Take a reliable plot of rich guy needs wife to keep inheritance and "hippie" environmentalist willing to marry him in exchange for relocation of one of his projects to save an endangered bat. Or something. Nice little beach read but was hoping for more reasons to believe they would fall in love. It was more connecting on sexual attraction which is fine but just couldn't buy her not telling her parents but actually telling annoying ex-boyfriend. Wanted to see her realize his good qualities and him hers. More - sigh, they're falling in love as opposed to the sex is so good we must be in love.

4.5 Stars!

I really enjoyed Black Tie Optional by Ann Marie Walker. It is well-written, extremely hot, and fast-paced. This is the first book from the author's brand new series, Wild Wedding, and it can be read as a standalone. This is a wonderfully executed marriage of convenience romance.

I really felt the evolving love connection between the two main characters, environmentalist Olivia Ramsey, and billionaire businessman Coleman Grant III. Olivia's humanitarian efforts are a real thorn in Cole's side, while Cole's arrogance and CEO persona truly turn Olivia off. They marry in Las Vegas and live in Chicago, where Cole's manipulative and powerful grandmother reigns supreme. Cole needs a wife to inherit his family's company and Olivia needs funding to save the bats. They are an odd match made in heaven.

This novel is chock full of discovery, a little jealousy, and an amazing chemistry between Olivia and Cole. Ms. Walker's ability to craft loving and hot sex scenes left me wanting more. Cassie, Olivia's best friend, is a spunky woman and I would like to learn more about her. Overall, this is a solid marriage of convenience romance that twists and turns in all the right places.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

This battle of opposites was an entertaining read! Coleman, Cole, Grant is everything Olivia Ramsey despises. As a convinced environmental activist, she is a staunch opponent to ruthless businessmen's approach to environmental matters. Cole is an influential and arrogant business tycoon and also happens to be her main target. She has made a habit of harassing him during his morning coffee run, to convince him of the validity of her cause in defense of endangered species. I loved her tenacity and determination to pester him! She is convinced that Cole will eventually give in to her demands.

Cole has a lot on his plate. He has to marry before his thirtieth birthday or the control over the Grant estate will revert to his scheming grandmother. A marriage of convenience would save him from ruin and could be a profitable business transaction, with billions at stake. He is convinced that Olivia would be the best person to fool his grandmother. In exchange, he is willing to back her conservation project. His grandmother is not a sweet old lady, though, but a shrewd and manipulative snake.

Olivia and Cole are the best allies and they respect each other’s opinion, even if they don’t always agree. I loved their banter, the warm and cozy interactions. They have forged an emotional connection and lines are blurred. The marriage for show might become a reality. Olivia is compassionate and her passion for life is contagious, but she always remains true to her convictions.

This book combines two favorite tropes of mine: enemies to lovers and the marriage of convenience. This was a great recipe for a fun and sexy read. Granted, the plot is nothing new, but the characters are easy to love and engaging.

An advanced copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley.

OMG!!! I adored, adored this book! It was a 5 + star book for me. Coleman Grant III and Olivia Ramsey are COMPLETE OPPOSITES! He’s represents capitalism and corporation, and she is an environmentalist, but together seem to work. They are the epitome of the saying, “opposites attract.”

Cole goes to the same coffee shop each morning before work, and like clockwork, Olivia is waiting for him, with posters in hand, to confront him every single morning that his corporation is hurting an endangered species of bat. Of course, he does not take her seriously. The banter between the two of them is hilarious. Each seem to despise the other, but somehow that hatred has turned into a primal lust! When the two meet up by sheer coincidence at a wedding in Vegas, they spend an unforgettable night together.

“At first, he’d found her to be nothing more than an annoyance, an almost amusing distraction to his morning routine. That quickly changed thanks to her relentless nature and escalating tactics; but while his contempt for the smart-mouthed activist had grown over time, somehow it also morphed into a twister form of attraction, an all-consuming lust that ran just below the surface of hate.”

You might think it would end in a walk of shame…nope, it ends in a marriage proposal. No, they aren’t drunk…they are quite sober. He needs to marry her to save his company, and she agrees to marry him in exchange for his financially backing her conservation effort for saving the endangered bat she is trying to save. Only three months. Not hard, right? Not where these two are concerned. They don’t know whether to kill each other or give into their lust for one another.

