The Blooming of Bud

Mulligan's Mill #2

by Robin Knight

♥ Small Town MM Romance
♥ Grumpy / Sunshine
♥ Enemies-to-Lovers
♥ Found Family

BUD

With my secret lifelong dream about to blossom into a reality, I’m ready to open my flower shop Bud’s Blooms and turn over a whole new petal. But when a new arrival in Mulligan’s Mill—fancy French pastry chef Pascal Dupont—decides to open a new patisserie right next door, I find myself more than just a little distracted by the grumpy, gorgeous Parisian chef.

I’ve never been attracted to a guy before. Hell, I’ve never been attracted to anyone. But there’s something about Pascal that gives me tingles and drives me kinda crazy. The only problem is, I have no idea how to win him over. Maybe, with a little help from my friends, I’ll get all the love advice I need to become the smooth, suave, sophisticated gentleman that Pascal might notice. If only stupid Cupid can get his aim right.

PASCAL

Sacre bleu! How the hell did I find myself in a place like Mulligan’s Mill, a white-picket, tiny-minded, tin-can town that couldn’t be further than my glittering, glamorous Paris if it tried? But there’s a secret hiding somewhere in this small American town that will save my reputation and send my culinary career soaring. And so I’ve been forced to buy the old bakery and search for the clues that will bring me the buttery magic I so deserve.

Of course, I knew that finding the answer to my secret wouldn’t be easy. What I wasn’t expecting was the distraction of my hot, hunky, American neighbor. He’s sweet, he’s smiley, he’s as dumb as a daisy and just as pretty. Who knew I had a type? But I’ve been working so hard on my career, even I didn’t know how much a man like Bud would make my heart bloom.

Now the question is, can I solve my mystery, save my career and win the heart of my American-pie sweetheart without setting the temperature too high and burning my chances of finally finding true love?

The Blooming of Bud is the second full-length novel in the Small Town MM Romance series Mulligan’s Mill… a small town with the biggest of hearts!

Genres: M M Romance, Contemporary, LGBT, Gay, Queer, Humor

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2024

About the author

aka Geoffrey Knight

Robin Knight is the author of gay fiction novels, novellas and short stories, ranging in genre from gay adventure, gay romance, gay suspense and gay comedies.

The heroes of Robin's books love to spend their time jumping off the page, stumbling through misadventures and falling in love.

Robin has worked in advertising, politics, journalism and event management, but nothing is as fun as telling stories.

Reviews

[❀ Jess ( Semi hiatus )]

I just can’t with ‘ comedy ‘ that feels so forced.

[Fay MMBookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to the book, I'm thinking Bud might need to educate Maggie on their flowers if she manages the shop and a few other things too. And thank goodness for Bea as she swishes in to save the day which she does a couple of times in this.
Bud was putting the finishing touches on his florist shop Buds Blooms in ready for it to open.
Pascal, 32 years was a grumpy pastry chef new in town about to open his own shop. Yah Pascal is not making a good impression with the local Mulligans Mill community.
Pascal had a mission whilst in the Mill to find an answer to his query.
This was a fantastic book to read and my review doesn't do it justice with the number of things that happen for Bud and Pascal. A fast romance with a mystery to unravel which a big part of their community gets in the act to help, especially at the end of the book. Lots of feels and bad advice are included but Bud finally gets his man, and Pascal finds the thing or person that he’s most needing to stay. I loved the finish of this as its all hands on deck or in this case pastry to save the day. Both POVs are included with their HEAs.

#FastConnection #BiAwakening #Humour #HotChemistry #InstaLove #SexyScenes

[Sharing The Book Love (Kelli Maree PA) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bud and Pascal - grumpy and sunshine - pastry chef and florist 🌞 😠 💐🥐

I adored this book, the grumpiness of Pascal, his drama and his hmm French ness.....

Bud and by his side - god bless her Maggie - she cracks me up so hard!

Best friends and the people of Mulligan's Mill are wonderful and happy and quirky!

