A very well written cozy! Normally I enjoy a cozy mystery any way you want to serve it to me but this story was not a quickly written fluff piece. I can't put my finger on it but there is a true difference in this book. A wonderful surprise!

This was a fun, cute cozy mystery! I love the theme throughout, and I will definitely be continuing with the series.

Quite the mystery, I like Britta and her aunt and how flowers play into the story and murder. I found the idea of being strangled by violets, even as a garland, as hard to believe at first, but it made for a good overall story.

Thank you to the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 2nd book in the Rose City cozy mystery series and it was a great follow up to the 1st book, Natural Thorn Killer.
It was fast paced, had great characters and I enjoyed reading about the floral design shop and Portland, Oregon as a location.
I hope the author decides to write another book in the series.

If you don't love flowers before reading this book you definitely will by the time you are done. We get the the loveliest flower descriptions ever in these stories thanks to love of flowers from the main character Britta who runs a flower shop with her Aunt. The serene city of Portland is gearing up for its annual Rose parade and I will as not there is all kinds of things going on behind the scenes as the floats are built. The design give some awesome visuals that flow smoothly with the story. Add in a murder and the story really gets good. Nice mix of flower history, detials, whimsy, and intrigue. I learn something new in each I installment and am looking forward to book three. Great for fans of cozies and flowers. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.

Violet Tendencies by Kate Dyer-Seeley is the second book in the Rose City Mystery series. Britta and her aunt Elin are thrilled to be designing a float for the city's rose parade. A group of protesters are doing everything to stop the parade and ruin the town's peaceful setting. When the group's leader is found murdered, the situation reaches a breaking point. The subject matter was a touch heavy for a cozy mystery. The author handled including politics better than other books I have read. I do prefer the more traditional cozy storylines. The plot moved along quickly and kept me entertained until the end.

A really enjoyable cozy mystery set in Portland and full of flowery fun. This is the second book in the Rose City Mysteries series that follows florist Britta and her aunt Elin who run a small flower shop, Blomma, and seem to keep running into trouble. Violet Tendencies takes place during the Portland Rose Festival and has Blomma creating a float for the parade. However, things take a turn when a group of angry protestors threaten to shut down the parade, with even more confusion occurring when the groups leader is found murdered.

I liked all the descriptions of Portland and the cozy little shops around Blomma. I also like all the flower descriptions, from putting together the float to making flower arrangements.

A fun series and one that I likely will be continuing.

With Portland 's annual parade of roses looking on the horizon, Brittany Johnston and her Aunt Elin are focused on decorating the float for their boutique florist, Blomma. Unfortunately, a group of anarchists are negligent on disrupting the parade. That is, until one of their leaders is found dead. Behind the scenes glimpses of float building and floral design add depth to the background and elevate the mystery. Very enjoyable!

Britta and Elin are working on a float for Portland's Rose Festival. A group called Dark Fusion is protesting the festival and parade because they are against corporations and government. Sham and Zigs, the two leaders of the group make a number of appearances. Ted is in charge of the parade and is furious about Dark Fusion's interference.
The murder doesn't happen until more than half way through the book. It was an interesting way to write the book because it built the tension as you knew someone was going to die and you were waiting and waiting for it to happen.
There were many emotions portrayed in the book. Elin and Eric are having a reunion. Britta is trying to figure out what is happening with Pete. Zigs is putting out hate. Emotion runs high.
I enjoyed this second Rose City Mystery even more than the first.

Book 2 in the series.
My rating: 1 out of 5 stars, did not finish.

Hugely disappointed in this book. I loved the first book, but this one was not at all my cup of tea. I read cozy mysteries to relax and escape from all the horrible stuff happening in the world, and this book was anything but relaxing. It was full of politics from the start and I disliked the portrayal of the homeless as something to fear, just because they're homeless. I honestly just couldn't make myself finish this book.

Britta Johnston and her aunt Elin are two wonderful characters in this floral themed mystery series. I really liked the theme of the Rose festival in this one. Those that want to stop this parade though The Dark Fusion gang. Now I found this part to be humorous, an “evil” gang out to take out the flowers. It is fun filled with action and great characters. In this delightful story filled with flowers, charm, and mystery there isn’t a better read to find.

“Violet Tendencies” earns 4/5 Bunches of Flowers…Engaging and Fun!

