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Wedding Planner Mystery #1
Engaged in Death
"Had me in its spell from page one. Readers will love this." --Leslie Meier
All appears peaceful in sleepy Port Quincy, Pennsylvania--but in this small town, old grudges die hard. . .
After dumping her cheating fiancé and cancelling the wedding, Mallory Shepard can't bear another disaster. So when the former bride-to-be unexpectedly inherits Thistle Park, a ramshackle mansion in her ex's hometown of Port Quincy, it's a problem she can't afford--literally. Abound with stray cats, peeling wallpaper, and nosy neighbors, Mallory is dying to sell it off--once she finally fixes up both the place and her messy life. . .
Turns out, Thistle Park has its charms. But the honeymoon phase is abruptly cut short when an unwanted visitor is found dead on the front lawn. Enlisting the help of her sister Rachel, Mallory vows to unveil the killer before she herself becomes married to the suspect list. . .
"I had great fun reading the adventures of nouveau sleuth Mallory Shepard as she wrangles corpses, kittens, and a cheating fiancé in this charming debut mystery." --Laura Levine, author of Death by Tiara
All appears peaceful in sleepy Port Quincy, Pennsylvania--but in this small town, old grudges die hard. . .
After dumping her cheating fiancé and cancelling the wedding, Mallory Shepard can't bear another disaster. So when the former bride-to-be unexpectedly inherits Thistle Park, a ramshackle mansion in her ex's hometown of Port Quincy, it's a problem she can't afford--literally. Abound with stray cats, peeling wallpaper, and nosy neighbors, Mallory is dying to sell it off--once she finally fixes up both the place and her messy life. . .
Turns out, Thistle Park has its charms. But the honeymoon phase is abruptly cut short when an unwanted visitor is found dead on the front lawn. Enlisting the help of her sister Rachel, Mallory vows to unveil the killer before she herself becomes married to the suspect list. . .
"I had great fun reading the adventures of nouveau sleuth Mallory Shepard as she wrangles corpses, kittens, and a cheating fiancé in this charming debut mystery." --Laura Levine, author of Death by Tiara
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 28, 2016
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March 25, 2019
Review to follow....
June 23, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
As soon as I read the above synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. Thank you Kensington for the early copy!
Mallory had no idea who she was engaged to, but his overbearing mother was pushing her over the edge. Finding out the guy was cheating on her was just icing on the cake. Then in a weird twist of fate she inherits Thistle Park, a mansion in need of loads of tender loving care. Mallory is faced with putting it up for sale but to that she is going to need to make some improvements. Finding a dead body in the front yard was not the renovation she had planned. The wedding was cancelled but her sister’s arrives to help in anyway she can. Never knowing she would be helping Mallory catch a killer.
So much happens in this story that intrigued me in addition to the murder. The house that Mallory inherited could be amazing in the hands of the right person. My imagination was running wild with ideas. Then what do you do when your wedding is cancelled and the venue refuses to return your huge deposit? You will have to read the story to find out.
As far as the murder, the man wronged so many people, meaning there are so many that could want him dead. Her ex-future mother-in-law could even be involved. Surely she wouldn’t kill someone, or would she? The clues seem to lead in circles at times but that just added to my reading pleasure.
Mallory starts out as a “goes with the flow” type of woman, but scorned she is a force to be reckoned with. She is a lawyer who is smart and organized and definitely doesn’t need a man making decisions for her. I was so impressed with her transformation just in this first book. I can’t wait to see what she takes on in the next story.
Her sister, Rachel, has yet to find her niche. She has tried several things but doesn’t really stick with anything long. She tends to find herself living with her mom and step-dad or having them bail her out of situations. Mallory is the responsible one, timid about trying new things. They each need to rub a little off an each other and they will make a fantastic team.
I enjoy the way Ms. Blackmoore writes, it is so descriptive. I could picture everything so clearly. She also unfolds the story at a brisk pace.
Even the secondary characters are fleshed out, real and believable. Keith, the ex and his mother Helene, are excellent characters to dislike. I am not going to lie, I would not have shed a tear if one of them was the body in the front yard, but they turned the story on its ear in their own way. The neighbors are interesting and the Chief of Police just happens to live in the house behind Thistle Park, with his son and granddaughter.
This is a fabulous debut! A great start to what I hope will become a long running series!
I see the next book in the series, Murder Wears White, will be out January 31, 2017 and is available for pre-order. I am looking forward to it already!
As soon as I read the above synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it as soon as possible. Thank you Kensington for the early copy!
Mallory had no idea who she was engaged to, but his overbearing mother was pushing her over the edge. Finding out the guy was cheating on her was just icing on the cake. Then in a weird twist of fate she inherits Thistle Park, a mansion in need of loads of tender loving care. Mallory is faced with putting it up for sale but to that she is going to need to make some improvements. Finding a dead body in the front yard was not the renovation she had planned. The wedding was cancelled but her sister’s arrives to help in anyway she can. Never knowing she would be helping Mallory catch a killer.
So much happens in this story that intrigued me in addition to the murder. The house that Mallory inherited could be amazing in the hands of the right person. My imagination was running wild with ideas. Then what do you do when your wedding is cancelled and the venue refuses to return your huge deposit? You will have to read the story to find out.
