An unpredictable, witty and fast paced vintage mystery that is filled with interesting, complex and quirky characters. Lots of twists and turns, murder and mayhem, making this a real page turner and a must read!

Wow! This is my first read by this author. It definitely will not be my last!
I cannot believe how vivid the characters are. They definitely felt like real people. Love the mid-century department store. Old enough to remember what those were like. Makes me wanna find one and sit down and have a soda at the soda fountain.
It was a book that I felt very nostalgic reading. I adored The friendships and the banned back-and-forth.
And of course, there’s the mystery of the murder with some graphic scenes that made you definitely feel like you were watching a reel of this book instead of reading it.
The writing and the story is exceptional ! I’m hoping there’s a couple more books to follow.

Thank you Donna for this ARC in return for my honest review.

'Mid-century glam meets murder mayhem in a series of cosy mysteries at Wynton’s Department Store.'

What a great premise for a series and I must say I rather enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more. It's 1956 in Levi City, Florida and Vivien Sheffield a consultant for Wynton’s Department Store and wedding dress designer becomes the centre of attention for the wrong reasons. Brides wearing her dresses are being murdered!

Enter Audrey, Mary Jo, and Gigi, friends and co-workers come to her defence and help to solve the murders and the mystery and save the brides and their friend. This is just such a fun book to read, the characters I loved and the story was easy to read and entertaining. And even though I have not read the first book in the series (but if I can get my hands on it I will be reading it soon) I enjoyed every minute of this one, the second in the series, and don't feel I have missed anything because of it.

A great read, lots of fun and looking forward to seeing what comes next for these quirky characters of Wynton’s Department Store.

Thank you NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the second book in the Women of Wynton series. This book works as standalone but if you want some background information I recommend reading the first one. These four ladies are back again and once again there are murders going on. This time the blame is being put on Vivien. Vivien makes bridal gowns and someone is murdering her brides and making it look like she is the one doing it. Audrey, Gigi and Mary Jo are at her side to help her figure out who is behind it. I really enjoyed this story! I love these characters and I love watching their stories continue on. There are four povs in the book so we get all the girls perspectives and what’s going on in their lives. There is light Christian content. Overall a great story and I recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Did you enjoy The Women of Wynton's by Donna Mumma? If so, her characters and witty style return for more murder and mayhem in First Comes Marriage... Then Comes Murder. This was another lighthearted, nostalgic murder mystery. I think this is better when you're already familiar with the characters so I recommend reading The Women of Wynton's first. Thanks to Barbour Publishing and Netgalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this wonderful fun mystery. I enjoyed getting to learn more about Vivien, Gigi, Mary Jo, Audrey and Mirette. I loved all the things I learned about how bridal shops helped women plan their weddings during the 1950’s. I loved the twists and turns as these women solve another set of murders that affect the store they work at. I received a copy of the book and gave an honest opinion.

Enjoyed it: well written, funny, good storytelling. A solid andt witty mystery
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the first book in the Women of Wynton’s series. I have had the opportunity to read. I enjoyed this one so much that I will go back and read the first book and hopefully there will be more books to be released. It was a pleasure spending time in the pages of a good clean cozy mystery. As you travel back in time to the 1950s, you will learn how different the wedding business was at that time. I fell in love with Vivian, Audrey, Mirette, Gigi, and Mary Jo. Their friendship was so refreshing and made me think of the ones I have with my college girlfriends. We are there for each other in the good, the bad, and the ugly. The prejudices that are demonstrated were what was experienced at that time. And while it will have you cringing at the treatment the blacks received, it also helps you appreciate the fact we have come so far in our opinions. A group of strong ladies who are normal individuals who could be your aunt, your cousin, your neighbor. I strongly encourage you to get lost in the pages of this delightful and insightful book that deals with brides, murder, friendship, marriage, insecurities and self-doubt, and encouragement and support. Get to know the ladies of Wynton’s Department Store. You will absorb the last word and close the cover with a smile on your face.

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

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Christian Fiction
Cozy Mystery
Fiction
Historical
Historical Fiction
Mystery

Oh, I absolutely loved First Comes Marriage . . . Then Comes Murder by Donna Mumma. This is the second book in her Women of Wynton's series and I was so excited to get to read more about Miss Vivien, Gigi, Mary Jo, Audrey, and Mirette.

Another mystery is unfolding in Wynton's Department Store in Levy City, Florida. Why are ladies who once wore Miss Vivien's wedding dresses being killed? Why does it appear someone is trying to harm Miss Vivien's reputation when all she wants to do is make her brides' special day a wonderful, memorable event?

I enjoyed getting to read this story from the points of view of the four main ladies. While the murder mystery is a main plot point in the story, we also get to see each of these ladies' lives and how they are doing since the last book. We see the struggles they are going through and their triumphs in their private and work lives. And we get to see their friendship with each other growing stronger even though they are so different from each other.

