Murder Wears White by Stephanie Blackmoore is book two in the Wedding Planner Mystery series. I had read the previous book, but it is not necessary to make the current book enjoyable. Renovations on Mallory's bed and breakfast are underway. They get pushed into overdrive when a June wedding gets pushed up to November. As if that were not enough, Mallory's sister and most of the contractors believe that the B&B is haunted. To complicate matters further the bride's aunt dies as the result of an allergic reaction. This book is full of action and several subplots. I solve one of the mysteries within the mystery very early on. The main mystery kept me guessing until the end though. I enjoyed this book just as much as the first. Stephanie Blackmoore's series continues to be one of my new favorites.

This is the 2nd book in the wedding planner mystery series . Our protagonist Mallory has her hands full with her new B&B and staring her wedding planning business. She plans to make a lucrative business holding weddings at the B&B when strange occurrences begin with a paranormal. twist. After a murder our protagonist begins to investigate when she finds her house is haunted,. the suspects are growing and she may be in danger herself. I loved the twist and turns of this sleuth and it kept me guessing ! The protagonist is funny, smart and likable. Each character adds to the fun and richness of the plot. Very well done ! I look forward to the next in series. cross posted on Amazon .

Entertaining cozy mystery. I like the fact that there are many sub plots. Not a fan of ghosts or paranormal, but as I knew there were humans behind the activities it did not turn me off from the book. This is a fun series with interesting and charming characters.

Mallory inherited Thistle Park from her ex fiance Keith’s grandmother and still has to deal with Keith and his mother Helene. Mallory is having the mansion remodeled into a B&B she hopes to open when she does her first wedding in her new wedding planning business. Mallory’s sister Rachel is helping her to do the remodel. Jesse is a contractor and his crew have their hands full with the remodel. Jesse mom Delilah is a witch. Someone is sabotaging the repairs and stealing tools while Jesse is trying to get the remodel done. Thistle Park is rumored to have a ghost-Evelyn Garrett with all the mysterious activity in the house Mallory has to call Howard Heyward and the Post Guenez Paranormal Society. Whitney booked Thistle park for her wedding in eight months but comes to Mallory and she begs to be able to move up her wedding so her dying father can be at the ceremony. Mallory agrees and then finds herself and her family in an old murder investigation and a new murder investigation when Whitney’s Aunt Lois.drops dead from food poisoning at the food tasting part of the wedding preparation. Mallory’s wedding planning business is off to a very rocky start. Mallory is investigating a new and old murder, battling with the Planning Commission, has a realty ghost hunting program in her butt, and a bad relationship with her ex fiance Keith and his new fiance Becca. How much more can Mallory handle. But this is not the first murder in Whitney’s- the bride- family Her mother had been murdered years ago and the murder wasn’t really solved. Mallory’s boyfriend is the defense attorney for and Garrett thinks he the man who is currently being held for murder and Garrett thinks he is innocent. Mallory and Garrett start their own investigation into these murders. However the killer plans on Mallory never solving the mystery. Mallory also is getting anonymous letters.
\I really liked this story it had so much to offer. And I enjoyed reading it. It had a great plot and was written well as far as I'm concerned. I like how Mallory handles herself and starts to try to find out herself who the killer is. This is fast paced and at times made me laugh out loud and that always good. But there were a few too many plots and sometimes made t hard to keep up. I enjoyed how Rachel and Mallory interacted with each other also. Also would have liked a little more focus on Lois’s background but otherwise I had no problem and thoroughly enjoyed this story. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I recommend.

Murder Wears White is the second book in the A Wedding Planners Mystery series. A wonderful follow-up to Engaged To Murder.

Mallory Shepard is looking forward to getting the renovations completed on her inherited home, Thistle Park. When completed she will have a beautiful B&B to compliment her wedding planning business. She has her first client, Whitney Scanlon, lined up and plans are under way for the event. The wedding date suddenly gets moved up, as the bride’s father is seriously ill. The contractor feels that it will be close, but thinks it will be along enough to still hold the wedding and house the guests. About this time, the contractor notices that tools seem to go missing/or run at various times and acts of sabotage. Mallory’s sister, Rachel, has asked Hunter Heywood of the Port Quincy Paranormal Society to come in to check for any ghosts in the home.

Whitney Scanlon is also being preyed upon by an unknown person. Her wedding dress has been cut to pieces and various notes are being sent to her, one telling her to go back to Baltimore, where she resides. Then as the pre-wedding dinner is underway, an aunt dies from food poisoning. Mallory learns that this is the first suspicious death in the Scanlon family. In fact. Whitney’s mother was kidnapped and later found murdered. A man that lived close to the victim was arrested, tried, and convicted of her mother’s death. But Mallory soon learns that possibly the police didn’t do a complete investigation and the wrong man was convicted.

