Caprice De Luca is finally getting married to the love of her life, Grant Weatherford. She's got everything arranged - or at least think she does - when one of the owners of the winery where she's going to have her reception is murdered. Now she wonders if his wife killed him, and if not, who did. If she doesn't figure it out in a few short days, not only will her wedding be a disaster, but the wrong person might be arrested for the crime...

I used to love this series so much, and I hate to say that in this last book, which I am guessing is an end to the series since another hasn't been written since last year and the author is carrying on with a new one, had a disappointing finale. So much so, I couldn't even read it all the way through and wound up skimming the pages.

The plot was weak. There is a scene where a teenager is about to pour something into a vat of wine (that will obviously taint it) but when he is caught, states he didn't know he was doing anything wrong. And for this he was going to get $500. Right. A teenager is offered $500 to pour something into a vat of wine, and he thinks it's on the up-and-up? Is he the dumbest kid in this city?

Then, when Vince received the phone call about Travis's murder, he would have stated that he was going to act as Michelle's attorney, not as her lawyer. Attorneys do not refer to themselves as lawyers. Lay people refer to them as that. Vince also should have found her another attorney immediately since he was once involved with her and that could give the prosecutor ammunition in the case (even if he didn't think it would go to trial). If you've dated or are dating a client, you should never be the one to defend them as it's a conflict of interest. I would think even this author would know that.

Roz was acting like a 16-year-old with a new boyfriend who found out another high school girl was making a play for him. Doesn't she believe that Vince loves her? Has he given any indication that he was still interested in the ex-girlfriend? I don't think so, considering that Roz never knew Michelle existed. Which tells me that Vince has never even mentioned her. Which says that Vince hasn't thought about her since they broke up. So why is Roz in a panic? Doesn't she trust Vince? Maybe Roz should have just walked away from Vince right then and there if she didn't trust him. You can't have a decent relationship without trust. But then I soon began to realize the reason there was distrust. It was the main plot of the story, not the murder. It was here the book lost me.

Not a moment too soon, either. Caprice is way to dependent on her family and what they think. She even states that she wants a 'perfect' marriage like her parents or grandparents. Really? So her parents have never had a single argument? Have always acted like roses and sunshine around each other? No marriage is perfect, and I think Caprice needs to get the blinders removed from her eyes.
She's also 'breathless' over Grant like a teenager (maybe that's why she likes Roz so much). She's an adult and is mooning over him.

She also didn't want to sell her small home and move into a bigger one with Grant so he could have room for a home office, so what does she do? He's going to build an addition to the house. His office will be...behind the garage. Not an additional room onto the house itself, but behind it. He doesn't even rate having an office in the main part of the house. She thinks this is a compromise (!) for them. No; no it's not. It's Caprice getting her way again, as in all things. I would have liked to have seen them start their new life together in a new home. Selling both their places could have given them enough to do so. After all, I'm guessing Grant has furniture, too. Is he going to sell all his stuff? Because it won't all fit in one room, and Caprice's house isn't that big. (Whatever are they going to do if they have children? Just keep on adding additions?)

I'm also slightly suspicious about her family and wondering if her sisters are going along with them on their honeymoon, since she does everything she can with her family. One sister is even making her dress because she couldn't find a vintage gown. I guess she never heard of the Internet. Out of curiosity, I searched and even found ones near my home. I'm even wondering if Bella has had 'the talk' with her about her wedding night. It's just so weird that she won't make a move without them, and I've noticed this in other books but always let it pass. I had to laugh out loud when I read about her gown, "the sweetheart neckline did not show cleavage." Really? (I'm saying that a lot here). She's afraid to let anyone know she possesses breasts? That will make her wedding night interesting. Caprice is a prude!

Unfortunately, I think I've given enough of my opinions of this book, which is corn on the cob of the worst kind. The mystery wasn't enough to hold the book together - it was more of a device to further solidify the relationship between Roz and Vince. Caprice is childish, boring, selfish, and self-centered. Grant is practically non-existent unless he’s fawning over Caprice and doing everything she wants. It’s like he’s got no mind of his own. This series used to be so good but I'm guessing this is the last one; it just became so saccharine that it was difficult to read. It was a sad ending to what once was a good series. If it does by any chance continue, I will not read another. ( )

Caprice DeLuca is finally going to be marrying the love of her life, but will the problems surrounding the reception venue be resolved in time? Having waited for the Grant's annulment to be finalized, now Caprice and Grant don't want to wait any longer, but trying to find an opening on the church calendar as well as a reception space was a bit tricky, The church had a cancellation and Caprice found that her former clients at the Rambling Vines Winery have an opening at their event center. Things seem to be working out until one of the owners is found murdered.

