Night of the Living Dandelion by Kate Collins

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An Obsidian Mystery
Published by NAL
A Division of the Penguin Group


A Flower Shop Mystery
11th Book In This Series
ISBN-10: 0451233018
ISBN-13: 978-0451233011

Abby Knight has badly sprained her ankle and must use either crutches or a wheelchair to get around and do her job.  Marco Salvare has been recalled to active duty.  As a newly engaged couple they want to spend as much time together as possible before he is deployed.  But there is a huge obstacle in their way.  He needs to train his army buddy, Vlad Serban,  to take over the bar in his absence and Vlad is drawing way too much attention.  He is a very pale man, always wears black, has prominent canine teeth, his former job was as a phlebotomist (One who draws blood for analysis or transfusion.) and he is from Transylvania, Romania. Everyone in town thinks he's a vampire.

Then the body of Lori Willis, a local nursing director, is found in the dumpster behind Marco's bar and the cause of death seems to be exsanguination (drained of all her blood).  Still women swoon in his presence, crowding the bar.  There are a group calling themselves "The Garlic Party" protesting in from of the Down the Hatch Bar & Grill, plus a group of teenagers gathered wearing "I LOVE VLAD" T-shirts. Not to mention, Abby's cousin Jillian going off the deep end because Vlad had kissed her hand.

Before this circus gets any more out of hand Marco and Abby need to help clear Vlad's name and find the real killer or as it says on the back cover of the book Vlad's life is going to start  to "really suck".

I really enjoyed this story, but it is not my favorite book in the series, I really loved the last one Dirty Rotten Tendrils. It just amazes me how many vampired themed books have turned up lately with the success of the Twilight books and movies.  Vampires have never really been my thing but thankfully Kate has gone over to the horror genre from cozy mystery.  This book is a fun cozy read and if you don't laugh out loud at some of Jillian's antics, I will eat my copy of this book.  She is hilarious!!!! Plus the book ends perfectly, leaving us wanting more. We only have to wait until November for To Catch A Leaf.  This reviewer can't wait to get her copy!!!

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Obsidian/NAL, A Division of the Penguin Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”