Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The recipe review and food pairing found on my Instagram feed are of my own doing.
Vows and Villainy
The Cambridge Bookshop
Elizabeth Penney
Having read all of the Cambridge Bookshop series, I have to say that this was my favorite one yet and not just because of all the wedding goings on. Both Molly's good friend Daisy and her great-aunt Violet. Let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that Aunt Vi, age 71, is marrying her childhood beau and consider her sage words, that "if you have a chance for happiness...grab it with both hands." Aunt Vi is a fun character, but she isn't our sleuth, that would be her great-niece, Molly Kimball aka the Vermont Beauty according to the tabloids. You see, Molly is dating Kieran, the younger son of Lord and Lady Scott, no pressure there, thankfully they adore her. Molly has a kind heart and a very inquisitive mind and can't help herself when it comes to puzzles, especially ones that might trouble to those she considers family or friends.
Such is the case when Molly and a few other ladies are out for a walk around the Hazelhurst House grounds and they come upon actor and instructor Sir Nigel Peck floating in the moat like Ophelia among the water lilies. No, this is not a case of method acting. To make matters worse, Isla St. James accuses Kieran's older brother, Alan, of having done the deed most foul. Molly knows that Alan can't possibly be the murderer, and she feels the need to make sure that his name is at the bottom of the suspect list. Sir Nigel, the victim, might have been an incredible actor, but it seems that he may have been a heartless instructor and was named in a civil suit for the death of a student, Otto Van Wyk.
There are plenty of suspects with motives that could include anger, money, love, revenge, and even jealousy. Molly knows that as the maid of honor that there is no way that she can't do everything she can to make sure that Daisy and Tim have the perfect wedding day or at least as close as she can get it. This does give Molly the opportunity to be extra helpful to the Scott family, not that they don't already adore her just as much as Kieran does. The romance aspects of this cozy series are seriously cozy and just add that little extra something. I am also a fan of the fact that Molly is a smart gal who does not go places without backup and she considers all possible avenues until she can rule it out.
As with all of the other books in this series, this is a standalone mystery that does a great job of providing a well-crafted mystery with likeable characters, a dash of romance, and just the right amount of humor. This book, this series, has inspired me to look up the recipe for Butterfly Cupcakes, using a Victorian Sponge recipe, you can make a simple yet elegant treat, with your choice of jam fillings. I've read about how great Daisy's Butterfly Cupcakes are that I just had to give it a go for myself.
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