Kelsey McKenna is a destinations wedding planner, however, this particular story takes place where she lives. The story begins with her helping her best friend, Brody, work a wedding faire and ends in a near death experience.

Kelsey is use to the craziness of bridezillas, but when she discovers the body of a fellow wedding planner, she finds herself surrounded in a cloud of suspicion. Especially when she discovers that her new clients were originally clients of the murder victim. This leaves Kelsey balancing a murder investigation and wedding planning, which of course, is a recipe for disaster.

Kelsey is one of those characters who tries her best to solve the murder, clear her name, and keep her clients happy. Yet, all of her efforts leave her looking more guilty and further in harm’s way. This is especially true as Brody, Laurel, and Kelsey try to take a book from crime solving television shows. They even go as far as to create a murder board, which would have been a great idea, if one of Kelsey’s clients wasn’t a suspect.

I still wouldn’t classify this as a cozy mystery. But it’s an enjoyable murder mystery and at the end of the day, the fact that Kelsey doesn’t have a cop sidekick, works so well in this book’s favor. This is truly an amateur sleuth who is trying to clear her own name and solve a mystery. I think that’s why these books appeal to me and I look forward to reading more.

The characters, the setting and the mystery kept me engaged until the end. You can't get much better than twists and turns and a killer that I didn't expect.

Our main character and heroine, Kelsey McKenna is a destination wedding planner who finds herself being the person of interest after discovering a fellow wedding planner and self proclaimed "Queen of Wine Country Weddings", Babs Norton, dead.  It does not help that Bab's assistant, Stefan (aka the ankle biter) is going around telling people that Kelsey killed Babs to get her clients.  This case becomes as complex as the flavors of a 2005 IL BARONE Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which we did indeed sample at the castle when it seems that there is no end to the possible criminals from the deceased's sister to a father of the bride and it doesn't help when people unexpectedly glimpse Kelsey's murder board and see their names notated.  No cozy mystery is complete without a little romance and while this book waits until the last few chapters it does not disappoint as Kelsey learns that she should have listened to her photographer pal, Brody, and let him play cupid sooner.  Much like a fine wine, better late than never.
     I almost always learn something new and interesting while reading fiction that actually turns out to be a nonfiction fact, and this one was no different.  Do you know why roses are planted at the ends of the rows of grape vines?  Or why the vineyards are building caves?  I didn't know the answers either and you'll just have to read the book to find out.  So grab a glass of wine and relax with this great read.

Delightful new author and series for me. Dying On The Vine was a fun read from page one.
And suspenseful almost immediately.
I enjoyed the banter between Kelsey and her friend Brody throughout the story.
When Kelsey goes from witness to possible murder suspect she becomes determined to clear her name and get back to business and 'stay in business. Brody is quick to help and suggests a 'Suspect Board' which gets Laurel Kelsey's assistant involved in investigation. And Kelsey in a little hot water when a client
discovers it and His name!

Rumors fly about Kelsey and her business practices. As crimes and accusations against Kelsey seem to pile up the three search out leads sneaking and snooping around the crime scenes finding evidence that the police seem to over look.

Not only was I kept intrigued with the mystery I was intrigued with who Kelsey might end up in a romantic involvement with.
There is the 'good cop' who is very nice looking. Then there is Luke the winery business manager. And then Brody introduces her to Jake. Hmm. There are some interesting bachelors in the mix giving the reader a fun few hours of reading enjoyment.

I rate Dying On The Vine as one of my top favorites.

And then there's the list of suspects from the very disgruntled father of the bride, to Bab's (the victim) assistant, along with Miles the winery owner and ultimately his brother Luke who falls off the list of eligible bachelors.

It becomes a race against time as Kelsey and the gang search for the murder and run for their lives!

I am looking forward to reading the series beginning with book 1
Terror In Taffeta and future installments in the
Destination Wedding Murder Series.

I received a complimentary copy of Dying On The Vine from
Great Escape Book Tours.

First Sentence: There was an air of excitement as brides-to-be and their entourages streamed through the front entrance of the Wine Country Wedding Faire.

The wedding event business is competitive, but so much so that one would murder a rival business owner? After a young couple decided to switch vendors, Kelsey McKenna wants to ensure things are fine with the previous event organizer, Babs Norton. What she doesn’t expect is to find Babs murdered, and herself the prime suspect.

