Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel

Book Description

In nineteenth-century China, in a remote Hunan county, a girl named Lily, at the tender age of seven, is paired with a laotong, “old same,” in an emotional match that will last a lifetime. The laotong, Snow Flower, introduces herself by sending Lily a silk fan on which she’s painted a poem in nu shu, a unique language that Chinese women created in order to communicate in secret, away from the influence of men. As the years pass, Lily and Snow Flower send messages on fans, compose stories on handkerchiefs, reaching out of isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments. Together, they endure the agony of foot-binding, and reflect upon their arranged marriages, shared loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their deep friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.

Download Description

Lisa See is the author of Flower Net (an Edgar Award nominee), The Interior, and Dragon Bones, as well as the critically acclaimed memoir On Gold Mountain. The Organization of Chinese American Women named her the 2001 National Woman of the Year. She lives in Los Angeles.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

I hated it.......2007-10-18

I wanted to like this book. It seemed like I would like this book, but I didn't like it at all. I put it down halfway through and didn't even finish it. I wasn't crazy about it early on, but then when something awful happened to one of the 2 main characters and I DIDN'T CARE, I knew I was finished with this book.
Although I did find fascinating the whole foot-binding tradition and how Chinese women lived then, I was very disappointed in the story.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.......2007-10-17

Fascinating story about the life of a young girl in 19th century China. Wonderful insights about Chinese customs, life and values. Great selection for our Book Club!

Love & struggles.......2007-10-16

I recently chose Snow Flower and the Secret Fan for a book club. All the ladies seemed to enjoy this pick as it demonstrated in detail the culture and helped us be grateful for our big feet, not to mention our freedom. OBEY, OBEY, OBEY, is not something that I could have done as easily as Lily and Snow Flower. Their courage through it all left me in awe, respecting their everyday life, struggles and love.
This is a recommend read for all mothers, daughter and wives that think they have life difficult.

fantastic story.......2007-10-11

I loved this book - I am a fan of novels that weave historical information, or cultural information thru the story, and See did a fantastic job with both. The characters were so well done and the imagery was fantastic. I only wish it was longer!

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: What an amazing book!.......2007-10-10

My favorite book in my 2 year book club. I love the way she writes and describes a world and lives of strong women who have no choice, no love, no life but yet have each other, dreams, and and hope.

Acts Of Violets: A Flower Shop Mystery (Flower Shop Mysteries)

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Blooming Fantastic!
Introducing Mama Salvare
Light and pretty fast paced.
Best one yet!
Good Cozy Mystery

Acts Of Violets: A Flower Shop Mystery (Flower Shop Mysteries)
Kate Collins
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Slay It With Flowers

ASIN: 0451220749

Book Description

During the annual Pickle Fest, Abby's boyfriend Marco inexplicably disappears for a day. When he returns, he's the main suspect in the death of a clown. It seems the cops have found Snuggles pushing up water-spurting daisies-and Marco was the last person seen leaving Snuggles's house. Although Marco is still a mystery to her, Abby knows he's innocent. Now she has to find a way to prove it.

Customer Reviews:

Blooming Fantastic!.......2007-09-01

Snuggles the Clown has been murdered!

But worst of all Abby Knight's boyfriend - tough guy bar owner, ex-cop, and private eye, Marco Salvare - has been accused of the murder. Now Abby has to pull out of the stops with her team of flower shop amateur snoops to find out the real deal before Marco ends up in the clink for good! Or before Marco's ex-flame ignites an old love torch!

ACTS OF VIOLETS is the fifth entry in author Kate Collins's delightful amateur sleuth series. The heroine is Abby Knight, a college drop out turned flower shop owner. Although Bloomers isn't exactly the Batcave and her two employees (Grace and Lottie) aren't exactly Robin and Alfred, Abby has managed to solve four previous cases involving murder.

As always, despite the fact that murder is involved, the books tone is kept light and just left of wacky. Abby puts me in mind of Janet Evanovitch's New Jersey bounty hunter, Stephanie Plum. Like Stephanie, Abby has a strange family that won't stay out of her business or personal life. Her mother is an artist who creates the most awful statues ever imagined.

In this book, Abby also has to confront Mama Salvare, Marco's pushy mother, and the power struggle between the two women is fun to watch and realistic.

