedding on the side. I found it ridiculous that Lane wouldn’t check in with Darcy before everything blows up. And when the blow up happens Darcy and Lane's reactions are immature lashing out. Also family is very important to both women and their first meetings with each others families doesn't go smoothly. I was disappointed not to see those first impressions get corrected. Lastly, the rushed ending left me with many of my questions unanswered. What happens to Darcy’s sister? the wedding itself? and any future plans, family acceptance, working together etc. The potential for a better story is there but instead there is a short break-up angst moment and a quick fix.

Overall it starts slowly, the middle is good with lots of plot building and romance, and then a rush ending that didn’t personally satisfy me. I liked both of the main characters, their jobs and them having a romance. Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I leaving a voluntary review.

I enjoyed it more when the mains had a bit more interaction together. Mystery was hinted at and I kept reading but certainly for the first third wasn't gripped. I would say I was never gripped. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, or had to force myself to keep reading, but I wasn’t all in. The “I don’t like her…. Do I?” felt a bit overdone. Currently there is no real tension around why the mains can’t be together, apart from their history of not getting on which isn’t really backed up in scenes I read, but was in sentences that told me.
Despite being irritated at another break up arc, and to be honest, annoyed by it, I was quite tense reading it. Mainly tho because I had one eye on the amount left in the book and the breakup. I thought I was going to be left on a cliff hanger. I wasn’t, but I also didn’t get a long enough happy ending for me.

First thought: I love all romance, to me love is love! I see myself as an ally I wanted to start diversifying my reading, as this is an area that was lacking. This was my first LGBTQIAP+ Romance and it didn’t disappoint.

Lane is a wedding makeup artist who comes from a hard working family of plumbers. She was recently left at the alter by her previous fiancée. She works hard and if there is one thing she can’t stand it’s the ice queen and it seems they always have to work together.

Meet Helen aka the ice queen. She comes from a privileged family who has high expectations for her future and they disapprove of her working as a wedding planner. She is struggling to find balance between what she wants and what her family expects.

Lane and Helen are thrown together to plan Lane’s BF Darcy’s wedding. They must join forces to prevent Darcy’s sister from ruining her big day. Little do they know this will set them down an unforgettable journey that could lead to either love or disaster.

This book was well written, the character were engaging and you truly invested in their development. There was a little enemy to lover trope as well as angsty romance mixed it. I just wished the ends didn’t wrap up some quickly as I wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet.