I sit across the table from the bridezilla and smile.
I’m Audrey Bloom, by the way, and smiling at bridezillas has become a habit of mine. You see, I’m the wedding coordinator at the Rose in Bloom, the florist shop that my cousin Liv and I own in the small town of Ramble, Virginia. And most brides who come in these days have two things in common: first, they’re extremely picky about getting exactly what they want, and second, they haven’t a clue what that is.
She leafs through our latest bridal book and scrunches up her nose at some of the loveliest bouquets. Then she glances at the table of contents and heads straight for the yellow and orange flowers.
Ugh.
Not that I have anything against the colors…but so many orange and yellow flowers have meanings that aren’t quite the best for marriage, at least to the Victorians. And call me a romantic or superstitious…or even eccentric if you must, but I tend to agree with them.
See, in the language of flowers, the yellow lily could mean I hate you. The yellow rose could signify the departure of love or jealousy. The yellow tulip means hopeless love, and the sunflower stands for haughtiness. Even the cute little buttercup, while sometimes symbolizing childhood, can also carry a meaning of childishness–not something most brides want to think of themselves on their wedding days.
Although…
Before the bridezilla’s finger can land on a lovely bouquet of yellow lilies (falsehood and lies), I rip the book from her hands.
“You know what I’d like to do,” I say. “I’d like to design a bouquet just for you. Custom.”
Her right eyebrow goes up. “Just for me? How much extra is this going to cost?”
“Just one of my special services. No extra charge.”
She looks unconvinced, so I lay it on. “One designed around you. And the added benefit is that it will be unique. No one else will have a bouquet like yours.”
In the end, we come up with a fun little arrangement of daisies (cheerfulness), some sunny ranunculus (you are radiant with charms), all focused around lovely cymbidium orchids. So she gets her yellow after all. She blushes when I tell her that orchids today symbolize rare and delicate beauty. We decide to circle the bouquet with ivy, which carries the meaning of faithfulness.
“He’d better be faithful,” she says. “Or I’ll kill him.”
She laughs, so I chuckle politely. Grandma Mae would have washed our mouths out with soap for casually using a threat, even though it was clearly a joke.
But then again, this was Ramble, Virginia. There had never been a murder in remembered history, although Kathleen Randolph, our local historian, said the town had boasted a few doozies back in the day.
But nothing like that ever happened in this sleepy little town. Not these days.
The bell about the door tinkles as the bridezilla goes on to terrorize some other local merchant. Liv comes up behind me. “You could save yourself a lot of work if you’d just sell them what’s in the book, you know.”
“I know. But now she’s happy. I’m happy.”
“Well, who am I to argue with happily-ever-after?”
A sound draws my attention. I glance out the large bay window just as a police car races down Main Street, sirens blaring…
You can read more about Audrey in Bloom and Doom, the first book in the “Bridal Bouquet Shop” mystery series. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
GIVEAWAY:
Comment on this post by noon EST on April 4, and you will be entered for a chance to win a copy of BLOOM AND DOOM. One winner will be chosen at random. Unless specified, U.S. entries only.
Meet the author
Beverly Allen is the author of Bloom and Doom, the first entry of the Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery 
series—and her first novel-length fiction–debuting this year from Berkley Prime Crime. She holds a degree in engineering, but her creative streak caused her to run screaming from the pocket-protector set. She resides in Western New York State and enjoys cooking, crafts, gardening, home-improvement projects and board games, as well as spending time with her ever-patient husband, grown daughter, and four naughty but adorable cats.
Follow dru’s book musing on Facebook for book giveaways, contests, posting about discounted books and some of my reading musings.
Thanks, DruAnn, for hosting this. Especially on Audrey’s birthday!
Looks like a fun new series. Congrats on your first book.
Thanks, Kari!
Oh my another series to add to my ever-growing t-b-r pile/. mountain is more like it! 🙂
Oh, Gram! I have one too. But it’s a pleasure to join your pile!.
I’ve worked in a china shop and brides can be challenging (to say the least). It sounds like this new series has certainly captured the essence of the craft. Thanks for the introduction to Audrey, Ramble and Rose in Bloom! It’s on my book list.
Hi, Jane. By talking with florists and watching Bridezillas. Ugh. We’re also in the middle of planning a wedding. My daughter is getting married in June. Fortunately she is not a bridezilla!
This looks like a series I would be interested in to read.
Oh, looks like a great read, I hope I have the pleasure to read it 🙂
jslbrown2009(at)aol(dot)com
Looks like a fun book. Bridezillas are so funny and I love flowers.
