What do you think?
Rate this book
The Flower Sisters
Drawing on the little-known true story of one tragic night at an Ozarks dance hall in 1928, this beautifully written novel, told through interwoven narratives generations apart, is a thrilling tale of love, loss, and reinvention.
At birth, Violet and Rose Flowers were identical, save for a tiny bluish-purple mark gracing Violet’s slender neck. By nineteen, their temperaments distinguish them, as different as the flowers their mother named them for—Violet, wild, and outgoing, and Rose, solitary and reserved. Still, they are each other’s world. Then, on a sweltering, terrible August night in 1928, an explosion rocks Lamb’s Dance Hall in Possum Flats, Missouri, engulfing it in flames, leaving one twin among the dozens dead, and her sister’s life forever changed.
Fifty years later, Daisy Flowers is dumped on her grandmother Rose’s doorstep for the summer. A bright, inquisitive fifteen-year-old, Daisy bargains her way into an internship at the local newspaper—where she learns of the mysterious long-ago tragedy and its connection to her family. Rose, now the local funeral home director, grows increasingly alarmed as her impulsive granddaughter delves into Possum Flats’ history, determined to uncover the horrors and heroes of the fiery blast.
For a small town, Possum Flats holds a multitude of big secrets, some guarded by the living, some kept by the dead. And through Rose, Daisy, Dash—a preacher who found his calling that fateful night—and others, those ghosts gradually come into the light, forcing a reckoning at last.
This audiobook is narrated by Jim Frangione, Andrea Gallo, L.J. Ganser, Laura Knight Keating, Christina Moore, and Graham Winton.
At birth, Violet and Rose Flowers were identical, save for a tiny bluish-purple mark gracing Violet’s slender neck. By nineteen, their temperaments distinguish them, as different as the flowers their mother named them for—Violet, wild, and outgoing, and Rose, solitary and reserved. Still, they are each other’s world. Then, on a sweltering, terrible August night in 1928, an explosion rocks Lamb’s Dance Hall in Possum Flats, Missouri, engulfing it in flames, leaving one twin among the dozens dead, and her sister’s life forever changed.
Fifty years later, Daisy Flowers is dumped on her grandmother Rose’s doorstep for the summer. A bright, inquisitive fifteen-year-old, Daisy bargains her way into an internship at the local newspaper—where she learns of the mysterious long-ago tragedy and its connection to her family. Rose, now the local funeral home director, grows increasingly alarmed as her impulsive granddaughter delves into Possum Flats’ history, determined to uncover the horrors and heroes of the fiery blast.
For a small town, Possum Flats holds a multitude of big secrets, some guarded by the living, some kept by the dead. And through Rose, Daisy, Dash—a preacher who found his calling that fateful night—and others, those ghosts gradually come into the light, forcing a reckoning at last.
This audiobook is narrated by Jim Frangione, Andrea Gallo, L.J. Ganser, Laura Knight Keating, Christina Moore, and Graham Winton.
Audible Audio
First published April 23, 2024
6037 people are currently reading
41412 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Collins Anderson
2 books403 followersMichelle Collins Anderson grew up on a farm in the Missouri Ozarks — a place and a way of life that has shaped her writing. She received her MFA from Warren Wilson College and has a journalism degree from the University of Missouri.
Her short fiction has appeared in Nimrod International Journal #37 Awards Edition, Literal Latté, Midwestern Gothic, bosque, The Lascaux Review, Pooled Ink, Literary Mama and Elder Mountain: A Journal of Ozark Studies and is forthcoming in Storied Hills: An Anthology of Contemporary Ozark Fiction.
Michelle has been an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri and Stephens College, taught creative writing at her local elementary school, and serves on the board of The Missouri Review. The Flower Sisters is her first novel. She and her husband, Clay, have three adult children and live in St. Louis, Missouri, with a rambunctious border collie and two sister cats.
Her short fiction has appeared in Nimrod International Journal #37 Awards Edition, Literal Latté, Midwestern Gothic, bosque, The Lascaux Review, Pooled Ink, Literary Mama and Elder Mountain: A Journal of Ozark Studies and is forthcoming in Storied Hills: An Anthology of Contemporary Ozark Fiction.
Michelle has been an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri and Stephens College, taught creative writing at her local elementary school, and serves on the board of The Missouri Review. The Flower Sisters is her first novel. She and her husband, Clay, have three adult children and live in St. Louis, Missouri, with a rambunctious border collie and two sister cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,099 reviews
May 4, 2024
EXCERPT: Flowers Funeral Home faces Main Street in downtown Possum Flats and my upstairs room overlooks the back alley, where Grandma takes her 'deliveries' twenty-four hours a day. Not much there except dumpsters and stray cats and, over the buildings, the tip-top of a church steeple. From the front sidewalk of the funeral home, you can see east down Main to the downtown square that has banks on opposite corners and a boring limestone courthouse in the centre with a silver flagpole waving the U.S. and Missouri flags.
Possum Flats. Seriously? It sounds like roadkill - and it's every bit as dead.
ABOUT 'THE FLOWER SISTERS': At birth, Violet and Rose Flowers were identical, save for a tiny bluish-purple mark gracing Violet’s slender neck. By nineteen, their temperaments distinguish them, as different as the flowers their mother named them for—Violet, wild and outgoing, and Rose, solitary and reserved. Still, they are each other’s world. Then, on a sweltering, terrible August night in 1928, an explosion rocks Lamb’s Dance Hall in Possum Flats, Missouri, engulfing it in flames, leaving one twin among the dozens dead, and her sister’s life forever changed.
Fifty years later, Daisy Flowers is dumped on her grandmother Rose’s doorstep for the summer. A bright, inquisitive fifteen-year-old, Daisy bargains her way into an internship at the local newspaper—where she learns of the mysterious long-ago tragedy and its connection to her family. Rose, now the local funeral home director, grows increasingly alarmed as her impulsive granddaughter delves into Possum Flats’ history, determined to uncover the horrors and heroes of the fiery blast.
For a small town, Possum Flats holds a multitude of big secrets, some guarded by the living, some kept by the dead. And through Rose, Daisy, Dash—a preacher who found his calling that fateful night—and others, those ghosts gradually come into the light, forcing a reckoning at last.
MY THOUGHTS: After a breathtaking start in both timelines, I settled in for what I thought was going to be an exceptional read . . . but it didn't quite work out that way. It sort of fizzled out and never really regained its momentum.
Of the two timelines, I much preferred the 1978 story. Daisy is a lovely character and I enjoyed watching her personal growth after her arrival in Possum Flats. I felt that a lot of the 1928 story could have been better told in flashbacks as Daisy uncovered what actually happened. There are too many points of view, and we get the full background story on each and every one of them. It was just too much. And while they say there is no one so devout as a reformed sinner, the character of Pastor Emmonds (known as 'Dash' in his wilder days) was totally overdone. In contrast, his grandson Joe was a breath of fresh air.
The ending was a little too tidy for me - life just isn't like that and it came across as manufactured and, dare I say it?, twee.
I really enjoyed the Author's note at the end which tells the story of the explosion in her hometown in 1928 that was the basis for this novel, but the execution of the actual novel itself left a lot to be desired. While I didn't feel compelled to abandon the read, my attention frequently wandered and I would have to backtrack to pick up the thread again.
⭐⭐.9
#TheFlowerSisters #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Michelle Collins Anderson grew up on a farm in the Missouri Ozarks — a place and a way of life that has shaped her writing.
Michelle has been an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri and Stephens College, taught creative writing at her local elementary school, and serves on the board of The Missouri Review.
She and her husband, Clay, have three adult children and live in St. Louis, Missouri, with a rambunctious border collie and two sister cats.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Possum Flats. Seriously? It sounds like roadkill - and it's every bit as dead.
ABOUT 'THE FLOWER SISTERS': At birth, Violet and Rose Flowers were identical, save for a tiny bluish-purple mark gracing Violet’s slender neck. By nineteen, their temperaments distinguish them, as different as the flowers their mother named them for—Violet, wild and outgoing, and Rose, solitary and reserved. Still, they are each other’s world. Then, on a sweltering, terrible August night in 1928, an explosion rocks Lamb’s Dance Hall in Possum Flats, Missouri, engulfing it in flames, leaving one twin among the dozens dead, and her sister’s life forever changed.
Fifty years later, Daisy Flowers is dumped on her grandmother Rose’s doorstep for the summer. A bright, inquisitive fifteen-year-old, Daisy bargains her way into an internship at the local newspaper—where she learns of the mysterious long-ago tragedy and its connection to her family. Rose, now the local funeral home director, grows increasingly alarmed as her impulsive granddaughter delves into Possum Flats’ history, determined to uncover the horrors and heroes of the fiery blast.
For a small town, Possum Flats holds a multitude of big secrets, some guarded by the living, some kept by the dead. And through Rose, Daisy, Dash—a preacher who found his calling that fateful night—and others, those ghosts gradually come into the light, forcing a reckoning at last.
MY THOUGHTS: After a breathtaking start in both timelines, I settled in for what I thought was going to be an exceptional read . . . but it didn't quite work out that way. It sort of fizzled out and never really regained its momentum.
Of the two timelines, I much preferred the 1978 story. Daisy is a lovely character and I enjoyed watching her personal growth after her arrival in Possum Flats. I felt that a lot of the 1928 story could have been better told in flashbacks as Daisy uncovered what actually happened. There are too many points of view, and we get the full background story on each and every one of them. It was just too much. And while they say there is no one so devout as a reformed sinner, the character of Pastor Emmonds (known as 'Dash' in his wilder days) was totally overdone. In contrast, his grandson Joe was a breath of fresh air.
The ending was a little too tidy for me - life just isn't like that and it came across as manufactured and, dare I say it?, twee.
I really enjoyed the Author's note at the end which tells the story of the explosion in her hometown in 1928 that was the basis for this novel, but the execution of the actual novel itself left a lot to be desired. While I didn't feel compelled to abandon the read, my attention frequently wandered and I would have to backtrack to pick up the thread again.
⭐⭐.9
#TheFlowerSisters #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Michelle Collins Anderson grew up on a farm in the Missouri Ozarks — a place and a way of life that has shaped her writing.
Michelle has been an adjunct professor at the University of Missouri and Stephens College, taught creative writing at her local elementary school, and serves on the board of The Missouri Review.
She and her husband, Clay, have three adult children and live in St. Louis, Missouri, with a rambunctious border collie and two sister cats.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 8, 2024
This historical fiction tale is based on a true story of a fire that took place in the author’s home town.
There are several narrative voices, Daisy who is trying to understand the past of what occurred during that fateful fire and how it affected the townspeople. And Rose, her grandmother, the town’s mortician and the townspeople who were affected by the event.
Daisy takes up an internship with the town newspaper so that she can further investigate what occurred, and through her we see a cast of quirky small-town characters whose grim recounting of the fire help, her see not only the tragedy, but their lives. The reader may receive more information through the telling than Daisy does.
Written in alternating time lines 1928 and 1978 and from several POV’s of the various characters, past and present, this story might feel emotional and moving at times. With secrets to unravel, and all those stories to be told through flawed and quirky characters, the story didn’t quite have the energy I had hoped it would that would make me love it. Perhaps the many POV’s were a bit much, and I felt myself losing interest at times.
But who are the flower sisters? The reason for the book title? (No spoilers from me.)
What happened to Violet “Lettie,” Daisy’s mother?
Will Daisy learn more about herself through her discoveries of what happened because of the fire?
The author shares some information in her Author’s Note that should be read at the end of the story.
The potential for this debut novel to be great was there, but not fully realized for me. But don't just rely on my review, others may have felt differently.
3.5 stars rounded down.
There are several narrative voices, Daisy who is trying to understand the past of what occurred during that fateful fire and how it affected the townspeople. And Rose, her grandmother, the town’s mortician and the townspeople who were affected by the event.
Daisy takes up an internship with the town newspaper so that she can further investigate what occurred, and through her we see a cast of quirky small-town characters whose grim recounting of the fire help, her see not only the tragedy, but their lives. The reader may receive more information through the telling than Daisy does.
Written in alternating time lines 1928 and 1978 and from several POV’s of the various characters, past and present, this story might feel emotional and moving at times. With secrets to unravel, and all those stories to be told through flawed and quirky characters, the story didn’t quite have the energy I had hoped it would that would make me love it. Perhaps the many POV’s were a bit much, and I felt myself losing interest at times.
But who are the flower sisters? The reason for the book title? (No spoilers from me.)
What happened to Violet “Lettie,” Daisy’s mother?
Will Daisy learn more about herself through her discoveries of what happened because of the fire?
The author shares some information in her Author’s Note that should be read at the end of the story.
The potential for this debut novel to be great was there, but not fully realized for me. But don't just rely on my review, others may have felt differently.
3.5 stars rounded down.
April 14, 2024
Michelle Collins Anderson uses the real facts about a little known Dance Hall fire, in her home state of Missouri to create her captivating dual timeline debut novel.
1928. Violet and Rose Flowers are identical twins, the only way you can tell them apart visually is Violet has a tiny birth mark on the back of her neck, and the nineteen year olds are very different in temperament. Violet is vivacious and outgoing and Rose is ladylike and quiet. On the 13th of August and a hot night, an explosion rocks Lamb’s Dance Hall in Possum Flats, Missouri, the building goes up in flames, leaving one twin among the dozens of dead young people, who moments before had been dancing and listening to Jazz.
1978. Daisy Flowers is fifteen, her mother Lettie drops her off at her grandmother Rose’s house for the summer and she’s never met her before. Daisy is a nomad, her mother doesn’t stay in one place very long, Lettie promises her she will return for her and is this going to be another case of her mother letting her down?
