Was a fun read during the holiday season. I love to have these types of books during the holiday season becasue they are fun to erad and not to heavy during the holidays.

This was a great start to a new cozy series, and I really loved that it took place during Christmas. I was surprised by the ending and never guess who the killer was. What a fun read. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.

In the fifth Wedding Planner Mystery, Mallory is planning her best friend, Olivia March's wedding. It has been moved up as Olivia finds herself expecting, so even with planning for the Christmas season Olivia and her sister, Rachel, agree to plan the wedding. Mallory's mother and step-dad have also moved back to town and her mother has decided she wants to go back to work as a home stager. It just so happens that Olivia's family is March Development Group and they are building in Port Quincy, so Carole is hoping to get a job with them. At the Paws and Poinsettias fundraiser for the Port Quincy Animal Shelter, the current stager is poisoned, and Carole is the main suspect. When evidence turns up pointing to her, she is arrested for murder. Mallory puts on her sleuthing hat and tries her hardest to turn up evidence to free her mom.

Mallory amazes me in this book. There is so much going on and she manages to keep up with her job and investigate at the same time. There is also harassment of Olivia going on that she is alos dealing with along with juggling her relationship with her fiancé and his daughter. This book has secrets, mystery, family, friendship, romance, and humor all blended together in a wonderfully entertaining story. There are several clues and twists that prevented me from figuring out who the murderer was. When the final twist is shared, my jaw dropped. There was a lot in this book that I had never encountered in a cozy mystery and it kept me guessing to the end. This was a delightful Christmas themed cozy, that I recommend to cozy mystery lovers.

Olivia's dreaming of a white Christmas as in a white wedding gown and all the trimmings. But that's not the only event that's keeping everyone busy. Olivia's family are in real estate development, and they're sponsoring Paws and Poinsettias a benefit for the Port Quincy animal shelter. Meanwhile, Mallory's mom wants to use her daughter's connection to snag a job staging homes for the company, and the current stager is not filled with holiday cheer at the news that she might be replaced. When the endangered employee downs some antifreeze-spiked punch at a party, Mallory has a murder to solve among other mysteries including a missing cat, a toy drive heist, and a baby found in a manger thirty years earlier.

The author does a nice job of giving the reader a mystery that is filled with plenty of clues, suspects, red herrings, twists, and turns. All these things will have you guessing about who the real killer is until the surprising conclusion. The characters are well written, well developed, and realistic which makes them lifelike and relatable.

I have enjoyed watching the relationship between Mallory and Garrett since book one and I like that their relationship is still going strong at the end of the book. I found Carole to be very vain, pushy, controlling, and very judgmental about her daughters no matter what the situation is. I did like how all the different subplots were all woven together so that you weren't jumping around from subplot to subplot and getting lost in all the different details. I also enjoyed that Rachel may have found her own chance at a meaningful relationship. I look forward to reading the next book in the series Veiled in Death to see what happens to Mallory, Garrett, and the rest of the characters.

I received an arc of this book from Kensington Books through Netgalley for my honest review.

Olivia’s dreaming of a white Christmas—as in a white wedding gown and all the trimmings. But that’s not the only event that’s keeping everyone busy. Olivia’s family are in real estate development, and they’re sponsoring Paws and Poinsettias—a benefit for the Port Quincy animal shelter. Meanwhile, Mallory’s mom wants to use her daughter’s connection to snag a job staging homes for the company . . . and the current stager is not filled with holiday cheer at the news that she might be replaced.

When the endangered employee downs some antifreeze-spiked punch at a party, Mallory has a murder to solve—among other mysteries including a missing cat, a toy-drive heist, and a baby found in a manger thirty years earlier . . .

This is the fifth book in the wedding planner mystery series. I enjoy the characters and the storyline.

Christmas and cozy mysteries just go together, especially in the talented hands of Stephanie Blackmoore. In this latest book in the wedding planner series, Mallory and her sisyer, Rachel, have set aside the week between Christmas and New Year's Day to enjoy the season with their parents. Except her best friend, Olivia, asked to move her wedding up several months and make it a Christmas wedding. Stressful, but still manageable, when a murder puts her mother in the crosshairs as suspect number one. Well-written and well-plotted, it will keep you turning pages while guessing the identity of the true culprit, Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great installment in this series! I look forward to each new book and this one did not dissapoint! I love that each book features new weddings and events and I always enjoy the setting of the old house turned wedding venue and B&B. This mystery was well done, with lots of twists and enough suspects to keep you guessing until the end. Although this is not the first in the series it can be read as a stand alone, but of course everything is much easier to make sense of it if you start with book one!

I love weddings and Christmas so this book was a perfect read for me. The book was easy reading and kept my interest until the last page. The characters' relationships are progressing nicely. Although this could be read as a stand alone, it is probably a series best read in order.

