Emmy Oak has always been a fan of her best friend Ava's handmade silver jewelry. So when Ava gets a chance to showcase her pieces at a charity fashion show for Wine Country's elite, both women are thrilled. That is, until the model wearing Ava's custom emerald necklace is murdered after her runway walk and the gem is stolen! The theft of the expensive jewel means Ava could lose everything, including her shop, Silver Girl... unless Emmy can help her track down a killer and find the missing emerald!
While the enticing Detective Grant might be looking at the death as a burglary-gone-wrong, Emmy isn't so sure that's the case. The model's name was Gia Monroe, and Emmy quickly learns that she made her fair share of enemies in life. From the flamboyant designer overheard threatening her just before the fashion show, to her agent with a shady secret and a precarious hold on his talent, to an eccentric rival designer with a grudge, no one seems to be grieving Gia's death. And when Emmy discovers Gia may have had a mysterious stalker, she realizes any one of them could have murdered the model. Between running her small winery and navigating the catty world of high fashion, Emmy tries to stay one step ahead of the danger...before the killer strikes again!
Gemma had a hard time figuring out what she wanted to be when she grew up. She worked as a film and television actress, a teddy bear importer, a department store administrator, a preschool teacher, a temporary tattoo artist, and a 900 number psychic, before finally selling her first book, Spying in High Heels, in 2005 and deciding to be a writer.
Since then, Gemma has written several mystery novels and been the recipient of numerous awards, including a National Reader's Choice award and three RITA nominations. Her books have hit both the USA Today and the New York Times Bestseller lists.
Gemma now makes her home in the San Francisco Bay area where she is hard at work on her next book.
I am enjoying this series set in the wine country of Sonoma in California where it feels like visiting old friends each time a new book comes out. Emmy Oak is running her family's generations old Oak Valley Vineyard. Her best friend, Ava Barnett, is a jewelry designer and owner of Silver Girl, a boutique where she sells her jewelry. Ava is getting her big break when her jewelry is used in a fashion show at Links Country Club where two designers are showcasing their new designs. It is all so exciting for Ava until one of the models is found with Ava's top piece wrapped around her neck and an emerald worth one hundred thousand dollars is missing. Ava's business is on the line if the jewel is not found. Emmy and Ava put on their sleuthing hats and investigate the fairly large pool of suspects who might have it in for the arrogant and self important model who has been living a lifestyle above her modeling means. Emmy's very special friend, Detective Christopher Grant, warns Emmy to stay out of the investigation and she tries, sort of. This is another good mystery with a great setting and interesting characters. I did not figure this one out ahead of time. I received a complimentary ARC from the author and publisher, Gemma Halliday, for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
A great book dealing more with the fashion world, theft and murder than with the winery. Emmy and Ava go all out to locate the person who killed a model and stole Ava’s very expensive emerald at the same time. It was fun running all over town with them, while interviewing lots of people. I enjoyed this book very much.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Another great story in A Wine & Dine Mystery series. Emmy Oak's best friend Ava has an opportunity to showcase her jewelry business in a local charity event but then an unfortunate murder and burglary end up threatening the survival of her business. Emmy needs to help her friend even if it ruins her relationship with maybe boyfriend and detective, Grant.
I enjoyed the mystery as well as the romantic teasers. There are a lot of interesting relationships in this story and I am curious to what will develop with David and Grant in future stories. Thanks to the author for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
In the 6th adventure with Oak Valley Vineyard’s Emmy Oak and her friends, we have a high stakes jewel heist and the murder of a beautiful 23 year old model. Emmy’s best friend, Ava Barnett, has designed and created beautiful original jewelry pieces for a charity fashion show being held at The Links Golf Club. The finale piece is a stunning necklace with a $100,000 emerald in the center. Ava hopes this necklace will put her jewelry on the map. When the model, Gia, has not returned the necklace to Ava at the end of the show, Emmy goes looking for her. She finds Gia strangled with the chain from the necklace and the Emerald missing. Ava had taken out a loan to buy the jewel hoping the necklace would sell quickly to the “ladies who lunch” set from the exclusive club allowing Ava to repay the loan and expand Silver Girl. Without the emerald Ava and Silver Girl will be destroyed. Emma and Ava, having Charlie’s Angels daydreams, go looking for the jewel thief/possible murderer. Fashion, Rosé & Foul Play is the 6th release in Gemma Halliday’s Wine & Dine series. I really enjoyed reading it. Emma and Ava get themselves in all sorts of precarious and sometimes dangerous situations. Gia was universally disliked so there are a plethora of suspects with just as many motives. Was this a jewelry theft gone wrong or was Gia the intended target? Also, things might finally be heating up with hunky Detective Christopher Grant and Emmy. One can only hope! Yes, I will definitely be continuing on with this series!
