I had really already decided to stop this series after the last one because it's just not my thing, but I bought this one by accident so I had thought to give it a try. I picked it up this afternoon and after reading this on the back:

"Meanwhile, Abby keeps secret from Marco her own investigation into the home's inhabitants..."


No. Just, no. Not my thing at all.

Of course, I'm not going to rate it since I haven't even opened the cover. On the plus side, my shelves just gained about 2 feet of empty space. :)

One of my favorite authors, she nailed it again! ( )

A Root Awakening is the sixteenth book in the A Flower Shop Mystery series.

It's always a joy for me to sit on a bench in the village square watch for the wonderful characters that work at Bloomer's and Down The Hatch. Bloomer's being Abby Knights flower shop and her able assistants, Grace and Lottie. Grace who can be counted on to add timely quotes and Lottie's great sense of humor. Down The Hatch is the bar that Abby's husband, Marco, owns.

The newlyweds have returned to New Chapel to begin the married life together. The first thing on their agenda is to find a home. The first house that they are going to look at is having a new roof put on and us being painted. As they are about to go into the house, the extension ladder the painter, Sergio, is on beings to fall and throws him to the ground. Sergio is taken to the hospital in serious condition and the police feel that it was a workplace accident. But Abby is concerned that something isn't right with the daughter of the family living there. Soon, Rosa, Sergio wife ask Marco and Abby to look into the matter, as she feels that there was a vendetta against Sergio.

Marco and Abby begin to interview the crew that was working on the house. But at the same time Abby starts her own investigation into the little girl and her family. She wants to find out the young girl is upset and to show Marco that she really does have the necessary investigative skills to handle investigations on her own. They soon find that are many possible suspects. Most of the construction crew had personal reasons to be rid of Sergio. Likewise, Abby finds that there is something the parents of the children are hiding, she just needs to find a way to talk with the young daughter.

Grace is around to provide her timely quotes and her delicious scones and tea for the customers and staff. Of course Lottie is around to keep the flower side of the business running smoothly while Abby is out sleuthing.

And Jillian!!! I have come to love this character. Jillian is Abby cousin and provides some wonderful comedic times to the book. Readers have been with her through he nine months of pregnancy and the time is nearing for her to give birth, but she still hasn't still hasn't decided on a name for the newborn. And as is only possible in her flighty character, she is on a first name basis with almost the emergency room staff.

I love this series and can't wait for the next book to see how Abby and Marco's new home will be and to see what Jillian will do now that she is a mama. ( )

A Root Awakening is a generous return to form. After the abysmal Throw in the Trowel, I had called it quits with an air of finality. But since I've been in a reading rut since the start of this year, I decided to throw caution and pride to the winds and broke my resolution to have nothing to do with the Flower Shop mystery series.

The best thing about this series is that Kate Collins is so inspired. With the previous 15 adventures crammed in 2 years in the 'Abbyverse', she has remained decidedly fresh - no pun intended. With that form, she looks to be chronicling the events of a fanciful and suspenseful reality where people - alright, Abby and Marco - don't find it strange to be risking life and limb for the thrill of it. Abby doesn't find it unbelievable to be having so many life threatening adventures. But among all the cozies I've read, there has been only one series where the characters are aware of this jinx. While this lack of feeling is unfortunate, it's completely understandable and there are enough quirky, original, decisive, defining, progressive, and endearing attributes to make the series be unique. I feel there's an unexplained absence of Abby's best friend Nicky. She has been missing for two books now. While I found her loss in the last book unforgivable, a loss that might have played heavily in me ditching the series, I've now accepted this absence and perhaps all is for the best. People drift apart.

Regarding this particular book, I felt from the start that it was a winner. The mystery was a clever conundrum of two cases intertwined, with Abby involving herself, with nothing but a gut feeling. Jillian I found amusing and not overbearing at all, which is a first for me. I found the dead end met by Abby's husband in the investigation of Sergio, natural and subject to normalcy and leading to a thrilling third act. The incapacitated state of Sergio and what happens to him contributed to the strong score I've given the book. The last three or four chapters were very satisfying, and I'm back. Back on the bandwagon and pleased to be here. I keep fingers crossed, hoping the next book is a confirmation of this one's success and not a flash in the pan nor an abnormality. It's great to follow the perky shenanigans of a 16th book where other authors of other franchises are just phoning in their flagging and unimaginative books. Even if Kate Collins were to be on auto pilot, I'd be even more impressed. It takes real talent to keep on churning pleasant and nice and interesting and addictive books like these without trying. It takes a real good effort to earn 4 stars from me these days. Can't wait to know more about Jillian's baby and Abby's temporary abode. ( )

What do a man on a ladder, a child who looks at Abby strangely, a woman with a mop, and a possible murder have to do with a search by Abby and Marco for a house of their own? Throw in help from Abby's very pregnant cousin Jillian who has renewed her real estate license to find the perfect house, her seemingly everlasting false labor pains, and Abby prowling after possible criminals and what do you have? A book that is a quick, easy read that will have you scratching your head, as one possible crime becomes entangled with another possible crime to keep you on your toes. What or who caused Sergio's fall? If it was deliberate, which of his co-workers may have seen something or even might have pushed the ladder away from the roof?

Marco and Abby, now married and living in Marco's apartment, are finding their quarters cramped and really want to move into their own place. Business is brisk at Bloomers, the flower shop Abby owns and operates, and Marco is kept very busy with his two businesses, his bar "Down the Hatch" and his private investigator business. Abby is almost always his assistant on top of her own job managing her store.

This series is fun and captivating. The kooky items that Abby's mother brings in to sell in the shop gives Abby grief, but they are so creatively awkward they are entertaining in their own right. The camaraderie between Abby and her assistants is comforting, and fortunately allows her time to work on what she calls her "hobby", sleuthing, her three-legged rescue dog Seedy often accompanying her.

Rosa, Sergio's wife, is absolutely sure that someone pushed her husband off the roof and has hired Marco to find the culprit. In the meantime, she begins working part-time in Bloomers when she isn't by Sergio's side waiting and hoping for him to regain consciousness. There is so much going on in this book, with some very strange twists, but the story line remains intact and quickly moves in action and excitement. Another strong plot in the Flower Shop Mysteries from Kate Collins. This is #16 in the series and has not lost any of it's charm. ( )