Sleeping With Anemone (Flower Shop Mysteries 9) by Kate Collins

 

Publisher: Signet; Original edition (February 2, 2010)
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
Format: LIT

Maybe Abby Knight shouldn't have chosen a home and garden show sponsored by Uniworld Food as the venue for her protest against the corporation's harmful farming practices. But being bodily removed from the event won't stop her campaign. Nor will a burning brick thrown through her flower shop's window.

After she narrowly escapes being kidnapped three times, Abby calls in the big guns-her ex-Ranger boyfriend Marco and her friends and family. And then the stakes are raised by murder...

Review:

(5/5) - At a home and garden show sponsored by Uniworld Food, Bloomers Flowers owner Abby Knight circulates a petition against the host firm opening up a dairy farm in which the firm uses bovine hormones to increase milk production by nine times. The hormones get into the milk people drink and harm the animals. Her efforts anger the company's district manager Nils Raand who has her removed from the exhibit hall.

Back at her florist shop, Abby finds a broach in a box or orchids she ordered from Hawaii. Her mother makes duplicates to be sold at the shop. Abby is missing an order of anemones that the vendor says he sent to her. Although she is annoyed over the mix-up she becomes frightened over the attempted kidnappings of her roommate Nikki, cousin Jillian and niece Tara. Kate and her lover former Ranger boyfriend turned private investigator Marco believe Nils is behind the terrorism crimes. A brick inside burning paper is tossed through the shop window. However, Kate reconsiders whether Nils is the culprit or someone else from Uniworld whose corporate values can be found in the sewage system though she also wonders why a large influential corporation would violently go after a minor league gnat.

Readers will thoroughly enjoy this amateur sleuth tale that uses family humor in between some dangerous escapades. The heroine is strong willed and at times resents Marco trying to protect her as she is no lilting violet. Their families want the duo married, another item that upsets her as she feels they should mind their business. Marco is a saint for putting up with the female Oscar the grouch. However what refreshes the latest Flower Shop mystery is the issue of whether hormonal induced products are safe in the long run vs. the immediate starvation around the world.

Harriet Klausner 

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Evil in Carnations (Flower Shop Mysteries 8) by Kate Collins

Publisher: Signet (February 3, 2009)
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
Format: PDF

The dating scene can be a killer...

Determined to help her roommate Nikki out of her singles slump, Abby Knight encourages her to give speed dating a try. Of course, Nikki wants the guy at the very bottom of Abby’s list, Jonas Treat—a.k.a. “Treat the Cheat”—and figures just one date with him couldn’t hurt. But then Jonas is found dead—and evidence points to Nikki as his killer.

To clear Nikki’s name, Abby enlists the help of her hunky ex-Army Ranger boyfriend, Marco. But Marco’s rambunctious extended family turns Abby’s hectic life into a disaster zone. With her patience seriously wilting, and a killer on the loose, Abby is determined to dig herself out of this mess—before someone buries her instead...

Review:

(5/5) - Why does it seem like forever between books in a great series? Number 8 in this line-up is worth the wait, though. Things are heating up between Abby and Marco, so Abby tries to help her best friend find true love, too...but things do not go according to Abby's perfect plan! And we get to know Marco's family better now, for better or worse. (!) This is a fun read and the series definitely continues to please.

(4/5) - At least in this case with Nikki trying to get over her boyfriend. Speed dating doesn't seem to work very well for Abby's roommate. Especially when Nikki is accused of killing her date. Abby is flabbergasted that someone would accuse Nikki of harming anyone. So, she had Marco and her friends gather all the information they can find, to absolve Nikki of this murder. Can she do it? I am always happy to read a "Flower Shop "mystery. Kate Collins does a great job with the characters and plot. I keep coming back for more. A nice cozy mystery series.

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Shoots to Kill (Flower Shop Mysteries 7) by Kate Collins

Publisher: Signet (August 5, 2008)
Language: English
Paperback: 336 pages
Format: PDF

Eight years ago, Abby Knight babysat for a problem teen named Elizabeth. Today, Elizabeth’s back, with a new name (Libby) and a whole new life (stolen)—namely, one that already belongs to Abby. Libby’s even trying to steal Abby’s boyfriend, Marco. But imitation really becomes the sincerest form of trouble when Abby finds herself the accused dupe in a bizarre murder plot.

Review:

(5/5) - Very few people are as happy as Abby Knight is. She gets on great with her family; her developing relationship with private investigator Marco Salvatore is strong and intense; and she loves working in her florist shop Bloomers.

