Home Sweet Homicide (Hometown Mystery Book # 5) by Rosalie Spielman

From author Rosalie Spielman comes matrimony turned murderous!

Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tessa Treslow never thought that she'd be attending the wedding of her first love, Joe Eriksson, but that's exactly where she finds herself. Even worse, his fiancée has asked her to be the Maid of Honor!

But in the days leading up to the wedding, it becomes clear why Jessie St. John asked Tessa to stand with her, and it's not just her military-style organization. Between a meddling "best
frenemy" who's doing her best to sabotage the wedding and an ex-husband falling—or being tossed—to his death, Tessa's investigative skills are once again put to the test.

The suspicious death of one of Jessie's ex-husbands in one thing. But when ex-husband number 2 is also found dead, theories are tossed around like a bride's bouquet. In order to help the wedding stay on track, Tessa needs to calm the bride, combat the frenemy, and make sure the flowers arrive, all while keeping sane.

Despite a state detective being brought in to solve the case, Tessa is forced to fight to keep the ones she loves and her home sweet home safe from the most diabolical killer she has faced yet.

" Clever & Compelling Gem! An excellent read and high on my list for 2023 honors."
~Kings River Life Magazine

"You will also fall in love with New Oslo and its residents and businesses. You will want to pack a bag and jump in your car and head there as fast as you can!"
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews   (Summary via Goodreads)

After reading a few books in the Hometown Mystery series by Rosalie Spielman I fell in love with the town of New Oslo, the people and the stores ..... Unfortunately I skipped a few books in the middle and have now just finished reading Home Sweet Homicide.  And yes I still love the town and the people but I don't think I will EVER recommend getting married there !!  I know it is specific to the couple getting married in Home Sweet Homicide but it does leave an impression !!

Okay .... I don't want to scare you away so let me start over ....

In Home Sweet Homicide one of the main characters Tessa is asked and accepts the role of maid of honor for her friend Jessie.  That should be awesome and fun right ?  Except Jessie is has already been married a nunber of times and this time she is getting married to Tessa's ex-boyfriend Joe.  Even though Tessa is in a great relationship with Nick, the sting is still there. 

But bad things start to happen ..... Shelby a friend of Jessie's who is a wedding planner finds out that she is getting married and didn't hire Shelby to plan the wedding so she decides to do whatever she can to ruin the wedding.  And then one of Jessie's ex-husbands is found dead and ruled murder ...... I sure hope Shelby wouldn't go that far but then if she didn't do it, there's someone else out there looking to stop the wedding !!

I could tell you more but I don't want to ruin it for you and I honestly don't think you would believe me !!!

Spielman has a magnificent imagination !!  She sure has a knack with creating stories that make you coming back for more !!  

Murder at Arleigh (Gilded Newport Mysteries Book # 13) by Alyssa Maxwell

Reporter, sleuth, and new mother Emma Cross Andrews comes to the aid of a distraught wife who’s convinced her husband is trying to kill her . . .

April 1903: Emma and Derrick Andrews have been invited to the wedding of her cousin Reggie Vanderbilt and heiress Cathleen Neilson at the Bellevue Mansion, Arleigh. Their hosts are a popular young couple who are leasing the home for the summer—Harry and Elizabeth “Bessie” Lehr. Known for his practical jokes, Harry is the toast of parties, earning a reputation as the court jester of the Gilded Age. However, as Emma soon learns, behind closed doors he is dead serious.

Following the wedding, Bessie comes to Emma for help, insisting that her husband is cruel to her in private, telling her outright he married her only for her money and finds her repulsive. Divorce is unthinkable. Now she believes he is plotting to murder her and make it look like an a broken balcony railing she might have leaned on, a loose stair runner that could have sent her tumbling down a staircase, faulty brakes in the car she uses . . .

Some would say being trapped in a loveless marriage is a fate worse than death. Not Bessie—she wants to live! Unsure if these situations are mere coincidences or add up to premeditated sabotage, Emma agrees to investigate and determine if Newport’s merry prankster is engaged in a cold-blooded game of life or death . . .  (Summary via Goodreads)

Alyssa Maxwell knows how to draw readers into her stories and maintain your attention from start to finish.  Her stories are filled with lovable characters, crafty characters, characters you do not want to ever be alone with anywhere !!  Her stories are captivating and full of secrets, mystery, love, hate, family, and so much more !! 