Flower Shop? Parade Float? Protesters? Murder? Everything entertaining in the second book of Kate Dyer-Seeley’s Rose City Mystery series. To me “Violet Tendencies” seems a good standalone. I started here and with some revisiting past events and character connections, I was quickly in the loop. Kate penned a delightful first-person narrative from Brittany Johnson perspective sharing her inner thoughts (some humor included), vivid descriptions (I could smell the flowers), laying out the clever mystery (ample suspects), and creating a story I really recommend. Although the crime and subsequent investigation took longer than I prefer to happen and get started, I enjoyed the details, motive, some peril, and reveal of the killer. One thing I like about cozies is the added insights, tips, and information often sending me off to explore more on Google or Wikipedia. Here, flowers, floral arrangements, floats (topics on which I am a novice) turned out to be fascinating. Last, the drama with the anarchists and the murder is mellowed by some budding romances or at least romantic inclinations. Fun!

Britta Johnson has returned to Portland, OR to join her aunt Elin in running her flower shop, Blomma. In this, the second mystery in the series, violence makes its presence felt when a group of radicals focus on the Rose festival and the float representing Blomma is partially destroyed. When the dust clears a body is found on the float, a noose of violets around his throat. While Britta works to rework the float for the festival, she also sets about investigating the crime.
To be honest, even though I enjoyed most of this mystery, I did like the previous one better. This entry was slower paced with the murder victim not appearing until about a quarter of the way into the mystery. Personally I like to have them introduced to the story sooner than that. But that's just my preference. The descriptions of the creation of flower floats was interesting and that kept my attention. I was bothered by the theme of violence as it seemed a bit too much for my definition of a cozy. Having said that, I was glad to reconnect with the cast from the previous book and I'll be looking forward to reading the next one.

Violet Tendencies by Kate Dyer-Seeley sweeps readers to Portland, Oregon. Britta Johnston and her Aunt Elin own Blooma, a boutique European-inspired flower shop and wine bar. The pair were delighted when Blooma was chosen as the showcase florist for Portland’s Rose Festival and they will be creating the centerpieces for the dignitaries’ dinner. They will also have a float in the parade featuring violets, but their joy is marred by protestors from a group called Dark Fusion outside the warehouse housing the floats. Britta arrives early one morning to work on the float and finds Dark Fusion’s leader, Sham dead on Blooma’s ravaged float with a noose of violets around his throat. Britta wants to know who killed Sham and why they used Blooma’s float. There are numerous suspects including Ted Graham, the Rose Festival’s Grand Marshal, to the float barn director and a former Rose Queen. Dark Fusion may be without their leader, but they are still out in full force and determined to cause chaos. Before Britta can narrow her sights on the killer, the situation becomes volatile. Will Portland have a Rose Festival Parade this year?

Violet Tendencies is the second novel in A Rose City Mystery series, but it can be read on its own. Everything a reader needs to know is included in Violet Tendencies. I like Kate Dyer-Seeley’s casual writing style. The book contains good writing and engaging characters. The story flows along at a gentler pace than Natural Thorn Killer. I like the setting of Portland, Oregon (I would love to live in Pacific Northwest). I enjoy the author’s descriptions of the city and of the Rose Festival with its variety of events. Blooma is a unique flower shop with its European flair and a wine bar. There are detailed descriptions on how the various flower arrangements are created along with how floats are constructed using all natural materials plus the symbolism behind each bloom. Blooma’s float was beautifully described and it sounded enchanting. Britta and her aunt, Elin have a close relationship at home and at work. I like how they support each other in their professional and personal endeavors. Elin’s boyfriend, Eric is in town and Britta finally gets to meet him. Britta gets to spend more time with Detective Pete Fletcher. If they could just get through one date without being interrupted. The murder does not occur until a reader is 40% into the story. There are multiple suspects, misdirection and good clues. I do wish, though, that the crime had been more challenging to solve. I was not a fan of the protestors. They were an angry mob who harassed the people working on the floats, had weapons and continually threatened violence. While it is realistic, it is a little dark for a cozy mystery. We get more details regarding the death of Tomo Iwamoto’s father. Tomo would like to find who killed his father and I am curious to learn more. Tomo and Britta have a close relationship and his mother’s noodle dishes are mouthwatering. There are flower tips and recipes at the end of the book. There are many delightful cozy moments in Violet Tendencies. Violet Tendencies is set in a beautiful city, has friendly characters, an abundance of blooms and a disconcerting whodunit.