This is my favorite of the series but can't wait to read the next one.

Marry Christmas Murder is the fifth novel in the Wedding Planning series by Stephanie Blackmore. Wedding Planner Mallory Shepard is overwhelmed when her best friend, Olivia, moves up her wedding from the spring to three days before Christmas, especially since Mallory is helping with a huge fundraising event sponsored by Olivia’s family. Olivia’s family is in real estate and is trying to establish a presence in this small town of Port Quincy. To complicate things, Mallory’s mother has decided to move to Port Quincy, and is trying to get a job as a stager working for Olivia’s family. The head stager is murdered at the fundraiser, and because she gets the job, Mallory’s mother is a suspect.

Cozies are a lot of fun, and this cozy has a different twist, in that the protagonist is a wedding planner. Mallory is well-developed as a character, and is very likeable. The supporting characters are also good, and readers will feel they are reading a drama about real people. Blackmore is an excellent writer and storyteller, and most readers who read this novel will want to return to the earlier novels in the series to read them and enjoy them too. There is also some building suspense, which is an integral part of a good mystery.

As any good culinary mystery, this novel contains recipes, unfortunately, only two, but the cookie recipe is excellent. The other is for a cocktail that won’t be deadly like the one in the book. All told, this is a fun mystery and a fun series that cozy lovers will enjoy.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Mallory Shepard's best friend Olivia March, decides to move her wedding up so that the event will be in 3 weeks- 2 days before Christmas! Not only does Mallory need to revamp the decorations, food, and venue, she has also been hired by the March family to handle a charity auction Paws and Poinsettias for the local animal shelter. At the same time, Mallory's mother appears for the holidays (early) with the announcement that she is moving back from Florida and wants to get back into the staging business. Mallory has been working with Lacey, the current stager, but when she is found poisoned, Mallory's mom becomes suspect #1.

Seeing Mallory not only feeling her way through her own personal relationship (boyfriend Garrett got a job offer that may have him moving away) but also dealing with her mother's interference and her friend's issues, made this a quick read because there just was no place to stop and take a breath. Looking forward to seeing the ongoing effects of the relationships in place.

In Marry Christmas Murder by Stephanie Blackmoore is a Christmas Cozy mystery in which a Christmas Eve wedding kind of ends in murder. This one was a sweet Christmas cozy mystery and even though its the fifth book in the series it can be read as a stand alone.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Marry Christmas Murder is a very well done murder mystery. The story is well written and the characters well developed. I liked the way the mystery had layers to it. I will read more Wedding Planner titles in the future. I recommend this book.

Marry Christmas Murder
By Stephanie Blackmore
Kensington
October 2019

Review by Cynthia Chow

Christmastime is professional wedding planner Mallory Shepherd’s favorite time of the year. To better enjoy the holiday, she and her sister Rachel block out the week between the Noel and New Year, ensuring that no stressful weddings are planned and that no bridezillas will disrupt their good cheer. Mallory’s best friend Olivia March would of course never be one of these, but her wedding to surgeon Toby Frank won’t be celebrated until the following spring. At least, that is until an overly-emotional Olivia declares her wish to be married before Christmas, and Mallory finds herself with just over two weeks to plan the perfect wedding. The March family already had her attention with the Paws and Poinsettias animal shelter charity auction they were sponsoring, a fund-raiser in support of a wonderful cause even as it smoothes the way for the Marches into Port Quincy society. Not everyone is happy with the March Homes new developments in Pennsylvania, and the new housing tracts will undoubtedly change the cozy atmosphere of the small town. Adding to the chaos is another early holiday arrival, Mallory and Rachel’s stepfather and mother, the latter of whom is sure to strain their nerves with her well-intentioned meddling. Not only are Carole and Doug moving to her daughters’ hometown, Carole is intent on taking on a new career as a professional home stager. That means that Carole inserts herself into Mallory’s wedding, hoping to snag the March family’s home development business as clients. Which is very much a problem for their current home stager Lacey Adams, and even more of a problem for Carole when Lacey turns up dead. For not only has Carole managed to take over Lacey’s job barely a day after her death, Carole was the one who gave Lacey the poisoned Hawaiian blue punch at the Paws and Poinsettia’s gala.

Even though Mallory is dating the Chief of Police’s son Garrett, Truman Davies is unable to overlook the fact that her mother has the motive, means, and opportunity for murder. When evidence appears further pointing towards Carole’s guilt, Mallory refuses to allow her mother spend Christmas in the clink. Investigating will not only have Mallory delving into the complicated March family, it places her in path of the Judge Ursula Frank, Garrett’s intimidating mentor. When Santa nearly perishes in a fire, Olivia’s car vandalized, and Mallory’s Bed and Breakfast invaded by an intruder, the wedding planner must unravel a web of lies to stop the biggest Grinch in Port Quincy.