As far as the murder, the man wronged so many people, meaning there are so many that could want him dead. Her ex-future mother-in-law could even be involved. Surely she wouldn’t kill someone, or would she? The clues seem to lead in circles at times but that just added to my reading pleasure.
Mallory starts out as a “goes with the flow” type of woman, but scorned she is a force to be reckoned with. She is a lawyer who is smart and organized and definitely doesn’t need a man making decisions for her. I was so impressed with her transformation just in this first book. I can’t wait to see what she takes on in the next story.
Her sister, Rachel, has yet to find her niche. She has tried several things but doesn’t really stick with anything long. She tends to find herself living with her mom and step-dad or having them bail her out of situations. Mallory is the responsible one, timid about trying new things. They each need to rub a little off an each other and they will make a fantastic team.
I enjoy the way Ms. Blackmoore writes, it is so descriptive. I could picture everything so clearly. She also unfolds the story at a brisk pace.
Even the secondary characters are fleshed out, real and believable. Keith, the ex and his mother Helene, are excellent characters to dislike. I am not going to lie, I would not have shed a tear if one of them was the body in the front yard, but they turned the story on its ear in their own way. The neighbors are interesting and the Chief of Police just happens to live in the house behind Thistle Park, with his son and granddaughter.
This is a fabulous debut! A great start to what I hope will become a long running series!
I see the next book in the series, Murder Wears White, will be out January 31, 2017 and is available for pre-order. I am looking forward to it already!
June 22, 2025
5 🌟
I honestly don’t think I can find a thing I disliked about this book!
It was fast paced, kept me hooked the entire time and had logical but exciting twists. While I guessed said twists (and was proud of it) it made it no less enjoyable. I don’t know what it was that made this cozy stand out from all the others. It just had a lot of things I love.
The mysteries were so interesting and the main characters were so likeable. I’m really excited to read the next in the series and see how some subplots unfold.
I honestly don’t think I can find a thing I disliked about this book!
It was fast paced, kept me hooked the entire time and had logical but exciting twists. While I guessed said twists (and was proud of it) it made it no less enjoyable. I don’t know what it was that made this cozy stand out from all the others. It just had a lot of things I love.
The mysteries were so interesting and the main characters were so likeable. I’m really excited to read the next in the series and see how some subplots unfold.
December 2, 2017
Rarely is a debut book in a series this good! So much happened in this story to keep my attention, but despite the subplots, the plot itself never becomes convoluted. (This, I think, is the hallmark of an excellent cozy mystery writer!). I enjoyed the very real and fleshed out cast of characters. The descriptive writing and on-point dialogue drew me into the story. I absolutely loved the twist at the end! I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
November 28, 2018
A great start to the series!I loved it so much that I have already bought the second book.
January 11, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this first in series book. Mallory and company kept me intrigued and constantly wanting more. Can't wait to read the rest.
July 1, 2016
Engaged in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore is the 1st book in the Wedding Planner Mystery series, and I loved it. Mallory Shepard is set to get married to Keith in 3 weeks in Port Quincy, Pennsylvania. Her soon to be mother in law has taken over her wedding plans, the only bright light is Keith's grandmother Sylvia who Mallory loves. Suddenly Sylvia dies, and Mallory receives a package proving that Keith is cheating on her. The wedding is called off and Mallory finds out she is set to inherent Sylvia run down mansion. When a dead body is found in the front yard of Sylvia home, Mallory must quickly find the murderer and clear her name.
I am so excited about this new author and series. Not only is this book funny, it has a great mystery. There are twists and turns around every corner. Just when I thought I figured out the murderer, it changes. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries full of quirky characters and a likable protagonist, I strongly recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
I am so excited about this new author and series. Not only is this book funny, it has a great mystery. There are twists and turns around every corner. Just when I thought I figured out the murderer, it changes. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries full of quirky characters and a likable protagonist, I strongly recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
February 3, 2017
I was a bit apprehensive about this one. Sounded like it might be a bit too cutesy. However, I was VERY pleasantly surprised with just how much I liked this one! Good characters, even the "femme fatale" younger sister and a very good story. The second one comes out the end of January and I'm eagerly awaiting it! RECOMMEND!
October 26, 2017
Very good cozy mystery! I loved the characters and especially that they grow through their experiences. The relationships are realistic and complex. The mystery is interesting. I am looking forward to reading more in this series!
November 2, 2018
Short Review: This is a fun start to the series and I really enjoyed reading it. It will be nice to see how the heroine and her sister start their wedding planning business in the next books.
February 11, 2017
Excellent book, I loved it! I was hooked from page one all the way to the end, I can't wait to read the next one.
May 9, 2016
Engaged in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore is the first in a new series featuring Mallory Shepard and takes place in the quaint town of Port Quincy, Pennsylvania. I was hooked by the story from the very beginning.
As the story opens, Mallory is just 3 weeks away from her wedding. Instead of being excited, Mallory just wants it to be over, her future mother-in-law is determined to have the wedding the way SHE wants it.
When Mallory receives an anonymous package in the mail, it sets the course for disaster. When an unexpected inheritance comes her way, Mallory has high hopes, until she finds a dead body in her front yard.