To get away from her grandmother’s funeral parlor, Daisy pleads with Fence McMillan and to give her an internship at the local newspaper. Here an inquisitive Daisy learns of the long-ago tragedy, the connection to her family and she thinks with the fiftieth anniversary approaching the paper should run a story about what happen and pay tribute to the victims.
Daisy has no idea how many people don’t want to be associated or discuss the fire at Lambs Dance Hall, what really happened, including her grandmother Rose, Hazel, Ginger, Ruby Rae, Jimmy Jeffers the police chief and pastor Paul Emmonds of the Assemblies of God Church and talk about opening a can of worms.
I received a copy of The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson from Kensington Publishing and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative highlights how delving into the past, didn’t win Daisy any popularity contests and at times people were rude and extremely hostile towards her. Residents need to share true and hard stories, cover ups and secrets are revealed and for a small town to finally heal. Five stars from me, I really liked Daisy and Joe’s characters and oh to be young and inquisitive.
1928. Violet and Rose Flowers are identical twins, the only way you can tell them apart visually is Violet has a tiny birth mark on the back of her neck, and the nineteen year olds are very different in temperament. Violet is vivacious and outgoing and Rose is ladylike and quiet. On the 13th of August and a hot night, an explosion rocks Lamb’s Dance Hall in Possum Flats, Missouri, the building goes up in flames, leaving one twin among the dozens of dead young people, who moments before had been dancing and listening to Jazz.
1978. Daisy Flowers is fifteen, her mother Lettie drops her off at her grandmother Rose’s house for the summer and she’s never met her before. Daisy is a nomad, her mother doesn’t stay in one place very long, Lettie promises her she will return for her and is this going to be another case of her mother letting her down?
To get away from her grandmother’s funeral parlor, Daisy pleads with Fence McMillan and to give her an internship at the local newspaper. Here an inquisitive Daisy learns of the long-ago tragedy, the connection to her family and she thinks with the fiftieth anniversary approaching the paper should run a story about what happen and pay tribute to the victims.
Daisy has no idea how many people don’t want to be associated or discuss the fire at Lambs Dance Hall, what really happened, including her grandmother Rose, Hazel, Ginger, Ruby Rae, Jimmy Jeffers the police chief and pastor Paul Emmonds of the Assemblies of God Church and talk about opening a can of worms.
I received a copy of The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson from Kensington Publishing and Edelweiss Plus in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative highlights how delving into the past, didn’t win Daisy any popularity contests and at times people were rude and extremely hostile towards her. Residents need to share true and hard stories, cover ups and secrets are revealed and for a small town to finally heal. Five stars from me, I really liked Daisy and Joe’s characters and oh to be young and inquisitive.
July 26, 2024
Michelle what a well written book. I am looking forward to reading more of your books. This was a page turner for sure. I really enjoyed it. The character development and description of the small town were very well done. The book was interesting. I am going to share it with the book club where I work. This book is based on a horrific true event. A must read.
May 4, 2024
It was hard to believe that The Flower Sisters was Michelle Collins Anderson’s debut book. I always enjoy when an author sets their story in a place that is familiar to them. Somehow the story and the descriptions of the land are more authentic that way. That was exactly what Michelle Collins Anderson did with The Flower Sisters, her debut novel. The Flower Sisters was inspired by the true story of what occurred at the Bond Hall in West Plains, Missouri, the author’s hometown. There had been a tragic explosion at that dance hall on April 13, 1928. For purposes of making the timeline storyline fit the narrative of The Flower Sisters better, Michelle Collins Anderson changed the date of the explosion to August 13, 1928. She also changed the name of the dance hall. Instead of using Bond Hall, she renamed the dance hall Lamb’s Hall. Monthly dances were held at Lamb Hall and attracted many young people to attend. I listened to the audiobook of The Flower Sisters that was narrated by a multitude of very good and convincing narrators. The Flower Sisters was a character driven novel that captured my attention immediately. It was written in the alternating time periods of 1928 and 1978 and from the POV’s of the various characters, past and present.
On August 13, 1928, the Flower sisters, identical twins, were preparing to pull off one of their greatest feats. Rose and Violet were almost impossible to tell apart from each other. Even their mother had a hard time keeping their identities straight. The only thing that gave them away was that Violet had a tiny birth mark by her hairline. Their personalities were as different, though, as night and day. Rose was shy and a rule follower while Violet was wild, outgoing and quite outspoken. The sisters were as close as could be, though, despite their differences in their respective personalities. For that reason, it was not unthinkable then that Rose would agree to take Violet’s place and go to the dance at Lamb Hall in Violet’s place. Violet had been sick all day but did not want to disappoint her steady boyfriend, Dash Edmonds. Just as Rose was opening the door to leave when she heard Dash honk the horn, Rose and Violet’s mother suggested that Violet (who was really Rose) reconsider going. After all, it was Friday the 13th. Was that an omen for what was going to happen later that evening?
Fifty years later, in May of 1978, fifteen year old Daisy Flowers was left in Possum Flats, Missouri with her grandmother Rose who she was meeting for the first time in her life. Daisy’s mother had dropped her daughter off to stay in the place she had run away from and swore she would never go back to. Her grandmother owned and operated a funeral home and her living quarters were directly above the funeral parlor. Daisy was quite bored in Possum Flats until she accompanied her grandmother to the office of the local newspaper. Her grandmother had to report the death of the town’s mayor. Daisy had learned about the embarrassing circumstances of the mayor’s death and promised her grandmother that she would keep it a secret. All of that changed when Daisy realized she could use that secret to negotiate an internship at the newspaper for herself. All of a sudden Daisy’s life got more interesting. After a few weeks, Daisy’s boss, Fence McMillan the Fourth, editor and publisher, gave her an assignment. She was tasked with exploring the archives to find a story that happened in the past and follow up with it to see how those people might remember that time or circumstances. As Daisy combed through old stories, she came across a story about an explosion that had occurred almost fifty years ago. The person who caused the explosion had never been identified. There were so many lives that were lost that night because of the explosion. Daisy decided that that was what she wanted to write about. What would Daisy discover? Would old secrets finally be revealed?
The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson was a very moving book. It was paced just right and was well plotted. The Flower Sisters explored the dynamics of family, the special relationship between twins, secrets that laid dormant and had been suppressed for years on end, the innocence and curiosity of an inquisitive young girl, trust, past relationships, love and hope. I really enjoyed the characters in The Flower Sisters. They were flawed but that was what made them so special. I admired Daisy’s gumption and confidence even when she was came across obstacles. The relationship that Daisy and her grandmother developed was so strong and beautiful. I enjoyed the friendship Daisy and Joe forged together that had the promise of turning into something more. Be sure to read the author’s note at the conclusion of The Flower Sisters. It was quite enlightening. I highly recommend The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson if you enjoy a good mystery that explores a secret a whole town chose to ignore due to how painful it was to remember.
Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
On August 13, 1928, the Flower sisters, identical twins, were preparing to pull off one of their greatest feats. Rose and Violet were almost impossible to tell apart from each other. Even their mother had a hard time keeping their identities straight. The only thing that gave them away was that Violet had a tiny birth mark by her hairline. Their personalities were as different, though, as night and day. Rose was shy and a rule follower while Violet was wild, outgoing and quite outspoken. The sisters were as close as could be, though, despite their differences in their respective personalities. For that reason, it was not unthinkable then that Rose would agree to take Violet’s place and go to the dance at Lamb Hall in Violet’s place. Violet had been sick all day but did not want to disappoint her steady boyfriend, Dash Edmonds. Just as Rose was opening the door to leave when she heard Dash honk the horn, Rose and Violet’s mother suggested that Violet (who was really Rose) reconsider going. After all, it was Friday the 13th. Was that an omen for what was going to happen later that evening?
Fifty years later, in May of 1978, fifteen year old Daisy Flowers was left in Possum Flats, Missouri with her grandmother Rose who she was meeting for the first time in her life. Daisy’s mother had dropped her daughter off to stay in the place she had run away from and swore she would never go back to. Her grandmother owned and operated a funeral home and her living quarters were directly above the funeral parlor. Daisy was quite bored in Possum Flats until she accompanied her grandmother to the office of the local newspaper. Her grandmother had to report the death of the town’s mayor. Daisy had learned about the embarrassing circumstances of the mayor’s death and promised her grandmother that she would keep it a secret. All of that changed when Daisy realized she could use that secret to negotiate an internship at the newspaper for herself. All of a sudden Daisy’s life got more interesting. After a few weeks, Daisy’s boss, Fence McMillan the Fourth, editor and publisher, gave her an assignment. She was tasked with exploring the archives to find a story that happened in the past and follow up with it to see how those people might remember that time or circumstances. As Daisy combed through old stories, she came across a story about an explosion that had occurred almost fifty years ago. The person who caused the explosion had never been identified. There were so many lives that were lost that night because of the explosion. Daisy decided that that was what she wanted to write about. What would Daisy discover? Would old secrets finally be revealed?
The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson was a very moving book. It was paced just right and was well plotted. The Flower Sisters explored the dynamics of family, the special relationship between twins, secrets that laid dormant and had been suppressed for years on end, the innocence and curiosity of an inquisitive young girl, trust, past relationships, love and hope. I really enjoyed the characters in The Flower Sisters. They were flawed but that was what made them so special. I admired Daisy’s gumption and confidence even when she was came across obstacles. The relationship that Daisy and her grandmother developed was so strong and beautiful. I enjoyed the friendship Daisy and Joe forged together that had the promise of turning into something more. Be sure to read the author’s note at the conclusion of The Flower Sisters. It was quite enlightening. I highly recommend The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson if you enjoy a good mystery that explores a secret a whole town chose to ignore due to how painful it was to remember.
Thank you to Recorded Books for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 13, 2024
This is a beautifully written story of a tragic night in the Ozark’s in 1928.
Michelle Collins Anderson grew up in West Plains, Missouri. This is her story of what happened that night at the Bond Dance Hall.
April 13, 1928 an explosion takes place at the Bond Dance Hall. Michelle Collins Anderson changes the date and name of the dance hall to write her novel.
Thirty nine people were killed that night. Some were never found.
Violet and Rose were identical twins, no one could tell them apart. Violet had a blueish purple mark at the back of her neck. The sisters had different personalities. Violet had a wild side and Rose quiet and demur. Violet goes to the dance that night never to return.
Fifty ears later, Daisy Flowers is dropped off at her grandma Rose’s home to spend the summer. Her mother Lettie named for Violet ran from this town long ago and planned never to return.
Daisy is offered a job with the local paper where she learns of a tragic explosion that no one wants to talk about. She interviews the survivors of this tragedy and writes her story. Daisy stirs up trouble. Secrets and mysteries are revealed.
The vivid descriptions and well developed characters are woven together to bring the two time lines together.
This is a debut novel by this author. I cannot wait to read more of her books,
I just loved the cover.
Thank you Goodreads and Kensington Publishing for my copy of this book.
Michelle Collins Anderson grew up in West Plains, Missouri. This is her story of what happened that night at the Bond Dance Hall.
April 13, 1928 an explosion takes place at the Bond Dance Hall. Michelle Collins Anderson changes the date and name of the dance hall to write her novel.
Thirty nine people were killed that night. Some were never found.
Violet and Rose were identical twins, no one could tell them apart. Violet had a blueish purple mark at the back of her neck. The sisters had different personalities. Violet had a wild side and Rose quiet and demur. Violet goes to the dance that night never to return.
Fifty ears later, Daisy Flowers is dropped off at her grandma Rose’s home to spend the summer. Her mother Lettie named for Violet ran from this town long ago and planned never to return.
Daisy is offered a job with the local paper where she learns of a tragic explosion that no one wants to talk about. She interviews the survivors of this tragedy and writes her story. Daisy stirs up trouble. Secrets and mysteries are revealed.
The vivid descriptions and well developed characters are woven together to bring the two time lines together.
This is a debut novel by this author. I cannot wait to read more of her books,
I just loved the cover.
Thank you Goodreads and Kensington Publishing for my copy of this book.
April 27, 2025
I didn’t even try to get into this book. I actually won it in a giveaway, but when I went to flip it open to see what kind of writing style it was etc and get into reading it, my eye caught mention of the MC taking drugs… and I was like… 😬”hmm I dunno about this…” and then I flipped a bunch more pages and my eyes fell on a sex scene… I have nothing against the plot of the book, it actually sounded SOO intriguing, but I just don’t feel comfortable reading it. 👍🏻 Even if I tried to read it and skip over parts I didn’t want to read, I don’t think I could.
From what I could tell, the book writing and plot were pretty good though, 4 ⭐️👏🏻 …but because of my Christian standards, I don’t want to read it. 🤍
From what I could tell, the book writing and plot were pretty good though, 4 ⭐️👏🏻 …but because of my Christian standards, I don’t want to read it. 🤍
May 4, 2024
4.5 rounded up — Captivating and informative, The Flower Sisters tells the story of a little-known dance hall fire in Missouri in 1928. Though the source of the real-life fire was never known, Michelle Collins Anderson explores a fictional explanation that could fit. Her characters were easy to sink into and easy to root for — even the most flawed ones.
January 26, 2024
Thanks to Kensington for the ARC of this book #TheFlowerSisters.
This book is based on the true story of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion that happened in West Plains, MO in 1928 that killed many, mostly teens. Tragic.
Any book where the first chapter takes place in a funeral home, preparing the town's dead Mayor for viewing and said Mayor died with a boner that they are trying to wrangle into position for modesty sake... sign me up! I was LOLing. Seriously.
I genuinely liked this book. The multigenerational flipping around was clear and concise. The characters were well developed and easy to relate to, for the most part (the pastor, oh boy, was he a piece of work!) The plot twist caught me off guard and I am kicking myself as it was quite obvious. After that the book waned.
The biggest disappointment was the ending. So quaint and much too "feel good" for the gravity of the story. Pictured this as more of a cherry-on-top/Hallmark channel movie ending than a book.
I would recommend this book for run-of-the-mill book clubs. It's easy to read, not too long and the discussion won't be a snooze.
This book is based on the true story of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion that happened in West Plains, MO in 1928 that killed many, mostly teens. Tragic.
Any book where the first chapter takes place in a funeral home, preparing the town's dead Mayor for viewing and said Mayor died with a boner that they are trying to wrangle into position for modesty sake... sign me up! I was LOLing. Seriously.
I genuinely liked this book. The multigenerational flipping around was clear and concise. The characters were well developed and easy to relate to, for the most part (the pastor, oh boy, was he a piece of work!) The plot twist caught me off guard and I am kicking myself as it was quite obvious. After that the book waned.
The biggest disappointment was the ending. So quaint and much too "feel good" for the gravity of the story. Pictured this as more of a cherry-on-top/Hallmark channel movie ending than a book.
I would recommend this book for run-of-the-mill book clubs. It's easy to read, not too long and the discussion won't be a snooze.
October 4, 2024
The somewhat crude sexual reference (and so early on at 3%) in this one is bothering me. Think I'm gonna pass.
April 20, 2024
The cover was what first caught my attention. The black against the beautiful contrasting colors really highlights the glamour that was that time period. The story was exceptional intriguing considering there were elements that are based on the true explosion. I found the characters to be complex enough to keep my attention while simple enough that it was easy to follow. I loved how the story built up until the end and although there were times that felt confident that I knew where it was going, there was still enough question that I wanted to continue reading to confirm and see just how and why things happened the way they did. The narration was nicely done and I think this is easily a book that could be recommended and enjoyed by a wide variety of readers.
I would like to thank the author Michelle Collins Anderson, NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
I would like to thank the author Michelle Collins Anderson, NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this audiobook.
November 21, 2024
3.75 stars
The author based her story on a little-known true tragic event that happened in her own home town in Missouri in 1928. The Unsolved Mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion.
The basis of the story revolves around a twin - the one that did not attend that dreadful dance hall explosion. Between the twin and her granddaughter a 50 year old story is brought back to life and shatters the calm of this West Plaines Missouri town.
There are a couple twists in the story - one of which I had suspected for most of the novel. Books based on true events will often have me searching for the 'true' story. Below are some pictures and an article that I found of interest ~~
Pictures of dance hall explosion
https://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...
An April 19, 1928 article and pictures from West Plains, Mo.
https://www.westplainsdailyquill.net/...
The author based her story on a little-known true tragic event that happened in her own home town in Missouri in 1928. The Unsolved Mystery of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion.
The basis of the story revolves around a twin - the one that did not attend that dreadful dance hall explosion. Between the twin and her granddaughter a 50 year old story is brought back to life and shatters the calm of this West Plaines Missouri town.
There are a couple twists in the story - one of which I had suspected for most of the novel. Books based on true events will often have me searching for the 'true' story. Below are some pictures and an article that I found of interest ~~
Pictures of dance hall explosion
https://images.search.yahoo.com/searc...
An April 19, 1928 article and pictures from West Plains, Mo.
https://www.westplainsdailyquill.net/...
May 1, 2024
THE FLOWER SISTERS by Michelle Collins Anderson
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media/recorded books for the audiobook of, The Flower Sisters
Narrated by a cast of readers: Jim Frangione, Andrea Gallo, L.J. Ganser, Laura Knight Keating, Christina Moore, Graham Winton
Narration was very well done in this compelling debut of a coming-of-age/historical fiction read; told in twin storylines fifty years apart. Daisy Flowers is fifteen in 1978 when her free-spirited mother dumps her in Possum Flats, Missouri. She is to spend the summer living with her grandmother, the town mortician. Daisy obtains an internship at the local newspaper where, sorting through the basement archives, she learns of a mysterious tragedy from fifty years earlier...
In 1928 an explosion at the local dance hall left dozens of young people dead and among them is a name Daisy recognizes with family ties. Daisy becomes obsessed with investigating this tragedy and soon discovers the small-town of, Possum Flats, holds a myriad of secrets and not many that remember it are happy Daisy is asking questions. Is it time for this hurting town to finally heal?
The cover of this book is so beautifully done and that is what caught my eye for this book. Also, when I read it is a Fannie Flagg of the Ozarks. I absolutely loved listening to this coming-of-age/historical fiction story. Rose, the grandmother is hysterically funny at times and there are laugh out loud moments in the story. You’ll find yourself rooting for Daisy, who is a fifteen-year-old inquisitive and endearing young lady. This has a well rounded cast of characters that you will enjoy. I’m excited to see what this author does next. Kudos to, Michelle Collins Anderson, on her debut novel that brings this story to life with her descriptive writing. A great book for book clubs.
To me this novel is in the same vein as Fannie Flagg’s books, as well as, Jan Karon’s, The Mitford Series.
Touching on, family, forgiveness, secrets, lies, sadness and grief, love, and friendship.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media/recorded books for the audiobook of, The Flower Sisters
Narrated by a cast of readers: Jim Frangione, Andrea Gallo, L.J. Ganser, Laura Knight Keating, Christina Moore, Graham Winton
Narration was very well done in this compelling debut of a coming-of-age/historical fiction read; told in twin storylines fifty years apart. Daisy Flowers is fifteen in 1978 when her free-spirited mother dumps her in Possum Flats, Missouri. She is to spend the summer living with her grandmother, the town mortician. Daisy obtains an internship at the local newspaper where, sorting through the basement archives, she learns of a mysterious tragedy from fifty years earlier...
In 1928 an explosion at the local dance hall left dozens of young people dead and among them is a name Daisy recognizes with family ties. Daisy becomes obsessed with investigating this tragedy and soon discovers the small-town of, Possum Flats, holds a myriad of secrets and not many that remember it are happy Daisy is asking questions. Is it time for this hurting town to finally heal?
The cover of this book is so beautifully done and that is what caught my eye for this book. Also, when I read it is a Fannie Flagg of the Ozarks. I absolutely loved listening to this coming-of-age/historical fiction story. Rose, the grandmother is hysterically funny at times and there are laugh out loud moments in the story. You’ll find yourself rooting for Daisy, who is a fifteen-year-old inquisitive and endearing young lady. This has a well rounded cast of characters that you will enjoy. I’m excited to see what this author does next. Kudos to, Michelle Collins Anderson, on her debut novel that brings this story to life with her descriptive writing. A great book for book clubs.
To me this novel is in the same vein as Fannie Flagg’s books, as well as, Jan Karon’s, The Mitford Series.
Touching on, family, forgiveness, secrets, lies, sadness and grief, love, and friendship.
March 17, 2024
The Flower Sisters ~
I received The Flower Sisters as an ARC from BookBrowse to review.
The story is set in the small town of Possum Flats, Missouri in dual timelines of 1928 and 1978. The central event affecting both timelines was the disastrous explosion at the local Lambe’s Dance Hall in August of 1928 that killed dozens of young people. Among the dead was one of the Flower sisters, identical twins Violet and Rose, who were very different in personality.
