I have read a few of the books in the Tourist Trap series and have loved all of them. In fact, so much so that I have purchased them all and will go back and catch up with the series. I have fallen in love with the primary character, Jill, and her fiancé and police chief, Greg. The characters are well developed and the storyline always has me invested from the first page. Of course, you have Jill’s typical family and friends … from her crotchety aunt, Jackie, to the fellow Coffee, Books, and More workers, Deek, Toby, and Evie. They add so much to the story. The murder mystery will grab you from the first page and have you guessing who is guilty. There are lots of twists and turns and clues sprinkled throughout that really keep your attention. Lynn Cahoon is one of my favorite cozy mystery authors and I always look forward to a new release. I can’t wait to continue on the adventures with Jill and the rest of the people in South Cove, California. In fact, if I could travel there and spend time in Coffee, Books, and More, I would book my flight today!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lyrical Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Great mystery with lots of twists, turns, and red herrings to keep you guessing. Some of the plot was a little obvious, but still a nice read. There was a lot of focus on relationships, change, and commitment.

I always enjoy Lynn's books. Coffee Books and More and Jill Gardner with Greg King just make my day a bit more special. Not a lot of Esmeralda in this one, but that's okay. I'm sure she will pop up more in other books. The banter between Jill and Greg was the best part for me. They made time for each other amidst the growing idea that one day soon they would get married.

The main story focuses around a dress designer named Harper whose sister is found murdered in her shop (by Jill of course). Greg is on the case and so he is in and out of various wedding plans Jill is making plus Aunt Jackie is a bit of a thorn in Jill's side. I mean, she is normally a bit obnoxious but she seemed a bit more embracing that quality in this book.

There wasn't a lot going on in the coffee shop this time besides a kid reading sleepover event near the end. I miss the comrodery of her staff. I am glad Lynn is mentioning her other series with Cat Latimer. I hope to see a crossover book one day with Deek and Jill.

Definitely a fun series for me to follow. It never gets old.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Greg's ex-wife goes off the rails when a new designer dress shop opens in South Cove.
Sherry was already teetering on the edge when she heard about his engegement to Jill.
So when Jill happens ro discover a dead woman in that dress shop mass confusion and chaos follows.
Not only who is a murderer but also who is the victim?
Is everyone in town n danger?

Add in an engagement party and a 24 hour reader event for young readers and Jill has no time to think straight. Aunt Jackie is her over protective and controlling self plus Greg becomes more concerned over Jill's safety. On top of this Jill discovers there is more to marriage prep than a dres, flowers and setting an actual date.

A very full book, a complicated, layered mystery, and enjoyable times with our favorite book friends.

Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon is the 13th book in A Tourist Trap Mystery series and another great addition. This book is a very good cozy mystery, and I enjoyed the plot, cast of characters and this author’s writing. I have read every book in this series, and I look forward to reading more books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wedding Bell Blues is book thirteen in the A Tourist Trap Mystery by Lynn Cahoon. This is a fun series and you feel as if you are in South Cove.
Jill and Greg are now engaged and while visiting the local bridal shop, Jill finds a body in the shop. Once again, she is involved in an investigation. Greg, of course, is not happy she is doing her own investigation.
The characters are likeable and relatable. There is friendship, family, romance and an adorable dog. The plot twists will have you guessing to the end.
I was given an ARC by Kensington Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

I was so glad to return to South Cove and visit with Jill and Jackie and their friends. I've enjoyed all of the ones in the series so I wasn't surprised to find myself hooked from the first few pages. I love the characters and their relationships and would really love to be able to visit Coffee, Books and More especially for some of the sweet treats.

The mystery was interesting and I had part of it figured out but had to keep reading to find out why.

I'm already looking for the next one in the series!

Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon takes us back to South Cove, California. Jill Gardner and Greg King are engaged. There is going to be an engagement party for them on Saturday. Jill’s aunt, Jackie has commissioned dresses for both of them from the town’s newest shop owner, Harper Sanchez. When Jill arrives to pick up their dresses, she finds a woman dead in the shop. Jill believes it is Harper until the dress designer walks up apologizing for being tardy. Detective Greg King is working diligently on the case and would prefer it if Jill focuses on the business and their upcoming engagement party. Jill, of course, cannot resist doing a little snooping on her own. Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon is the thirteenth A Tourist Trap Mystery. It can be read as a standalone since the author provides the main background details on Jill. Lynn Cahoon has a great writing style. It is casual and friendly. It makes her stories easy to read. I found Jill’s behavior odd in this story. I would expect a newly engaged woman to be proudly showing off her engagement ring. Jill, though, keeps forgetting her ring at home. Jill seems to be hesitant regarding the engagement and making wedding plans. She talks it over with her best friend plus Jill and Greg spend a lot of time talking about the subject. Jill does not wish to set a wedding date or discuss her wedding dress (which needs to be ordered six to eight months in advance). Everyone seems happy for the engagement except Jill. I know Jill loves Greg, but I believe her past failed relationship is dampening her joy and giving her self-doubts. You can always tell when Jill is stressed because she heads for the sweets (stress eating). Jill’s engagement dress sounded beautiful. The story consists of Jill working at the bookstore, reading, talking to her employees, running on the beach with her dog (Emma), eating, and watching television. The mystery was interesting. I liked that it was different. There are a couple of suspects along with misdirection. I loved that one of the suspects was Greg’s ex-wife, Sherry. I wish the solution had not been so obvious. I was annoyed with Greg during the investigation. He tries to control Jill during murder investigations. Greg had police officers escort Jill home (not letting her detour), he had people from city hall drop by the store every half an hour on the mornings she worked alone, and he kept telling her to keep out of the investigation. I feel that by now Greg should be used to Jill investigating and he should have accepted it (maybe even welcome her insights). I would have liked a better wrap-up of the whodunit. I was left with a couple of unanswered questions. Deek, one of Jill’s employees, has written a book and asks for Jill’s critique. Jill is worried that an unscrupulous publisher will take advantage of him. Jill also does not want to lose Deek as an employee (which was mentioned a few times). Wedding Bell Blues is a South Cove cozy with pretty party dresses, a mysterious murder, an enjoyable engagement party, readying for the readathon, tasty treats, a publisher problem, and a safeguarding fiancé.

Wedding Bell Blues is the 13th book in the Tourist Trap Mysteries written by Lynn Cahoon. I began reading the series earlier this year and rushed through them to get current for this release... now I'll be waiting half a year before the next one is available. Oops! Cahoon is one of my auto-buy reads... simple but powerful mysteries revolving around amateur sleuths in small towns. This collection takes place in a California seaside town around Jill, owner of a book-and-coffee shop. In book 1 she began dating Greg, the local detective. Now they're engaged, but things are a bit awkward as they both learn to give and take a little more. Jill picks up a new custom-made dress for their engagement party and stumbles upon the shop owner's dead body. Except it's not her... a lookalike? A sister? Things are a bit complicated, and Jill is determined to find the culprit even though Greg tells her not to do so. She's luckily busy running an overnight kids' reading club, so she balances her time... nonetheless, she gets caught by the killer and almost dies again. Lots of commentary on side stories and relationships, these novels offer more than a light mystery. Life advice. Publishing advice. Marriage advice. And sometimes the characters are a little too direct for me, but I enjoy the way the stories are told. Always a fan of them, and now I eagerly await the next release in one of the author's many series.

I give this one 3.5 stars, rounded up. I enjoy the series and the supporting cast of characters. I enjoy the coffee/bookshop idea and the light mysteries.

I get annoyed with how Greg treats Jill. The overprotective detective who gets mad at Jill for so much as overhearing a clue, much less asking around. But then, Jill pretty much lets everyone around her take advantage of her. It gets old. It's a pretty common theme in cozy mysteries, so I can overlook it, but it keeps it from getting a full 4 or 5 stars from me.

In this mystery, Jill stumbles upon a dead body when going to the dress shop to pick up her engagement dress. There are some unique twists to this one that kept me guessing. I thought I had it figured out, and I did have some things right, but I was very wrong on other things.

Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is one of my favorite cozy series. I love the setting and I definitely love the characters, Aunt Jackie in particular. The only thing I didn't love was Jill and Greg in this book. I'm ready for them to quit waffling about their relationship, you're either engaged and looking forward to the future or you're not. Jill makes it far more complicated than it has to be. As always, the mystery itself was fun to try and figure out and my irritation with Jill and Greg won't stop me from continuing to enjoy this series.

Wedding Bell Blues is a fun, easy read that fans will enjoy. The engagement gown Harper, the new shop owner, creates for Jill sounds beautiful. Watching Sherry get some of what she usually dishes out was priceless. Some things in this book and series could be better, but in general, the book holds true to the series and gives readers a few hours of enjoying someone else’s life with just as many, if not more, problems than their own.

This series has always given me issues: namely, the main character, Jill. I don’t like her all that much, and Greg isn’t much better. However, Wedding Bell Blues makes Jill more human and somewhat more of a pain. Buying a gown for an engagement party shouldn’t be as tricky as Jill makes it, and being her best friend and maid of honor isn’t filled with joy. When a body shows up in the new dress shop, Jill is on the case once more, or is she using it as a distraction.

Jill, Greg, and Aunt Jackie all return in this new addition to the “A Tourist Trap Mystery” series. What should have been the best time of her life has Jill wondering and worrying if she is ready for marriage instead of looking forward to her wedding day. Greg is busy trying to prove to her that everything will be fine, and Aunt Jackie is still keeping an eye on what Jill looks like to the point of being downright rude. However, when Greg’s ex is named a suspect in the murder of a gown maker, Jill reluctantly sets out to prove her innocent.

There are twists and turns throughout this story. Plenty of suspects and red herrings to keep readers entertained, even if some of them are far too obvious. I enjoyed the gown/dress shop as the setting. I like the story of the wedding prep, Jill would not be the first bride who second-guessed everything, but we get to see her slowly (perhaps a bit too slowly) come to terms with the future. Unfortunately, I knew how this book would end as soon as the body was discovered. The killer came as no surprise, and the reason for the entire mystery was evident almost from the beginning.

Overall, Wedding Bell Blues is a fun, easy read that fans will enjoy. The engagement gown Harper, the new shop owner, creates for Jill sounds beautiful. Watching Sherry get some of what she usually dishes out was priceless. Some things in this book and series could be better, but in general, the book holds true to the series and gives readers a few hours of enjoying someone else’s life with just as many, if not more, problems than their own.

I wanted to love this book, in seems like everyone else did. I enjoyed the plot, it felt believable. I loved Aunt Jackie, and all the other characters. Me and Jill and Greg? We didn't jive. At all. I was over her leaving her ring and hemming and hawing by the 3rd chapter. And why would she keep asking Greg if he wanted to break up? Is this some heavy ground laying for a few books down the road? IDK. Maybe it's because this is not meant to be read as a standalone, perhaps she'd have grown on me by now if I read the first 12 books? I'd say unless this series is familiar to you, I would proceed with caution....or go start at book 1.

Thank you netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4675519728

Over the last few years, Lynn Cahoon’s Tourist Trap series has become one of my absolute favorites. From the characters who populate the charming coastal town of South Cove to the intricately-plotted crimes designed to capture your attention, there is something special for just about everyone. Wedding Bell Blues, the 13th installment in the series is no exception.

The only thing on Jill Gardner’s mind is her upcoming engagement party when she discovers a dead body in her dressmaker’s shop. But her mind quickly turns to murder when her police chief/fiancé, Greg King, begins working around the clock to solve the crime. Her suspicions are further aroused by the strange behavior of both the shop owner and the “victim’s” husband. Warned by Greg not to interfere or interview suspects, Jill adopts the attitude of a modern-day Nancy Drew, sussing out clues on the internet. Even her internet search becomes dangerous in a climactic scene where she is confronted by the perpetrator.

