In “Wedding Bells Brew Murder”, the 2nd book of the Sara and Sean cozy mystery series by Carolyn Arnold, Sara and Sean are back with their cute romance and sleuthing ways. When we had seen them last, Sean had gotten a huge inheritance from a man whose life he had saved many years previously and been in touch with. This unexpected windfall becomes the catalyst for the many changes which happen in Sara and Sean’s life.

Sean resigns from the police force and begins a Private Investigative agency. Because they are no longer colleagues, Sara and Sean are able to act on the mutual attraction they had felt for a very long time. And now we meet them two days before their wedding, with both of them trying their best to enjoy their day. But things take a turn for them when their wedding cake specialist stumbles into the bridal suite being stabbed with a knife on her back. The postponed wedding and their training prompts the both of them to find out the murderer.

Would Sara and Sean be able to do that? Will the duo’s former colleagues in the police force be open to their interference into an official murder investigation? Author Carolyn Arnold has created a good narrative around these likable characters and interesting plot points which work well together and hold the reader’s attention adequately. Sara and Sean’s relationship was lovely to see and it has been developed wonderfully.

However, I always expect more out of a Carolyn Arnold’s work and this book just didn’t reach that standard for me. The story was intriguing enough and the interaction between the characters was engaging. I definitely enjoyed the story but it didn’t hook me as the other works of this author tend to. I would still like to know what happens with Sara and Sean; and will be hoping for the next book to exceed my expectations.

This book gets 4 out of 5 stars.