“You need to have more than three bridesmaids.” My mother May folded her arms and glared at me. “How about your cousins Ginger and Gillian? They’re feelings will be hurt if you don’t include them.”
“No they won’t.” I turned my back on Mom, always dangerous, but I was busy getting ready for my first day back at work and wanted to finish the list of re-evaluations that I’d been making when my mother burst through my backdoor. I was a school psychologist and classes started tomorrow. “Ginger and Gillian will be relieved not to have to shell out a lot of money on a dress they’ll never wear again.” As the owner of way too many bridesmaids’ gowns, I was sure of my facts.
From the minute my fiancé and I set our wedding date, I knew my mother would drag me along the road to insanity, I just hadn’t expected it to be quite so bumpy. A serious error on my part. I also hadn’t realized how many others would be hitching down that stretch of highway. It seemed as if everyone in Scumble River had a helpful suggestion and they all were hell bent on tracking me down and sharing those ideas.
“With such a small wedding party, people will talk. They’ll think your dad and I are cheap.” May complained.
“No they won’t.” It was beginning to sound like an echo chamber in here. “They’ll think you have too much sense to spend a fortune on an event that’s over in the blink of an eye.”
I didn’t mention the fact that my fiancé was actually picking up the tab for the wedding since we’d agreed not to tell anyone that my parents weren’t paying. He had the money and my folks didn’t, but we didn’t want to hurt my father’s pride.
“Have you thought any more about the doves?” May turned her attention to the next thing on her to-nag list.
“I am not releasing live birds in the middle of winter in Illinois,” I said. “Do you really want the ceremony raided by the SPCA?”
“How about balloons?” She countered.
“Tacky.”
“A live orchestra at the reception would be classier than a DJ.” May pursued her dream of an over-the-top event. “And on my soap opera they had a harpist at the ceremony.”
“A DJ offers a better mix of music than an orchestra,” I explained, trying to not let the fact that we’d had this conversation twenty times turn me into a screaming shrew. “And Father Burns said no to any outside instruments in the church.”
“I think getting married the Saturday after Christmas is a mistake.” May changed tactics. “If you had waited until next summer we could have really did it up right. What if your special day gets lost among the holidays?”
“It’ll be fine,” I closed my notebook and smiled at my mother.
I sort of agreed with her on date issue. With a December birthday, I knew exactly how easy it was to be overwhelmed with Christmas and for everyone to forget any other events that took place during that month. But my fiancé had insisted he didn’t want to wait six additional months, and considering how long it had taken us to find each other and his age—he was several years older than me—I gave in.
“What I’m really nervous about is if you two have to work a case that week.” May wrinkled her brow. “As long as no one is murdered, the rest will probably be okay.”
“At last, something we both agree on.” I hugged Mom and shook my head. She was such a worrywart. The odds that someone would be killed the week of my wedding had to be astronomical. I frowned. Or were they? Had Mom just jinxed us?
Thanks to Penguin, I have one (1) copy of New York Times Bestseller “Murder of a Stacked Librarian” to give away. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends September 14; US entries only per publisher’s request.
You can read more about Skye’s wedding in Murder of a Stacked Librarian, the 16th book in the Scumble River mystery series, which debut Sept. 3rd. The first book in the series is Murder of a Small-Town Honey.
Meet the author
Denise Swanson is the New York Times Bestselling author of fifteen (soon to be sixteen!) books in her Scumble River series and two books in her Devereaux’s Dime Store series both from Penguin. After Murder of a Stacked Librarian (Sept. 3, 2013) comes the next Dime Store book, Dead Between the Lines in March of 2014.
Sounds great, sign me up! 🙂
I love this series and I would love to win a copy!
I have lots of carching up to do on this series…count me in please.
This is a series I’ve always enjoyed. Thanks for the update and the giveaway!
Thanks for the giveaway opportunity – sounds like an enjoyable read.
WOULD LOVE A COPY..this is an AWESOME series!!
I do enjoy this series! Thanks for the chance to win.
Would love to win this book. Great series !
I pre-ordered this (in paperback) at it’s sitting at my elbow right now. Great series. I’m glad Skye and Wally are finally getting together. Sometimes I get frustrated with Skye for not cutting her mother off at the knees. Good God, woman, use that education and set some hard and fast boundaries. Even with that, I love the plot lines and how Skye has grown over the series. I have re-read the series up to now at least twice.
Love this series. Thanks for the chance to win.
Sure I’ve read ALL of this series so far…they are just so great! Can’t wait to read this one! Sounds fantastic, and would love to win!!!
Can I win? Can I, can I? Read them all so far…waiting to get the next one!
Instead on bridezilla, she has momzilla. Good luck.
Of course mom just jinxed the wedding. Would you expect anything else. Put my name in the hat Dru, I want to win.
Would love to read this cozy mystery. I think it will be so intriguing, that will not want to put the book down.
This latest book of Denise’s sounds so great. Have so many cozies that I want to read, but this one I just HAVE to read it sounds so good. I love to learn something new about an author and one of her/his books each time I read a blog and that happened again today. Thank you for having the interview and great going Denise. Love your writing.
Thanks everyone!
Can’t wait to read this one!!
Congratulations to Denise for making the NYTimes Bestsellers List for Murder of a Stacked Librarian.
Thanks, Dru! It was awesome to get that call!
Would love to win a copy! Thanks for the opportunity! Love this series and Dime Store series too!!
Always up for a return to Scumble River. Congrats to Denise on the great debut on the NYT!! Thanks.
The Scumble River series is amongst my favorites, and am so anxious to read this newest installment.
I love Denise Swanson’s books! I have read all of them! I highly recommend both series! I can read and reread her books forever! I got my mom to start reading her books and she likes Denise Swanson as well! sweetcandi32010@yahoo.com
Denise Swanson’s books are unique and special. Thanks for this giveaway.
I’m looking forward to reading this.
I love this series!!!
I love this series of books….would love to win a copy!!!!!
As a retired school librarian, I love the title!
Sounds great, I can’t wait to read it.
I always love to visit Scumble River. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
I love this series. Have been waiting for the wedding.
I’ve been reading the review; would love to win.
I love your series – I’ve read all the books!
Wedding plans are sure to go astray in this book—I’m anxious to read it.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Thank you for the review & giveaway. This is going on my tbr list.
Love this series!!
Eager to read this book.
I’ve been waiting for this book. Would love to win it!
I want to know more about Skye’s wedding plans.
I love these mysteries and can’t wait to read this latest addition.
Please pick me!
Great title and I’d love to win a copy. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
Haven’t been able to get my copy yet so sign me up!
Please put my name in the hat, thanks.
One of my favorite authors!
I absolutely love reading the Scumble River mysteries and finding out what jam Skye is in now. Please put my name in the hopper! Thank you!
I enjoy this series alot. I feel like I know Skye, such good storylines!
I’ve never read any books by this author. I’d love to start with this one!
Sounds like a great book, I really enjoy the series
This is a favorite series of a friend if mine. Would love to win a copy!
On my TBR list…would love to win a copy!
Love this series! Would love to win a copy of the “…Stacked Librarian”!
Easy to see why this writer made the NYT Bestseller list — look and listen to these fans. Very impressive! Makes me want to try the book for sure.
Thanks Denise for sharing Skye’s day with us.
contest is closed.
Congrats to Lynne O.