I love cozy mysteries and I am always looking for new authors to read. This was an entertaining, quick mystery to read. I am planning on going back and reading the other books in the series.

This series has become one of my favorites. I love weddings and mysteries so this is a perfect fit for me. I like the way the characters are 'growing' and relationships are developing. One thing I really appreciate is that misunderstandings are discuss quickly by the characters rather than letting them grow out of proportion..

This is a well-written mystery that kept me reading very late into the night.

GOWN WITH THE WIND, the fourth book in the Wedding Planner Mysteries by Stephanie Blackmoore, is the first I’ve read in the series and most certainly not the last! In fact, I’m anxious to start at the beginning and immerse myself in the adventures of wedding planner and B & B owner, Mallory Shepherd. Even though I haven’t read the previous books, I was able to jump in and feel like I knew the characters. Ms. Blackmoore offers enough backstory to make the reader comfortable but never detracts from the ongoing plot. First off the premise of GOWN WITH THE WIND sets up the story with plenty of opportunities for chaos: Mallory has been hired to plan her ex-fiance’s wedding and it is scheduled to be held at her own B & B! Add in a bridezilla, the groom’s mother who is also known as ‘Hurricane’ Helene, stolen valuable Gone With the Wind memorabilia, and an unsolved murder. The pace never lets up and kept me turning pages faster and faster as jaw dropping events filled the story.

The bride-to-be’s grandmother is a Gone With the Wind enthusiast and the author effectively captures the spirit of the classic and weaves it into the story. There are many memorable characters and I especially liked Pickles, the Maine Coon Cat named as such because he loves to eat pickles. While he holds a minor role, he steals the scenes he is featured in. The unsolved murder mystery from the previous year is effectively woven into the story with the current murder of the bride-to-be’s nemesis. I admired the twists and turns throughout the course of the book and there were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing. The suspenseful reveal wrapped up the threads of the mysteries and provides a satisfying conclusion!

This delightfully enchanting cozy mystery is #4 in Stephanie Blackmoore's Wedding Planner Series, a series I plan to catch up on, as I so enjoyed the characters, lovely setting, and the twisting plot with so many unexpected surprises. I certainly didn't guess the outcomes ahead of time, which made the story so much more enjoyable. Ms. Blackmoore writes well, and makes the readers love the characters and the scenic settings.

Mallory Shepherd and her sister Rachel own and operate a B&B, in a lovely old house bequeathed by the grandmother of Mallory's former fiance. They also are wedding and event planners, hoping to expand and develop a thriving business. All looks good, until the ex-fiance's new lady books the B&B for their wedding, with Mallory and Rachel as planners. If it isn't enough that the bride, the groom's overbearing, domineering mother, and the bride's grandmother continually change the desired theme, the bride's ex-husband shows up to have his new wedding at the B&B, the day after his ex-wife's new wedding. If it sounds confusing, just be thankful you're not the bewildered and much put-upon wedding planners. Throw a suspicious death into the works, a vintage Scarlett O'Hara gown, the world's premiere collection of Gone With the Wind memorabilia (both novel and film), and you have a fine conglomeration of pressure, pressure, and more pressure, with one delightful story.

Mallory is a wedding planner and takes the job of planning her ex fiance's wedding, maybe not the best move she could have made.

With Keith's unpleasant Mother wanting to control the wedding and Mallory instinctively supporting the bride things get even more complicated. A last minute change of theme and the bride is at odds with a childhood rival over a gone with the wind wedding dress. She is murdered and bride to be Becca is the prime suspect.

Mallory tries to save the day and investigates the murder whilst trying to keep the peace within the warring families.

If you ignore the fact that Mallory took the job in the first place its a fun and interesting read.

Mallory has her work cut out for herself when she tries to do the bidding of bride-to-be Becca Cunningham...who has a mother who knows how this wedding is going to be and makes it clear to everyone she will not take no for an answer. Not even from the bride or the wedding planner. Add to the stress is the fact that the groom used to be engaged to Mallory. What could possibly go wrong? Don't ask - it's murder. A future bride is found drowned in the pool wearing the dress Becca had planned to wear. Becca's grandmother has a dim view of the police department and their ability to find the killer and having a successful wedding, as well so she asks Mallory to do some snooping.
The Gone With the Wind theme was nice and the addition of the previous murder in Becca's family were perfect. The characters had depth and the mystery was a satisfying combination of twists, turns and red herrings. The perfect cozy to enjoy on a rainy winter day.