Abby wouldn't ever have been involved in the murder if her boyfriend hadn't tried to take up for her against the clown. During the local Pickle Fest (a truly huge homegrown affair filled with traditions), Snuggles ends up threatening Abby after a near-mishap because she's always had a fear of clowns. Marco can't leave things alone, though, and slips off to have a quiet word with the clown.

Before everything is said and done, Snuggles is dead and even Marco's cop buddies agree that he's the prime candidate for a lead suspect. Throw in the fact that Marco had trouble with the clown while he was back on the force, and you've got a long-standing feud that might just put Marco in prison.

Abby can't have that. She hasn't quite figured out what to do with Marco (and knows even less with his mom on the scene), but she doesn't want him locked away forever either. She also doesn't want Marco's old girlfriend Trina granted any conjugal visits.

I've read earlier books in the series and enjoyed them. Abby Knight is usually a delightful heroine, full of spunk and off-the-wall ideas. Plus, it's funny to watch her start to meddle in something even after she's decided not to. But in this book Abby seems less confident than she ever has. Collins errs on the side of making Abby too much of a worrywart to amp up the stakes in the book. They were just fine without all the additional fretting.

I love the series' ancillary characters. Colm, cool Grace is - literally -grace under fire. Nothing ruffles her fathers or catches her off-stride, no matter what the world-shattering-event. Lottie - with her gigantic sons to double-down as workhorses and bodyguards - is as humorous and insightful as always.

ACTS OF VIOLETS is another fine addition to what looks like will be a long-lived series in the cozy mystery field. My wife and I both read the books and enjoy them a lot. We're looking for it to Kate Collins's next book, A ROSE FROM THE DEAD, coming out in December 2007.

Introducing Mama Salvare.......2007-05-10

Book 5 in the series - the annual pickle fest, a mean clown, and Mama Salvare. The rest of the usual characters return, along with a few new ones. Abby's always had a fear of clowns, and when she is accosted by one at the pickle fest, Marco steps in. Then the clown turns up dead .. and Marco is the lead suspect. Can Abby save him?

Light and pretty fast paced........2007-05-07

A fun mystery. I enjoyed the book. It was the first I've read in this series and the main character was a little slow to warm up to but after we became aquainted I enjoyed it.

Best one yet!.......2007-04-15

I really like this series and love the style of Kate Collins' writing. Very witty and entertaining read. Can't wait for the next installment!

Good Cozy Mystery.......2007-03-29

When Snuggles the clown is murdered and Abby's boyfriend, hunky ex-cop Marco is the chief suspect because he was the last one seen leaving Snuggle's house, Marco asks Abby to help find the real killer. Even though she's solved some murder cases in the past, Abby is very nervous about solving this one - if she fails, Marco could go to jail. But it won't be easy, when he was a cop Marco had a run in with Snuggles (Dennis Ryson) that resulted in Marco leaving the police force. Marco also had a fist fight with Snuggles shortly before he was murdered. Abby knows that she has to work fast, Marco is the only suspect and even some of his cop friends are afraid he may be guilty. While Abby is convinced that Marco is innocent, she worries because he is keeping secrets from her: what exactly is his relationship with the attractive Trina who was threatened by Ryson and why doesn't he want her to meet his mother? As Abby gets closer to the truth her own life is in danger.

While not the best book in Kate Collins Flower Shop Mystery series, "Acts of Violets" is still a good cozy mystery. Abby's an endearing heroine willing to investigate the murder even though she is full of self-doubt. In fact, my one complaint about this book is that Abby is not as strong as usual, she is full of doubts and insecure about her relationship with Marco. She also has a propensity for unbuttoning her top button on her blouse to show off her ample cleavage, something I don't remember her doing in other books. Other characters are well developed and readers will learn more about Marco just as Abby does. There's a nice sense of humor throughout the book including a pickle parade; Abby's mother's latest art project; a funny scene in a diner; and the scene (and it's aftermath) when Abby finally does meet Marco's mother. The humor does go a bit too far - a character's lisp becomes distracting and is a bit cruel. The mystery itself is well done, although there aren't a lot of suspects. The outcome of Abby's confrontation with the murderer is neatly foreshadowed at the beginning of the book which is a nice bit of writing by Collins.

"Act of Violets" is a good cozy mystery.

