or A Day in the Life of a Red-Headed Hot-Tempered Florist
Dear Euphorbia,
Half an hour until the flower shop opens, so I’m grabbing a minute to update you. Sorry to have been MIA, but, hey, life is never dull here at Bloomers, even after the chaos of the infamous vampire murder died down. So far today, things have been quiet. We started off with my assistant Lottie’s traditional Monday morning scrambled egg and toast breakfast, and Grace’s gourmet coffee and fresh blueberry scones, so how bad can the rest of the day be?
Wait. What am I saying? Today is Monday – the day Mom always brings in her latest outrageous art project for us to sell. Even so, I am determined to remain upbeat because I really want to have a pleasant day.
On the good news front, I’ve taken back my bridal shower! Euphorbia, you’ve been listening to me complain since I began this journal three months ago, so you know what would have happened if I’d allowed Mom, with her off-the-wall ideas, and Marco’s mom, with her take-no-prisoners approach to any kind of celebration, to pull it off. And heaven help me had my cousin Jillian been allowed to choose my shower outfit from one of the haute couture boutiques she frequents.
Being 5’ 2” tall, with red hair, way too many freckles, and what my mom refers to as an ample bosom, I don’t fit into the kind of garb Jillian’s ultra-chic customers do, but she never seems to get that. Well, actually, no surprise there. For a Harvard grad, Jillian doesn’t get much. Luckily, Marco, my groom-to-be, the malest of all males, likes the way I look, freckles and all. So why spend mega-bucks on an outfit that would only make me look like an upscale fireplug?
Anyway, today is going to be crazy busy – two funerals and a wedding to make arrangements for! All I can say is Ka-ching! It would be awesome to have some money in the bank instead of constantly struggling to make this shop profitable. Thank goodness Marco doesn’t have any big PI cases going. Being his assistant isn’t easy when I have to squeeze it in between my work here at Bloomers. Not that I mind assisting him. You know I am all about justice — and Marco.
By the way, the reason I named you Euphorbia? You’re a cousin of the Poinsettia and your sap is extremely irritating to the skin and eyes. Some might call it poisonous. So if Jillian ever starts poking around in my desk drawer, well, let’s just say I’ve already let her know what happens when someone gets your sap on their fingers. If she sees your name on the front of this diary, she’ll be too frightened to open it. She’s gullible that way.
Hello! Marco is on the line. Looks like we’ll be spending our evening investigating a missing person’s case. Who knows? It might turn out to be murder.
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You can read more about Abby in TO CATCH A LEAF, the 12th book in the “Flower Shop” mystery series. The first book in the series is MUM’S THE WORD.
Kate Collins is the author of the national best-selling Flower Shop Mystery series. Her books have made the New York Times Extended Bestseller List, Barnes & Noble mass market mystery bestsellers’ lists, the Independent Booksellers’ bestseller’s lists, as well as bestseller lists in Australia and England. All of the books are available in e-book and large-print editions both in the U.S. and in the UK.
For more information on the Flower Shop Mysteries, visit Kate at: www.katecollinsbooks.com. Kate loves for fans to visit her on her Facebook page, as well as the Cozy Chick website: www.cozychicks.com.
** To celebrate the release of TO CATCH A LEAF, I’m giving away one copy of the book, thanks to the publisher. To enter, you must leave a valid e-mail address in the comment box with your comment. This is only open to US addresses at the publisher’s request. Contest ends on November 11th at 6pm EST. Winner will be notified by e-mail and has 2 days to respond. The book will be shipped directly from the publisher. **
I love the name of the shop
idlivru1(at)gmail(dot)com
Risa
Another one of my favorite series!!!! afarage(at)earthlink(dot)net
I want to read this book. Love Kate, and find her to be such an interesting person. And who does’nt love to go into a flower shop? Beautiful flowers and the wonderful smells. A great and unusual place for murders to happen.
TerryParrish 2010 (at) hotmail (dot) (com)
This is one of my favorite cozy series! I can’t wait to see what Abby and the gang are up to next – and to giggle at her mom’s antics!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com
I have read through Book 7 and cannot wait to catch up! I was introduced to you and your series through a good friend of mine. I love your sense of humor and the suspense. I have never been able to figure out the end of your books! Happy writing!
Sheree Lynn Burress
sheree (dot) burress (at) gmail (dot) com
I, like so many others, love this series. I find myself looking for Bloomers around town, hoping it’s really there! Thank you, Kate, for working so hard so we can all enjoy your stories. I wish you well…
I love flower shops–my grandparents owned one when I was a child and it was such a wonderful place to go in the winter when everything else was covered in snow—I can still remember the wonderful smells there. Hopefully this book will take me away from winter and into a flowershop, too when I read it. Please enter me in your drawing.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I would love to visit Bloomers…. what a great name for a flower shop! This is series I haven’t read (yet!). It is now on my “must read” list and I’m looking forward to getting to know Abby. Thanks for the update.
Jane
jrobinson12 (at) austin (dot) rr (dot) com
I love cozies and haven’t read any with a flower or flower shop theme. Would love to win this one!
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I’d love to read this! It sounds really good!
mittens0831 at aol dot com
Happy reading, ladies! I hope you enjoy the series and the new book in particular. Thank you fro all your kind comments! Love, Kate
Ahem, I did indeed mean “for” and not “fro” in the above comment. Some times those fingers just move too fast!
This is one of my favorite series! 🙂
vicki(at)vickilemonds(dot)com
Can NOT wait to get this book! I’ve been dying to read it since I finished Night of the Living Dandelion! Such a great series! I recommend it to everyone I encounter that loves to read! I have my whole department at work following Abby’s adventures! Great work Kate, ALWAYS a pleasure!
Amy peanutboss@hotmail.com
Love your books…I can’t wait to read your this installment 🙂
pearlkav(at)yahoo(dot)com
I can’t wait to read this one.
Thanks, Amy!! And thank you, Dru, for inviting me.
Suekey, I share your love of flower shops. Who can walk into one and not feel serene? Those lovely scents and pretty colors….. well, I could go on, but it’s in my books! For those who haven’t read one, you will love getting to know Bloomers. The virtual photo of the shop plus the floor plan is on my website. You can walk around the shop “virtually.”
I just started reading the series and I love it.
Thanks Abby and Kate for stopping by.
has your editor thought anymore about letting Abby help Marco with his cases?
Can’t wait to read this. Thanks for all the wonderful recommendations Dru
jplungas at gmail dot com
I’d love to read this one, too!
Contest is closed.