This was one of two books about weddings in small seaside towns that I read in a row, both in series I have read from the start and am a fan of, and both which disappointed me this time around. Lucy and Connor never actually make it to the alter in this book which the blurb and title make a bit misleading. Not that a wedding between characters is why I'd read a mystery, but I was certainly expecting it. There is a lot of wedding talk and planning though. And a lot of similar and repetitious scenes dealing with it and family acquaintances and former fiancé Evangeline and Ricky.

The mystery was weak as well, good police work or Lucy following up on something she learns should have found more suspects quickly. Any more details would quickly spoil what there is.

So, I was a bit disappointed in this outing.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This has been one of my favorite cozy mystery series since the first book came out and I’m glad to see it continue!

Lucy and Connor are enjoying their engagement party when her ex boyfriend (Ricky) and his mother (Evangeline) show up uninvited. Evangeline comes with the ulterior motive of trying to get Lucy and Rocky back together. When her husband is found dead, Lucy starts to investigate who the murderer could be and the story takes off from there, which keeps you guessing until the whodunit reveal.

I love the characters, Lucy is great and she has some awesome friends and I like Connor too. I love the lighthouse library and Charles the cat has a cute personality. I hope the series continues!

The family is throwing an engagement party forLucy and Connor and Mom and Dad have come to town. As the party is wrapping up, the wife of Dad’s partner shows up uninvited with her son, Lucy’s ex. While being clear that Lucy and Ricky will NEVER happen outside of a sitcom, things take a turn for the unexpected when the husband, who did not come to North Carolina, is found dead in the parking lot of the restaurant after dinner.

Now Lucy is trying to get rid of Ricky and Evangline while helping to find who killed the man and why. All while trying to plan a wedding and find a house to buy wi h Connor. Has Lucy’s luck finally run out before she can make it to the altar?

I love, Love, LOVE this series. Happy to see the changes in life for everyone and hope there are many more entries to come in this Nags Head based series.

This is a really fun cozy mystery, set in a quaint town, and the library is in the lighthouse.
While librarian Lucy and her fiancé Connor are enjoying their engagement party, until her ex boyfriend and his mother crash the party.
While Lucy is frustrated at his arrival, it’s his mother she’s angry at, she’s hoping to change Lucy’s mind in her choice of husbands.
Unfortunately, tragedy strikes and Lucy finds herself wrapped up in another murder investigation.

This is the 8th book in the series by the talented Eva Gates.