I admit, I was a bit leary when I started the book that it might be dull, slow paced, or have an uninteresting plot. But, it is fairly quick paced with decent imagry, details, and a writing style that really drew me into the action and characters. The book had a fairly complex plot with well-developed human main characters (and most of the secondary characters as well) that grow and change throughout the book.
The story takes place in a small Englsh villiage, starting in 1810, although most of the action takes place about five to seven years later.
Lilly Haswell is the daughter of the (for the most part) well-respected and loved local apothecary (which is sort of, more or less a cross among a pharmasist, a herbalist, and, to my surprise, a doctor or rather the equivalent of modern-day nurse-practitiioner...they could diagnose, perscribe, and even do minor surgery and bleeding). She longs to find out what happened to her mother who ran away when she and her younger slightly mentally-retarded brother were children. She also longs to see the world outside of the local villiage. So, when her wealthy, high-class maternal relatives invite her to live with them in London, she jumps at the chance. And when the haughty, cruel son of the local baron tries to force his attentions on her, her father approves. It is also her chance to marry above her class as a mere shopkeeper's daughter.
London is exciting at first, but she misses home. It also becomes more and more difficult to keep to herself her father's career. Like it or not, she would be a better apothecary than many of the males, including her father's apprentice EXCEPT that a woman was not allowed to practice the profession, and would be severely punished by the law and the Apothecary's Guild if she tried.
Then, she is called home. Her father is sick and his shop is falling apart. As she takes over her father's shop (although legally, she is not allowed to do so!!!!!), retores it with the help of the neighbors, and plans new things, while her father recouperates, she is torn between returning to London and the increasing appeal of her villiage.
She still follows clues to what happened to her mother. Her friendship with the local widowed coffeeshop owner and her daughter and best friend, Mary, who has epilepsy grows. Throughout the book, she is courted by, if I counted right, about a half-dozen men, some good, some not so good. She and her father also have trouble with the local physicial who, for some reason, has it in for the Haswell family and will do anything to ruin them. (One weakness in the plot is that I did not read any reason for the animosity, or if I did, I don't remember it.) On top of that, there are changing laws limiting what an apothecary can and cannot do. Then, there is, of course, the family secret and shame of what really happened when her mother disappeared.
Well, if I say any more, there would be huge spoilers. I may have already gone to far. It is a great story, I think. It was listed in the Christian fiction section at Border's, but there is no preaching. Any Christianity flows with the plot and the time and, is well woven into the story.
One of the few criticisms I had about the books is that the ending seemed a little rushed.
The story takes place in a small Englsh villiage, starting in 1810, although most of the action takes place about five to seven years later.
Lilly Haswell is the daughter of the (for the most part) well-respected and loved local apothecary (which is sort of, more or less a cross among a pharmasist, a herbalist, and, to my surprise, a doctor or rather the equivalent of modern-day nurse-practitiioner...they could diagnose, perscribe, and even do minor surgery and bleeding). She longs to find out what happened to her mother who ran away when she and her younger slightly mentally-retarded brother were children. She also longs to see the world outside of the local villiage. So, when her wealthy, high-class maternal relatives invite her to live with them in London, she jumps at the chance. And when the haughty, cruel son of the local baron tries to force his attentions on her, her father approves. It is also her chance to marry above her class as a mere shopkeeper's daughter.
London is exciting at first, but she misses home. It also becomes more and more difficult to keep to herself her father's career. Like it or not, she would be a better apothecary than many of the males, including her father's apprentice EXCEPT that a woman was not allowed to practice the profession, and would be severely punished by the law and the Apothecary's Guild if she tried.
Then, she is called home. Her father is sick and his shop is falling apart. As she takes over her father's shop (although legally, she is not allowed to do so!!!!!), retores it with the help of the neighbors, and plans new things, while her father recouperates, she is torn between returning to London and the increasing appeal of her villiage.
She still follows clues to what happened to her mother. Her friendship with the local widowed coffeeshop owner and her daughter and best friend, Mary, who has epilepsy grows. Throughout the book, she is courted by, if I counted right, about a half-dozen men, some good, some not so good. She and her father also have trouble with the local physicial who, for some reason, has it in for the Haswell family and will do anything to ruin them. (One weakness in the plot is that I did not read any reason for the animosity, or if I did, I don't remember it.) On top of that, there are changing laws limiting what an apothecary can and cannot do. Then, there is, of course, the family secret and shame of what really happened when her mother disappeared.
Well, if I say any more, there would be huge spoilers. I may have already gone to far. It is a great story, I think. It was listed in the Christian fiction section at Border's, but there is no preaching. Any Christianity flows with the plot and the time and, is well woven into the story.
One of the few criticisms I had about the books is that the ending seemed a little rushed.
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