What do you think?
Rate this book
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 20, 2015
This is book 12 in the series and the first I've read. Had I started at the beginning I might have enjoyed this more. As it is, cry-baby Stan got on my ever lovin' nerves and the whole engagement party plot was incredibly irritating. I did like the smuggling plot and was totally surprised by the leader so that part was well-written but the characters leave a lot to be desired. At this time, I'm not sure if I'll be reading any other book in this series.
March 17, 2013
There's some sense of loyalty I have to this series which keeps me coming back, though I find them less enjoyable than I did in the beginning. As time goes on, Angie Amalfi, the lead character, becomes more and more like the stereotypical spoiled, youngest child in a wealthy family. Though it was clear form the start that she didn't have to work, if she didn't want to, she was determined to find her own way and find a career.
However, ever since she got engaged to the second lead, homicide detective Paavo Smith, her less admirable traits seem to be coming out more and dominating the character. She is just so wrapped up in her engagement and in this book, her engagement party, that she can't seem to think of anything else any longer. She briefly thinks about her "career" again, but is consumed by the engagement party that she let her mother plan and her mother is keeping everything except the date and time from her.
She didn't seem so shallow in the beginning, but as the series goes on, she does seem to become more shallow and a spoiled rich heiress that makes you wonder why Paavo stays with her. Oh well, I got invested in the series somewhere down the line, so I'm sure I'll continue, even though I'm enjoying them a bit less than I did in the beginning.
However, ever since she got engaged to the second lead, homicide detective Paavo Smith, her less admirable traits seem to be coming out more and dominating the character. She is just so wrapped up in her engagement and in this book, her engagement party, that she can't seem to think of anything else any longer. She briefly thinks about her "career" again, but is consumed by the engagement party that she let her mother plan and her mother is keeping everything except the date and time from her.
She didn't seem so shallow in the beginning, but as the series goes on, she does seem to become more shallow and a spoiled rich heiress that makes you wonder why Paavo stays with her. Oh well, I got invested in the series somewhere down the line, so I'm sure I'll continue, even though I'm enjoying them a bit less than I did in the beginning.
January 1, 2018
Courting Disaster: An Angie Amalfi Mystery by Joanne Pence stays true to the cozy mystery format giving Angie a mystery to solve while obsessing and stressing over the details of the engagement party her mother is planning without Angie's input. Her fear over the party not being perfect leads her to try to find out what's happening with the party creating as much a mystery for the reader as the connection between the murder that takes place, the mother and baby who find their way into her neighbor's, and therefore her, life, and the criminal behavior they uncover putting them all in danger. Courting Disaster mixes humor, food, mystery, and a set of unfortunate circumstances to keep the reader intrigued.
May 28, 2021
I liked the story far better than I liked the characters. I almost put this in the DNF pile because I disliked Angie so much on paper but eventually the author balanced out good traits with the bad enough that I stuck with it. I really liked the story so that makes this a book worth reading at least.
June 16, 2022
This is an older book that's been in my To-be-read boxes for a while. It's set in the San Francisco area and features a young woman who "helps" her detective fiancé. Her fussy, wealthy neighbor is annoying but, in the end, OK. The story was gripping in that you wanted to find out the "who did it" but it was implausible. I'm not sure whether I'll read others in the series or not.
March 28, 2018
Angie's engagement party plans are driving her crazy, all because no one will tell her where it is or what the decor is. Then her neighbor Stan gets involved with a pregnant kitchen helper. As usual everything gets twisted and entwined and Angie somehow is in the middle of the mess.
September 26, 2019
3 - Good
January 25, 2014
Angie is her delightful self in this tale. After her engagement to Paarvo she is,worried about her engagement party. Her Mother is planning it and the location is a secret much to her dismay.
Stan, her neighbor, is depressed and becomes interested with a waitress. Hannah and her baby moved into Stan's apartment. Her Father, Sal has a Anproblem and asked Paavo for help. Paavo is working on a case where the victim is pulled from the water. Ms Pence weaves all the threads together to form adventure involving smugglers and the FBI.
Stan, her neighbor, is depressed and becomes interested with a waitress. Hannah and her baby moved into Stan's apartment. Her Father, Sal has a Anproblem and asked Paavo for help. Paavo is working on a case where the victim is pulled from the water. Ms Pence weaves all the threads together to form adventure involving smugglers and the FBI.
February 20, 2016
The main character, Angie Amalfi, ranged from funny to stupid in some of her actions and thoughts/words. A few times I thought about stopping reading the book but I continued all turned out ok in the end.
March 22, 2016
This was a good entry in the series. Stan was in this a lot more than normal getting involved accidently with the mystery that Angie is involved in. I like seeing how Angie and Paavo's relationship is ever evolving as well.
March 8, 2011
Very good book, well worth reading again :)
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews