Helpful Score: 1
Wedding Bell Blues by Ruth Moose is the second book in A Dixie Dew Mystery series. Beth McKenzie own the Dixie Dew Bed and Breakfast in Littleboro, North Carolina (a unique town). She receives a phone call from Crazy Rena (not sure where she obtained a cell phone) asking for assistance and Beth hops in her "Lady Bug" (her car) to go assist her. Beth arrives to find Rena at a picnic table with a man laying atop it. The man is injured. Beth immediately calls 911 and gives CPR (though she would rather not after seeing the guys mouth). Sheriff Ossie DelGardo (who is getting married soon) quickly arrives in his white cowboy hat and showy white snakeskin boots (he looks ridiculous). Rena keeps rambling that she "killed him" so he carts her off to jail. That is when Beth notices a truck nearby that states Goods on Delivery (GOD) and Beth realizes that maybe Rena is not as crazy as they all think. Rena has been telling everyone in town that she is having a June wedding and that the groom is God (the ladies in town helped her put together a dress, veil, and bows for her flip flops). Maybe she meant the Goods on Delivery guy. Beth decides to look into the matter, but things get dicey after she receives a threatening phone call (also called her a hussy). The town is having its Green Bean Festival. There is a fair, food judging (of items made with green beans), and the crowning of the Green Bean Queen (I am not kidding). The judges are staying at the Dixie Dew B&B. After the green bean food judging, Debbie Booth (one of the judges) turns up dead. Are the two events related (the Goods on Delivery guy and the death of Debbie booth)? Join Beth and friends in Wedding Bell Blues to find out what happens.
I found Wedding Bell Blues to be over-the-top ridiculous (I am being truthful). I like some humor, but this was one nutty thing after another. Rena breaks out of jail and then moves into someone's home while they are in the hospital (they find her in the person's bed eating cake and making a mess). She breaks into people's homes and steals items (like the cell phone, cake, clothes). Tell me in what town this would be allowed to occur? Beth runs around like a loon asking questions and badgering people. It is a good thing that she has Ida Plum to run the inn or Beth would soon be out of business. The mystery was easy to figure out. The novel is a quick and easy read. I give Wedding Bell Blues 3 out of 5 stars (it was okay, just not for me). There are frequent mentions of Mama Alice (about once a chapter) and "Lady Bug". The majority of the book is devoted to silly antics than the mystery (missing rabbit, green bean festival, the mayor's turtle). Personally, I think the whole town should be locked up. Now many people will find the book entertaining, but it is just not for me. Wedding Bell Blues is the second book in the series, but it can be read alone (easily).
I received a complimentary copy of Wedding Bell Blues from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
I found Wedding Bell Blues to be over-the-top ridiculous (I am being truthful). I like some humor, but this was one nutty thing after another. Rena breaks out of jail and then moves into someone's home while they are in the hospital (they find her in the person's bed eating cake and making a mess). She breaks into people's homes and steals items (like the cell phone, cake, clothes). Tell me in what town this would be allowed to occur? Beth runs around like a loon asking questions and badgering people. It is a good thing that she has Ida Plum to run the inn or Beth would soon be out of business. The mystery was easy to figure out. The novel is a quick and easy read. I give Wedding Bell Blues 3 out of 5 stars (it was okay, just not for me). There are frequent mentions of Mama Alice (about once a chapter) and "Lady Bug". The majority of the book is devoted to silly antics than the mystery (missing rabbit, green bean festival, the mayor's turtle). Personally, I think the whole town should be locked up. Now many people will find the book entertaining, but it is just not for me. Wedding Bell Blues is the second book in the series, but it can be read alone (easily).
I received a complimentary copy of Wedding Bell Blues from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Dollycas's Thoughts
I jumped right into this book after reading Doing It At The Dixie Dew, the first book in this series, so everything was fresh in my mind. We arrive in town just in time for the First Annual Green Bean Festival. Plus one of the quirkiest residents of Littleboro is a homeless woman named Reba. The call her Crazy Reba, I say peculiar is putting it mildly. Short of having her move in with one of them permanently they all watch out for her. Well it appears she thinks she is getting married and she has the bling on her finger to prove it. Beth and some of the other locals help her have a dress and veil and even a local minister is on board. They think before her big day arrives she will have moved on to something else, like she usually does. Instead Beth receives a frantic call that results in Reba being arrested for her betrothed murder. Beth has her hands full this time trying to get Reba out of jail, green beans, and so much more.
All the characters I wanted to get to know better are back but there is still so much more room to grow. Beth and Scott's relationship has gone to another level but neither knows what to call it or where they are headed. We learn one of Beth neighbor's has a huge problem but Beth with Scott's assistance they just may be able to help her. We also meet some other characters who fit right into the fabric of life in Littleboro. A very eclectic bunch.
Ruth Moose has created a wonderful sequel with a very clever mystery filled with a heap of humor and Southern charm, but seriously, a GREEN BEAN FESTIVAL!! Oh my, I am definitely not a fan, but she makes it work. Who knew you could do so much with green beans? I know that bean and fried onions thing my mom used to make at Thanksgiving, but was surprised at the recipes these people came up with. The mystery took many turns and there were move than a few laugh out loud moments. Such an entertaining read
I really loved this story and I hope the author keeps the series going, this time books one and two were over 25 years apart, I hope we don't have to wait that long again. Now that I have found you Ruth I can't wait to see what you come up with next. I also need to know what happens to my fictional friends.
I jumped right into this book after reading Doing It At The Dixie Dew, the first book in this series, so everything was fresh in my mind. We arrive in town just in time for the First Annual Green Bean Festival. Plus one of the quirkiest residents of Littleboro is a homeless woman named Reba. The call her Crazy Reba, I say peculiar is putting it mildly. Short of having her move in with one of them permanently they all watch out for her. Well it appears she thinks she is getting married and she has the bling on her finger to prove it. Beth and some of the other locals help her have a dress and veil and even a local minister is on board. They think before her big day arrives she will have moved on to something else, like she usually does. Instead Beth receives a frantic call that results in Reba being arrested for her betrothed murder. Beth has her hands full this time trying to get Reba out of jail, green beans, and so much more.
All the characters I wanted to get to know better are back but there is still so much more room to grow. Beth and Scott's relationship has gone to another level but neither knows what to call it or where they are headed. We learn one of Beth neighbor's has a huge problem but Beth with Scott's assistance they just may be able to help her. We also meet some other characters who fit right into the fabric of life in Littleboro. A very eclectic bunch.
Ruth Moose has created a wonderful sequel with a very clever mystery filled with a heap of humor and Southern charm, but seriously, a GREEN BEAN FESTIVAL!! Oh my, I am definitely not a fan, but she makes it work. Who knew you could do so much with green beans? I know that bean and fried onions thing my mom used to make at Thanksgiving, but was surprised at the recipes these people came up with. The mystery took many turns and there were move than a few laugh out loud moments. Such an entertaining read
I really loved this story and I hope the author keeps the series going, this time books one and two were over 25 years apart, I hope we don't have to wait that long again. Now that I have found you Ruth I can't wait to see what you come up with next. I also need to know what happens to my fictional friends.
