Smoldering flames are still deadly.Raina Sun is in San Francisco, preparing for her cousin’s upcoming wedding…to her ex-boyfriend. Even though she is a reluctant bridesmaid, she understands duty to her family. When the bridegroom shows an unusual interest in her fiancé, and a dead body drops in during the rehearsal dinner, Raina is drawn into another murder investigation. She must prove the … must prove the bridegroom’s innocence, or he will reveal a secret that could change her beloved fiancé’s life…and not for the better. As things heat up, she learns all families have skeletons, and some are more deadly than others. Among the hundred of guests, could she find this heartless killer before she becomes the next victim? And will this secret stay hidden?
Come join Raina in this next phase in her life—get your copy of “Smoldering Flames and Secrets” now!
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I always like cozies that take place at weddings and this one was no exception. It was extra interesting because of the added element of her Chinese culture. This was a good story and I love the characters.
I enjoy this series. That being said, this book wouldn’t figure as a favorite one in the series, but it had some good moments, and I like the grandmother being more realistic/age appropriate. I particularly enjoy the Chinese culture elements and recurring characters.
This is book 7 in the Raina Sun Mystery Series. And the murder mystery solving team of Raina & PoPo are back in full swing. They are in San Francisco for a family wedding when murder strikes. The duo jumps in while Raina also steps up to be the wedding planner. The hijinks they get into just makes these books! I also love how Ms. Tan incorporates Chinese culture in all of her books. It brings the books more alive!
Been waiting for ages for this Raina Sun title to be released. The usual wonderful characters are present. Grandma Po Po, Matthew, and Raina’s foster cousin Lucy Fong (Po Po’s foster granddaughter). Lucy has her own fun series. Ms. Tan always provides a great story, and primary characters that I’d love to meet in real life.
Smoldering Flames is set in San Francisco, a city I personally know well, so am able to visualize the locations as the characters move through the city. Also, having had the privilege to attend a Chinese wedding many years ago, so I was interested to see how much I remembered.
Because this story takes place in Raina’s home town, we get to know a number of her relatives that have only been mentioned in earlier books.
I’ve already preordered the next Raina Sun title, Hazy Grooms and Homicide, which comes out in late April.
So far I have read every one of this series.
These stories are a delightful read. You have to smile at the antics of Grandma. Raina gave up trying to control her. Anne Tan has the ability to tell these stories which makes it easy reading even when she interweaves some more serious subjects. The burden that is part of belonging to a large traditional Chinese family with Grandma been the first generation to have settled in America. Occasionally you get small glimpses into her live in China and her marriage. Within three generations of family members you get the normal friction and rivalries but mostly the caring for each other comes through. Of course add in a bit of mystery. The murder always comes to a conclusion within each book but to get the full flavor of the characters and understanding the family relationships I highly recommend that you read them in order.
Raina is going to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding to her cousin…and another murder. one of the reasons I love these stories is because of the wonderful mystery. Another reason is because of the Chinese culture throughout. I hope it gives me a little bit of insight into this mysterious culture. Anne R. Tan’s characters are delightful and very well-rounded. You are gratified to note the very same characteristics and foibles in your own family, bringing back memories of your own. This is another wonderful mystery to be enjoyed, full of rich characters and background. I highly recommend this book.
I voluntarily offered to review this book with no obligations and my opinions are honest
Loved the book!
It looks like no matter where Raina goes, murder just follows her.
Raina is in San Francisco for her cousin’s wedding ( to her ex, Yikes ! )
She is wearing an ugly bridesmaid dress, and just minding her own business.
A body is found on the wedding venue. What are the odds ?
Is the wedding ruined ? ( Not if Jung Yee has anything to say about that )
Now, once again, Raina has to solve another murder.
With Po Po by her side, there is nothing Raina cannot do.
As always, Po Po is a hoot.
The characters + storytelling were very captivating
It has all the ingredients that you need for an awesome book!
I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
At the outset let me say that I have long been a fan of the Raina Sun mysteries and have posted 5 star reviews. Anne R. Tan writes exceedingly well, and her books are well edited. I did receive this book free but that has no influence upon my rating.
This is the latest edition in the Raina Sun series. All of the books can stand on their own, but if you haven’t read any of them, I do recommend starting with the first, Raining Corpses and Men. Raina is from a traditional Chinese family with a lot of quirks. She’s an engineer who was disillusioned with her work so she moved from the Bay Area of California to Gold Springs to study Chinese History and I this book, she’s still not found herself and is working retail part time. Her on again off again relationship with Detective Matthew Louie is now her fiancé and we find them at a photo shoot for her cousin’s wedding at the winery at which it will take place the following week. Raina’s grandmother, known as Po Po which is Chinese for grandmother, is dog sitting. The dog gets loose, Po Po chases it, knocking down the photographer and generally making a hilarious mess (something she always does and which is always funny). As a result, the body of a woman is found in a wine cave. What ensues is the search for the killer, and as usual, Raina becomes the one to solve it. How that happens is for you to find out when you read the book. You will laugh at Po Po’s antics, worry about Raina’s safety, and thoroughly enjoy the twists and turns. If you read this at bedtime, beware! You won’t go to sleep until you finish it!
cozy-mystery, chinese-culture, family-dynamics, amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, murder-investigation, law-enforcement
Raina is stuck with an ugly bridesmaid dress for her cousin’s wedding to Raina’s old boyfriend. But it gets worse when a body is found in the vinyard during the Chinese wedding preliminary, the wedding planner goes looney, Raina has to pick up duties as wedding planner, and solve the murder so that the marriage isn’t cursed. And then there’s PoPo, her beloved eccentric grandmother!
If you haven’t read about Raina and her grandmother before, it’s not too late to start! Be prepared to sleuth along with them while they have you laughing hysterically!