In the next entry of this delightful Wine & Dine series, Emmy attends a charity fashion show to take pictures and support her BFF Ava, who is showcasing her jewelry line on the runway. The fashion show's closer is Gia Monroe, wearing a valuable emerald pendant designed by Ava. After the fashion show, Gia is found in her dressing room strangled by the necklace with the emerald gem missing. Emmy and Ava work to find who wanted to murder Gia and who took the emerald.
The models, their agents, and fashion designers aren't always as they initially appear. They all have their secrets and personal agendas. The question is who had the deadliest secret and agenda?
I have loved every single book in this series. The characters are fleshed out and the Sonoma Valley setting is beautiful and relaxing. What makes this book different from the previous books is that Ava is brought more into the spotlight as Emmy works with her to solve the crimes rather than Emmy doing it solo. I love their camaraderie and endearing friendship.
I am not sure if there will be any more books in this series, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed! This has become one of my favorite series by one of my favorite authors. I have always anxiously looked forward to the next entry.
Fashion, Rosé & Foul Play earns 5/5 Emeralds...Priceless Entertainment!
Gemma Halliday continues to make her next book better than the last. Ava Barrett is excited about her jewelry accenting the designs at a charity fashion show. The event is showcasing two San Francisco designers with very different styles, but accented with a collection of Ava’s best pieces of jewelry including a special creation with a large, princess-cut emerald. Emmy is reciprocating with moral support and snapping photos, but model Gia Monroe is late, and to ease Ava’s adrenaline-infused emotions, Emmy goes to look for the model. She finds Gia, but overhears an arguement and a threat between Gia and one of the designers. Prima donna? The event goes well, and Gia ends the show with a masterful strut in her designer togs and Ava’s glittering green jewel. But, remember, “It ain’t over til it’s over!” When going around to collect all the jewelry, Emmy and Ava are shocked to find Gia dead in her private dressing room, strangled by the chain on Ava’s prized necklace, and...the emerald is missing!
I, first, review books with a technical eye, and Gemma’s writing style is one that has made me a fan of all her works from High Heels Mysteries to my favorite Wine & Dine series. She incorporates sensory-laden descriptive language to bring to life the marvelous Sonoma setting, vineyard, and a wide range of characters, but doesn’t go overboard and rely only on the first-person narrative of Emmy’s inner thoughts and observations. She uses delightful dialogue that illustrates well the emotions, tone, and personalities. Adding to this is a drama that is very personal for Emmy and her BFF Ava, who could lose her entire livelihood if the “not insured” emerald isn’t found. Oh, yes, our pair are very aware that a murder attached which means treading lightly is key to their safety. But, the designers, models, and their agents all seem less than forthcoming and holding close to their chest their personal agendas and looking into the victim reveals much, but murder? Quite the page-turner with twists, misdirections, and a final reveal fraught with peril and justice. Love it!
Bonus! Cozy mysteries and recipes go together like wine and chocolate! With each recipe you’ll get a full list of ingredients, easy-to-follow directions, Tips! for substitutions, and the best Wine Pairings to make the meal complete: Flourless Chocolate Cake with Mocha Whipped Cream, Roasted Tomato Frittata, Sea Bass with Lemon Herb Sauce, Crepes with Bacon Onion Jam, Mama Halliday’s Apple Pie, and Authentic Mole Sauce.
Disclosure: I received an ARC from Gemma Halliday Publishing. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
The Wine & Dine Mystery series by Gemma Halliday is a captivating series. Readers cannot help but fall in love with this series and everything about it. And with Fashion, Rose, & Foul Play being the sixth book in the series readers are invested and a part of the series.
In Fashion, Rose & Foul Play the story is centered around Ava who is main character Emmy's best friend. Ava has her own shop Silver Girl which is a jewelry store full of her own custom made silver jewelry and she is trying to expand her business and get more recognition....which is exactly what the plan is when she is showcasing her pieces at a fashion show at a charity event at an exclusive country club. At this event the models will be wearing her jewelry and the last model will be wearing her more expensive piece yet .....a necklace with a very big and expensive emerald on it.
