Sierra is learning how to run the flower shop, considering that she was dropped into the business at the deep end. She has added a floral tea shop with enough room to host book groups and small parties. When she is offered the chance to do the flowers for the Mayor's daughter's wedding, the money speaks louder that caution. The major catch? She will be replacing the previous florist who quit and the wedding is in two weeks. If that wasn't enough to make her think twice, once Sierra arrives at the Mayor's mansion for a vendor's meeting the rest of the people involved with the event are a strange group. Top of the list, the prime reason for saying "I've changed my mind" is the wedding planner, a guy named Taz. He's horrid, full of himself, a bully and all around nasty man. Yes, he drives somebody to commit murder by stabbing him and shoving him over the second floor landing railing. He literally dies at Sierra's feet.
Sierra is now ready to run back to her shop and leave the police to their case. Too bad the Mayor's wife has other ideas. She is certain that the police are not doing their job, her daughter has gone missing and the show must go on. To that end she dangles big bucks in front of Sierra to do some investigating for her. If all turns out well the money and the exposure will be a huge boost for the shop. Yes, she should have said no but it was too good to pass up. Famous last words, Sierra.
The small town setting, the various recurring characters coupled with a well plotted mystery are enough for me to read future entries. Sierra improves a bit in each book and I'd like to see her progress in her relationship with Calvin, her tenant, employee and boyfriend. I have to say my two favorite characters are her Granny and Gus, the Corgi puppy.
My thanks to the publisher St. Martin's and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

A fun new entry in the Flower House Mysteries set in rural Tennessee. We finally get to meet a character that has been referred to in earlier books and we get to meet crazy wedding planners and a runaway bride.

This is the third book in this series. I think it is difficult to keep things interesting setting the book in a tiny town and her flower shop is on a dead end street. I keep reading these because I like her Corgi, Gus. However, I am not sure if I would continue as I struggle to find the protagonist interesting. Her sleuthing skills are so-so and I just don't find the town or the flower shop that entertaining.

FATAL FLOWERS by Jess Dylan
The Third Flower House Mystery

Always looking to expand her business, Sierra Ravenswood is pleased at the opportunity to provide the flowers for the wedding of the mayor's daughter. Shocked that the wedding is only a few weeks away and surprised that the bride appears blasé, Sierra nonetheless is excited to join in. While the bride and her mother are gracious Taz, the wedding planner, is arrogant and condescending. A meeting of the wedding vendors turns into a crime scene when Sierra finds his body. Known for her investigative talents as well as her flowers, Sierra will try to uncover the secrets Taz had as well as who had enough of the pompous wedding planner.

An unhappy bride, an insular group of wedding vendors, as well as the status of the wedding, make the story rife with drama, like a pressure cooker ready to pop open. Adding to the drama, someone appears to be targeting Sierra and she is questioning her relationship with Calvin. I admit that I am concerned about some of his ideas.

Appalachian folk wisdom is interspersed throughout the mystery bringing a wonderful sense of place. Combined with Deena's decadent floral themed treats and a sweet dog, I long to visit Aerieville and will have to content myself to waiting for the next book to be released.

FATAL FLOWERS is a smart engaging mystery that captivates with Appalachian charm, wonderful characters, and a clever plot.

I enjoyed this latest installment of Jess Dylan’s Flower House mysteries, although the ending felt rushed and slightly underdone. As always with this series, you get a good sense of place and the mystery is well plotted. This time the action centers around a high profile wedding in Sierra’s hometown. Her services as a florist are requested at the last minute, and she and Deena quickly get drawn into a murder and the complicated relationships surrounding it.

Some of the side characters remain a little underdeveloped in my eyes, and the overall mysteries that are the backdrop of the whole series are starting to linger a little. I’m hoping the next in the series starts to pull these strings together a bit more. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

Fatal Flowers by Jess Dylan, the second in the Flower House Mystery series, finds Flower House owner Sierra Ravenswood stepping in to replace another florist for the wedding of the mayor’s daughter, which is the most elaborate event to ever take place in Aerieville, Tennessee. So why does it seem that the bride isn’t really interested in her wedding? And who killed the wedding planner? This may not be the plum assignment that Sierra thought.