What a good opening where we are introduced to the characters and know a bit about their backstory. And, for the most part, the characters are delightful. She is supported by her best friend Brody, and her assistant Laurel. Brody is the friend for whom every woman wishes—“I returned with the cake and two forks and set them down on the table. Brody just stared at me. “What?” Sighing, he got up and went to the kitchen, returning with two places and a knife. “Let me show you how adult humans eat.”

The sense of place is very well done, especially for those who know this area, travelled those roads, and sampled at the wineries, even with their names being changed. There are delightful injections of humor, but one of the best scenes is Kelsey’s very natural reaction to finding a dead body.

Kelsey’s awkwardness and ineptitude at trying to do her own investigation are completely believable and refreshing. Even so, Kelsey comes across a bit less confident and/or capable than in the first book, and does become involved in more than one TSTL (too stupid to live) situation.

“Dying on the Vine” is a light, airy cozy that does have a good plot twist.

DYING ON THE VINE (Cozy-Kelsey–Bay Area, CA- Contemp)-Good
Cooper, Marla – 2nd in series
Minotaur Books – April 2017

I really enjoyed the story and thought the author did an amazing job of developing her characters. I loved the setting of a winery and it was easy to picture it with the authors vivid description. What better place to have a wedding then at a beautiful winery. The landscape is gorgeous, the main room is big and perfect for large crowds. It makes a picturesque wedding that any bride would love.

Kelsey is a wonderful wedding planner and has many clients. Of course in the wedding planning business there are many to choose from. Babs Norton seems to be the queen when it comes to being a wedding planner. She thinks she knows everything about Napa Valley and helps couples have the most exquisite weddings imaginable. Her assistant Stefan is kinda stuffy and I thought he was quite jealous of Babs. When Stefan accuses Kelsey of stealing clients the stage is set for disaster.

When Kelsey goes to see Babs at her office she is in for a shock. She finds Babs laying on the floor. With her quick thinking she calls 911. To me this is where the story really starts taking off. Of course the police suspect Kelsey and she is set to proof her innocence. I didn't care for the detectives at all. They seemed ready to throw Kelsey in jail and throw away the key.

The story has many twists that keep readers glued to the book. I loved Laurel who is Kelsey's assistant. She has spunk and is ready to play detective to help Kelsey out. The story takes us from wine country to quaint little Inns to a majestic house that all play an intricate part in the cleverly written story. I could actually feel my heart beating a little faster as more suspects and victims start to turn up. I love when an author is able to keep the identity of the killer hard to figure out. The book has lots of mystery and unsavory characters that take readers on a journey that lead to an exciting and unexpected ending. I highly recommend you grab this book and get ready for a exhilarating look into the world of wedding planners.

I received a copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tours. The review is my own opinion.

Wedding planner Kelsey McKenna takes on some clients planning a Napa County wedding a month before their big day. While Babs, the wedding planner they had been using, is very professional about these clients leaving, her assistant, Stefan, isn’t. Still, Kelsey is shocked to find a dead body in the office when she comes to pick up her new client’s file. With her reputation on the line, Kelsey has to find a way to clear her name.

I loved the first in this series, and this book is just as wonderful. Kelsey, her friend Brody, and her assistant Laurel, make a wonderful trio, and their friendship and banter is a pure delight. The suspects introduced here are just as strong, and make it hard to distinguish clue from red herring until Kelsey figures it all out at the end. This is a wedding you’ll be glad you crashed.

In Dying on the Vine, the second book in the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mystery series, author Marla Cooper weaves an intriguing cozy mystery tale that follows the amateur sleuth adventures of wedding planner Kelsey McKenna when she finds rival wedding planner, Babs Norton, the self-proclaimed Queen of Wine Country Weddings, dead on her office floor. Kelsey is determined to find the killer before another wedding planner is next, herself included!

Dying on the Vine is a captivating and fast-paced whodunit tale set in the scenic wine country of California, that has enough quirky characters, witty banter and humor, drama, intriguing twists and turns, and conspiracy theories that will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer. You can't help but get caught up in the drama and calamity that ensues as Kelsey tries to solve the murder case of a rival wedding planner before another wedding planner is killed! Kelsey's amateur investigative adventure unfolds with a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and suspense that easily kept me guessing, and left me wanting more. I would be remiss if I didn't mention how much I enjoyed the rich description of the wedding destination setting of the California wine country, it sounds like it is a wonderful place to have a wedding!

