I absolutely love cozies and have read my fair share of them and finally I’ve found one where the author definitely impressed me! A must read series for all cozy enthusiasts! ( )

Mystery wrapped in another mystery. This book in the series the first coloring book from the 1700's is discovered so the initial crime really ties in with the premise of the series. ( )

Florrie Fox, manager of the Georgetown book store Color Me Read, is startled by one of her regular customers with a copy of a 1700s Adult Coloring Book titled The Florist. Florrie tells her customer, Dolly, that it appears to be an original and could be worth a great deal of money. Dolly got it at a yard sale so this would be a huge windfall for her. Dolly posts on Social media about her huge find and that's when trouble starts. Florrie is accosted by several people trying to purchase The Florist and Dolly is found dead that evening. When it's discovered that she was murdered, Florrie is even more concerned because of a break-in at the bookstore. Did the burgular think she had The Florist? Was it one of her customers that killed Dolly, or was it someone else?

This mystery was cleverly woven around numerous characters that may have been behind any of the crimes or all of them.
Loads of fun! I think I'll get my coloring books out! ( )

This the second book in the Pen & Ink Mysteries and I think I enjoyed this one more than the first. Florrie Fox continues to manage The Georgetown bookstore by day and design adult coloring books by night. She has made friends with several members of the weekly coloring group, especially Dolly Cavanaugh. Dolly has struggled to make ends meet since her last husband was killed, so she enjoys bargain hunting at estate sales. When she finds a rare copy of "The Florist", an adult coloring book from the 1700's she is interested in finding out what it is worth. That doesn't happen, as she is found dead shortly after with a small piece of the book in her hand, the book itself, missing. Florrie, wondering what happened to her friend as well as worried about what will happen to her tenants, begins to investigate. As secrets begin to come to light, Florrie is left to wonder how well she really knew Dolly. Was The Florist the motive for Dolly's murder, or did a secret from her past catch up with her?

Florrie is a great main character. She loves her job, her home and her friends. Going to an estate sale with Dolly and her friends is a fun way to spend the day and learn all about the bargain hunters who attend as well as those who curate the sales. As more characters are added to the mix, the plot of this story picks up and there are twists that I did not expect. Could a daughter kill her own mother, even if they were estranged? Who is the mysterious man claiming to be looking for his father? Why is someone following Florrie? There were so many red herrings that I changed my mind about the killer so often I was getting dizzy. When it all came together at the end, I felt satisfied, but thought the ending was a bit too fast and furious. I would have liked a few more details. This was a fun mystery and I do recommend it to cozy mystery lovers, especially fans of Krista Davis. Of course, if you love adult coloring books, you will want to purchase a physical copy of this book so you can color the cover and don't forget to check out the recipes at the end. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book to read upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own. ( )

The adventures continue with Florrie Fox and the crew at a bookstore called Color Me Read. A weekly coloring group introduces some new faces to the characters from the first book. Dolly Cavanaugh in particular has had quite the storied life, with four husbands, an estranged daughter and a love of finding a deal at local estate sales. When she uncovers a rare botanical coloring book from the 1700's called The Florist, she is a bit too open about the find and sadly, pays with her life. I like Davis' use of color--Florrie spends a lot of time sketching ideas for the coloring books she creates and the descriptions are very lifelike. I also like how her sketching helps bring the case into focus. The characters work well together, and her sister Veronica still plays the ditz role as far as men are concerned. Bookstore owner Professor Maxwell has an interesting back story, and I hope that is explored in another story. ( )