I found this book to be exciting and I could not put the book down. The author is new to me but I am hoping to see more in this fantastic series. The characters appeared very real and I found myself at the edge of my seat towards the end. I will be suggesting this book to other cozy mystery readers, I think they will enjoy this fast paced cozy mystery.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
As the story opens, Mallory is just 3 weeks away from her wedding. Instead of being excited, Mallory just wants it to be over, her future mother-in-law is determined to have the wedding the way SHE wants it.
When Mallory receives an anonymous package in the mail, it sets the course for disaster. When an unexpected inheritance comes her way, Mallory has high hopes, until she finds a dead body in her front yard.
I found this book to be exciting and I could not put the book down. The author is new to me but I am hoping to see more in this fantastic series. The characters appeared very real and I found myself at the edge of my seat towards the end. I will be suggesting this book to other cozy mystery readers, I think they will enjoy this fast paced cozy mystery.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
July 9, 2016
A delightful new cozy mystery. The mystery was wonderfully complicated. I enjoyed the characters and the beautiful house. I look forward to the next book in this series. I will post my full review very soon! If you enjoy cozy mysteries, you will enjoy Engaged in Death!Engaged in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore is the first book in A Wedding Planner Mystery series. Mallory Shepard is engaged to Keith Pierce and busy planning her wedding with the “help” from Keith’s overbearing mother, Helene. Mallory may not love Helene, but she does adore Keith’s grandmother, Sylvia. Sylvia is 99 years old and has lived a full life (Mallory visits her frequently). One day Mallory receives an envelope (sent anonymously). When she opens it, she finds pictures of Keith in a compromising position with another woman. Mallory breaks off her engagement to Keith (talk about a lucky break). Then Sylvia passes away. Sylvia’s attorney, Garrett Davies asks to speak with Mallory. Sylvia cared for Mallory as much as Mallory cared for Sylvia and had deeded (instead of leaving it to her in her will) Mallory her home Thistle Park in Port Quincy, Pennsylvania. Thistle Park is in bad shape, but the home has great potential. This really puts Helene’s nose out of joint. Helene was counting on inheriting this home to sell the fracking rights (Sylvia was against it). Shane Harley of Lonestar Energy immediately approaches Mallory (she was just moving in) about selling the fracking rights on the property. Mallory refuses since it was not what Sylvia wanted. The next morning Mallory and her sister, Rachel (who moved into the house with her) finds Shane dead on the front lawn. Can anything else go wrong for Mallory? Well, it turns out that it is too late to cancel all aspects of her wedding reception (with all the hoopla that Helene wanted and Mallory did not). Mallory works to find someone that would like to use her reception (because Mallory was paying for the wedding even though Keith’s family has money). Helene is not done with Mallory. Helene is determined to get her hands on Thistle Park and is going out of her way to make Mallory’s life miserable (in her private and professional life). Mallory is going to have a busy time trying to get her name off the suspect list, find someone to take over her reception, and decide what to do with Thistle Park. Will she succeed? You will have to read Engaged in Death to get the answer.
Engaged in Death was a good cozy mystery. There are actually two mysteries going on in the book. They are both interesting, complex, and fun to solve. I liked the characters and the home of Thistle Park. There is also some romance in Engaged in Death. I look forward to seeing how it develops during the course of the series. I will be curious to see what happens with Thistle Park. Engaged in Death drew me in right from the beginning and I did not want it to end. I give Engaged in Death 4.5 out of 5 stars (I loved it but downgraded since I did solve the mysteries). I cannot wait (but I know I have to) to read the next book in A Wedding Planner Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of Engaged in Death from NetGalley (and Kensington) in exchange for an honest and fair evaluation of the novel.
Engaged in Death was a good cozy mystery. There are actually two mysteries going on in the book. They are both interesting, complex, and fun to solve. I liked the characters and the home of Thistle Park. There is also some romance in Engaged in Death. I look forward to seeing how it develops during the course of the series. I will be curious to see what happens with Thistle Park. Engaged in Death drew me in right from the beginning and I did not want it to end. I give Engaged in Death 4.5 out of 5 stars (I loved it but downgraded since I did solve the mysteries). I cannot wait (but I know I have to) to read the next book in A Wedding Planner Mystery series.
I received a complimentary copy of Engaged in Death from NetGalley (and Kensington) in exchange for an honest and fair evaluation of the novel.
July 25, 2016
Thank you to Kensington Books for an advance paperback copy, through Goodreads Giveaways. It is always such a pleasure to win one of the books which a publisher has so graciously offered to followers of GR.
Engaged in Death, A Wedding Planner Mystery has an eye-catching and colourfully enticing front cover. A suspicious-looking calico cat eyes a heavily decorated three tiered wedding cake sitting on a wooden table, while kittens amuse themselves with tangles of white ribbon. The shabby-chic kitchen is busy with bouquets in bows, wedding favours, cookbooks, rose petals... And a cake knife and server covered in what could be --BLOOD?!! I absolutely love the cover!
