Whoever thought a sixty plus year old bride-to-be competing for the perfect Southern wedding would need a chaperone? But no, the television showβs rules require all five of the Southern Belle finalists to be chaperoned at night and during certain events. Because my twin, Emily, works nights at her restaurant and Mother Maybelle didnβt want to inconvenience any of her friends, itβs her other daughter, me β Sarah Blair, whoβs βstuckβ with the task.
It’s bad enough having to juggle my day job and taking care of my own furry pets, RahRah and Fluffy, while Iβm on duty, but the show contracted for rooms for the Belles and their chaperones at my all-time nemesis, Jane Clarkβs, bed and breakfast. My mother assured me I could survive the few hours a night Iβd have to be at Janeβs Place, especially since Iβd be sleeping most of it, but I guess she didnβt take into account that tonight weβd find the showβs producer lying dead in the front hall with Jane, blood on her hands, bending over his body.
In the last year, Iβve unraveled several murders in Wheaton, Alabama, but tonight, I have a dilemma. I hate Jane. Sheβs the bimbo that broke up my marriage, forced me to go from a life of luxury to an efficiency apartment, tried to steal RahRah, the Siamese cat that was the only thing I got out of my marriage, and has been a consistent thorn in my side, but I donβt think sheβs a murderer. One part of me wants to ignore her plea for help, but my loyalty and fears for my motherβs well-being are prompting me to get involved before Mother Maybelle or any of the other contestants are permanently eliminated from the competition.
Five Belles Too Many, Sarah Blair Mystery #5
Genre: Cozy
Release: June 2022
Purchase Link
When Sarah Blairβs mother participates in a reality show competition for brides in Wheaton, Alabama, things get a little too real as a murderer crashes the wedding party . . .
Sometimes Sarahβs mother, Maybelle, can be higher maintenance than her Siamese cat RahRah. Maybelle and her friend, Mr. George Rogers, have been chosen to be one of five couples competing for a small-town βperfectβ wedding and dream honeymoon on a Southern Belles reality showβand guess who has to be chaperone. Even more vexing, the producers have decided to put up the crew and participants at the restaurant/bed and breakfast owned by Sarahβs nemesis Jane Clark.
But when someone turns up dead with Jane kneeling by the body with blood on her hands, she goes from being Sarahβs chief rival to the policeβs chief suspect. Neither Sarah nor her twin, Chef Emily Johnson, can stand Janeβstill, they donβt think sheβs a murderer. The producers vow the show must go on, but to protect their mother and the other contestants, Sarah vows to find the true killer before someone else gets eliminated . . .
Includes quick and easy recipes!
About the author
Judge Debra H. Goldstein writes Kensingtonβs Sarah Blair mystery series (Five Belles Too Many, Four Cuts Too Many, Three Treats Too Many, Two Bites Too Many, and One Taste Too Many). Her novels and short stories received an IPPY award and have been named Agatha, Anthony, Derringer, and Silver Falchion finalists. Debra served on the national boards of Sisters in Crime and Mystery Writers of America and was president of the Guppy and SEMWA chapters. Find out more about Debra at debrahgoldstein.com.
GIVEAWAY: Debra has generously offered to give away one print copy of Five Belles Too Many. To enter, please leave a comment below. One entry per person and the giveaway is limited to U.S. residents only. Giveaway ends June 30, 2022. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
What a fun premise for this cozy. Like the idea of her mother getting to shine! Congrats on the new release and thanks for the chance to win!
This sounds like a delightful cozy.
Kimberly, I hope you find it delightful as it was a delight to write.
This is such an absolutely fun and exciting seriesβ¦.. I love π it and canβt wait to read this new book π! Love the awesome cover too! Thank you so much dear Dru Ann and Debra for the chance to win! Hugs π€ ππππ»π
Thanks for commenting. I had a ball writing this book! It’s always fun to spotlight Mother Maybelle and to watch how Sarah reacts to everything.
Thanks… Mother Maybelle is a trip … bless her heart.
I just found One Taste Too Many at my library and will start there.
Enjoyed the book. Best of luck with sales!
Sharon, thanks for your good wishes. Also appreciate the review you left of the book. I’m so glad you enjoyed it and found it to be one of the best in a strong series. I feel the same way. Something really clicked while I was writing it … both in terms of the fun of it and the way the characterizations came together.
Will definitely purchase and read. Looks like fun.
Barbara, Thank you. My rule for the series was that it was meant to be fun for readers. In making it so, I made it fun to write, too.
Enjoyable and entertaining cozy.
Thank you. My goal with Five belles is for you to enjoy yourself — the same with the entire series.
I really love this series and can’t wait to read this latest installment. Congratulations on the new release!
Autumn. Thank you. I’m so glad you enjoy the series. Can’t wait to hear what you think of Five Belles. It’s one of my favorite books in the series.
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
teddi1961 (at) arcemont (dot) com
Good luck. My pleasure to host the giveaway.
Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the just released book in the series.
Thanks for stopping by. I’m delighted to spend my debut day here and to be giving away a copy of the book.
This sounds like a great cozy mystery. The cover is great too! This is a new to me author.
Congratulations on the new book! Thanks for the chance. Can’t wait to read this one, it sounds fun!!
I’m prejudiced, but it is FUN. It was fun to write and based upon the reviews, it is fun to read. How could mixing the South, reality TV, and Sarah Blair not be fun?
I hadnβt seen this series before. This looks very interesting!
Not sure why my comment didn’t stick. Poor Sarah! I know she’d love to leave her nemesis twisting in the wind.
That is a moral dilemma for her. How often are we faced with whether to help or ignore our nemesis? In this case, the greater good wins out ….but the how is the fun.
Sounds like a fun read. Can’t wait to read the book.
Thanks… hope when you get the chance, you enjoy it.
Looks like a fun book! Would love to win
I’ve been hearing a lot about this one, sounds good!
Teresa, the reviews have warmed my heart. Hopefully, if you read Five Belles Too Many, you will find it to be a good book, too.
I love seeing your new book on so many sites! I like this series and would love to win this book!
Linda, Thanks for following and entering. I’m on a Great Escapes tour, too, so there are more places to enter plus I’ll be doing a takeover of the Cozy Mystery Group on July 14. Check my website for other giveaway places.
**** WINNER ****
Five Belles Too Many is Autumn Trapani
Congratulations!
Congrats Autumn. Dru has shared your address with me and I’ll get the book in the mail to you next week!