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

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Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond

Average customer rating:

Fantastic resource for those (thinking of) breastfeeding two
Wonderful Resource
To tandem nurse...
Great information!
Support and Community

Adventures in Tandem Nursing: Breastfeeding During Pregnancy and Beyond
Hilary Flower
Manufacturer: La Leche League International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Health o Meter HDC100-01 "Grow with Me" Teddy Bear Scale for Babies and Toddlers

ASIN: 0912500972

Book Description

There is no doubt about it—when breastfeeding and pregnancy overlap, the questions abound! In this, the first full-length book ever on the topic of tandem nursing, Hilary Flower gives comprehensive and in-depth answers to a wide range of questions related to breastfeeding during pregnancy and tandem nursing.

Drawn from a great reservoir of mother wisdom, this book pools the stories of over 200 mothers from around the world. Extensive reviews of medical research and discussions with experts in the fields of nutrition, obstetrics, and anthropology have provided the author with a thorough understanding of what we know and what we can surmise on this important topic. Each mother's experience will be a one-of-a-kind adventure, full of surprises and choices. Adventures in Tandem Nursing provides an essential source of support, humor, and information for the journey.

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic resource for those (thinking of) breastfeeding two .......2007-10-19

A wonderful book covering a little-discussed topic which would be helpful for anyone considering breastfeeding a toddler as well as a new baby. It includes lots of data and research but I found the quotes and case studies from mothers who've done it most useful. In the end it gives no answers or even recommendations - other than to listen to your own body as well as your children's needs - but I found it invaluable as reassurance that lots of mothers do it and there can be both challenges and huge rewards.

Wonderful Resource.......2007-09-24

I am so happy with this book. I am currently nursing a toddler and am pregnant. It answered all of my questions and really put me at ease. Instead of pushing you to continue breastfeeding during pregnancy or after it presents information for your family to consider. It has pictures of positions for nursing around a pregnant belly and nursing 2 or even more. It's also filled with scientific facts on benefits of extended breastfeeding and the safety of nursing while pregnant. A must read if you are considering breastfeeding thru a pregnancy and beyond.

To tandem nurse..........2007-08-28

This is both a great resource and a strong support for mothers considering nursing both a toddler and a newborn. It works for our family and I highly recommend looking at this book before you make a decision on the subject.

Great information!.......2007-05-09

I was so worried when I found out I was pregnant and still nursing a 9 month old, but after reading this book it put my mind at ease. It is a great book for anyone even just considering tandem nursing. I highly recommend this book.

Support and Community.......2007-05-02

This book truly gave me the confidence to nurse through pregnancy and let my first child determine when to wean. I am forever grateful! I knew no one who was tandem nursing when we were expecting our second child and this book truly gave me the sense of community that helped me continue. The book gives solid information on nutrition, return of fertility and positioning through the various body changes your child will nurse through! Tandem nursing is such a rewarding experience, I hope this book will give others the confidence to give it a try!

Average customer rating:

Good start to the Flower Shop Mystery Series
Murder And A Wedding
Fun, Lighthearted Cozy
It took a bit to get going, but Abby seems to have the hang of it now...
very charming

Slay It With Flowers
Kate Collins
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Murder Most Frothy: A Coffeehouse Mystery (Coffeehouse Mysteries)

ASIN: 0451214552

Book Description

Law school drop-out-turned-flower shop owner Abby Knight has been asked to be a bridesmaid by her cousin. But before the couple says "I do," a groomsman disappears-and another member of the wedding party is found dead. Abby has to hurry down an aisle of suspects to unveil the truth-and make sure the bride still gets to the church on time.

Customer Reviews:

Good start to the Flower Shop Mystery Series.......2007-05-10

4.5 of 5 stars. Book 1 of the Flower Shop Mysteries - Abby Knight discovers she's not cut out for law school, dropping out and using the rest of her inheritance to purchase her hometown flower shop, Bloomers. Unfortunately, Abby can't seem to stay out of trouble. Great cast of supporting characters, from her coworkers, sexy ex-cop Marco, her mom-the-artist, and her roommate.

Murder And A Wedding.......2007-03-13

Abby Knight runs Bloomers, a flower shop. She's agreed to do the flowers for Jillian, her cousin who is to get married. Jillian has backed out of marriages before, but Abby is determined to see this one happen. She can't afford to have it canceled! She's also to be a bridesmaid in the wedding.

A groomsman disappears and then another member of the wedding party is found dead. Jillian enlists Abby to help solve the murder before her wedding is a fiasco.

Abby enlists the aid of Marco, the hunky bar owner. With him covering her back, Abby can't get into trouble can she?

