Book Description
Although not about to say "I do" anytime soon, hip party-planner Madeline Bean is no stranger to the phenomenon known as the LA wedding; the good, the bad and the kind where the party lasts longer than the marriage. Still, Maddie never expected to be the guest of Vivian Duncan, the West Coast's grande dame of wedding consultants, at a lavish affair held amidst the dramatically lit fossils in the Nature Museum's Hall of Dinosaurs. While checking out the glittering event, Maddie, with her keen event planner's instinct, realizes something is not quite right, but what? The groom is on time. The bride is beautiful. And a corpse wearing a Cartier bracelet is dangling from the triceratops skeleton. Ah, yes. That.
With people disappearing and the bride in tears, Maddie just may be the next species to become extinct...unless she can reveal the murderer fast. Quicker than she can whip up a white chocolate wedding cake, Maddie follows the trail deep into dark jungles---urban and otherwise---amid tantalizing tales of smuggled gems, while fending off a nervous bridegroom, a crazed carjacker, and a half-naked ice-sculptor and his trusty chainsaw. Along the way, she discovers something old, something new, something deadly and something a wedding pro should never, ever do.
Customer Reviews:
This is a wedding you'll enjoy.......2007-08-02
I am really enjoying the Madeline Bean series, and I absolutely love the characters. They are real and likeable. The mysteries are not easy to figure out in this series, and this book is no exception. Maddie is trying to help a very famous marriage counsellor arrange a wedding for a happy young couple. When the marriage counsellor turns up dead at the reception, Maddie knows she's got to find out what happened. She becomes involved with two new men, and the old one also shows up. Maddie has more than she can handle. These books are wonderful, unpredictable and light and breezy. I definitely recommend this series.
Another great book in an addictive series.......2005-09-12
Madeline Bean is in a holding pattern. Her new event planning company should be swamped with business after the triumphant papal breakfast in "Immaculate Reception", but instead is in legal limbo. It seems the buy-out of her old catering business at the end of the first book (Sympathy for the Devil) included a non-compete clause; the fact that Madeline and her partners haven't been cooking is immaterial to the new owners. But Madeline isn't getting much time to stew over the injustice of the situation. Vivian Duncan, THE wedding planner in LA, has decided that Madeline should buy her business. That Madeline isn't interested is inconceivable the domineering Ms. Duncan. Madeline is initially railroaded into helping with a nervous couple, and then invited to the wedding, where the unthinkable happens. A murder certianly isn't in any bride's plan for their wedding day. Madeline is soon trying to pick up the pieces, and to solve the mystery herself.
Once again, Ms. Farmer delivers an engaging tale. Madeline is a bit more introspective in this book, which helps to explain some of her actions. The plot moves along briskly, the style is clean and conversational, and the book retains the humor that characterized the first installments of the series. The book felt less "dated" than the previous books, owing I think to fewer cameo appearances from known celebreties, although this book very much retains a strong sense of Hollywood. The mystery was engaging, and while the setting for the climax was a bit cliched, I have the sense that this was an intentional nod on Ms. Farmer's part to tradition. Despite the familiarity, the scene was well handled and even funny. While it was possible to solve the mystery before the end of the book, I think a reader would have to be quite alert, or at least quite suspicious, to do so. Food and cooking continues to be almost another character in this book, and the descriptions made my mouth water.
So why only 4 stars? I'd give it 4 and 1/2 if that were an option; I subtracted 1/2 star because I concur with previous reviewers that the end of the book was a bit too tangled compared to the rest of the book.
Another good story, but a little confusing at the end..........2005-04-29
I think this catches me up on all the prior Madeline Bean novels by Jerrilyn Farmer... Killer Wedding, the 3rd in the series. Once again, a fun read but rather hard to follow towards the end...
In this installment, Bean's new event business is on hold due to a lawsuit over a non-competing clause from the company that bought their old enterprise. While she's marking time waiting for that to clear, a legendary wedding planner in the city decides that she wants Bean to buy her out and take over. Only problem is, Bean doesn't want to do that. She gets roped into "helping out" on one wedding for the planner, and as usual a dead body shows up at the exclusive wedding... that of the wedding planner. To top it off, the groom has completely disappeared and no one knows where he's at. There's a number of people who could easily be suspects, as the planner wasn't well liked. Bean decides to help figure out who dun it, just so she can close this chapter of her life and make sure she doesn't end up with the planning business (or get killed over it).
