A Toast to Murder

A Wine Lover's Mystery #6

by Michele Scott

The big day is swiftly approaching for Nikki Sands—Manager of the Malveaux Estates in Napa Valley—and her fiance Derek Malveaux, who owns the winery. But when they start receiving cryptic messages questioning their belief in fate, things quickly turn fatal…

As the wedding grows closer, it seems the entire affair is cursed. A chewing gum fiasco forces Nikki to cut her hair and go platinum blonde. Then Derek’s old college buddies, along with an assortment of old flames and frustrating family relations, show up to work Nikki’s last nerve. But when Nikki’s close pal Simon is shot as he walks her down the aisle, Nikki realizes that she has to find a matrimonial murderer before her wedding becomes someone’s funeral.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Wine, Romance, Fiction, Cozy

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2010

About the author

Michele Scott is an American author and the CEO/owner of equestrian sports medicine company Professional’s Choice, Inc. She has written over forty novels in various genres including thrillers, mysteries, young adult mysteries, fantasy, and women’s fiction. Her thriller Daddy’s Home from her Holly Jennings’ series written under her pen name of AK Alexander has sold over one million copies and was the #1 bestselling book in the UK Amazon. Her thriller Mommy, May I? and was number 2 on the Amazon list.

Subsequently, Daddy’s Home hit #4 in the US Amazon store (over all books). She was a featured author in Jeff Bezos letter to the shareholders and one of fifteen authors invited to the reveal of Kindle Fire. Amazon also produced a short documentary about her and her writing story and featured her in a book on bestselling Amazon writers. Daddy’s Home was also a top ten bestseller on The Wall Street Journal bestseller list.

Michele’s bestselling mystery series (The Wine Lover’s Mysteries) has gone into multiple printings and has been optioned by a Los Angeles based producer and production company.

Michele is a lifelong equestrian, having horses since she was five-years-old. If you don’t find her at her desk writing, you’re sure to find her at the barn!

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this latest Wine Lover Mystery series book, Michele Scott is back in form after a couple of weak outings. Here is all the wine county detail, snappy dialogue, and humor we've come to love in the first three books in the series. A wedding - Nikki and Dereks's - goes terribly wrong when Simon's brother is shot walking Nikki down the aisle. Once again Scott tests both Nikki's ability to keep it together in trying circumstances as bodies turn up along with an old love.

[Lesley Looper · Rating 3 out of 5]

This has been one of my light reads of late, but that's okay, sometimes you just need a book like that. I like the winery setting, and am glad Nikki and Derek got married at the end, after much hullabaloo.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

All of the Napa Valley mysteries are technically perfect, so I keep reading the series hoping for growth. Unfortunately, they are almost too perfect to the point of being a bit soulless. The secondary characters are somewhat more interesting than the protaganist, though all the bases are covered. The series does keep improving, however.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another story in this quirky fun loving family at the vineyards series. The wedding is soon, and Simon wanting to wear tails, and being told no, doesn’t go well. Nikki watching two little ones, when Derek comes home, saying guests are showing up early. One of the little ones got bubble gum in Nikki’s hair, a beauty saloon or two, with Simon thinking he solved the problem for her. This is a delight to read, and one doesn’t want to stop. One love’s the characters, especially for me Simon. He is always up to his quirky self.

[Joseph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to say it, but I fear this series was running out of steam when it finally pulled into the last station. I'm glad that it ended as it did, but the mystery and muddle of relationships we had to go through to get there was just not as good as the other books in the series had been. It didn't even have the interesting wine making info that made this series unique and enjoyable.

[Mimi · Rating 3 out of 5]

very fun didn't guess who till the wounding....Somehow Simon was a bit too stereotypical and the wedding should been flushed out at the end. It was just sort of a cleanup ending. the rest of the book was so detailed. Why end with such a whimper?

[Joni · Rating 5 out of 5]

awesome

These are so good. You can read them one after another on kindle unlimited which is what I am doing. There is one left to go, I hope Ms Scott keeps writing because I will keep reading!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another series I am working on catching up on. Usually very informative on the wine making process; this particular one...not so much. I do enjoy that all of the books also have recipes :)

[BeverlyB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nicki Sands is finally getting married! To her, love, Derek! Not even murder can stop the wedding, or can it? Mmmm! A quick, fast, read!

[Sara Eames · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, cosy mystery with good characters and a plot that moves at a steady pace. I shall look for more books in this series.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

Another great read ! I'm sad there is only one more book left in this keep you on your toes series.

[Cooper · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, where to start when one has such a negative visceral reaction to a book...