Gown with the Wind by Stephanie Blackmoor is the 4th in the Wedding Planner mystery series. I have been a fan of this series since book 1 and they just keep getting better. This can be read as a stand alone but you will want to read them all.
What could go wrong, when the groom of the wedding you are having at your venue is your ex and his new fiancee was the “other woman” that broke you up, plenty. Then throw in the groom's overbearing mother and a Gone With the Wind theme wedding, you have a tsunami in Port Quincy, Pennsylvania.
There is some laugh out loud humor and the main characters are realistic and likeable. You have plenty of twists and turns that kept you guessing until the end. It is an easy to read, enjoyable cozy mystery.
There are recipes also included.
I was given an ARC by Netgalley and Kensington Books for an honest review.

The 4th installment in the Wedding Planner Mystery series brings the past back for Mallory when she agrees to plan the wedding of her ex-fiance Keith and Becca, the woman he cheated on her with. Keith's mother is a whirlwind to deal with on top of the regular stress of wedding plans. When murder enters the picture, you're drawn in to the mystery and taken on a journey filled with twists and turns. A charming mystery!

I absolutely loved this book. The mystery was great and I loved the B&B and it is always great to se how Mallory solves the crime, but the supporting characters made this book for me. I laughed so many times. I like how the movie Gine with the Wind was weaved through the book and I didn't want it to end. This is the fourth book in the series, yet you could read it without feeling lost. I highly recommend it to all mystery and Gone with the Wind fans

Gown With The Wind is the fourth book in the A Wedding Planner Mystery series.

After their failed elopement, Keith Pierce and Becca Cunningham again seek out Mallory and her sister, Rachel, to plan their wedding. As Mallory is running through her ideas for their wedding, Keith mother, Helene, a thorn in Mallory’s side, enters the room and once again takes over and informs the bride and groom-to-be of her plans for the wedding. Soon there is a concern for the health of her Grandmother, Alma when she is found in her home having been attacked and strangled. It turns out that she will recover, but decides to gift Becca with her extensive collection of GWTW memorabilia before it’s too late. When Becca goes to Silver Bells to look for her wedding dress, she finds one that could have come from Tara. She immediately decides that her wedding should have a GWTW theme. This leaves Mallory shaking head, but the bride is always right. Before Becca can change her clothes another bride-to-be, Felicity Fournier enters the store and wants the same dress. Soon a real fight ensues and in the melee, the dress becomes torn. A day or two later everyone is to meet at Keith’s house, where there is to be another tasting, and hopefully the last, and repairs to the dress. But as everyone goes out to the patio they find the body of Felicity’s body dressed in the wedding dress, drowned.

Grandma Alma, knowing of Mallory’s having solved other mysteries, asks Mallory to investigate who is trying to ruin her granddaughters’ wedding. She has no confidence in police chief Truman Davies, as he has been unable to find the killer of her husband a few years before.

A well-written and plotted story with a very interesting and varied cast of characters. Mallory and Rachel are still trying to decide whether they should just do weddings or to expand there into other areas.

Recipes are also included in with the book.

I will be watching for the next book in this interesting series.

