Tag: weddings

BONUS REVIEW: A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert

BONUS REVIEW: A Deadly Edition by Victoria Gilbert

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received a free electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Their friend, Kurt Kendrick, hosted a party for Amy and Richard to celebrate their upcoming wedding. It was a lovely event with good food and fine champagne. Both sets of parents were there as well as Amy’s mysterious brother, and many of their friends. There was also an art dealer there by the name of Oscar Selvaggio. He and Kurt were bidding against one another on a rare book, and he happened to show up on the day of the party to try to negotiate with Kurt over the book.

That was unfortunate for the happy couple because before the party was over, Oscar was dead.

Thanks to Kurt’s shady history, he is a prime suspect. But Amy feels if Kurt had really wanted to kill someone, he’d be too smart to have the person die on his own property. But there are other suspects and plenty of researching and sleuthing Amy can do. Kurt is her friend. And the best way to protect her friends and family is to help the police find the real murderer.

Review

This is book 5 in the great Blue Ridge Library Mystery series that definitely should be read in order. I enjoy the characters in this series so much. While book 3 felt uneven to me, and I somehow missed book 4, this felt like the great series I loved from the first two books. The mystery here is layered and twisty. It adds to the history of Kurt’s mysterious past. It also ties back to some of the other events from earlier in the series, which is why I wouldn’t recommend newcomers start with this book.

I enjoyed the inclusion of Amy’s brother, Scott, here. He’s a bit of a plot tease because we never get a full reveal on what his job truly is. But I liked the addition of him to the core group. His love interest gives me hope that he’s going to make an appearance in future books.

Fans of this series should not miss this volume. The wedding-related pieces are lovely and satisfying for series fans. The author does a great job balancing the wedding threads with the mystery ones and keeping everything moving forward. Cozy fans should give this series a try! (LGBTQ+)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥=Great! Might re-read.

BONUS REVIEW: One for the Books by Jenn McKinlay

BONUS REVIEW: One for the Books by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Christmas is coming, which means Lindsey and Sully’s wedding is too. And the whole town is looking forward to it. In fact, thanks to a glitch with the invitations, it looks like the couple will have at least three times as many guests as they had planned for.

When Lindsey, Sully, and some friends head out to the wedding site to make plans for their extra guests, they find the body of a friend. Steve and Sully had known each other for years. He was going to perform their wedding. They had just seen him the night before at a Christmas party in his home.

Lindsey has to wonder if something from the party led to Steve’s death. There was the huge argument with Steve’s former business partner; everyone saw it. And then the frosty relationship with his wife. And what about the story of a strange woman dressed all in black in the house during the party?

While Lindsey would love to leave the sleuthing to the police this time, the island where her wedding should be is off limits as a crime scene. If she wants her wedding to go as planned, she’s going to need to help the case along.

Review

Terrific! I have enjoyed this series from the start. This latest story does not disappoint.

It’s finally time for Sully and Lindsey to get married. I enjoyed all the wedding prep and the sweet little moments between the couple in their excitement. The issue of an officiant drags through the whole book, and the solution is pretty obvious. But it does lead to one encounter with a possible fill in who was a hoot! That interaction alone made the officiant quest worth it. I would love to see that character in another book.

The mystery was top notch! The twists almost felt like they were circling in on each other – in the best way. I loved watching it all play out.

This is a come-for-the-characters-stay-for-the-mystery sort of series for me. This is book 11, and the Library Lovers Mystery series is as strong as ever.  The author does an excellent job of not sacrificing either part – the setting and characters or the mystery – striking just the right balance. This is why I read anything and everything Jenn McKinlay writes. I am already thinking about where future stories in this series might go – Ms. Cole is running for mayor after all! And I am here for that tale and any other with Lindsey and Sully.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½=Loved it. Would re-read.

REVIEW: A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder by Dianne Freeman

REVIEW: A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder by Dianne Freeman

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Frances, the Countess of Harleigh, is enjoying some quiet days. No murders or investigations. Sure, she’s helping her sister plan her wedding, but otherwise she is just dealing with the day to day things and enjoying her secret engagement to George Hazelton.

