Usually I really like novels by Becky Lower and I had this like forever on my kindle but I couldn't finish it at all. It just didn't work for me.

☆☆☆☆ rating because the story was a bit slow and I couldn't connect with the Characters. Thanks to Netgalley for this free copy.

In the news lately we've heard a lot about men using their power/status to take advantage of women, often convincing them to participate in questionable activities (or worse). If this could happen in a modern society where women strive for equality, imagine what it must have been like during the Regency era where woman had little say in their role in life. This theme provides an underlying source of embarrassment to the main character in Winning Violet by Becky Lower, the first book in the Flower Girl series.

Violet Wilson is one of four sisters who assist their father Edgar at the Mulberry Hills Nursey/Landscaping Business in Salisbury, England. The harassment Violet receives by one of the male employees keeps her holed up in the greenhouse away from others, especially men. Humiliated by her own actions she feels the entire situation is her fault so she never reveals her trepidation to the family.

Such is her attitude when Parker Sinclair arrives from the McMahon Nursery of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania looking for roses to create a flowerbed at the entrance to the gardens at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. Sinclair arrives the worse for wear since he was attacked upon his arrival at Portsmouth. After the sisters minister to his health and provide him with some clothes (a difficult task since the man is so tall) the landscaper is able to set about his work with Violet to select the best variety of roses and learn something about cross pollination, Violet's specialty whose research might land her a spot on the lecture tour of the Royal Horticulture Society. While at first she is annoyed at the interruption to her work, she can't help but feel attracted to the American. Parker, in spite of his negative attitude towards the British (due to the devastation brought about by the War of 1812), finds himself inexplicably attracted to Violet, even though he has avoided women since the death of his wife and child eleven years earlier. Yet how can the two resolve their issues when their homes are thousands of miles apart separated by the Atlantic Ocean? This push pull dominates the storyline as the lovebirds try to figure out not only their feelings, but also whether there can be any sort of future between them.

While the opening sequence showed promise, the total package was rather dull. There was too much tell and not enough show, plus the plot was full of repetitions especially since the narration alternated between the two protagonists who agonized over their insecurities throughout the novel. I would have liked to see more character development, especially the relationship between the sisters. Instead, the lack of depth lead to a superficiality, even though some motivations were explained via the introspections of Violet and Parker. Ultimately, there just wasn't not enough story to carry an entire novel. Then on top of it all, much of the lovemaking was clumsy and awkward, not romantic and tender.

One aspect of the book I found interesting was the details about the propagation of roses. However, I did notice some inaccuracies which were not a part of this time period. The Royal Horticulture Society didn't get that title until 1861 and was known in 1823 as the Horticulture Society of London. Botany was a man's world, both in England and America, and women were not allowed to be a part of this group, even if they had something to offer, unless they submitted articles for publication under a male pseudonym. If there was a lecture tour, there was no way Violet would be allowed to be a part of this tightly controlled, select group of men.

Basically, due to the numerous inaccuracies and a lack of appropriate details, the entire novel was simply a nod to the Regency era. Two and a half stars.

A thank you to both Edelweiss and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Winning Violet" by Becky Lower is a very sweet romance. American Parker Sinclair travels to England to purchase roses for Thomas Jefferson's home. He doesn't care for the British after losing his wife and son and incurring a leg wound that leaves him with a permanent limp during the War of 1812. But he is stunned when he meets Violet.
Violet Wilson is a female running a portion of her father's nursery business and a master at growing and cultivating new varieties of roses. She doesn't want to help Parker, believing he will be a nuisance, and only agrees reluctantly. She is also stunned when she meets Parker.
Violet and Parker have instant chemistry, but the book is a little slow in getting them to admit their feelings and get them together. The story was very nice with its mix of internal and external conflicts in the path of the couple's happily ever after. The book is rated sensual, but there is only one or two slightly heated love scenes. Good reading, very enjoyable.

The Wilson sisters lived with their father, Edgar, and were involved in various ways in his horticultural business. Into their home comes an American, Parker Sinclair, who is selecting plants to take back to America. Working with Violet leads to an attraction between them but can it work out? Violet has had an unfortunate, previous experience and this has made her wary of men and Parker has his own reasons for hating the British. Adding to this, Violet’s work is in England whilst Parker’s is in America. This was an engaging story with a menacing figure and romance. I received a copy from Netgalley and have voluntarily reviewed it.

What a fun book. Imagine a father running a nursery business with four daughters who are full of mischief and could not be any different. I especially like that they all are named after a flower. This is Violet’s story. She is the serious one. She is determined to be a member of the Royal Horticultural Society and will not let anything stop her, especially a man.
Parker Sinclair, a devastated widow, is determined to learn all he can from Violet’s family and return to his beloved American with his head and heart still intact. He certainly did not plan on falling in love.
This debut book in a new series is well written and is paced just right. The sisters provide some laugh out loud moments. They are a group that would be fun to be friends with. I look forward to reading the stories of the other three sisters.
I received an ARC of this book. The choice to read and review it was mine.

3.25 stars
After British soldiers killed his wife and child during the War of 1812, Parker Sinclair vowed to never set foot on English soil. But as Thomas Jefferson’s landscaper, one must sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice. The last thing Parker expects to find is an educated English beauty who can teach him so much more than how to plant a magnificent garden. An expert at cross-pollinating roses, Violet Wilson’s dreams of becoming the first woman recognized by the Royal Horticultural Society are fading because she’s afraid to leave the quiet solitude of her family’s nursery. Distrustful of men after a traumatic encounter.
A very sweet romance, the pace is steady throughout. The characters are well portrayed, the four Wilson sisters are all likeable & each has her strength. Parker has had a dislike of the English for over a decade & his first encounter on English soil reinforces that opinion but gradually his opinion is changed & he learns to let go of the past & start a new life. A straight forward romance that held my interest.

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I really liked Violet and Parker. They are both horticulturists who enjoy being in the greenhouse. They are sweet, adorable people. The story was a bit slow and had a few misses but all in all it was a good read. I would definitely read another of the authors books

Violet is a sweet girl. She's a smart girl too, a horticulturalist. Parker is an American, who lost his family in the War of 1812. So their first obstacle is their nationalities. The story takes place as in calendar entries, cute concept. I found it difficult to connect with the characters. I wanted to love them, to feel their joy and their pain, but struggled with it. I would have liked the pace of the story to be a bit quicker. So while I'm glad I read it, I'm afraid I won't remember it.