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avigail's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Better Off Wed is one of the books I got once upon a time from an e-mail book promotion. If my memory is correct, I got the book for free. I also got the book at the time that I read a lot of cozy mysteries.
Better Off Wed is a fun, cozy mystery.
Kate's incoherent and incorrect phrases made me turn my eyes as Anabelle did so many times in the book. Often, I laughed, and other times I chuckled with the situations that Annabelle, our main character, got herself in. Richard, the chef caterer, is a little bit selfish, Alexandra, the pastry is chef, is the only average person in the group of characters.
The secondary characters are corky, and each one of them is more eccentric than the other.
The murder victim was awful! I did not guess who the murderer was, although I found myself rooting for them for a while. The scenario of a handsome detective not happy with a citizen amateur sleuthing in his case is a pretty formula, though. And predictably, the amateur sleuth solves the mystery only to find herself in the cross-hairs of the murderer.
I am looking forward to continuing with the series, and I believe we would have a little romance between our immature sleuth and Reese, the authentic, handsome detective.
Better Off Wed is a fun, cozy mystery.
Kate's incoherent and incorrect phrases made me turn my eyes as Anabelle did so many times in the book. Often, I laughed, and other times I chuckled with the situations that Annabelle, our main character, got herself in. Richard, the chef caterer, is a little bit selfish, Alexandra, the pastry is chef, is the only average person in the group of characters.
The secondary characters are corky, and each one of them is more eccentric than the other.
The murder victim was awful! I did not guess who the murderer was, although I found myself rooting for them for a while. The scenario of a handsome detective not happy with a citizen amateur sleuthing in his case is a pretty formula, though. And predictably, the amateur sleuth solves the mystery only to find herself in the cross-hairs of the murderer.
I am looking forward to continuing with the series, and I believe we would have a little romance between our immature sleuth and Reese, the authentic, handsome detective.
abigail_loves_to_read's review
4.0
I love the book and the rest of the books in the series almost done with em,
Love all the characters too especially Richard, Fern and Reese.... The only thing that bothers me is how Annabelle cant keep her head out of a mystery she always says Im not gonna bother with it but keeps on poking her head in it.
In my opinion I think that the series can be made better if there are no mysteries to solve but instead something like a diary of a wedding planner or something similar and their days of planning weddings and stuff with the characters and all, because I kept on reading the books because I loved the characters and the way they acted.
Love all the characters too especially Richard, Fern and Reese.... The only thing that bothers me is how Annabelle cant keep her head out of a mystery she always says Im not gonna bother with it but keeps on poking her head in it.
In my opinion I think that the series can be made better if there are no mysteries to solve but instead something like a diary of a wedding planner or something similar and their days of planning weddings and stuff with the characters and all, because I kept on reading the books because I loved the characters and the way they acted.
lisasiefert's review
3.0
Check out my full review on my Lisa Latte Booktube Channel at https://youtu.be/DuBq-HxpnA0?t=607
annewithabook's review
4.0
This is such a silly book, in all the right ways. In some ways, it's very typical and formulaic: protagonist just randomly decides to investigate the murder for little reason, main love interest is a police detective whose character is very basic, and the ending is kind of predictable. However, it is the two amazing sidekicks who really made this book for me! Annabelle is pretty generic, but both Richard and Kate were awesome and hilarious! And the nosey neighbor was perfect too. Sometimes it is the secondary characters who can turn a generic story into something really fun.
ooha's review
2.0
It was classified on bookbub under cozy mysteries. Now, I love cozy mysteries. But, if, apparently, inclusion in the category of cozy mysteries now requires you to include:
1. Gratuitous descriptions of how hot the detective is- as in I got it the first time; you don't have to hit me over the head with it every time.
2. Insta-attraction between the main character and the detective despite them exchanging nothing more than business talk together until suddenly, he's calling her by the first name and patting her hair. Also, what's with every single person trying to set her up? Let the woman be single for a page!
