Wow, lots going on in this book. Not only is Allie already frazzled trying to plan her wedding to fiance Rex Manning, the police chief of Mackinac Island, but her mother has arrived two weeks early with a large entourage of relatives pretty much trying to take over and change everything. Oh, and there's been a murder, too. That said, I'm not sure I wasn't more focused on the chaos unleashed by a woman who could model for some Mom-zilla bride's magazine than the murder. At least that's my excuse for not figuring it out.

As for the murder, it was a stunning one to most in Mackinac Island. Although victim Velma Frank and Myrtle have been sniping and arguing for years, no one can understand why it would have suddenly lead to murder, even if Myrtle was found beside the body near the bloody weapon. Heck, most thought they rather enjoyed their sniping routine, so what might have changed? But, it it wasn't Myrtle, who did it? As it turns out, there are several suspects and since Myrtle has turned to Allie for help, never mind Allie is only two weeks out from her wedding, Allie finds herself investigating between bridal chores, demands from her mother, and trying to carve out time for Rex and herself. Oh, and let's not forget her pets, Mella the cat and Mal, her surprisingly good at sniffing out clues Bichonpoo. Luckily, employee Roxanne is doing an excellent job picking up the slack making fudge and doing the presentations that Allie normally so enjoys doing for tourists. Somehow Allie manages to find time to questions suspects, not to mention take part in a bachelorette party that rather steals the show from everything else. Rex is about to discover that Allie is an entertaining drunk. Speaking of Rex, readers will learn a bit more about his background and family, info even Allie wasn't aware of until his big reveal. All this, mind you, while investigating, attending endless fittings and make-up sessions Allie is dragged to by her mother, who you're going to cringe at when you meet her.

Bottom line, whether entranced more by Mom-zilla or the murder, you'll find this a fun, relatively quick read. Lots of fun characters, well, aside from snobby family members, critters, carriage rides (motorized vehicles are restricted on Mackinac Island), a clever murderer, wedding day hiccups, and, well, much, much more. I adore this series. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing for allowing me this early virtual visit to see how Allie's wedding plans were going. I'm just glad she didn't murder her mother and Rex was forced to arrest his bride-to-be at the wedding. Now that would have been a twist, not that the big one wasn't shocking enough.

Nancy Coco brings us another entertaining installment of the Candy-Coated Mystery series in "Fudge and Marriage". As her wedding day is fast approaching, Allie McMurphy finds another dead body. If that isn't bad enough, her demanding and manipulative mother arrives two weeks early. The result is an enjoyable read with several twists and turns sprinkled with family drama.

Allie McMurphy’s hotel and fudge shop on Mackinac Island are her happy places, where her family history and personal future happily intertwine. With just two weeks to go before she marries fiance Rex Manning, Allie is shocked to find a body outside the library after returning her latest batch of wedding magazines. When her family turns up far too early for Allie’s liking she throws herself into the murder investigation while also trying to avoid her mom's plan to reorganise the wedding to one befitting her only daughter. Can Allie find the killer before her big day or will her and Rex's story have a far from happy ending?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Kensington Publishing, Kensington Cozies, but the opinions expressed are my own. Book 13 in this great series has everything I want in a cosy! A murder to investigate, a romance with hugs, hiccups, and misunderstandings, and a mom/daughter relationship to test the patience of a saint! I loved it.

Oh the joy of being back in my happy place! Even if it's only by reading Coco's cozy mysteries.
Once again, I didn't want to leave this magical island.
Here comes.the twists and turns that I never see coming which makes these books exciting
The delicious fudge oh my. Mackinac has the best fudge ever!
I was hoping to see another one and I hope that she never quits writing them.

This author NEVER disappoints. Fudge and Marriage is a fantastic cozy mystery and one I highly recommend.