Like the rest of her books, Farmer writes a great story. I really enjoy the characters and dialogue, as well as the pacing of the action. This one was a little more difficult to follow towards the end, as there were some character interactions that weren't obvious at the start and didn't seem to fit together very well at the end. Still well worth reading, however... a great deal of fun.
breezy mystery set in Beverly Hills.......2003-03-11
This is the fourth mystery in the Madeline Bean Catering Mystery series, and if you enjoyed the previous installments, you will not be disappointed here. Madeline is in the middle of professional litigation, love troubles and boredom brought on by her enforced unemployment. She is invited to a posh wedding and plans to use the occasion to let wedding planner Vivian Duncan know that she really does not intend to take over Duncan's business -- until the planner turns up dead on the skeleton of a triceratops. Enmeshed in the wedding and worried the police are after the wrong suspect, Madeline becomes active in her own investigation.
The mystery is fun and is resolved satisfactorily. Maddie is an intelligent heroine and her charming colleagues, Wesley and Holly, are here also. We witness many interesting and delectable dishes being prepared, and we get a bit of Hollywood gossip thrown in.
This is a fun mystery with likeable characters.
Be Sure to Attend This Wedding.......2002-01-04
Many people have approached Madeline Bean since she became rich, all of who want her to buy their catering or party planning business. None are as persistent as Vivian Duncan, who is ready to retire from her wedding planning business. When Vivian invites Maddie and her friends to an extravagant wedding held at the Nature Museum, they attend. But before Maddie can convince Vivian that she seriously doesn't want the business, Vivian is found murdered and hanging from the triceratops skeleton. Now Maddie is being pressured by Vivian's daughter to solve the crime and help keep the business going. Can she find the killer and not become Vivian's successor, both in wedding planning and death? Throw in a lawsuit over the sale of her first business and complications in her love life, and you've got a great read.
This book continues the fun Madeline Bean catering series. All the great characters from the first two books are back and just as strong as ever. The plot moved quickly, deftly balancing twists, sub-plots, and development of the new characters. The climatic scene is a little cliché, but still a fun conclusion to a great entry in this series.
If you're already a fan of Maddie and co., be sure to read this great book. If you've never met them, you're in for a real treat. Grab the first book (SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL) and hang on for the wild, and incredibly fun, ride.
Product Description
Multiple books shipped as one item. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.
Average customer rating:
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Killer Wedding: A Madeline Bean Culinary Mystery
Jerrilyn Farmer
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0786247568 |
Book Description
Hip party-planner Madeline Bean never expected to be the guest at a lavish affair held in the Nature Museum's Hall of Dinosaurs. Maddie senses something is not quite right, but what?
Available in Mystery 4 Series.
Book Description
This compelling series combines action and historical drama in fascinating tales of an American Tory who stumbles into the dark world of the vampire. Completely revised and expanded, each of these new editions includes more than 40 pages of new material.
Continuing the saga of Red Death and Death and the Maiden, Jonathan Barrett returns to England in search of Nora Jones—for only Nora knows if his unexpected destiny is a blessing or a curse; it was her kiss that initiated him into the world of the living dead. Finding her missing, Jonathan steps up his hunt and in the process discovers startling secrets about his bizarre family as well as a malicious plot against him.
Customer Reviews:
Great!!.......2001-07-02
This is one of the best series I have ever read. Jonathan has gone back to England with his sister, Elizabeth, and is desperately searching for the woman, Nora Jones, who made him a vampire. On the journey, brother and sister discover some things about themselves that could prove their demise. This is an excellent book and I would recommend this series to just about anybody!
Good Continuing Series.......2000-08-15
This book is the third in the series and keeps the same feel as the first books. Jonathon Barret travels to England to search for Nora, the woman who made him a vampire, and gets into trouble which has a surprising outcome. The book really is great, even though I don't do a very good job describing it.
Back to England!.......2000-06-18
Again, our gentleman vampire goes to England, this time to trace his beloved Nora. Even when doing his best to avoid it, he lands into much tribulation.
This addition to the history of Jonathon Barret and his family is as well written and engaging as the others. With revelations popping up through out the novel, delightful and otherwise, from the trip across the Atlantic to the final pages, this book is well worth the read.
Book Description
This compelling series combines action and historical drama in fascinating tales of an American Tory who stumbles into the dark world of the vampire. Completely revised and expanded, each of these new editions includes more than 40 pages of new materials.
Threatened by soldiers on the outside and turmoil on the inside, Jonathan Barrett valiantly fights to protect his family and the peace of the Barrett estate in this thrilling sequel to Red Death. Nearly consumed by his dark desires, Jonathan struggles to control his supernatural powers and his overwhelming thirst for blood while in the company of his immediate family and a scheming young cousin.
Customer Reviews:
Johnathon aint Jack.......2003-05-30
I really enjoyed all the books in this series, even if it didnt last long enough! In between waiting for a new Jack Fleming Novel from Miss Elrod, I picked this up, and like everything she writes its wonderful. Now its very different character wise..........mostly I suppose because of the settings being so vastly apart, But Johnathon's world is just as excited it seems!
