Garters, Ghosts, and Wedding Toasts by Angie Fox

Garters, Ghosts, and Wedding Toasts

Book Summary

Ghost hunter Verity Long has forty-eight hours to plan her sister's dream wedding on a budget that wouldn't even cover the cake. The venue? A stunning Irish manor in Jackson, Tennessee—enemy territory for any self-respecting citizen of Sugarland. But the place is perfect, the photos are free, and Melody is over the moon.

There's just one tiny catch. Two dead grooms, fifty years apart. And Alec's timing? It couldn't be worse.

Between her ghostly gangster sidekick Frankie bent on stealing the Irish Crown Jewels, a deadly secret hidden under the wedding chapel, and her sweet skunk Lucy finding romance with a boy skunk from the wrong side of the tracks, Verity's got her hands full. And when someone close to her is murdered, she's running out of time.

Can Verity protect the people she loves and give her sister the wedding of her dreams? Or will she lose everything before Melody can say "I do"?

My Thoughts

Garters, Ghosts, and Wedding Toasts by Angie Fox is an entertaining tale. I always look forward to visiting Sugarland, Tennessee where I can catch up with Verity, Frankie, Ellis, Lucy along with the rest of their family and friends.  Verity’s sister, Melody, is getting married at a historic and, you guessed it, haunted mansion in Sugarland’s rival town, Jackson (can things get any worse—of course they can).  Verity has her work cut out for her this time around.  I enjoyed the action, humor, and hijinks. 

Lucy makes a friend and gets into a lot of mischief, much to Verity’s dismay (it is hilarious).  Although I was aware of the perpetrator's identity prior to the discovery of the victim, the mystery remained engaging and amusing.  I laughed, chuckled, and giggled while reading this mirthful story.  Garters, Ghosts, and Wedding Toasts is the fifteenth book in the Southern Ghost Hunter Series.  You can read this story on its own, but reading the series in order helps you understand the characters and their relationships better.  Garters, Ghosts, and Wedding Toasts is a spirited story with moonshine lessons, a rushed wedding, pilfered jewels, a doomed groom, ghost heists, bachelor party merriment, and, hopefully, a happily ever after. 

Garters, Ghosts, and Wedding Toasts can be obtained from Amazon*.  You can find the other Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries here.  Follow Angie Fox on Amazon, and they will let you know when she has a new book release.  

Thank you for dropping by today.  On Tuesday, March 3, I am a stop on the Celebrate Lit Tour for Raging Waters by Dana Mentink.  It is the second book in the Elements of Danger series.  I hope that you will join me (there may be a giveaway).  May you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Death at the Drive-In by Angie Fox

 Death at the Drive-In

Book Summary

For ghost hunter Verity Long, 'helping out a friend' can mean anything from passing the peas to solving a homicide. This time, it involves digging into a cold case that's been on ice since poodle skirts twirled and Elvis's hips shook the nation.

In 1956, Kitty Cunningham disappeared on the way to the Starlite Drive-In. Now the first real evidence of foul play is coming to light in the ghostly realm—and it links directly to a modern crime. Only a sleuth with one foot in the past can solve the mystery and make things right.

Armed with her wits and flanked by a wise-cracking gangster ghost, Verity explores the hidden side of 1950s Sugarland—from the haunting echoes of the abandoned drive-in to the dusty secrets of a long-forgotten mob vault. As she stirs spirits and secrets alike, she finds some corners of Sugarland’s history are darker and more dangerous than she ever imagined. Can Verity bring the truth to light, or will she be the next one to suffer death at the drive-in?

My Thoughts

Death at the Drive-In by Angie Fox takes us back to Sugarland, Tennessee where Verity and Frankie need to solve a cold case so they can save someone close to them.  The story was entertaining from beginning to end.  I laughed, giggled, and smiled.  Lucy, Verity’s pet skunk, is a sweetheart (she is a scene stealer).  I thought it was cute that Verity was teaching Lucy a scaled down version of a dog agility course.  Lucy is one clever little skunk.  Frankie is up to his normal mischief.  Verity’s backyard will soon be very cluttered (well, the ghost version will be).  The author brought the drive-in to life with her vivid descriptions.  It reminded me of my childhood visits to the drive-in with my family. We got to meet some interesting ghosts with my favorite being Verity’s old Sunday school teacher. 

