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.
______
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.
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.
______
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.