I love it when two headstrong characters fall for each other, when they lose their self-control. Cole and Olivia are very much obstinate and in control. I loved watching these two fall in love. I could easily see it happening, but those two would never admit it until it was staring them right in their faces, and they couldn’t deny it anymore. They annoy the crap out of each other, but they also challenge the other and begin to re-think their initial judgements of one another. It’s truly a sexy, sweet romance that will leave you with a big smile on your face.

I have again found a new writer that has raced to the top of my favorite authors. I will definitely be reading more by Anne Marie Walker. The icing on the cake is the special preview of her next book in the series, ironically, Icing on the Cake.

***Read and Reviewed for Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews***

I loved this one! Enemies to lovers and marriage of convenience with fantastic banter. Light, sexy and fun - this book was perfect!

Black Tie Optional is the first novel in the Wild Wedding series by Ann Marie Walker.

Over the past few months, Coleman Grant III stop for his morning coffee means running into the irritating hippy known as Olivia Ramsey. It's a tedious way to start the day but pales in comparison to the huge issue he has with regards to the company he runs...the one he may lose. When Ms Ramsay just happens to be attending the same event in Las Vegas as he is, Cole decides on a business proposition that will not only resolve his business predicament but rid him of the hippy chick too. Only, his plans don't unfold as he expects.

Olivia Ramsey's passion for saving endangered species has led her into the daily path of Coleman Grant III. He's a typical, stubborn corporate CEO who lacks compassion for the environment, even if he is drop-dead gorgeous. When their paths cross at an event in Las Vegas and Cole suggests a solution to her latest wildlife cause, she accepts. However, three months living as Mrs Grant doesn't turn out to be quite as she expected.

The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable between the sworn enemies as they reach their temporary ceasefire...marriage! On the surface, both appear to be as unalike as chalk and cheese, but as they get to know each other, both are trying to come to terms with events from the past. Issues that have to be overcome if they want to move forward in the lives either alone or together.

I loved the author's writing style and how she moved the relationship between Cole and Olivia along as the sexual tension between them became increasingly combustible. Entertained, I remained engaged within the book as the storyline unfolded. As the main antagonist within the plot, my only criticism is the way the Grandmother's role faded away without any explanation. Despite this, Black Tie Optional is a highly entertaining read. It's the first novel I've read by Ms Walker and I'll definitely be following future releases in this series.

Overall, the first novel in the Wild Wedding series is a fun, flirty and sexy, enemies to lovers romance… a perfect read for a hot Summer's day by the pool.

4 stars

***arc generously received courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley***

Lighthearted, sexy and fun.

He wants to keep his family’s empire. She wants to save the endangered species that’s being threatened by his empire’s latest development. The only way for Coleman Grant III and Olivia Ramsey to get what they both want is to compromise and… get married in Las Vegas? Because that’s what two sane people who despise each other on site because they’re completely opposite and have nothing in common do right? RIGHT?

Well, perhaps there is ONE thing they have in common, and that’s the outrageous attraction to one another that’s been building for the last three months during Olivia’s daily coffee run Coleman stalking. And sometime between their mutually beneficial business transaction in Vegas, a.k.a. their marriage by Elvis, dancing at banquets and moving in together to keep up appearances lines got blurred and feelings got involved. Can they have the empire, save the endangered bats and find happiness?

I loved how fun and carefree this book was. It’s engaging, with a good pace that had me smiling and laughing and before I knew it I had read it in a single sitting.

Coleman comes off as a great big dough-canoe, with a great big stick up the wazoo a no regards for anything or anyone except for what benefits or interests him. And except from his strikingly good looks which continually distract Olivia, there’s nothing that seems to be appealing about him. But when they’re forced to interact, Olivia gets to know the man behind the ridiculously good looks and panty melting bedroom moves and as it turns out, the inside does match the outside.

What can I say about a woman who sticks to her guns especially when it comes to save the planet? I. LOVED. OLIVIA! She’s quirky, fun and dedicated and I’m so glad she could appeal to Coleman and find her happy with him. Besides their obvious attraction, the back and forth between Coleman and Olivia was teasing and highly entertaining.

