I Thee Dead: The Wedded Bliss Series
by Christine Lawrence
About I Thee Dead
I Thee Dead: The Wedded Bliss Series
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher : Moonie Press (August 22, 2024)
Print length : 234 pages
Digital ASIN : B0DCT9K46K
Murder, false arrests, her business on the brink…
But if anyone’s ready for the unexpected, it’s a wedding planner.
After being dumped by her fiancé, let go from her job and dealing with the passing of her beloved aunt, Leah has picked up the pieces and returned to Ashford, Ohio to take over her family’s wedding planning business. Quickly she learns the business is not doing well and could close in a few months. She jumps in with both feet and focuses on an upcoming wedding for a local wealthy socialite which could be their saving grace.
Everything seems to be falling into place until the night of the rehearsal dinner, when someone ends up dead and Leah’s best friend is the number one suspect. With the help of her friends, a handsome local detective, and a sexy private investigator, will Leah be able to catch the killer and clear her best friend’s name before they strike again or will there be an unhappily ever after?
Dollycas’s Thoughts
The Wedded Bliss is a family-owned wedding planning business that tries to provide each bride with “a wonderful and memorable service for the most important day of her life”. Leah Jordan now runs the business started by her mother and her aunt in 1982 taking over after the passing of her aunt. Leah had just lost her job and her fiancé was now her ex-fiancé so nothing was keeping her from coming home to Ashford to take over a business she knew like the back of her hand. She never expected to learn The Wedded Bliss was in trouble and could be closing without an influx of money.
Enter bride-to-be Janie Coleman, a rich daddy’s girl with an unlimited budget. Her vision includes “glitz, glitter, and crystals” and Leah is determined to give her everything she wants followed by a bill that should get The Wedded Bliss back on the right track.
Then at the rehearsal dinner, Leah finds a very important person dead and somehow Leah’s best friend and part of the team at The Wedded Bliss lands in jail, held as the prime suspect. That doesn’t sit well with Leah, she knows her friend had nothing to do with the murder. She brings together some old friends and new ones to apprehend the killer and prove her friend’s innocence, hopefully before anyone else ends up dead.
Leah Jordan is an interesting protagonist. She is still dealing with her Aunt Sissy’s death while trying to fill her aunt’s shoes. She brought her friend Chelsea into the business to handle the finances and her friend Meg as a technology expert to establish a social media presence for The Wedded Bliss. Sally Sweeney has been the office manager for years. Closing in on 65 she is a motherly type who keeps everyone in line and the business running smoothly. Caleb Hamilton is one of the wedding party, but he has another reason for being in Ashford. We also meet Meg’s brother Luke, a detective on the police force. All these characters were well crafted while leaving the room to grow as the series continues. I hope we get more of Leah’s backstory soon.
Bride-to-be Janie Coleman was a delight and so excited to get married. Her groom didn’t score any points with me. Janie was her father’s princess but he wore his wealth on his sleeve and expected people to fall in line. We meet several other characters throughout the story, residents of Ashford, and people questioned during the investigation.
The murder investigation was very entertaining. Leah and Caleb went to great lengths and unusual places trying to find the killer. They uncovered some intriguing information and more people that may have had cause to want the victim dead. But Leah took some foolish risks. Her klutziness put her in a dangerous position and into TSTL territory many amateur sleuths find themselves in. I want to note that there was some repetition of sentences and the plot needed tightening in places but understandable this being the author’s first book.
I enjoyed the wedding planner theme and that the author struck a nice balance of romance and mystery. She also includes some wedding tips following the story. As someone who had three of her children get married in the last few months I can tell you the tips are spot-on.
I Thee Dead has given the The Wedded Bliss Series a bright start. Leah and her friends are fun and I want to get to know them better. Ms. Lawrence has also laid the footing for a romantic triangle that I already find myself invested in its outcome. Christine Lawrence is an author to watch. I am excited about the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC.
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About Christine Lawrence
Christine Lawrence resides in a small town in Northwest Ohio with her husband, stepdaughter, son, and four spoiled dogs. An avid reader since childhood, she decided to mesh her two favorite genres, romance and mystery. Working hard to complete the next book in The Wedded Bliss mystery series, she spends her free time participating in local writing groups, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Christine has a bachelor’s degree in forensic science with a specialization in Crime Scene Investigation and a master’s degree in forensic psychology. Her background as a private investigator and obsession with all things crime-related gives her endless fodder for her small-town cozy mysteries.
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Great Escapes Praise for I Thee Dead: The Wedded Bliss Series
by Christine Lawrence
Well, this was a lot of fun! Will someone please assure me that the plan is for this to be a series, because I am in!
~Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books
4 stars!
What a fun start to this new wedding planner mystery series!
~Boys’ Mom Reads!
I Thee Dead is a fantastic cozy mystery. The author crafted a mystery that is engaging, pulls the reader in, and keeps them guessing until the very end. I cannot wait for the next book.
~Sapphyria’s Books
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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Your blog has quickly become my go-to source for reliable information and thought-provoking commentary. I’m constantly recommending it to friends and colleagues. Keep up the excellent work!
Sounds like a great cozy.
Wonderful! Thanks for the review! Y’all have a safe Christmas!
sounds really great!