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The San Francisco Mystery #8
Wedding Balloon: A Legal Crime Thriller with a Slow-Burn Romance
√ Sapphic Novella
√ Romance
√ Part of a series but can be read as a standalone
√ A perfect way to sample The San Francisco Mystery Series
√ A wedding with action, adventure, and a touch of fantasy
The eagerly anticipated day has arrived for Dr. Jen Dawson and Agent Amanda Hawthorne to exchange wedding vows at a breathtaking destination on the California coast. Best friends and soulmates, Jen and Amanda have triumphed over a myriad of obstacles, ranging from an unexpected pregnancy to the perils of Amanda's dangerous, all-consuming career.
Despite the lingering drama and trauma from their recent missions—Jen's valiant efforts in the hospital during a bioterror attack and Amanda's covert mission with Roxy and Tommy—they are determined to create a jubilant, romantic, and unforgettable wedding weekend.
Perched on a cliff above Rainbow Beach, the idyllic wedding site is adorned with a magnificent wedding arch, fresh flowers, and a satin runner strewn with rose petals. Cherished family and friends have gathered to witness Jen and Amanda's love for each other, and on the surface, everything appears to be going according to plan.
However, a cloud of unease shrouds Amanda as struggles with bizarre visions and ominous premonitions that make her question her own sanity. Despite her unwavering love for Jen and the desire to seal their commitment, her newly-acquired powers of perception are feeding her information that is overwhelming, threatening to throw her off her game.
Meanwhile, Tommy grapples with life-altering news but is reluctant to share it with Jen and Amanda for fear his situation might dampen the celebratory atmosphere. Compounded by his internal struggle over whether to join Amanda at Central Missions, a covert CIA division, he is at a personal and professional crossroads.
As the wedding weekend unfolds, unforeseen forces conspire to break the iron-clad bond forged by Jen, Amanda, and Tommy in both their co-parenting roles and careers. The wedding weekend will no doubt be unforgettable, but will they survive it?
√ Romance
√ Part of a series but can be read as a standalone
√ A perfect way to sample The San Francisco Mystery Series
√ A wedding with action, adventure, and a touch of fantasy
The eagerly anticipated day has arrived for Dr. Jen Dawson and Agent Amanda Hawthorne to exchange wedding vows at a breathtaking destination on the California coast. Best friends and soulmates, Jen and Amanda have triumphed over a myriad of obstacles, ranging from an unexpected pregnancy to the perils of Amanda's dangerous, all-consuming career.
Despite the lingering drama and trauma from their recent missions—Jen's valiant efforts in the hospital during a bioterror attack and Amanda's covert mission with Roxy and Tommy—they are determined to create a jubilant, romantic, and unforgettable wedding weekend.
Perched on a cliff above Rainbow Beach, the idyllic wedding site is adorned with a magnificent wedding arch, fresh flowers, and a satin runner strewn with rose petals. Cherished family and friends have gathered to witness Jen and Amanda's love for each other, and on the surface, everything appears to be going according to plan.
However, a cloud of unease shrouds Amanda as struggles with bizarre visions and ominous premonitions that make her question her own sanity. Despite her unwavering love for Jen and the desire to seal their commitment, her newly-acquired powers of perception are feeding her information that is overwhelming, threatening to throw her off her game.
Meanwhile, Tommy grapples with life-altering news but is reluctant to share it with Jen and Amanda for fear his situation might dampen the celebratory atmosphere. Compounded by his internal struggle over whether to join Amanda at Central Missions, a covert CIA division, he is at a personal and professional crossroads.
As the wedding weekend unfolds, unforeseen forces conspire to break the iron-clad bond forged by Jen, Amanda, and Tommy in both their co-parenting roles and careers. The wedding weekend will no doubt be unforgettable, but will they survive it?
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 7, 2024
26 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Alexi Venice
29 books400 followersAlexi Venice writes award-winning medical, legal, and crime thrillers with smart and gritty female leads. Her stories blend high-stakes investigations, courtroom shenanigans, emotional depth, and character-driven romance in the relentless pursuit of justice.
Both The San Francisco Mystery Series and The Monica Spade Trilogy are Lesfic Bard Award winners. Standby Counsel was named Best Legal Thriller of 2021 by BestThrillers.com, and Baking Ice Cubes was a BestThrillers.com Legal Thriller finalist in 2025.
With thirty-four years of legal practice informing her storylines, Venice brings authenticity to the page. Her heart and imagination fuel the slow-burn, and sometimes forbidden, romance.