In the summer of 1978, fifteen-year-old Daisy Flowers is left in Possum Flats by her hippie mother. She’s to stay with her Grandmother Rose, the local funeral director. A miserable, bored Daisy talks herself into a job as an intern at the local newspaper, and then into a “Today in History” column. In the paper’s back issues, she discovers stories about the explosion and is shocked to learn that one of the victims was Violet, the twin sister her grandmother has never mentioned.
Daisy is determined to tell the story of the explosion by talking to survivors and victims’ families, who don’t want to talk to her. Her questions cause problems for those who have have spent fifty years hiding the trauma, guilt, and the secrets of that night. Additionally, in the Bible Belt town, many people felt at the time that those who were killed while dancing to Jazz had it coming for their evil ways.
The prologue, set in 1928, describes the events of the night at Lambe’s in the voices of Violet and her boyfriend, Dash. The chapters alternate between Daisy, Rose, Dash, now a fundamentalist minister, and the other survivors, whose memories provide the 1928 timeline. Daisy’s newspaper column for each story is included afterward.
I really disliked Daisy in her first several segments. She seemed self-absorbed, over-confident, and insensitive to the concerns of those she was determined to interview for her big “scoop.” The author started out by overdoing her 70’s teen persona. I fleetingly thought of skipping her segments, but kept on in hopes that the character would show some growth. Fortunately, she did.
Rose was a hoot; strong, outspoken, and finding humor in sometimes awkward situations. Rev. “Dash” Edmonds was zealous and humorless. I guess as he was supposed to be. The other characters, the survivors and Daisy’s coworkers, were well-developed.
The stories of the survivors were told in a effective way, slowly revealing the story of the night of the explosion. I didn’t care for the ending, which seemed out of sync with the rest of the book.
The Flower Sisters is a story of secrets, regrets, and remembrances, of finding truths, family, and home. I would recommend it.
I received The Flower Sisters as an ARC from BookBrowse to review.
The story is set in the small town of Possum Flats, Missouri in dual timelines of 1928 and 1978. The central event affecting both timelines was the disastrous explosion at the local Lambe’s Dance Hall in August of 1928 that killed dozens of young people. Among the dead was one of the Flower sisters, identical twins Violet and Rose, who were very different in personality.
In the summer of 1978, fifteen-year-old Daisy Flowers is left in Possum Flats by her hippie mother. She’s to stay with her Grandmother Rose, the local funeral director. A miserable, bored Daisy talks herself into a job as an intern at the local newspaper, and then into a “Today in History” column. In the paper’s back issues, she discovers stories about the explosion and is shocked to learn that one of the victims was Violet, the twin sister her grandmother has never mentioned.
Daisy is determined to tell the story of the explosion by talking to survivors and victims’ families, who don’t want to talk to her. Her questions cause problems for those who have have spent fifty years hiding the trauma, guilt, and the secrets of that night. Additionally, in the Bible Belt town, many people felt at the time that those who were killed while dancing to Jazz had it coming for their evil ways.
The prologue, set in 1928, describes the events of the night at Lambe’s in the voices of Violet and her boyfriend, Dash. The chapters alternate between Daisy, Rose, Dash, now a fundamentalist minister, and the other survivors, whose memories provide the 1928 timeline. Daisy’s newspaper column for each story is included afterward.
I really disliked Daisy in her first several segments. She seemed self-absorbed, over-confident, and insensitive to the concerns of those she was determined to interview for her big “scoop.” The author started out by overdoing her 70’s teen persona. I fleetingly thought of skipping her segments, but kept on in hopes that the character would show some growth. Fortunately, she did.
Rose was a hoot; strong, outspoken, and finding humor in sometimes awkward situations. Rev. “Dash” Edmonds was zealous and humorless. I guess as he was supposed to be. The other characters, the survivors and Daisy’s coworkers, were well-developed.
The stories of the survivors were told in a effective way, slowly revealing the story of the night of the explosion. I didn’t care for the ending, which seemed out of sync with the rest of the book.
The Flower Sisters is a story of secrets, regrets, and remembrances, of finding truths, family, and home. I would recommend it.
March 12, 2024
Thank you Goodreads for this ARC. This book was not for me. I found Daisy to be insufferable, and considering this was inspired by true events, found parts of the story to be shockingly unbelievable. I did not care for a single character, and therefore did not care what happened to them, which is a shame. Historical fiction is my favorite, and this really missed the mark for me.
April 5, 2024
Thank you to Kensington books for the ARC. I was interested in reading this historical fiction about a horrible accident. But was disappointed in the presentation of the story. It took close to 100 pages to get there and then to have it end in such a sappy way. I feel like the historical event should have and could have been handled better
March 25, 2024
As an ARC reader for "The Flower Sisters" by Michelle Collins Anderson, I found myself utterly engrossed in this captivating tale from start to finish. Anderson's storytelling prowess shines as she transports readers to the quaint yet mysterious town of Possum Flats, Missouri, where secrets abound and history lurks in every corner.
The protagonist, fifteen-year-old Daisy Flowers, is a vibrant and relatable character whose journey of self-discovery amidst the backdrop of a decades-old tragedy is both compelling and heart-wrenching. From the moment Daisy sets foot in Possum Flats, I found myself rooting for her as she navigates the complexities of family dynamics, small-town politics, and the enigmatic past that haunts the town.
Anderson's vivid descriptions and richly drawn characters bring the story to life, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and emotions of Possum Flats. The mystery surrounding the 1928 Bond Dance Hall explosion is expertly woven into the narrative, keeping me guessing until the very end.
What truly sets "The Flower Sisters" apart is its exploration of themes such as resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of truth. As Daisy delves deeper into the secrets of Possum Flats, she uncovers not only the truth about the past but also the strength within herself to confront it.
Overall, "The Flower Sisters" is a masterfully crafted novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, mystery, and coming-of-age stories alike. Michelle Collins Anderson's debut is a testament to her talent as a storyteller, and I eagerly anticipate her future works.
The protagonist, fifteen-year-old Daisy Flowers, is a vibrant and relatable character whose journey of self-discovery amidst the backdrop of a decades-old tragedy is both compelling and heart-wrenching. From the moment Daisy sets foot in Possum Flats, I found myself rooting for her as she navigates the complexities of family dynamics, small-town politics, and the enigmatic past that haunts the town.
Anderson's vivid descriptions and richly drawn characters bring the story to life, immersing readers in the sights, sounds, and emotions of Possum Flats. The mystery surrounding the 1928 Bond Dance Hall explosion is expertly woven into the narrative, keeping me guessing until the very end.
What truly sets "The Flower Sisters" apart is its exploration of themes such as resilience, redemption, and the enduring power of truth. As Daisy delves deeper into the secrets of Possum Flats, she uncovers not only the truth about the past but also the strength within herself to confront it.
Overall, "The Flower Sisters" is a masterfully crafted novel that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, mystery, and coming-of-age stories alike. Michelle Collins Anderson's debut is a testament to her talent as a storyteller, and I eagerly anticipate her future works.
