Dollycas's Thoughts
Briar Creek is getting ready for the wedding of library director Lindsey Norris and boat captain Mike (Sully) Sullivan. Sully and Lindsey are surprised at the number of people planning to attend because they had planned to have just a small wedding with family and a few friends. So Sully, Lindsey, Violet, and Nancy head over to Bell Island to meet with Sully's parents to work out the logistics of holding a much larger winter wedding than originally planned. His parents are not worried at all that the guest list has tripled. But then they find a body washed up on the shore. The dead body of the man who was supposed to officiate their wedding and a long-time friend of Sully. It isn't long before they realize his death was no accident, Steve Briggs was murdered.
Can Sully and Lindsey get married with a murderer on the loose? Can they find a new officiant with such short notice? With Lindsey and Sully get their happily ever after? Not leaving anything to chance Lindsey knows she has a mystery to solve before she walks down the aisle to marry the man of her dreams.
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The big day is almost here. A day fans of this series have been waiting for. We also knew it would be easy sailing leading up to Sully and Lindsey's nuptials and author Jenn McKinlay did not disappoint.
Lindsey Norris has grown by leaps and bounds since this series began. In One for the Books, she really has her hands full which leads to some moments of panic but she is surrounded by wonderful friends and family willing to help and support her in any way they can. Sully, we learn is a lot like his parents. It takes a lot to ruffle his feathers. All he wants is to make Lindsay his wife and he will handle any obstacle that gets in the way. This couple's relationship evolved so naturally and their bond just continues to get stronger.
The supporting cast has continued to grow and develop as well. Heck, "the lemon" Mrs. Cole is running for mayor. Beth, Lindsey's matron of honor, and her husband Aidan are having a baby. Paula comes up with a perfect wedding favor for the crafternooners to make. Violet and Nancy are the calm in the storm helping all the wedding plans fall into place. Almost everyone in Briar Creek is engaged and invested in this wedding taking place. I really enjoy the closeness of this community.
Ms. McKinlay has plotted out quite a mystery for her characters. Tons of twists served up plenty of suspects. There were a couple of unexpected turns when a secret is revealed but quickly they were understood. Soon thereafter, the pages were turning at breakneck speed as the quest for the real killer came more into focus, someone I had earlier discarded. My stars! The reveal and the aftermath had me practically falling off the edge of my seat. Any questions I had were fully answered by the end of the story.
Then it was time for a wedding the author didn't shortchange her readers one bit. The mother/daughter time, the father/daughter time, the beautiful wedding venue that family and friends created, the not-so-surprising officiant, the music, the happiness for all who attended, Heathcliff being a part of the ceremony, the beaming couple, everything was perfectly described to put readers right in the moment.
The theme of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, runs throughout the story and there is even a Reader's Guide for the book at the end of the story along with a couple of recipes and instructions for making the craft featured.
One for the Books was everything I had hoped it would be. A complex mystery with fabulous characters that takes place in a picturesque setting, and a wonderful winter wedding.
Wonderful story, lots of twists and turns. This series is always a great read. Great characters.
One for the Books by Jenn McKinlay strikes all the right notes. It is the 11th A Library Lover's Mystery which can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on a delightful literary cozy mystery series. Jenn McKinlay has created a wonderful cast of characters. Lindsey Norris is the head librarian at Briar Creek Public Library where she works with her best friend, Beth Barker. Ms. Cole still works there as well, and she has decided to run for mayor. Ms. Cole has been given some tips to help with her campaign, and I was amazed at the change. She has certainly come a long way since Books Can Be Deceiving as have all the characters. Lindsey and Sully are having a winter wedding on Bell Island where Sully's parents reside. They have planned a gathering of family and close friends. It appears, though, that many others are planning to attend. This sends Lindsey into panic mode. Then their officiant is murdered. I enjoyed reading One for the Books. I just love cozy mysteries set during the holiday season. This one also has a special wedding. The mystery was entertaining. Secrets always come out during a murder investigation. Chief Emma Plewicki has her hands full with this one. Solving it is a cinch, but that did not hinder my reading pleasure. The reveal scene is a doozy. It was spectacular. I appreciate that all the details were wrapped on the case. One for the Books is an amusing tale. There is humor from beginning to end that will have you laughing. I especially enjoyed the literary references throughout the book along with unique details regarding Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. I did not want One for the Books to end. Now we must wait a year for the next A Library's Lover Mystery. I am curious to see how Ms. Cole will do in the mayoral election. There is a reader's guide for A Christmas Carol, a crafternoon craft, and recipes for two items from the book. One for the Books is a diverting cozy mystery with a body on the beach, deficient an officiant, scavenger hunt chaos, wedding worries, theatrical histrionics, boat bedlam, and Christmas cheer.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) - 
