What readers think of The Flower Sisters, plus links to write your own review.

If you enjoy books that can make you laugh out loud, The Flower Sisters should be on your Want to Read list! A wide assortment of interesting characters will keep you turning the pages.
The story centers around a true tragic event that occurred in the author's hometown fifty years ago. The characters are especially well drawn and make the book hard to put down. They range from an eccentric granny who runs a funeral home to her precocious but lovable granddaughter along with so many others too numerous to mention.
The ending is guaranteed to surprise you.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in a true story embellished with delightful characters.

I love when historical fiction introduces me to a subject I want to research further. Michelle Collins Anderson brings to life the Dance Hall Explosion (based on real life events) in Missouri. The story is told in two decades set 50 years apart. Daisy Flowers is moved to her grandmother's home while her mom and current boyfriend set out west, promising to bring Daisy out when they settle. Living with her grandmother, over her family business of a funeral home, is not something a hippy style teenager thinks will be fun. When Daisy lets slip some personal information about a prominent resident to the local paper, her summer internship is sealed. Not everyone is happy with Daisy's choice of writing about the Dance Hall Explosion, they think some information is better left hidden and not talked about. Daisy soon learns, family isn't just those you live with, but those you let into your life. If I were to change one thing, it might be the cover. I think the newspaper or dance hall might be a better draw for a forward facing book. I recommend this title and look forward to future novels by Michelle Collins Anderson.

Michelle Collins Anderson, author of The Flower Sisters, has woven a rich tapestry by letting the characters tell the story of the worst day that ever happened to the little town of Possum Flats, MO. Each segment of the book is told by a different narrator with a different "voice" and a different story. An astute reader will figure out this historical novel's biggest secret early, but knowing the secret does not in any way ruin the reading of this gem. Anderson perfectly captures the voices of the men and women--the young and not so young; the business owner and the preacher--and interweaves them.

The novel goes back and forth between 1928 (the year of the devastating dance hall fire) and 1978 (the year fifteen-year-old Daisy is left by her mother to spend the summer with her grandmother). Through the letters Daisy writes to her mother and the segments she narrates, we learn much about the townspeople of Possum Flats through her "fresh eyes". Daisy and each narrator become our guides to understanding how and why the citizens have changed since that devastating day in 1928.

I loved this book. In fact, there is nothing about this book I didn't like (well, besides having to finish reading it so that I could submit this review). I look forward to reading another Michelle Collins Anderson book. She sure can write a story.

In the summer Daisy Flowers turns fifteen years old, she finds herself dumped off at her grandmother's house in Possum Flats, Missouri. Her mother promises she will be back after she and her latest boyfriend get settled in California. Daisy's grandmother, Rose Flowers, runs and lives above a funeral home. Not every teenage girl's dream location! Daisy is made of strong stuff though, due to having been carted around by her free wheeling mother for years. Once it dawns on her that she may be stuck there for some time, Daisy finds a way to fit in. Tenacious and curious, she proposes that the local paper, The Picayune, give her a summer internship. Daisy uncovers a story that blows everyone in town away, and the lid off quite a few false stories about the fire in 1928 that burned down the local dance hall and took many people with it. Those remaining were changed forever, but when Daisy gets people to talk about the fire in her column, all hell breaks loose. Loved this book-great story, colorful characters!! Intriguing to find out that the dance hall fire is based on a true story that took place in the author's home town.

Thank you, BookBrowse, for the opportunity to read this amazing novel, The Flower Sisters by Michelle Collins Anderson.

Based on a true story of the Bond Dance Hall Explosion in West Plains, Missouri, the author envisions the devastation and agony of one small town and its community in way that allows the reader to imagine they were there.

The disaster takes place in 1928 but is looked at in the rear-view mirror by a young girl doing an internship at the local paper in 1978.

The characters are rich with emotions like fear, remorse, guilt anger and blame. The story pivots from 1928 to 1978 allowing survivors to unravel their consciences of many long-kept secrets. I could not help but become invested in each of their lives.

I highly recommend taking the journey to Possum Flats (aka West Plains ) to discover the true meaning of community and the human spirit.

This well written, character driven novel has dual time lines that take place in 1928 and 1978 in a small Missouri town. The story line is based on the Flowers sisters - identical twins Violet and Rose. In the 1978 time line, we also meet Lettie -Rose's daughter and Daisy - Rose's granddaughter.

1928 - Rose and Violet were twins in looks but had totally different personalities. Violet was always looking for a good time and loved to spend time dancing at the local dance hall. Rose was quiet and enjoyed being home. Despite their differences, the twins were very close and shared all of their secrets with each other. One night in August, 1928, their lives changed dramatically. Violet had gone to the local dance hall with her boyfriend. During that evening, a huge explosion at the dance hall claimed the lives of dozens of young people including Violet. Rose struggled with the loss of her sister and ended up marrying the son of the owners of the local funeral home.

1978 - Possum Hills was still a small town where everyone knew what was going on with all of the people in town. Rose still owned the funeral home and was estranged from her only child Letty, who had left town as soon as she could and never looked back. One day, Lettie arrived with a boyfriend and her 15 year old daughter. Lettie's stop in town was short -- she dumped her daughter with a grandmother that she never knew and then Lettie left town to start a new life in California with her boyfriend. Daisy wasn't happy with being in small town Missouri. She and her grandmother lived upstairs and the funeral home was below them. She didn't really know or understand her grandmother and didn't know anyone in town. She managed to get an internship at the local newspaper and learned about the dance hall fire fifty years earlier. She wanted to do a story about the fire to commemorate the 50th anniversary but when she tries to talk to the survivors, most of them don't want to talk about it. This small town holds some big secrets, and the more Daisy looks into the history of the town, the more secrets that come to light. Will the secrets that she uncovers bring the people in town closer to each other or will they continue to ignore the truth of the fire?

This book had some fantastic characters - Daisy was an inquisitive young girl who had a hard life moving around with her mother. At the beginning, she hated the small town and wasn't too impressed with her grandmother Rose. Even though Rose could be difficult and outspoken, she still wished for a relationship with her granddaughter. Rose was appalled when Daisy wanted to learn more about the fire fifty years earlier and wanted the town secrets to remain secrets. But are the prices that we pay for secrets worth avoiding the truth? The story is about grief and loss but also about love and forgiveness. This is a family of strong women that I won't forget. This is a debut novel for this author and I look forward to her future books.

This was a very enjoyable read about a small town mystery that gradually unfolds through the voices of its various residents. It was the perfect balance between an interesting story, strong characters, and a light touch of humor throughout.

Some of these characters were immediately likable, some not so much. But they were all "real", people that can be found in small towns everywhere, people doing the best they can to deal with the weight of past events, decisions, and regrets.

I really liked the author's writing style. I just read some great short stories on her website and hope to see another novel from her in the future.

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.