Unfortunately right after the show when the models are changing and taking off the jewelry, the model wearing the emerald necklace is found dead in her dressing room....and the murder weapon is the necklace ...but the emerald is missing !!
Of course Emmy and Ava cannot just sit pretty and wait for the cops to find the murderer and thief even if Detective Chris Grant is the detective on the case. Emmy knows first hand how seriously Grant takes his cases and how dedicated to the job he is seeing as she has been involved in cases before and that is how they met and how they developed feelings for each other. And even though Grant wants Emmy to be safe and not get hurt, she will run straight into danger for her best friend.
Fashion, Rose & Foul Play's storyline is such a HOOT !! The characters involved in the modeling scene are a colorful bunch and it seems they have a lot of secrets and no one tells the truth. This all makes for a great read but a hard case to solve. And the road that the girls take to get to the end result is worse that the scariest rollercoaster. And it is always fun when their "friend" David Allen tags along for the ride. He always brings more life to the party .... sorry maybe bad choice of words there ??
The Wine & Dine Mystery series is a great series to get lost in. Readers will instantly fall in love with Emmy and her friends, the vineyard and surrounding area and even the murders will entice you. Once you start reading you will wish you were there hanging around with the bunch. But sitting on your couch with a glass of your favorite wine and a snack will be just as good !!!
I loved every minute of this Wine and Dine Mystery with characters you feel like you know and a beautifully written twisty mystery that makes you feel you are right in the middle of all that's happening in California's Wine Country. I enjoyed Emmy Oak and her adventures with her best friend Ava when one of Ava's expensive jewelry pieces goes missing and a model is found dead at a charity fashion show. I am also excited about the budding romance between Ava and Detective Christopher Grant. Ms. Halliday knows how to keep you totally immersed and never disappoints whatsoever. The delicious recipes and wine pairings are a wonderful bonus following her must-read mystery. Don't miss "Fashion, Rose' and Foul Play". I received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Thank you to Gemma Halliday Publishing for a review copy of this book! Fashion, Rosé, and Foul Play is the sixth book in Gemma Halliday’s Wine and Dine Mysteries. In this installment, the California fashion scene comes to Wine Country.
Emmy Oak’s best friend, Ava, is hoping to drum up business for her shop by providing jewelry for the models at the Country Club’s fashion show. However, when one of the models is murdered with Ava’s necklace around her neck and the super expensive emerald missing, Ava’s business might not survive.
This was a fast-paced adventure with plenty of twists and turns. Gemma Halliday knows how to write likable and quirky characters while dropping clues and red herrings so the reader isn’t completely sure of the murderer until the end. The books in this series can be read as stand-alones, but the whole series is wonderful. Seeing the developing romance is a lot of fun!
I love this series! The San Francisco Wine Country setting, Emmy’s vineyard, Ava’s jewelry and a little romance make it so enjoyable! There were lots of great red herrings in this one and a great surprise ending! Can’t wait for the next one!
I love Fashion, Rose & Foul Play. The recurring cast of characters is so great - Emmy, Ava, Grant, Conchita, Hector, Eddie, Jean Luc and David are all people I would like to meet. Gemma Halliday never disappoints and I can never guess who is guilty of what. It was nice to see Ava and her jewelry being showcased. There are so many secrets that are divulged - many of which could entice someone to murder. I have leaned to start Ms. Halliday's books early in the day so I am not still ready at 5 am! I can never put them down!
Another excellent Emmy Oak, Wine & Dine mystery! These keep getting better and better. Great characters mixed with intriguing mystery, each one is a fun read from cover to cover. I love them all and look forward to every adventure in wine country. This time, Emmy's BFF Ava provides the jewelry for a fashion show held at the Links club. Emmy provides photography support for her BFF's breakthrough into the fashion world. A murder takes place and a gem goes missing. Ava needs that gem back, her Silver Girl shop could be on the line. Of course Emmy will help her figure out what happened and help locate the gem. Eccentric fashion designers with secrets, beautiful models, and stolen gems. Someone doesn't want Emmy and Ava on their trail and their favorite detective wants them to leave it alone. David Allen is back at the Links, Eddie has new ideas to advertise Oak Valley Wine, and Ava has some crazy customers lining up at the shop. This is so much fun. Pick this one up. Read them all!