I was very moved by how he explains his "condition" to his sister....and how his man-servant comes to grips with the newness of being a servant to a vamp! Over all this is a very Classy book,and a super great series, but then again, maybe Im just biased!
I only regret not seeing more of these storys while I wait for a new vampire files book!
Miss Pat, dont listen to these boneheads who dont like your work, the majority of the people like your work, give us MORE, more, more, and let the rest of the idiots stick with Bram stokers Dracula, and stay in thier little rut, who needs em!
Awesome!! Revolutionist vampires at their Best!!!.......1999-03-30
Wow I just read this again and all I can say is wow. This is one of the better books in this series. This whole series puts a new twist into vampire story telling. I loved how Jonathan had to deal with his treacherous and back stabbing family. He's a vampire and they're killers out for money. Talk about dysfunctional families. Unfortunately the author seems to have stopped writing this series and so I urge Elrod please keep this storyline going!!
Very good - I read the series twice.......1999-03-08
The Jonathan Barrett series was wonderful. I regret only that the books were all given such morbid names (each including the word 'death'), because they give an unattractive image to a series that is far more cheerful and amusing than you ought to expect from vampire novels. The series didn't harp on the same old themes of the vampire's lonliness at his separation from humanity and guilt at needing to take human life, because Jonathan Barrett was not separated, nor did he take human life. I read the first book and enjoyed it before I realized that it was called "Death and the Maiden". If I had known that, I might not have picked it up.
Average customer rating:
- one of my all-time favorite books
- The vampire Jonathan Barrett....
- A good vampire book
- Well written, sexy...a good vampire fantasy.
- A must read sensation!!!
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Red Death (Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire series)
P. N. Elrod
Manufacturer: Benbella Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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Death and the Maiden (Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire series)
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Death Masque (Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire series)
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Dance of Death (Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire series)
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The Dark Sleep (Vampire Files)
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A Song in the Dark (The Vampire Files, Book 11)
ASIN: 1932100199 |
Book Description
This compelling series combines action and historical drama in fascinating tales of an American Tory who stumbles into the dark world of the vampire. Completely revised and expanded, each of these new editions includes more than 40 pages of new material.
In this introduction to the series, young Jonathan Barrett arrives in London in 1773 to pursue his college education. His fate among the undead is sealed by the unnaturally beautiful Nora Jones, who seduces him and consumes his blood. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, he is no longer the same man, something he soon discovers upon his return to America to join the armed forces and defend his country. Rather than an appetite for traditional fare, he has developed a strange craving for human blood.
Customer Reviews:
one of my all-time favorite books.......2004-10-13
This book introduces Jonathan Barrett, who we meet briefly in Bloodcircle (Elrod's 3rd Vampire Files novel). Jonathan is much less cynical and polished than Jack, and also quite a bit younger (only seventeen as the story opens). We get exposed to his family (his mother, father, sister and cousin) and also see how he came to be a vampire, from the very beginning (falling in love with a strange girl, Nora) to waking up in his coffin and convincing his family and the townspeople he isn't dead. I loved this book not only because it presents the American Revolution from a decidedly anti-Washington view (very uncommon in historical fiction) but because unlike the Vampire Files, in this book we see Jonathan as human. He's young, he falls in love, doesn't get along with his mother, goes away to university, makes new friends, and 'learns the world.' The changes he makes while he is alive mirror the kinds of things he goes through after death-both are a type of change, of growing up. And unlike Jack Fleming, Jonathan has no idea what's happened to him when he wakes up in his coffin. He doesn't know where he is, what he is, why he survived his death, what he has to do to continue to survive, or how to judge and use his strength and gifts, and what his weaknesses are. The book ends not with him learning those things, but with him accepting that there is still a lot he doesn't know.
The vampire Jonathan Barrett...........2003-03-22
Jonathan Barrett is having problems. He and his mother don't get along, he has been sent to England against his will and he falls in love with a woman who one of his friends also loves.
Then he is forced to return to America where he gets shot and finds out he has even more problems. First, he's a vampire. And as a vampire he has to deal with his family, the British army and the American rebels. If he's not careful he might end up dead and this time he won't come back!
A good vampire book.......2001-10-13
Having read the vampire files I had high expectations for this book
and was not disappointed. I have one suggestion for anyone planning on reading Red Death, and that is to buy the next one in line Death and the Maiden. This book gets you so involved in the main character that you may find it hard to sleep at night as you lay awake wondering what happens next.
Well written, sexy...a good vampire fantasy........1998-05-04
This book kept me guled until I was done. Jonathan Barrett, the unsung "hero" experiences first hand the lure and lust of the vampire world. Reading through the pages it was if I were there on the hot summer days, and erie nights. I will say I found the ending a little weak, but it sure left things open for P.N. Elrods next book. Worth the time!
