2.5 rounding to 3 stars!
Not that I didn’t like this book, it just felt young adult to me, but I typically read intense thrillers. For me, this is exactly what it says, a cozy mystery. It’s a YA murder mystery and I’d def recommend to someone younger who wants to get into the mystery genre.

Maybe I didn’t love this because I was reading on my phone, but it didn’t grab my attention like I wish it would have.

I thought the plot was fine, it was fun. When we figured out who did it, I thought it could’ve been more of a dramatic moment. I was a little disappointed in how the story ended just because I expected more a more dynamic plot

I did really love the characters in this book, especially magnum the dog!

Overall I’d definitely recommend this book to someone interested in getting into the mystery drama!

Thank you to Carolyn Arnold, Hibbert & Stiles publishing, and net galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wedding Bells Brew Murder, the second installment in this charming mystery series, serves up a hearty dose of suspense. Sara is on the cusp of her big day, surrounded by her mother and bridesmaids in the dressing room, when the unthinkable happens. The woman tasked with crafting the wedding cake stumbles in mortally wounded! The wedding is swiftly put on indefinite hiatus as every one of the four hundred attendees is potentially guilty. This book was a rollercoaster from start to finish, artfully misdirecting and keeping me on my toes till the very end. My sincere gratitude goes to NetGalley for providing the opportunity to peruse and critique this novel. I'm eagerly anticipating diving into the proceeding book in this series.

Wedding Bells Brew Murder by Carolyn Arnold is the second book in Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series which I unfortunately didn't know and it is my fault. I think it would be extremely helpful if it was stated in the description which installment in the series book is. On that note this book can be read as a standalone although I like to read my cozies in order.

I have a few problems regarding the police aspect, as former police officer they disregarded so many rules and regulations that it is just too much for former professionals and even though I really did suspend my belief it was too incredulous.I simply could not imagine them as police officers.
The chemistry between them was not the greatest.
The story was well presented, the flow of it steady.
It was an easy read, not to captivating or exciting.
I liked the idea of sleuthing duo.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to recieve this book!

This is my honest review. I'm not really into Agatha Christie's since they don't make me feel for the chatmracters, but this was opposite. I thoroughly enjoyed this Who dun it.

I was excited to take another delve into the story of Sara and Sean in the second installment of this new series by Carolyn Arnold. We last left them off having got engaged and Sean coming into a lot of money so they quit their jobs at the police department. They think they are about to have their perfect wedding day when instead they find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation, as well as a poisoning attempt!

I thought the plot was fairly well done. The story moved along nicely and it was well written. I liked that there were two mysteries that were being solved during this one. You were trying to figure out if they were both the same person or if there were two people involved. So, it was fun to try and guess as you read along. I thought the reveal of it was good, I won’t give it away on how it ended, you will just have to read for yourself. The one thing I found to be slightly annoying was that Sara and Sean are former detectives and the amount of times they compromised an investigation just didn’t seem believable.

It was nice to see characters besides Sara and Sean from the first book back. Especially their beagle Magnum he is always fun to read about and see what he is doing to assist them. You learn a little more background on Sara and Sean during this book, which was good. Even though their relationship has moved super fast I do like Sara and Sean together and was rooting for them to get to have their wedding after everything was solved.

Overall I thought this was a good follow-up to the first book and am looking forward to seeing what mystery they get involved in next.

I want to thank Netgalley, the author Carolyn Arnold, and Hibbert & Stiles Publication Inc. for the ARC of Wedding Bells Brew Murder. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Everything I write here will be my own thoughts and opinions. As I said at the top of the blog this post will contain spoilers for the first book so heads up. Now let us get into my thoughts Reader I hope you enjoy.

Spoiler from Book One: Sara and Sean were not only homicide detectives but also partners so the idea of a romantic relationship for the two of them was off the table. It wasn’t until Sean came into some money that allowed them both to give up their jobs and admit their feelings for one another.

Book Two:

She has dreamt of this day for a long time. It took months of planning but the wonderful day has finally arrived for Sara and Sean, their wedding day. Everything is going to be perfect with Magnum (their adopted beagle), their friends, and family in attendance (four hundred plus of them) along with the security guards, caters, and of course the baker Darlene Day. I mean really what could go wrong? Darlene Day is what goes wrong. Darlene opened the door to the bridal suite only moments before Sara and her ladies were supposed to head to the ceremony. She is acting strange which isn’t surprising since she has a cake knife shoved into her back. The last word on her lips is icing. Sara’s perfect day has just taken a wrong turn. There has been a murder. The perfect wedding has just turned into a crime scene.