Should we start with the cliche filled characters? Nikki is how old? Because she acts and is written as if she's 13 and in high school and fighting off Regina George and the plastics. Nikki's BFF is Simon, written as a cliched gay best friend. Derek, Nikki's intended and Simon's brother, seems like the empty-headed good looking nice guy and who breaks down like a girl when something doesn't go his way. OMG, this was just soooo bad and unoriginal and insipid!

The storyline? Oh really, let's be honest. WHO CARES! This book was poorly written, lacked any originality, and felt like Ms. Scott got toasted on a bottle of wine and then whipped out her laptop and wrote this drivel in one fell swoop!

Nikki and Derek are to get married. Nikki and Derek are getting threats but ignore them. Nikki has to get a hair cut and then cries and whines about it like someone just shot her dog. Nikki meets Derek's friends and proceeds to hate them all and then complains about why no one likes her. (It's because you're a narcissistic empty-headed nitwit!) Day of wedding Simon gets shot, so wedding is postponed. Oh wait, Derek's first wife tried to kill Nikki and Derek and now she's in jail. Oh, and the first wife, she turns out to be the unknown daughter of Derek's step-mother. What???? Then Nikki decides to find out what's going on and through a series of 'coincidences' she sort of kinda realizes who the killer is. Well, it would have been me if I'd been there....but I wouldn't have missed!

Truly one of the worst books I've ever read. And to be honest, by the time I got to page 160, I just started to skim until I found out who the killer was.

I gave this one star as Ms. Scott deserved kudos for writing this and finding a publishing company that would actually publish it.

Book went right where it belonged, the trash can....I'd be too embarrassed to give this to any of my friends.

[Deborah Boerema · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this series, I've set a new personal policy for future reads. Life is too short, and there are too many books out there to settle for three-star books. I didn't dislike this series, and I don't feel like it was a total waste of time. However, there was just nothing really engaging about the characters or the setting to really make me love it. I kept reading, hoping that my attachment to the main character, Nikki Sands, would grow. But through six books, she continued to display a lack of ability to make and keep a true commitment in her most important personal relationship. I didn't relate to her as someone I'd like to have as a friend. And she didn't really strike me as being a clever sleuth.

I also usually like recipes in mysteries. However, most of the recipes in this series seemed too fancy for me to consider preparing. Also, I enjoy drinking wine, but I'm not a wine snob. So detailed descriptions of "notes of peach and vanilla with a chocolate finish, etc." were lost on me.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great addition to this fun series. The setting could not have been more perfect. The mystery takes place on the beautiful Malveaux Estate and starts during Nikki & Derek's wedding. I love that some older characters were brought back into the story and it was fun meeting Derek's college pals. Made the suspect list long and kept me guessing till the very end!

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, this was the best book in the series and that is saying a mouthfull. Oh, and it also has recipes and wine pairings.

I was fully engaged by page 11 and saying aloud "you go girl" by page 55 and so on and on.

It is worth buying immediately and enjoying fully!

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another murder, but this one interrupts the wedding of Nikki and Derek. Not quite as predictable as some of Scott's previous in the series. The outcome of the actual murderer had me guessing til the end.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sixth in the series, this book furthers the characters Relationship. The mystery is OK...not enough clues to really consider the reveal that plausible. Almost like the red herrings were more of the plot than the actual mystery. Good otherwise.

[Randa D'aoust · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is less enjoyable for me than before. The characters are typical and reasonably well drawn. This particular book was more of a "steamy" romance than a mystery. I was disappointed because I prefer mysteries to romance novels.

[Jen Peters · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like how Nikki acted towards Derek's friends in this book, and it made her seem annoying. I think there is only one book left in the series and I am sure I will read it, but I wont be sorry to not have any more to look forward to.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kept me wanting to finish it.

[Helen Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun installment in the winelovers mystery series. I'm not sure, but this reads to me as if it is the last in the series.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the "Nikki Sands" winery owner/detective angle. Every page is a good gossip over wine and food informative clue. Cried at the end. (love story was good too).

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, but not my favorite in the series, mainly due to Nikki's indecision and second guessing herself.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice cozy, but a little predictable. Still I'd like to read others in the series.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fun read. Not quite a four star book. I would rate it about 3.75 of 5 Stars. I do think Simon might be my favorite character.
Second time around I would rate it 3.25 of 5 stars.

[Amelia in PDX · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is okay, it didn't really float my boat, although I've enjoyed other books in the serirs.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

love this series still! the characters are good, storyline good. keeps you guessing.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even tho I odn't partake, This is a great series and this was a very exciting addition to it.

[Cari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun and quick to read. Not exceptionally written, but it did have a lot of twists at the end.

[Sandybear76 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nikki and Derek are trying to get married but a little murder interrupts the ceremony.