Full of descriptions of holiday décor and party planning, the fifth in the series doesn’t shy away from examining complicated family relationships and generational differences. While Carole doesn’t hesitate to voice her opinion concerning her eldest daughter’s lack of a wedding ring or grandchildren, she also regrets giving up her own career in order to raise a family. Mallory sees those she loves facing similar decisions over whether to prioritize a prestigious career over happiness, as both Garett and Olivia must choose the sacrifices to be made. As complex the characters and themes become throughout the novel, it never loses the fun interactions between mothers and daughters or witty exchanges between Mallory and her friends. This is a mystery that combines all the delightful chaos of weddings, holidays, and family.

Mallory Shepard a professional wedding planner is organizing an event for her best friend Olivia and also a charity event for Olivia's family who is big in real estate and wants the community to accept them in the town as they start to build up the town. Mallory's mother wants her to recommend her for a job as a stager in the real estate company as one of the owners is not happy with the current stager. When the current stager dies in the charity event due to anti-freeze in her drink things don't look good for Mallory's mom. She has motive and anti-freeze in her house and is the prime suspect. Mallory will figure out who murdered the stager and try to get her mom home in time for Christmas.

A fun Christmas theme cozy mystery. Book 5 in the series but can be read as a stand alone. Loved how the story kept me on my toes. Lots of twist and turns. Looking forward to more from this author and recommend to add to you TBR for those who need a little mystery in their life.

A fun cozy set at Christmastime. The mystery was good but a bit over the top for me. The ending felt a little rushed especially between Mallory and Garrett. Enjoyable read overall.

Marry Christmas Murder by Stephanie Blackmoore is book five in the Wedding Planner Mystery series. I have read one other book previously and this can be read as a stand alone but you will want to read in order.

Olivia’s dreaming of a white Christmas—as in a white wedding gown and all the trimmings. But that’s not the only event that’s keeping everyone busy. Olivia’s family are in real estate development, and they’re sponsoring Paws and Poinsettias—a benefit for the Port Quincy animal shelter. Meanwhile, Mallory’s mom wants to use her daughter’s connection to snag a job staging homes for the company . . . and the current stager is not filled with holiday cheer at the news that she might be replaced.

When the endangered employee downs some antifreeze-spiked punch at a party, Mallory has a murder to solve—among other mysteries including a missing cat, a toy-drive heist, and a baby found in a manger thirty years earlier . . .

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to finish, there was so much happening holidays, parties weddings and a little murder. I liked how it was all woven together so neatly that nothing seemed out of place. We got to know the characters their feelings , relationships and care about the outcome. Amongst all this there were plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing on the identity of the killer.

I look forward to reading the rest of the series and book 6 when it comes out.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This was an entertaining and interesting read. The characters are likeable. The intricately woven plot keeps the reader hooked on to the story. The murder mystery and suspense are well-maintained until the end. The identity of the killer is unexpected. The reason for the murder was sinister enough (as is in all murders... but the reason here is somewhat on the lines of 'people have been killed for less').

What a ride! The characters are each believable and although the plot beginning with the death of a stager who-done-it, that we learn is just one of many crimes to cover up the original. The original crime and its aftermath are revealed toward the end but the journey is worth it

Princess Fuzzypants here: Mallory and Rachel are flying high with their wedding planning cum b & b business. They are planning on taking a well deserved break around Christmas. But it looks like the Holiday Season is going to be anything but peaceful. First the wedding of Mallory’s best friend is moved up dramatically to just before Christmas, leaving three weeks to organize everything. Then her mother and stepfather descend announcing they have sold their Florida home and are moving to be near their daughters. Putting her mother together with the bride’s family turns into a toxic mess and when her mother’s rival for a plum job is poisoned, her mother ends up in jail.
There is clearly more going on in this family and some of it might be questionable. As Mallory learns more about them and their various dealings, it makes her suspect someone may be cutthroat outside of the business world. But which one is it? And why are they framing her mother? And how does this all involve her friend’s adoption as a newborn and the job opportunity that is being presented to Mallory’s boyfriend.
It’s a good mystery with lots of layers that all interconnect in the end. People turn out to be completely different to the personas they exhibit to the world. I have enjoyed Mallory and the other characters in the series. I’ve enjoyed the way the storylines have evolved. This could be read as a one off but it might be more fun to go back to the beginning and start there.
Five purrs and two paws up.

Holiday Time Cozy Murder Mystery
This book takes place between Thanksgiving and New-years and is full of holiday trappings and food. Plus, it is about an event planner with more party décor and food. Between the party planning, there are so many crimes to investigate! The story is pretty good and well-executed. The big reveal was not all that surprising, but it was well done. This book is 5th in a series and stands alone well. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.