November 19, 2023
There were things about this book I really enjoyed and a few things that fell a little flat. I really enjoyed the story as a whole, and thought the dual timeline aspect was well used in this novel. The writing was overall quite good and I was quickly invested in the story and the characters. Unfortunately, what kept this book from becoming a favorite was the ending. It really felt like the ending was rushed, wrapped up too easily, and honestly felt a little too Hallmark-y for my personal tastes. I definitely can see where this could become a book club favorite and know there is an audience out there who will love it, Hallmark ending and all. Overall it was a good read, and I would recommend it to fans of historical fiction for sure.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
Pub Date: April 23, 2023
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the review copy.
Pub Date: April 23, 2023
November 15, 2023
4☆
I think the character were vivdly portrayed; daisy, trying to uncover possum flats' history, and its residents, dealing with the memories of the past. However, while I understand that the focus of this story was on daisy, rose and possum flats, i do wish there had been a slightly better development of the storyline between daisy and her mum.
I think the character were vivdly portrayed; daisy, trying to uncover possum flats' history, and its residents, dealing with the memories of the past. However, while I understand that the focus of this story was on daisy, rose and possum flats, i do wish there had been a slightly better development of the storyline between daisy and her mum.
July 12, 2024
*DNF* Too YA ( Imo) & not set in the time period I thought it was . Beautiful cover tho..
January 19, 2024
I got an advanced copy through a Goodreads giveaway.
Overall I liked the book but there were a few things that slightly annoyed me about it. For starters: the title sisters are identical twins and it's mentioned very early on that they are able to fool even their own mother. As an identical twin I can testify with experience that we couldn't fool her even if (and when) we tried. She actually hates The Parent Trap for exactly that reason. Especially when they have different personalities once you reach a certain age everyone in their life can tell them apart. There's going to be subtle variations in mannerisms, speech patterns, etc. that often we are not even aware of that other people can spot. At least she doesn't treat twins as a breed of mythical creature (looking at you Thirteenth Tale. Couldn't even finish that one) or as one person in two bodies (looking at you, Outlander series.)
The book switches between several characters in the book and for the most part it works well. Not least of which is that we get the night of the explosion from several different view points which helps reinforce the collective trauma the town suffered from the disaster. I don't quite get why we get some of the flashbacks we get like the background on the pastor's early life. I don't see what purpose it serves overall but as the book ends with him perhaps it's to go full circle on him. Maybe it's just because I don't like the character one bit. I don't like him in 1928 and I don't like him any better in 1978. With every other character the flashbacks work very well.
There's definitely plenty to discuss with the story which I'm sure will make it popular with book clubs and maybe someday in classrooms
Overall I liked the book but there were a few things that slightly annoyed me about it. For starters: the title sisters are identical twins and it's mentioned very early on that they are able to fool even their own mother. As an identical twin I can testify with experience that we couldn't fool her even if (and when) we tried. She actually hates The Parent Trap for exactly that reason. Especially when they have different personalities once you reach a certain age everyone in their life can tell them apart. There's going to be subtle variations in mannerisms, speech patterns, etc. that often we are not even aware of that other people can spot. At least she doesn't treat twins as a breed of mythical creature (looking at you Thirteenth Tale. Couldn't even finish that one) or as one person in two bodies (looking at you, Outlander series.)
The book switches between several characters in the book and for the most part it works well. Not least of which is that we get the night of the explosion from several different view points which helps reinforce the collective trauma the town suffered from the disaster. I don't quite get why we get some of the flashbacks we get like the background on the pastor's early life. I don't see what purpose it serves overall but as the book ends with him perhaps it's to go full circle on him. Maybe it's just because I don't like the character one bit. I don't like him in 1928 and I don't like him any better in 1978. With every other character the flashbacks work very well.
There's definitely plenty to discuss with the story which I'm sure will make it popular with book clubs and maybe someday in classrooms
May 13, 2024
Beautifully written story with a mysterious twist based on an event that happened in the author's hometown in Southern Missouri. The funny thing is that Dash was my favorite character - I do not say "likeable", but I felt like a rich tapestry of his life was painted for me in this book. I could understand what motivated him and why he chose the life he did. I particularly felt that the writing with Dash's backstory was captivating.
Michelle Collins Anderson is a friend of mine, and I feel honored to call her a dear friend. This is her first published book, and I am very proud of her. I look forward to many more accomplishments from this gifted writer (and really awesome human being).
Michelle Collins Anderson is a friend of mine, and I feel honored to call her a dear friend. This is her first published book, and I am very proud of her. I look forward to many more accomplishments from this gifted writer (and really awesome human being).
September 4, 2024
The beginning suggested a much more dramatic and exciting story, but it quickly mellowed out and became more of a character driven novel. While I enjoyed this book when I was reading it (altho I felt it was a bit overly wordy and descriptive) it wasn't something I was eagerly waiting to sit down and read.
did-not-finish
August 27, 2024I tried, but I expect a book to take off in the first 100 pages and this one creeps along. Also, so many POVs!
I absolutely know the twist regarding the twins. It’s a little too obvious.
I absolutely know the twist regarding the twins. It’s a little too obvious.
August 31, 2024
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
First off, Thank you to Kensington Publishing for picking me to win this FREE ARC Copy back in April as part of a giveaway in their Email Newsletter.
This was my first time reading a Historical Fiction Novel by Michelle so I wasnt sure what to expect but I have to say I really enjoyed this one especially since it was based on the 1928 Dance Hall Explosion in St Louis Missouri, an event I didn't know existed til I read this book.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. Daisy, Rose, Dash, Hazel, Smiley, Violet-Rose. Loved learning about their backgrounds and connections to the story and to each other.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in 1928 and 1978 St Louis Missouri while reading especially when the scenery was described.
I do hope this book will have a Sequel since I felt the ending very open and could be continued.
Overall a Phenomenally Historically Filled Novel about Sisters who work in their Fathers Funeral Home!! Can't wait to read more by Michelle in the future!!
Review:
First off, Thank you to Kensington Publishing for picking me to win this FREE ARC Copy back in April as part of a giveaway in their Email Newsletter.
This was my first time reading a Historical Fiction Novel by Michelle so I wasnt sure what to expect but I have to say I really enjoyed this one especially since it was based on the 1928 Dance Hall Explosion in St Louis Missouri, an event I didn't know existed til I read this book.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. Daisy, Rose, Dash, Hazel, Smiley, Violet-Rose. Loved learning about their backgrounds and connections to the story and to each other.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in 1928 and 1978 St Louis Missouri while reading especially when the scenery was described.
I do hope this book will have a Sequel since I felt the ending very open and could be continued.
Overall a Phenomenally Historically Filled Novel about Sisters who work in their Fathers Funeral Home!! Can't wait to read more by Michelle in the future!!