Elizabeth "Libby" Blume returns to town to Abby's horror as she knows how treacherous the woman is since she babysat her as a child and tried to steal her identity. Libby asks for a job at Abby's store, but Abby says no. Instead Libby opens up an art store up the block from Bloomers that is almost identical in looks; she also manages to make herself look like Abby's twin. She interferes with Abby's relationship with Marco; causing a breakup. When Libby's mom turns up dead, everyone assumes the daughter killed her mostly due to Abby's behavior towards Libby, but evidence is lacking. Abby investigates seeking the proof although two other suspects with strong motives surface including the victim's mentally disturbed son meds he does not always take..

Kate Collins keeps getting better with each new book she writes, which is saying a lot as her backlist is top rate (see A ROSE FROM THE DEAD). The amateur sleuth investigation is fun to follow as the key characters are fully developed especially the "twins" and Marco; yet there is plenty of action filled with plausible twists. Often amusing, the fun in the tale is Abby's deep desire to prove Libby committed the homicide, but every clue leads away from the manipulative minx to other people. The Abby-Marco romantic subplot with its Libby-induced troubles adds to the heroine's need to find the proof as SHOOTS TO KILL is an entreating whodunit.

Harriet Klausner

(5/5) - Book 7 of the Flowershop mysteries - I loved it and it is my new favorite of the set (so far.) Abby's old babysitting client comes back to town, opens a shop across from Abby's flowershop on the square, cuts and dies her hair to match Abby's, even gets a Corvette like Abby's. Is it 'imitation' as flattery, or something more sinister. Cute cozy. Looking forward to book 8 in Feb 2009!

This installment is slightly longer than the previous books, which really shows in the development of the plot.

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A Rose from the Dead (Flower Shop Mysteries 6) by Kate Collins

Publisher: Signet (December 4, 2007)
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: PDF

In New Chapel, Indiana, flower shop owner Abby Knight worries about her business failing. She needs new customers and knows that flowers and funerals go together like bacon and eggs. Thus she decides to open up a "tasteful" floral booth at the Funeral Director Society's annual convention.

On the down side, Abby will deal with some creepy souls who appreciate the DEARLY DEPOTTED as no one else can dig them. For instance, the Colonel who is president of the FDS is the self-anointed Master Mortician who insists he knows everything there is in converting a corpse into a living tribute and is willing to tell anyone who is not afraid to ask him for a consultation. Then there is the environmental ground-hugger Eli "Green Guy" Cotton who believes Kermit is right that grieving relatives should send their loved ones off in green.

The lively gala turns morbid when cosmetician to the dead Sybil "the Diva of Death Masks" Blount is killed. Unable to resist, Abby investigates who was drumming up business.

Review:
(5/5) - This newest installment of the Flower Shop Mysteries by Kate Collins is a great read for those who enjoy mystery, romance, and quirky humor! Abby continues to show her spunk, Marco continues to be the guy all us ladies *wish* we knew...and hanging out with them while solving the mystery is as much fun as ever.
(5/5) - Florist Abby Knight agrees to attend a convention of funeral directors hoping it will drum up business for her. She thought the convention would be rather boring and is surprised that it has events like casket racing. There are even more surprises in store for Abby when organizer Sybil Blount is murdered. The police suspect Abby's friend Delilah Dove committed the murder but Abby doesn't believe it and thinks she knows who the real murderer is. The convention will soon be over and Abby and her boyfriend Marco only have a few hours to solve the mystery or a killer will go free.

"A Rose from the Dead" is another good entry in Kate Collins delightful flower shop cozy mystery series. Abby is a good heroine, a bit more confident now as a business owner and with a penchant for getting a little too involved in solving the mysteries and putting herself in danger. All the favorite characters are here in this book - the sometimes-enigmatic Marco; Abby's helpers in the shop, Lottie and Grace; and police sergeant Sean Reilly. Abby's roommate Nikki isn't in the book that much which is a shame and Abby's mother is also missing for much of the book, but her latest artistic endeavor, a baby gift, is laugh out loud funny. In fact, there is a nice sense of humor throughout the book that makes it even more enjoyable to read. The mystery aspects of the book are well done. Giving Abby a short period of time to solve the mystery is a nice touch as it gives a bit of tension to the book. The mystery is well plotted with plenty of suspects although I was able to figure out who the killer was because of what I thought was an obvious clue. Still, it was a fun book to read.

