loribonesscaswell

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Mallory and Rachel have their hands’ full preparing for a celebrity wedding that will be airing on television and the Winter Ball for the local high school. The B&B is full of the crew from I Do, the show featuring actress Dakota Craig and her famous musician boyfriend, Beau Wright’s wedding set to take place on Valentine’s Day. One problem, the maid of honor is found dead right in the middle of the Winter Ball. The bride decides to go through with the ceremony but her mother, the show’s host and it’s producer all have demands Mallory doesn’t know if she can fulfill, especially because it seems the bride’s wishes are being ignored. And of course, there is a murder investigation that could put a halt to everyone’s plans.

This is a fantastic twisted up mystery story.

You may need a scorecard to keep track of all the players. Dakota Craig grew up and attended school in Port Quincy. Her school friend, Ginger Crevecoeur is to be her maid of honor, Ellie Barnes, and her sister Leah the bridesmaids. Ginger is the headmistress of Dunlap Women’s Academy and Ellie is the drama teacher. They all attended the academy and Leah is a current student. Ellie and Leah’s mother, Iris, owns a nursery with several greenhouses and will be providing special flowers for the wedding events. Mallory’s almost mother-in-law Helene is on the academy board and she is the one who forced the Winter Ball into Mallory’s hands. Adrienne, the host of I Do, also happens to be Summer’s mother, ex of the man Mallory is dating. Adrienne left when Summer was a baby and they have just recently reconnected. Xavier, the show’s producer has a past linked to Roxanne, Dakota’s very overbearing mother, and the reason why the wedding is being broadcast. Xavier has also made Mallory and Rachel an offer that may be too good to pass up.

While there are a lot of characters, the mystery is so worth the time to get everybody straight. It is very well written and plotted. Twists on top of twists kept me guessing from beginning to end. How Mallory kept her cool and keep things straight was just amazing to me. The murder takes place when the B&B is full of all the guests at the Winter Ball. Recent events have Mallory thinking she knows who the killer is, she just has to prove it and while doing so more suspects come to light. I escaped right into this book and had my own thoughts about the guilty party. I was so close, but I was wrong again.

I enjoyed all the author’s descriptions are the people, their clothes and the places they went. She makes it so easy to picture everything clearly. Thistle Park B&B is much larger than I originally thought and sounds like under Mallory and Rachel’s care it has become an amazing place.

This is a wonderful cozy series. I have loved every book and do recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment.

I am excited about what is coming up with these characters. There is a teaser chapter for Gown With The Wind at the back of the book.