The story has a pretty cheerful, sexy and fun feel to it with a decidedly sweet happy ending. Black Tie Option is a standalone contemporary romance by Ann Marie Walker. Told from both points of view.

I loved it.
I will caution some friends right up front. This book is steamy. This book is somewhat graphic in the bedroom rated a 3 for heat in the description and the language is well let me just say there is a lot!

But, the story is great. The characters are great! All of them!
Well one isn't such a charmer but every great story needs 1!

From page 1 I loved Olivia and Cole. The banter between the them was playful at least most of the time and funny.

They each tell themselves that they hate the other. But deep down they don't. It takes them a while to discover how they really feel about about each other while taking the reader on a fun and somewhat wild ride during their romance.

I loved visiting Olivia's farm home. Her parents were delightful.
The chapter(s) during the visit I think were my favorite part
of the book. I am probably biased but I enjoyed the visit to the farm.

Olivia's friend Cassie was fun to get to know. I hope she and the rest of the cast is in the next book. I kind of wondered if Cassie might be the one to settle Connor Coleman's best friend done.

Coleman's sister Rebecca played a small role in the story but a huge role in Coleman's life. I hope Rebecca gets to stick around and maybe be the main character of another story. I could see Olivia having to keep Coleman at bay from trying to interfere in
Rebecca's love life. Interference is kind of a family trait for the Grants.

Black Tie Optional for me was a wonderful story. I really am glad that I took a plunge on the Wild side and read it.

If you like romance I promise you'll become a fan of
Anne Marie Walker and the Wild Wedding Series.

I received a complimentary e-copy from Tasty Tours.
This review will appear on all retail sites where available.
This review will appear on Good Reads.

'Black Tie Optiona'l by Ann Marie Walker is book One in the new series called "Wild Wedding". This is the story of Coleman Grant III and Olivia Ramsey.
Cole is the true picture of a Rich Business man with no care for the little things or the environment. Which is whole opposite of Olivia's world. Olivia cares about every little thing and saving endangered animals if they are ugly or cute. An right now she is working on getting Cole to help save some endangered Bats that are on one of his many properties. But every morning when she comes running to talk to him before he goes into the coffee shop he just makes a joke of what she is talking about.
Cole finds Olivia attractive but doesn't really understand why she is so much involved with these issue. So he basically brushes her off each morning.
But both have a destiny in Vegas for a bachelor / bachelorette party. Which puts them together and they act on their sexual attraction. The next morning before Olivia can do the 'walk of shame' out the door Cole throws her with an arrangement offer to suit them both. Cole has to marry in just days or he will loose his company.
This was a really great enjoyable read. I so liked how they kept bickering and how they both slowly start to change.
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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Black Tie Optional is an absolute delight! Ann Marie Walker has delivered a laugh out loud page turner with fun and quirky characters that will have you ready for more the minute you turn the final page!

Olivia and Cole are total opposites. She's an activist vegetarian, trying to save the world one species at a time. He's a hard-nosed billionaire out to prove to the world that his success is his own. They couldn't be more different. And those differences are the spark that lights a fuse. Throughout the book they go from enemies to frenemies to frenemies with benies and more. Their personal progressions and the development of their relationship is such a fun ride!

Black Tie Optional will have you giggling at the thoughts in Olivia's head and her crazy antics (hello Vegas!) And, you'll love Cole's straight-talking, no nonsense approach to everything. The two of them together are so much fun! Black Tie Optional is a great escape and everything you look for in a Rom Com! I can't wait for more in the Wild Wedding Series!

An advance copy of this book was received from the author. Receipt of this copy did not impact the content or independence of this review. BFF Book Blog also uses a set of icon ratings. This book received additional icons for: butterflies, funny, romance, steamy, supporting characters and happily ever after.

4.5 Funny Stars
A lite romantic comedy about Coleman, billionaire and Olivia the activist that has been pestering him
for the last 3 months about finding a different site for his latest project so not to disturb the bats loving there. They meet up again by accident in Vegas while attending a wedding and after a lot of drinking end up in bed together. Coleman needs a temporary bride by his 30th birthday to inherit his company. Who better to ask then his current enemy/lover Olivia. Will their relationship develop into more? Will Coleman save his company and Olivia save the bats? Be sure to read their delightful adventure to find out.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy provided by St. Marin Press & NetGalley.

