Heavenly Honeymoon (Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery) Paperback – June 15, 2015

Heavenly honeymoon is the fifteenth book in Kathi Daley's Zoe Donovan series. Released shortly after Soul Surrender, this book begins after Zoe and Zak are finally married and on their honeymoon on a lush tropical island honeymoon complete with 2 children, a dog, a best friend, and a murder! What more could newlyweds ask for? I have read the other books in the Zoe Donovan series, I believe that you'll agree that this one is the best book to date. Imagine Zak and Zoe, their dog Charlie, along Scooter and Alex (the children that are like family to them) on a family vacation style vacation honeymoon. Fortunately there is a Kids Club to entertain the kids so the newlyweds do get to have some adult time as a couple.Kathi Daley's descriptions of the island is as real as some of the islands our family toured with Disney Cruise line. There is a beautiful tourist resort haven resort with minimal separation of the guests from the "poor", impoverished, native inhabitants on the other side of the island. That doesn't keep Zoe from making new friends. One of those new friends introduced toward the beginning of the book, Toad, becomes Zoe's "captor". Zak's business contact, Jensen Ewing, invites the Zak and Zoe to attend a dinner cruise on his yacht. There is a murder, and Zoe is arrested as the primary suspect on the second evening of their honeymoon requiring she spend the night in jail. She was seen arguing with the victim before his death and threatening his life. Zoe is told not to leave the island or to investigate, but Zoe just can't resist and she investigates in true Zoe fashion.The character development is an integral part of the story. Loyal readers care about Zoe, her friends, and her rapidly growing family. It is so nice to see how Zoe has matured. Zak and Zoe are absolutely perfect as a couple. While solving a murder, they still managed to have some alone time, as well as sharing time with the kids who have become an important part of their lives, and planning for a future together. There are several sub-plots in this book and a resolution to a situation with her best friends, Ellie and Levi. The cooperative efforts of Zoe, Zak, Ellie and the two investigators on the case combined solve the murder, thus allowing Zoe to go home at their scheduled departure. During their time on the Island, Zoe and Zak agree on the futures of their two young wards along with Pi, the 16 year old computer genius that Zak has been helping. Zak has made progress on his plan to establish the Zimmerman Academy, a school that would meet the needs of exceptional children like Alex, academically advanced yet emotionally and socially is not ready to attend high school, Scooter who needs loving parental type attention and Pi, the computer hacking genius level teenager. Zak proposes that these unique kids move in with him and Zoe becoming a real family for all of them. The Zimmerman Academy would be an excellent school that future Zimmerman children will attend so they won't have to be sent to a boarding school for a better education than is possible in the Ashton Falls school system. Zoe loves the idea!The books in this series can easily be read and enjoyed as stand-alone mysteries, buy I believe readers will truly appreciate Heavenly Honeymoon to the full extent possible if you read Matrimony Meltdown and Soul Surrender first. Heavenly Honeymoon brings the basis of the original Zoe Donovan series to an appropriate, logical conclusion given the well plotted sequence of events. Zoe has grown quite a bit though through the series and this one ends up being a bit different. The groundwork has been laid for the new direction the series will take. Before you come to the end of this book, Kathi Daley provides an introduction to the "rest of the story" with an enticing description in preparation to take the series on the further adventures of a more mature Zoe Donovan Zimmerman and Zak. I am delighted that this series will continue and can envision Zoe and Zak, starting their new life as parents to three children and the progression of their plans for a school for gifted children. All great news for fans of the Zoe Donovan series. You can read this as a stand-alone but I highly recommend the entire Zoe Donovan-Zimmerman series. It is amazing to read this series and realize how much Zoe has developed and changed over time. I believe this book is the best of the series to date. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves cozies that are well-written and keep you coming back for more. You definitely won't want to skip the delicious recipes at the end of the book which sound amazing!

Although the beginning was different from the Zoe books, I was hooked quickly. I loved the description of the island and I'm ready to pack my bags. The mystery kept me guessing to the end, not to mention the twists and turns. A very fun read and I can't wait to read more about Zimmerman Academy!

Wow, only Zoe could get tossed into jail on her honeymoon, right? Although she’s got a winning personality and managed to get the two cops in charge to be a little friendlier and finally come to an agreement. Good ole Sheriff Salinger at home, gotta love that guy for putting in a good word for our Zoe.Aside from the mysterious murder on a yacht and the killer who only Zoe apparently saw, she and Zak did have a good time on the island consisting of amazing food, making a few new friends and giving their little friends Scooter and Alex an awesome vacation.I love what they decided about schooling for those two and another kid I remembered from a previous book. I like the direction the author said she was taking this series and highly recommend reading the author’s note at the end as well as the excerpt that follows.

Their honeymoon begins big time when Zoe is accused of murder. Alex, Scooter. Zak and Zoe enjoy the Island paradise anyway and find time to help fund an animal rescue. Good book. Well written and lots of intrigue.

Taking two kids (that are not even yours!) on your honeymoon is not the traditional way to celebrate. Then add spending time in jail accused of murder on a small island is definitely not what Zoe had in mind. This book starts out with a bang & continues to produce as the story unfolds. Trouble seems to find Zoe no matter where she goes. This was a quick, enjoyable read! Looking forward to more Mrs. Zimmerman adventures in the future. Also the addition of the first chapter of Zimmerman Academy at the end is very interesting. Anxious to read more about that too.

Wow ending up in jail on her first night. Unraveling the mystery of who did it and some interesting history of the island made this a good read.

I loved this story. It deals with Zoe and Zak's honeymoon. Zoe gets caught up in a murder mystery, and she hasn't been married two days. Zoe solves the murder, and is able to go home at the end of the honeymoon although she was the main suspect. The story is a great read and sure to be enjoyed.

Lets see, we have Heavenly Island, an Interrogator,jail, one Ricardo Jimenez, deceased victim, no bathroombreak, aka an interrogation technique, don't ask, and yes Iuse that technique, a dark skin person only Zoe has seen,and Zoe found leaning over the aforementioned RicardoJimenez17 people are on a dinner cruise, aboard Jensen Ewing's 150foot boat, Ewing being the owner of the Island. One is killed,subtracting Zoe and Zak, leaves us how many possible killers?Just checking to see if you are following along.BUT, Zoe was the only one, holding a bloody knife, making herthe Number One Suspect.And the scary thing is, Island Law, is a different law all together.I am not going to spoil the rest of the story, so I will stop here.I will say though, the book gets better as it goes along.And there is a surprise at the end.Now, you over there, yes you,......what is Zoe's name?