Dying on the Vine is an entertaining cozy murder mystery that will easily engage you to join Kelsey in her latest wedding destination adventures!

RATING: 4 STARS

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2017/04/dying-on-vine-by-marla-cooper-book.html

Murder and matrimony are the order of the day for Northern California wedding planner Kelsey McKenna. After Terror in Taffeta, Kelsey might be excused for hoping for a return to semi-calmness, but that’s not in the cards. Her friend Brody—aka a fabulous wedding photographer—pulls the friend card when he teases her in front of would-be clients.

“She’s just mad because I hog the blankets,” Brody said, a twinkle in his eye.

I blushed a little, despite myself. I was always surprised when people thought Brody and I were dating. I mean, sure, he was good-looking, but it was so obvious that I wasn’t his type. In fact, I was off by a whole Y chromosome. No reason to let that stand in the way of a beautiful friendship, though.

The destination wedding business is extremely competitive. Kelsey’s enthusiastic assistant Laurel holds down the fort in San Francisco, photographer Brody has her back, and Kelsey herself is a nimble, creative impresario of unforgettable nuptials.

“I looked at your website last night after we got home,” Haley began. “You’re a destination wedding planner, right? Does Napa still count as a destination?”

“Believe me,” I said, “it counts. Actually, the wine country is one of the most popular places for a destination wedding in the United States, so it’s kind of a no-brainer for me. I’m just lucky to be geographically advantaged that way.”

What Haley neglects to mention at the outset is that her wealthy father has fired the premiere wedding planner of Northern California, “the self-proclaimed Queen of Wine Country Weddings” Babs Norton. Kelsey hastens to ask Babs in person if the two of them are copacetic. Unfortunately, no answer is forthcoming from Babs—unlucky Kelsey arrives at Babs’s office only to find her dead. Not an auspicious start to her newest assignment, certainly, but the show must go on.

Tout le monde in the wedding industry pay their final respects to Babs. In keeping with the glamour—possibly glossy surface only—of their chosen profession, even the corpse is attractively presented.

Babs looked impeccable, as usual. She was wearing a vintage Chanel suit along with her signature leopard-print glasses that showcased her expertly applied makeup. No way that was done by the mortuary. Someone must have hired one of the professional makeup artists she worked with. Probably Thierry Beland. He was a pro with a mascara wand.

Who could have killed Babs? Do all eyes point to Kelsey, particularly since she inherited a prime piece of wedding real estate after the bride’s father fired Babs? Babs’s acerbic assistant Stefan has Kelsey pegged for the crime.

“I’m sorry if I caused a disruption, Margot.” Stefan paused for dramatic effect as the room grew silent. “But I was just telling everyone how this woman”—and with that he lifted his hand and pointed directly at me—“killed Babs Norton.”

What’s a destination wedding planner to do when an inaccurate accusation like that is flung in her face? Kelsey has a plan, as she tells her pal Brody:

“No, that we should investigate!”

“I don’t know, Kelsey. You of all people should know that getting involved in a murder investigation is a big decision.”

“So is getting married, and people do that all the time.” I stared at Brody, my mind whirring with the possibilities. “I mean, we do have some experience in this area.”

They’re off! The Three Musketeers—Kelsey, Brody, and Laurel—juggling suspects and following leads while checking out great wedding destinations and deciding on the merits of ganache versus Royal icing for the nuptial cake. Kelsey’s assistant Laurel is armed with fierce computer skills and a soft heart for the whole notion of love, weddings, and happily-ever-afters. When a vintner gives Kelsey a case of wine—“an obvious bribe, but a good one”—she and Laurel lock their doors and break out the happy-hour vibe. Laurel wants all the inside deets about Lucas, the generous wine-maker.

“I can’t believe he’s still single,” Laurel said.

“You looked him up?”

“Of course. The Internet is our friend.” Laurel smiled mischievously. “Wanna do a coin toss? Heads, you date him; tails, I date him?”

“No way. Neither one of us gets to date him.”

“Oh, come on,” she teased. “Why are you so against love?”

“I’m not against love! But believe me, you don’t want to go out with anyone who’s in the industry.”