This is such a fun series. I love Abby and her staff at the shop. Her mother and her art work add plenty of humor to the series as well. Then there's Marco. What more can be said! But even with his help, Abby seems to get into her share, and then some, of dangerous situations. Be prepared to laugh out loud when reading this book! I highly recommend it!

Fun, Lighthearted Cozy.......2006-08-07

In the 2nd book in the Flower Shop mystery series, Abby Knight is hard at work planning a wedding...for her cousin. Jillian, Abby's flighty cousin, gets engaged once a year and calls off the nuptials before walking down the aisle. This time, Jillian is engaged to Claymore Osborne, the wimpy younger brother of Abby's ex-fiancé. Abby has been hired to create all of the flower arrangements for the wedding, and is also a bridesmaid. Determined to make sure this wedding takes place (and her flowers are paid for), Abby decides to stop at nothing to ensure her cousin walks down the aisle.

Everything comes to a screeching halt when one of the groomsman goes missing, and while frantically searching for him, Abby stumbles over the dead body of another member of the bridal party. When the missing groomsman shows up and the murder weapon is discovered as his camera, he is arrested for murder. While finding time to run her flower business, and investigating a mysterious massage parlor that recently opened in town, Abby works overtime to propel Jillian down the aisle.

This series is a fine example of why it is so wonderful to have different styles of mysteries available. I love cozy mysteries, and this was a great addition to the genre. Abby is a fun, good-hearted main character that is struggling to keep her new business afloat, and keep her family and friends happy as well. She does do some annoyingly stupid things like taking pictures of men going into the massage parlor (in broad daylight where they can see her), but she seems to believe the best out of people...mainly that no one is out to harm her. She also believes that she must help other people, even if it puts herself in danger. She is funny, charming, and loyal, and looking for love with neighboring business owner, Marco. I love the characters in this series as much as I love the mysteries, and cannot wait to visit New Chapel again with Abby very soon.

The first book in the series is called "Mum's the Word". Enjoy!

It took a bit to get going, but Abby seems to have the hang of it now..........2006-06-12

I have all four of these books. I picked up "Mum's the Word" because I was looking for a new mystery series, but I have since stopped looking because I found it. Kate Collins' flower shop mysteries are delightful. Many previous reviewers of "Mum's the Word" found it annoying, but the only thing I've found annoying is Abby's cousin Jillian. I think Collins' characters are delightful. I love that Abby's assitant Grace has a quote for everything, and her mother creates horrid anatomically correct sculptures. I love the descriptions of the flowers and the witty banter of the characters. Overall the best thing about this series is that while we have an abundance of amateur sleuth mysteries, Collins' doesn't use the same old tired, recycled plot lines I have found in many books. I agree that the first one was a little slow going, but the books get better and better as you go. I highly recommend this series.

very charming.......2006-04-19

Light and fun with appealing characters and some genuine wit. Abby is the owner of a flower shop and is doing the floral decorations for her rich and senseless cousin, Jillian's, wedding. When one of the groomsmen turns up dead and another is missing, Jillian begs Abby to find the culprit so that her wedding can go on as planned. Because Abby will be out of a large sum of money if the wedding does not proceed (a truckload of flowers and a hideous bridesmaid dress) she aggrees. As she snoops for clues, she discovers some other unseemly activity in her small town and becomes a target for some unknown bad guys.
This is a quick, feel-good read, with good pacing and character development. Fans of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum will notice some resemblances, but all for the good.

Snipped in the Bud: A Flower Shop Mystery (Flower Shop Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Marco makes my toes curl!!
Well done... if you don't mind occasional crude language.
Hits keep on rollin'.
This series is still fresh as a daisy!
Kate Collins Flower Shop Mysteries

Snipped in the Bud: A Flower Shop Mystery (Flower Shop Mysteries)
Kate Collins
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451218310

Book Description

When someone orders a black rose for Abby's old law school nemesis, Professor "Snapdragon" Puffer, her plans for a speedy delivery are foiled when he catches her putting the bloom on his desk and sends it straight into the trash. So she heads back in to retrieve her dignity and her flower-only to find the rose now decorating a dead professor, and herself the prime suspect...

Customer Reviews:

Marco makes my toes curl!!.......2007-08-26

these books are just great! They have just enough romance to make your toes curl but not so much that it over powers the mystery. Keep them coming PLEASE!!!!!!