Mallory set off to learn if the man convicted is actually innocent and who might have really killed Whiney’s mother and how it might be connected to the threats that Whitney has been receiving. Mallory also has the help of three adorable Westies in wrapping up the mystery.
The author once again provides the reader with a well-plotted and told story with an enjoyable and believable cast of characters.

Definitely, will be watching for the next book in this delightful series.

Mallory Shepard already had her hands full making renovations to convert her inherited mansion “Thistle Park” into a Bed and Breakfast, while kicking off her wedding planning business in Port Quincy, Pennsylvania. Mallory has now made her life even more difficult by agreeing to move a wedding up by eight months for one of her first clients to make sure the bride’s seriously ill father can attend the ceremony. However, a series of accidents threaten the completion of the construction project. Added to that, the young bride Whitney’s Aunt Lois dies under suspicious circumstances. Mallory decides to start her own investigation to solve the murder and keep the renovations on track to make sure her new business has the chance to get off the ground.

I enjoyed reading Murder Wears White. It is the second in the Wedding Planner series by author Stephanie Blackmoore, but the first book I have read by this author. Blackmoore does a great job of introducing new readers to all of the important characters, and I like the mix of down-to-earth and quirky characters. Mallory is a former attorney and is well-grounded which makes a nice balance for some of the more colorful characters. The subplots range from the realistic - Mallory fighting small town politics to get the necessary building permits - to the extreme - The Paranormal Society visiting the mansion to look into the construction accidents which have been regularly occurring. However, this makes a good combination and keeps the book believable, but fun.

Mallory is likeable from the beginning and some of the other characters, like Mallory’s strong-willed mother get better as the story goes on. A nice thing I appreciate about the book is how well Mallory gets along with her boyfriend Garrett’s daughter Summer. I’m glad the book doesn’t go the clichéd route of having Summer despise Mallory and causing problems in their relationship. This was a nice surprise and I like the way Mallory relates to the young woman.

The investigation of Lois’s murder takes some confusing turns that interferes with the smooth flow of the story, but overall the book is entertaining and full of humor. Having a wedding planning and bed and breakfast business provides a great way to keep future stories fresh as the series continues. Fans of Carolyn Haines will appreciate the humor of this series. There are a variety of recipes at the end for dishes that were featured in the story. The book also includes an excerpt from the next book in the series which looks to be as fun as this one.

~ Christine

Synopsis:

Mallory Shepard s wedding planning business is off to a shaky start when a member of the bridal family drops dead at a food tasting . . ."
Mallory hopes to unveil her new B&B just in time for her first ceremony as a wedding planner. The renovations to Thistle Park the mansion she inherited in small-town Port Quincy, Pennsylvania are almost complete. But what Mallory didn t plan on is the bride s aunt being poisoned at the wedding tasting and her perfect venue becoming a crime scene.
Adding to the mystery is the discovery that this is not the first murder in the bridal family, and as Mallory becomes engaged in her own investigation she learns the man convicted of the crime may not be guilty. Now she has two crimes to solve before the bride walks down the aisle but a killer has other plans to ensure that Mallory forever holds her peace . . .
Praise for "Engaged in Death"
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I had great fun reading the adventures of nouveau sleuth Mallory Shepard as she wrangles corpses, kittens, and a cheating fiance in this charming debut mystery. Laura Levine, author of "Murder Has Nine Lives" (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. Mallory is a hard worker who has big dreams for her B&B . I felt that at times, Mallory came off as someone who was indecisive and I felt like she really did not grow much from book one to book two. That is only my opinion and other readers may not feel the same way as I do at all. Her sister, Rachel, is a fun woman who enjoys helping her sister. I really enjoyed the interaction between the two of them. Their bickering and banter provided a lot of humor to the story.

The writing style flows smoothly. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and through much of the book I felt like I was right there, watching all of the action taking place around me. I really enjoyed that.

The mystery was carried on well throughout the entire book and with so many suspects to consider and clues interspersed through the book, it was not an easy mystery to solve. I felt like there were a few too many storylines going on in the book at one time. I wish that the book only focused on one or two of them and used the other ones in future books. Again this is only my opinion and others may not feel the same way.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. Although I liked the first book a little better, I still enjoyed this one and I am looking forward to reading the next book 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.

Murder Wears White: A Wedding Planner Mystery
By Stephanie Blackmoore
Kensington
February 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

After inheriting a run-down historical mansion in Port Quincy, Pennsylvania from her ex-fiancé’s aunt, Mallory Shepard planned to renovate it into a Bed and Breakfast where she would base her new business as a wedding planner. With her first ceremony moved up eight months and rezoning permits caught in Planning Commission hell though, the chances of the B&B being ready in just a month look bleak. Mallory just couldn’t resist the pleas from her first bride, as the last wish of Whitney Scanlon’s dying father is to walk her down the aisle. That’s especially important since Whitney’s mother disappeared twenty years ago, was found murdered ten years ago, and her convicted killer represented by local attorney Garrett Davies. Mallory and Garrett may not have had an official date yet, but they’ve been steadily inching in that direction; what may not speed up the pace is Garrett’s belief that his client was innocent.

