A Bride’s Guide to Happiness and Homicide

When Dakota Green’s best friend asks her to be the maid of honor, she expects champagne toasts and bouquet tosses—not a dead priest in the holly bushes of The Rose Palace estate. But in Aubergine, Virginia, something borrowed and something blue might just include a corpse or two.

A winter getaway in the Blue Ridge Mountains should be wonderland bliss for pre-wedding festivities. Instead, it’s a blizzard of suspicion as the groom’s Texas relatives arrive with secrets as deep as the falling snow.

Just when Dakota thinks she can’t handle one more wedding disaster, the officiating priest takes a fatal plunge from the fourth floor, with a bullet through his heart and Dakota’s boyfriend Sheriff Charlie Strong becomes the prime suspect.

With Charlie behind bars and the wedding hours away, Dakota must clear his name while ensuring her best friend gets her perfect day. Between a gun-wielding father of the groom, a scandalous romance and a bride who refuses to postpone, Dakota faces her greatest challenge yet. Can she unmask a killer before the wedding march? Or will this matrimony end in mayhem?

If you love the humor of Janet Evanovich and Elle Cosimano, the charm of small-town secrets, and amateur sleuths with a flair for finding trouble, this maid-of-honor mystery is your perfect match.

Readers are loving the Dakota Green mystery series:

"One of the best cozy mysteries I've ever read!" Bestselling author Ashley Winstead

"Dakota, a spunky, modern sleuth, doesn’t let high heels or outdated gender roles get in the way of her relentless pursuit of the truth and her quest to build a new life... a charming romp, featuring a quirky cast of characters with big hearts and witty humor, all set against the unforgettable backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Grab your sequins and tiara—this one’s a sparkling good read!” Bestselling author Ellie Alexander

"THIS WAS PERFECTION... Totally recommend on your TBR!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Should be on every reader's to-read list, because it is simply brilliant. A mix of the wittiness of Miss. Congeniality paired with a truly engaging mystery… The smart writing of Ms. Bird also refuses to fall for beauty queen stereotypes…The twist at the end almost had me screaming because I absolutely NEED the next book now." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Had me laughing one moment and gripping the edge of my seat the next! Dakota Green stands out as a refreshingly down-to-earth and empowered protagonist—an unexpected beauty queen-turned-detective who quickly wins readers' hearts." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"This was the exact shot of uplifting, hilarious dopamine I needed... !" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I loved this book, simple as that! As a southern gal, and growing up in a pageant town, I could totally relate to the characters. Hard to put this one down!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"...shifts you to a place where heels under 4 inches are a sin and anything bedazzled with less than 50% sequin coverage will have you running home to your mama... The female relationships in this book are strong and beautifully done." Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"With a compelling mix of humor, heart, and high-stakes drama, the story channels Miss Congeniality vibes in the best way... A must-read for fans of murder mysteries with a side of sass and sequins!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"If you love a contemporary murder mystery that is more Only Murders in the Building than Broadchurch, with a smidge of romance, I think you'll love this!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"This book sucked me in quickly! ... The plot is the perfect blend of backstory, the perfect amount of murder/thrills, and the perfect amount of mystery... leaving the ending an exciting read!” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"I was hooked from the first page... so wonderfully written with characters who I loved spending time with.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Full of quirky quips and was such a quick, fun read. I thought I had this one figured out but there was a twist at the end that got me! Super excited to read book two in this series!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Cracked Me UP! xD... Perfect weekend read!" Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

© 2026 Storm Publishing (Lydbog): 9781805089001

Udgivelsesdato

Lydbog: 23. januar 2026