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“Library paperback. 3 stars at best. At times the protagonist was just silly.”
Marilyn M wrote this review Wednesday, February 13, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Nice paperback mystery with lots about design, fashion and personalities. Small town texas and the Cassidy women....”
Carol R wrote this review Wednesday, January 30, 2013. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“ (A Magical Dressmaking Mystery)”
Mame wrote this review Tuesday, July 24, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A very pleasant surprise for a cozy mystery. I will be sure to read this series beginning to end. Harlow Cassidy (yes, of the Butch Cassidy family) has returned to Bliss TX and opened a custom clothing shop in her family's home. Her first big commission is a wedding of a friend - the maid of honor is found dead in the front lawn. Each of the Cassidy women have a "charm" - fun book!!”
ITZME wrote this review Sunday, February 5, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I must say that I put this book down several times before I could get into it. I finally picked it up and tried again. I did enjoy the gifts of the Cassidy women, the dress shop and the spirits. I don't like for it to be so hard to start a book. 3 stars”
moondance120 wrote this review Sunday, January 15, 2012. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A highly enjoyable paranormal cozy mystery! It would be highly enjoyable no matter the genre label.
IYamVixenBooks wrote this review Saturday, December 31, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
I like reading the acknoweldgements for a book from time to time. In PLEATING, Melissa thanks her mother for teaching her to sew for the pride she felt in her newfound ability as a child and that sewing helped her come up with the character of Harlow Cassidy.
Harlow is the great-great-great-granddaughter of Butch Cassidy who threw a coin in an Argentinian fountain and made a wish. So starts the magical abilities of the Cassidy women with their charmed lives. Charmed being what you make of it. Each woman has their own unique ability and Harlow is hard-pressed to figure hers out. She knows she likes dressmaking and hopes to make a go of her dressmaking shop in Bliss, Texas, her hometown.
The mystery solving comes across as natural since Harlow wants to help her friend, Josie, and the police aren't moving in the right direction. The characters are engaging and believable, even the ghost of Meemaw who is a bit of a prankster.
I can't wait for the next in the series, A FITTING END, to come out on 7 Feb 2012. It's pre-ordered with Cynthia at High Crimes Mystery Bookshop ( http://www.highcrimesbooks.com/)
You can visit Melissa:
http://misaramirez.com/misa-ramirez-writing-as-melissa-bourbon-or-visa-versa/
Five Texas ghosts and dresses beans.....”
“Finally finished reading this book after setting it down several times. It got better towards the end, but was difficult for me to get into, due to the fact the author explained the premise of the main characters' charm multiple times. At which point the magic stopped being magical and started being redundant and annoying.”
danae wrote this review Wednesday, December 28, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I love to read, particularly mysteries. I agreed when requested to read “Pleating for Mercy”, a first in a series. This mystery falls into the “Cozy Mystery” category. This is a rather new category of mystery reading for me. I tend toward the more suspense, action and graphic depiction of a murder. This was a nice change.
Linda L wrote this review Thursday, August 25, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The other enjoyment of the book was that the main character is a dressmaker/seamstress/sewist that designs and sews garments. She left her hometown to live in NYC where she trained and worked for a designer of high end fashion. She has returned to her small hometown of Bliss, Texas.
In returning to Bliss, she moves into her great grandmother’s home where she reopens the Button and Bows shop. Throughout the book there are many references to designing, altering and sewing garments. If you are a sewist/seamstress, then you can easily identify.
Harlow Cassidy, the main character, is a descendent of Butch Cassidy. A murder occurs in the front yard of Button and Bows and Harlow sets out to help discover and solve the mystery. The author does a good job of balancing a “who done it” suspense with every day life which makes for a pleasant cozy mystery read. ”
“Love the ghosties!! Excellent series debut. Probably didn't hurt that I'm familiar with the area of Texas that this is set in. Bliss seems to be somewhere near Granbury, which is in turn near Glen Rose, which is where my family has reunions. But even without that I would have loved it. I think Melissa/Misa has a hit on her hands. ”
Shel F wrote this review Friday, August 5, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A decedent of the infamous Butch Cassidy, Harlow Jane Cassidy and all the other Cassidy women through time possess special "gifts". Harlow is still unsure what her gift actually is when she returns home to Texas from Manhattan. Her great grandmother has passed away and left her farmhouse to Harlow. Harlow worked as a fashioner designer in New York so she decides to open a custom dressmaking boutique on the main level of her new home.
Dollycas wrote this review Sunday, July 31, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
One of her first customers is her childhood friend Josie, who is getting married in just two weeks. The store where she had ordered her bridal gown and bridesmaids dresses has gone out of business and she needs Harlow to save the day and create all the dresses as fast as she can.
Calamity strikes when the maid of honor is found dead outside of Harlow's shoppe. The bride looks like the prime suspect and she now needs more than a few dresses. She needs her help to find out who killed her friend. It turns out Harlow may be able to do this especially with a little bit of unusual help, a little help from the great beyond.
This story really tugged at my heartstrings. I too come from a long line of dressmakers, seamstresses, and people who love to sew. My grandmother was known for her beautiful work, making men's suits and wedding dresses along with every other garment thinkable. My mother made all my clothes until I started making my own and until my accident I created not only clothes for my family but quilts as well. While we may not have possessed any magical powers we found so much joy in what we were able to create.
Harlow's gift with fabric is extraordinary, but it is her late great-grandmother that steals the story and will keep you in stitches as she makes her opinions "heard". The other characters are varied and well written. A little bit of romance, loaded with humor and a wonderful mystery made this book a delightful read. You can also feel the author's love and talent of sewing jump of the pages. She definitely has a passion that shines through.
This was a fun read and would be enjoyed by all but especially those that love to sew. It would also make a fabulous gift for anyone who sews. If future books follow this pattern some wonderfully constructed mysteries are in our future!!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Obsidian. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ”
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