Siri Mitchell is one of my favorite historical fiction authors, and I really expected to enjoy this book. While it was a decent story, it wasn't all that I have come to expect from Mitchell. This book lacked the rich detail and vivid descriptions that I've so enjoyed in her other books. Even with elegant balls in historic St Louis, there just wasn't enough detail to bring it to life.
I also found it a bit difficult to relate to Lucy Kendall. For most of the book I actually found her to be beyond naive and annoying, and overall her character was just not very believable. She did not have the depth of character that I would have expected.
This is a book that had a lot of potential, but it just didn't really come together. That, being said I still won't hesitate to pick up Mitchell's next book.

*I must mention that I received a complimentary review copy of this book from Bethany House.

While I usually love a grumpy girl as a main character, there was something about Lucy that rubbed me the wrong way. Rather than prickly, she came across as selfish, needlessly competitive, and often mean-spirited (I think the aim was for her to grow, but the character development never quite came through for me), which made it hard for me to root for her and want to see her succeed as she worked to try and save her father's company.

Further, the romance in this book is some serious instalove, and there's little relationship development. I appreciate that this is Christian fiction, but I still wanted to see these characters come to love each other rather than stagnate throughout the book.

Unfortunately, this just didn't work for me.

Just like major food companies have their recipes patented, and under lock and key. This story deals with candy. Yum!
Their are two main characters here and the story is told from each perspective. Lucy Kendell begins with a return home from touring Europe, and Charlie Clarke's begin with his being released from jail. Because of the bad crowd Charlie is being sent to live with his father, who abandoned the family when he was seven.
The year is 1910 and both now live in St. Louis, and both are beginning their adult lives in Candy. Charles father owns the biggest factory to make candy in St. Louis, Standard Manufacturing. Lucy's father used to own Charles' Dad's factory, but lost it, along with his recipe for Royal Taffy. He now own a small confectionery store, but is unable to work as he has had a heart attack.
Lucy is devastated that no one let her know about her Dad's condition while she was in Europe. She has all kinds of schemes that she has planned. in mind to help her Dad. She blames her Mother for her Father's problems.
Charles has bitter families about his Father. Can see why he feels like that, a little Child with the responsibility of taking care of a family.
Will either of these two be able to find forgiveness, will they be able to accept the Lord's Grace. We hope that they will find some peace.
A real page turner of a story, and some of the things that happen you won't have seen coming!!

I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Group, and was not required to give a positive review.

Thanks for providing a review copy. I was unable to get into the book and wont be returning to it, so no official review posted at this time.

Sorry, never got around to reading. Will try again at a later date.