3. Immaturity. Why are grown adults behaving with the emotional range of a tactless teenager? Making eyes at the sexy detective over a dead body is not ok, and that's irrespective of how much you might have not cared for the now-dead person when they were alive. Adult human brains can't process or get over death so easily, especially when you were in such close proximity as to trip over the fricking body!
4. Stupidity. I can't accept the main character's genius in the last chapter given how slow she otherwise was for the rest of the book. That might be a pet peeve though. I like consistency in my characters' neuronal capacities.
Apart from the above gripes, the book is an easy read, something to pick up when you don't want to get into anything. The prose is simple, the characters are as expected in a book of this genre (which is something I thoroughly enjoy) and the story follows the pattern you would expect of a fun murder mystery- And that's my bottomline.
PS: How does she find so much time to go out of her way to be sleuthing? When does she work? Wasn't she supposed to be so very busy?
PPS: I couldn't like the handsome detective. Bickering ain't "cute" bickering if one party be condescending and dismissive. (Guess who?)
Happy Reading!
For more reviews, check out my blog at www.overratedsensibilities.wordpress.com
1. Gratuitous descriptions of how hot the detective is- as in I got it the first time; you don't have to hit me over the head with it every time.
2. Insta-attraction between the main character and the detective despite them exchanging nothing more than business talk together until suddenly, he's calling her by the first name and patting her hair. Also, what's with every single person trying to set her up? Let the woman be single for a page!
3. Immaturity. Why are grown adults behaving with the emotional range of a tactless teenager? Making eyes at the sexy detective over a dead body is not ok, and that's irrespective of how much you might have not cared for the now-dead person when they were alive. Adult human brains can't process or get over death so easily, especially when you were in such close proximity as to trip over the fricking body!
4. Stupidity. I can't accept the main character's genius in the last chapter given how slow she otherwise was for the rest of the book. That might be a pet peeve though. I like consistency in my characters' neuronal capacities.
Apart from the above gripes, the book is an easy read, something to pick up when you don't want to get into anything. The prose is simple, the characters are as expected in a book of this genre (which is something I thoroughly enjoy) and the story follows the pattern you would expect of a fun murder mystery- And that's my bottomline.
PS: How does she find so much time to go out of her way to be sleuthing? When does she work? Wasn't she supposed to be so very busy?
PPS: I couldn't like the handsome detective. Bickering ain't "cute" bickering if one party be condescending and dismissive. (Guess who?)
Happy Reading!
For more reviews, check out my blog at www.overratedsensibilities.wordpress.com
tough_cookie's review
3.0
A slightly charming, though somewhat poorly executed first novel. Better Off Wed introduces readers to Annabelle Archer, wedding planner and amateur sleuth (with extra emphasis on the "amateur" part). When the overbearing mother of one of her high society brides suspiciously dies at the wedding reception, Annabelle's curiosity is piqued and she immediately starts asking questions. She is accompanied by her assistant, Kate, who has an annoying (and unconvincing) habit of messing up idioms, and Richard, her go-to caterer and best friend.
The synopsis on the back of the book states that Richard becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation, which is what prompts Annabelle to take action, but that is not the case; Richard is barely considered as the murderer, even when a second death occurs. Annabelle just wants to get involved in something that is way out of her depth. And it is; throughout the entire book, Annabelle goes bumbling around, trying to find clues, and generally just causing problems that highlight her own ineptitude. Why the investigating detective, Reese, seemed to like her, I have no idea.
The supporting characters were pretty distinct, I will give the author that. However, not many of them were very likable; I mentioned Kate earlier, but Leatrice, Annabelle's elderly neighbor, would have been cute if she didn't butt in literally every time I turned around. She had no concept of minding her own business, and it got annoying very quickly. Detective Reese was okay, but his character kept jumping back and forth between a serious, no-nonsense policeman and a complete flirt, all within the same conversation! I wasn't convinced by him, either.