March 20, 2025
This book is centered around the tragic blast of the town's dance hall in 1928. So many of a small town lost their lives, leaving their family and loved ones behind. Also left behind is the memories and the small town closed its doors to all the stories of that night. Until Daisy came to town. Just a young girl dumped by her mother, Lettie, into the home of a grandmother she never met. Rose Flowers guards her secrets and her life from the young granddaughter who sinks her teeth into becoming the next great reporter of Possum Flats. While Daisy digs up the stories and gossip from that tragic day, she learns more than just that day the dance hall blew up. This is a great mystery to read with a few laughs spread throughout the book. The author gave a beautiful ending to the historical tragedy that will keep you turning the pages all the way to the end.
May 16, 2025
This was a book that I could just fall into. The setting was vivid and it had a true sense of place and time. I loved Daisy and her spunk. I thought the dual timelines worked for this book and was equally invested in both the 1928 and 1978 storylines. I did think the ending was a bit too neat but overall this was a strong debut and I look forward to reading more from this author.
October 4, 2023
I am grateful to NetGalley and to Kensington Books for providing me with this ARC to review.
This is essentially a family story that goes back and forth, historically and generationally, between the 1920s and the 1970s, focussing on Rose and Violet, the Flower sisters of the title, and then on Rose’s daughter and granddaughter, Lettie (short for Violet) and Daisy. The central event took place when twins Rose and Violet were happy go lucky teenagers enjoying whatever bits of the Roaring twenties touched their rural town in the Ozarks. On April 13,1928, an explosion and its consequent firestorm blew away Lamb’s Dance Hall in that town, Possum Flats, Missouri. Located above a car dealership and repair shop under reputedly shifty ownership, Lamb’s was packed with much of the town’s youth.
Based on the historic event that consumed Bond Dance Hall in the author’s hometown of West Plains, her telling of what happened captures the nightmare scenario from the perspective of those who were caught in its midst. The death toll was horrifying for such a small tight-knit community. The beautiful Violet Flowers was one of the casualties; her boyfriend Dash survived with serious burns, a mangled foot, and the never-forgotten memory of helplessly watching her brutal death.
The storyline then moves to the 1978. The widowed twin, Rose, never left Possum Flats, where she continues to run the family funeral home on her own. Her daughter Lettie, named Violet after her deceased aunt, fled the town and her family at the age of 16, returning many years later with her own daughter, Daisy. Lettie, who very much follows the hippie ethic of the time, simply drops off the teenage Daisy at the home of a grandmother she has never met and knows nothing about, so that she can head for California with her latest boyfriend for a fresh start and to allow him to get “used to the idea of fatherhood." She leaves Daisy with a promise to come back for her “soon,” leaving an address, but all Daisy’s letters return unopened.
Daisy hates the town and rejects her grandmother’s wary attempts to get closer. The defiant and angry Daisy goes to work at the local newspaper, where the editor eventually, though reluctantly, allows her to take on a “looking back” feature. Her discovery of a box of shocking photographs of the 1928 tragedy initiates her round of interviews with the survivors, including Rose. That process, in turn, tears open scars and exposes wounds that the survivors, and the town itself, had tried hard to erase. The individual stories lead to something much closer to the “truth.” The author builds suspense skillfully, as layer after layer is stripped away, leaving a shocking reality—but also permitting an opening to reconciliation as the story is restored to collective memory. Despite changing the place names and inventing the characters, the author has done her research, portraying the 1920s and the 1970s as transitional times where the changes in small town America seem to overcome the continuities of centuries past.
This is essentially a family story that goes back and forth, historically and generationally, between the 1920s and the 1970s, focussing on Rose and Violet, the Flower sisters of the title, and then on Rose’s daughter and granddaughter, Lettie (short for Violet) and Daisy. The central event took place when twins Rose and Violet were happy go lucky teenagers enjoying whatever bits of the Roaring twenties touched their rural town in the Ozarks. On April 13,1928, an explosion and its consequent firestorm blew away Lamb’s Dance Hall in that town, Possum Flats, Missouri. Located above a car dealership and repair shop under reputedly shifty ownership, Lamb’s was packed with much of the town’s youth.
Based on the historic event that consumed Bond Dance Hall in the author’s hometown of West Plains, her telling of what happened captures the nightmare scenario from the perspective of those who were caught in its midst. The death toll was horrifying for such a small tight-knit community. The beautiful Violet Flowers was one of the casualties; her boyfriend Dash survived with serious burns, a mangled foot, and the never-forgotten memory of helplessly watching her brutal death.
The storyline then moves to the 1978. The widowed twin, Rose, never left Possum Flats, where she continues to run the family funeral home on her own. Her daughter Lettie, named Violet after her deceased aunt, fled the town and her family at the age of 16, returning many years later with her own daughter, Daisy. Lettie, who very much follows the hippie ethic of the time, simply drops off the teenage Daisy at the home of a grandmother she has never met and knows nothing about, so that she can head for California with her latest boyfriend for a fresh start and to allow him to get “used to the idea of fatherhood." She leaves Daisy with a promise to come back for her “soon,” leaving an address, but all Daisy’s letters return unopened.
Daisy hates the town and rejects her grandmother’s wary attempts to get closer. The defiant and angry Daisy goes to work at the local newspaper, where the editor eventually, though reluctantly, allows her to take on a “looking back” feature. Her discovery of a box of shocking photographs of the 1928 tragedy initiates her round of interviews with the survivors, including Rose. That process, in turn, tears open scars and exposes wounds that the survivors, and the town itself, had tried hard to erase. The individual stories lead to something much closer to the “truth.” The author builds suspense skillfully, as layer after layer is stripped away, leaving a shocking reality—but also permitting an opening to reconciliation as the story is restored to collective memory. Despite changing the place names and inventing the characters, the author has done her research, portraying the 1920s and the 1970s as transitional times where the changes in small town America seem to overcome the continuities of centuries past.
April 22, 2024
THE FLOWER SISTERS by Michelle Collins Anderson is a well-written and engrossing story inspired by a little-known real event that occurred in the author’s home town of West Plains, Missouri in 1928. The Bond Dance Hall Explosion tragically took many lives, including teens, yet it was rarely discussed. This is a dual timeline story that shows how unpredictable events, split-second decisions and deeply-buried secrets can have profound effects for generations to come. Violet and Rose Flowers are twins that look almost identical, but have vastly different personalities. On a tragic night in August of 1928, an explosion and subsequent fire level Lamb’s Dance Hall in the fictional town of Possum Flats, Missouri. One of the twins is among those that died in the blast and the other sister’s life is changed forever. Fifty years later, fifteen-year-old, Daisy Flowers is dropped off at her unknown grandmother Rose’s house by her free-spirited mother, Lettie. Daisy hates the small town, but manages to wrangle an internship at the local newspaper to keep her busy for the summer. She soon learns of the dance hall tragedy and how it might be connected to her own family. She wants to write a story about the event to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary and honor the victims and survivors, but little does she know that her relentless probing will uncover secrets that many of the townspeople want to stay buried. The stories she writes about the past soon have unintended effects in the present. I really enjoyed this multi-generational tale of small-town secrets and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with an Advanced Reader’s Edition to review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,099 reviews