I’ve managed to read every book in the Lucy Stone series and I have to say that they still manage to entertain me and keep my interest. This addition to the series is set in France which was a delightful change of pace. You still get a taste of life in Tinker’s Cove and Lucy’s friends. But you really get to experience the family dynamics of both Lucy’s family and her daughter, Elizabeth’s, future in-laws. While each book builds on maturing children, you could read this as a standalone. But if you enjoy a light cozy mystery, I encourage you to start with the first book and experience life with Lucy Stone and Tinker’s Cove.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Lucy arrives in France for a surprise wedding for her oldest daughter Elizabeth. This story has a snails pace in the beginning and then it started to pick up. There was a lot happening in this book. I liked the requisite twists and turns . I liked this story. Lucy is still one of my favorite characters.

Mother of the Bride is the latest installment of the long running ‘Lucy Stone’ cozy mystery series. Lucy Stone, a local newspaper reporter and the series’ amateur sleuth is whisked off to France for her daughter’s wedding to a mysterious wealthy man. There, her family are shacked up in the in-law’s chateau/hotel where mysterious happenings occur and eventually a body is found.

I enjoyedreading this book but I found the pacing a bit too slow. The viewpoints of the characters were also a little too political to the point that it felt there was an underlying message trying to sway the reader in a certain way. However, if you set those aside, what you’ll find is a mystery that had me guessing right up until the very end, but it took quite a bit to get to the murder. I feel like a lot of the experiences they had when they first arrived in France was fun to read, but it took up a chunk of the book until it got down to business with the mystery.

Lucy Stone gets great news from her daughter, Elizabeth. There is to be a wedding, in France! Of course Lucy wants her other two daughters, her son, daughter-in-law and grandson to all be at the wedding. But what about the expense? That is solved when Bill's lotto ticket wins them $30,000.

When the family arrives at the sprawling Chateau owned by the family of Elizabeth's fiance, Lucy suspects there's more than what is seen on the surface.

After more than a few upsetting incidents, Lucy feels her original instincts were correct. But of course it's up to Elizabeth, not Lucy.

In the end, all is as it should be. And the Stone family continues

This was one of my most favorite Lucy Stone books, yet! The entire family was together and they were all in Paris. I loved getting to catch up with everyone, and the mystery was really good! Don’t hesitate to buy this book, or any of the Lucy Stone books.

I didn’t finish this book so probably shouldn’t review it but I will anyway. I have read all of the Lucy Stone series and mostly have enjoyed them. Her husband Bill and son Toby have been annoying before but in this book they are unbearable. Selfish, rude, treating hotel workers badly. I don’t need to read about Toby, his wife and son all having guns and his plan to buy an AR 15 for “when the end comes.” I think I enjoy the books where the Lucy Stone story is one of three along with a story by Lee Hollis and Barbara Ross. I probably won’t read anymore stand alone Leslie Meier books.

I really enjoy reading Leslie Meier books and this is another great one! It is always great to catch up with Lucy and her family/ friends and it was neat for this one's setting to be at a castle!

I've been Reading this series from the beginning and it's been fun to watch the Stone family grow, the kids grow up. I've enjoyed the creativity of many of the books, this one falls short. I loved the setting in France and the descriptions. But, that's where it stops for me. Lucy does virtually nothing to help solve this mystery. The identity of the dead girl in the moat his never revealed. The French version of a mafioso would never be as mild as portrayed in this book nor would the kidnapping story have ended so easily. It just wasn't a very creative or believable plot. It was nice to catch up with the Stone family and the grown kids but that was about it for me 🤷

This was such a fun listen. I’m pretty sure this was the first book by Leslie Meier that I have read and I quite enjoyed the story. It is book 29 in a very long series of cozy mysteries, but I don’t feel like I missed much by starting with this story. That being said, I would like to go back and read more of the Lucy Stone books. The setting in France really was what caught my eye and it definitely helped to pique my interest more in the story. In this story, Lucy Stone’s daughter is getting married to a Frenchman and while at the wedding festivities, a body turns up and someone is shot. This had mystery elements in the story, but it also had a lot of family drama. Looking at other reviews and comments, this one is a little different than other books in the series. I would recommend this if you enjoy cozy mysteries.

