The first in the "In the Garden" trilogy, BLUE DAHLIA introduces us to the 3 women who will each take center stage in the books: Stella, Roz and Hayley. We are also introduced to a 4th influential female character, Amelia - only she has been dead for over a hundred years.

After Stella's husband is killed in a small plane crash she relocates back to her home town, just outside Memphis. She accepts a position to manage a plant nursery called In the Garden, part of the conditions is that she and her two young boys move into the ajoining Harper House with the owner Roz, a blunt, self-assured woman whose family have owned the house and estate for many generations. Though strictly regimented Stella forms a fast friendship with Roz, however she clashes with Logan, the nursery's sexy landscape designer he is the complete opposite of Stella—brash and impulsive, he thrives on chaos. Shortly after Stella's arrival a distant relative of Roz's turns up on the door step. Hayley is very pregnant and also looking for a new start.

The three women develop an instant closeness, however there is a fourth - The mysterious Harper Bride. This ghost loves children and sings and watches over any child that comes into the house. It soon becomes very clear that the ghost doesn't like Stella and Logan exploring a relationship. While everyone admits to the ghost always being a presence, they have never suffered the anger that the ghost directs toward Stella and Logan. So just who is the Harper Bride and why is she so sad?

This is a very well written story, and the characters are wonderful with a perfect blend of wit, charm and angst among the women and their male admirer's. Yes the romance in the plot is very predictable - but it is romance it is suppose to be - and that's why I love it.

Picked up at the meet-up.

A predictable, enjoyable read.

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Taking to the meet-up.

Picked up at our meet up

I enjoyed this book - now I need to get hold of the other 2 in this trilogy.

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Sending off to fellow bookcrosser

Thanks scrapaholic.

Easy, light reading. I guess you have to read the whole trilogy to find out what happens to Amelia.

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Mooched by kasty.

a keeper

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