Book Club Discussion Questions!
 

Due to demand from book clubs reading Kate's books, she's put together some discussion questions for book clubs for each of her books. Just click any title below, and read or print off the questions! Have fun:)

Mum's the Word

Slay it With Flowers

Dearly Depotted

Snipped in the Bud

Acts of Violets

A Rose from the Dead

MUM’S THE WORD
by Kate Collins

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.  Abby considers herself the black sheep of the Knight family. What positive and/or negative impact does that have on her character?

2. Pryce Osborne and Marco Salvare are as opposite as two men can be. Or are they? What do you think attracted Abby to Marco? To Pryce? What was the real cause of her break-up with Pryce?

3. Can you explain Abby’s love/hate relationship with the police and the judicial system?

4. Stories usually contain a character who functions as the protagonist’s spiritual guide. Who serves that function for Abby? 

5. What does Abby do to promote her flower shop? Were any of her attempts effective? 

6. What one trait does Abby find most appealing about Marco? 

7. Abby hates bullies and injustice. What do you think has caused each of those feelings? 

8. Does Abby have any obvious or hidden fears? 

9. What are Abby’s flaws? Can you understand or relate to them? 

10. Which character (if any) do you identify with, and why? 

11. Do you know someone like Lottie’s cousin Pearl? 

12. Do you think Abby comes from a normal or dysfunctional family? 

13. Why does Abby consider her father her hero?  

14. Would you classify Abby as an optimistic or pessimistic person? 

15.  How does the ending tie in with the opening scene of the story?

SLAY IT WITH FLOWERS
by Kate Collins

 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What do you think is behind Jillian’s fear of getting married? 

2. If an Emperor’s Spa opened in your town or neighborhood, would you take a stand against it?  

3.  Do you think Abby’s tactic of taking photos of the clients was a good one? Were there any other means by which she could help force the business to close? 

4. Why does Abby worry about Grace’s opinion of her? 

5. Are any of the bridesmaids like women you know? 

6. Could you sympathize with Abby’s reaction to trying on the dress in front of the others? 

7. Have you ever met a man like Punch? Would you describe him as a narcissist? What makes some women go for men of his type? 

8. When Abby got the distress call from Passion Flower, did she make her decision based on logic or emotion, or both? 

9. What would you have done in that situation, given only the information Abby had at the time? 

10. Should massage parlors be licensed to stop the covert prostitution going on in some businesses? Are they licensed in your state? 

Author’s note: The spa in this story was based on an actual business. Shortly after my book was written, the police finally raided it. It is now operating under a new name.

DEARLY DEPOTTED
by Kate Collins

 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Does Jillian take unfair advantage of Abby? Is Abby an enabler? 

2. Is Grandma Osborne, as a ninety-year-old fairly portrayed? Did you like her?

3. Is Richard Davis the type of man you would expect Grace to be attracted to? What qualities does Grace admire? 

4. What surprised you most about Grace? 

5. Why does Lottie think Greg Morgan would be perfect for Abby? 

6. Why do you think Melanie succumbed to Jack’s charms? 

7. Should Abby have asked her aunt for payment, or sent a bill, or hoped she would remember eventually? 

8. Was Abby justified in dumping the coffee in Pryce’s lap? 

9. Was Sheila a sympathetic figure? Was she off-balance or just deeply wounded? 

10. Were you surprised to discover who the killer was? If so, who did you think it would be?

SNIPPED IN THE BUD
by Kate Collins

 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 

1. What does Abby find most frightening about Professor Puffer? 

2. The media is notorious for hounding a murder suspect, influencing public opinion. Could Abby have handled her notoriety in a better way? 

3. Would you consider Jocelyn Puffer an abused spouse? 

4. Abby isn’t afraid to stand up for what she believes in, e.g. protesting animal testing at the lab. Yet she cowers before Snapdragon. Why? What does it take for her to overcome that fear? 

5. Did Abby seriously consider Connor MacKay as a romantic interest? If Marco hadn’t been in the picture, would she have gone for him? Would they have been a good match? Should Connor come back in a future book to threaten Abby’s relationship with Marco? 

6. Why did Professor Reed have an affair with Jocelyn? 

7. What caused the rivalry between Puffer and Reed? 

8. Were Kenny’s motives understandable?  

9. Did Puffer’s actions at the end of the story stay true to his character? 

10. Did you feel you understood Jillian’s reasons for fearing marriage?

ACTS OF VIOLETS
by Kate Collins

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 

1. A fear of clowns seems to be a common phobia. What causes it? 

2. Is Marco’s mother in favor of her son seeing Abby? Would she be an interfering mother-in-law? What about Abby’s mother? 

3. Would Marco’s sister Gina be likely to try to stop any future wedding plans? 

4. Do you think Eudora had psychological problems before her dog’s death? Could that alone have triggered her behavior? 

5. Why didn’t Ed seek more help for his wife? Do you think he was in denial at all? 

6. Do people react more strongly to animal cruelty than to human cruelty? 

7. Did Trina do enough to stop Ryson’s harassment? What else should she have done? 

8. Eudora’s revenge took careful planning. Would that be possible for someone who had gone off the deep end? Could her behavior have been complicated by inhaling poisonous powder? 

9. Abby tells Nikki that she erred in revealing her feelings for Marco. Do you agree that telling a guy how you feel about him could be the kiss of death to a budding relationship? Are Abby and Marco at a point where she should feel safe in telling him? 

10. Being a step-parent is a tough job, especially when dealing with a delinquent child, as Dennis Ryson obviously was. Did you at first believe Eve had tried to harm him? Did she had a strong enough motive?  

11.  Did Eve’s lisping make it difficult to understand her?  

Author’s note: In my original manuscript, Eve Taylor lisped only when she said “thomething thpecial” or “thecret.” Unfortunately, a copy editor made changes in her speech that I didn’t catch until the book had gone to print. I sincerely apologize for this error.

 A ROSE FROM THE DEAD
by Kate Collins

 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1.  Much of the mortician’s humor and convention information was found during my internet research for the book. Did their dark humor surprise you? Is it out of place, or understandable? Are you surprised to know that the convention souvenirs I name in the story are actually available? 

2. Was Abby wrong to feel threatened by Grace’s sleuthing?   

3. Ross and Jess seem to flaunt convention. Is it the rebelliousness of their age or that they feel untouchable because of their father’s wealth and influence? Is their behavior typical of wealthy young men? 

4. With the “green” ecology movement becoming so popular, do you think people will embrace the natural burial concept? Are any funeral homes in your city offering that service? 

5. Are breaking and entering for a good reason (e.g. to find a murderer) okay or not?  

6. Angelique was attracted to Sybil’s soul music because it was so dissonant. Why would that draw someone like Angelique?  

7.  Did Sybil show any characteristics that would garner your respect or make you want to befriend her?

8. Why do you think Sybil married her husband, who was a good deal older than her? 

9. Billingsworth and Blount deceived many people with their cremation scam. Should the Colonel have been more remorseful? How should he have made reparation to his customers? Are the customers better off never knowing the truth? 

10. Should Ross have been charged as an adult with a crime? If not, why?  If so, with what? Aiding and abetting a murder? Criminal confinement?  

11. Does Chet Sunday remind you of any particular actor or celebrity? Why?