Then she finds out her sister needs to move the wedding up. Immediately, if you catch my drift. Thankfully, George is heading to his family’s estate. It would be the perfect place for a small wedding. Lily and Leo could be married within a week and no one would have to know why the date changed. And of course, George is gracious and compassionate and welcomes the wedding party into his plans at the estate.

But from the moment their party gets on the train, there is no shortage of trouble. Leo’s younger sisters are constantly arguing and bickering. His best friend is making eyes at Lily, and she is not doing enough to dissuade him. Leo’s brother-in-law is bitter about feeling left out of the family business, and he isn’t quiet about it. And strange accidents keep happening. When several people are injured and one person ends up dead, Frances starts to think someone might want Leo dead.

Review

I fell in love with this series when I first read A Lady’s Guide to Etiquette and Murder. And it has never disappointed me. This is the third book in the Countess of Harleigh Mystery series, and it’s as strong as ever.

As much as I say I dislike historical fiction, the characters in this are what bring me back over and over. I have loved watching Frances’ growth over the last three books, finding both her confidence and true love.

The mystery in this particular book was especially twisty. I couldn’t settle on who I thought was the culprit. My choices all made sense. And were completely wrong! It was so fun to sit back and watch it all play out until the end.

Whether you love late 19th century London society stories, mysteries with a side of romance, or mysteries that leave you guessing until the end, be sure to pick up A Lady’s Guide to Mischief and Murder. While you are at it, pick up the first two books in the series as well. I don’t think these have to be read in order, but if you like to see the evolution of the relationships in a series, you should start with book one.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower

REVIEW: Marshmallow Malice by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Juliet and the Reverend are getting married. Bailey and Aiden – as well as Jethro the pig – are their attendants. The whole community has turned out for the event, both the Amish and the “English.” Bailey’s biggest concern is the wedding cake – a four-tier cake with marshmallow frosting and pink fondant polka-dots. Ohio temperatures in July are not friendly for the decorations.

The real wrinkle in the day, though comes from the woman who stormed in during the middle of the wedding to create a scene for Reverend Brook. But no one could have anticipated that.

It was even less expected when Bailey later found the woman dead.

What was the woman’s connection to Reverend Brook? Why did she crash his wedding and call him a “traitor?” Who was the man Bailey saw her with after the wedding? Could the Reverend have been the one to kill her?

Review

This was great. The mystery was excellent! The pacing was perfect, as was the solution. I was caught completely off guard in the end. I loved that.

The ongoing character development pieces were interesting. I was pretty frustrated with Juliet and Jethro the pig early on. That pig is a menace! And there’s an interesting wrinkle in Aiden and Bailey’s relationship in this book. Bailey shows remarkable restraint in the face of rude condescension and manipulation. There are also developments in Juliet and the Reverend’s relationship in addition to the wedding. On top of all that is the lead up to Bailey’s new TV show (which hasn’t launched yet by the end of the book). The only thing that would have made me happier with this is to get some resolution with the nasty pretzel shop owners. Maybe that is coming in a book soon.

Fans of the Amish Candy Shop Mystery series should not miss this one. The mystery is top notch, and series regulars are in top form. I am also impressed by how well the author incorporated faith pieces into this so naturally. This is not published by a Christian publisher, but the faith pieces in this are supremely well done. I have read Christian novels that haven’t done as nice of a job.

It looks like Amanda Flower has three more books releasing this year – Mums and Mayhem, the next book in her Magic Garden series, releases in August. Its release date was pushed back due to the pandemic. Dead-End Detective, a new mystery from Hallmark Publishing, releases in August as well. Finally, Courting Can Be Killer, the second book in the Amish Matchmaker Mystery series releases in November. The author is even launching another new series in 2021 with the book Farm to Trouble, a Farm to Table Mystery. Flower fans have a lot to look forward to!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½

REVIEW: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

REVIEW: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Olive has known Ethan for a couple years now, since her twin Ami started dating his brother, Dane. She’s never particularly liked Ethan. There’s usually a simmering hostility between them.

