About the Book
Synopsis from Goodreads:
With a colorful cast of characters and a cellar full of wine, anything can happen―from murder to a second chance at love―in Jenny Elder Moke's half mystery, half romance adult debut set at a lavish destination wedding.
A high-end wedding on a private island off the coast of Seattle sounds like something out of a magazine. But for bestselling mystery author Kate Valentine, it’s more like a nightmare.
Why Kate agreed to attend her ex-fiancé’s wedding is its own enigma, but she’ll plaster on a fake smile for two nights, with the aid of free champagne, naturally. And because the groom happens to be her editor, she’ll try to finish a draft of her latest Loretta Starling mystery as a wedding gift. But when the bride is poisoned and Kate stumbles across a dead body, she finds herself in a real-life mystery that eerily echoes the plot of her latest novel. And the only person who seems willing to help Kate catch the killer is Jake Hawkins, aka: the Hostralian; aka: Kate’s biggest romantic regret.
As the wine flows and the weather threatens to hold every guest hostage, bitter resentments and long-held grudges surface amongst the colorful crowd. Anyone could be capable of murder, it seems. What would Loretta do? Unfortunately, Kate doesn’t have a clue.
My Review
Bestselling mystery author, Kate Valentine, is on her way to a destination wedding on a private island. It’s a very exclusive wedding and Kate would rather be anywhere else. It’s the wedding of her ex-fiancé. She couldn’t say no since he happens to also be her editor and he’s waiting for her final draft of her newest novel. When the bride is poisoned and Kate finds a dead body, all eyes turn towards her as the culprit.
Kate is surrounded by people who would like nothing more than to pin this crime on her, but she’s sure one of them did it. She intends to prove it. After all, she writes books about mysteries based on her sleuth Loretta Starling. How difficult can it be to solve a real-life mystery?
It’s a madcap adventure with a wacky cast of characters. There was one calamity after another. The heroine doesn’t always make the best choices, but she manages to hold herself together through it all. There’s even a handsome fellow author who Kate had a brief relationship in the past and both are interested in pursuing again.
I have to admit, it did take me some time to really get into this book. There were so many characters for me to keep straight. I was halfway through when it all clicked and fell into place for me. The author did keep me guessing who the killer was until the end. I suspected everyone, but not this person.
It’s a combination romance and mystery. I do prefer more mystery than romance in my mystery books, but this one won me over. It just took a little longer than I thought it would. When there’s an old mansion involved, I’m usually there for it. There’s an exciting finale, too. I’m glad I stuck with this one.
For reading challenges:
NetGalley & EdelweissReading Challenge 2025
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2025
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.
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