Gown with the Wind by Stephanie Blackmoore is the 4th book in the Wedding Planner Mystery series, and another great book. Mallory Shepard and her sister Rachel have opened her bed and breakfast in Port Quincy, Pennsylvania and are planning the wedding of Mallory's Ex fiancee, Keith and Becca. What could possibly go wrong? There is not a dull moment in this book, not only is this book funny, it has a great mystery. There are twists and turns around every corner. Just when I thought I figured out the murderer/thief is, it changes. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries full of quirky characters and a likable protagonist, I strongly recommend this book/series.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the fourth installment of the Wedding Planning series. Mallory agreed to plan the wedding for her ex-fiance and his bride to be Becca is the woman he was having an affair with while engaged to Mallory. Talk about jumping into the fire. Not to mention that Keith's mother is still a pain in the you know what! The bride to be Grandmother Alma is a Gone With the Wind collector and she is found strangled in her home by a suspected intruder so at the last minute Becca wants to change the wedding theme to Gone With the Wind. Mallory accompanies Becca to a dress fitting in which she gets into a fight over a Scarlet O'Hara replica dress with Felicity a childhood rival and of course Felicity is the next to be discovered dead in the dress. Becca becomes the prime suspect and Mallory decides to determine the real murderer. Becca is certainly not her favorite person and she definitely has reason to let her rot but she does not believe she is a murderer. Lots going on in this book and there are lots of twists and turns. Highly entertaining read and look forward to the next installment.

A cozy mystery with excellent characters, a good plot and a story that is easy to read and moves along at a good pace.

Mallory's wedding planning business and B&B in Pt. Quincy, Pennsylvania (a small town outside of Pittsburgh) has been going well. But when she is asked to plan the wedding of her ex-fiancé, she comes face-to-face with his meddling mother again. Then there is the matter of his bride-to-be, for whom he ditched Mallory--Becca Cunningham. Her family is obsessed with Gone with the Wind. Her grandmother Alma has a valuable collection of items related to the book and movie; she named her son Rhett and Becca's middle name is Scarlett and she lives in a grand mansion designed to resemble Tara. Last year, Alma's husband was murdered and that crime remains unsolved at the beginning of this book when she is strangled in her bed while her faithful dog is the only witness. Then Becca's childhood nemesis is found dead in her pool, prompting Mallory to help investigate and ensure that the wedding stays on track

I really enjoyed this book. While there were a lot of characters and multiple concurrent plots, it was not overwhelming. The pace was quick, sometimes a little too much. There were great red herrings, plot twists and the ending was full of surprises. Mallory's romance with Garrett continues to develop at a comfortable pace and I look forward to reading more about that her expanding business.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for a digital advance review copy of this book. My review is voluntary

Gown With the Wind by Stephanie Blackmoore is the fourth book in Wedding Planner Mystery series but can be read as a standalone.

This is the first book I have read and I had no problem following the story as references to previous happenings are clearly described.
Wedding planner Mallory and her sister are organizing wedding for Mallory's ex fiance and the woman he cheated her with. To add to the craziness her and her sister get involved in attempted murder, unsolved murder, bridezillas, robberies, thefts and so much more.

Fast faced and very absorbing, a definite page turner. I liked it from the very beginning. I liked the truthful description of sister's working relationship, witty and sarcastic dialogue, many characters and an equal number of possible suspects and the sheer craziness of things that just keep on coming.

Fantastically entertaining and absorbing.

Gown with the Wind is the fourth book in Stephanie Blackmoore’s Wedding Planner Mystery series. The story flows at a steady pace that kept me engaged throughout the entire book. This is a fast-paced read, with a well thought out plot, well-developed characters, and too much happening. Murphy's Law is alive and well in this book. There are enough twists and turns, red herrings, and suspects to keep the reader engaged.