With that book cover, Stephanie Blackmore's novel has a great deal to live up to, right from the beginning. Mallory Shepard, lawyer, snoop, betrayed fiancé and the ditsy protagonist of this new series is a study in contrasts. The adorable woman who initially graciously gave way to her future mother-in-law's wedding plans suddenly runs amok, hyperactive, hyper anxious, querulous and full of evasion to the local police force. Yes, Mallory unprecedentedly inherits her ex-fiancé's relative's house. Yes, the place is a near tear-down and developers and fracking companies want to buy it, but old Aunt Sylvia refused both options and Mallory will honour her wishes. Then a dead guy shows up on the lawn. Her sister Rachel finds love, living with her and bakes the best cake at the fair. The mayor is "handsy" with women, in full view of everyone. The house yardsman gives her and Rachel the creeps. The ex and his mother take her to court, and the yummy guy next door defends her. Garrett, that hot lawyer, becomes a love interest. Mallory does lawyer snooping at her lawyer firm. Mallory tries to find someone to take her wedding slot, because she can't get her deposit back. Mallory organizes a wedding... Someone else is killed. Someone is having an affair. Who, what, how, where, when? Yikes!
The cast of characters and subplots dingle and dangle, and sometimes find their way back to each other. There isn't one red herring; there are just so many stories and people that the threads become a bit thin, and the suspense is almost flat until near the very end. Once it does pick up, Blackmoore does a great job. A bit more time spent earlier on the culprit would have enhanced the story, and perhaps made the identity less easy to guess. I was really hoping for a bit more wedding planner, and that was a mini part of the plot.
Stephanie Blackmoore has the bones of some good future books for her Wedding Planner Series. Less would be a bit more, and give the reader a chance to enjoy her character Mallory who was a bit too overloaded and rushed in Engaged in Death. Nuance is important if weddings are central to the structure of the story; a reader will be looking for the details from that wedding planner, as well as a great cozy mystery.
Three stars, an enterprising start to a debut mystery series.
Engaged in Death, A Wedding Planner Mystery has an eye-catching and colourfully enticing front cover. A suspicious-looking calico cat eyes a heavily decorated three tiered wedding cake sitting on a wooden table, while kittens amuse themselves with tangles of white ribbon. The shabby-chic kitchen is busy with bouquets in bows, wedding favours, cookbooks, rose petals... And a cake knife and server covered in what could be --BLOOD?!! I absolutely love the cover!
With that book cover, Stephanie Blackmore's novel has a great deal to live up to, right from the beginning. Mallory Shepard, lawyer, snoop, betrayed fiancé and the ditsy protagonist of this new series is a study in contrasts. The adorable woman who initially graciously gave way to her future mother-in-law's wedding plans suddenly runs amok, hyperactive, hyper anxious, querulous and full of evasion to the local police force. Yes, Mallory unprecedentedly inherits her ex-fiancé's relative's house. Yes, the place is a near tear-down and developers and fracking companies want to buy it, but old Aunt Sylvia refused both options and Mallory will honour her wishes. Then a dead guy shows up on the lawn. Her sister Rachel finds love, living with her and bakes the best cake at the fair. The mayor is "handsy" with women, in full view of everyone. The house yardsman gives her and Rachel the creeps. The ex and his mother take her to court, and the yummy guy next door defends her. Garrett, that hot lawyer, becomes a love interest. Mallory does lawyer snooping at her lawyer firm. Mallory tries to find someone to take her wedding slot, because she can't get her deposit back. Mallory organizes a wedding... Someone else is killed. Someone is having an affair. Who, what, how, where, when? Yikes!
The cast of characters and subplots dingle and dangle, and sometimes find their way back to each other. There isn't one red herring; there are just so many stories and people that the threads become a bit thin, and the suspense is almost flat until near the very end. Once it does pick up, Blackmoore does a great job. A bit more time spent earlier on the culprit would have enhanced the story, and perhaps made the identity less easy to guess. I was really hoping for a bit more wedding planner, and that was a mini part of the plot.
Stephanie Blackmoore has the bones of some good future books for her Wedding Planner Series. Less would be a bit more, and give the reader a chance to enjoy her character Mallory who was a bit too overloaded and rushed in Engaged in Death. Nuance is important if weddings are central to the structure of the story; a reader will be looking for the details from that wedding planner, as well as a great cozy mystery.
Three stars, an enterprising start to a debut mystery series.
February 24, 2022
I'm so happy that the first read for Cozy Escape bookclub for 2022. We just had the live stream last night and everyone was in love with it. I don't think it got less than 3 stars from anyone and it mostly received 4+ stars.
Mallory is down on her luck. You'd think getting ready to be married and start a new chapter in her life would be a highlight. However her future MIL has taken over the wedding, commented on Mallory's weight, and to top it all off she finds that her fiancé Keith has been cheating on her. Who told her? Well, you'll have to see.
She found out about the cheating and left Kieth only to find out that she had inherited Thistle Park from Keith's grandmother. The only family member that she actually loved. But there is a history of missing paintings, oil & gas, and even more cheating under the roof of the dilapidated victorian.
It is up to Mallory, her sister Rachel, and a hodgepodge of quirky characters to figure out the MURDERS and save the house.
I truly loved this book so much and will be picking up the next in the series.