When Venice isn’t writing, she’s wrangling grandsons and playing on the lake.
Both The San Francisco Mystery Series and The Monica Spade Trilogy are Lesfic Bard Award winners. Standby Counsel was named Best Legal Thriller of 2021 by BestThrillers.com, and Baking Ice Cubes was a BestThrillers.com Legal Thriller finalist in 2025.
With thirty-four years of legal practice informing her storylines, Venice brings authenticity to the page. Her heart and imagination fuel the slow-burn, and sometimes forbidden, romance.
When Venice isn’t writing, she’s wrangling grandsons and playing on the lake.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 28, 2024
Great
This a really good set of mystery books. I really enjoyed all of them. The biggest problem I have is the cliff hanger.
This a really good set of mystery books. I really enjoyed all of them. The biggest problem I have is the cliff hanger.
February 23, 2024
All 8 books kept me on the edge of my seat
I have just read all 8 books in just under a week (reread the first 3). What a ride...
I love the fast paced action in these books. The characters are well built and greatly flawed as most of us are. The author takes a bit of licence with flowery comparisons, which had my head shaking. There were tears and laugher too. Books like this are so much better than generic romances.
If you haven't read them all, what are you waiting for??
I have just read all 8 books in just under a week (reread the first 3). What a ride...
I love the fast paced action in these books. The characters are well built and greatly flawed as most of us are. The author takes a bit of licence with flowery comparisons, which had my head shaking. There were tears and laugher too. Books like this are so much better than generic romances.
If you haven't read them all, what are you waiting for??
February 7, 2024
Too short!!!!!
OMG!!!! I cannot believe the cliff hanger. Hopefully the next book is around the corner because I doubt I can wait!
OMG!!!! I cannot believe the cliff hanger. Hopefully the next book is around the corner because I doubt I can wait!
February 11, 2024
Excellent book
So happy for Tommy
Also happy for more characters brought into the crew.
Can’t wait for the next book Alexi 👍💕😉
Always page turners
So happy for Tommy
Also happy for more characters brought into the crew.
Can’t wait for the next book Alexi 👍💕😉
Always page turners
February 27, 2024
Loved it!
So happy to see Amanda & Jen get married. Always welcome adventure and a good fight. Can’t wait to see the next book.
So happy to see Amanda & Jen get married. Always welcome adventure and a good fight. Can’t wait to see the next book.
March 6, 2024
Amazing story
Ok Jan and Amanda finally get married but who know what going to happen at their wedding. We will just have to find out what happens next.
Ok Jan and Amanda finally get married but who know what going to happen at their wedding. We will just have to find out what happens next.
February 10, 2024
Readers love Alexi Venice’s San Francisco Mystery Series, and it’s not without good reason. Each new book offers a compelling mix of mystery, drama and romance, keeping readers engaged throughout. Venice’s original mysteries have been praised for their well-developed characters and intricate plot lines. Their trademark blend of love, humor and suspense hooks readers and has them flipping through the engaging storylines.
If you haven’t read any of the books from the San Francisco Mystery Series, now’s a good time to start. Wedding Balloon marks new beginnings for SFMS’s characters. Readers watch as Jen, Amanda and Tommy discover new things about themselves and their loved ones, prompting changes for them, their careers and their families. It’s a San Francisco Mystery so there are plenty of captivating twists and turns that keep the storytelling fresh and exciting; Venice always knows how to give her readers a non-stop, action-packed read.
Even though this is a novella, there are a myriad of things to appreciate about this latest installment. First and foremost, the mystery, humor and romance are nicely balanced. Not one overshadows the other. In fact, they work in equal measures to complement and enhance the storytelling. This balance provides a contrast between the dark and the tender moments, heightening the emotional impact of the story. Furthermore, it provides the narrative with opportunities to explore the complexities and challenges that lie within Amanda and Jen’s relationship. The end result is a more dynamic story, one that readers will not only find compelling but interesting.
As far as the plot, Wedding Balloon is no different than any of the others in the series. It’s well developed and well designed. Venice employs her usual craftsmanship and scripts plenty of high stake, roller-coaster moments, keeping readers invested until the very end. Furthermore, she carefully plants clever clues and red herrings within the narrative, ensuring that the tension is at a fast and fluid pace. Though the ending does give readers what they want—Jen and Amanda’s wedding, readers will be left with lingering questions. However, one has to remember that this is an ongoing series, and Venice always leaves enough room for future developments—as any well-designed series should. Fans of SFMS are accustomed to this though and hopefully won’t have to wait long for book nine. In the meantime, they can head back to book one, and enjoy Jen and Amanda’s journey again…
Strengths…
Entertaining
Engaging
Fresh
Well-developed
Could be read as a stand alone
If you haven’t read any of the books from the San Francisco Mystery Series, now’s a good time to start. Wedding Balloon marks new beginnings for SFMS’s characters. Readers watch as Jen, Amanda and Tommy discover new things about themselves and their loved ones, prompting changes for them, their careers and their families. It’s a San Francisco Mystery so there are plenty of captivating twists and turns that keep the storytelling fresh and exciting; Venice always knows how to give her readers a non-stop, action-packed read.