Dollycas’s Thoughts
I have been looking forward to heading back to Portland since I finished Natural Thorn Killers back in April. Britta Johnston and her aunt Elin have the most amazing flower shop and create such spectacular arrangements so having them design a beautiful, shining float for the annual Rose Parade is exciting. So much work with the help of just a few volunteers. But a group of protesters is ready to ruin everything. Dark Fusion, a gang, is determined to take down the system, starting with disrupting the whole event. Organizers are nervous, the police are on high alert, but when the gang’s leader is killed terror rises to a new level. Britta finding the body and her curious nature has her snooping for clues. But hold on tight, the city is going to rock before this killer is brought to justice.

This was a fantastic read. Tension always just below the surface until everything explodes.

I have helped build a few floats in my day and rode on a few too. Nothing ever elaborate as the floats in this story but understood the hard work that goes into making them truly shine. Most of the story takes place in the “float barn” and the author took us inside and her words truly painted a picture of all the happenings. The flowers, the floats, the cut up hands of the workers trying to get everything just right. The craziness and chaos as the deadline for completion draws near and then the chaos of a murder investigation added on top of all that.

Ms. Dyer-Seeley has created very likable characters along with some dastardly ones. Britta has her hands full with the float and making centerpiece arrangements for the big festival dinner, plus she is in the prime position to ask questions and make keen observations. Elin has an old beau in town and she spends most of her time with him rekindling their romance. There are tons of suspects especially the gang members full of violent tendencies. But a former Rose Festival Princess, the Grand Marshall, and a couple other festival workers also find their names on the list.

The story takes some great twists and turns. Danger ramps up with fires and explosions. The pace was fast, almost too fast in places. Things were happening so quickly I had to slow down and reread a couple passages to make sure where all the key people ended up and zone it to catch any clues.

The author ties things up very satisfactorily at the end but I almost didn’t want the story to end. I really like Britta and her Aunt Elin and wasn’t quite ready to say good-bye. I am excited to see what happens next in their lives.

Here is a marvelous opportunity to get inside a float creation for the Portland Rose Festival and enjoy descriptions of flowers, flower pairing, their deeper meanings, and the proper fluids to prolong a cutting's life.

Britta Johnston has returned to live with her aunt Elin following the end of a disastrous marriage. Elin raised her after the death of her parents and owns a floral boutique, Blomma, where Britta now works. Her aunt has been contacted by an old love wishing to rekindle contact and greatly diverts her attention. They've been invited to participate in the annual event and were working on a special design when a group of protestors begin to interrupt the assembly labors. The gang, called Dark Fusion, appears to be a bit divisive with part growing increasingly violent.

The leader is discovered on their float, which has been partly destroyed, with a noose of violets around his neck. Britta redesigns the float to reclaim what wasn't destroyed and create a new vision. In the meantime, she begins to do a bit of sleuthing. There are a number of red herrings adding to the protest confusion, as Britta mingles with her police buddy Toma and possible romantic interest, Detective Pete Fletcher. As this is the second book in the series, a reader might get a deeper fleshing of the protagonist by beginning with the first. There are other significant characters, several of which add to the tension.

This cozy mystery sets a quiet pace staging the location of the mystery at the cavernous warehouse where the assembly takes place and the description of the floats as well as the flowers. The mob gradually amps up and throws in some violent agitation. There is a hushed conclusion, some of which takes place behind the scenes, and not unexpected.

I was given this ebook download by the publisher and NetGalley for this book tour and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended for cozy mystery enthusiasts, those who love the Pacific Northwest (and who doesn't?), and flora and fauna fans. 3.5/5

Portland's Rose Festival and Murder Cozy Mystery
This story uses The Portland Rose Festival and the florists involved as a backdrop. I have never come across any book that dives into the heart of florists as well as this one does! The plot is full of political things that have been going on in the Pacific Northwest for 10 years or more. There are lots of angles to the story and plenty of suspects. I enjoyed this story so much that I am going back to read the first story! I received this book for free and this is my honest review.

