When I think of cozy mysteries, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels, thrills and can satisfies just about every reader's heart. This is a perfect books to snuggle up with on any day.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

I really enjoy this series because of the characters and the setting; it always feels like coming home when reading a new story. This one centers more on Jill's wedding than it does on a mystery, which is fine, but I visit this wonderful setting because of the mysteries. The mystery was lacking in this one; there was little to no investigating done. I still love this series, though, and will continue to read it.

Another fun mystery in my favorite cozy series! This one was especially intriguing with the mystery of who the murder victim is in the first place and then several other interesting pieces as the story goes on. I also really liked the element of the read a thon that Coffee, Books and More is sponsoring for the kids of South Cove, that was a enjoyable addition to the story. Great read!

Princess Fuzzypants here: It has taken a long time and multiple books to get Jill and Greg to this place. They are engaged and still trying to figure out what this change in status means to each of them. Everyone, except Greg”s ex seems delighted by the engagement. She is a loose cannon for sure but neither Jill nor Greg think she is capable of murder. But someone has done a good job trying to frame her for the murder of a woman in a couturier dress shop.

There are some very strange things about the murder including the fact that the sister of the deceased and her husband both have difficulty identifying the body. And that fact becomes stranger and stranger as more and more information surfaces. Jill, who discovered the body, is involved on the periphery of the investigation yet manages to put herself, quite by accident, right into the cross hairs of danger.

There are some very convoluted things going on with a number of conspiracies and lies involved. And all the while Greg and Jill are sorting out the murder, they are also sorting out where they want to go with their relationship. As always with this series, I find the relationship and the personal developments as important, or maybe more important, than the mystery. It makes for an enjoyable read. Four purrs and two paws up.

Wedding Bell Blues is the latest in the Tourist Trap Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. I have read every book in the series so far and have really enjoyed getting to know all the characters in South Cove, and look forward to reading more. This story is about Jill stumbling across a dead body while stopping by to pick up her and her aunt’s new dresses at the newest business to South Cove. If you are looking for a murder mystery set in a small coastal town with a nosy book loving business owner who has a habit of getting herself in trouble and the police chief as the main characters, then this series is for you. I love when a new story in this series comes out because then I get to revisit some of my favorite characters. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series.

Wedding Bell Blues
A Tourist Trap mystery, Book #13
Lynn Cahoon
5 Stars

Synopsis:

In the California coastal town of South Cove, Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, becomes more engaged in sleuthing than wedding preparations when there’s a murder in a dress shop . . .

Jill couldn’t love police chief Greg King more—so why does that engagement ring still feel funny on her finger? At least she’ll have a chance to show it off this Saturday at their engagement party. Just in time for the event, a new dress shop has opened in town, Exquisite Gowns for You, specializing in designer wedding gowns and other custom-fit dresses.

But Jill’s excitement turns to shock when she comes by to pick up her dress for the party and discovers a dead body in the shop. New owner Harper Sanchez is behaving strangely and becoming more mysterious than anyone expected. Despite Greg’s warnings to leave the case to him, Jill can’t help looking into the murder. Somebody in South Cove is dressed to kill—and if Jill’s not careful, she may not live to wear her wedding gown . . . (Goodreads)

Review:

The characters are well rounded and well developed. It is great to be able to spend time with Jill, Greg, Amy, Justin and Aunt Jackie. Jill is getting ready for her engagement party and Aunt Jackie has ordered a dress for Jill to wear to the party. When Jill goes to pick up the dress, she finds a dead body. Now Jill and Amy have to find out the murderer so that Jill can enjoy her engagement.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I was pulled into the story from the very beginning. The mystery was well plotted and there were suspects to consider and clues to sift through. You will have to use all of your detective skills to figure out the culprit.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well plotted cozy mystery. I cannot wait to see where their next adventure takes them.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This was an enjoyable escape. Jill and Greg are now engaged. Jill's still a little freaked out. They have an engagement party coming up and she is getting a new dress for the event. The designer is new to town. Jill stops by to pick up her dress, as well as her aunts. Instead of a new dress, Jill finds a body. She quickly calls it in. Harper (the designer) shows up while the cops are there.

Something weird is going on. Harper does not immediately identify the body as her sister. Harper also does not respond to or acknowledge others town members. Then there is her sister's ex-husband. Who killed Alicia? Several suspects and they are all acting weird.

The story was engaging and kept me guessing. I like the writing style, it is easy-to-read. The characters are fun as well.

Always look forward to another visit to these characters, Love the character progression throughout the series along with great mysteries full of twists and turns to keep it interesting.

Wedding Bell Blues earns 5/5 Designer Dresses…Engaging & Clever!