Can Caprice get the all clear for her reception or will alternative circumstances cause an end to this love story.

The characters and setting, background and pets make this one of my favorite series. ( )

Cut to the Chaise by Karen Rose Smith takes readers to Kismet, Pennsylvania. Caprice DeLuca is finalizing the plans for her wedding to Grant Weatherford now that his annulment has finally come through from the Catholic Church. They are having their reception at Rambling Vines Winery who happened to have a last minute cancelation and Caprice had redecorated their tasting room for Travis and Michelle Dodd who own the winery. The wedding is coming together with Bella making her dress, a last minute opening at St. Francis Catholic Church and Nikki agreeing to cater the reception. When Caprice starts hearing rumors about Rambling Vines having financial problems and unhappy clients, she wonders if they made the right choice for their reception. It does not help matters that Michelle Dodd once dated Vince and he failed to tell Roz about the relationship (awkward). Then Travis Dodd is found stabbed in the neck with a cheese knife on the teal chaise in the tasting room. Michelle is the prime suspect and requests Vince represent her. Caprice sets out to identify the culprit, so she can prove Michelle’s innocence, get Vince away from Michelle before his relationship with Roz implodes and clear the bad karma from Rambling Vines. Time is of the essence with her wedding just around the corner. Can Caprice wrap up the case before she walks down the aisle?

Cut to the Chaise is the eighth A Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery and it cannot be read alone. This is one series that you need to read in order. Each book builds upon the previous one. Caprice’s business is successful, she has a wonderful relationship with her family, and is marrying the man she has loved since the moment she met him. Caprice and Grant were waiting for the annulment from the church before planning their wedding. Now that the annulment has come through, they are wasting no time in getting married. A Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery series is a character driven series. There is Caprice’s large family which includes Vince, Nikki and Bella along with their wide circle of friends. Unfortunately, Grant’s family is not as warm and friendly as Caprice’s which creates tension. I like the author’s conversational writing style. It has an ease to it which makes Cut to the Chaise easy to read and enjoy. The mystery is not the focus of the book, but it was intriguing. The fast paced mystery has a couple of suspects along with misdirection to throw you off the track of the real killer. There are many lovely cozy and romantic moments in Cut to the Chaise and fans of the series will be thrilled with the wedding. Caprice helps a sweet dog find a forever home plus Grant’s and Caprice’s dogs are featured along with the families’ other pets. I am giving Cut to the Chaise 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). There are recipes at the end for the enticing dishes featured in the story. ( )

Cut to the Chaise by Karen Rose Smith is a 2018 Kensington Publication.

A fun, fast paced, and very special addition to the Caprice De Luca Mystery Series!

I have been eagerly anticipating this installment, knowing that finally Caprice will tie the knot with the love of her life. But, of course, as with any wedding, there is bound to be a last- minute snafu or two. But, for Caprice, a murder investigation could put a serious damper on all her wedding plans.

Caprice is planning to have her wedding reception at the Rambling Vines Winery, but when one of the owners is found murdered, it looks as though all her carefully laid plans were for naught. To make matters worse, the widow of the murdered man, who once had a dalliance with Caprice’s brother Vince, asks him to represent her, should she need legal counsel.

This puts a strain on Vince’s relationship with Roz, one of Caprice’s best friends. In order to save her wedding plans and to help ease tensions between Vince and Roz, Caprice steps in to help investigate the murder, hoping to find the killer before her big day.

I read this book in one sitting! I really did want to savor it a bit longer, but I couldn’t put it down!!

As always, the adorable pets featured in previous installments make an appearance, and they deserve an honorable mention, especially since they add so much charm of this wonderful series.

However, the mystery and family drama is what we came for, and Smith delivers a slam dunk. I was riveted to the pages, caught up in the emotions the featured couples were experiencing. Pre-wedding stress led to flared tempers and second thoughts. The mystery kept me on my toes, with several clever red herrings tossed in. I never came close to figuring out whodunit.

Overall, this is a well- constructed cozy mystery, is fast paced, will real depth. This is a wonderful and fun series, filled with love, family, and adorable fur babies. Caprice is a terrific character!! With each new chapter in this series, I feel like I’m visiting old friends I’ve really come to care about. So, what’s not to love?
4.5 stars ( )