Verity and Frankie had a clock on this mystery.  Things were kept lively (life is never dull with Frankie around) thanks to Frankie and the gangsters.  Someone unexpected joins Verity & assisted her with this spooky case. I was delighted (you will have to read the book to find out who) and enjoyed seeing a different side of this person’s personality. Frankie was a hoot (I loved his reaction when Verity requested his help on a clandestine mission).   We did not get to see much of Ellis this time around.  The one thing I did not like was the repetitive details (I got it the first time).  The ending was sweet and nicely wrapped up the story.  While Death at the Drive-In is the thirteenth book in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, it can be read as a standalone.  Death at the Drive-In is an entertaining tale with a girlfriend dilemma, a shaky still, a cold case, gang grudges, a serious Sunday school teacher, a surprising sidekick, and a killer conclusion.

Death at the Drive-In is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries here.  The next book in the series is Secrets, Lies, and Fireflies which will be out March 7, 2025 (can you believe we have to wait a year!!).  If you follow Angie Fox on Amazon, they will send you an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow with Just for the Summer by Melody Carlson.  I am heading out to run a few errands.  I hope that you have a blissful spring day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Dread and Buried by Angie Fox

 Dread and Buried

Book Summary

Dead men tell no tales.

Until they meet ghost hunter Verity Long.

Verity Long is proud to say she gets along with just about anybody—dead or alive. But she’s put to the test when her well-meaning boyfriend and her sweet-as-pie sister con her into a remote island “double date” weekend with her sister’s new flame and Verity’s long-time nemesis, Alec Duranja.

Her plans to avoid the uptight police officer go up in smoke when the four of them team up for a weekend treasure hunt competition based on the island’s legendary pirate past. And it doesn’t take long for Verity and her team to discover more than game clues. Someone is using the game to dig up real pirate gold...and they’re willing to kill to keep it.

There’s no escaping the island or the game. And when the killer targets someone Verity loves, she realizes she’s the only one who can uncover the truth behind the legend. She must stay one step ahead of the dangers of the island and two steps ahead of Frankie’s new ghostly pirate buddies—all in a race against time to solve a centuries-old puzzle and take down a real live killer before he strikes again.

My Thoughts

Dread and Buried by Angie Fox is an amusing paranormal mystery.  I laughed often while reading about Verity and Frankie’s latest adventure.  I felt for Verity.  Verity loves her sister, Melody.  Melody’s birthday wish, though, was hard one for Verity to agree to.  Verity and Ellis were invited (like she could refuse) on a weekend double date to a remote island (Phantom Island) with Melody and her boyfriend (Verity’s nemesis), Alec Duranja.  The weekend gets off to a rough start when Verity runs late after forgetting Lucy’s favorite toy.  Melody waits until they are on Phantom Island to inform them the weekend is a treasure hunt, and they are competing against three other teams.  One team is particularly ruthless.  The foursome soon discovers that someone is searching for more than the game's prize.  Verity believes the island’s legend about buried treasure could be true.  She will need to keep her wits about her to stay ahead of the bad guys as well as Frankie and his new pirate chums.

I quickly devoured Dread and Buried.  Verity Long is a great character and so is Frankie.  I did miss Lucy in this book.  She is staying with a friend while Verity is away.  Frankie was not as present in this story.  He popped up now and then when Verity called for him.  I missed his witty repartee.  Alec Duranja is a character that grows on you.  Melody sees a different side of Duranja (who knew the man owned a dog), and she wants Verity to get to know him.  I thought the books she gifted Verity and Duranja were hilarious.  The mystery is fun.  While I found it easy to solve, my mother only solved part of it before the reveal (my mother could not wait to get her hands on this book).  I did find it odd that Melody would date someone who shows such antagonism towards Verity especially considering how accepting and supportive Melody is of Verity’s gift.  Dread and Buried is the twelfth book in A Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries.  It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading this delightful series in order.  It will allow you to get to know the characters and Verity’s journey (her struggles and triumphs). One of my favorite lines from Dread and Buried is when Frankie says, “Is that a pirate ship in the distance?  he demanded, giddy as a goat in clover.”  Another is when Verity says, “There was something about a mystery that always puts a spring in my step.”   Dread and Buried is an entertaining tale with an isolated island, an infuriating nemesis, a thrilling treasure hunt, sweet skunk earrings, troublesome twin contenders, bothersome books, an unforeseen find, a frustrating Frankie, a precious parrot, and a vexed Verity.

Dread and Buried is available from Amazon*, Nook, and Kobo.  The audiobook will be out on June 6.  Here is a link to read an excerpt from Dread and Buried. You can find the other A Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries here.  You can follow Angie Fox on Amazon and receive an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return on Tuesday, April 25 with Paper Cuts by Ellery Adams.  It is the sixth A Secret, Book, and Scone Society Novel (and my favorite).  There are several good books coming out next Tuesday (I have been up late reading every night).  I hope that you have an entertaining weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.