As for the mystery itself, it was interesting enough to hold my attention, but towards the end, it just became obnoxious as Annabelle and co. danced around the same two suspects. By the time the killer was revealed, I was just glad to be done with the constant conversational circling. Also, the way in which Annabelle figured out who did it was a bit of a reach; pulling some obscure fact out of her head after sustaining a concussion, even if it was a mild one, wasn't very realistic. And then, all of a sudden, it was over. The final showdown, the arrest, and the "resolution" took place in about four pages, leaving things feeling a bit unsettled after such an abrupt end.
The story as a whole has a certain charm to it that kept me reading, but it's not enough to encourage any continuation in the series, at least for me.
The synopsis on the back of the book states that Richard becomes the prime suspect in the murder investigation, which is what prompts Annabelle to take action, but that is not the case; Richard is barely considered as the murderer, even when a second death occurs. Annabelle just wants to get involved in something that is way out of her depth. And it is; throughout the entire book, Annabelle goes bumbling around, trying to find clues, and generally just causing problems that highlight her own ineptitude. Why the investigating detective, Reese, seemed to like her, I have no idea.
The supporting characters were pretty distinct, I will give the author that. However, not many of them were very likable; I mentioned Kate earlier, but Leatrice, Annabelle's elderly neighbor, would have been cute if she didn't butt in literally every time I turned around. She had no concept of minding her own business, and it got annoying very quickly. Detective Reese was okay, but his character kept jumping back and forth between a serious, no-nonsense policeman and a complete flirt, all within the same conversation! I wasn't convinced by him, either.
As for the mystery itself, it was interesting enough to hold my attention, but towards the end, it just became obnoxious as Annabelle and co. danced around the same two suspects. By the time the killer was revealed, I was just glad to be done with the constant conversational circling. Also, the way in which Annabelle figured out who did it was a bit of a reach; pulling some obscure fact out of her head after sustaining a concussion, even if it was a mild one, wasn't very realistic. And then, all of a sudden, it was over. The final showdown, the arrest, and the "resolution" took place in about four pages, leaving things feeling a bit unsettled after such an abrupt end.
The story as a whole has a certain charm to it that kept me reading, but it's not enough to encourage any continuation in the series, at least for me.
katiemylady23's review
4.0
What a cute little book! Wedding Planner Annabelle Archer is in shock after finding her client's mother dead at the wedding. She plays detective to try to help police (or beat them) to determine who the killer is. What a fun series for me to read right now, as I combine my love for murder mysteries with my recent engagement and wedding planning!
saltwater_val's review
2.0
I might actually give it a 2.5. Either way, it's just not that good. The mystery was pretty thin, and nothing very intriguing happens. We also hardly got to know the main character at all. I think her defining characteristic was that... she's busy? Don't bother.
amia's review
4.0
This is a mystery that kept my attention throughout and it made me laugh out loud a few times. It is well written and most of the primary characters are a great deal of fun. I enjoyed reading it very much and highly recommend it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Disclaimer : I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given review.
Disclaimer : I received a copy of this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given review.
tearainread's review
3.0
A decent start to a new to me cozy mystery series. I liked Annabelle and Richard the most, Annabelle's neighbor just needs to stop match-making already, and Kate just got on my nerves. I hate characters that get adages mixed up and someone has to constantly correct them (see Lt Eve Dallas, Kate here) - I think the authors think that it is an easy way to inject some humor, but it is just lazy and annoying. Also Kate's less than awesome driving skills sounds harmful, not funny. I could take or leave the detective as both an investigator and as a love interest. More Richard though, please.
As for the mystery, I guessed that the first husband was the killer - so I was very wrong but also surprised in a good way that I was wrong. It was the mystery and the friendship between Annabelle and Richard that kept me reading. I will be reading more from this series in the future.
As for the mystery, I guessed that the first husband was the killer - so I was very wrong but also surprised in a good way that I was wrong. It was the mystery and the friendship between Annabelle and Richard that kept me reading. I will be reading more from this series in the future.
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