This was a light enjoyable read but does require suspending your disbelief even more than most cozy mysteries. (Would a police officer really participate in a sting operation thought up and led by a florist?). The characters are quirky and likable, and I really appreciate their closeness as well as the strong family dynamic. I wish that Calvin figured a bit more prominently into the storyline. (Is he going to be written out? I hope not!) The side trip to Nashville provides a fresh setting and getting a glimpse of Felix is fun. There are tons of suspects and a never ending supply of clues that will keep you reading. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

What do you call a monster wedding planner? PlannerZilla? What do you call a dead wedding planner? Anything you want, now that he can't give you an evil sneer or kill your career!

Taz (the deceased), was a wedding genius, but mean, greedy, and cruel to people--especially those he worked with. Did someone want him dead, want the mayor embarrassed, or want the wedding (of the mayor's daughter) stopped? Or was it all collateral damage?

Annaliese, the mayor's wife hushes up that her daughter is missing, and wants the killer caught. So she calls the local florist; Sierra Ravenswood! Can Sierra deliver the bride and the killer?

This is book 3 of the series, and Sierra's guy friend Calvin seems interested, but no date, and has trouble closing on a first kiss. (FYI: Important because he runs the greenhouse and lives above the flower shop.)

It's a pretty good mystery, and an enjoyable, clean story. But it's disjointed, and the parts about a treasure hunt are distracting rather than adding depth. Sierra is not very thorough about information gathering. Clues fall in her lap. The ending is pulled together very quickly (off camera) with "This happened, and those people did this...."

About Sierra's "supportive friends;" when everything's on the line, they don't follow her leadership. That really made me dislike them for pretending instead of speaking up about what they disagreed with. The bride's old friend is creepy, and rates a 7/10 on my possible stalker meter. Sierra is not used to support, friendship, honesty, or loyalty. If nothing else, she deserves friends who voice objections. Also, Calvin and the "iffy dating," is no good. These three things disappointed me very much.

3/5 Stars

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the free preview of this ebook; the review is voluntary.

#FatalFlowers #NetGalley #JessDylan
#StMartinsPress #StMartinsPaperbacks
#MysteryandThrillers
#CozyCraftsHobbiesMystery
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#CleanCozyMystery

I enjoyed reading this cozy book fatal Flowers even though I didn't read the first 2 books. I was able to understand what was going on with Sierra as the main character and I picked up on the rest of the characters pretty Easly. I will go back and read the first 2 books soon. Its twist and turns about the killer were amazing till the end I didn't figure it out who it was.

Fatal Flowers by Jess Dylan is the third book in The Flower House Mysteries. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone. I wanted to give this series one more chance. I found the pacing to be varied throughout the book. Frequently the pacing was gentle as Sierra went about her days (working, time with friends, walking the dog, breakfast with parents, chatting with her grandmother, thinking about Calvin, spending time with Calvin). I have mixed feelings about Sierra. I wish she was less wishy washy. I am amazed her business is making any money with her business practices (her website is not updated, went to meeting without portfolio, and does not have updated pictures of flower arrangements readily available on phone are a couple of examples). Some of the other vendors thought she was naïve, but it is more the matter of Sierra not putting enough thought into matters (too many brain cells occupied with thoughts of Calvin). I like Deena, Sierra’s employee and friend. She is a good friend who stands by Sierra. There is humdrum dialogue and activities. The murder of the wedding planner is straightforward. There are a handful of suspects that include the other vendors for the wedding. I wanted more questioning and investigating (less of the namby pamby approach). At a bakery, Sierra had the perfect opportunity to speak with the owner (the woman was in her office with no way to avoid Sierra). Instead of knocking on the office door, Sierra decides to sit in the café and wait for the woman to come out (so she can keep avoiding her). I wanted to yell at Sierra to get her act together. There are some incidents, but the emotions are lacking to make them feel scary or dangerous. Instead of fury (or anger), Sierra is more “oh my, what am I to do.” The killer is easy to identify long before the reveal. I felt that more time is spent on Sierra and Calvin’s romance than on the mystery. At times, it felt that I was reading a romance instead of a cozy mystery. I wanted the murder to have a tie in to flowers. I felt that this was a missed opportunity. I did like learning about edible flowers and seeing them used in the tasty treats served in the flower themed café. Fatal Flowers has all the elements of a cozy mystery: quaint small town, friendly residents, a charming shop (flower shop), a murder, and an amateur sleuth. I just feel the story (the whole series) needs to be livelier with a more complex crime. I read the book, but I did not get into the story. I just kept wondering if the story would ever end. While Fatal Flowers was not for me, I suggest you obtain a sample to judge for yourself. Fatal Flowers is pretty as a posy with a puffed-up wedding planner, creative cookies, a soothing spa, a missing automobile, an alarming motorcycle, a mystifying murder, a warm mother-of-the-bride, and an interfering florist.