Sara and Sean fall back into detective mode except this time they are not actually detectives and run the risk of being arrested for nosing around a crime scene by Ryan the cop leading up the case. Sara and Sean’s sleuthing has uncovered more than just a murder but a very big problem for everyone in attendance. Was Darlene murdered by someone she knows? Was it revenge? Does the word icing which I mentioned earlier have anything to do with her murder or could it be something more? Does Sara and Sean’s past cases have something to do with it? One thing is for certain the suspect list is huge and the day never seems to end for Sara and Sean.

In the second installment of the Sara and Sean Cozy Mysteries Series, we follow Sara and Sean as they try to solve the crime that has taken over their wedding. We not only follow characters from the previous book but we also meet new characters. I think that it is essential to note that if you love animal companions in a cozy mystery then you will love that Magnum appears throughout the book. He is up to his usual antics and for me, he is one of the main characters and probably my favorite. This book had me turning pages and constantly guessing who the murderer was. I am happy to say that this book is so much more than what the description gives. I loved the mysteries in the story and I was surprised at who was behind it all. I do not know how many books will be in this series but I am letting you know Reader that if it continues past two books I will be reading the rest. I have very much enjoyed my adventures with Sara, Sean, and Magnum.

If you are looking for a cozy mystery to snuggle up with this summer or even moving into the cooler months then please pick this one up. It has all the typical elements of a cozy mystery, small town, sleuthing, and animal companions. I mean really what more can you ask for in a cozy mystery? Oh, and this one has more than just one mystery to solve which I found to be entertaining, and like I said this made it a real page-turner for me. Once again I want to thank Netgalley, Carolyn Arnold, and Hibbert & Stiles Publication Inc. for this advanced copy.

It's the first book I read in this cozy series and had a lot of fun in reading this solid mystery. Carolyn Arnold can write fast paced and twisty story and this one kept me guessing.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was such a good concept for a book: it's new and original and not over done. Wedding Bells Brew Murder was a quick and easy read but I enjoyed every single second of it. I hadn't read the first one in the series, but that was okay and the story was still easy to understand.

Disclosure. This is a review of an ebook I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.

This is the second title in the Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series, and what a novel idea to set it on their wedding day.

To set the scene, the story starts the night before at their pre-wedding meal, but Sara overhears Darlene Day arguing. Darlene has baked them a fabulous wedding cake and gives them all a little pre-taster.

Then the next day, minutes before the ceremony is due to take place, Darlene stumbles in on Sara, her mum and bridesmaids with a knife in her back. She utters one word before dying, but what is the significance of it?

So with the ceremony on hold, Sara and Sean start sleuthing, as with tight security, all their guests are now suspects. Plus a run-in with the local cops, who do not like their interference in the case. Roll gatecrashers and secret passages into the mix. Plus who has gone missing now?

As hours pass, their guests are getting hungry, so might as well serve up the wedding cake. Bad decision as those who eat some, start getting pains. Who poisoned the cake?

I loved the premise of setting this tale on their wedding day. And in true whodunnit style, there are plenty of clues and counter-arguments. Just got to work out which are key and what are red herrings.

And I love how Carolyn Arnold can give the reader a cosy mystery, when most of her other series are dark psychological thrillers. Excellent that she can switch her writing so easily between the two genres.

A great mystery, with two sides to the coin.

It’s Sara Cain and Sean McKinley’s wedding day & everything is going perfectly until Sara opens the door of her bridal suite. Darlene Day, who made the wedding cake, falls into the room, a serving knife plunged into her back. As the organists start to play “Here Comes the Bride,” Sara calls a pause to the proceedings. There’s a murder to solve. Darlene wasn’t the most loved person in the small town of Cotton Spring Falls, but rumour has it that she refused the offer of a big franchise to buy her bakery. Then it’s discovered their wedding cake was poisoned, Sara and Sean could have been the intended victims all along .
The second book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I really like both Sean & Sara who recently moved from New York where they’d been detectives. I was drawn into the book from the start & my interest held all the way through, there are plenty of twists & turns as well as some edge of the seat moments. There’s also light hearted moments & some humour. Plus Magnum the beagle appears as Sean & Sara have adopted him. All in all a thoroughly enjoyable mystery
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

This is such a fun book, with lots of fast paced action and multiple suspects. Since the murder happened at a wedding with security it's definitely got vibes of a closed room mystery. And the police feel the same, as they kept everyone onsite for hours to try to solve the crime.

