marry early to see the Queen--years after reading the book I have no idea what this summary means

I read this book ten years ago and enjoyed it. The premise is highly amusing (royalty-admiring American woman wants to marry her Scottish fiance a year earlier than planned so she can attend Queen Elizabeth's garden party with him). The contrast between Elizabeth MacPherson's scientific persona and her star-struck attitude towards Britain in general and the Windsors in particular is sweet and there are some extremely funny moments. The sub-plot concerning the travelling garden gnome, for one, which is carried throughout the book and neatly wrapped up at the garden party itself. One doesn't want to re-read mysteries too often, but I enjoyed a second look at this one and wouldn't mind coming back to it in the future. ( )

Mystery takes a backseat to romance as Elizabeth MacPherson enslists the help of her Aunt Amanda to plan a full formal wedding in just a few weeks—so that she can attend a royal tea party to which Cameron has been invited. While Cameron is bemused by the mystery of his missing garden gnome (which sends postcards from far-off locales), Elizabeth is asked to consult on a local mystery. Chandler Grove widow Clarine Mason has been notified that her husband has been killed in a car accident in California, raising the question of who or what is in the urn she has kept on her mantle for five years since the first time Emmet died in a car crash in California. When this little puzzle turns to murder, it is once again Cousin Geoffrey who untangles its threads while still finding time to interfere in his brother’s shady romantic plot. This is a lighthearted and entertaining read that brings back fearsome Aunt Amanda and introduces Jenny Ramsey, Weather Princess and Elizabeth’s maid of honor. ( )

Another slightly silly mystery starring Elizabeth. We get just a few glimpses of real character behind the silliness. I wish Ms. McCrumb would let us see more. I had a hard believing that Elizabeth was actually getting married - would have liked more character development between Elizabeth & Cameron so that I could believe this twist in the plot line. The mystery was creative. ( )