Well done... if you don't mind occasional crude language........2007-08-04

Kate Collins is a gifted writer who knows her setting- a flower shop. This was a good read, although I could do without the occasional "earthy" language.

Hits keep on rollin'........2007-05-10

Abby becomes a suspect in the murder of her law-school nemesis Professor. Will she be able to beat the rap? The usual supporting characters return in this installment of the Flower Shop Mystery series.

This series is still fresh as a daisy!.......2006-10-01

In the 4th book in the Flower Shop Mystery series, Abby Knight, owner of the Bloomers flower shop, receives a funeral order and decides to deliver it herself. None of this initially sounds odd for a florist, but the order that Abby received was for one perfect "black" funeral rose. When she sees that it is to be delivered to one of her most hated prior educators in law school, Professor "Snapdragon" Puffer, she is determined to bury her bad memories and make the delivery herself. Nothing goes well in the delivery...first Abby almost runs over Puffer with her car. Then, she tries to sneak into his office to deliver the flower and gets caught riffling through his desk. Puffer is famous for breaking pencils and throwing them at students, and doing a poor imitation of him, Abby gets caught by a furious Professor Puffer. Fleeing from the office, Abby then runs into another nemesis professor, Carson Reed. Professor Reed is involved with Dermacol Labs, a company that performs lab tests on animals. Abby was recently involved in a protest in front of the lab and was arrested. When she sees Professor Reed in the hallway and is taunted by him, she yells some very harsh words in his direction and stomps off.

Feeling smug for having the last word, Abby decides that she has finally buried the demons that have haunted her after flunking out of law school. But when Abby righteously decides to get back the flower she delivered to Puffer, she finds out that the nightmare is just beginning. She stumbles over the dead body of Professor Reed, and once her fingerprints are found on the murder weapon, the town starts to insist that she be arrested. While dodging the relentless press, staying away from angry law students, and cracking a pet-stealing ring, Abby works diligently to clear her name.

This is a fresh, funny series! Even though I figured out early on how several of the details tied together, I was still intrigued to see how Abby would solve the case. She stumbles around a bit in her investigating, and gets herself involved in quite a bit of mischief, which is always amusing. I found her choice of disguises to be hilarious, and her budding relationship with Marco was sizzling. Great addition to the cozy genre!

The first book in the series is called "Mum's the Word". Enjoy!

Kate Collins Flower Shop Mysteries.......2006-08-24

I loved this book! She is funny and the story moves quickly. I am going to collect them all!

Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey Of A Desert Nomad

Average customer rating:

African Princess
Still a good read
A Survivor
VERY GOOD AND EASY READ
Read this book and think about it

Desert Flower: The Extraordinary Journey Of A Desert Nomad
Waris Dirie , and Cathleen Miller
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Authors | Arts & Literature | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0688172377
Release Date: 1999-09-22

Amazon.com

By age 6, Waris Dirie was herding her family's sheep and goats, fending off hyenas and wild dogs as the family carved a path through Africa. She was just twice that age when she ran off into the vast furnace of the Somali desert to escape an arranged marriage to a much older man. Traveling for days without food and water, she made her way to Mogadishu and later to London as a servant to her uncle, the Somalian ambassador. There she wrestled with culture shock and got her first taste of the modeling life that eventually brought her into the public eye. Dirie is resilient, having survived drought, hunger, and the ritual female genital mutilation that marks a step toward womanhood among some traditional Moslems but, argue critics, steals or ruins many girls' lives. "As we traveled throughout Somalia," says Dirie, "we met families and I played with their daughters. When we visited them again, the girls were missing. No one spoke the truth about their absence or even spoke of them at all." As a special ambassador to the United Nations, Dirie has spoken out loudly on this subject and championed environmental causes, too. How much of her sometimes breathless story is gospel truth and how much embellished is hard to say. Like Dirie herself, though, the combination is intriguing, powerful, and unique. --Francesca Coltrera

Book Description

Waris Dirie leads a double life -- by day, she is an international supermodel and human rights ambassador for the United Nations; by night, she dreams of the simplicity of life in her native Somalia and the family she was forced to leave behind. Desert Flower, her intimate and inspiring memoir, is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered about the beauty of African life, the chaotic existence of a supermodel, or the joys of new motherhood.

