The Apothecary's Daughter

November 24, 2008
Klassen's debut novel, Lady of Milkweed Manor
, was a Christy Award finalist, and her new Regency promises the same thanks to fine storytelling and knowledge of the apothecary's art. Lillian Haswell yearns to leave her father's apothecary shop in their small town and happily accepts an invitation to live in London. She leaves behind a handicapped brother, friends, her lonely father and memories of her lost mother, but finds that London holds its own troubles. Will Roger Bromley propose? What about the timid physician Adam Graves? And the dastardly Roderick Marlow? Will her humble origins ruin her chances of a good match? Complications ensue as Lillian is called home when word comes of her father's ill health. She takes over the apothecary shop—illegal, because a woman could not dispense medicine—and begins again thanks to her father's former assistant Francis Baylor. Klassen blends her tale well; each ingredient—romance, friendship, healing arts, mystery—is measured to produce a lively, lengthy tale that will satisfy Regency aficionados and general readers, too.

November 1, 2008
In this new Regency by the author of Christy Award finalist "Lady of Milkweed Manor", Lillian Haswell, the daughter of the village apothecary, must save her father's business when he falls ill by making it appear that he is still making the diagnoses and writing the prescriptions. But a rival apothecary and a suspicious physician watch her closely, while three suitors vie for her hand.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2008
While working in her fathers 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 mothers mysterious disappearance. Then, when a crisis forces Lilly to return to Bedsley Priors, she faces the difficultchallenge of giving up her fabulous independent life in order to help out the family she has always loved. Filled with fascinating details about the apothecary trade in Regency England, Klassens latest superbly crafted inspirational romance is an emotionally compelling and quietly powerful tale about the importance of faith and hope, family and friends, love and loyalty.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)