Julie Klassen follows up her promising debut, The Lady of Milkweed Manor, with a second piece of quality writing. The historical detail of the apothecary shop and their art is fascinating and vividly brought to life. The chapter headings are quotes from the time and really bring this novel to life. As far as I am concerned Julie Klassen can do no wrong. Read The Apothecary's Daughter and you will not be disappointed.

Julie Klassen has written a heart-warming tale of a young girl in a Wiltshire village, whose father is the apothecary, her mother has gone away no-one knows where, and whose younger brother Charlie is backward and needing care. Lilly helps her father in his shop and with her excellent memory is nearly as skilled as he is, but she is a woman so should not practice her craft, only make up prescriptions as required by others. Unexpectedly her Mother’s brother and his wife pay a visit hoping to adopt Charlie as Uncle Elliot’s heir. They quickly realise this cannot happen but are very taken with Lily and invite her to their London home where they treat her like a daughter. Romance soon enters into the plot, which weaves it’s way back to the village where some of the London characters re-appear and the story gets more and more complicated before the final happy ending. Julie Klassen is to be congratulated, as her research in the UK has resulted in a historical tale both believable and factually satisfying.

Julie Klassen has written a heart-warming tale of a young girl in a Wiltshire village, whose father is the apothecary, her mother has gone away no-one knows where, and whose younger brother Charlie is backward and needing care. Lilly helps her father in his shop and with her excellent memory is nearly as skilled as he is, but she is a woman so should not practice her craft, only make up prescriptions as required by others. Unexpectedly her Mother’s brother and his wife pay a visit hoping to adopt Charlie as Uncle Elliot’s heir. They quickly realise this cannot happen but are very taken with Lily and invite her to their London home where they treat her like a daughter. Romance soon enters into the plot, which weaves it’s way back to the village where some of the London characters re-appear and the story gets more and more complicated before the final happy ending. Julie Klassen is to be congratulated, as her research in the UK has resulted in a historical tale both believable and factually satisfying.

Julie Klassen has written a heart-warming tale of a young girl in a Wiltshire village, whose father is the apothecary, her mother has gone away no-one knows where, and whose younger brother Charlie is backward and needing care. Lilly helps her father in his shop and with her excellent memory is nearly as skilled as he is, but she is a woman so should not practice her craft, only make up prescriptions as required by others. Unexpectedly her Mother’s brother and his wife pay a visit hoping to adopt Charlie as Uncle Elliot’s heir. They quickly realise this cannot happen but are very taken with Lily and invite her to their London home where they treat her like a daughter. Romance soon enters into the plot, which weaves it’s way back to the village where some of the London characters re-appear and the story gets more and more complicated before the final happy ending. Julie Klassen is to be congratulated, as her research in the UK has resulted in a historical tale both believable and factually satisfying.