Cozy Review: A Fitting End: A Magical Dressmaking Mystery (A Dressmaker's Mystery) [Mass Market Paperback]

I've finished "A Fitting End" the 2nd book in her Dressmaker's Mystery by Melissa Bourbon.

Product Description

Business is booming at Harlow Jane Cassidy's custom dressmaking boutique-even with her great grandmother's ghost hanging around the shop. But when a local golf pro is found stabbed with dressmaking shears, the new town deputy suspects Harlow. Now she has to clear her name before the next outfit she designs is a prison jumpsuit ...

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (February 7, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451236149
ISBN-13: 978-0451236142

My Review:

Harlow Cassidy a former New York designer and dressmaker now lives in Bliss, Texas.  Her Buttons and Bows Boutique is booming with the Margaret crowd getting ready for the Margaret Moffette Lea Pageant and Ball. Harlow Jane's has the family magical touch bestowed on the descendants of that nineteenth century Butch Cassidy making a wish at an Argentinean fountain.

Sheriff Hoss McClaine and TV reporter Rebecca Quinones ask Harlow Jane on the air about her relationship with the local golf pro Macon Vance whom she denies knowing. Someone stabbed Vance with a her dressmaking shears which happens to have blood on it and she forgot to take her bag with her after overhearing a confrontation between the wife of Senator James Mrs. James (Zinnia) and the Macon Vance the golf pro at the club. Deputy Sheriff Gavin McClaine, the sheriff's son already acts like she guilty.  This deploys the other thing Butch Cassidy bestowed on his descendants the paranoia of law enforcement officials even with Hoss being Harlow Jane's mother's not so secret boyfriend.

Evidence points to Mrs. James (Zinnia) as the killer but Harlow knows she is innocent.  She does her own investigation and finds out the town has a secret that no one wants to be known.

I highly recommend this cozy mystery because of the characterization, interesting storylines, Mee-Maw and the fashion.

4/5

Thanks Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

Other books in series:

1.  Pleating for Mercy
2.  Deadly Patterns - Oct 2, 2012

Cozy Review: Pleating for Mercy (Magical Dressmaker Mystery, Book 1) [Paperback]

I've finished "Pleating for Mercy" the 1st book in her Magical Dressmaker Mystery series by Melissa Bourbon.

Product Description

All the Cassidy women possess special gifts. Harlow Jane Cassidy's is creating beautiful dresses. But she's about to discover secrets in her own family and another gift-one that can reach beyond the grave ....

When her great-grandmother passes away, Harlow leaves her job as a Manhattan fashion designer and moves back to Bliss, Texas. But soon after she opens Buttons & Bows, a custom dressmaking boutique in the old farmhouse she inherited, Harlow begins to feel an inexplicable presence ....

One of her first clients is her old friend Josie, who needs a gown for her upcoming wedding. But when Josie's boss turns up dead, it starts to look as if the bride-to-be may be wearing handcuffs instead of a veil.

Suddenly, Josie needs a lot more from Harlow than the perfect dress. Can Harlow find the real killer - with a little help from beyond?

Product Details
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition (August 2, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0451234367
ISBN-13: 978-0451234360

My Review:

I really enjoyed this cozy and can't wait till the next book comes out.

Harlow's grandmother Mee-Maw has just passed away so she moves back to Texas after quitting her fashion designer job in New York City.  She has inherited Mee-Maw's house and opens up her own shop Buttons and Bows in the house.  She's related to Butch Cassidy yes that Butch Cassidy!

Her childhood friend Josie commissions her to design her wedding dress and also her bridesmaids.  She is marrying Nate Kincaid the influential family who made a fortune in oil.  Harlow overhears a conversation between two people that night right before one of Josie's bridesmaids Nell is murdered outside her shop.

Now Harlow must investigate who would kill Nell and why to clear her friend Josie's reputation with a little help from beyond.

I really enjoyed how the legend of Butch Cassidy was incorporated into the storyline.  Each of the Cassidy women have special talents:  Grandma is known as the Goat Lady since she has the ability to deal with goats, her mother can make plants grow just by looking at them but no one knows Cassidy's ablity.

Also enjoyed the scenes with Will Flores and his daughter Gracie a budding designer.  I hope that Will and Harlow get together because you can see the sparks between them and he's good for her.

It was funny how Mee-Maw made her presence be known!

4/5

Thanks Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!

Other Books in Series:


1. A Fitting End (Feb 7/12)