Hi, I’m Pepper Pomeroy and I was recently downsized from my job working as an event planner for a high-end hotel in downtown Chicago. When my sister’s boyfriend Warren asked me to help plan an extravagant wedding proposal for my sister Felicity, I was happy to help.
The event went off without a hitch…almost. There was that drunk guy passed out in the girl’s bathroom. But I took care of that after the engagement.
Warren was so impressed that he suggested I start my own business.
“Doing what?” I asked.
“Planning extravagant wedding proposals,” Warren said. “You really have a knack for it.”
When Warren offered to help me start the business and I was off and running. Soon, I had a scuba diving proposal and a Great Gatsby proposal to plan there was just one little hitch.
Remember the drunk guy passed out in the girl’s bathroom? It turns out he wasn’t passed out. He was dead. Murdered is what the police said, and their prime suspect was Warren.
Well I couldn’t let my sister’s new fiancé go to jail for a murder he clearly didn’t commit. So in between planning proposals, I investigated a murder and discovered that no matter how careful the planning, no event-especially murder-went off without a hitch. Now if only I could get the lead detective on the case, Detective Murphy, to follow the clues I gave him. Then maybe, just maybe I could also successfully plan Felicity’s engagement party.
Chicago is a pretty big city and the proposals I plan are just as big. What is your favorite wedding proposal? Flash mob singing “This Guy’s in Love with you?” Or Kiss Cam at a basketball game?
You can read more about Pepper in Engaged In Murder, the first book in the new “Perfect Proposal” mystery series, published by Berkley Prime Crime. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY: Comment on this post by 6pm EST on June 6, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of ENGAGED IN MURDER. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Nancy J Parra has been gluten free for six years and it was while posting her gluten-free recipes on Facebook that another author said she ought to write a book set in a gluten free bakery. Nancy did and the “Baker’s Treat” mystery series was born. Nancy also writes the “Perfect Proposal” series for Berkley Prime Crime and the “Candy Coated” Mystery series for Kensington Books. Nancy lives in the Midwest with her plucky Bichonpoo known as “little dog”.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
What a fun read. Another one to add to my ever-growing t-b-r list.
I enjoy book sets around weddings and such. Thank you for the chance to win
another new cozy series!! woohoo!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
I’m interested in this series. OK, the idea of a flash mob proposal in real life horrifies me (my age must be showing), but this does sound like an ideal setting for a cozy. I’d also be interested in seeing how Pepper handles downsizing.
I’m very interested in this series – not a lot of wedding cozies out there!!
This book sounds great. I love weddings and planning for them. This new series is now on my TRL
A new series! Always exciting!!!
Flash mob would be really fun – kiss cam is too overdone at this point. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity. kuzlin(at)aol(dot)com
By the sounds of it another fun read. Thanks for keeping us posted on the new books and for the opportunity to win them.
Thank you for the chance, the book looks great 🙂
This sounds entertaining. I would love to win
My husband didn’t propose, he said let get married now and we did. It has been 25 yrs.
I have had experience with the threat of being downsized, the key is jumping to another job before it happens. Would love to read this cozy. Thank you for the chance.
Ooh, another new cozy!
I love the title, can’t wait to read this one !
Sounds like a fun read.
Proposals have certainly gotten extreme! People seem to spend as much time and money on them as they used to spend on weddings. And weddings! Too silly expensive to be believed.
This sounds like something totally different, and the possibilities are endless, oh, the places you can find bodies, lol. My husband gave me the perfect proposal, he baked a cake, wrote will you marry me on it and had the ring in a rose laying on it.
I’d love to attend party events, even vicariously 🙂 Sign me up for the giveaway, please.
What a lovely premise —-so many proposals – so little time to solve murders. Great idea. Would love to win.
This sounds good! Thank you!
As one who would much rather attend a party than to plan the party, this books looks like a fun way to plan –with a little dose of murder added in the mix.
Another new author and series; how great. Thank you for letting us know about this, Dru Ann. Sounds really good.
Cynthia
I am not a fan of public proposals. This sounds like a great book.
I’ve been looking forward to this book since I first heard about it a few months ago. So thrilled that release day is finally here.
What a promising new series! I loved Nancy’s Gluten for Punishment, so I know this new cozy will be a sure winner ~
I’ve been looking foraward to this one.
Being an event planner sounds like fun! Please enter me in your giveaway.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Sounds like a great new series! Thanks for the chance to win!
Thanks all for your great comments!
The idea for proposal planner came from a Chicago Tribune article. The flashy proposals come now a days because so many couples are together for years and years -even living together and so getting married seems a forgone conclusion. So they want to make the proposal memorable to keep it special. One of my favorite ones is the army guy who had his platoon call out his proposal. Then the formation split while he walked up to her, got down on one knee and asked. She said yes! Of course- 🙂 Cheers and best of luck!
I definitely want to read this one.l..
Cozy set in Chicago. What fun.
This book sounds like so much fun! Planning a proposal party and finding a sleeping body that turns out to be dead….. YIKES!
This book does sound like fun—-I think a destination proposal sounds interesting.
Used to live near Chicago. This one sounds like fun and I look forward to reading it.
Love the cover. Looks like a great book.
Lol!! This book sounds funny. My favorite wedding proposal was on a commercial I saw where a man proposed using a banner that he had to keep chasing in his car with his girlfriend so she could read it!! Also, my doctor just recommended I try a gluten free diet, so I have to read your Baker’s Treat mystery series too!!
Lauigl[at]carolina[dot]rr[dot]com
This sounds like a fun book that I would enjoy reading.
Interesting info about proposal planners. Always ready for a new series! I grew up in the Chicago area, feels like home.
It sounds like a cute and fun mystery. I love the cover. Thanks for this chance to win it.
Looks like a fun mystery. I enjoy the other two series.
Engaged in Murder sounds terrific. I think a flash mob proposal would be fun and unforgettable!
contest is closed.