The Apothecary's Daughter

by Julie Klassen

Paperback, 2009

Status

Available

Call number

813.6

Publication

Bethany House Publishers (2009), Edition: Original, 416 pages

Description

Fiction. Christian Fiction. Historical Fiction. In this regency romance, Lillian must run her father's apothecary when he falls ill. While she vies for village prominence, three men vie for her heart.

User reviews

LibraryThing member jeffersonsambrosia
The first thing that comes to mind when I think of this book is wow. The imagery set forth is beautiful and the prose is profound. Julie Klassen weaves a story of emotion, and beauty. Of a young woman just trying to find her way in the world. When we first come upon Lillian Haswell (Lilly) she is a
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daughter who wishes to do what most daughters do at some time in their life, flee home. But as the daughter of an Apothecary she isn’t sure how she will be able to do so. Enter the brother of her long missing mother Rosamond.

Lilly is given the chance to go to London and experience a season by her aunt and uncle. They will sponsor her and dress her, and al of the other wonderful things of a fine lady in London. The offer she was waiting for! Lilly takes it and spends two happy years in London, she is flirted with, courted and almost makes several matches. Until that is of course the men find out what her father does. At the end of two years however Lilly is called home to tend to her ill father.

We find a great many up’s and downs in the story of Lillian and her family. Her father Charles is a kind hearted man with some secrets in his passed, who is ailing and desperately trying to be well enough so he can continue the business. Her brother Charlie is such a loveable character, he is a bit simple, but loving and he tries hard. He finds his love in gardening.

While the story has many tender moments that will make you cry I also enjoy some of the funnier. Lily has so many suitors she doesn’t know what to do with them. Roger Bromley from London, the next baronet of her town, Roderick Marlow, Mr. Shuttelsworth, Dr.Graves and her father’s old apprentice Francis Baylor OH MY! You will not be left bored when reading this book. If you’re a woman you will feel Lilly’s plight, living in a world where she knows the knowledge, enjoys the work and is good at it. But because she is a woman she is not allowed to practice openly. Because she is a woman she is supposed to rely on men, but they are all leaning on her!

The Apothecary’s daughter is a coming of age story. You will follow the stories of everyone in the book, but mostly you stay with Lillian. She has heart ache, and confusion and happy moments too. This is a real story, and it sucks you in. You care about the characters, you love them. You begin to wish Lilly could go back to London, or should she stay home? You never know which would be better, not until the very end.
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LibraryThing member grnpickle
Being an apothecary's daughter myself, I could totally relate to this book. I loved it!!! I especially enjoyed Julie Klassen's writing style which sucks the reader into the characters. I laughed out loud and cried big tears. I can't wait to read more from Julie. I was hoping she would continue the
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Lilly story...hint...hint., Ms. Klassen.
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LibraryThing member srfbluemama
I adored this book, I think partly because it was so reminiscent of Jane Austen, whose books I love. I was in complete suspense trying to figure out which man Lilly would ultimately end up with. It was a lovely read, and I'm so glad I picked it up.
LibraryThing member rsstick
The Apothecary's Daughter is an exceptionally well-written Regency novel. The female protagonist, Lilly Haswell, at 18 years is filled with longing for her mother who deserted the family, and for escape from the drudgery of her life in a small village apothecary shop. She has the opportunity to
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realize some of her dreams for a time, but then must return when her father's health fails.