Mallory is down on her luck. You'd think getting ready to be married and start a new chapter in her life would be a highlight. However her future MIL has taken over the wedding, commented on Mallory's weight, and to top it all off she finds that her fiancé Keith has been cheating on her. Who told her? Well, you'll have to see.
She found out about the cheating and left Kieth only to find out that she had inherited Thistle Park from Keith's grandmother. The only family member that she actually loved. But there is a history of missing paintings, oil & gas, and even more cheating under the roof of the dilapidated victorian.
It is up to Mallory, her sister Rachel, and a hodgepodge of quirky characters to figure out the MURDERS and save the house.
I truly loved this book so much and will be picking up the next in the series.
July 17, 2016
Who can't love a book that uses the words "nebby" and "yinz"? What a fantastic start to a new series. Stephanie Blackmoore makes you fall in love with the characters. Throughout the book you are cheering and crying right along side of Mallory, the main character. I really enjoyed the twist at the end of the book. The Pittsburgh setting was special for me because I call Pittsburgh home. This is going to be a great series if this first installment is any indication. The theme, Thistle Park B & B seems like it is going to be fun and attention grabbing. I'll be pre-ordering the next in the series for sure!
January 9, 2019
What a great start to this new cozy mystery series. We start with Mallory suffering through horrible wedding planning only to find the fiance porking another woman. She quickly drops his worthless butt and tries to move on with her life. She is surprised when his grandma dies and leaves her the house already in her name so the ex cannot fight it in court. Well of course this leads to some suspicions as well as a murder investigation as the story progresses. Well written with characters you can relate to. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
June 28, 2016
The first book in a new series and new author for me. Mallory Shepherd receives a plain brown envelope shortly before her wedding. It contains pictures of her fiance with an another woman. Mallory canceled the wedding to dismay of her fiance and his Mother. She is surprised when she receives the title to her fiance's family home. The first night Mallory spends in the dilapidated mansion, the next morning she finds is a dead body on the lawn. This book is character driven and Mallory and her sister, Rachel will grab your interest immediately. There are Helene and Keith, her fiance, both are unlikable. The police chief Truman whose character changes during the story. Her neighbor, a teenager is caring for the stray cats in the mansion. The cats, a calico, and her kittens add much to the story. The description of the area, house, work, and fracking are fantastic and you feel you are there. I am looking forward to next book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
June 28, 2016
A promising debut to the new Wedding Planner Mystery series.
All in all I enjoyed ENGAGED IN DEATH. It did take me a little while to get into it. Something with the characters just wasn’t clicking with me at first. But further into the story, as author Stephanie Blackmoore fleshed them out, the book started to move faster for me.
Ms. Blackmoore has a flare for description. I could clearly visualize each scene as though I was in the room with the characters. I could hear the sounds, and smell the aromas.
ENGAGED TO DEATH was a solid mystery, with a well done reveal. There were just enough suspects to get me guessing until the reveal. I was close, but has changed my mind at some point. That will teach me to second guess myself. ;-)
Make sure to check out the back of the book where you will find some tasty recipes, and an excerpt of boo two in the Wedding Planner Mysteries, MURDER WEARS WHITE.
All in all I enjoyed ENGAGED IN DEATH. It did take me a little while to get into it. Something with the characters just wasn’t clicking with me at first. But further into the story, as author Stephanie Blackmoore fleshed them out, the book started to move faster for me.
Ms. Blackmoore has a flare for description. I could clearly visualize each scene as though I was in the room with the characters. I could hear the sounds, and smell the aromas.
ENGAGED TO DEATH was a solid mystery, with a well done reveal. There were just enough suspects to get me guessing until the reveal. I was close, but has changed my mind at some point. That will teach me to second guess myself. ;-)
Make sure to check out the back of the book where you will find some tasty recipes, and an excerpt of boo two in the Wedding Planner Mysteries, MURDER WEARS WHITE.
May 22, 2016
I thought this was a delightful first in a new series. The author has a wonderful descriptive writing style which was terrific because it really allowed me to picture some of the scenes throughout the book. The plot had a steady pace that kept me engaged throughout the entire book. The characters are wonderful and pretty well rounded for a first book. I liked the relationship between the sisters Mallory and Rachel. The mystery was solid and I thought the author wove the subplots together nicely so they were all tied up by the end of the book. There are also recipes at the end of the book that sound like they would be tasty.
A full review will be posted to my blog closer to the release date.
I received an ARC from the publisher Kensington through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion and the thoughts expressed are my own.
A full review will be posted to my blog closer to the release date.
I received an ARC from the publisher Kensington through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my opinion and the thoughts expressed are my own.
April 18, 2017
A good first book in a relatively new series. At times things seesawed back and forth, or felt like too much was going on, but I enjoyed the premise of the story. It was one of the few times in my extensive reading when I figured out who done it but it was a good journey.
December 22, 2023
A great start to a new series for me.
I loved Mallory and hated Keith and Helene. I wonder if we'll see them again, perhaps getting what they deserve. That would be nice. I can't wait to read the next one.
I loved Mallory and hated Keith and Helene. I wonder if we'll see them again, perhaps getting what they deserve. That would be nice. I can't wait to read the next one.