I’d love this!
This is a fun series, thank you for the chance to win
Can’t wait to meet Audrey and her cousin Liv! Thanks for the chance to win!
OK, I’ve come to realize I won’t be able to keep up responding to everyone individually! Thanks so much for your interest in Audrey, and thank you all for entering! I’ll pop by throughout the day should there be any questions!
I love the sound of this book, I find idea of what each flower symbolizes interesting. I’ve heard a few through the years but never really looked into it much. Thanks for the chance to win.
I’m so hoping that I am lucky enough to win…. I’m looking forward to this book!
This sounds like something I’d like!
I love the idea of this book. I love the language of flowers. I am so excited to read this novel!
Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading!
Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
The language of flowers was really interesting to get into. Especially the older guide that I was able to find. Many modern florists have changed all the meanings to be positive. But the older reprint I was able to find contains a very expressive vocabulary that can say anything from “elope with me” to “a deadly foe is near.” There’s so much more fodder there for a mystery writer than a guide where everything means “love.” Thanks so much for entering!
Happy Birthday, Audrey…. may you have many many more… 😉 Can’t wait to read this book…. and would LOVE to win a copy.
I love the title and the cover! I enjoyed reading the excerpt, especially this line: “He’d better be faithful,” she says. “Or I’ll kill him.” This made me laugh out loud! You should have seen the looks I got from my hubby and the dogs! ~LOL~ Thanks for the opportunity to win this book! 🙂
I can’t wait to read this book. I love how much work went into learning about all of the flowers so no one gets married with the wrong flowers in their wedding.
The cover is beautiful – and I love the language of flowers. I don’t know much about it, but I like the idea that in the past, flowers were such an important part of life, each had a meaning. Today, it seems so many miss the beauty around us.
I promise to be a “daisy ivy” reader of Beverly Allen’s book in the future if I win this book now!!
I am intrigued by the fact that flower “meanings” have fallen out of fashion and awareness. Yellow roses can look so beautiful (especially the newer color mixes), but I can’t help but see them and think “infidelity”.
I received a dozen yellow roses last Thursday. They got a lot of attention just because they’re beautiful. I think of them as the remembrance flower. IMHO this cover is more beautiful than those roses. I like the setting and the humor and I hope to learn more about flowers. Sign me up, please.
I received flowers last week for my retirement. I’m really enjoying them. I wonder if any of them have special meaning.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Love all types of flowers. Book looks like a good one.
I’m glad you’re liking the cover. They did such a wonderful job on it, people have told me they could almost smell it. Ronna–by daisy ivy reader,do you mean cheerful and faithful? LOL. And suekey–what were the flowers?
Beverly Allen –that’s exactly what I meant. I really enjoy flowers inside and outside. Adding meaning to flowers just makes them more beautiful. Looking forward to reading your book—and hope I win it here!! What’s the flower for ” hope”?
I love learning the language of flowers. I have already read two books connected with that subject and would love to read a cosy with the information.
Thank you so much for the chance.
CarolNWong@aol(dot)com
Ronna, there are several flowers that can mean hope: cyclamen (timid hope), flowering almond, hawthorn, and snowdrop. I like snowdrop, with its hope of spring!
I’m looking forward to giving this series a try.
I would love this book. I am just getting back into reading. I own a floral shop and I think this would great. Thanks for your book.
Congrats Beverly (Barbara)! I truly look forward to reading Bloom and Doom! Best wishes!
I dabbled in the language of flowers long ago. Would be fun to renew my interest and see if I remember anything.
Wishing you bouquets of good luck with your new series, Beverly. Who doesn’t love flowers; thus you will have a lot of readers wanting to read about a flower shop and the adventures that ensue. I would love to be the recipient of this book and review it for you. Thank you for the giveaway, Beverly and Dru. Really interesting blog as always.
Cynthia
This sounds like a good series. I love flowers.
kaye.killgore@comcast.net
This sounds great. Thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks again, for inviting Audrey to your blog, DruAnn. And thanks to all who commented and showed their interest!
This sounds like a great read for a sunny spring day.
almost missed this giveaway!!!
can’t let this one pass me by!!
thanx!!!
Loved reading the significance of the different flowers.
Everything about this new series it find compelling . Thanks for the review and giveaway
This book sounds so good. I just love that the story is about bridezilla’s, they must be so hard to deal with. I would love to read it. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Thanks Beverly for interacting with my readers and introducing us to Audrey.
Thanks so much, Dru, for hosting!
contest is closed.