Let’s leave their discussion there—clearly, an enjoyable respite from the daily grind of getting paying clients (and solving murders). While Kelsey and her crew sleuth out the murderer, readers will enjoy all of the fun of a destination wedding with none of the angst or costs. Sign me up for Marla Cooper’s next destination wedding mystery!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We find wedding planner Kelsey McKenna helping out her photographer friend Brody at the Wine Country Wedding Faire. She is surprised when a young couple approaches her about helping them with their wedding. It seems the father of the bride fired their wedding planner and their wedding is only a couple of weeks away. She has stepped in before for a one day commitment before and has room in her schedule so she quickly accepts. Then she learns the couple’s previous planner was none other than Babs Norton, the Queen of Wine Country Weddings. Kelsey calls Babs and is amazed when Babs asks her to just stop by her office and pick up their file. But she is thunderstruck when she arrives to find Babs dead. Things get worse for Kelsey when Babs’ assistant points his finger at her as the killer. She needs to clear her name fast. She is worried she may be the killer’s next victim.

The setting for this book sounds absolutely outstanding. In the California wine country many vineyards have places to host events like weddings. The new couple Kelsey is working with has booked one of the most popular and posh of them. They even have special caves that can be booked for smaller gatherings. Kelsey is also working with the the owner of a more rustic site to start hosting events.

While the core characters of Kelsey, Brody, Laurel return from book one, Terror in Taffeta, the rest of the characters are new. The wedding party, Babs and her assistant, and the staff at the venues all bring their personalities to the story. They are introduced well and very developed. Laurel also takes on a greater role in this story. She, Kelsey and Brody make a great team. Laurel pushes Kelsey in all the right ways and Brody tries the best he can to reel her in when she starts to go too far. Notice I said “tries”. There are also a lot of funny moments with these three, such great dialogue, very true to life.

The author gives us plenty of suspects to ponder. Brody even brings Kelsey a big dry erase board to create her “murder board” to keep everyone straight. She chases down several false leads and has many theories but when all the clues fall into place and she realizes the truth it makes perfect sense.

I loved the ending of the story but I didn’t want this story to end. These have become some of my favorite cozy literary characters. I am excited to see where the next wedding takes them.

4 out of 5 stars.

Dying on the Vine is the second installment in the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding mystery series by Marla Cooper. It was very well-written, but not quite my cup of tea.

I had a hard time deciding how to score this book. I ended up giving it 4 out of 5 stars because while I had some personal issues with it, it is still a very well-written book and other people may very well enjoy it. I, unfortunately, didn't really enjoy it, which I was disappointed with. I wanted to like it. I had enjoyed the first in the series, Terror in Taffeta, a month or so ago.

There were two things about this book that I just really didn't like:

The first reason is that while I like Kelsey's character as a person, she takes WAY too many chances with dangerous situations. Heroines like this are ones that I tend to call "too stupid to live". Most cozy mystery heroines take some chances here or there, but Kelsey just doesn't seem to stop and think about the danger. Even when the danger is pointed out to her, she ignores the warning and goes and does whatever she was thinking of anyway. Not a good way to operate unless you want to end up dead too early in life.

The second reason is that I just found the plot line to be moving along too slowly. I thought the first book also moved along slowly. I was hoping that would change with this second book, but it didn't. The plot line was interesting, it just moved along too slowly for my taste.

One thing that was an improvement over the first book was that the setting descriptions were better in this book. I was much more able to envision the settings than I was in the first book. That was a wonderful improvement.

It's a well-written book and if you don't mind heroines who are always running off into danger with no thoughts of self-preservation, then you might very well enjoy it!

** Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. I was not compensated for my review. All opinions and conclusions expressed are my own. **

Kelsey McKenna is a destination wedding planner. Like the author, Kelsey is also smart, creative and oh so humorous, and she uses those qualities while working with brides, wedding vendors and obnoxious wedding planners who feel like she’s the competition. When she finds the murdered body of one of her competitors, Kelsey suddenly discovers herself in the unwanted center of attention of the police. Worried that she will lose business she can ill-afford, Kelsey must solve the murder and clear her name. She readily admits that she really doesn’t know how to solve crimes and proves to everyone that it’s definitely not as easy as they make it seem on CSI reruns! This sets the stage for several laugh out moments along with the zingy little one liners Kelsey likes to throw in.

