HILARIOUS historical fiction: "Like a Flower In Bloom" by Siri Mitchell
about the book....
He Stole the Work She Loved.
Will She Let Him Steal Her Heart as Well?
It's all her uncle's fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that she's reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte's future--the only proper future for a woman--is to be a wife and mother, not a scholar. Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society--a world that baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and confounding fashion.
Things aren't perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a last gasp plan. She'll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry, and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the person she's most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind?
my review...
It's a good thing I read this book at home and not out in public, because I am quite certain that I spent much of the time smiling and laughing my way through the pages, and therefore likely looked as if I'd taken leave of my senses! However, I simply couldn't help myself, as Charlotte Withersby is truly one of the most entertaining characters to come along in some time. Her lack of social awareness and her naive perspective on life had me in stitches - not to mention the witty dialogue that took place between Charlotte and her father's new assistant Edward Trimble. As you read through the pages, you will definitely see glimpses of yourself as she stumbles from one social faux pas to another! And Siri Mitchell's descriptions of people are hysterical, such as when Charlotte's uncle (in a complementary manner) describes Charlotte as "Sturdy. Sound. Snugly put together". Now, if that isn't every girl's dream description, I don't know what is! (I tried this compliment out on my wife and for some reason it didn't go well). And the most amazing part is that you will walk away from this book not only with a good dose of happy endorphins, but also thinking about the importance of being true to ourselves. We need to live for God and for what he wants for our lives, not with a focus on pleasing someone else, no matter how important to us that they are. Only then can we find contentment in the unique and wonderful person God made each of us to be!
"Like a Flower in Bloom" is a winner in every way, with an engaging plot, delightful characters, and a romance that is unlike any I've ever read before. Fans of historical fiction are going to gobble this one up and beg for more. Well done, Siri Mitchell!
5 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
about the author....
Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists Chateau of Echoes andThe Cubicle Next Door. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area. Visit www.sirimitchell.com
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