When Ami and Dane plan their wedding, Olive and Ethan are right there, maid of honor and best man. And while Olive considers herself a bad luck magnet, Ami is the opposite. She loves entering sweepstakes and contests, and she often wins. In fact, most of the wedding – and the 10 day honeymoon in Maui – are things Ami has won.

Olive and Ethan are the only two people at the wedding who don’t partake of the seafood buffet at the reception. Therefore, they are the only two who do NOT get food poisoning. Since the honeymoon trip is a contest prize, there is no way for Ami to postpone the trip. So she begs Olive to take her place and enjoy the vacation. And Ethan is going, too. Now Olive has to pretend to be married to her nemesis in romantic Hawaii. How is she going to pull that off?

Review

This is laugh-out-loud hilarious, at least for the first half of the book. It’s an absolute delight. Olive completely cracked me up – so brash and honest. It’s fantastic. I love a story that makes me laugh.

This would be perfect as a Hallmark movie. You’ve got the enemies-to-lovers situation as well as a fake relationship, two of my favorite romance tropes. And if you have a story where people have to hide who they really are, there’s always a moment where things fall apart. When that happens, the humor of the story pulls back and leaves room for other emotions. And this book hits those emotions just right.

Through everything – the snarky, hilarious beginning, the blossoming romance, and the dumpster fire when everything falls apart – Olive shines. I loved her. She tries to learn from her mistakes. She’s honest to the point of almost blowing their cover multiple times. And she evaluates and stands by her instincts, even when they cost her almost everything. While the whole story is a treat, I stayed with this one because of Olive. Don’t miss her story! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: As Far as the Stars by Virginia Macgregor

REVIEW: As Far as the Stars by Virginia Macgregor

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Air is the responsible one. That’s why she’s assigned to wrangle her older brother, Blake, for their sister Jude’s wedding. She’s supposed to drive from their home in DC to Nashville, get Blake from the airport, and get him to the wedding festivities on time. Actually, she was even the person to book his flight in the first place. He completely spaced it, waking her in the middle of the night to say he needed her help. Air to the rescue – again.

Except Blake’s text as she’s on the road to Nashville says, “See you at Dulles.” Dulles?! So Air heads back to DC, back to Dulles. But Blake’s not there waiting for her. And the flight from London is late. The airline isn’t sure where it is.

Christopher is also waiting for the flight from London. His dad was on it. And now it’s missing. After helping Air with some car issues at the airport, she offers Christopher a ride. She’s going to Nashville, certain Blake was on that flight instead. Christopher is on his own until the airline can figure out what’s up with the plane. His estranged mother lives in Atlanta. They can keep each other company, and Air will get him as far as Tennessee so he can grab a bus for the rest of the way. So their road trip begins.

Review

This was engrossing right from the start. It was fascinating to watch these two teens, about to start their senior year, on their own negotiating a missing flight, family drama, and questions about life. I had a hard time putting this one down.

Air tells the story, so you only get things from her perspective. But she does a great job of drawing Christopher out so the reader gets to know him, too. The stops on their road trip hint at the knowledge that they believe the news on the flight isn’t going to be good. They are stalling.  And it makes sense considering the big picture for both teens. There’s a folded paper/art thread and an astronomy/eclipse thread that are unique and work well in the larger story about family.

I really enjoyed this! Great for readers who enjoy family stories and for those who like road trip tales. (Language)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Terror in Taffeta by Marla Cooper

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Kelsey McKenna is a wedding planner. Destination weddings to vacation spots like Mexico are her specialty. And if she can keep herself from strangling the mother of the bride, she’s going to give Nicole and Vince the wedding of their dreams.