I love the connection between Sara and Sean (and Magnum of course), and very much enjoyed their crime solving and their personal lives. They're a great couple who have had a tremendous change in their lies, and I can't wait for more of their story! In fact I enjoyed it so much that I went and read the first book in the series to get more of their history.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting a light, amusing murder mystery (and definitely recommend going back for the first book also!)

Wedding Bells Brew Murder is the second book in the Sara and Sean Cozy Mystery Series by Carolyn Arnold. I fell in love with Sara and Sean in the first book in the series Bowled Over Americano but I must say that even though Bowled Over Americano was a great read I enjoyed Wedding Bells Brew Murder way more.

Wedding Bells Brew Murder started off with a blast and a murder and never let up. Once I started reading I was hooked. After the mystery began there was no way I could lay it down. I mean Carolyn Arnold knows how to lay out a mystery that will keep you wanting to read. I mean everything starts off in one direction and ends up in several more before everything is revealed in the end.

I mean right from the start you have the murder, the body, the murder weapon, and several suspects. She will lead you in one direction and then take you off in another. You think you know who the killer is then another twist is thrown in and you think wait a minute no way it can’t be. You think you have it all figured out and you are waiting for all the clues to be revealed because you are like I know who did it. But of course, you were wrong all along.

Wedding Bells Brew Murder opens with Sara, her mom, and her two maids of honor in the bridal suite minutes from walking down the aisle when there is a knock on the door. Who is knocking at the door now?

The knocker is none other than the lady who baked the wedding cake with a knife in her back. Dorothy dies minutes after walking in the door only saying one word, icing. Icing what does this entail and what does it have to do with her murder or murderer?

Well, that one word, icing left me with so many questions but no one seemed to follow up on it. I wanted to scream at them to check the icing but no one did. Detectives. The detective, Ryan Doyle in charge of the murder case reminded me of Dewey from the movie Scream, Deputy Sheriff Dwight "Dewey" Riley.

Wedding Bells Brew Murder itself reminded me of the movie Clue as it was set in a locked room or building where the murder happened and where the wedding was supposed to take place.

I loved Wedding Bells Brew Murder so much that I highly recommend it to everyone looking for the next great read! Grab a copy of Wedding Bells Brew Murder today for another great mystery!

2.5 stars rounded up for a book with flaws. I have read and enjoyed other books by this author. However, this book had flaws that upset me. I am retired law enforcement and attended required training sessions on handling evidence in order to safe guard the chain of custody. Sara and Sean are ex police detectives. They are about to be married when their wedding cake caterer is murdered. They notify the police but enter the crime scene despite the police detective telling them not to do so. They actually enter it twice and the detective arrests them the second time. This disregard for proper evidence procedure is upsetting to me, especially since they are former police officers and would be trained in evidence handling.
They do solve the murder, but the potential for a defense lawyer to get his client off by accusing them of planting evidence would be a possibility in the real world. Sean and Sara impress me as being entitled and foolish. I won't read any more books in this series. Fans of Carolyn Arnold and/or cozy mystery fans might like it if you are not bothered by Sean and Sara's unrealistic behavior.
Thanks to Hibbert & Stiles Publishing Inc. for sending me an eARC through NetGalley.
#WeddingBellsBrewMurder #NetGalley

***Update August 29, 2023: My wife, who is a big fan of Carolyn Arnold's books, has just finished this book and is very disappointed in this book. She rates it 2 stars. She has read 26 books by this author and I have read 7. She says that this book is not up to the previous standard of writing in the previous books by Arnold. The style of writing bothered her more than the crime scene issue.

I am grateful that even though this is part of a series, the author includes enough information it can stand alone. I enjoyed this book. It was great to get to know the characters and follow them through the clues as they solved the mystery.

