Review: Black Tie Optional (Wild Wedding #1) by Ann Marie Walker

Black Tie Optional (Wild Wedding #1) by Ann Marie Walker

The Proposal meets Two Weeks Notice in Ann Marie Walker's new standalone romantic comedy, Black Tie Optional, which New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst calls, "a fun, sexy romp that will keep every reader entertained!"

Everything about Coleman Grant III oozes power and sex. And not the perfunctory kind either, but the sheet clawing, heart stopping, gasping for air after you’ve screamed so loud you can’t breathe kind. From his dark wavy hair that stands in an artfully rumpled mess, to the blue eyes that sear your skin, to his full, sensual lips - on the surface he’s pure perfection.

Too bad he's an asshole. An arrogant, uptight corporate raider hell bent on destroying the environment one species at a time.

Everything about Olivia Ramsey screams hippie humanitarian. From her blond hair tied in a sloppy bun, to her faded jeans with the Bonnaroo patch sewn on the thigh, to her combat boots still splattered with mud from the previous day’s site visit.

So it makes perfect sense that they would get married. In Vegas. Stone-cold sober. Cole needs a wife. Olivia needs to save an endangered species. But what starts as a marriage of convenience soon turns into a battle of wills and sexual tension. Love is a game, and Olivia and Cole are ready to win.

3 out of 5 stars

This had a fun vibe and was a super entertaining read! I loved the idea of an enemies to lovers story so I was really looking forward to diving in. Cole and Olivia were both pretty stubborn characters in a very unique situation so it made for some really great scenes between the two. This is definitely a case of opposites attract and I liked the pull they had on one another.

Cole and Olivia were interesting characters but I never fully connected with them. I liked Cole but he was so hard during the majority of the book I never really warmed up to him until that last 25% of the book. I liked Olivia well enough but never felt like I really knew who she was. They had a lot of fun encounters and I liked their verbal sparring and animosity. That being said, I am a huge fan of animosity between characters and while I enjoyed it, I have to say it got drawn out and a bit excessive. It was nice getting to see them finally open up but it took a while to get there.

I did enjoy the book, I just had some issues with the characters which made it really hard to connect and love it. Here’s the thing though, I had a hard time putting it down so even though some things felt fast paced and other things felt drawn out, and the characters frustrated me, I kept right on reading because I wanted my HEA. Yes, some things were predictable and a bit over the top but it made for an entertaining read none the less.

Complimentary copy received for honest review.