A Bridal Shop Mystery
Max Walters is a talented bridal gown designer, at least many others think she is even if she lacks the confidence. While being left in charge while her boss/dress boutique owner is on vacation, Max works with a difficult bride who passes out during her final fitting. Final in more ways than one, since the never wakes up and now Max's former crush and lifelong friend has been accused of poisoning the wedding cake samples. In addition to all of this Max is offered a job with her old design firm in Manhattan for a promising position with great possibilities, much better than her former one of pattern cutting. She can't just sit around ad do nothing besides as acting store manager she hires a quirky and artistic assistant who is happy to help her investigate. Which is not what her falsely accused friend Andy wants, or the hunky Detective Cruz. An excellent read and one of three. Max is a wonderfully rounded character who is down to earth and easy to relate to. She is easy to identify with and the interactions of the other characters flow nicely as the story develops. Nothing is given away too soon and I had no idea who had "done it" until the end.
A Bookstore Café Mystery
Kensington Publishing
The last few cozys I read, the main character was planning their wedding and solving a murder. I have no idea how other than, this is fiction LOL. In this latest Bookstore Café Mystery, Krissy is helping as maid of honor to plan Vicki's wedding. Vicki who has well to do Hollywood type parents who only want the best for her, like the ultra posh and ultra pushy wedding planner, who ends up ultra dead. The last thing a bride or maid of honor needs is a murder over shadowing the ceremony especially when the groom is the #1 suspect. In the midst of the murder and theft of a necklace, Krissy isn't sure why her beau Will is pulling away or how to handle the awkwardness when around handsome police officer Paul Dalton. Great storyline and the characters are the crème de la crème. Krissy is completely relatable and fits the mold just right for a cozy mystery heroine. I do so like it when they save the day and help a friend out!
A Wedding Planner Mystery
The Shepard sisters are back and this time it is for a celebrity wedding to take place at the B&B on reality TV. A new business can always use some press, but bad press isn't always good press. From the pushy Mother of the bride, a lothario-like groom, the series host who is also Garret's ex-wife, an unexpected snowfall, oh and to top it all is the death of a local girls' school headmistress and the disappearance of a valuable tiara that would save the school from financial ruin.
The girls are having to plan two ceremonies to keep the Mother at bay and the bride happy while looking into the how and why of the murder. Mallory is great at showing grace under pressure and you can't help but to root for her as she quells her nervous doubts about Garret's feelings and puts his daughter's relationship with Adrienne, her Mom; ahead of those doubts. This is a great series and I can't wait for the next installment, Gown With the Wind!
