The Apothecary's Daughter by Julie Klassen

I'll be honest and state upfront that I read this book because it was a "Free Friday" selection from Barnes and Noble.  It is a historical romance set in England in the early 1800s, so I wasn't sure it would be to my liking.   But I'm thrifty and it IS a free book, you know!   I am happy to report that I liked it way more than I thought I would.  

I could very much relate to the main character Lilly and her struggle to balance all of the relationships in her life.  From working for her father in the family's apothecary shop, to mentoring an apprentice that she may or may not have feelings for, to steadfastly protecting her special needs brother, Lilly seeks to make it all work.   When tragedy strikes, Lilly is forced with a series of difficult decisions, all of which weave themselves into  the different relationships.   

The author also did a good job of including the historical significance of the practices and stigmas of apothecaries versus doctors during the time period.  I found it gave the story the credibility it needed in just the right places. 

I look forward to going back and reading the author's first novel, Lady of Milkweed Manor,  to read more of Ms. Klassen's work.

Jacket Summary

While working in her father’s apothecary shop in the small village of Bedsley Priors, Lilly Haswell dreams of one day traveling the world, perhaps even finding her mother, who had left her family three years before and has never been heard from since. When the chance to live with her maternal aunt and uncle is unexpectedly offered to her, Lilly sees the opportunity for a new life. Once in London, she indulges in a bit of romantic flirtation with several different men while also learning more about her mother’s mysterious disappearance.
Then, when a crisis forces Lilly to return to Bedsley Priors, she faces the difficult challenge of giving up her fabulous independent life in order to help out the family she has always loved.

Some people.....

So my wonderful, beautiful, crazy smart sister, Carrie, is the reason we have a disclaimer that we buy our own books.  And she is also the reason that I have to post this note.  Because she didn't actually buy the book she is reviewing.  Insert heavy sigh.  Carrie got this in e-book format as a free advanced reader copy.  Which kind of makes us this blog even cooler cause it's kind of a "review it before you can buy it" situation.  That's right.  We are that awesome.

We're perfectly willing to do this for others so send all the free books you want!

Without further ado, here's Carrie's review.  And I promise to try to keep her in-line in the future......if at all possible.

California Schemin' by Kate George

This book is an action-packed bi-coastal romp with a heroine I will keep following.  Our heroine witnesses a death (more or less) and, like a good citizen, contacts the authorities. This brings Bree nothing but trouble--break ins, threats to her friends, and kidnapping--until the man responsible for the death is stopped.

The story was fun, but I would call it “okay” instead of “good” for one little reason and one big reason.  First, the minor point, I was slow to warm up to the characters because I felt like I had been dropped down into the middle of a two-part mini-series.  If I had read the first book, Moonlighting in Vermont, I might have felt differently.  (Of course, if I had read the first one and the second then contained tons of back story, I would have been annoyed.  I know this about myself.  That's why this is a minor note.)

Second and more importantly, I love mysteries because they satisfy my inner Nancy Drew.  I want to piece through the clues and evidence and try to figure out "who done it" before the author reveals the answer.  Because Bree's time was spent running for her life and rescuing her boyfriend, my inner Nancy Drew was left uninvolved.

Despite poor Miss Drew’s dissatisfaction, I will go back and read the first book (Moonlighting in Vermont).  Also, there were two characters in this book that I hope make it into future books: man of intrigue, Richard Hambecker, and the FBI agent, Madison Truefellow.