Death Takes a Honeymoon

Death Takes a Honeymoon is the 4th installment in the Wedding Planner Mystery Series by Deborah Donnelly. My opinion is that it's the BEST yet. I love the fact that it took the characters outside of Seattle into a new setting for murder and mayhem. Taking Carneige "on location" should be something that happens more often. The "on location" descriptions and the descriptions of the characters involoved with this particular wedding were excellent and entralling. The mystery and intruge kept me going- I found it hard to put down once I was reading. It is definitely a "page-turner". As for the stunning cliff hanger ending- I say BRAVO DEBORAH!! I loved it. Being a big fan of this series, I'm invested in the characters as much as anyone and I found it to be a brilliant way to go. I did NOT feel cheated at all. I love getting involved with the characters and having something to look forward to in the next book- and this doesn't "leave you hanging"- instead it intices you and intrigues you and gives you something to think about as you wait for the next book to come out. Keeps you involved with the characters- instead of shelving them until the next book-which has to work at reinteresting you in the characters. I'm already interested and because of this will stay interested. Do not take it as a personal attack- take it as a leap of faith. Once again I say- READ THIS BOOK- ENJOY THIS BOOK AND FEEL WHAT THE CHARACTERS FEEL-GO WITH IT- IT'S WORTH THE JOURNEY. I loved it and so will you

Full disclosure: as one of Deborah Donnelly's writing pals, I heard a lot about Death Takes a Honeymoon over the year she spent writing the book. Doesn't seem quite fair that I devoured it in 24 hours, then does it?! Wedding planner extraordinaire Carnegie Kincaid reluctantly hits the high society scene in Sun Valley, Idaho, where a girlhood friend is getting married. Soon enough, Carnegie has not only been drawn into helping with the intricacies of the wedding, but also into solving the murder of one of the local crew of smokejumpers. Carnegie is funny, brave, and loyal, with just enough attitude and impulsiveness to knock her out of the Girl Scouts. Donnelly fills the book with local color, idiosyncratic characters, and romantic tension--and her prose is light as air. I'll be waiting in line for the next in the series, and the one after that, and the one after that...

Deborah Donnelly's mysteries are always a treat, and this latest one is no exception. Were it not for the sudden death of her cousin while fighting fires wedding planner Carnegie Kincaid would not have even attended her friend's wedding. Instead, Carnegie finds herself involved in investigating the circumstances of the smokejumper's death, contending with her old boyfriend who happens to be the groom, working the wedding under the supervision of her rival wedding planner the "beautiful Beau," and trying to repair her relationship with ambitious reporter Aaron. With a cast of eccentrics and full of humor and wit, Donnelly carries the mystery through to a heart-stopping conclusion. Carnegie has grown into being one of the more endearing characters in the mystery field and I can't wait for her next appearance.

I've been enjoying Deborah Donnelly's series of wedding planner mysteries since I first stumbled on Veiled Threats. Death Takes a Honeymoon is number 4, and I really think it's the best yet! In addition to quirky characters and a great story, Donnelly's descriptions make you want to go to Idaho for your next vacation. I've been giving these books to friends and relatives to rave reviews - the set of 4 makes a great shower gift for a bride-to-be!

Wedding planner Carnegie Kincaid is going through a rough patch professionally and personally. Her Seattle based businesses "Made in Heaven Wedding Design" is not making much money and her relationship with her commitment phobic significant other Aaron Gold is strained. She decides to attend the wedding of her college friend Tracy West because of the business contacts she will make there as Tracy is a big Hollywood star and her parents know all the movers and shakes. When Carnegie learns her cousin died, she decides that the wedding is the perfect place to get some answers regarding his death. Although Carnegie wasn't close to her cousin Brian Theale, she wants to know if his death was an accident or murder. A professional who examined the body thinks he was murdered but the sheriff and the task force classified it an accident. Brian's fellow smoke jumpers who were with him shortly after he died will be at the wedding so Carnegie will have an easy time questioning the suspects. To her delight, Aaron comes up for the wedding and since he is a journalist with skills that are needed to question suspects, they team up to find out the truth behind Brian's death. The heroine becomes the de facto wedding planner for the West wedding which gives her easy access to the suspects and her determination to find out if the cousin she didn't like was murdered is laudable. Doing her job while trying to scope out a murderer leads to some very funny situations and the comic relief is needed because the tension throughout the storyline is as tight as a high wire. Deborah Donnelly is a very creative writer whose mystery series is refreshingly innovative and totally exciting. Harriet Klausner