Waris was born into a traditional Somali family, desert nomads who engaged in such ancient and antiquated customs as genital mutilation and arranged marriage. At twelve, she fled an arranged marriage to an old man and traveled alone across the dangerous Somali desert to Mogadishu -- the first leg of an emotional journey that would take her to London as a house servant, around the world as a fashion model, and eventually to America, where she would find peace in motherhood and humanitarian work for the U.N.

Today, as Special Ambassador for the U.N., she travels the world speaking out against the barbaric practice of female genital mutilation, promoting women's reproductive rights, and educating people about the Africa she fled -- but still deeply loves.

Desert Flower will be published simultaneously in eleven languages throughout the world and is currently being produced as a feature film by Rocket Pictures UK.

Customer Reviews:

African Princess.......2007-10-10

This book was both heart wrentching and inspiring. It was a beautiful story. I would like to use this book in class. I think it should be a mandatory read for everyone. This woman has become my hero. I plan on reading all her other books as well.

Still a good read.......2007-08-13

I had read an excerpt from this book years ago and when I saw that I could purchase it, I jumped at the chance. It really is a good book and I would recommend it to others to read. If you'd like an even better book, but along the same lines, I would strongly recommend Slave by Mende Nazer.

A Survivor .......2007-07-12

Waris Dirie and Cathleen Miller take the reader through an awakening of one young woman - a desire for a safer life, an exciting escape, difficult journey to a new world, the pain of creating and the rewards of a new life, and still the reader is reminded of the necessity to understand that this is a true story of events taking place - right now - injustices - unspoken until this book. A read for all especially to remind women of the world that, collectively we can move forward to a safer life.

VERY GOOD AND EASY READ.......2007-07-06

I really enjoyed the Desert Flower by Waris Dirie. I look forward to reading her other books!!!!

Read this book and think about it.......2007-07-03

I might have seen Waris Dirie in many magazines over the years, advertising make-up or clothes, a stunning supermodel. Flicking through those pages, without a second thought, really shows how many times we can be fooled by appearances. There's a story beyond any of us and who would have thought that that lovely, proud African lady had such an incredible, painful one to recount.

This is a difficult book to read, not because of its prose, but for its contents, especially the ones related to the female genital circumcision. What Waris had to endure and her accomplishments in life later on, after her escape from native Somalia, are something quite amazing. She is currently an Ambassador for the UN, focusing on the fight against FGC in Africa and in the Western World.

This is a book that will often make you stare into space, trying to come to terms with the reality that Waris describes. It is not, however, written in hatred or spite. The love for her native country and for her family is there, so strong, despite everything. This book is an eye-opener and an educational one, as well as an autobiography.

Hooked Rugs Today: Strong Women, Flowers, Animals, Children, Christmas, Miniatures, and More - 2006

Average customer rating:

Hooked Rugs Today: Strong Women, Flowers, Animals, Children, Christmas, Miniatures, and More - 2006
Amy Oxford
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Antiques & Collectibles | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0764325787

Average customer rating:

Has Potential
Book 2 of the Flower Shop Mysteries
MUMS THE WORD
Quick Read
Light, Breezy Read

Mum's the Word: A Flower Shop Mystery
Kate Collins
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451213505

Book Description

Abby Knight is the proud owner of her hometown flower shop, but a new low-cost competitor is killing her profits-and a black SUV just rammed her vintage Corvette in a hit-and-run. She's determined to track down the driver, but when the trail turns deadly, the next flower arrangement might be for her own funeral.

Customer Reviews:

Has Potential.......2007-07-20

At first I didn't think I would get past the first chapter of this book - but, having purchased it, I pushed myself to read it. As I moved through the book, my interest increased and I have now decided that I will read the next to see if indeed it is a worthwhile series. The main character isn't the brightest, and that is my biggest issue. I love to read about smart, together women. Abby fauns all over the hot guy, takes quite a while to put two and two together, and takes risks that suspend belief. Her good qualities though, include her caring heart and her willingness to help people. If in the next book, she is written a little smarter - and less droolly over the hot guy, and maybe a bit more info about flowers and flower shops -I will continue to read these.

Book 2 of the Flower Shop Mysteries.......2007-05-10

In Book 2, Abby deals with some cut-rate competition. When her beloved vintage yellow 'Vette gets smashed in a hit-and-run, Abby is determined to find out who is responsible (a girl can't live without her car, right?) Unfortunately, she steps on some toes .. and her next questions may be her last ...

