A Wedding Tail

June 12, 2017
Griffin’s third Rescue Dog romance (after Beauty and the Wiener) returns to contemporary San Francisco for a romantic mystery with an unexpected harder edge, perhaps mixing too much realism into a lighthearted series. Event planner Zoe Plum’s goal of buying her own home and thus proving herself to her mother is endangered by fallout from a farcical wedding that she was unable to salvage. She’s further undermined by sabotage at a prominent expo and hamstrung by her mother’s sudden illness. Soon it becomes evident that Zoe is the target of a possibly murderous enemy, and her mother’s increasing needs add still more stress to Zoe’s life. Levi Dolson, who’s so laid back he barely counts as a character, supports Zoe through every vicissitude. Zoe’s tender romance with Levi is sometimes obscured beneath the overly intense mystery, and readers expecting canine fun will be disappointed that Zoe’s volunteering at a rescue organization gets little mention, but Griffin wraps up the story well. Fans of the series will enjoy appearances from previous protagonists. Agent: Pooja Menon, Kimberley Cameron & Associates.

July 15, 2017
Coordinating her best friend's wedding to San Francisco's former most eligible bachelor is a dream come true for an up-and-coming party planner, until suddenly every detail of the nuptials, her business, and even her life is under attack.Zoe Plum is "nothing if not level headed, cool, and collected." After having been abandoned at the altar, she's rebuilt her life, focusing on her event-planning business, determined not to need a man. Suddenly, though, everything is threatened. An angry bridezilla is out for revenge, a rival planner is undermining her, and a headline-crazy gossip journalist is hounding her for details of her friend's highly anticipated wedding. Plus there's a serial killer on the loose. So it's hard to sort through exactly who is responsible for what when her van is vandalized, her brakes are cut, and a bomb explodes in her office. Then there's her mother's car accident, which leads her to pressure Zoe to marry a friend's wealthy son. Not usually one to turn to others, Zoe is nonetheless grateful when she meets Levi, a sexy musician, who helps her navigate the trail of chaos, especially since his laid-back attitude is a good counterpoint to her detail-oriented outlook. The more her life falls apart, the more she realizes Levi makes her whole, but the many threats are getting closer and more ominous. Griffin's third Rescue Dog series title (Beauty and the Wiener, 2017, etc.) is a breezy (and fairly chaste) read that combines humor, romance, and light suspense. However, for someone described as independent and emotionally controlled, Zoe seems to lose her cool at all the wrong moments; doesn't stand up to the people she needs to (and apparently has never heard of a noncompete agreement); and makes silly, immature choices. A lot going for it, a lot going on, but ultimately disappointing.

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