He has all the sex appeal of James Bond but all the personality of a modern day Scrooge. What Olivia lacks in sex appeal, she makes up for in heart. Coleman and Olivia are about to learn an important lesson. When you dance with fire, you're bound to get burned. Black Tie Optional fuses heat, heart and humor and strikes cinematic gold. Opposites attract have been done before and quite often, but Ms. Walker manages to keep it light, sexy and full of sass. Spicing it up, while still keeping the class.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

Coincidence is the foundation of many a romance plot and I accept that. It can be quite funny when the H/h end up bumping into each other during the course of their romance. However, there comes a point when it is not funny anymore and becomes just silly. Almost, but not quite there with "Black Tie Optional". This is a really fun, contrived and delightful romp about two totally opposite people, with seemingly nothing in common, who enter into a "Marriage of Convenience" and fall totally in love in a plot that could also be "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" except it didn't start in Vegas or stay there.

Olivia Ramsey is a kind-hearted, crusading environmentalist who has been stalking Coleman Grant III to help her save the endangered Northern long-eared bat whose habitat is on one of Cole's projects. To make things very uncomfortable, she finds Cole totally hot even as she hates everything he stands for. After months of getting nowhere with Cole in her effort to save her bat, Olivia is glad to get away for a bachelorette weekend to Las Vegas with her best friend, Cassie.

Coleman Grant III is a multi-millionaire CEO of Grant Industries. He has worked very hard will not let anyone get in his way. After months of wrangling with both his grandmother and a ding-bat environmentalist, who he is starting to have some very hot fantasies about, he is more that ready for a long weekend in "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" with his best guy-pal Conor and, hopefully, lots of willing women.

Not bad, but it just didn't pull me in. It was a little repetitive, with the same issues coming between them. If they had just communicated they could have avoided most of their problems.

3.5 Stars!

A cute enemies to lovers, marriage of convenience to true love, opposites attract story. Olivia has been hounding billionaire Coleman Grant III every morning to get him to move one of his deals because it's endangering the northern long-eared bat. He barely gives her the time of day until they both end up in Vegas, drunk and giving into their mutual attraction. Mortified the next morning, Olivia tries to leave only to have Cole give her a proposition. Marry him and he'll save the bats. Cole's father stipulated in his will that Cole must marry by the age of 30 or lose his inheritance. Cole has 3 days.

A light and fun read with likeable characters and believable chemistry between the MC's. ARC provided by NetGalley.

This is the first book I've read by Ann Marie Walker but will definitely continue to read her other books. Black Tie Optional is a funny, sexy, easy reading book that should be added to your Summer reading list.
Olivia Ramsey is an environmentalist/humanitarian and Coleman Grant, III is a billionaire who gives no thought to saving the environment, but lives and breathes for his family's business. Olivia has been harassing Cole on a daily basis about a project regarding saving the endangered northern long-eared bats. Cole considers her an annoyance in his morning routine.
Olivia leaves for Vegas to attend a friend's wedding and realizes that Cole is on the same flight when she falls into his lap during turbulence. He's also going to the same wedding. While in Vegas, he encounters legal problems with his grandmother which results in him having to get married right away.
Olivia and Cole find themselves getting married, but rather than love, it's a business arrangement that benefits both of them. Besides, they only have to stay married for 3 months. How hard can that be? It wasn't a very romantic Vegas wedding, with Cole asking Olivia when she came down the aisle, "Who did your makeup, Ozzie Osborne?
In the three months they were married, you can see Cole and Olivia going from two people who didn't want to be in the same room with each other, to understanding each other and finally to loving each other.
I would recommend this book if you're looking for a funny easy read that will have you laughing out loud.
On a side note, I would have liked to have seen a little more of a storyline with Cole's grandmother.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Loved this book! This is a new to me author but she definitely gained a new fan with this one. This story is a great blend of opposites attract, marriage of convenience, and enemies to lovers. The banter between Cole and Olivia is hilarious and I just loved these two together. Cole is in desperate need of a wife to stave off his grandmother's attempts to strip him of his inheritance so he makes a deal with Olivia. She agrees to marry him and he sets up a foundation to save the pesky rodents she's always yammering on about. What seems like a simple solution to both issues quickly turns into more than either one of them bargained for.