[Scott Gundaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today is release day for "The Blooming of Bud" the newest book in the Mulligan's Mill Series,by Robin Knight. I was so very lucky to have been an ARC reader for this book. Let me just say Robin Knight has does it again with yet another awesome book. The characters are awesome and definitely are unique in their own way. I truly loved my second visit to Mulligan's Mill. 🙋🏼‍♂️ ❤ 📖 📚

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, what happens when you put together a grumpy in hiding pastry chef with a man who sees the good in everything? Pure chaos is topped with loads of spice. Robin just goes to show he is able to write anything and leave you with a smile at the end. Mulligans Mill is a small town filled with a bunch of zany characters that you can't help but love each and every one of them.
Bud, since the last book, has opened his flower shop to live out his dream. What he doesn't expect is a grumpy, beautiful neighbor who he just can not get off his mind. It may take a bit for him to warm up, but when pascal does, he has a beautiful soul and fits right in. Pascal may have come to Mulligans Mill to find a once lost recipe, but he ends up finding so much more. Another great read from Robin Knight.

[lmreadsromance · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

I read up the second book in the Mulligan’s Mill series, The Blooming of Bud by Robin Knight. This was a short and sweet read with lots of slapstick humour and out of nowhere instalove between Bud, who is just about to open his new florist and Pascal, the new to town, grumpy, French baker, who has opened a store next to Bud.
The story line of why Pascal was in town was interesting and I enjoyed the mystery/following clues storyline.
I actually think I would have enjoyed this more if I didn’t listen to the audio. The accent didn’t work for me and I did switch off when I could.
I’ll pick up the next when I need a quick, filler book inbetween my other reads.

[Onyerbike]

DNF @ 28%

I can't with stories that try too damn hard to be cute.

Maggie? Likely meant to be delightfully scattered. A loose cannon. Unpredictable. More like annoying, abrasive, and not to be trusted with anything you find important.

Bud? Naïve, simple that comes off as dumb, and way too earnest to be believable. I mean, you're opening a store in a week and you don't even know how you want the store decorated? Opening the next day and you don't know how to work a cash register, and don't seem to care that your seemingly only employee yells at potential customers and doesn't care about accuracy? I wouldn't be letting her within a mile of any venture I had. By this point I was too annoyed to care about any potential love interest.

[Blake Webb · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible

This is one of the worst books I have ever read. I mean I was shocked at how far fetched and honestly just plain dumb most of the book was. Pascal wasn't just "grumpy" he was quite mean to Bud all of the book. The author seemed to struggle with funny dialogue and instead of writing witty, the dialogue was way out in left field and totally not believable at all. The plot had potential though, but unfortunately the book was awful in my opinion.

[Roger R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another spectacular Mulligan’s Mill story by Robin Knight! This was a wonderful story that followed “The Invention of Wings” which was a hard act to follow. I am pleased to say that he succeeded!!!! It was easy to really get into Mr. Knight’s Mulligan’s Mill stories! Throw in a mystery makes for an interesting read along with few rear windowesque acts!!! It would be a good idea to read the first book before diving into this one because you’d connect with the characters. I’d give this story more than the 5 allocated stars!

The story starts with Bud, a florist who was getting ready to open his own flower shop. To his surprise, someone bought the store next door.

Pascal, a French pastry chef who was getting a horrible review by an elite reviewer in France. The reviewer called him a fraud! He decided that he’d redeem himself by looking for the mysterious recipe. The problem…it’s hidden somewhere in Mulligan’s Mill. He bought a restaurant and converted it into a bakery. When he arrived from France, he was questioning his decisions since he did not realize that Mulligan’s Mill was such a small town! To his chagrin, there was an adorable guy selling flowers next door! Think grumpy vs sunshine! Happy reading!

[Becky Aks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! The Blooming of Bud is the #2 book in Knight’s Mulligan’s Mill series (#1 is The Invention of Wings) and it is just plain fun to read. The repartee between Bud and Pascal is so witty, so ingenious, that I read several scenes twice for the sheer pleasure of it—both the beauty in the arrangement of the words and that they made me laugh out loud. The scene in the well with the rat…priceless. And what a joy, to be able to escape for a few hours to a place that made me lighter, made me laugh. It was also a warm fuzzy that the songs on the author’s playlist are songs I actually know—sometimes reading playlists makes me feel like an antique, so I sincerely appreciate Knight weaving some of the real gems from “yesterday’s” hits into the story. Rounding out the pleasure are the significant roles given to the Wings characters—because they are integral to Bud’s story, we continue to watch (and enjoy) their development. While Blooming is a stand-alone, if you’re considering reading it, I strongly suggest that you read Wings first, as it will increase your enjoyment of Blooming. Highly recommend!

