Book Review AND Giveaway: Pleating For Mercy by Melissa Bourbon

Title:Pleating For Mercy
Author:Melissa Bourbon
Series:Magical Dressmaking Mystery, #1
Publisher:Berkley Crime/Obsidian Mystery
Release Date:August 2, 2011
Pages:320
Source:publisher|My FTC Disclaimer
Purchase:Amazon|BarnesAndNoble|Books On Board
Rating:5 Books

About the Book:
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 Jane Cassidy 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 turn-of-the-century 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 hemming a dress. Can Harlow find the real killer—with a little help from beyond?

About the Author:
Melissa Bourbon, who sometimes answers to her Latina-by-marriage name Misa Ramirez, gave up teaching middle and high school kids in Northern California to write full-time amidst horses and Longhorns in North Texas. She fantasizes about spending summers writing in quaint, cozy locales, has a love/hate relationship with yoga and chocolate, is devoted to her family, and can’t believe she’s lucky enough to be living the life of her dreams.

She is the author of the Lola Cruz Mystery series with St. Martin’s Minotaur, A Magical Dressmaking Mystery series with NAL, and co-author (with Tonya Kappes) of The Tricked Out Toolbox

My Review:
I loved this cozy mystery! It had all the elements of a FANTASTIC book. A well written story line by a talented author, murder, mystery, humor, romance, characters filled with great personality and an ending that leaves you hungry for more. I am so glad to have had the chance to read this first book in an exciting new cozy mystery series. It really swept me away!

Harlow Jane Cassidy. First off, I just LOVE that name! It is so southern and intriguing and just plain fit Harlow’s character to a T. She’s looking to start her own boutique in her old hometown of Bliss, Texas. After all, she’s the only Cassidy female that didn’t have a gift of magic, that started all the way back with Butch Cassidy. Yep, Butch Cassidy. Seems all the females were gifted with some form of magic until Harlow was born. Harlow thinks that it skipped her, and that her gift was simply natural: a wonderful seamstress able to make the dreams and visions come true of those who want a dress made.

So, when Harlow moves home to open her boutique her first customer is none other than Josie….a former childhood friend, whose about to be married…..in two weeks. And, she wants no one but Harlow to make her bridal party attire.

I don’t want to give too much away. I’ll say this. When one member of the bridal party turns up murdered, some where VERY unexpected, it’s up to Harlow to uncover the truth. She goes from seamstress to sleuth in a matter of days.

Filled with twists, turns, laughs and mystery, this is a MUST read  for that rainy night, that lazy fall day by the fire, or just any time you are looking for a warm, suspenseful, fun read by a wonderful author! I can’t wait to read the second book in this series, A Fitting End. It can’t come soon enough for me! Definitely 5 Books worthy!