Allie has chosen June on Mackinac Island for her wedding to her fiancé, police officer Rex Manning, but her plans quickly become complicated by her mother’s overbearing behavior. While Allie is excited for the big day, her mother—whom she dubs "Momzilla"—and the rest of her extended family arrive two weeks early, making the wedding preparations a chaotic experience. Allie, who’s far from a Bridezilla, now has to navigate the stress of managing her wedding while dealing with her mother’s intrusive demands and overwhelming presence.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of FUDGE AND MARRIAGE (Book 14 of the Candy-Coated mystery series) by Nancy Coco in exchange for an honest review. Allie McMurphy’s upcoming wedding is all under control until her mother shows up a week early and brings rarely-seen extended family members with her. As Allie escapes her mother’s machinations by going to the library, her avoidance lands her in the middle of another murder mystery. Allie finds Velma French, an island resident, dead on the ground while Velma’s longtime rival Myrtle cries over her body. Since Allie and her friends don’t believe Myrtle could have committed the crime and since Allie continues to seek relief from her overbearing mother, Allie finds herself investigating the island’s newest homicide. If only convincing her mother to stop trying to change all of Allie’s wedding plans were as easy as identifying a murderer…

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book to fans of the series. I recommend the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring sweet shops, hotels, doggy sidekicks, and island life.

#FudgeandMarriage #NetGalley

I love the series. This is a good book and I would highly recommend it as a good read. Allie finds another body as her family arrives early for her wedding. Another murder mystery to solve.

Allie and Rex are getting married, assuming Allie does not go crazy first. She is having second thoughts about every detail of the wedding when an elderly resident of the island is killed. Then, her demanding mother and additional family show up 2 weeks early. Between investigating a murder and trying to control her mother who has time to make fudge! Wonderful.

Loved reading this book and series. 1 of my favorite authors. Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I do. Happy reading

Allie and Rex are getting married! But once again the beautiful island is darkened by murder. Will the crime be solved before the big day?

There was so much going on in this book! Allie is working like crazy trying to get everything ready for her special day and while Rex and Jenn are doing their best to support her, she's still pretty frazzled. And then her mom shows up. OK, there's no other way of saying it, Allie's mom is a monster. Am I the only one who is REALLY sick of Allie telling herself that she's putting her mom in her place when she's doing absolutely nothing of the kind? Allie is constantly making subtle hints that her mom is being overbearing. Allie's mom completely ignores her and then Allie does whatever her mom wants... then brags to her friends about how she told her mom off and put her in her place. What?!?

Allie is making some changes in her personal life, stepping back to let Roxanne take more responsibility at the hotel and putting her relationship with Rex in a more prominent place. Unfortunately this week while Rex investigates a murder this leaves Allie with more time on her hands, which she also uses to investigate.

This book was a fun read for me too because it centers around the island library, which I visited a few years ago so I was able to picture it very easily. The author also mentions the Island Bookstore, which we visited too (that's where one of my dogs stole a little girl's hot pretzel while she was distracted petting my other dog!)

I can't say much more about the book without giving away something important but I have to say this was one of my favorite books of the series. A lot of long-time questions get answered and Allie and Rex finally get hitched.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

Where do I begin with this...

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Allie and Rex are getting married, if Allie's mother can stop ruining the entire plan.

Seriously, what's wrong with this woman!? And why does Allie just forgive her over and over again. She says "enough is enough" then does the exact opposite on the next page. Ginny, the aunt was really no better. "I'm on Allie's side" but does nothing to help her the entire time.

(The 'families' apology was fake fake).

Jenn's child was sick basically everyday so she couldn't help her best friend. And whatever wedding planning she was doing wasn't noticeable because again ... "I won't let your mom take over" immediately the next page she's letting mom drive the scene.

Then her mother does the worst thing of all and hires a PRIVATE DETECTIVE TO FIND REX'S MOM!? WITHOUT ANY CONCERN, CARE, OR A SINGLE BRAIN CELL TO TELL HER WHY THERE MIGHT BE NO CONTACT.

She wanted everything to be about her.

And we just are supposed to forgive and forget :/

No, that would have been beyond the last straw.

(Like this wasn't a major side plot point let's just pretend it wasn't super important)...

The case was interesting, I wish we focused on that more.

Bonus star for the bars.

Negative that bonus for unnecessary past love interest making an appearance.

I really about 1/4 of the way through only cared about the case at that point...

2.5

OMG was this such a fun read!! Well, except for Allie's mother. Man did I want to clobber some sense into that woman for pushing her daughter away (it carries over from the previous book). I'm glad I didn't grow up like that.

