Peaches and Schemes: A Georgia B&B Mystery by Anna Gerard
About Peaches and Schemes
Peaches and Schemes: A Georgia B&B Mystery
Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books (May 11, 2021)
Hardcover: 304 pages ISBN-10: 1643855840 ISBN-13: 978-1643855844
Digital ASIN: B08FZLH8HS
In Anna Gerard's third delightful Georgia B&B mystery, Nina Fleet learns that despite the satin, lace, and buttercream trappings, weddings often prove to be anything but sweet...
Nina Fleet might be new to the innkeeping business, but she's savvy enough to know that Cymbeline's tourists aren't enough to keep her fledgling bed and breakfast going. And so, Nina decides to tap into the destination wedding market by taking a booth at the Veils and Vanities Bridal Expo. The twice-yearly event is sponsored by the town's two wedding pros: Virgie Hamilton, the sixtysomething owner of Virgie's Formals, and Roxanna Quarry, a Gen X event planner and Nina's new friend. But everything goes wrong during the expo's fashion show, when Roxanna comes tumbling out of an oversized prop wedding cake, strangled to death by her own scarf.
Virgie is arrested for the crime, thanks to Nina's statement to the police about having overheard the woman accusing her partner of embezzlement. Meanwhile, the situation grows tense with her sometimes nemesis and current tenant, the dashing out-of-work actor Harry Westcott. Harry is concentrating on plugging his most recent side hustle ...but he's not too busy to break the news to Nina that her ex-husband is engaged to be married again.
Certain that Virgie's only offense is a bad temper, Nina decides to do her own investigating. First, however, she and Harry retrieve Roxanna's now ownerless dog, planning to foster him until a new home can be found. But local gossip soon convinces Nina that others beside Virgie might have had reason to murder Roxanna. As Nina gets close to the truth, she's putting her own life at danger. And when Virgie vanishes after being bailed out of jail by an unknown benefactor, Nina fears that if she can't find the dress shop owner in time, tying the knot will take on a whole new meaning for them both.
My Review
Nina Fleet is continuing to keep her Bed & Breakfast afloat as she adds the wedding market into her repertoire. The Veils and Vanities Bridal Expo is the perfect place to begin. However, the expo turns into a nightmare when one of the expo’s sponsors, Roxanna, turns up dead in a huge wedding cake and her partner, Virgie, is arrested for the murder. The victim happens to be one of Nina’s new friends.
When Nina’s statement to the police facilitated Virgie getting arrested, she decides to investigate on her own and is shocked to discover her good friend Roxanna wasn’t the sweet girl she thought. Every time Nina turns around, she has another suspect to add to her list. She’s determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.
This is the third book in the series and I’ve loved them all. This one, though, is my new favorite. Each character jumps right off the page. Nina and Harry are my favorite in this series, along with Nina’s canine pal Mattie.
It’s a fast-moving plot with both humor and suspense mixed together. I was captivated from beginning to end. I was sure I picked out the killer, but I was so off the mark. I was quite surprised at the outcome…pleasantly surprised. It’s nice when author’s can keep you guessing as Anna Gerard did for me.
Although this is the third in a series, I do believe it can be read on its own. The mystery begins and ends in this book, but the main character’s growth starts with the first book and it’s so much more fun to start at the beginning. It felt like re-visiting old friends. I’m already missing them…until the next entry into this series...
For reading challenges:
Literary Escapes Reading Challenge 2021 (Georgia)
NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge 2021
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
About Anna Gerard
Thank you for such a paw-some review! I appreciate your hosting me on my blog tour. :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun read.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day. ♥
Seems like a light and fluffy read! But still loads of fun.
ReplyDeleteElza Reads
That looks good.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good book. Thanks for your review,
ReplyDeleteOh this looks fun! This one is definitely on my TBR!
ReplyDeleteI read this book last month and loved it too.
ReplyDelete