At the monthly business to business meetings hosted by Jill’s Coffee, Books, and More established and new business owners gather together to discuss important issues, like the upcoming Welcome Spring Saturday festival, or getting an introduction to a new business, like Exquisite Gowns For You owned and operated by Harper Sanchez. Ms. Sanchez is a designer of special occasion and wedding gowns including creating Jill’s engagement ensemble. However, the new shop is in competition with Vintage Duds owned by Sherry King, Jill’s fiancé’s ex-wife, and despite their proximity being far enough apart, Sherry doesn’t plan to peacefully co-exist. She accuses Harper of wanting to drive her out of business by offering new creations. She has even been to the shop pounding on the window and spewing threats. The next day, Jill and her aunt arrived for a fitting and overheard an argument between Harper and an unidentified male. It all seems more suspicious when Jill returns to pick up the dresses and instead finds a dead body, and knowing how focused Greg gets on an investigation, the question is: what about the engagement party?

Lynn Cahoon penned another excellent read for her thirteen book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. The crime occurred early in the drama, my preference, putting the investigation, formal and informal, as the main feature. The victim’s identity is an immediate mystery of its own along with the discovery of a secret business partners. Cahoon’s writing style is very entertaining slowly revealing the clues, from curious to shocking, making the drama a “can’t put down” experience. Jill has several realistic connections with law enforcement, her fiancé Detective King, of course, but also Esmeralda, resident fortune-teller and police dispatcher. She’s quite a delightful character sharing her visions, reading auras, and warnings to “be careful.” Additionally, the side stories include interesting discussions about marriage, relationships, and acceptance along with Deek’s book publishing woes. The connections between family and friends emphasize characteristics with small town life where everyone looks out for each other. Absolute fun…that includes a recipe! Enjoy her easy-to-make Lemon Drop Pie.

After Jill and police chief Greg King became engaged, Jill still needs a little time to get used to the idea. They decided to celebrate their engagement by having a party. And a new dress shop just opened in time for Jill to find a great outfit. But Jill’s excitement turns to shock when she discovers a dead body in the shop. The new owner is acting strangely and becoming more mysterious than anyone expected. Despite Greg’s warnings to leave the case to him, Jill can’t help looking into the murder. Can Jill find the truth before she’s looking for a wedding dress?
This cozy mystery series always makes me smile. I love reading about the characters, and the plot keeps me guessing throughout the entire read. I also love reading about beach settings, they remind me of my own time living near the ocean. Ms. Cahoon is another author with the gift to make you fall in love with her characters. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the Advanced Reader’s Copy. This review is my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for a copy of "Wedding Bell Blues" in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 13th book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. Jill and Greg are finally engaged and now everyone is constantly asking them when the wedding will be. It doesn't help that South Cove seems to be the murder capital of the world and Greg is always busy on a case. Jill appears to attract trouble so she's once again in the middle of a mystery. There was a murder at the shop where her engagement party dress was being made. The big mystery is why Harper the owner of the shop doesn't recognize the deceased who is apparently her sister.

The best parts of this book are Emma - the golden retriever and the mentioning of Cat Latimer from the writer's retreat series.

Jill Gardner and her fiancé, Greg King (head detective in South Cove) are finally celebrating their engagement (no date set yet) do Jill is getting a one of a kind dress for the party. Harper Sanchez has just opened her shop, Exquisite Gowns for You, and Aunt Jackie is buy the dress for Jill. When Jill goes to pick it up after the final alterations, she discovers a body who she believes is Harper. Contacting Greg and waiting outside the shop, Jill is stunned to see Harper headed her way. It turns out that the victim is Harper's twin sister. So was she killed because the killer thought she was Harper or her sister?

But why is Harper having trouble remembering activities and people? Is she so stunned by her sister's death?

I thought this was a great mystery and fun to solve. The characters are always entertaining.

This book bothered me. Parts were left dangling, there is too much repetition, and overall, there was a feeling of haven’t we read this, somewhere, before. I have continued with the Tourist Trap series since its inception because it reminds me of Cambria, California. I’m not sure how the author came up with the small town of South Cove, but for me, it is reminiscent of a stop I had made along the highway and a place I enjoy thinking about.

Lynn Cahoon is following the same formula throughout this series, and I hope for the sake of her readers, she starts to stir things up a bit. Something out of left field where her steadfast followers can say, I didn’t see that coming.

At the end of Wedding Bell Blues, there is an excerpt for a new book, The Tuesday Night Survivors’ Club. From the little bit that was shared, it sounds like it has protentional. We will just have to wait and see.

Jill is still getting use to being engaged, she loves Greg but we can't help but have questions about the future. She is happy that she'll get to show it off at an upcoming engagement party being thrown for them. Her aunt thinks she needs a new dress for the event and has the perfect place for her to pick one out, the new dress shop opening up in town. When Jill goes to pick up her dress she finds the owner Harper dead in the back. She soon finds out that the dead body wasn't the owner and the cops are looking into the identity. Harper starts acting weird after the body was found in her shop and Jill can't help but wonder why. Greg wants her to leave the investigation to him but Jill knows she is missing something and wants to figure out just what that is. Follow along and see if Jill can catch a murderer before she herself ends up as the next victim.