When one of the bridesmaids keels over during the ceremony and dies, the mother of the bride says it is Kelsey’s job to take care of it, including cleaning up the woman’s belongings and arranging for the body. And when the sister of the bride is arrested, Mrs. Abernathy seems to think it’s Kelsey’s job to fix that, too.

A wedding planner with a limited Spanish vocabulary is not particularly well-suited for solving a murder in Mexico. But Kelsey likes Nicole and Vince. She wants to help them have a happy ending to their wedding that has not gone at all to plan. So she’ll keep appeasing Mrs. Abernathy to get to the bottom of this murder – even if it puts Kelsey herself in harm’s way.

Review

This was a fun, fast read. I liked Kelsey and Brody as a sleuthing team. They seem to have a long term relationship and that felt genuine. The fact that Brody is gay means there’s no romantic tension between the two to complicate the relationship which kept things simple on that end.

Plenty of the other relationships in the story are complicated, though! There were several good suspects and motives for the crime to keep me guessing. The mother of the bride made me crazy, and I longed for someone to put her in her place. But she works well as a plot device to keep a wedding planner investigating a murder.

The theme for this cozy – destination wedding planner – is great. It gives options for awesome settings, diverse characters, and plenty of murderous shenanigans. Book 2 is Dying on the Vine and I am adding it to my TBR list!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay

REVIEW: About a Dog by Jenn McKinlay

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Seven years ago, Mackenzie was jilted at the altar. Then she slept with her best friend’s brother. Before anyone else found out, she left town, planning to never return.

But now her best friend, Emma, is getting married and Mackenzie has to return to Bluff Point. She and her boyfriend are “taking a break,” so she’s going to the wedding alone. Emma’s perfect solution is for Mackenzie to hang out with her brother! Gaven was recently dumped, and Emma reasons it will be good for both of them to have someone to hang out with for the wedding festivities.

Mackenzie is determined to forget that night with Gaven from so long ago. But Gaven thinks there are still sparks between them, and he’s confident he can rekindle things if he can get Mackenzie to give them a chance.

A sweet dog named Tulip helps pull the two together. But she may not be enough to keep them together.

Review

Jenn McKinlay is one of my favorite mystery authors. This is a very different kind of story than I’m used to from her – sexier, more language, and some juvenile humor and innuendo at times – but still a thoroughly enjoyable story.

The will-they-or-won’t-they tension is well-played with reasonable road blocks. Of course, most stories like this would be simply sorted out if everyone would just tell the whole truth from the beginning. But where’s the fun in that?!

The chemistry between the two main characters is great. The whole bridal party is a hoot, even if they can be crass at times. And the dog is an adorable part of the story. This is a fun, romantic romp with great characters.

Book 2, Barking Up the Wrong Tree, will be out in September and will focus on one of the other bridesmaids in Emma’s wedding. I’m looking forward to reading it.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

REVIEW: Bloom and Doom by Beverly Allen

REVIEW: Bloom and Doom by Beverly Allen

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Audrey Bloom and her cousin, Liv, have made their dream of running a flower shop a reality. And the wedding side of their business is booming, especially as people find out about Audrey’s skill of pulling together flower arrangements that mean positive things like faithfulness, hope and friendship. But the business takes a hit when a potential groom is killed, their shop is implicated, and a friend of Audrey’s is arrested for the crime. Now Audrey is determined to find out what really happened to the groom and get her friend out of jail.

 

Review

This was terrific! The writing style and the characters felt comfortable and familiar. It was like I was reading a new story in a familiar series rather than the first in a new one. The characters at the flower shop were fun and interesting. I’m hoping for more information on some of the secondary staff in future books. The camaraderie at the store reminds me of another favorite series, the Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander.

The mystery was well-written. The circle of possible suspects and motives grew wider and wider as the story developed, giving me several things to puzzle through while I read. In the end, I’d say I figured out only half of the puzzles in the story. I was able to feel both successful and surprised in the end.

There are two more books in this series, and I am eager to read both of them soon. Book 2 is For Whom the Bluebell Tolls.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