[esda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hah. I picked this book hoping for less annoying characters than in the first book of the series. But wouldn't you know it... Annoying, mentally challenged and talking-like-a-toddler Maggie also gets a lot of screentime in this book, since she now WORKS FOR BUD - probably trying to ruin his new store the way she miscalculates prices and behaves towards customers... urk...

Listened to this one in audiobook form and sadly the 2nd main character (Pascal) is French - and the audio narrator doesn't know any French and mispronounces the simplest words... and adds a fake French accent to EVERYTHING written from Pascals POV (which is about half the book!!). Pascal sounds like some cartoon villain, which is really annoying for the love interest in a romance book.

Reading the book would probably have been the better choice. Just can advice everyone to do that instead of listening to the audiobook.

[K-Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start with you can read this as a standalone romance but like me, I know you will be all hearts for sweet simple down to earth Bud from the previous book. He knows and loves his flowers, but he really does need a true love human for his heart. Pretty sure Pascal was not what he could have ever imagined! I actually enjoyed Pascal's judgmental way of thinking and being a bit snobby French sassy about Bud. He just kind of stereo typed Bud in the beginning and it was pure fun to see him realize that he really like that stereo type a lot as it turned out. I of course love this town and Bud and Pascal's relationship was sweet and fun with a side of spice.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun!

This book was so much fun! It features one of my favorite tropes: grumpy/sunshine, and I couldn't put it down. Bud and Pascal were a delight to get to know. I enjoyed each encounter they had until they finally came together. I loved all of the different advice that Bud received to help woo Pascal. The riddles for finding the missing recipe were fun and I liked that it ultimately brought the town together to help Pascal. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Deborah Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and funny!

Sunny florist meets grumpy French pastry chef and love blossoms. This book was fun and filled with a host of quirky characters. Shy Bud is opening his floral shop, a dream come true, when he notices that someone is opening up the old bakery next door. Pascal leaves a Paris because of a mean spirited social media influencer. This was an easy read that has me laughing.

[Jennifer Reilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was so great to be back in Mulligans Mill with the crew. This is sunshine Bud and Grumpy Pasquel story

This so fits the trope of rom com. I found myself cracking up a lot with Bud and his antics. I love how the crew is so accepting and will do anything for each

What a breath of fresh air to read this book. I look forward to the next book in the series.

[Ashish Rastogi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, Hilarious, Hilarious. A laugh riot with not only the main characters but all the side characters. You would want to know them all. A very diverse and inclusive cast. I loved every bit of this story.
Romcom scores (0-10 point scale)
Flirt to roast meter - 10
Pining - 10
Bickering - 10
Glimmers- This one is filled with moments of joy.

[Ing-Marie Ingemarsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

So the book itself is a little different gem, completely in the style of the author's previous books. A little slapstick humor a'la Basil Fawlty/ Fawlty Towers. But the narrator in his eagerness puts too broad a register that the "French" is sometimes just annoying to listen to. And quite honestly a little difficult to understand at times.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bud was adorable when he was getting all tongue tied over his new french next door store owner.
For his part Pascal was cool on the surface but was simmering underneath to get it on with Bud.
The gang was all there for this one. A few laughs.

[Thomas R · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must Read

This is is the first book I read by Robin Knight but not the last. Was interesting to read how two men who seemed to be complete opposites be attracted to each other. Read the bok and find out

[Charmaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do have to say that I liked Bud and Pascal a little bit better than Mitch and Gage from the first book in the Mulligan's Mill book.
I thought the last accident in Pascal's was one too many accidents. But the events leading up to them find what Pascal was searching for was really well done.

[Lindsay Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5ish
Not bad, just felt like an ott sitcom. I couldn’t help but picture Kimmy Gibbler or Screech acting foolish throughout and it didn’t quite work for me. And the ott instaLOVE when they’d barely interacted at all, let alone positively, was too much.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

sweet and hot

But the cheese. The characters and jokes are just too much. It almost made me stop reading as I was overdosing on Brie. Yucky.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

fairly good

Overalll it was pretty good but I felt the MCs fell in love much too quickly. They’d barely interacted, hardly knew each other and suddenly they were both in love.

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was hoping for more spice.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series .. don’t think I’ll read the others.

[Kathy]

DNF.

[Robert DeSantis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short and sweet lighthearted tale. A simple story told well. I recommend it to lift your spirits.