I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Olivia Ramsey is a humanitarian who has spent every morning for months trying to get Coleman Grant III to save the bats. She’s a save the planet kind of gal and Coleman….well, he’s not.
Coleman Grant III is a powerful man living in Chicago who has come to enjoy the meetings with Olivia every morning. He thoroughly enjoys turning her efforts down every day.
Until a weekend in Vegas for a joint bachelor/bachelorette party has the two of them drinking too much and having a night of great sex. I was surprised it wasn’t the typical “Oops, we got married” story but something so much more fun!
Coleman’s father put a stipulation in his will that he has to be married by 30 to inherit the family business. Coleman’s grandmother will have control of everything and he can’t stand the woman. Finding all of this out the morning after their tryst, Coleman makes Olivia a proposition. Three months of marriage so he can get his company and he will save her beloved bats.
“Believe me, under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t be my first choice. Hell, you wouldn’t even be my last choice, but I’m out of time.”
Black Tie Optional was a very funny, had loads of sexual tension and family members that go from one extreme to the next! I absolutely fell in love with Olivia’s family and despised Coleman’s grandmother. And when the ex comes into play? You know that was no accident…and I loved every bit of it. It had me questioning how he came back into play and who Olivia would really choose!
Can Olivia and Coleman co-exist in a marriage of convenience without their hearts being involved? Will the grandmother truly believe their marriage is one of love? And most importantly, will the bats be saved?

My Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Read: 05/14/17
Series: Wild Wedding #1

A most funny and entertaining story!

Olivia Ramsey: is a kind-hearted environmentalist who has been relentlessly approaching Coleman Grant III to help her save the endangered Northern long-eared bat. And she is not going to give up no matter what. Olivia finds Cole gorgeous, but spoiled and self-centered and after 3 months of chasing after Cole, Olivia is glad to get away for a bachelorette weekend to Las Vegas with her best friend, Cassie.

Coleman Grant III: is a multi-millionaire CEO of Grant Industries. He works hard and unapologetically plays hard. He’s amused of finding Olivia in front of his daily coffee stop, but when he starts fanaticizing about the aggravating women, Cole thinks it’s time for a vacation.
Story:
Cole and Olivia find themselves thrown together in Vegas, since they are part of the same wedding party. One drink leads to another and they end up in bed.
The morning after, Cole finds out that he has lost his bid to overturn his parent’s will which stipulates that if he is not married by his 30th birthday, the ownership of Grant Industries, the company he has worked so hard to make a global success will revert to his grandmother, which he will not allow. Cole’s grandmother is not the cute and cuddly kind, but a barracuda in designer clothes.
Only days left to his birthday, he proposes a marriage of convenience to Olivia for 3 months and in return he will help her with her conservation project.
Their temporary marriage became a little more complicated when Cole’s grandmother is challenging how real the wedding is. Now they are moving in together, visiting her parents and falling in love.
Final Thoughts:
The story is funny and engaging. I love Olivia and Cole, they had great chemistry together. There are some funny moments, and the flashback to their night in Vegas is hot!
My only quibble with the book would be that there wasn’t more situation between Grant’s grandmother and the newlyweds to prove their marriage is real. The grandmother kind of just faded away, when she is supposed to make life hard for the couple, but after one situation, she never really does much of anything else. That was disappointing. Also, their marriage of convenience wasn’t much of a secret from anyone and they shared it freely. I found that odd, when they are trying to make sure their marriage looks real, but they pretty much told everyone why they were doing this.
This is a must read for anyone who likes romance with a dash of humor. I am so excited that I discovered a great new author in Ms. Walker and I look forward to reading the next book on Cassie.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Olivia is exhausted but, determined to talk Coleman Grant into not building a new building on land that could destroy an endangered species. She stands outside Coleman's coffee shop every morning for a month to try to talk him into doing the right thing. Coleman, on the other hand, considers Olivia a pain in the posterior and nothing but a gnat flying around his head. Thing is that they both end up in Vegas for a wedding, run into each other and, Coleman realizes that Olivia is the answer to the problem that has been haunting him the past year. He must be married by the time he turns 30 or, forfeit his company to his grandmother. The push=pull between these two, along with the unwanted heat that is about to burst into flame, along with the lies they are telling everyone else and themselves, is a delightfully hilarious jaunt!