July 12, 2021
Mallory was getting married in 3 weeks to Keith. They were both with law firms.Helene was going to be Mallory mother in law really they could not stand each other. Helene was making all the shots in Mallory and Keith wedding. Come to find out Keith was cheating on Mallory so Mallory called off wedding. Sylvia was Keath grandma and Sylvia loved Mallory. Sylvia died the night Mallory was going to visit her like she always did in Sunday ( Helene never visted Sylvia. and Keith hardly did.Sylvia put in will that Mallory was getting the house and everything in it. That did not go over well with a lot of people especially Helene and Keith. Rachel Mallory sister came to Pittsberg to help Mallory out. So Mallory and her sis went to the house it was in disarray. A man named Shane came up the house while Mallory was There and told her that she should sell it. But Mallory said nope because he wanted for fracking. Sylvia did not want to happen.Shane was found bludgeon to death outside to house. 2 other people died in this first book. The story line was great. Loved Summer a girl that was a next door neighbor and giving food and water to a mamma cat and her kittens. I liked what Rachael and Mallory were going to do when they refinished the house. I will read the 2 nd book
June 9, 2016
Engaged In Death
Wedding Planner Mystery, Book #1
Stephanie Blackmoore
5 Stars
Synopsis:
"Had me in its spell from page one. Readers will love this." --Leslie Meier
All appears peaceful in sleepy Port Quincy, Pennsylvania--but in this small town, old grudges die hard. . .
After dumping her cheating fiancé and cancelling the wedding, Mallory Shepard can't bear another disaster. So when the former bride-to-be unexpectedly inherits Thistle Park, a ramshackle mansion in her ex's hometown of Port Quincy, it's a problem she can't afford--literally. Abound with stray cats, peeling wallpaper, and nosy neighbors, Mallory is dying to sell it off--once she finally fixes up both the place and her messy life. . .
Turns out, Thistle Park has its charms. But the honeymoon phase is abruptly cut short when an unwanted visitor is found dead on the front lawn. Enlisting the help of her sister Rachel, Mallory vows to unveil the killer before she herself becomes married to the suspect list. . .
"I had great fun reading the adventures of nouveau sleuth Mallory Shepard as she wrangles corpses, kittens, and a cheating fiancé in this charming debut mystery." --Laura Levine, author of Death by Tiara (Goodreads)
Review:
Mallory Shepard is all set to get married in a few weeks. Sure, her bossy future mother-in-law has taken control of her wedding, but she can let that slide. And she can also let the fact that her future mother-in-law does not seem to really like her very much slide. After all, she is not marrying her but rather her son. But what she cannot let slide is the fact that her fiance has been cheating on her and she has proof positive. When she calls off the wedding and learns that she has inherited a rundown mansion, she is not sure if her luck has taken a turn for the worse or the better. When a dead body is found on her front lawn right after she moves, she knows that her luck is on a downward slope. To make sure that she is not considered a true suspect, she decides that she will try to find the murderer herself. After all, she takes it personal when her yard is used as a dumping ground for murder.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Mallory and Rachel, her sister, grow and develop. When they were younger, Mallory kept an eye on her sister and tried to keep her in line. Now the tables seem to be turned and Rachel is very willing to help Mallory and keep her on track. The secondary characters added another layer of depth to the book and most of them are people I want to get to know better.
The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book. There are plenty of suspects with numerous motives to consider and a lot of clues to shift through. I was not sure of the killer until it was revealed at the end. And there is more than one mystery that needs to be solved, such as who tried to kill Mallory. She does not know if that incident is related to the murder but she intends to find out. I liked the fact that there were multiple mysteries to figure out.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and pulled me into the pages and held me captive. I really enjoyed the small town setting and all the quirkiness that goes along with it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I was very surprised to learn that this is the debut cozy mystery for this author. I cannot wait to read book two in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Wedding Planner Mystery, Book #1
Stephanie Blackmoore
5 Stars
Synopsis:
"Had me in its spell from page one. Readers will love this." --Leslie Meier
All appears peaceful in sleepy Port Quincy, Pennsylvania--but in this small town, old grudges die hard. . .
After dumping her cheating fiancé and cancelling the wedding, Mallory Shepard can't bear another disaster. So when the former bride-to-be unexpectedly inherits Thistle Park, a ramshackle mansion in her ex's hometown of Port Quincy, it's a problem she can't afford--literally. Abound with stray cats, peeling wallpaper, and nosy neighbors, Mallory is dying to sell it off--once she finally fixes up both the place and her messy life. . .
Turns out, Thistle Park has its charms. But the honeymoon phase is abruptly cut short when an unwanted visitor is found dead on the front lawn. Enlisting the help of her sister Rachel, Mallory vows to unveil the killer before she herself becomes married to the suspect list. . .
"I had great fun reading the adventures of nouveau sleuth Mallory Shepard as she wrangles corpses, kittens, and a cheating fiancé in this charming debut mystery." --Laura Levine, author of Death by Tiara (Goodreads)
Review:
Mallory Shepard is all set to get married in a few weeks. Sure, her bossy future mother-in-law has taken control of her wedding, but she can let that slide. And she can also let the fact that her future mother-in-law does not seem to really like her very much slide. After all, she is not marrying her but rather her son. But what she cannot let slide is the fact that her fiance has been cheating on her and she has proof positive. When she calls off the wedding and learns that she has inherited a rundown mansion, she is not sure if her luck has taken a turn for the worse or the better. When a dead body is found on her front lawn right after she moves, she knows that her luck is on a downward slope. To make sure that she is not considered a true suspect, she decides that she will try to find the murderer herself. After all, she takes it personal when her yard is used as a dumping ground for murder.