I adored the setting of Napa Valley for this destination mystery series! Having lived in Napa for a while in my early twenties, Marla perfectly captures the sights, sounds, and flavors of the valley. She also provides a little information on wineries and wine caves, which I found fascinating. Kelsey has a wonderful friendship with Brody, a wedding photographer, and her assistant, Laurel. They complement each other and the author has set up great dialog and repartee between the characters. The plot moved at a fast pace with plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing and concludes with an exciting, suspenseful scene which wraps the story up nicely. This is a terrific addition to the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mystery series!

This is a great book; this is the second book in the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mystery series written by Marla Cooper. Wedding planner Kelsey McKenna just signed on to a dream gig. She’s going to be the “day-of” coordinator at the beautiful Higgens Estate in California wine country. There’s only one problem: the wedding was originally planned by Babs Norton, the self-proclaimed Queen of Wine Country Weddings, who the father of the bride has fired. Kelsey decides to clear the air with Babs and make sure there are no hard feelings, but before she can throw herself into executing the perfect wedding, she discovers Babs dead on the floor of his office. David, Babs’ assistant is quick to point the finger very publicly at Kelsey. Even worse, Kelsey learns that with the big day only weeks away, the bitter little man has sabotaged her new clients’ wedding by canceling all the vendor contracts. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night and you will not want to put this book down until you finish. This was such a great read and full of surprises. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Second in a fun cozy mystery series. I fell in love with Kelsey and Lauren in the first book, and am more excited about them after reading this story. There are several plots going on throughout, but they all work together and wind up tied up neatly by the end.

Kelsey has a blossoming relationship, and I look forward to seeing it grow in future stories.

This is a quick easy read, and the wine country setting was great fun to read about.

**I received a copy of this book with no expectation of a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.**

Dying on the Vine is the latest novel by Marla Cooper. This is the second book in Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries. Kelsey McKenna is a destination wedding planner in San Francisco, California. She is attending the Wine Country Wedding Faire to assist her friend, Brody, a wedding photographer. He has a booth at the fair and needs extra assistance. In the afternoon, Brody introduces Kelsey to Haley Bennett and Christopher Riegert. They are in desperate need of a wedding planner for their event in four weeks at the Higgins Estate. Kelsey agrees to meet them the next morning. The day is going well until she runs into the obnoxious Stefan Pierce, assist to Babs Norton of Weddings by Babs. Stefan seems to delight in being rude, condescending and nasty. Kelsey is glad when she escapes his presence. The next day she meets with her new clients. It turns out that they originally had Babs as their wedding planner until Haley’s father fired her. Kelsey bites the bullet and calls Babs. Babs agrees to meet Kelsey the next morning and turn over the files on the wedding (the bride knows none of the details regarding her wedding). Kelsey picks up pastries along the way. Kelsey hits the buzzer and receives no answer. She finally sneaks in when someone exits. The door to the offices is open and Kelsey enters when no one responds. Kelsey is startled when a phone rings and the pastries go flying around the room. She gets down on the floor to pick them up and discovers Babs dead behind the couch. Kelsey manages to call the police despite her fright. She attends Babs’ funeral with her assistant Laurel and is invited back to Babs house afterward by the deceased sister, Margot. Stefan is not pleased by Kelsey’s attendance and announces to one and all that she killed Babs. When this announcement affects her business, Kelsey starts searching for the real killer. Kelsey will need to be cautious since it seems to be open season on wedding planners. The killer strikes down another one and, if Kelsey keeps poking around, she could be next.

Dying on the Vine is a humorous cozy mystery. It has more of the cozy element than the mystery. I found the book to be easy to read with a good flow. The main character owns her own business, is clumsy, babbles when nervous, and prefers to avoid confrontations (uncomfortable situations, people she does not like, etc.). I prefer strong female characters who are intelligent and confident (especially when they own their own business). While this is the second book in the series, it can be read alone. Terror in Taffeta is the first book in this series. I give Dying on the Vine 3 out of 5 stars. Dying on the Vine is just not my type of book. I am not a fan of the inane humor in Dying on the Vine. It had me rolling my eyes until I gave myself a headache. The mystery was complex (which is why I gave it a 3) and many readers will not guess the identity of the killer. The descriptions of the wine country were lovely. I can see why brides like to have weddings in Napa Valley. If you enjoy comical cozy mysteries, then I suggest you give Dying on the Vine a try.