Lucy Stone’s oldest daughter Elizabeth is about to get married in France. Lucy and the entire family arrive at a beautiful French château in order to prepare for the celebration. The Stones are not rolling in dough, but a recent lottery win certainly helps their trip. This is especially so since their soon-to-be in-laws are exceptionally wealthy. Is Elizabeth’s love for fiancé Jean-Luc the real thing?

When a woman’s body turns up on the property, especially after they noticed a less than reputable house nearby, Lucy can’t help but wonder if Jean-Luc’s family has any connection to the body. Elizabeth’s ex Chris is the police officer on the case.

29 books in and this series continues to be a real delight. In typical cozy mystery fashion, it was indeed a dead body, intrigue and drama. I loved that the entire family was in France, and a Hall lose his grandson. Patrick became embroiled in the mystery that was involved. I had a feeling about how things might turn out in this book, and I will say that I was not surprised, so there is plenty of fodder for the next book or books in the series.

Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

If you have never read a Leslie Meier cozy mystery, you cannot call yourself a cozy mystery fan. This is book #29 in Meier's Lucy Stone series. She also writes the Hannah Swenson series. You can read any of her books as stand alones and enjoy them. The characters and the community that surrounds them is both entertaining and endearing. Lucy's family will sometimes remind you all too well of your own.
In MOTHER OF THE BRIDE MURDER, Lucy travels to France for her daughter's surprise wedding. Of course, she cannot travel without her crew/ team/ mob of followers.....whatever you want to call them today. And of course ther is both a murder and a series of crimes for Lucy to solve. But the story along the way will satisfy the most hard core cozy mystery fan as all of Ms Meier's stories do.

Mother of the Bride Murder by Leslie Meier has the Stone family traveling to France for Elizabeth’s wedding. I have read every book and novella in A Lucy Stone Mysteries. I have enjoyed following Lucy, Bill, and the kids from the beginning. Lucy and Bill are now empty nesters. Lucy is excited to learn that Elizabeth is getting married, but she is disappointed that the wedding is in France. It will be an expensive venture to get all the family members to France plus they will need appropriate outfits for the wedding. I enjoyed seeing all the Stones together. It is a happy reunion and Lucy is tickled pink. With regard to the wedding, I was surprised that Lucy was not consulted (she is the mother of the bride). The groom’s mother was like a steam roller. It was her way, and she would flatten anyone in her path. The mystery is disappointing. The mystery does not begin until the body is found close to the halfway mark. A couple of clues or bits of information surface while the family lounges by the pool, fishes, goes sightseeing, and shops. They are stuck in France until the police complete their investigation (French law—their passports were confiscated). Thank heavens they get to stay at the chateau for free. I knew where the body would be found as soon as the item was mentioned. Lucy’s family kept telling her she could not poke her nose into the case because they were in France (not in Tinker’s Cove). I was surprised that Lucy did not dive into the case. I thought her curiosity would propel her into searching for answers. There is a tiny bit of action. The case is concluded early. The author devoted more time to sex trafficking and climate change than to the whodunit. I have noticed in the last few A Lucy Stone Mysteries that the author addresses serious issues in each book. I found It over-the-top at times (like it is being shoved down your throat). I liked the earlier books in this series, and I wish the author would go back to that style. The extra characters in the story, including Elizabeth’s fiancé, were one dimensional. The author did not take the time to flesh them out a little. While I enjoyed catching up with the Stone children, I did not how the author has changed Toby. He got on his soap box a few times about climate change. Young Patrick brags about shooting a gun and killing game. I did not enjoy the dysfunctional groom’s family and the rampant discontent. I thought the Stone family would want to explore France and check out the sites (a once in a lifetime opportunity visiting France). Zoe and Sara preferred to lounge by the pool and check out the pool boys. Mother of the Bride Murder was lackluster and one of my least favorite books in this series. Murder of the Bride Murder transports readers to France with a wonderful windfall, lavish chateau, a family reunification, a murdered woman in the moat, an unforeseen visitor, a cool pool, and a nuptial banquet.