This is a new-to-me author. A whodunit with a murder, twists and turns, danger, a lot of suspects, amateur sleuths, and more. I didn’t figure out who the guilty party was until the end.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read the first in the series, missed the second and picked up this one. Sorry I did because the character I thought could develop turned into to someone too stupid to live. Sierra Ravenswood plunges head long into the possible murder of a wedding planner. After being run off the road and pushed In front of a car, Sierra still feels the need to investigate by herself or wander through the woods alone. It’s only a matter of time until she meets the killer all alone. TSTL

FATAL FLOWERS by Jess Dylan is everything a cozy should be. Great mystery with some light danger, fun town, terrific cast of supporting characters (I love granny!), an energetic pet, and a sprinkle of romance. I loved the small-town Appalachian setting and the fantastic flower shop. The wedding planning backdrop allowed for a multitude of good suspects and interesting characters. Will 100% read more in this series!

Fatal Flowers by Jess Dylan (Flower House Mystery #3) 4 stars

Sierra Ravenswood, owner of the Flower House has a new commission. The mayor’s daughter, Marissa Lakely has asked Flower House to provide the floral arrangements for her upcoming wedding. This is an urgent matter because the previous vendor quit unexpectedly. The bride is sweet, but the wedding planner could be a stereotype for “Plannerzilla”. A demanding high strung diva type, Taz Banyan is demanding and rude. The meeting takes an left turn when Sierra discovers Taz, lying in a heap at the bottom of a staircase. As a dying declaration, Taz mutters “It was a snake”. The list of suspects is long; every vendor other than Sierra is on that list. Can Sierra solve the mystery and get the wedding on track again? You will have to finish the book to find out.

This is the third book in this series after “Death In Bloom” and “Petal and Poison”. Both books are on my TBR pile, but I haven’t gotten around to them yet. I am sure I might be missing some of the nuances and relationships between established characters, but the book was an engrossing read anyway. Sierra is a determined sleuth; even willing to go undercover at a spa to find out more about Taz. The ending was action packed and now I am determined to read the previous two books in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

Sierra is making a go of the Flower House, where she never expected to work much less own and now she's got a chance to do the flowers for the wedding of Marissa, daughter of the Mayor of Aerieville. How exciting is that? Marissa is a good egg but Taz, her wedding planner, not so much. So of course, someone murders him! It's not Sierra (even though he was really annoying) but who is the villain? Sierra, with the help of Calvin, her love interest, Granny Mae, and Deena, she dodges danger and solves the mystery. This is the third in a series and while it's fine as a standalone, I've enjoyed watching the characters grow. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans.

This was my first time reading a cozy by Jess Dylan. I thought the mystery was edge of seat a time or two and parts of the book was scary. It most certainly was unpredictable and tragic. I didn’t read book one or two before reading this book. The author filled in some of the past happenings in the series so I wasn’t lost or confused and was able to follow along in the story. The characters were a mixture of personalities and each one added to the mystery. There were plenty of suspects and I was completely fooled because from the very beginning I thought I knew whodunnit. I have always loved the State of Tennessee and The Smoky Mountains and there couldn’t be a better location for this Cozy mystery .

Sierra Ravenswood is the main character in this book. She recently bought the flower shop business from a friend who semi-retired. Her best friend and employee Deena runs the flower shop cafe. Calvin Fox is a Botany Professor who has taken a leave from teaching and has a romantic attraction to Sierra. He works at the flower shop’s green houses and lives at the apartment over the shop. When Sierra gets hired to provide floral arrangements for the mayor’s daughter Marissa Lakely’s wedding she gets more than she bargained for when she meets the wedding planner Taz Banyan. He is rude and arrogant and treats Sierra as though she is below him. Far below him ! Seems Taz caused the former Florist to quit just two weeks before the wedding. Now Sierra seems to have stepped into a hornet’s nest and as far as the other vendors go Sierra started out on the wrong foot just by showing up for her first vendor’s meeting with Taz. Things definitely don’t get any better when Sierra finds Taz wounded from a stabbing. The wedding planner tries to tell Sierra who stabbed him just before he dies . Did he really say snake?

