Wedding Planner Mystery (Karnes)

California wedding planner, Kate Ludlow, moves back home to New England after her marriage implodes. In tow is her teen daughter Ellis, unhappy and nervous about the move. Suddenly, Kate's responsible for turning her part-time wedding planner gig into a full-time business. Kate's off to a good start, too, when she books the society wedding of the year. The prosperity of her business is dependent on the success of Marcy Simpson's wedding. The joy of an unlimited wedding business is intoxicating. But when Kate's best florist is murdered, her focus changes from pulling off the year's most glamourous wedding to saving her own skin-for Kate's suspect number one for the murder. Further complicating her life, Kate's old high school flame, Brian McAllister, is the police detective assigned to the murder case. The spark is definitely not gone from their connection, as they have unfinished feelings. Throw in a scavenger hunt for an antique missing family ring, the job transfer of Kate's ex to New England, and quirky and endearing townsfolk, Kate has more than she can handle, almost.

Wedding Planner Kate Ludlow is back with her fun circle of small-town New England friends. Life is clipping along well for Kate. Her wedding season is off to a great start; she has reconnected with her former high school boyfriend, and her teen daughter is happy and looking forward to a fun summer. At the town's traditional kick-off to summer party, "Strawberry Moon," Jack Malone, the town's parodical son, surprises the population with his appearance. He's the best baseball player the whole of New England has ever produced, and he now plays professional baseball in Los Angeles. He hasn't been home in years but has returned home to marry a local girl. He taps Kate to be his wedding planner, and she couldn't be happier; what a boon this will be for her business! Jack reconnects with old friends and apparently old enemies, too, as his body is found in the Connecticut River on his third day home. Jack's high school girlfriend and Kate's best friend, Jen, is the prime suspect. She can't or won't give an alibi for the time of Jack's death. But she's not the only person who looks guilty. A new business partner has come to Eastbury looking for Jack, claiming Jack cheated him in a business deal gone wrong. Then there's the high school rival who lost everything in a decade's old confrontation with Jack. The state police leading the investigation into Jack's death feel certain Jen is their killer, so Kate has to act. If Jen won't help herself, Kate will have to step in to save her, but this won't help her fledgling relationship with her old/new love, Brian, who is Eastbury's lead detective. Mary Karnes, a college English major and former teacher, is the mother of four who raised her family through six corporate moves. She always dreamed of being an author and dabbled in writing throughout the years. Once the children were grown and out of the house, she started a wedding planning business while simultaneously chasing her dream of being a traditionally published author. Her 'Wedding Planner Mystery Series' was born, with her business providing delicious subject matter for her books. Mary resides in New England with her husband, Ken, and her mini-dachshund, Lucky. Her door is a revolving one with her children and grandchildren visiting frequently. She's busy at work writing book number three in The Wedding Planner Mystery Series, as well as a stand-alone thriller!

Kate is back with more weddings, more teenage angst from her daughter, Ellis, and another murder. Kate's good friend from high school, Charlie Wentworth, has asked her to plan his wedding to Remley, the fiancé no one in town knew about. It's no secret that Charlie has carried the torch for Kate for many years, making her role as wedding planner a bit awkward. But Charlie has been a great friend to Kate since she moved back home to New England; in fact, he even acted as her attorney when she was accused of murder two years ago. Kate's happy to share her own expertise, even if her fiancé, Remley, can be a little bit of a pill. She is unreasonable at best, but all heck really breaks loose when Charlie and Remley's photographer is shot through the heart with an arrow! Kate teams up again with her friend/enemy, Sarah, to solve the case. Despite their bickering and old grudge going back to their high school competition for Brian McAllister, they work surprisingly well together. Throw in a mob boss, complications with Kate's love interest, Brian, quirky townsfolk, and the little village of Eastbury may never be the same. Mary Karnes, a college English major and former teacher, is the mother of four who raised her family through six corporate moves. She always dreamed of being an author and dabbled with writing throughout the years. Once the children were grown and out of the house, she started a wedding planning business, while simultaneously chasing her dream of being a traditionally published author. Her 'Wedding Planner Mystery Series' was born, with her business providing delicious subject matter for her books. The first in the Wedding Planner Mystery Series, WEDDNG BRIDE AND DOOM, debuted in August 2023. The second in the series, SAVE THE FATE, was published in October 2024. Book Three, UNVEILED SECRETS, will publish in October 2025. Mary resides in New England with her husband, Ken, and her mini-dachshund, Lucky. She is hard at work on something a little different, a stand-alone domestic thriller. Her door is a revolving one, with her children and grandchildren visiting frequently.