Book Review: Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Back Cover: 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: The voice of the main character comes out so clearly through this book. I love how Charlotte has no clue about social niceties and is blissfully unaware of her penchant for getting herself into awkward situations. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing 1850's English country society seen though her eyes. Filled with humor and social faux pas, this book also causes one to think about what a person should be willing to give up in order to live up to society's expectations. Charlotte loves her work with flowers. Botany is in her blood and she can't imagine a world without rambles, illustrations, and writing about plants. Unfortunately, in that day science was not considered a worthy pursuit for a woman. Mitchell did a fantastic job taking us on a journey with Charlotte as she discovers she is stronger than she knows and can bloom better when she embraces who she really is. Of course, it means she has to be frankly honest with everyone, including the man she's come to love.

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I recommend this book to readers of historical romance and fans of Siri Mitchell.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group.