I recommend this book to readers of Cozy Mystery and fans of the author. This book is scheduled to be released on 5/24/22.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

#FatelFlowers#NetGalley

***Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I chose to read this book on my own and all opinions expressed in this review are solely my own. ***

Fatal Flowers is an exciting new cozy mystery from author Jess Dylan about musician-turned-florist/amateur sleuth Sierra Ravenswood.
Sierra is hired as a florist for a high profile local wedding, but the proceedings quickly turn deadly!
This is a fast paced drama with intriguing characters, with many suspects and Sierra's own gang of helpers, including her friends, neighbours and family members
Set in the Appalachian mountains, the setting for the book is scenic and colourful. The plot is lively with an exciting denouement!
Highly recommend!

This is a cozy whodunit. Having not read anything before by this author, apparently there are other books where the main character has dealt with other murders. Sierra Ravenswood is the local florist in a small town and seems to have a propensity for finding dead bodies. In this whodunit, Sierra has been contacted by the Marissa, the mayor’s daughter, to do the flowers for her wedding in two weeks’ time. The previous florist quit due to conflicts with the overbearing and arrogant wedding planner. After being summoned to the mayor’s mansion to meet with all the vendors, a murder takes place. Sierra Ravenswood finds Taz, the uptight wedding planner at the bottom of a staircase and hears his last words, giving a clue. Given his volatile nature and his nastiness to all the vendors, everyone at the meeting is a suspect. The mayor’s wife then asks Sierra to help in the investigation so that her daughter can still have her wedding. Sierra sets off with her friend Deena, asking questions trying to find the murderer.

Some twists and turns but also very predictable. A lot of mundane dialogue, I prefer a story that believes in “show but don’t tell” so that the reader feels a part of the story. Not the best writing style, this was really a mediocre attempt at a cozy mystery. Given the title of “Fatal Flowers”, I had hoped that the murder would involve the element of plants and flowers which could be medicinal or deadly. Apparently, others enjoy this series, but I found it just okay.

Thanks to #netgalley #fatalflowers #jessdylan for the opportunity to rad and review this book.

Fatal Flowers is the 3rd book in the Flower House mystery series by Jess Dylan. Sierra Ravenswood, owner of Flower House is hired to create the floral arrangements for the wedding of the Mayor's daughter. Sierra is excited for the opportunity as it will be her biggest project yet, and will hopefully bring more business to her shop. Sierra is soon invited to the Mayor's mansion for a meeting with the other wedding vendors. While at the meeting, one of the vendors is murdered. Sierra is the last person to see the victim alive.

I was excited to read this book, I have read the two previous books in the series. Sierra has a positive attitude and is always welling to help others. Her Granny Mae had a bigger part in this story which was fun to read. Sierra and her best friend and employee Deena spend more time together as Deena helps to investigate who the killer is. Calvin and Sierra become closer and try to figure out their relationship. This is one of the things that I have enjoyed about the series is the friend/family relationships.

When reading mysteries, I can sometimes figure out the killer, but I couldn't with this story. Being that there were so many wedding vendors as potential suspects and a few other side stories, I was totally surprised when the killer was revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the digital review copy. I am a fan of this series and hope that there are more books to come!

It seems I’m definitely in the minority, but I found out protagonist Sierra a bit annoying and it really took away from my enjoyment. She’s very headstrong and impulsive, but in a way that irked me instead of endeared herself to me. It was also a tad annoying that she kept jumping to conclusions and assuming things.

This is the third book in the Flower House Mystery series. Sierra Ravenswood moved back to her hometown of Aerieville, Tennessee, after a failed singing career in Nashville. She worked part-time at a flower shop in high school and upon returning, resumed her old job. However, she is completely taken aback when her boss Felix goes off geocaching and sells her the shop for one dollar. From there we follow Sierra as she tries to once again find her footing in her community and make her new business a success. In this installment, she has landed her biggest job yet: wedding florist for the mayor's daughter. When the nightmare of a wedding planner, Taz, is murdered during a vendors meeting at the mayor's house, everyone involved in the wedding becomes a suspect. Sierra is determined to get to the bottom of things, especially when someone, possibly the killer, starts stalking her.

I adore this series. The small tightly knitted community setting, the heartwarming relationships between Sierra and her friends and family, and of course, the mysteries have made this one of my favorite cozy series. I think this is my favorite of the three books for two reasons: I love cozies that are centered around weddings, and two, I was completely stumped by who the killer could be. This was a first for me as I was able to correctly guess the killer's identity in the first two books.
All in all, a good addition to the series. I enjoyed Deena and Sierra's friendship in this installment and it was nice seeing more of Sierra's grandmother. I hope she will play a bigger role in a future murder mystery, with her herbs and superstitions.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.