Months of planning and the wedding day for Sara Cain and Sean McKinley has finally arrived! Everything was perfect, well…except for the dead body! Who would have wanted to murder the woman who baked their wedding cake? Due to the need to handle his recent inheritance, Sara and Sean have left their careers as homicide detectives. When a murder happens at their wedding, seriously, of course they will have to investigate! Was the killer her niece who didn’t want to take over at the bakery? Was it the firm who wanted to purchase the bakery that she was unwilling to sell? What did the dead woman mean when she whispered the word “icing” before she passed? Was their cake tampered with and if so by who? Sara had hoped that with a detective that she knew handling the case that she and Sean would be able to “help” with the investigation, but landing in handcuffs, on her wedding day, so not part of the plan! The wedding will have to be rescheduled, but for now, the couple needs to solve a murder! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Sean and Sara are back from their travels for their Wedding and it is suppose to be perfect. However, things do not go as planned when the creator of their wedding cake was murdered on their wedding day. Everyone at the wedding was considered a suspect because you had to show your invitation to get into the wedding. Sara and Sean didn't seem to be content to leave the investigation to the police, as they had both retired when Sean inherited all of his money.
Read along and find out what happens as they try and find the killer, and see if they can actually get married.

I love a good cozy mystery, Carolyn Arnold usually writes nail biting, suspense-filled thrillers, but I have to give her kudos - she knows how to craft a cozy mystery as well. Sara Cain and Sean McKinley are getting married in Sara's hometown with tight security, which means it should be safe. However, you soon learn that things are not safe as they appear. Right before the bride is ready to leave the bridal suite, Darlene Day literally falls through the door with a serving knife in her back. Darlene baked the wedding cake. She also owns a local, successful bakery. Needless to say this puts a halt to what should be a dreamy day. The police shut the venue down and will not allow anyone to leave as they investigate. This book read like watching a game of Clue in action. There were plenty of suspects and the actual room where the attack occurred was in question at first. The only clue you have is that you know the murder weapon. I love the game of Clue, so I enjoyed the process of elimination.

The main characters in this series are former detectives, so their investigative prowess is actually handy, but not appreciated by the local police force. They are threatened, more than once, with arrest if they do not butt out. I love both of the main characters. I will have to go back and read book #1 in this series. I see great things in the future for this fun series. The cast of characters were witty and very relatable to me. My favorite character is the beagle named Magnum. I love the name. Do not let his small size fool you. This little pup is smart as a whip. The mystery was well written (no surprise there considering the author), but she added the humor and fun characters that are necessary for a cozy mystery. Carolyn Arnold has another winning series to put a notch on her belt.

Thank you to Hibbert and Stiles Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The day of Sara and Sean’s wedding has finally arrived! These two have been whisked through a whirlwind since meeting and I expected nothing less than excitement on their big day. But I was shocked at the murder of the top baker and wedding cake maker at the venue. Carolyn Arnold certainly knew what she was doing when she grabs your attention from the very start.

Sara and Sean are the IT couple of the town, locking their wedding down tight due to their newfound financial freedom thanks to Sean’s inheritance. But now that their wedding is postponed, they’re discovering that not all is rosy as they investigate people they thought they could trust.

I loved the assortment of quirky characters who are often charming and unbelievable as a suspect. We also get to see a new dynamic between Sean and Sara — as well as with Sara’s mother. It adds new layers to the storyline, helping blur everything going on so that I was blindsided by the true culprit!

I received a complimentary copy for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

after some time abroad, Sara and Sean are ready to declare their forevers in front of their family and friends. thanks to the money Sean inherited, there was little they had to do in terms of planning the wedding, but the night before, Sara over hears something that doesn’t sit right with her. on her wedding day, her baker (of her wedding cake) knocks on her door after being stabbed… her final words to sara were “icing.” the wedding instantly is postponed, Sara and Sean begin sleuthing to figure out which of their loved ones are capable of murder- after all, all attendees were hand picked by them.

y’all I love this series. I could not for the life of me figure out who did what. It was fast paced and I feel like last week I was starting to get into a slump .. this brought me right out of it! I cant wait to see what happens to Sara and Sean in the future!

Great closed room mystery! The wedding march has just started when the wedding cake maker, Darlene falls into the bridal suite with a knife in her back! Loved loved loved this exciting mystery! Excellent characters. I didn't want to put this one down. Thanks #Netgalley and #Hibbert&StilespublishingInc for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.