brindyharris's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Murder
Minor: Death
theaudioauditor's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
baronessekat's review against another edition
3.0
Adri is a wedding planner in a small town in Idaho, having set up shop not too long after her best friend's murder (on the eve of the friend's wedding). Shortly after opening, she lands two HUGE clients. The best friend of her co-shop owner is getting married to a famous actor and hires the shop to plan the wedding. Then the famous actor's ex moves to town and announces she's engaged and hires Adri as well. Adri is sure the ex is there just hoping to make him jealous, leave his current fiance and return to her.
But Adri doesn't care about motive. These two high profile weddings will ensure the success of her new business. When her business partner wants to expand the business to include a small line of wedding dresses to truly make them a "one stop shop for weddings", Adri agrees and they team up with the local jewelry shop owner, whose nephew has connections in China to dress makers, and bring in dresses.
But shortly after the new dresses arrive, the shop is broken into, dresses are stolen and Adri's work life becomes complicated (especially since one of the missing dresses is for the Diva Ex ). But while working on letting out a hem of one of the dresses that wasn't stolen, Adri discovers uncut diamonds sewn into the hem. Now she needs to figure out what to do.
Meanwhile, while her business life is in turmoil, suddenly her love life becomes so too. After her friend's murder, Adri has sworn off going on anything other than first dates. But she finds herself being talked into multiple dates with sweet and shy Dallas. But then she meets divorce lawyer Luke and she finds herself torn between sweet or down right HOT.
What's a girl to do when faced with two men AND diamond smugglers all wanting her?
*****
Ok, I am being generous with a 3 star on this. I honestly do not like contemporary romance, and the character of Adri is why. She was constantly doing STUPID things and only making her situations worse.
I called it very early who the diamond smuggler was. And I also called it fairly early which of the guys she would end up with AND why. I found much of the mystery contrived and no real chemistry in the love interests.
But... I guess if you like contemporary romantic mysteries... you might like this.
But Adri doesn't care about motive. These two high profile weddings will ensure the success of her new business. When her business partner wants to expand the business to include a small line of wedding dresses to truly make them a "one stop shop for weddings", Adri agrees and they team up with the local jewelry shop owner, whose nephew has connections in China to dress makers, and bring in dresses.
But shortly after the new dresses arrive, the shop is broken into, dresses are stolen and Adri's work life becomes complicated (especially since one of the missing dresses is for the Diva Ex ). But while working on letting out a hem of one of the dresses that wasn't stolen, Adri discovers uncut diamonds sewn into the hem. Now she needs to figure out what to do.
Meanwhile, while her business life is in turmoil, suddenly her love life becomes so too. After her friend's murder, Adri has sworn off going on anything other than first dates. But she finds herself being talked into multiple dates with sweet and shy Dallas. But then she meets divorce lawyer Luke and she finds herself torn between sweet or down right HOT.
What's a girl to do when faced with two men AND diamond smugglers all wanting her?
*****
Ok, I am being generous with a 3 star on this. I honestly do not like contemporary romance, and the character of Adri is why. She was constantly doing STUPID things and only making her situations worse.
I called it very early who the diamond smuggler was. And I also called it fairly early which of the guys she would end up with AND why. I found much of the mystery contrived and no real chemistry in the love interests.
But... I guess if you like contemporary romantic mysteries... you might like this.
melissasbookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fun cozy mystery with a little romance. The story focuses on Adri, a wedding planner who is trying to start over in Sun Valley, Idaho after her best friend is murdered. She opens a tiny shop and begins planning weddings for two famous celebrities. When some of her wedding dresses go missing and she finds something unexpected in another dress, Adri is thrown into a high stakes mystery. She is also trying to decide between dating two men.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this mystery along with fun wedding tips at the beginning of each chapter. The mystery is not as predictable as I first thought and the ending was a bit of a surprise, which I enjoyed. It's a fun start to a new cozy mystery series and I look forward to reading the next book.
There are plenty of twists and turns in this mystery along with fun wedding tips at the beginning of each chapter. The mystery is not as predictable as I first thought and the ending was a bit of a surprise, which I enjoyed. It's a fun start to a new cozy mystery series and I look forward to reading the next book.
ihavetoomanybooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
brooke4131's review against another edition
3.0
Diamond Rings Are Deadly Things started off very promising as it followed wedding planner Adrielle Pyper as she tries to open her own shop in Sun Valley, Idaho. I was hooked in the first few pages by the descriptions of her snooty client, her spunky sidekick Lorea, and the mysterious disappearance of a wedding dress. However, the book really started to unravel in the second half. The author tried to add in an additional mystery which just overly confused the plot and drug the book out for what seemed like an unnecessary 50 pages. Hopefully, the second book in the series is a little more concise!
ghumpherys's review against another edition
4.0
It's been awhile since I read a "cozy mystery," and I really enjoyed this one! Several twists thrown in towards the end to keep you guessing.
emslovestoread's review against another edition
3.0
Just okay. It bothered me that it took several chapters to find out what exactly drove Adri back to Idaho. There were hints of tragedy, but I got sick of playing the guessing game. I was expecting it to come up a lot sooner based on the back cover description.
Overall, an okay story, but one that I probably wouldn't revisit.
Overall, an okay story, but one that I probably wouldn't revisit.
leenar's review
2.0
2.5/5*
There was some problematic rhetoric in this book that left a bad taste in my mouth. I might listen to another book for the unique plot but the book itself is definitely mediocre
There was some problematic rhetoric in this book that left a bad taste in my mouth. I might listen to another book for the unique plot but the book itself is definitely mediocre