Bookish Buys: Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns
Bookish Buys
Inspired by Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns
Wearing a blue cut-out dress with crisp white pumps and stacks of chic white bangles, carrying your phone in a pink heart-shaped case while trying on veils isn’t just “bridal prep” aesthetic—it’s your Maddy Montgomery moment. It’s the look of someone who’s equal parts elegant, playful, and ready to handle way more than choosing between cathedral or fingertip length.
Because just like Maddy in Icing on the Murder, you’re not settling for the cookie-cutter fairytale. Sure, you’re checking out veils and dreaming of the perfect cake design (hey, bakery-owner pride runs deep!), but you’re also the woman who can keep her cool while solving a murder—preferably without smudging that flawless lipstick.
The blue cut-out dress says you’re here to stun—modern, confident, and not afraid to show a little edge. White pumps and bangles? Classic, crisp, bridal without being too precious. And that pink heart phone case? A playful reminder that even when life gets messy (and murderous), you’re allowed to keep it cute.
Trying on veils in this getup is more than wedding planning—it’s a statement. It says you’re a bride who knows what she wants, whether it’s an all-expenses-paid dream wedding or the truth about what really happened to the world’s worst wedding planner. It’s about stepping into that moment with main character energy—ready to navigate expo chaos, bakery business, and a touch of small-town murder mystery with style.
So slip on the dress. Snap that phone case shut. Pick out the veil you’d want to wear when you finally say “I do.” And remember: you’re not just preparing for your big day. You’re living your big story. And in this outfit, you’re the bride and the detective everyone will be talking about.
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Bookish Buys: Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns
About Icing on the Murder by Valerie Burns:
From Agatha and Edgar Award nominated author Valerie Burns, influencer-turned-bakery-owner Maddy Montgomery has sold plenty of wedding cakes before, but before she turns one out for her and her fiancé’s wedding, she’ll have to solve a little case of murder first…
Aunt Octavia would be so proud! Maddy has turned Baby Cakes Bakery—named for her 250-pound English Mastiff, Baby—into a runaway success, and she’s marrying the love of her life, veterinarian Michael Portman. #DreamWedding! Plus the timing couldn’t be better: the country’s biggest bridal expo has come to New Bison, Michigan, and Maddy has secured a spot for Baby Cakes to showcase their cakes. She’s also entered a contest for an all-expenses-paid wedding extravaganza offered by world-renowned wedding planner Serafina.
Unfortunately, supremely nasty Serafina truly takes the cake—she makes the worst bridezilla seem like a shy flower girl. But there’s one thing the wedding planner didn’t plan on—being impaled by one of the skewers Baby Cakes uses on their tiered wedding cakes.
While Maid of Honor Sheriff April Johnson rounds up suspects at the expo, Maddy and her aunt’s friends, the Baker Street Irregulars, and even Baby join forces to unveil a killer hiding in plain sight . . . before wedding bells start to chime.