Rumors of the mansion being haunted and already plagued by accidents had workers skittish, but it takes a nearly fatal fall by Mallory’s sister Rachel to have them calling in the professionals. In this case, that turns out to be the Port Quincy Paranormal Society, led by the chin-dimpled Hunter Heywood. Rachel is completely on board his ghost-hunting efforts that could land them on a reality television show, but Mallory is far more concerned with a living threat menacing the wedding plans. After Whitney’s aunt suffers from fatal allergic reaction during a tasting menu, Mallory is further drawn into their family’s mysteries in order to save the ceremony and Mallory’s business.

This carefully constructed mystery weaves together numerous plots that succeed in being resolved in logical and satisfactory manners. Mallory’s ex continues to be a massive irritant in her life, and the arrival of Garrett’s ex-girlfriend heralds even more complications. Mallory’s talented - but opinionated - decorator mother will be needed if the B&B is ever to get completed, but her own relationship snafus usher in no small amount of chaos when it involves the lead contractor and his Witch-on-wheels, fortune-telling mother. As a friend lists off, Mallory has house trouble, permit trouble, ghost trouble, and man trouble. Mallory also has a talented baker of a sister, a maybe-boyfriend who definitely has her back, and more than enough smarts to figure out the many puzzles plaguing her life. A chocolate wedding menu, three adorable Westies, and small-town politics ensure for a fun-spirited and lively mystery, one sure to be solved by its intelligent and capable heroine.

Oh my gosh I had so much fun reading this! It is jam packed with things going on, so the plot never drags. There are some hilarious, laugh out loud moments. The multiple mysteries were intriguing, and I had fun trying to put all the pieces together.

Blackmoore's second entry in her wedding planner cozy mystery series doesn't disappoint. What appears to be a fatal accident turns out to be a murder that could be linked to the victim's shady dealings - or a twenty year old murder. There's a good mix of detecting and wedding planning, with delightful characters and realistic interactions. I really enjoy this series and can't wait to read more!

I was grateful to be introduced to this new (to me) cast of characters in 'Murder Wears White'. Upon reading it I immediately went and purchased the first in the series. Mallory's efforts to open a B&B in a home she inherited are full of mystery, suspense, romance and fun. I was entirely surprised at the ending, which in itself is surprising. I am anxiously anticipating the next installment, which was expertly teased at the end of the book.

Murder Wears White is Stephanie Blackmoore's second book in the Wedding Planning Mystery series featuring Mallory, the owner of the Thistle Park B & B in a small western Pennsylvania town. Mallory is rushing to get the B & B renovations finished in time for the wedding of Whitney Scanlon, her first big client. Whitney's mother was murdered years ago and a man was convicted, but Mallory's boyfriend Garrett, the man's defense attorney, thinks the convicted man is innocent and that the killer is still out there. In addition, the B & B seems to be haunted and the ghost hunters are coming to investigate. Mallory has to juggle contractors, small town politics, her ex-fiancee, the Paranormal Society, anonymous letters and more.

I enjoyed the plot of this book and it flowed along well. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, which was sometimes confusing. The main characters were well portrayed and felt like people I'd like to meet. The identity of the murderer was a surprise to me until the end, and the recipes at the end of the book look delicious. I look forward to the next book in the series.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars, it was okay.

Book 2 in the series.

What I did like: Mallory's family and the way they all worked together. I love the location and the concept.

What I didn't like: Too much going on! Instead of a relaxing read, I felt like I was running to catch up all the time. And some of it just felt forced. "Ooo, we have a ghost. Call in a paranormal team!" Because it's not just vandalism?? (By the way, vandalism that nearly kills someone is NOT a prank...) My mind would have gone straight to, "How is someone getting into my building?" not "It's a GHOST!" and I love ghost stories, but this was just too silly.

All in all, the things I liked are enough to get me to read the next in the series. It just needs a bit of tightening up, rather than running in every direction.

Murder Wears White is a quirky story that has a lot going on. As Mallory prepares for renovations at her B & B, she has no idea of what's in store for her.
Ghostly pranks, an ex-fiance, a death and bribery. While most people would run away screaming, Mallory digs in her heels and uncovers the truth.
This book kept me guessing and I was entertained from beginning to end.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Love this cozy mystery. Love Mallory, her sister Rachel, and their parents. Really didn't want for it to end. Love Garrett, Mallory's boyfriend. However, I wish they had more romance. I highly recommend! Thanks! Enjoy!