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Mallory and Rachel, her sister, grow and develop. When they were younger, Mallory kept an eye on her sister and tried to keep her in line. Now the tables seem to be turned and Rachel is very willing to help Mallory and keep her on track. The secondary characters added another layer of depth to the book and most of them are people I want to get to know better.
The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book. There are plenty of suspects with numerous motives to consider and a lot of clues to shift through. I was not sure of the killer until it was revealed at the end. And there is more than one mystery that needs to be solved, such as who tried to kill Mallory. She does not know if that incident is related to the murder but she intends to find out. I liked the fact that there were multiple mysteries to figure out.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and pulled me into the pages and held me captive. I really enjoyed the small town setting and all the quirkiness that goes along with it.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I was very surprised to learn that this is the debut cozy mystery for this author. I cannot wait to read book two in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. I would like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 20, 2022
Engaged in Death by Stephanie Blackmoore is the first book in the new wedding planner mystery series. I was absolutely delighted when Kensington approved my NetGalley request to review this one. I loved the cover, the title and the description. When I started reading the book, I was not disappointed. Ms. Blackmoore delivers a top-notch cozy mystery with delightful characters, plenty of twists and turns, and a town full of quirky residents.
Mallory will be marrying Keith in a few days ~ but before that happens, she receives a mysterious envelope with some photos painting Keith as an unfaithful jerk. Heartbroken, but thankful for the reprieve from Keith and his overbearing mother, Helene, Mallory holes up in a hotel to lick her wounds. The one member of Keith’s family that Mallory got along with was his grandmother, Sylvia. When she passes and Mallory finds out Sylvia deeded her grand old house to her, Mallory isn’t sure what to think.
I loved so much about this book. Mallory and her sister Rachel are wonderful characters. The town of Port Quincy was the perfect setting for this story. I live in eastern Ohio, but the closest city to me is Pittsburgh, PA. It was so easy for me to relate to the story and the settings. I was so wrapped up in the mystery and I quickly became invested in the characters and the story. I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the series comes out.
Merged review:
I first read this book in 2016 as an ARC. I picked this one up on Kindle Unlimited to re-read for Cozy Escape Book Club. Since it's been such a long time, I forgot whodunit until close to the end. I did enjoy the story this second time around but would rate it 4 stars overall. The plot and characters drove the story along quickly. The book felt very relatable to me as someone who lives not too far from Pittsburgh, PA. I would like to continue on to the next book in the series to see how the characters develop in book two.
Mallory will be marrying Keith in a few days ~ but before that happens, she receives a mysterious envelope with some photos painting Keith as an unfaithful jerk. Heartbroken, but thankful for the reprieve from Keith and his overbearing mother, Helene, Mallory holes up in a hotel to lick her wounds. The one member of Keith’s family that Mallory got along with was his grandmother, Sylvia. When she passes and Mallory finds out Sylvia deeded her grand old house to her, Mallory isn’t sure what to think.
I loved so much about this book. Mallory and her sister Rachel are wonderful characters. The town of Port Quincy was the perfect setting for this story. I live in eastern Ohio, but the closest city to me is Pittsburgh, PA. It was so easy for me to relate to the story and the settings. I was so wrapped up in the mystery and I quickly became invested in the characters and the story. I’m already counting down the days until the next book in the series comes out.
Merged review:
I first read this book in 2016 as an ARC. I picked this one up on Kindle Unlimited to re-read for Cozy Escape Book Club. Since it's been such a long time, I forgot whodunit until close to the end. I did enjoy the story this second time around but would rate it 4 stars overall. The plot and characters drove the story along quickly. The book felt very relatable to me as someone who lives not too far from Pittsburgh, PA. I would like to continue on to the next book in the series to see how the characters develop in book two.
June 29, 2016
Finding a new cozy series that is well written and has an enticing cast is always a treat, and Engaged in Death is as delicious as Rachel's whiskey orange wedding cake promises to be. (Yes the recipe is included).
Engaged in Death introduces readers to Mallory Shepherd, a corporate lawyer in the midst of planning her wedding. Her fiancé's infidelity leads her to nix the wedding. But the deepest blow is the sudden death of his grandmother Sylvia, to whom Mallory had grown close. Much to Mallory's surprise and the ire of Keith and his controlling Mother, Sylvia gifted her home, Thistle Park to Sylvia. Although the house is desperately in need of repairs, interest in Thistle Park is soaring. An energy company wants permission to frack, and rumors of valuable paintings hidden somewhere in the house abound. Finding the energy company's representative dead on her front lawn only marks the start of trouble for Mallory and her sister.