As always, the mystery is top-notch, increasing the suspense with each revelation. And the twist at the end is one I did not see coming (and probably stretches credulity a bit). As excellent as the mystery is, however, the heart of this story – and every other book in the series – is its people. Jill is intrepid and relatable, combining curiosity with street smarts. Greg King is her perfect partner, wanting to keep her out of danger while facing it himself. Their relationship has grown into quite a natural and comfortable one, and unlike many series in the cozy mystery genre, does not feel forced. Aunt Jackie is my favorite character (especially as voiced by Susan Boyce) and I always wish there was more of her! Deek, too, has become an integral part of the story for me. I like his youthful approach and his desire to be a writer, and the subplot featuring his search for a publisher is one of my favorites.

There is nothing unlucky about this 13th book in the series. To the contrary, Wedding Bell Blues is a well-written, totally captivating novel, just perfect for a cozy afternoon at the beach

Note: I received an ARC of Wedding Bell Blues from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

Jill and Greg are finally engaged! Jill, however, isn't sure how she feels about it yet. With all the planning and the engagement party coming up, Jill is feeling overwhelmed. When she goes to pick up her custom dress for the engagement party and finds a body in the dress shop, she is determined to find out the truth about what happened.

I love Lynn Cahoon's books so much! I loved revisiting Jill and Greg and all the residents of South Cove! This one was so twisty and surprising! I had no clue how it was going to end. I can't wait to read more!

*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

I’m a fan of the Tourist Trap mysteries, I enjoy reading about South Cove and all of Jill’s adventures. Finally, Jill and Greg are engaged to be married and are having an engagement party.
Unfortunately, when Jill goes to pick up her party dress, she finds a dead body. Of course, she has to get involved in solving the murder.

I always like visiting South Cove. I thought Jill might be more sure about marriage now that she’s engaged, but she’s still waffling in her head. I’m looking forward to reading the next book (number 14!) in the series. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the thirteenth book in A Tourist Trap Mystery series, but can be read as a standalone. Each mystery is self-contained, but character development is ongoing. Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, becomes more engaged to police chief Greg King. Aunt Jackie is throwing an engagement party for them and purchases a custom made dress for Jill. When Jill goes to pick up the dresses, she finds Exquisite Gowns for You open, but empty, at least that was what she thought until she found the owner, Harper, dead on the floor of her shop. It turns out that it wasn't Harper but her twin sister killed by mistake. Greg is on the case, but Jill does a bit of sleuthing on her own as well.

I always enjoy a visit to South Cove to spend time with friends Jill, Greg as well as family, friends and employees. I love the family feeling around Coffee, Books, and More, including the wonderful working environment. The town is great with some quirky residents, but a great atmosphere. This is another fun mystery to unravel with more than one suspect. Although Greg tells Jill to stay out of it, she can't resist and does get herself into another sticky and dangerous situation. I had some thoughts about what was going on, but I didn't have it quite right. The final showdown was tense and kept me glued to the page. I look forward to the next adventure of Jill and Greg and the villagers in the town of South Cove. Overall, another entertaining mystery that I enjoyed and recommend to cozy mystery lovers.

I always love this series! Though I am a little tired of Jill not sure about her relationship with Greg and how it should go, it is still one favorite series. I just want Jill and Greg married and Jill to quick questioning things. I love all the side characters as well!

This book is the 13th installment in this series, but I have only read a couple of the others and had no issues enjoying this one. I struggled with the characters a bit more than in previous books because while Jill and Greg are finally engaged their relationship rubs me the wrong way. Greg gets over protective to the point of being controlling which doesn’t feel like romance to me. I know he’s the police chief and Jill is a magnet for trouble, but I still don’t think the message his overprotectiveness sends. And I don’t mean him telling her not to investigate, that’s pretty typical for the genre, but him telling her she’s not allowed to run alone until he said it was safe for example rubbed me wrong. I did enjoy the mystery and had figured out the twists but still thought they were great and pretty unique for a cozy mystery. I loved the readathon event in the shop and do continue to enjoy some of the side characters. Overall I gave it 3.5 stars which I rounded up since half stars remain not an option.