MUMS THE WORD.......2007-05-10

HAVE JUST READ 4 OF COLLINS BOOKS AND ENJOY ALL.......SEXY WITHOUT SEX...VERY NICE....LOVE THAT HUNK MARCO.....WITTY AND KEEPS YOU WANTING TO KEEP READING

Quick Read.......2007-04-21

The Flower Shop Mysteries are a quick sugar-coated read that leaves you laughing out loud. Though some points of the plot were trite and useless, they are a fun read when you just want to kill some time or take a break in the middle of another book. I really enjoyed reading them, even if Abby's interference in the case did not make sense.

Light, Breezy Read.......2007-04-10

Kate Collins's new mystery sleuth Abby Knight has found her way onto my shelves. My wife and I love watching BBC movies (FOYLE'S WAR, MURDER IN SUBURBIA, and the new MYSTERY WOMAN series) together and trying to figure out whodunit. The Abby Knight series gives us a whole new bunch of books to read and talk about.

The characters are thin, but they're supposed to be. These are people that you know enough about to guess the rest and they become real in that respect. There's not a lot of history here, but there's plenty of relationships that make a nice family to come home to from book to book.

One thing that Collins does really well is keep the story moving. Something is always happening. It strained credulity a little with the way Abby kept getting her Vette bashed, but I think it was a tip of the hat to Janet Evanovitch's Stephanie Plum character who is notorious for the way she treats cars.

The mystery is almost a no-brainer as well, but you can feel smart for putting all the pieces together. That's the true joy of a mystery: getting to solve it just a chapter or two ahead of the author.

Since this is Collins's first book and she's making some awfully good moves for a beginner, my wife and I are going to keep an eye on her and see where she goes with her series. This book is perfect for a day at the beach or a lazy stay-at-home Sunday afternoon when it's raining. Also, the titles are really catchy!

Average customer rating:

Good and easy read
Another fun read
Well written and fun to read
The most appealing part was the Cover
I Smell Sweet Success for this author!

Dearly Depotted: A Flower Shop Mystery
Kate Collins
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0451215850

Book Description

Abby has her hands full at her cousin Jillian's wedding as florist, bridesmaid, and grandma-sitter-all while wearing a hideous dress. Then the groom's 90-year-old grandmother goes missing from the reception. On her search, Abby finds the corpse of guest Jack Snyder. Now she must find out who killed Jack in the pulpit.

Customer Reviews:

Good and easy read.......2007-07-23

A pleasant and a quick read. The characterizations seemed a bit shallow at times, and the language and plotting seemed a bit "square," for lack of a better word. I think Abby and the series have potential, though, and I think the B and C stories could be developed into something cute and interesting, too. I'll try another in the series for sure.

Another fun read.......2007-05-10

In book #3 of the Flower Shop Mysteries, Abby gets the job of doing the flowers for her cousin Jillian's wedding. Unforunately at the wedding, Abby stumbles across the body. Was it a guest at the wedding who is the murderer? Abby will find out, if only to get Jillian out of her town on a honeymoon!

Well written and fun to read.......2007-03-25

I've now read all the books in the Abby Knight Flower shop Mystery series and all are well crafted, intriguing little mystery stories. The plot lines are realistic and easy to follow - yet complicated enough to keep you guessing. I never figure out the "who done it" - in these books - a good sign of a well written mystery. Nice, light reading that will entertain and keep you guessing - I love this series!

The most appealing part was the Cover.......2007-03-20

Having recently started reading cozy mysteries, such as Diane Mott Davidson and Cleo Coyle, I thought the Flowershop series sounded interesting but was sadly mistaken. I ordered this book on-line and have never been able to finish it. It is just not cozy enough. The appeal of such authors as Davidson is her characters grab you right away and your drawn into the small town life wonderful recipes and overall "feel" of the book.This is not the case with the flowershop mysteries. In fact the titles and the pastel covers are the best things about these books.

I Smell Sweet Success for this author!.......2006-11-21

I just finished Dearly Depotted by Kate Collins, my first time reading this author. I found the book to be a great read and would recommend it to anyone that enjoys mysteries with humor and a bit of "spice".

I look forward to finding out more about the protagonist's main interest, besides flowers, Marco and the rest of her crazy family.

Ms. Collins does a good job keeping things together and giving the reader a surprise ending.

I have ordered more of her books and I recommend you do the same.

One recommendation; lose all the carnations - too cheap and most people prefer more exotic flowers(just a suggestion)from one florists to another.

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