Mallory Shephard and her sister, Rachel, have renovated Thistle Park, the home Mallory inherited from her ex-fiancé, Keith Pierce’s, grandmother in Port Quincy, Pennsylvania and turned it into a B&B and wedding/event venue, and lived in the top portion of the mansion. After a failed attempt to help her ex-fiancé, Keith Pierce, and his new fiancée, Becca Cunningham, the woman who broke up her engagement, elope and the sudden cancellation of another wedding, Mallory finds herself trying to plan their wedding that is only two weeks away. The bride wanted a Japanese cherry blossom theme, but Keith’s mother, Helene Pierce, walked in during a planning session and tasting, takes over the planning, and changes the theme and menu. After someone attempts to strangle Becca’s grandmother, Alma, she gifts her extensive collection of Gone with the Wind memorabilia to her. Becca is thrilled, but her parents, Jacqueline and Rhett, and her fraternal twin sister, Samantha, are shocked. Alma asks Mallory to take over the event planning for the upcoming reception for The Duchess theater’s reopening. Thanks to Bev Mitchell, the owner of Silver Bells, Becca finds the perfect Scarlet O’Hara-inspired wedding gown and changes the theme of her wedding to Gone with the Wind to honor her grandmother. Another bride-to-be, Felicity Fournier, came into the bridal shop and she and Becca fought over the dress, ripping it; Bev settled the argument with a coin toss which Becca won. After the third, and hopefully, the last tasting, Becca and Keith take Mallory to their house for the gown repair and fitting with Bev, only to discover Felicity wearing the gown and floating in the pool. Alma doesn’t have much faith in Chief of Police Truman Davies’ ability to find the person responsible for attacking her because her husband, Glenn, had been murdered the year before and the case is still unsolved. Alma asks Mallory to keep her ears to the ground to see how the search for Glenn’s murder, her attacker, and the stolen memorabilia is proceeding since she’s dating Truman’s son, Garrett.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Mallory Shepard is a one-in-a-million wedding planner. She agrees to plan the wedding of her ex-fiancé Keith Pierce and his new bride-to-be Becca Cunningham, the woman he was having an affair with while engaged to Mallory! The theme and menu for the wedding keeps changing, and Mallory and her sister Rachel try to keep up and also fulfill their commitments to other clients. Becca has her heart set on a “Gone With the Wind” inspired wedding dress and has a public fight with her longtime rival, Felicity Fournier, over the dress. Becca wins but then Felicity is found dead in Becca’s pool, wearing the dress. Becca isn’t Mallory’s favorite person, but she doesn’t think Becca is a murderer and sets out to find the true killer.

This book is the second in Blackmoore’s Wedding Planner mystery series. I read the second book in this series and really enjoyed it. I liked this installment, but not as much as the prior book I had read. The main characters are still likable, including Mallory, Rachel, and Mallory’s boyfriend, Garrett. Garrett has a teenage daughter from a previous relationship and I like how the author goes against the stereotype and Mallory and Summer actually get along great. Mallory and her sister are friends, and although they sometimes have different ideas about the business, their partnership works well. It’s nice to see main characters getting along, even though there are plenty of feuds and out and out assaults between some of the supporting characters.

I also like reading about Mallory planning and running the various events, from weddings and baby showers to theater openings. The events are entertaining and those settings give Mallory plenty of opportunities to interact with witnesses and potential suspects. The downside to this book is it has the same problem as Mallory and Rachel’s fast-growing business - too many things going on at one time. Mallory and Rachel’s business has some growing pains as they struggle to manage the bed and breakfast, back-to-back weddings, along with all the other events, before realizing they need to hire some full-time help. Similarly, the book has too many distractions from the main plot of Felicity’s wedding. There is vandalism, arson, theft, assaults, smuggling, various affairs, and more. There is such a large assortment of sly, devious people, after a while it’s confusing to differentiate between all of the characters and their motives for all of the various crimes. Characters who seemingly have nothing to do with each other have surprising connections, which moves the plot along but is sometimes hard to keep track of. As hinted in the title, “Gone with the Wind” comes into play as well, so there is a lot going on in such as short novel.

Although the story goes on too many tangents, most of the loose ends are wrapped up nicely by the end. Mallory is able to mix sleuthing with running her events and is able to piece things together to help resolve the case. I like the epilogue which does a good job of providing updates on what happened with the various characters. I think fans of Laura Bradford’s Emergency Dessert Squad series will appreciate the culinary aspect, the light humor, and the down-to-earth main characters in this book. I would give the book 3.5 stars.

I received this book from NetGalley through the courtesy of Kensington Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.

Blackmoore's cozy mystery series is lots of fun, as Mallory and Rachel take on a surprise wedding, and a Gone With the Wind themed premiere party. This case had lots of twists and turns, as well as plenty of red herrings. A great cozy read!

I enjoy this series. I like cozies and this is the second series I’ve ever read that centers around weddings or wedding planners, I would recommend this book as it was a fun quick read and I enjoyed it very much.

Stephanie Blackmore has written her fourth installment in the Wedding Planner Mystery Series. This is a cute mystery that involves a wedding, a murder, and ex. The characters and plot are well written.