"A Rose from the Dead" is a nicely done cozy mystery.

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Acts of Violets (Flower Shop Mysteries 5) by Kate Collins

Publisher: Signet (March 6, 2007)
Language: English
Paperback: 320 pages
Format: PDF

During the annual Pickle Fest, Abby's boyfriend Marco inexplicably disappears for a day. When he returns, he's the main suspect in the death of a clown. It seems the cops have found Snuggles pushing up water-spurting daisies-and Marco was the last person seen leaving Snuggles's house. Although Marco is still a mystery to her, Abby knows he's innocent. Now she has to find a way to prove it.

Review:

(3/5) - When Snuggles the clown is murdered and Abby's boyfriend, hunky ex-cop Marco is the chief suspect because he was the last one seen leaving Snuggle's house, Marco asks Abby to help find the real killer. Even though she's solved some murder cases in the past, Abby is very nervous about solving this one - if she fails, Marco could go to jail. But it won't be easy, when he was a cop Marco had a run in with Snuggles (Dennis Ryson) that resulted in Marco leaving the police force. Marco also had a fist fight with Snuggles shortly before he was murdered. Abby knows that she has to work fast, Marco is the only suspect and even some of his cop friends are afraid he may be guilty. While Abby is convinced that Marco is innocent, she worries because he is keeping secrets from her: what exactly is his relationship with the attractive Trina who was threatened by Ryson and why doesn't he want her to meet his mother? As Abby gets closer to the truth her own life is in danger.

While not the best book in Kate Collins Flower Shop Mystery series, "Acts of Violets" is still a good cozy mystery. Abby's an endearing heroine willing to investigate the murder even though she is full of self-doubt. In fact, my one complaint about this book is that Abby is not as strong as usual, she is full of doubts and insecure about her relationship with Marco. She also has a propensity for unbuttoning her top button on her blouse to show off her ample cleavage, something I don't remember her doing in other books. Other characters are well developed and readers will learn more about Marco just as Abby does. There's a nice sense of humor throughout the book including a pickle parade; Abby's mother's latest art project; a funny scene in a diner; and the scene (and it's aftermath) when Abby finally does meet Marco's mother. The humor does go a bit too far - a character's lisp becomes distracting and is a bit cruel. The mystery itself is well done, although there aren't a lot of suspects. The outcome of Abby's confrontation with the murderer is neatly foreshadowed at the beginning of the book which is a nice bit of writing by Collins.

"Act of Violets" is a good cozy mystery.

(5/5) - Book 5 in the series - the annual pickle fest, a mean clown, and Mama Salvare. The rest of the usual characters return, along with a few new ones. Abby's always had a fear of clowns, and when she is accosted by one at the pickle fest, Marco steps in. Then the clown turns up dead .. and Marco is the lead suspect. Can Abby save him?

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Snipped in the Bud (Flower Shop Mysteries 4) by Kate Collins

Publisher: Signet (May 2, 2006)

Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: PDF

When someone orders a black rose for Abby's old law school nemesis, Professor "Snapdragon" Puffer, her plans for a speedy delivery are foiled when he catches her putting the bloom on his desk and sends it straight into the trash. So she heads back in to retrieve her dignity and her flower-only to find the rose now decorating a dead professor, and herself the prime suspect...

Review:

(4/5) - Flower Shop owner Abby Knight is asked to deliver a black rose to Professor Puffer, who terrorized her during her brief time as a law school student. Abby is hoping to drop off the rose and run, but much to her dismay she runs into not only Puffer but another law professor, Carson Reed, who not too long ago had Abby arrested at an animal rights protest. Both men bully Abby into fleeing the building, but she decides to stand up for herself and goes back inside only to find that Professor Reed has been murdered. Plenty of people heard Abby's fight with Reed and she is a chief suspect in his murder and there's a real chance she'll be arrested. While Abby fights to clear her name, she stumbles upon a series of pet nappings and is convinced the two are related. But can she and hunky ex-cop Marco find the real murderer and pet nappers before she is arrested for murder?

This was a nicely plotted cozy mystery. Although I've read many mysteries where the heroine is considered a suspect, this is the first one I've read where the situation wasn't contrived and there was a legitimate reason for the police to suspect Abby. Abby is an engaging heroine, although there were times in this book when her meddling was a bit too much and once or twice I rolled my eyes while reading the book. The book has lots of humor and Abby's various disguises as she hides from the Media and various townspeople who think she is the murderer are quite humorous. The mystery is well written and I didn't guess who the real murderer was until the very end.