Violet Tendencies is the second book in Kate Dyer-Seeley’s A Rose City Mystery series. This is a well-plotted cozy mystery with a great cast of well-developed characters. Ms. Dyer-Seeley’s descriptive writing makes the reader feel like they’re in Portland and experiencing everything along with the characters. The storyline flows smoothly at a steady pace. Multiple suspects, red herrings, and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the reveal.

After Britta Johnston discovered her husband, Chad, was cheating on her, she left him and moved back to Portland, Oregon to work in her aunt’s floral boutique/wine bar, Blomma. Britta, her aunt, Elin, their crew chief, Gloria, and a group of volunteers are working on Blomma’s float for the city’s annual Rose Festival, and because Blomma was chosen as the showcase florist, Britta and Elin are designing and preparing the floral arrangements for the dignitaries’ dinner. Other than an anarchist group with violent tendencies known as Dark Fusion that is actively protesting and threatening to shut down everything related to the festival, everyone is excited about the three-week event. After an explosion, Nicki Parks, the float barn director, is convinced it was a bomb but it turned out to be firecrackers. Portland’s former mayor and festival grand marshal, Ted Graham, and Dark Fusion’s leader, Sham, continually confront and threaten each other. When Britta arrives at the float barn one morning, she sees a police car in the parking lot, finds the float barn’s door unlocked, Blomma’s float destroyed, and Sham’s lifeless body with a garland of violets wrapped around his neck next to it. Detective Pete Fletcher and Officer Thomas “Tomo” Iwamoto are assigned to the investigation, and even though they warn Britta to stay away from the case because of the potential danger involved, she feels compelled to find the truth since she discovered Sham’s body next to Blomma’s float.

I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

VIOLET TENDENCIES by Kate Dyer-Seeley
The Second Rose City Mystery

Spring has sprung in Portland, Oregon as the city celebrates its Rose Festival. Britta Johnston and her Aunt Elin are in the midst of the festivities working on their float for the festival's Grand Floral Parade. But all is not flowers and good cheer as a group of anarchists seem bent on ruining the parade and everything it stands for. Threats of violence by the group escalate, but it's their leader who is found murdered...on Britta's float! Stunned by the death, Britta also feels a strange undercurrent. Something odd is going on with the parade leaders and she means to find out what it is.

Things are not all flowers and light in this second Rose City Mystery. There is omnipresent conflict and dread coming from the anarchists creating taut suspense. In this day and age the very real threat of terrorist activity, no matter the cause, makes the danger in the book so much more real. It's not just that a person got murdered, it's the thought that anybody out enjoying the day, or even sitting comfortably at home, could be in deadly danger.

Despite the darkness, goodness and beauty exist as well. There's the beauty of flowers and the floats. The reunion of Elin and Eric, the chemistry between Britta and Pete, and the various friendships, old and new, bring lightness and love.

Lots of good suspects and plenty of suspicious activity make VIOLET TENDENCIES a complex, suspenseful mystery.

Violet Tendencies by Kate Dyer-Seeley is the second in a new series. It takes place in Portland, Oregon and centers around a florist and her niece. Elin owns Blomma and adopted her niece, Britta, when her parents died at an early age. As happens with children, she grew up and moved away, had a dead-end job, and as it turned out, a dead-end marriage. They are building a float for the annual Grand Floral Parade and are nearly at the end of the process: the parade. It means grueling hours and hard work, which is now being complicated by Dark Fusion protestors espousing anarchy-totally anti-establishment and anti-government. Thus far they have done nothing but hurl epithets and make workers and volunteers coming to the float barn.

Dyer-Seeley always includes a plethora of information about her protagonist's calling. In this case, the information includes not only float-building tips, but also floral design and care tips. There is also an abundance of information about Portland's Rose Festival and parade. This makes her books even more interesting and gives the reader a short education, as well. Elin is an interesting character, reconnecting with her fiancé many years after the breakup, which lends an air of romance to the mystery. There are several close calls, which sometimes tends to push the believability, but in this case worked fairly well. Britta is a good character, as well as her friend, Tomo, a police officer, and dutiful Japanese son. Detective Peter Fletcher is another interesting, albeit mysterious character, who seems to really be attracted to Britta, and she to him. I loved this book and totally recommend it.

I received a free ARC of Violet Tendencies in exchange for a fair and honest review. #netgalley #violettendencies