Lillian Haswell, brilliant daughter of the local apothecary, yearns for more adventure and experience than life in her father's shop and their small village provides. She also longs to know the truth behind her mother's disappearance, which villagers whisper about but her father refuses to discuss. Opportunity comes when a distant aunt offers to educate her as a lady in London. Exposed to fashionable society and romance--as well as clues about her mother--Lilly is torn when she is summoned back to her ailing father's bedside. Women are forbidden to work as apothecaries, so to save the family legacy, Lilly will have to make it appear as if her father is still making all the diagnoses and decisions. But the suspicious eyes of a scholarly physician and a competing apothecary are upon her. As they vie for village prominence, three men also vie for Lilly's heart.
My Review:
5 STARS
I love Julie Klassen's books! I just can't seem to get enough!! The Apothecary's Daughter was such a wonderful story, so unpredictable! The Apothecary's Daughter, Lilly, was a young girl who often wondered why her mother left her and her father and brother. She assisted her father with his apothecary and helped take care of her slow-minded brother. When the opportunity presented itself for her to go to London to spend time with her mother's family, her aunt and uncle, she couldn't pass it up. She wanted to see if she could find the answers she was looking for about her mother leaving and she desired a life outside her village, a life of luxury in London. She was also hoping to find love in London but she was still drawn to her village and her life there. This story had all the wonderful elements of Regency England, the London society, the life in a village!
This story was great! It grabbed you right from the start and I felt like I was in the middle of this story and seeing it with my owns eyes! It was so real to me! The entire time I read this I couldn't guess as to what was going to happen next as far as Lilly's future was concerned. There were a couple of wonderful men in her life and the author had you guessing where her heart was going to lead. I enjoyed not knowing who she was going to love until the end, although I have to admit, I wanted to flip to the end of book numerous times to see who she'd end up with!
My heart hurt with the story. I felt like I could feel the pain Lilly felt with the caring of her brother and all the other heartbreaks she endured. The author did a great job explaining Charlie and making you care for him like your own sibling right from the start. The characters were vivid and relatable and so very romantic! The spiritual content was mild, which I enjoyed; I don't like it to take over the story!
Julie Klassen did such an amazing job connecting the readers to the story! I recommend anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction Romance to put this on the top of your list to read, you will not be disappointed!
About the Author:
Here is a link to buy her book at Amazon!
I love your enthusiastic review! I read this book awhile back and loved it, as well. Julie always has great characters, and the settings are phenomenal.
ReplyDeleteI just read another review on this book.....I really want to read it now after reading yours too!
ReplyDeleteThanks much
Joy
I'll have to add this one to my "to read" list. Great review!
ReplyDeleteYou have definitely helped me decide if I want to read this book ~ it sounds like she could possibly become a new favorite author! Thank you for the review :)
ReplyDelete