A must read sensation!!!.......1997-04-20
Riveting, on the edge...rooting for gentleman vampire...Jonathan Barrett. Honor does pass the supernatural. A real class act. I had to finish the series!!! Live it
Book Description
This compelling series combines action and historical drama in fascinating tales of an American Tory who stumbles into the dark world of the vampire. Completely revised and expanded, each of these new editions includes more than 40 pages of new material.
Seemingly invincible since his transformation into a vampire, Jonathan Barrett must admit his own weakness when he unexpectedly meets a four-year-old boy who strangely resembles him. Armed with a powerful weapon to use against him, his love for his son, Jonathan’s enemies have gained an advantage. The only hope for Jonathan and his child’s survival lies in the return of the mysterious Nora Jones.
Customer Reviews:
P.N. Elrod JB series1.......2007-01-07
I am a big fan of Elrod. This book kept a great pace and had a good twist. Sad there is no more in this series.
2nd book in the series.......2001-06-16
hmm. where to start. jonathan begins discovering the full extent of his vampiric powers, and i just have to spend a few lines complimenting ms. elrod on how well she writes a villain. or in this case, two villains-elizabeth's new husband and her new sister in law, who turns out to be her new husband's real wife. we also learn more about jonathan's mother....and why she is the twisted way she is. molly is portrayed well as a pragmatic woman just trying to make a living during hard times, and nash continues to be an annoyance and a comic distraction (faithfully fulfilling his role as a minor character). i know this book is hard to find but if you can find it, it is definitely worth your time. i also recommend the hardcover omnibus edition, jonathan barrett, gentleman vampire, if you can find it (yes, i have it, and no, it is not for sale, not in this lifetime, thank you, no). if you can't find any copies, write the publishers and bug them for a reprint (you never know, it could totally happen). in the meantime, scour my review for the hidden translation of the first chapter (just kidding. no really, don't, cuz there isn't one). keep an eye out for used copies sold over the net....you might even want to check out amazon.com. i don't know, maybe they have a copy or two kicking around somewhere (yes, i know, you are now officially tired of my humour, but that's fine, cuz i'm done anyway).
Customer Reviews:
A fun read.......2004-10-25
This book (a book club omnibus) contains all the books in the "Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire" series. They are:
"Red Death"
In this introduction to the series, young Jonathan Barrett arrives in London in 1773 to pursue his college education. His fate among the undead is sealed by the unnaturally beautiful Nora Jones, who seduces him and consumes his blood. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, he is no longer the same man, something he soon discovers upon his return to America to join the armed forces and defend his country. Rather than an appetite for traditional fare, he has developed a strange craving for human blood.
"Death and the Maiden"
Threatened by soldiers on the outside and turmoil on the inside, Jonathan Barrett valiantly fights to protect his family and the peace of the Barrett estate in this thrilling sequel to Red Death. Nearly consumed by his dark desires, Jonathan struggles to control his supernatural powers and his overwhelming thirst for blood while in the company of his immediate family and a scheming young cousin.
"Death Masque"
Continuing the saga of Red Death and Death and the Maiden, Jonathan Barrett returns to England in search of Nora Jones-for only Nora knows if his unexpected destiny is a blessing or a curse; it was her kiss that initiated him into the world of the living dead. Finding her missing, Jonathan steps up his hunt and in the process discovers startling secrets about his bizarre family as well as a malicious plot against him.
"Dance of Death"
Seemingly invincible since his transformation into a vampire, Jonathan Barrett must admit his own weakness when he unexpectedly meets a four-year-old boy who strangely resembles him. Armed with a powerful weapon to use against him, his love for his son, Jonathan's enemies have gained an advantage. The only hope for Jonathan and his child's survival lies in the return of the mysterious Nora Jones.
Books:
- Kiss Me While I Sleep: A Novel
- Last Puzzle & Testament (Puzzle Lady Mysteries)
- Layout Index: Brochure, Web Design, Poster, Flyer, Advertising, Page Layout, Newsletter, Stationery Index
- Les diners de gala
- Luther Bible of 1534-FL
- McNally's Gamble (Archy McNally Novels)
- Michelangelo : The Complete Sculpture, Painting, Architecture
- Mistletoe Man
- Mistmantle Chronicles, The: Urchin and the Heartstone - Book #2 (Mistmantle Chronicles)
- Mrs. Jeffries Takes the Cake (Victorian Mystery)
Books Index
Books Home
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Sympathy for the Devil (Madeline Bean Mysteries)
Mumbo Gumbo: A Madeline Bean Novel (Madeline Bean Mysteries)
Dim Sum Dead: A Madeline Bean Culinary Mystery (A Madeline Bean Catering Mystery)
Immaculate Reception: A Madeline Bean Catering Mystery (Madeline Bean Mysteries)
Perfect Sax
