Includes A Front and Back Cover for You to Color!
Life is looking rosy for Florrie Fox, manager of the Color Me Read bookstore in Georgetown, Washington D.C. She’s working on an adult coloring book of gardens, her romance with Sergeant Eric Jonquille has entered a new chapter, and the bookstore’s weekly coloring club is a source of friendship and entertainment. No member is more vibrant than Dolly Cavanaugh. Dolly likes to say she was blessed with beauty and cursed with lousy husbands, but at least she has a grown daughter and a stunning brownstone to show for it!
When Dolly’s love of garage sales results in her showing up at Color Me Read with a rare book in hand, Florrie is astounded. The Florist, the earliest known coloring book, was first published in 1760. An original copy would be worth a fortune—and someone else knows it. That same evening, Florrie finds Dolly dead on the floor of her apartment, a corner of a coloring book page clutched in her hand. As Florrie delves into Dolly’s past and her personal effects, she discovers a skeleton in the closet—literally—and a whole lot of shady suspects. One of them is an expert in the fine art of murder, but can Florrie draw the right conclusion?
Release Date: Nov 27, 2018
Series: Pen & Ink
Book: 2
Publisher: Kensington
Price: $9.99
Florrie Fox manages a Georgetown bookstore by day and designs and draws coloring books for adults by night. The bookstore holds a weekly coloring club started by Florrie’s sister. One of the members, the vivacious Dolly Cavanaugh, finds and a valuable coloring book from the 1700s at an estate sale. Dolly is so excited she can’t help but brag about it on social media. Later that evening, Florrie goes to Dolly’s apartment and finds her dead on the floor, clutching a piece of the book. While searching for clues about Dolly’s death, Florrie makes a shocking discovery that could change the direction of the entire investigation.
This is the second book in the Pen and Ink series, but the first I’ve read. I enjoy the author’s Domestic Diva series and was excited to try her new series. I liked the book, but Florrie didn’t have as much of an interesting, likable circle of friends as the “Diva” has. For every character I like in this book, there is one I dislike even more. On the positive side, I was surprised to read halfway through the book that Florrie and her boyfriend had only been dating for a month. Florrie and Eric’s easy manner and trust of each other makes them seem like a long-time couple. They are great together, and I really hope their relationship continues to progress.
The premise of the series is interesting and I learned a lot about the origins of adult coloring. I wish there had been more scenes with the coloring club enjoying their hobby. However, the mystery is interesting with more suspects being added to the list as Florrie learns more about her friend Dolly’s life. There is a little too much going on near the end of the book and it becomes hard to keep things straight. Fortunately everything is answered by the end and the resolution is satisfying. There are a few dessert recipes and a recipe for a cocktail at the end of the book. I read an electronic version of the book, but the cover can actually be colored on the print version of the book, which is a fun tie-in with the theme of the series.
~ Christine
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