Very enjoyable.

(5/5) - I recently started reading this mystery series, and I have read all three of the predecessors. I love this book, I couldn't put it down. I loved the other three also, but I clearly think this one is the best. Abby is a great amateur sleuth with a sharp wit and a nose for murder. Collins creates wonderful, believable characters that will keep you coming back for more. I loved Abby's disguises in this book, they were hilarious. I also am quite fond of the cat Simon, who Collins seems to work into every story, which I appreciate. I love her descriptions of the flowers and Abby's banana colored convertable. This is a great new series and so far I haven't been disappointed. I hope Kate Collins continues to produce these books because I can't get enough!

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Dearly Depotted (Flower Shop Mysteries 3) by Kate Collins

Publisher: Signet (July 5, 2005)

Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: HTML

Abby has her hands full at her cousin Jillian's wedding as florist, bridesmaid, and grandma-sitter-all while wearing a hideous dress. Then the groom's 90-year-old grandmother goes missing from the reception. On her search, Abby finds the corpse of guest Jack Snyder. Now she must find out who killed Jack in the pulpit.

Review:

(4/5) - A wedding, love in the air and a dead body in the gazebo. What else could go wrong?

Abby Knight, owner of "Bloomers" hadn't thought things could get worse. Not only was she the florist at the wedding, but a bridesmaid (In a hideous clown gown) and grandma sitter, for the 90 year old grandmother of the groom.

Plus she had to convince her cousin Jillian (a many times engaged but never made it to the altar, bride) that she really, really, really did want to marry Claymore Osborne.

Then the groomsman she was paired with is injured and can't make the wedding and Jillian expects her to find a substitute.

Fortunately, her "boyfriend" Marco Salvare, owner of "Down The Hatch Bar And Grill" agrees to escort her down the aisle.

Then she loses grandma at the reception, only to find her outside at the gazebo having found a dead body, which turns out to be Jack Snyder, who had recently got out of jail.

Who would want this former jailbird dead?

What about Jillian's cousin Melanie who Jack had gotten pregnant and then dumped her, never seeing or supporting their daughter.

Or Melanie's father, Josiah (Just because he got into a fight and beat Jack up in the middle of the wedding shouldn't put him at the top of the list should it?)

But the police seem to be more interested in Richard Davis, who was dating Abby's friend and employee Grace. It's Grace who asks Abby to help find the real killer before Richard is tried and convicted of a murder she's sure he didn't commit.

Highlights:

This is a wonderful series. This is the third book and it just keeps getting better. Abby is a very believable character.

Her boyfriend Marco fits perfectly with her. He doesn't constantly tell her to stop investigating, but instead, (as a former cop) helps her all he can.

Abby's family. Everyone except her father is crazy, but you just love them.

Nikki, her best friend and roommate, employee's Grace and Lottie, clients like Trudee DeWitt and her wonderful cat, Simon have all become more involved in the storyline. In the first book, Abby was pretty much a lone wolf, doing everything herself and didn't have a lot of interaction with other characters, but that has improved over each book.

Pryce Osborne - Abby's former fiancee, and brother of the groom, who dumped her when she dropped out of law school. He is such a jerk that you just love the zingers Abby sends his way.

Lowlights:

I did figure out the killer a little before Abby, but that doesn't interfere with the story at all.

Abby could use a little more backbone when dealing with her family.

Overall a very good entry in this series.

(5/5) - Dearly Depotted takes up where the previous Slay It with Flowers left off, with Abby busy with her cousin Jillian's wedding and Trudee DeWitt's 4th of July extravaganza--all on the same day.

And of course things go wrong. There are pink instead of red carnations, a groomsman with a sprained ankle, and a wandering grandmother. To top it off, she has to wear The World's Ugliest Bridesmaid Dress™ in front of the hunky Marco.

But all that tends to pale next to finding another dead body when Abby goes looking for the groom's missing grandmother. Abby had promised her friend Grace to stop meddling in murder, but when Grace's new boyfriend turns out to be the prime suspect, Grace reluctantly asks for Abby's help.

This series is a fun blend of clever mysteries and an engaging and quirky cast of characters that just get more interesting with each book. I'm looking forward to the next, and hoping this will be a good long series.

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Slay It with Flowers (Flower Shop Mysteries 2) by Kate Collins

Publisher: Signet (March 1, 2005)
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: LIT

Law school drop-out-turned-flower shop owner Abby Knight has been asked to be a bridesmaid by her cousin. But before the couple says "I do," a groomsman disappears-and another member of the wedding party is found dead. Abby has to hurry down an aisle of suspects to unveil the truth-and make sure the bride still gets to the church on time.