Engaged in Death has kittens, corpses, and more than a couple of surprises in store for readers. Port Quincy is an appealing town despite the problems caused by fracking. I applaud Stephanie Blackmoore for making the controversial topic an integral part of the novel. Unfortunately many people are blissfully unaware of the lasting damages caused by fracking, in part because it hasn't happened near them or affected anyone they know. Making it part of an appealing cozy is a good way to educate without hitting a person over the head with it.
I was very impressed by Engaged in Death and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
5/5
I received a copy of Engaged in Death from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Engaged in Death introduces readers to Mallory Shepherd, a corporate lawyer in the midst of planning her wedding. Her fiancé's infidelity leads her to nix the wedding. But the deepest blow is the sudden death of his grandmother Sylvia, to whom Mallory had grown close. Much to Mallory's surprise and the ire of Keith and his controlling Mother, Sylvia gifted her home, Thistle Park to Sylvia. Although the house is desperately in need of repairs, interest in Thistle Park is soaring. An energy company wants permission to frack, and rumors of valuable paintings hidden somewhere in the house abound. Finding the energy company's representative dead on her front lawn only marks the start of trouble for Mallory and her sister.
Engaged in Death has kittens, corpses, and more than a couple of surprises in store for readers. Port Quincy is an appealing town despite the problems caused by fracking. I applaud Stephanie Blackmoore for making the controversial topic an integral part of the novel. Unfortunately many people are blissfully unaware of the lasting damages caused by fracking, in part because it hasn't happened near them or affected anyone they know. Making it part of an appealing cozy is a good way to educate without hitting a person over the head with it.
I was very impressed by Engaged in Death and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
5/5
I received a copy of Engaged in Death from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
December 27, 2017
Awesome book! Very hard to put down once I started it. Loved the complex mystery and the historical aspect of the story. Fun bunch of characters. Can't wait to read the next one!
October 6, 2018
This is a solid first book of a new series. At the start, I was concerned that this would be a typical cozy full of dysfunctional relationships and the protagonist saying 'yes' when she really meant 'no' then complaining about it when stuck with her stated choice. But NO, protagonist Mallory showed herself to be a woman with a backbone, who used it when it really mattered. Yes, Mallory had some indecisive moments and some weak ones, but these moments made her responses to her life's situations plausible and the character seem more real.
The supporting cast of characters also seemed real in this book. I enjoyed the supporting role of Mallory's sister, Rachel as well as the addition of teenager Summer. I appreciated that Blackmoore included some romantic elements, but refrained from having either sister moon over a man, instead judiciously portraying, at least in Mallory's case, both people as realistically uncertain and unsure, but tentatively trying to see if romance might work.
The plot moved along well. There were a couple of places that were a bit repetitive but I find first books in new series often have this type of clunkiness to work out. Aside from these small hiccups, the book has a nice storyline and a solid set of mysterious happenings to it.
Overall, a solid read. I will look up book #2 in this series.
Note: I gave this book a full review because this book was published by Kensington.
I used to give full reviews for all of the books that I rated on GR. However, GR's new giveaway policies (Good Reads 2017 November Giveaways Policies Changes) have caused me to change my reviewing decisions. These new GR policies seem to harm smaller publishing efforts in favour of providing advantage to the larger companies, (GR Authors' Feedback) the big five publishers (Big Five Publishers). So, because of these new GR policies from now on I will be supporting smaller publishing efforts by only giving full reviews to books published by: publishing businesses outside the big five companies, indie publishers, and self-published authors. This book was published by one of these smaller publishing efforts so I have given it a full review.
The supporting cast of characters also seemed real in this book. I enjoyed the supporting role of Mallory's sister, Rachel as well as the addition of teenager Summer. I appreciated that Blackmoore included some romantic elements, but refrained from having either sister moon over a man, instead judiciously portraying, at least in Mallory's case, both people as realistically uncertain and unsure, but tentatively trying to see if romance might work.
The plot moved along well. There were a couple of places that were a bit repetitive but I find first books in new series often have this type of clunkiness to work out. Aside from these small hiccups, the book has a nice storyline and a solid set of mysterious happenings to it.
Overall, a solid read. I will look up book #2 in this series.
Note: I gave this book a full review because this book was published by Kensington.
I used to give full reviews for all of the books that I rated on GR. However, GR's new giveaway policies (Good Reads 2017 November Giveaways Policies Changes) have caused me to change my reviewing decisions. These new GR policies seem to harm smaller publishing efforts in favour of providing advantage to the larger companies, (GR Authors' Feedback) the big five publishers (Big Five Publishers). So, because of these new GR policies from now on I will be supporting smaller publishing efforts by only giving full reviews to books published by: publishing businesses outside the big five companies, indie publishers, and self-published authors. This book was published by one of these smaller publishing efforts so I have given it a full review.
March 31, 2020
Pretty enjoyable cozy! I was sucked in from the beginning with the cheating fiance right until the end with the start of a new business. I liked the two main character sisters. Rachel is a little pushy at times, but what sister isn't?? I definitely will continue with this series and see what adventures the two get into!!
January 29, 2021
This takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania. The story involves infidelity, an old house, hidden paintings, and kittens. The wedding planning wasn't a big part of the story. The home renovation wasn't either. The story focused on the lost paintings and ownership of the house. I was surprised by some of the ending. The location of the paintings was a surprise, but the identity of the murderer wasn't one.
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