When it comes to the mystery, I will say I had my suspicions and I wasn't completely caught off guard by the big reveal. However, the author did a wonderful job of including other suspects that could have been the guilty party. As the author slowly revealed clues it was intriguing to read along and see if my thoughts were going the same direction as those of the ladies.

Getting to learn more details about bridal salons in the 1950s was awesome. And it was so frustrating to read about the struggles that "colored" people had in regards to racism and segragation. Of course what kept me zinging through the pages was needing to know that Miss Vivien was going to get her reputation back. The author did a wonderful job of bringing these characters to life for me and made me care about each of them. I hope the author plans more books in this series because I'm not ready to let them go. Most highly recommended. You'll want to read the first book, The Women of Wynton's first. Even though the mystery of each book is a stand alone with no cliff hangers, I'd say it is important to get to know the ladies from the first book and then continue their journey.

I received an e-copy of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

‘First Comes Marriage… Then Comes Murder' is an engaging sequel that keeps the heart of the series alive—character-driven, layered with social themes, and always anchored in its vibrant 1950s setting. I definitely recommend starting with Book 1 before picking this up.

The first installment did a great job laying the foundation for this diverse cast of women navigating questions of race, class, and gender roles alongside unsolved crimes. In this book, it is refreshing to hit the ground running with their friendships already established, even as they continue to face personal struggles and another murder mystery. I especially enjoyed watching Miss Vivien shine in her role as a wedding consultant, and the addition of Immogene to her team was a nice touch.

As far as cozy mysteries go, this one isn’t afraid to mix lighthearted moments with some tragic circumstances. While the mystery itself is again fairly predictable, I’ve found this series is less about solving the puzzle of "who" and more about watching the characters respond to tragedy, support one another, and slowly unearth clues.

Special thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Nostalgic for those of us who, in the 50’s and 60’s, shopped at department stores, decked out in our dresses, gloves, patent leather shoes and matching purses. The setting is perfect for a mystery and is enhanced by the intelligent ladies who work at Wynton’s. These intriguing ladies band together to encourage one another and to figure out who-done-it.
Clean read.

Disclaimer: I received a digital copy of this mystery from the publisher, but am not required to review it. I have chosen to leave this review because I enjoyed the book and will buy a copy as a gift to share.

This is a great historical novel set in the 1950s.
Miss Vivien has been making brides big day magical for years. When some recent brides are found murdered, wearing their wedding dresses with Miss Vivien's label ripped out and displayed, bludgeoned by wedding gifts from Wynton's Department Store, Miss Vivien may be permanently out of business. After being told to stay out of the investigation by the sheriff's department, Miss Vivien and her unlikely group of friends (who came together in The Women of Wynton's) search for clues to who killed these innocent young women and why.
Miss Vivien, long time friend and co-worker, Mirette, Audrey, former Paris and New York model and now head buyer, Gigi, twice divorced, former waitress and new to the cosmetics counter, Mary Jo, wife and mother who had to go to work when her husband was seriously injured, and new hire, Imogene,who is (gasp) a black lady, all have resources to find the killer.
The treatment of women and non-white persons is shocking sometimes for a 21st century person, even one who had her origins in the 1950s. This book sensitively shows these biases and also how small steps are being made to better things.
These ladies are strong and persistent and WILL get the job done.
Can't wait until the next installment of their story!

It was nice to catch up with the characters from The Women of Wynton's! This is not marketed as book 2, but it is a continuation of the friendship of Audrey, Mary Jo, Gigi and Vivien. Their relationships have grown over time as the ladies team up to catch a killer!

Vivien is relishing in her occupation to dress the brides of Levy City, FL. Her beautiful gowns and attention to detail are why high society brides flock to her studio. But someone is killing her newly-wed ladies in their bridal gowns with objects from the Wynton bridal catalog! Who would do such a horrible thing? As potential customers snub her shop, friends cut off contact, and sponsorships disappear, Vivien would be in despair without her friends at Wynton's. These ladies join forces once again to stop whomever is killing brides and save Vivien's reputation!

Besides the fact that it's about murder, this book was a good read. The ladies have settled into their dream jobs and despite hardships, they are blossoming! It was fun to read about each woman and her growth since the last book. I would recommend reading The Women of Wynton's before this book or it won't make much sense.

Book 2 in the Women of Wynton series was just as spell-binding as the first! Not only do you get to re-connect with the wonderful ladies from Wynton's, but you also get to meet some new characters and experience new adventures. I love the depth and detail that Mumma has included in her books and found this Marriage and Murder impossible to put down!

