Book Review ~ Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell

By Dorothy Adamek

Readers of historical romance know what they want. An interesting setting, details and more details of life as our great-grandmothers would hardly remember it, and characters who grab our attention and mess a little with our hearts. 

Siri Mitchell knows all about that. She delivers, and for that reason, I'm a big Siri Mitchell fan. 

In 2010, one look at the cover of Love's Pursuit and I was on my way to the counter, money in hand. But more than the beautiful covers, Siri's writing has thrilled me each time. I've read many more since Love's Pursuit, and I'll now buy her stories even if they're wrapped in yesterday's fish and chips paper. 

This week I indulged in Unrivaled. Exquisite cover aside, the story promise hangs on the well worked boy/girl attraction before they discover they're from rival families. In this book, the rivalry exists between their two warring candy making families. 

Unrivaled Back cover ~ Lucy Kendall always assumed she'd help her father in his candy-making business, creating recipes and aiding him in their shared passion. But after a year traveling in Europe, Lucy returns to 1910 St. Louis to find her father unwell and her mother planning to sell the struggling candy company. Determined to help, Lucy vows to create a candy that will reverse their fortunes.

St. Louis newcomer Charlie Clarke is determined to help his father dominate the nation's candy industry. Compromise is not an option when the prize is a father's approval, and falling in love with a business rival is a recipe for disaster when only one company can win. Will these two star-crossed lovers let a competition that turns less than friendly sour their dreams?

*****

Siri Mitchell knows how to research and deliver historical depth. Stepping into the vibrant world of manufacturing and flying machines of 1910 did not disappoint the historical nut in me. Nor did the delicious details of confectionary making, in its mass production infancy . 

But the romance reader in me delighted the most in getting to know the main characters, Lucy and Charlie, who were written with the expected attractive qualities we want in heros and heroines, and just the right amount of weaknesses to make them real. So real, I squirmed a little to consider how their weaknesses mirror my own ~ but then I know this was Siri's intention. Not to preach, but cause me to reflect on how God draws me to examine my own heart. 

Did this book deliver the WOW factor? It did for me. I kept turning the pages and found myself wanting to return to it when life drew me elsewhere. For me, the most satisfying WOW moment came in the way the plot progressed, twisted and threw an unexpected punch... and I was delighted enough to stop reading and text a friend I'd been hit with a 'happy reader moment.' 

Highly recommended for all historical romance lovers. 

*****

Dorothy Adamek lives in Melbourne with her Beloved and their three gorgeous kids.

She's the winner of the 2013 FHL ~ Touched By Love Competition. Enamoured by all things 19th century, she writes The Heartbeat of Yesteryear, Historical Romance - Aussie style. Come say G'day at her blog, Ink Dots.