I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review.
Another great Emmy Oak story! Emmy is playing photographer at a fashion show, where the models are wearing jewellery created by Ava. When a model is found dead, and an expensive gem of Ava's is stolen, Emmy and Ava get into detective mode and begin investigating the death, in an attempt to track down the gem.
I love the friendship that the two women have, and although they really shouldn't be acting as amateur detectives, they'll always do whatever it takes to help each other out of trouble. Emmy and Ava were together quite a bit in this one, and I really enjoyed that aspect.
Each book in this series has a mystery, some recipes you can try, and clean romance. You can read each book as a stand alone, but it's a great, easy to read series, so I would definitely begin at book one!
First, never a spoiler in my reviews! Second, this book and series are wonderful! Here's what you need to know: Set in the wine country, this is a great mystery story, injected with just the right amount of humor, but most importantly, a well-told twisty turny mystery that will draw you in from the first page. Great likable characters that will make you feel like you are in the story with them. This story will totally keep you guessing until you get to the end. A true page-turner! One other important factor: Although this book is part of a series, it does just fine as a stand-alone. The author is nothing less than superb with background and description enabling the reader to pick up anywhere and not miss a beat, however, you will definitely want to go back and read the others, if for no other reason because the series is so entertaining. So, stop here, and one click, you won't be sorry. I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opinions expressed are completely my own. I loved this book so much, I purchased my own edited and finished copy.
This is a very good series, with all the qualities of good writing that keeps me interested. The characters are filled in and feel like people you could enjoy knowing. The descriptions of wine country has me putting it on my list of places I want to experience. The mystery is well thought out, presented without the silly arguments between the real detective and the amateurs, although Emmy and Ava's "investigations" can be questionable. There are still characters to develop and, hopefully more romance between Emmy and Grant so I hope tge series will continue for a long time.
I love these books! I enjoy Emma, Ava, Eddie, Jean Luc and David so much. I have been annoyed with Grant and his slowness to act on a relationship with Emmy.
The recipes and wine pairings are such a nice extra. As a huge Napa and Sonoma Chardonnay fan I found this great. I’m a member of several wine clubs including Rombauer Chardonnay and a former La Crema member. I have also had Butter Chardonnay many times. So fun to see recipes specifically mentioning them.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I like where things are headed with Emmy and Grant. I just couldn’t figure out who the killer was this time. And what a totally surprise when the location of the missing Emerald is revealed. Totally missed that clue.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Emmy and Ava get caught up in a theft and murder at a fashion show, leaving a model dead. There are plenty of suspects, but this criminal and the motivation were well-hidden until the end. Another fun story for Emmy plus her relationship with Det. Grant is moving along as well.
I really enjoy this series. Emmy Oak is such a loveable character. When her best friend Ava’s expensive necklace is stolen and the last person to wear it is murdered, Emmy is determined to find the culprit. Of course she denies getting involved with the case to her love interest, Detective Christopher Grant. The loveable characters and budding romance make this book a sure winner!
Fashion show in wine country turns deadly. Emmy is at the show to support her best friend Ava whose jewelry is being showcased at the show. Unfortunately as things are wrapping up a murder & theft occur. Ava & Emmy need to find out what happened & end up in the middle of a big mess. Another enjoyable book in this series. I look forward to more.
Emmy Oak runs a winery and her best friend Ava designs beautiful pieces of jewellery so Emmy asked Ava if she wanted to showcase some of her pieces at a fashion event at the winery however the model wearing the very expensive emerald necklace is murdered and there is no sign of the gem. Can Emmys boyfriend cop Grant solve the mystery or does Emmy have to do it herself??
I've got the travel bug, but since we can't travel during coronavirus times, I've been turning to books. Gemma Halliday's wine country setting really fit the bill. Fun characters and an interesting plot made this one a must-read.
Wine country setting with an engaging cast of characters. Mysteries are plotted so readers are led along the way with the literary sleuths. Several recipes included with each entry in series.
The fashion aspect intrigued me less than previous plots, and it did annoy me that Emmy still goes to places alone when suggested by someone else, but I still enjoyed this installment. Tuesday the next comes out and I’ll be ready!
Gemma Halliday doesn’t disappoint! So much for Emmy’s promise not to meddle her way to near murder! And there are recipes for the tantalizing treats in the story.