Wedding Duress starts with a taping of Tori Sinclairs' bridesmaids' fittings for Leona Elkin's cable TV-show, 'Leona's Closet'. The bridesmaids are, of course, the members of Sweet Briar Ladies Society Sewing Circle. (Tori's bridal gown has been handsewn by matron of honor Rose Winters.) As usual, Leona and Rose snipe at each other, but check out chapter 3 for Leona's revenge. Some might consider what happens to Leona her just desserts. In any case, Rose forgives her well before anyone else in the sewing circle.

In the days before Tori's wedding to her beloved Milo Wentworth, tragedy strikes another sewing circle member. She's certain it was murder, not an accident. How is Tori supposed to get her library squared away before the honeymoon, pack up her stuff for the move to Milo's house, get all the other wedding chores out of the way, and investigate?

Luckily, the fabulous Charles, a New York City bookstore employee met in the last book, Taken In, and Margaret-Louise are more than willing to help.

In the meantime, we're given ample reason not to want to hire anyone from the local Nanny Go Round Agency. The stories we read about their employees range from annoying to frightening.

I blush to admit that I didn't notice that gift store owner Lana Turner had a movie star's name until I reread the scene she appears in. Worse, I didn't realize the significance of the jewelry store owner where Milo bought Tori's diamond ring being named Jim Brady until page 333. (Good one, Ms. Casey.)

By the way, I applaud the mother of two preschoolers who are being bratty in the library. I was older than they are when I was guilty of being bratty in public and my mother, too, deprived me of the treat I was expecting to get. I certainly learned my lesson that day!

The book ends with the wedding itself, which was sweet. Early in the book, Tori mentioned that her parents were coming from South Africa for the wedding. They were there, but their role barely counts as a cameo. On the other hand, I loved Paris the rabbit's role!

Notes:

See chapter 9 for mention of a sad chapter in Leona's past.

See chapter 10 for mention of what baby Matthew Davis did when he voted for his grandmother's latest sweat suit.

Nina's humorous story about Dana and Donna Wilkins of the library's teen book club may be found in chapter 11.

Charles name-dropping to keep the interest of shallow nanny Amanda is in chapter 25.

See chapter 26 for Tori's bridal shower and the attendees' choices for the 'Guess-Which-Celebrity-I'd-Marry' game. ( )

Wedding Duress is the tenth book in the Southern Sewing Circle series.

I love this series, as the characters seem so real to me. The members of the sewing circle are all best friends, but that doesn't mean that they agree with each other all the time and yes, as in real life disagreements to crop up. And that is what makes it so enjoyable and believable.

Tori Sinclair's wedding to Milo Wentworth is quickly approaching and time has come for the final fitting of dresses for the wedding party. As they having their fittings, Leona Elkins, as she so often does, gets the circle upset when see comments that Rose Winters is too old to be in the wedding party. Then on cable TV program she says the same thing A heated argument ensues at the next circle meeting about Leona's rudeness. Then when Leona goes missing, Tori seems to be the only one concerned and one who has any desire to find what has happened to her.

In addition to this dilemma, Beatrice, a nanny in Sweet Briars and a member of the circle, is distraught over her former governess coming from England to take a nanny's position with Brady family and family down their basement stairs and dying, the day after arriving. Beatrice feels sure that the fall was no accident and asks for Tory help in finding out what really happened. Hopefully all will be resolved before Tori and Milo say I do.

Will definitely be looking forward to the next book. ( )

Author Elizabeth Lynn Casey (*also known as Laura Bradford, author of the incredible Amish Mystery series ~ read it if you haven’t!) once again has penned a delightful, intriguing mystery that held me mesmerized page after wonderful page!

I can’t begin to describe just how happy I was to be back in Sweet Briar, spending time with the dear ladies of the Sweet Briar Sewing Circle. They are one of my favorite casts of characters ever in a series. (For the record, you do not have to know how to sew to enjoy this series.)

It was fun to be wrapped up in Tori and Milo’s wedding preparations. But this is a mystery, and murder is bound to sew its way into the story. This time the victim is close to Beatrice. Our favorite nanny’s own former nanny is found dead. I enjoyed that this story brought more out about Beatrice. She normally sits so quietly through the books, that it was great to have more time with her, even if it was not so fun for her.

Author Casey stitched the mystery of what really happened to Miss Gracie the nanny better than the best seamstress could create an award winning dress or quilt. There were so many fantastic details woven into this incredible story.

As someone who loves surprises, I have to tell you, when the reveal came and the “whodunit” was out in the open, I was indeed surprised! I never saw it coming.

WEDDING DURESS is a stellar addition to this long running series and is one of my favorite books so far this year, following close on the heels of SUSPENDERED SENTENCE (Laura Bradford ~ see above *). Congratulation Ms. Casey on getting this story to book #10! Here’s to at least 10 more…then the sweet tea will be on me! ( )