The social event of the season is Allie McMurphy, hotel proprietor, fudge maker and amateur sleuth, is finally marrying Officer Rex Manning of the local Mackinac police force. Unfortunately, two weeks prior to the big event Allie finds another body. To make things worse, her mother shows up with a passel of obnoxious and judgy relatives and expects Allie to just drop everything and accommodate her (ARGH this still makes me mad just typing that). Her mother shows up 2 weeks earlier than planned and then tries to hijack the wedding. Everything Allie wants isn't proper for a society girl and her mother intends to show off to her ridiculous family. So in between trying to solve the murder, wedding planning and her overbearing mother, Allie is coming apart at the seams.

Her bachelorette party absolutely steals the show in this book (no spoilers).

I read this book in two sittings. Once again Nancy Coco manages to make the island a true supporting character to the plot. I love how she does this with almost every book. I found this cozy to be delightful and fun and I think it is definitely one I would read again in the future.

My thanks to Kensington Cozies and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Allie and Rex are finally getting married! Life on Mackinac Island is good and Allie is planning her wedding. Looking through bridal magazines and getting ideas of what she wants, like any bride – until she leaves the library and walks into a dead body. Is finding the murderer going to interfere with her wedding plans? And then more disasters to come! Her mother shows up two weeks early with her whole family and expects Allie to be at her beck and call! What else could go wrong? I think this is the best book of the series so far. There were many details about Allie’s life before she came to live on Mackinac Island and her relationship with her family as well as details about Rex’s life before Mackinac Island, which I loved. I also love the delicious recipes included. It is easily read as a stand-alone even though it is part of a series. You will fall in love with this series and maybe want to read the first books or even – want to visit Mackinac Island. It sounds like a great place!

Another great mystery! This visit to Mackinac Island finds Allie only two weeks away from her wedding. While trying to find more books to help her prepare she witnesses a fight between to senior citizens. When she leaves the library, she finds one dead and a mystery that she must solve before she says "I, do." With a host of quirky characters and a mother who might drive her nuts, it is a race to find the killer and get down the aisle. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next! Thank you to Netgalley and Kennsington Publishing for the advanced copy.

June is busy preparing for her wedding, but finding a body of a well known woman she feels like she has to step in. Enjoy this author and series and would highly recommend.

wedding-madness, Mackinac Island, local-law-enforcement, small-business, small-town, amateur-sleuth, hotelier, island-life, cozy-mystery, series, pet-cat, pet-dog, friendship, friends, recipes, murder, investigation, wealthy, unpleasant-relative, culinary, family-business, family-drama, family-expectations, book-club, relationships, relatives****

The snooty family invasion two weeks early and Allie's normal reaction to their machinations threaten to overshadow the investigation of the murder. The family drama is major in this story and makes more sense to devoted readers of the series. Allie found the body behind the library and rescued the murder weapon from the lake, much to the consternation of her fiancé, Rex, who is the top cop on the island. But investigate they do and a good investigation, too!
The book is punctuated with delicious chocolate fudge recipes every few chapters.
Mackinac Island is located between the mitten tip and the UP of Michigan and one of the things that make it so special is the ban against motorized vehicles (except emergency vehicles).
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected proof from Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies via NetGalley. Thank you
Avail Apr 01, 2025 #FudgeandMarriage by Nancy Coco #CandyCoatedMysteriesBk13 #NetGalley @KensingtonBooks

What a fun murder mystery! Fudge and Marriage was a great read that I didn’t want to put down! Pick this one up!

This book explains why Allie is the way she is: immature, stubborn, and bratty. Allie is supposed to be getting married to Rex, but her mother’s intrusive actions may sabotage the nuptials before they can occur.

It has been a long time coming this wedding. I am glad that it is finally happening. A lot of Allie and Rex's family history is finally revealed with this book.

Fudge and Marriage
by Nancy Coco is a great culinary cozy mystery that is the the fourteenth book in the Candy-Coated Mystery series.

I’ve enjoyed this series so far, and I liked this newest one where Allie has to balance investigating a local murder/mystery while counting down the days until her wedding to Rex. Her family is driving her crazy, and I can definitely sympathize with that as wedding plans can be stressful, especially when there are feelings and family involved.

I liked the mystery, the progression, and the early summer vibe. I will definitely continue to read this series.

Here’s to the next installment!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing | Kensington Cozies for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/1/25.