Murder at Arleigh, is the thirteenth book in her Gilded Newport Mystery series and when you start reading it, you feel like you are returning to your summer house after a time away. And you are right in time for a wedding !!!

Main character Emma Andrews and her husband Derrick are attending the wedding of Emma's cousin Reggie.  But that is not the best part ....  After the wedding is over Bessie Lehr, one of the host of the property where Reggie wed, calls upon Emma.  Bessie insists that her husband Harry is trying to kill her and she wants Emma to prove it.  Now I know what you are thinking ..... Emma usually gets involved after there has been a murder so how is this going to work ??

Even though Emma has her hands full with baby Annamarie, running the Messenger with her husband, and following up on any story worth publishing, she cannot help but feel drawn to Bessie's concerns.  Especially after meeting Harry and seeing how he treats people.

Emma has learned though so she does enlist the help of her husband and her brother to help see what they can also learn while she sticks to Bessie as much as she can.

Don't worry fans things will turn and you will be on the craziest rollercoaster ride ever and all you can do is hang on and try to help Emma solve things before it gets too late ...... 

Every time I open one of Maxwell's books, I know that I am in for a real treat and cannot wait for the next book !!!

The Mango Murders (Key West Food Critic Mystery Book # 15) by Lucy Burdette

The turquoise waters of Key West are stained with pink in this explosive 15th installment of the Key West Food Critic mysteries from USA Today bestselling author Lucy Burdette.

Food critic Hayley Snow’s employer, Key Zest, is throwing the event of the season, a lavish cocktail party catered by Janet Snow, Hayley’s mother. As Hayley boards the luxurious cruise, she anticipates a smooth sailing soirée filled with shimmering cocktails, mouthwatering mango-infused delicacies, and new supporters for the e-zine. But as the boat sets sail, the festivities take a tragic turn when an explosion rocks the vessel, plunging the party guests into chaos.

In the days that follow, Hayley learns that a local culinary entrepreneur died in the explosion and it was no accident–someone on board had a deadly agenda. With the tropical city of Key West as her backdrop, Hayley navigates a web of secrets and lies. Her investigation takes her from the shadowy corners of island politics to fierce competition between high-end event caterers and personal vendettas.

With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Hayley must rely on her keen intuition to unmask a cunning culprit before they strike again.  (Summary via Goodreads)

Miss Gloria is turning 85 !!!  Having an entire book dedicated to her and her parties would be enough for readers of the Key West Food Critic Mystery series but author Lucy Burdette knows that her dedicated fans can handle more .....  and she does not disappoint !!

The Mango Murders is the fifteenth book in this series and main character Hayley will have a lot going on, like always.  Like I said Miss Gloria, who is Hayley and her husband Nathan's neighbor on Houseboat Row, is having a birthday and they are going to be partying !! They have a weekend full of parties and Miss Gloria's sons and daughters-in-law will be in town to celebrate !!

But before they can concentrate on Miss Gloria and her birthday Hayley has a work function.  Her boss Palamina has organized and is hosting a cocktail party and has chartered a boat for the event.  Hayley's mother and step-father have been hired to cater the event.  Unfortunately the boat has an explosion on board throwing everyone out and into the water.  They soon learn that there was one person killed as a result and the authorities are leaning towards murder.

As always, Hayley wants to solve the case even though Nathan who is the deputy chief of police and his department are more than capable of solving it and it's their jobs !!  Hayley feels this is personally in two ways with first her employer was hosting the event and secondly her mother wss the caterer hired. 

Readers will fall in love with everything about this series.  The series has a special place in my heart.  When I was visiting my mom who lived in Florida I had one of these books with me to read.  My mom showed an interest so I left it with her to read.  She has since passed so every time I have the pleasure of opening the latest book in the series, I feel like mom is with me.

So whatever reason you have for reading these books, I hope you feel a connection and enjoy them like I do !!!  Happy reading !!!