Even tho I odn't partake, This is a great series and this was a very exciting addition to it. ( )

Sixth book in "A Wine Lover's Mystery" with the main character of Nikki Sands who once starred in a short lived TV series but now manages a vineyard. The setting is current day in Napa Valley on the Malveaux Estates/Vineyard

In book one Nikki gives up the last of her dreams of being an actress in Hollywood and takes a job at the Malveaux vineyard working for Derek - the owner. Throughout the books there has been increasing romantic tension between Nikki and Derek even though both were dating other people. Can you tell I have read most of the series? Most significantly Nikki was dating the manager of another vineyard, Andre and Derek briefly dated Renee Rothschild before coming together - and both Andres and Renee are back in this installment.

The story begins with introducing Violet, the newly adopted toddler of Simon (Derek's brother) and his partner Marco. Violet falls asleep with Nikki and upon waking finds gum stuck in her hair. Only a few days before her wedding to Derek (that's right - they are tying the knot) the gum must be cut out and Simon gets the hairdresser to turn Nikki into a platinum blond while he is at it. That evening Nikki meets Derek's old college friends for the first time. Derek's friends seem nothing like the Derek she knows, catty, mean and a bit scandalous. The fact is established early that Nikki has been receiving notes, even text messages with the theme "Do you believe in fate?" and signed with the Greek words Moros Apate Thanatos (Doom, Deceit and Death) and that morning she had received a newspaper clipping of Derek's first marriage notice to Meredith (first book - she is now in jail and Nikki helped put her there).

To add to the complications to Nikki's life and approaching wedding, Patrice, Derek's step mother, comes back uninvited and moves in claiming this is her home. Patrice was in the first book and hated Nikki then and probably still does. The stess mounts and Nikki is trying her best not to be a Bridezilla. The wedding day seems on track and Simon is walking Nikki down the aisle when Simon takes a bullet in the arm that was likely intended for Nikki. Then one of Derek's college pals is found dead and the sleuthing begins...

Read the complete review here:
http://mysterysuspence.blogspot.com/2010/04/review-toast-to-murder-by-michele-sc... ( )