I love this series! Jill and Greg are celebrating their engagement, but of course, there is a murder!

Of course Jill finds another body, and this time it is at the dressmakers. What is really weird though is that the owner of the shop doesn't recognize the body, and it's her sister! Jill is like a dog with a bone though and can't let it go. Will Greg still wants to marry her after she is once again involved in solving a murder?

Between writing out thank you notes, trying to solve a murder and hosting a kids readathon. Who has time to pick a wedding date?

I would like to thank Netgalley, Lynn Cahoon and Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this story.

Wedding Bell Blues by Lynn Cahoon. Well, it is official. Jill and Greg are engaged. Jill is having a little trouble adjusting. She is nervous. She takes of her ring to protect it and forgets to put it back on. Is it a sign? Greg worries it is. Jill is just not used to it yet. The engagement party is this weekend and she and Aunt Jackie both are having dresses made by the new boutique in town. The woman who owns it is called Harper and all is well until Jill drops by the pick them up and finds a woman, Harper presumably, stabbed to death. She calls Greg and goes outside to wait for the police. Then she sees Harper and a man walk up. The whole thing is very confusing.

The story outside of the murder is well done. Jill has an active life running her bookshop and small cafe. Her employees all are special, in vastly different ways. Deek is a novelist, finished with his first book and about to be taken to the cleaners by a less than reputable publisher. She and her aunt hold a read-a-thon in the store with dozens of kids and their parents. They all have stories and they are all included. Her best friend, Amy works at city hall and is a newlywed. One of her baristas is also a part-time deputy and her tenant. This book if full and interesting without the murder. That storyline just adds to the overall. The murder plot is a good one and it takes a little investigating. Jill is close, but Greg already had it and was prepared to make an arrest. The people in this character-driven cozy mystery definitely make it the success it is.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Wedding Bell Blues by Kensington Books, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #netgalley #kensington #lynncahoon #weddingbellblues

I always enjoy my visits to South Cove. Although at times I am impatient with Jill's commitment issues l like seeing her progress in her relationship with Greg. 'Wedding Bell Blues' didn't disappoint as Jill and Greg prepare for their engagement party. Throw in complications between Greg's ex-wife whose business competes with a new dressmaker in town and Jill's discovery of a body when she goes to pick up her engagement dress at that business and we have another winner from Lynn Cahoon. I figured out the plot twist part way through the book, but not the why and how. I look forward to many more Tourist Trap Mysteries.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I have only read a couple of these tourist trap mysteries but I enjoy other books in Ms. Cahoon's vast offering of mysteries. I liked the one previous to this but this book was just kind of meh. Also was not clear on the title since there is no wedding to speak of...

I found the plot a little short on the mystery part and I figured out the big twist at the end about halfway, maybe even less, through the story. I did not enjoy the banter between Jill and her fiancé, about the constant questioning of their relationship and should they be engaged and him picking on her about not wearing the ring. It was a constant back and forth of second guessing. Guess that was the blues part.

I felt this book lacked a lot of the small town charm and interpersonal relationships between the cast of characters that is the Hallmark of a good cozy. I look forward to reuniting with the group between the pages like I am hanging out with old friends. This felt like an ongoing argument between crabby relatives at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Disappointing.

I listened to the first couple of books in A Tourist Trap mystery series through my library. I liked them all right, but Jill was a so-so character and her aunt Jackie was abrasive. I like several of the author’s other cozy mysteries, so when Netgalley offered Wedding Bell Blues I decided it was time to catch up on Jill’s life. I wasn’t sure why the title reference at first, but on reflection the wedding bell blues applies to several relationships in the story.
The setting in the California coast in small town with a bookstore is attractive.
Jill is an interesting main character, and the reader spends a lot of time in her head. The thoughts revolve around the murder, the bookstore, the engagement to Greg, the boxes in the proposed library room at the house, food, finances, what’s happening with her friend Amy’s relationship, etc. Aunt Jackie was only annoying a few times. Greg sounds like a great guy, but he is almost as much to blame for Jill getting herself into dangerous situations as she is. He thinks he is protecting her by not telling her things and she goes off on her curiosity quests which inevitably lead her into trouble. Then Greg feels the need to lecture Jill or give her the silent treatment or try laying down the law. They have been together for a while now. So you’d think he would stop beating a dead horse and accept Jill as she is.
Jill doesn’t seem as happy about the engagement as one thinks she would be. This is a main theme within the book and makes me wonder if nuptials will ever really occur.
I had a hypothesis on what was going on with Harper, whose sister died, but it turns out my guesses were incorrect. It makes for a better ending when you don’t guess exactly right.
The read-a-thon sounds like a fun community event. It was a lot of work that supposedly paid off financially for Coffee, Books and More.
This was a fun read. It doesn’t inspire me to go back and fill in the intervening stories between book three and book 13. This book does provide enough backstory that it could be read as a stand-alone.