Although this book falls very squarely into the “retail cozy mystery” genre, I find Allen’s writing to be superbly sharp and slyly witty. I’m disappointed that there are only 3 books in the series, as I don’t want it to end, but am happy she is currently writing another series under her actual name, Barbara Early. ( )

Liv and Audrey own a floral shop and are the go-to place in Ramble. Audrey's old friend, Jenny, comes in with her mother to arrange the flowers for her wedding to Derek Rawlings, son of the socially prominent family of Ramble. Jenny comes back later to tell Audrey the wedding is cancelled. Later that night Derek is found dead. Now Audrey must find out who did or Jenny could face life in prison.

I enjoyed this story. The world building is good. The story drags as the beginning but there is more action after the murder so it picks up. I only could remember who the killer was when I realized I had read this before--before I used Goodreads.

I liked the characters. Some of the secondary characters will be recurring ones. Others are one and done. I like the way the recurring characters have created a family for themselves. I appreciated how none of them wanted to listen to gossip but it was necessary to find the killer. I hope I can get the other books in the series. ( )

I loved following the enjoyable characters in this new mystery series. The small town setting is an interesting place to find and solve a murder, but Audrey Bloom, flower arranger extraordinaire, is prepared for the task! I can't wait for the next book! ( )

Bloom and Doom is the first book in the A Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery series.

Audrey Bloom and her cousin Liv, run the Rose In Bloom Flower Shop. Audrey has an amazing record that all the couples that she has prepared bouquets for, they are all still married.

Audrey has been working with Jenny and her mother Ellen on floral arrangements for Jenny's wedding to the town's most eligible bachelor, Derek Rawling. The floral arrangements have been decided on and flower ordered and then Jenny comes in and cancels, as she is canceling the wedding. Audrey feels sorry for her and offers her a part time job and provided her with some flower, a knife with Rose In Bloom printed on it, so that Jenny can practice making arrangements. The next day, Derek is found in his car, dead, and the flowers and knife beside him. Audrey wants to nip in the bud about the shops very distant involvement in the murder and to help clear Jenny's name. Derek had a notorious past and there are rumors that his financial ground might be a little shaky.

The book has some very enjoyable and believable character. Audrey is still recovering from a past relationship with "Brad The Cad" and is devoting herself 100% to making the shop a great success. Then Nick Maxwell, who owns the bakery down the street, starts dropping in, but he always buying flowers, so he must have a girlfriend. But then maybe he's getting them for his mother and he does seem to be willing to help with the investigation. Liv, who is Audrey's cousin, is an easy to like character with a very protective husband. Amber Lee, an assistant, is a retired schoolteacher and a lifelong resident of Ramble, VA and a good source of gossip of the little community. I particularly enjoyed the character, Chief Bixby. It seems that Chief Bixby is, yes, allergic to flowers. This may limit the time he spends in the shop, but certainly does keep him away.

A very enjoyable new series with characters I am looking forward to hearing more about. The author adds a little history of the meaning of various flowers in the shop. It is always an extra plus for me to be able to learn something new in my readings.

Looking forward to the next book, for sure. ( )

Bloom and Doom has nothing to do with the fictional seed company in the 'Plants vs. Zombies' computer game. Instead, it's the first entry in what I hope will become a long-running cozy mystery series.

Audrey Bloom and her cousin, Liv (Olivia) Rose, own and operate the Rose in Bloom flower shop in their small Virginia town, Ramble (the inhabitants are called 'Ramblers'). When this book opens, the shop has done bridal bouquets for 156 local brides since they opened five years ago. All of those couples are still together.

Audrey and Liv are the daughters of identical twins, but get their looks from their respective fathers. We don't meet Audrey's brother, Philip, in this book, but he'll probably turn out to be handsome. Both ladies get their love of flowers from their late Grandma Mae. Her cottage was sold to finance the shop, but Audrey dreams of buying it back.

Liv is already happily married to Eric, a man with a small construction company (she uses her maiden name professionally -- if his surname was given, I missed it). No children yet.

Audrey shares an apartment with her gray cat, Chester. Neither her neighbor, Tom, nor their landlord like Chester. Hope Audrey can afford that cottage soon. Besides their love for flowers, we learn that petite Liv is the conductor for Ramble's town band and Audrey plays the tuba (see chapter 2).

Nick Maxwell, owner of the new Baby Cakes Bakery, walks into the shop in chapter one. He's handsome, has wavy brown hair, his white clothes show off his tanned muscles, and he towers over Audrey's five-foot-ten inches (1778 cm). Hmmm, a hot guy who can bake. Nice! Too bad he must have a girlfriend -- why else would he keep buying bouquets?

Audrey's childhood friend, Jenny Whitney, might spoil the shop's perfect record. She's being pushed to marry town playboy, Derek Rawlings, by her widowed mother, Ellen.
Derek is being pushed by his rich father, who wants his only child to settle down and produce heirs for his sprawling estate (and many properties).

Aside from dumping Audrey after she lost a lot of weight, Jenny is a nice girl, not a bridezilla like the mayor's daughter, Carolyn. Ellen makes up for that, but isn't nearly as scary as Carolyn's mother, Rita.

Jenny is arrested for the book's murder. Can Audrey clear her name while she, Liv, their wise assistant, Audrey Lee, and some student part-timers get ready for a huge funeral and equally huge wedding for the same weekend?

Audrey loves the language of flowers, a subject I first learned about in 'The Four Suspects,' one of the stories in Agatha Christie's 13 Clues For Miss Marple. We aren't told which of Audrey's books on the topic is her favorite, but Kate Greenaway's Language of Flowers has charming illustrations.

By the way, chapter 13 is where you'll find the theme song for the Pippa the Penguin cartoon (Pippa's likeness is memorably featured in two scenes).

That's also where Audrey mentions flower fairies from Victorian children's books. Could she mean the flower fairy books by Cicely Mary Barker, even though those published during her lifetime came out from 1923 to 1955? In any case, the flower fairy books are well worth having for the lovely illustrations (the poems, not so much).

Audrey's complaint about flower fairies made me chuckle, as did some of her other remarks. I do love a cozy with a sense of humor. If you can't afford your own copy, do check it out at your local library. This series deserves to be a success. ( )