Review: Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

About the book: 

Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Bethany House

 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:

 

                For years Charlotte Withersby and her botanist father have lived a happily reclusive lifestyle immersed their research. All that changes, however, when Charlotte’s well-meaning uncle convinces her father that a woman Charlotte’s age should be running her own home and raising a family. Then the audacious Mr. Edward Tremble has the nerve to take up her job as assistant to her father and do a good job to boot!

                This was my first read by Siri Mitchell and while this was not my favorite book I enjoyed her writing style greatly and plan to read more of her books. This book had a large focus on botany and while science has always interested me it just felt like some of the terms and ideas were a little forced and out of place. Perhaps a small glossary would have help for a quick reference.

                I also had a hard time relating to Charlotte and Mr. Trimble. Charlotte seemed disinterested and Mr. Tremble was more like background noise. All that aside, I did enjoy most of the book and it kept me reading which is what I always ask of a story. I very much enjoyed the secondary characters, especially Miss Templeton. She always made me chuckle and was absolutely not what I had expected of the character.

                All in all, this was definitely worth the read and fans of the author and the historical romance genre should pick it up. As I said before, the author’s writing was superb and I’m looking forward to reading more of her books.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*