In First comes marriage ... then comes murder we are following Miss Vivien. She owns a bridalshop at Wynton's. Everything is going very well but then several brides who got original gowns are being killed. Vivien has to find out who is behind all of this in order to keep her shop. She doesn't have to do it all alone. Together with her friends and colleagues Audrey, Mary Jo and Gigi are determined to find out who the killer before it will be to late

This book is 4.5 stars for me!
This book was so good. I loved the women of Wynton's they were such a tight friendgroup. All the women were different but lovely in their own way and I loved that. I really liked the writing style it was really easy to follow. I really liked the four pov's and the headings from the chapters were so cute and pretty. When the brides were getting murdered I was like how are there no clues or whatsoever of who did it. I loved that Audrey got a lot of clues in New York fashion week. The fact that I thought it was Mirette for like 50 pages of the book was so funny. I didn't like how the people with coloured skin were treated in the book. I mean yes that was what mostly happened in the 1950's but it wasn't fair. I loved this book and the fact that christianity was involved. I gasped when we found out who did it and how and why so I recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc! This is my own oppinion

Loved this 1950's murder mystery set in a department story, centered around the bridal section of the story. The story is very fast paced full of twist and turns with multiple points of view. This story is very engaging and well-written. I hadn't read the first in this series but was able to pick up right at the beginning. Definitely want to go back and read the first one though this one gives away what happened.

Even though there is one that wants to tear one of the main characters apart, the women of Wynton's department store work to build one another up. White and black - these women of different backgrounds come together to support one another, help one another achieve what they think are impossible and work to solve a mystery targeting the reputation of one of their own. There are stories from the segregation era that show how tough it was for Black Women in the 50's, but there's also a silver lining of hope because there are those that worked for the betterment of their fellow women, regardless of color or socioeconomic background. This is what I loved reading about most.

I'm hoping there are more books in this series. I loved the character growth in this story and hope to see more from this author and the women of Wynton's in the future.

Thank you Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. I love love love the cover! I was instantly drawn to it because of that.
I want to say that I absolutely loved this book! I loved all the characters and the time period. I got an absolute kick out of the scene with Libby and GiGi when they were talking about movies. The author does such a great job just sucking the reader into the story. I felt like I was actually there shopping in this beautiful shopping mall in the 1950's. I did not know this book was part of a series and so I hope she continues with this series! Highly recommend!

A trip down memory lane.
I love historical fiction especially when it teaches me something. This time it was so nostalgic for me because this era in 1956 is within my actual memory.
My mother worked in a department store in our city. I would use her discount to buy material and patterns to make my clothes in the mid 60s. I even made my wedding dress.
Except for the murder mystery part, this story reminded me of TV shows, fashion, cosmetics and the general atmosphere of my growing up years.
The plot was fascinating and realistic. The setting and era were spot on. It brought back memories of the social injustice of the times that were prevalent during my teen years when inroads were being made to erase prejudices.
I loved the close friendship between Vivien, Mirette, Audrey, Mary Jo and Gigi, and the represetation of Southern Charm and underlying faith thread.
This is the first time I have read this author and it made me want to read the previous book: The Women of Wynton’s.
*A complimentary print copy of this book was provided by Barbour Publishing and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

This was a really interesting premise but I’m afraid the book just didn’t grab me. I found the writing a little flat, and felt that there was a few too many plot lines - particularly the addition of the murder mystery. I actually think a series set in a department store, focusing on one of these women at a time has so much potential. It’s four really interesting characters, and the historical setting is rich - with the end notes, you can really see Donna’s passion for it too. Unfortunately in its current format, it’s not for me - but I did enjoy seeing the murderer unveiled, and loved Vivienne and Mireitte’s friendship, and seeing Audrey grow to trust Libby. Thank you for the ARC!

Is it strange to call a murder mystery charming? Because that’s exactly how First Comes Marriage, Then Comes Murder felt to me—completely charming. Even as the bodies piled up, I wanted to step back in time and wander through Wynton’s department store, eating in the cafeteria, shopping for cosmetics, and flipping through my own bridal guide!

This is actually the second book in a series, though I didn’t realize that at first. While reading the first installment might have given me more background on the characters, it wasn’t necessary—I had no trouble jumping right in.

What really made this book shine were the women. They aren’t the stereotypical characters you’d expect in a murder mystery. Instead, they’re strong, unique, and refreshingly real. They’re not all young or chasing romance; each one is simply trying to find her place in the world. Mary Jo is struggling to hold her family together after her husband’s tragic accident. Audrey, newly promoted at Wynton’s, must prove she’s more than a pretty face. Gigi wrestles with her self-worth. And Vivien, the determined bridal consultant, is fighting to save her business—and her brides—before the killer puts her out of work for good. They’re unlikely heroines, but together they form an incredible bond of friendship and loyalty, even banding together to bring justice once again.

The murders themselves were surprisingly grisly—more twisted than I expected from the pastel cover (a good reminder not to judge a book by its packaging!). While I had a hunch about who the culprit might be, the “why” kept me guessing until the end.

Beyond the mystery, I also appreciated the way the story touched on deeper themes. Set in the years following World War II, it doesn’t shy away from exploring tough issues like race relations and the shifting cultural landscape, yet it does so with taste and nuance. It gave the novel an added richness, and I suspect there’s more to come in future books. I hope so, because I’d love to spend more time with these characters!

I received an advance copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.