Lucy and her family go to France for Elizabeth’s wedding. Elizabeth is marrying into a wealthy, titled family. It starts as a great time in Paris and then off to the estate. The estate is a working inn so there’s lots to do—stables, pool, and more. Unfortunately, it seems there is something nefarious going on. I loved this book.

Well. I haven't read all of this series, but I have read a few and I usually quite like them - especially the novellas - but this goes way too far into stereotypes of countries that aren’t America AND on top of that all of Lucy’s children are behaving awfully - you can't understand how Lucy has managed to bring up such horrid adults. Top that off with the fact that there’s not much actual crime solving (to an awful lot of annoying people) and there’s not much here for me to get on board with. I came away liking the whole series less, which is a shame.

Lucy's daughter is getting married in France and the whole family has traveled to the French chateau her soon to be husbands family owns. After meeting her soon to be son-in-law she isn't sure if he is right for her daughter or if Elizabeth even loves him. Leading up to the wedding the family is taking part in different activities like fishing. While fishing Lucy's son and grandson hook a dead body. It's the body of a young woman, and rumors say she was part of a bordello styled house just down the road from the chateau. Then Elizabeth's ex-boyfriend shows up as security and it looks like he may still have feelings for her. Things go from bad to worse when there is a shooting and fingers are pointing every which way. Follow along as Lucy tries to figure out what is going on and if she should keep her daughter from marrying.

Lucy's daughter is getting married, in France! Her groom is from a very wealthy family and the setting will be a chateau. Sounds dreamy but it is destined to become a nightmare when a woman is found dead in the moat. Lucy gets the feeling that there is something dark lurking in the family's closets and it will not bode well for her daughter.
The entire family of the bride, Elizabeth has come for the big event and one unwelcome guest joins the list. The ex-boyfriend shows up and the result isn't pretty. Lucy has her hands full and she is investigating away from her home turf. My bet is on Lucy.
With a lovely setting, well developed characters and a well plotted mystery to unravel, this is a great read. My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

When Lucy Stone’s eldest daughter Elizabeth announces that she’s engaged, Lucy is both thrilled and a little wary. The very private Elizabeth has built a successful life for herself in the Parisian hotel industry, and doesn’t have much time for gossiping with her family back in the United States. Thus, none of the Stones have even heard of her intended, Jean-Luc Schoen-Rene, before she tells them about the engagement.

Jean-Luc apparently comes from nobility. His family is also quite important in the hospitality business, owning a chateau that they’ve turned into an upscale countryside resort. Elizabeth is eager to join their family enterprise, but Lucy worries that she’ll be dominated by her new mother-in-law, Marie Laure. Elizabeth pooh poohs her concerns and invites the entire Stone family to stay at the chateau in the lead up to the wedding, so they can see the place for themselves and get to know the Schoen-Renes a little better. They’ll also save some money on lodgings and food in the process.

This sounds like a great idea to Lucy, who is thus shocked by the recalcitrance of the male members of her family. Her husband Bill at least has a good reason. An unfortunate tax error means he owes the government more than expected, which will take a huge chunk out of their discretionary spending. Her only son, Toby, however, has a panoply of bizarre objections to going that ostensibly come from his recent adoption of doomsday prepping due to projected environmental collapse. While Lucy can understand his concerns about saving the planet, she also knows when to put her foot down:

QUOTE
[His reasons were] all true, no doubt, but sounded like a lot of exaggeration as well as a convenient excuse to Lucy, who was beginning to lose patience. “Well, kiddo, I hate to inform you that all those jets are going to be flying whether or not you’re on them. So if I were you, I’d book my tickets while the going is still good. After all, you never know what the future will bring and your father and I aren’t getting any younger. It’s my dearest wish to see all my kids together, celebrating Elizabeth’s big day. It’s not like any of us are jetting around willy-nilly, destroying the ozone layer.[“]
END QUOTE

After finally wrangling her entire family over to France, Lucy is more than willing to suspend her doubts in the face of Elizabeth’s happiness, even if she can’t help wishing that Elizabeth hadn’t broken up with Chris Kennedy, a fellow American in Paris. Despite Elizabeth’s best efforts at escorting her family through a foreign culture though, the Stones often feel awkward and out of place. Things come to a terrible head when Toby and his son Patrick go fishing in the chateau’s moat and accidentally pull up a human corpse.

While the locals, and especially the Schoen-Renes, are happy to chalk up what appears to be a fairly recent death to misadventure, Lucy isn’t so sure. Her eye for investigative journalism plus her track record of solving murders has her convinced that something sinister is afoot. Determined to protect her daughter, she plunges into investigating, only to find herself making a series of near-fatal errors that have her seriously reconsidering her approach to everything:

QUOTE
Lucy watched it all, horrified, trying to think of something she could do to help. There was nothing, absolutely nothing, she realized, overwhelmed with guilt. She could hear her late mother’s voice in her head, announcing angrily that she’d done quite enough already. And she had. It was her stupidity, her blind blundering that had caused all this trouble. It was all her fault. The best thing she could do, the only thing, was to disappear.
END QUOTE

Fortunately, our irrepressible Lucy doesn’t stay defeated for long, bouncing back to help solve not only the mystery of the body in the moat, but also a series of violent crimes that plague the lead up to Elizabeth’s wedding. While I was pleased, as always, to see Lucy carry the day, I must admit that this was not my favorite novel in her eponymous series. For some reason, the recent books that feature her entire family have these characters all exposing their worst sides, and not even Lucy’s fondness for them can make me do more than feel a grudging tolerance for their collective presence.

It was nice to read of the beautiful French scenery and cuisine, however, even if some of the Stones were less appreciative of their surroundings than others. This is a light, escapist story that definitely had me craving French food throughout, and is a must-read for series fans and completists alike.

Mother of the Bride Murder is book #29 in the Lucy Stone Mysteries series by Leslie Meier.

Lucy and her whole family travel to France for her oldest daughter’s wedding. They are staying at a chateau where not everything is picture perfect, especially when there is a murder.

I like it when characters leave their usual setting every once in a while and this was no exception. They are in a foreign country so things are a bit different when it comes to Lucy investigating the murder. I loved having the whole family together and I can’t wait to read the next book - #30!

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This is the twenty-ninth book in this long-running series. Leslie Meier's books are usually light-hearted cozy mysteries where Lucy Stone solves a murder, not always but mostly in her home of Tinker's Cove, Maine, where she is a mom of four and a part-time journalist. In this book the family is attending Elizabeth's wedding in France.

I was so looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The writing was fine, and Francophile that I am, I love anything to do with France, but the plot was very thin. Lucy couldn't do much investigating in France, which was a let-down. Every series author, save for a precious few (Loren D Estleman, for example) eventually writes a dud, it cannot be helped. I wouldn't exactly call call this book a dud, but it was not up to Meier's usual standard.

I am awarding this book four stars; three for the prose and one for France. I will definitely read #30, as I think this one was an aberration. I have faith in Leslie Meier and Lucy Stone.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a slow read for me which surprised me. Usually, I zip right through the books in this series. Maybe it was due to the fact that they were stuck at the chateau the whole time. I did enjoy the danger-filled storyline with Barban and his threats. It made the story more interesting and exciting. Also made me aware of how people can lure you into thinking you can trust them. I enjoyed the ending with the Stone family working together to get things ready for the carriage races. That was a joy to read about!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!