Review:

(3/5) - In this second installment of the increasingly delightful Flower Shop Mysteries, Abby Knight, owner of a struggling flower shop, is not only a bridesmaid in her cousin Jill's upcoming wedding, she is in charge of the flower arrangements, which will bring much needed money into her shop. As if Abby didn't have enough to do, when one of the men in the wedding party disappears and another is murdered, Jill insists that Abby solve the murder. Abby has no choice but to agree (she really needs the money from the wedding) and as she investigates she finds herself surrounded by suspects. Abby also is convinced that there's a prostitution ring in town, so she starts to investigate that as well, thinking the two might be connected. Not everyone is happy with her meddling and Abby needs to solve the case soon before she becomes the next victim.

I liked this book much better than the first one in the series "Mum's The Word". Abby is much more likable and, unlike the first book, her involvement in the murder investigation is understandable. Unfortunately, her "meddling" in the prostitution ring, although a necessary plot point, is not as well explained. And Abby still does some stupid things that strain a reader's patience, like photographing in broad daylight license plates of men that she thinks are visiting the alleged prostitutes. The other characters are well drawn: Marco, the hunky ex-cop is not as much a cliché as in the first book; Grace and Lottie, Abby's coworkers, are delightful; Jill, Abby's cousin, is shallow and stupid, as are much of the wedding party outside of Bertie, whom I'd like to have seen more of. I'd also like to see more of Abby`s roommate, Nikki, perhaps she'll get more involved in solving cases in future books.

There are some minor flaws in this mystery, but there are some nicely humorous scenes (it's worth reading just to see what Abby's mother's latest sculpture is) and I can't wait to read the next one!

(5/5) - Light and fun with appealing characters and some genuine wit. Abby is the owner of a flower shop and is doing the floral decorations for her rich and senseless cousin, Jillian's, wedding. When one of the groomsmen turns up dead and another is missing, Jillian begs Abby to find the culprit so that her wedding can go on as planned. Because Abby will be out of a large sum of money if the wedding does not proceed (a truckload of flowers and a hideous bridesmaid dress) she aggrees. As she snoops for clues, she discovers some other unseemly activity in her small town and becomes a target for some unknown bad guys.
This is a quick, feel-good read, with good pacing and character development. Fans of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum will notice some resemblances, but all for the good.

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Mum's the Word (Flower Shop Mysteries 1) by Kate Collins

Publisher: Signet; First Thus edition (November 2, 2004)
Language: English
Paperback: 304 pages
Format: HTML

Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits-and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She's determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

Review:

(4/5) - In the 1st book in the Flower Shop Mystery series, we meet "Bloomers" floral shop owner, Abby Knight. She has been thrown out of law school, dumped 2 months before her wedding, and is struggling to pay the bills amongst fierce competition from a discount florist nearby. However, Abby is upbeat, and is enjoying a beautiful day in her restored, yellow Corvette. That all comes to a screeching halt the moment a black SUV rams her car and takes off. Abby is determined to track down the hit-and-run driver, and make him pay for her car insurance bill. When she discovers that a murder had occurred the morning of the car crash, she is convinced that she has witnessed the killer leave the scene of the crime. She begins to investigate, and with help from ex-cop turned P.I., Marco Salvare, she pokes around in the case, and quickly becomes a target for an assassin on the rampage.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, and completely disagree with some of the reviews that I read before picking the book up at my local library. I read a lot of cozy mysteries, and love the genre. Not everyone will, however, so if you are not a fan of cozies, I would look elsewhere, as it definitely follows the cozy style. I thought the book had an interesting setting, a likeable main character in Abby, great supporting characters in Abby's family and friends, and plenty of romantic tension. I found myself laughing aloud at times...and enjoy the fact that this series offers a bit of humor to go along with the good mystery. If you are a fan of Heather Webber, Donna Andrews, or Maddy Hunter, give this series a try.

The second book in the series is called "Slay it With Flowers". Enjoy!

(5/5) - This book is great. I originally ordered this because it was written by someone on our area. But I was hooked right away. I zoomed thru all of these books and am anxiously awaiting the next one. My husband is on # 2 already and we have passed on this one to our daughter. These have enough funny stuff to make you laugh but the mystery really keeps you guessing. Loved them all!!

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