Source: Publisher
Description: Sierra Ravenswood is the new part-time employee of the Flower House, a flower shop in Aerieville, Tennessee. It's true she didn't expect to be back in her hometown at twenty-eight-years-old, but after her dream of making it as a singer in Nashville crashed and burned, she's just grateful to have found a soft place to land.
Because, after all, Sierra firmly believes in being optimistic and positive about life, so she's sure she won't have to work at the Flower House forever. But things take a decidedly negative turn when a customer drops dead in the middle of her new bouquet-arranging workshop at the store. When it's discovered he was poisoned by a snack at the event, everyone at the workshop, including Sierra, is on the suspect list. To make matters worse, her boss has gone AWOL and left the store to her for the cost of one dollar, leaving Sierra in charge of both his store and his high-energy Corgi puppy, Gus.
The town is on edge, and Sierra knows that murder is something that an upbeat attitude and a bouquet of sweet-smelling roses can't fix. She's determined to figure out whodunit, before anyone else in town meets an untimely reason for needing funeral flowers.
Genre: Mystery - Cozy
Why I Picked This Book: I can never resist a cozy and I can't remember the one the last time I read one involving a florist.
My Impression: I think this series has a lot of potential. The small town it is set in is interesting with a nice amount of quirk without being too crazy. I really loved the focus on flowers and find all their different meanings intriguing. As well the friends Sierra makes make for an interesting team and I can't forget about Gus! I can never resist a book with a puppy!
My main issue with the book is most likely a first book issue. There's a lot of setup - who Sierra is, why she's moved back to her home town, her general attitude towards life, etc. This slowed the book down and at times seemed to crowd out the mystery. I'm hoping this will not be an issue in future books as this was a first book in the series. Other then that I did have a few issues with Sierra. She just seems so immature at times and while she is an adult it's sometimes hard to remember that she is one. Because of that her mentions of "signs" and that kind of thing were a little difficult to take seriously.
Overall, this wasn't a favorite but it is the start of a series that I do have hope for. I like the premise and the side characters. I'm not sure this is a series I would recommend yet but definitely one I'll keep an eye on.
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? I will pick up the 2nd book in the series but not sure about after that.
Would I Recommend this Book? Probably not unless you're a huge cozy lover and love books involving flowers.
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
I'm going to give this one a try.
ReplyDeleteWell you always have that character develpment in the first book of a series, I guess because the author knows there is time to do that. I sure love a series.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that suggestion about using gorgonzola and balsamic on the gnocchi, sounds amazing!
I do want to read this one but will lower my expectations. I am glad at least you are interested in trying the next book in the series!
ReplyDeleteIt can be hard to judge based on the first book but the florist aspect would be fun. I think that I might have more of an issue with the main character's immaturity.
ReplyDeleteIt bugged me reading that her boss just jumps ship for $1 and leaves his Corgi behind.
ReplyDeleteHmm, hopefully she will be sighing less in Book #2.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like a series with potential! Hopefully the pace will even out a little in book two, and the heroine will become more mature.
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