Even though this is a novella, there are a myriad of things to appreciate about this latest installment. First and foremost, the mystery, humor and romance are nicely balanced. Not one overshadows the other. In fact, they work in equal measures to complement and enhance the storytelling. This balance provides a contrast between the dark and the tender moments, heightening the emotional impact of the story. Furthermore, it provides the narrative with opportunities to explore the complexities and challenges that lie within Amanda and Jen’s relationship. The end result is a more dynamic story, one that readers will not only find compelling but interesting.
As far as the plot, Wedding Balloon is no different than any of the others in the series. It’s well developed and well designed. Venice employs her usual craftsmanship and scripts plenty of high stake, roller-coaster moments, keeping readers invested until the very end. Furthermore, she carefully plants clever clues and red herrings within the narrative, ensuring that the tension is at a fast and fluid pace. Though the ending does give readers what they want—Jen and Amanda’s wedding, readers will be left with lingering questions. However, one has to remember that this is an ongoing series, and Venice always leaves enough room for future developments—as any well-designed series should. Fans of SFMS are accustomed to this though and hopefully won’t have to wait long for book nine. In the meantime, they can head back to book one, and enjoy Jen and Amanda’s journey again…
Strengths…
Entertaining
Engaging
Fresh
Well-developed
Could be read as a stand alone
March 2, 2024
Jen + Amanda + Tommy + what next??? ❤️❤️❤️
I love this series with its flawed and very relatable characters. Each book brings a new twist in their relationships and new situations requiring them to draw on their inner strengths to address.
The novella format makes for a quick weekend read. Venice does a nice job of providing quick backstories for the first time reading. But first time readers - you really should read the other books in this series! They are phenomenal!!
Existing SFMS readers are getting what they have been begging for and more! Can’t wait for book 9!!
I love this series with its flawed and very relatable characters. Each book brings a new twist in their relationships and new situations requiring them to draw on their inner strengths to address.
The novella format makes for a quick weekend read. Venice does a nice job of providing quick backstories for the first time reading. But first time readers - you really should read the other books in this series! They are phenomenal!!
Existing SFMS readers are getting what they have been begging for and more! Can’t wait for book 9!!
August 31, 2024
I didn't know this was an ongoing series when I read this, but there's a pretty good summary of the gist of the previous books to get by. However, this is the book version of a TV series' "clip show" filler episode. There is a wedding, but leading up to that are all of the summaries of the couple's exploits to date. It's all just so meh, the characters weren't interesting enough to me to continue reading and I found the writing style of the author to be grating. Nope! Onto the next book...
February 17, 2024
Kinda Weird, but…
It would make more sense if I read the other books in the series. Perhaps I will look into that. I sorta like some of the characters. Amanda is intriguing and Jen seems very lovable. Tommy seems to have a story to tell.
Overall, the premise holds some quirkiness I may want explore.
It would make more sense if I read the other books in the series. Perhaps I will look into that. I sorta like some of the characters. Amanda is intriguing and Jen seems very lovable. Tommy seems to have a story to tell.
Overall, the premise holds some quirkiness I may want explore.
July 1, 2025
Return of a good series
Its an incredible experience when you get return to a series & characters after a long time & you slip right back into the feels all over again. I honestly figured that the saga of Jen & Amanda had its last chapter since it'd been so long, but oh so good things come to those who wait! & bonus—there's more to come... YES!!!!
Its an incredible experience when you get return to a series & characters after a long time & you slip right back into the feels all over again. I honestly figured that the saga of Jen & Amanda had its last chapter since it'd been so long, but oh so good things come to those who wait! & bonus—there's more to come... YES!!!!
October 7, 2024
Enjoyable.
At last Jen and Amanda will tie the knot, but not without complications. Lady Amelia makes a subtle appearance, just when it is most needed. Exciting ending!
At last Jen and Amanda will tie the knot, but not without complications. Lady Amelia makes a subtle appearance, just when it is most needed. Exciting ending!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews