Sandy M’s review of Weddings Can Be Murder by Christie Craig
Romantic Suspense published by Love Spell 27 May 08

I dare ya. What’s that, you ask? I dare you read to this book and not laugh, not get so emotionally involved with these characters that you feel it to your soul, not to thoroughly enjoy this as one of the best reads you’ve had in a while. 

Christie Craig is making a name for herself on the fast track. I read and reviewed her Divorced, Desperate and Delicious last year and had the best time, laughing nearly all the way through the book and falling in love her with characters posthaste. She’s only gotten better with this book, Weddings Can Be Murder. The dialogue is witty and snappy, the characters are as engaging as ever, her humor is to die for, and the romance is heartbreaking, sweet, sexy, and powerful all at the same time.

Katie and Joe are engaged, but they each know deep down that although they love one another, they don’t love each other in the right way to be getting married. When Katie stumbles upon and witnesses the murder of her wedding planner and is subsequently locked in the dark with the PI the late planner had called because of her suspicions concerning dying brides, Katie and her body respond to Carl Hades like never happened with her fiance.

Carl is a man who loves women but he makes sure those women know he’s not the marrying kind, he makes no promises he can’t keep, and he won’t be staying around after some mutual pleasure is had. But Katie affects him to the point of distraction after their ordeal is over. Both Katie and Carl try to go on with their lives, but when Katie breaks the engagement each of them have hope maybe there can be something good between them, but they know that truly will never happen. They’re too different, too far apart in what they want in life.

But they keep getting thrown together and each time is better than the last. While Carl and Katie are locked up together, so many different things happen that I was laughing out loud almost constantly. I think Ms. Craig is the only author who can make puking funny, and she does it brilliantly. And an electric vibrator. But there’s also tenderness and need in these scenes, a longing so deep you know these two characters have to end up together. Later I so loved the dish washing scene that Katie spontaneously concocts when she finally realizes she’s ready to make love with Carl.

Carl catches on quickly and the ensuing pages are filled with sexual tension and humor galore. The scenes at the end of the book when they try make things work to be together and something happens again and again to show them they shouldn’t be, the heartbreak is positively palpable. I had that feeling in my gut like you get when you know something is so terribly wrong and you can’t fix it. I felt it clear to my soul. Not once, but at least twice. Ms. Craig wrings you dry emotionally before you get what you’re looking for.

I also enjoyed the secondary romance between Joe and Les, Katie’s ex-fiance and best friend. Oh, yes, there’s a whole other story there! Two for the price of one! But, of course, you have to wait until the next book for the bigger story on that romance. As much as we get in their story, Carl and Katie’s is not shortchanged at all. It’s a job well done in balancing the two romances while giving us exactly what we need. The way Joe and Les’ story is left, I have to assume their book is next. I checked Ms. Craig’s website but didn’t see any coming soon posts that would give me a hint. But I have a feeling!

So, are you up for my dare? If you read this book and don’t become engaged on any level whatsoever, there’s something wrong and sorry to say it’s not the book. This book is what it’s all about. Ms. Craig, to me, is the epitome of an author who can give us the perfect, well-rounded romance novel. Not one doubt about it.

Grade: A+

Summary:

Who knew getting married could get you murdered?

What happens when you realize you’re about to marry a man you don’t love—a man who doesn’t love you? When accidentally flushing her $8,000 engagement ring down the toilet isn’t enough of a sign for Katie Ray to call off the big day, fate gets busy. Will seeing her wedding planner murdered and getting herself locked in the dark with a sexy PI do the trick?

Hired by Houston’s elite wedding planner to investigate some missing brides, the last thing bad-boy Carl Hades wants is to be shackled with another man’s soon-to-be wife. Especially when the gorgeous redhead stirred emotions he’d avoided for years. Now, avoiding her sounds like a genius plan, especially when her future wedding goes the same the way as her engagement ring—down the toilet—making Katie available. . . and a hell of a lot more tempting. But when the missing brides come up dead, Carl suspects that Katie might be next, which makes avoiding her impossible and improbably, especially when being with her is a whole lot of fun.
Read an excerpt here.