The wine country is a great setting for a cozy mystery, and DYING ON THE VINE doesn't disappoint. Kelsey is a wedding planner but doesn't have access to the vineyard venue - that venue is tied up by Babs and her maybe partner Stefan Pierce. She has the opportunity though when one of Babs' clients decides to switch wedding planners just 4 weeks before the wedding. Stress on to get everything arranged, Kelsey ends up the one to find Babs' body. Brody and her other friends join in the sleuthing to clear Kelsey and make the wedding happen, not to mention the possibility of more vineyard weddings. Kelsey has a lot of suspects to choose from, including the temperamental vintner.

This was a fun read over spring break - enough action, quick pace, yet light and easy to follow. Some of the characters, like the vintner, are quirky, and the commentary on wedding planning and bridezillas add a touch of humor. This is the second in the series, but can easily be read as stand alone.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

Marla is such a fun writer! I love the idea of a wedding planner sleuth. This murder mystery was full of laughs (the ankle biter) and kindness. I was shocked at who our murderer was!

I love a good cozy and this mystery was everything a cozy should be - light, entertaining and with a solid mystery. For starters I absolutely loved Kelsey. She's smart and good at her job but isn't an expert on everything or completely perfect. I felt like she was someone I'd really like to hang out iwth. I have a feeling her stories about her events would be hilarious! I also enjoyed her interactions with her friends, Laurel and Brody. All three have very different personalities but they interacted like actual friends not just like characters the author stuck together to have people with different personalities. There was a little bit of humor but nothing in the goofy or slapstick range.

I really liked how the author developed the mystery. Kelsey really doesn't want to get involved in the investigation but once it's clear that it might be the only way to keep her reputation from being destroyed she's all in with office supplies and a murder board. I liked watching Kelsey, Laurel, and Brody come up with a suspect and then follow up on clues. I was very satisfied with how the mystery itself wrapped up and the reveal was even a little bit of a surprise. While Kelsey does stray into busybody territory and occasionally withholds information from the police (usually something that incriminates her) she never strays into TSTL (to stupid to live) territory.

This is the second book in the Destination Wedding series but if I hadn't seen that listed in the title I wouldn't have known. You can jump in right here with absolutely no problem. This is a fun cozy mystery with a likable detective and a quick pace. It did make me glad that I'd chosen the courthouse wedding route over the wedding planner version though! That seems exhausting and somewhat fatal.

Dying on the Vine: A Mystery (Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries #2) by Marla Cooper Dying on the Vine is the 2nd book in the Kelsey McKenna Destination Wedding Mysteries. I read book one and liked it very much. I have to say book 2 is even better then book 1, Terror in Taffeta. I like that in a series, When the next book is better then the previous book. It definitely will keep me coming back for the next book. I am gad that Marla kept the main characters from book 1 and kept them the same. I like to get to know the main characters in a series and have them basically the same. I also like getting to know them a bit better with each book and Mara has done that as well. Who knew wedding planning was so cut throat? Kelsey has a new client and will be her "Day Of" planner for the wedding at the elite Higgins Winery. After talking to the client she finds out that rival wedding planner Bab's Norton was the original wedding planner. Kelsey calls Bab's to not only get her blessing before signing on the client but to also ask for the files she has for the wedding since it is mainly planned already. The next morning Kelsey goes to meet with Bab's where she finds her dead behind the couch. Bab's assistant Stefan who hates Kelsey for some unknown reason starts passing rumors that Kelsey killed Bab's. Kelsey is not going to take this laying down. She enlists the help of her best friend and wedding photographer Brody to help her find the real killer and clear her name before her life and business is ruined because of the rumors.Keep up the good work Marla. I will personally be waiting for book 3 in the series to see what wedding planner/armature detective Kelsey McKenna gets into next, and what destination wedding she will be planning as well.

This was a great little cozy mystery. I'd never read this author before and I am certainly going to be reading her in the future. The cover definitely caught my eye as well as the description and I'm glad that I requested this book.

Someone has it out for the wedding planners all taking place in the scenic wine country of Napa Valley. Or so it seems. Babs Norton the "official queen" wedding planner of Napa Valley is found dead in her office and Kelsey McKenna who just took over a unsatisfied client of Babs found her. Babs' partner is furious and accuses Kelsey of stealing the client and killing Babs. So starts the war.

There are many plots going on in this book including some nefarious things going on at the vineyard where Babs was the only wedding planner allowed to conduct business. There's also a little romance going on in the romantic setting of the beautiful Napa Valley.

A very entertaining book that I enjoyed reading and was glad that I requested.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.