This is the first book in this series and only the second one I've read and I have to say, this author excels at keeping the reader in the dark about whodunit until the final pages. Obfuscation is the word of the day with this author! It's rare that I find a book where I have no idea, not even a suspicion, whodunit. So this book ranks high just for that.

Stella is helping her heavily pregnant best friend Emily with the high society wedding and her role is to create a unity candle for the bride and groom. But when the bride's uncle is found dead, bludgeoned with the unity candle, and the hotel's bartender is arrested, Stella smells a rat and sets out to find the real killer.

There was so much to love about this book, from unrequited love to murder to candle scents to cats. Although the quick pace kept the plot moving, it was neither rushed nor confusing. I found myself reading late into the evening because I just had to keep going to find out more. So easy to get lost in this book! By the time I got through the exciting ending, I was at the edge of my seat and the subterfuge continued right up to the end with many surprise twists and turns.

I'm not sure why I didn't hear about this series when it came out, but I'm glad I found it. This will definitely be a must read series for me and I look forward to many more. ( )

3.5 stars cuz I did like it.....Nantucket ( my home state ), candles ( my obsession ) and ocean ( aside from my Joe- my true love ).
However it was actually kinda flat for me. I know its a 'cozy', and as filler reading it fit the bill. ( )

Stella Wright owns Wick & Flame, making handmade candles. She's expanding her business, and is creating a unity candle for bride-to-be Jessica Sterling. She's also helping her pregnant best friend Emily Gardner, who's the wedding planner. So Stella has a lot on her plate, trying to get her candles finished and help Emily where she's needed.

Stella's very proud of the two-foot-high candle that she's created using a special wax so that it will be strong enough not to crumble when lit. But she's not so proud when she and members of the wedding party walk into a room at the Melville, where the wedding is to be held, and find Jessica's Uncle Simon dead - struck by the heavy candle.

Now Stella's also caretaker of Simon's cat, Tinker, who seems to be a wonder in himself; her friend Andy Southerland, a police officer, is trying to keep her out of the investigation, which is headed by an out-of-town detective, and she's trying to keep customers, who seem to think the candle might portend bad luck for their upcoming weddings. As if that weren't enough, an international movie star is staying close by and the woman seems to have taken a liking to Stella. When one of her friends is arrested for the crime, she knows she can't keep her promise to Andy and sets out to find the real murderer, who just might be closer than she ever imagined...

This is the first in a new series, and for the most part, it was pretty decent. So I'll get the bad out of the way now: Stella seems to be interested in Peter, the new reporter for the local newspaper, but there's a hint of a love triangle to come. I absolutely abhor love triangles, as I've said ad nauseam. There's no reason for them at all. If a man were stringing along two women, you'd think he was a dog, or worse. So why is it okay for a woman to string along two men? Why do the men go along with it? It's not attractive, and it doesn't say much for the woman in question. Only that she doesn't care about their feelings, but her own. So if this series goes in that direction, then I will be done with it. There are plenty of series out there that are just as good to read.

So, that being said, I do like the fact that Stella is a candlemaker. I make them myself, so I know how time-consuming and difficult it can be to get them right. I also love Tinker. Hopefully he won't be relegated to the one-book character and just hang around, but "help" Stella in other investigations, too. I did like the secondary characters, especially Andy. He's a solid soul, and really cares for her, even if she doesn't know it.

The mystery was very good, giving us several suspects - the entire wedding party, in fact - and I was thrown off the mark a couple of times before I figured it out, so that's always good. It's not much fun if you know the murderer the minute they step onto the page. I also liked the descriptions of Nantucket, and I really like the fact that Stella has a thriving business and didn't run home because her relationship broke up and so is she. It's quite refreshing to see this.

In the end, when the murderer is discovered, it's so very sad about everything that transpired the way it did. But murder never makes sense anyway. As I stated above, I really enjoyed this book and will read the next in the series to see where it goes. Recommended. ( )

3-3.5 stars--I don't think I've read any other books by this author (if there are any). I wondered if this was the first book of the series but didn't know for sure until I came here to write a review. I saw the book reviewed in BookPage.

WARNING POTENTIAL SPOILERS-READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION:

Stella is a chandler (candle maker). I have no idea how that occupation or her past equip her to investigate or solve mysteries (particularly a murder)--though I do understand her desire to clear her friend Bill's name and reputation. Then again, apparently there are few murders on Nantucket Island so perhaps the police aren't well equipped to investigate it either--though you would at least hope they had some classes on it during training/schooling. As in most of these genre mysteries, the so-called big shot detective with more experience who just happens to be on the island when the murder happens, doesn't seem very competent in his investigation--he keys in on one person, arrests him, and declares it done--no more evidence collection etc.

I thought the author did a good job of giving multiple characters motives for the murder. I didn't really guess who the murderer was or why until close to when it was revealed.

There seemed to be a lot of crime scene contamination when Simon's body was discovered.

Tinker was a cute addition to the story. I liked that he was interactive but there wasn't some weird paranormal mystery solving cat angle to the story. Yes, he did direct Stella's attention to things once in a while, but it wasn't so over the top that you couldn't believe it could really happen. ( )

The first in a new series, Murder's No Votive Confidence is the perfect cozy mystery for a rainy day. This was a fun and easy read, my favorite kind of book to brighten a drab day.

Nantucket candle store owner Stella Wright specializes in creating unique candles for every occasion. But someone sets the stage for murder when a Memorial Day celebration becomes a wedding to die for . . .

Jessica Sterling’s candlelight-themed nuptial promises to be the perfect kick-off to the summer’s first official holiday weekend. Stella’s thrilled to have been chosen to provide the decorative centerpiece for the wedding ceremony: a two-foot, tall scented unity candle—a symbol of the happy couple’s love. But it looks like the bride-to-be’s uncle won’t be walking his niece down the aisle after he’s found dead. The murder weapon is Stella’s seemingly indestructible candle, now split in two.

When a beloved local bartender is arrested, Stella’s sure a visiting police Captain running the case made a rush to justice. With superstitious brides-to-be cancelling orders and sales waxing and waning at her store, the Wick & Flame owner decides to do some sleuthing of her own. Abetted by a charming reporter and challenged by the town’s sexiest cop, Stella’s determined to shine a light on the truth and uncover a killer who’s snuffing out her own flame.

I enjoyed the setting and theme of this new series, but I felt there could be more depth to both the main and supporting characters.

*Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review* ( )