The characters grow and develop in the course of the story. There are several romantic prospects for Lilly, but the reader is kept guessing who "the one" is until the very end. The plot keeps moving with many unexpected twists and turns. The book was entertaining, but also emotionally-moving.
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LibraryThing member creighley
The romantic part of the book is rather predictable, but the writing about the apothecary and medical world at the time moves the book along very well.
LibraryThing member judyg54
First off, I loved the cover of this book and could picture Lilly Haswell looking like the lady on the cover. Lilly Haswell finds herself growing up working for her father in his apothecary shop and always looking for her mother to come back home to them. Her mother's disappearance has always had
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the villagers whispering. Lilly longs for travel and adventure, so when her relatives offer her a chance to come to London with them and enter into society and suitors Lilly decides to go. She later has to return to her village to help her father who has become sick and let the apothecary shop get run down. That is the main theme of the story, but there is also the men in the book; Francis, the young boy who learns the apothecary business with the help of Lilly and her Dad, who grows up into quite the handsome gentleman, Dr. Adam Graves, who Lilly meets in London, and Roderick Marlow the wealthy recluse of the town Lilly grew up in. All 3 men play an important part in the life of Lilly and all 3 have a chance to win her heart.
What I especially liked about the book was the character Lilly first and foremost, but I got to know so many more people in this story. The author did a great job of letting you experice life in Bedsley Priors. I also appreciated reading a story and not knowing how it will end until I am practically through with the book. There were aspects of each gentleman in this story that I liked and could have seen Lilly end up with, but as the book neared the end, it was obvious who the true gentleman was that would be deserving of Lilly. You will have to read the book I find out who the lucky man is!
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LibraryThing member running501
This novel is like an easy-read-Jane Austen - as the reader follows Lillian Haswell as she enters society, attends dances and parties, and meets suitors. The story also includes much about the medical world at the time and follows her as she helps her father, an apothecary in a growing
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village.

There are a few small twists in the story, and Lilly's suitors kept me guessing until the book neared the end.

This was a very easy read that I didn't want to put down. It is interesting to note the many differences in gender roles between the men and women in this book, as well as the ladies of that time versus the modern day woman.
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LibraryThing member khiemstra631
Another book that I listened to rather than read. This Christian novel takes place in England in the early 1800's. It involves an apothecary's daughter, Lillian Haswell, who helps her father run his shop after her mother leaves them. She has a younger brother who was brain-damaged at birth.
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Eventually, she goes to London to live with her aunt and uncle to try to make a match. Called home due to her father's illness, she finds the shop near failure and must do all that she can to save it. Two potential suitors emerge, and the rest of the work deals with her choice of a mate. A fun read!
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LibraryThing member mcelhra
I normally don't read Christian fiction but this book was free for the Kindle and sounded intriguing so I thought I'd give it a try. (Incidentally, this was the first book I've read entirely on my new cell phone. It was fine in short doses - any longer than a half hour and my eyes would start to
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hurt from the backlight.)

The Apothecary's Daughter is the story of Lilly Haswell, a young lady growing up in a small English village at the turn of the 18th century. Her mother has abandoned the family and Lilly is left to care for her mentally disabled brother and help her father, the village apothecary, in his shop. Along the way she must also decide among several eligible suitors.

This book kept me guessing throughout which suitor she would end up with, although I didn't think she had that much chemistry with any of them. There was also a surprise twist at the end that came out of nowhere. I was pleasantly surprised that Christian aspect of the book was subtle. Prayer and church were mentioned a few times and that was about it.
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LibraryThing member mjbrownie
Ok, first things first. Let me start off by saying that I was VERY excited to read this book. Earlier this year, one of my best friends recommended "The Lady of Milkweed Manor" (another novel by Julie Klassen) to me, and I loved it. So when I saw this book in the "free eBook" section of the Barnes
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& Noble website, I downloaded it onto my NookColor immediately, barely restraining my squeals of joy. But I was disappointed.

The story itself was very interesting, and I was hooked from the begining. But about halfway through it, I started getting really annoyed. The plot takes some really weird turns, the major characters do some very uncharacteristic things, and Lilly Haswell (the main character) seeems to change her mind every other second. It was very frustrating.

*Spoiler alert*

And I HATED the ending. What the heck happens to Dr. Graves? Does he just drop off the face of the earth? How come Lilly all of a sudden stopped liking him? He follows her all the way out to her town, (which should have made her happy, considering how much she seemed to like him in London) and then when he gets there, she suddenly falls in love with that stupid apprentice that's a year younger than her. SO annoying. It made me want to write an angry letter to the author.

Also, the spelling and grammatical errors in this book were atrocious. Somebody needs a new editor, if you ask me.
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LibraryThing member BionerdAZ
I love the detail in this book. The plot was very well thought out and keeps you guessing the entire book. I was thoroughly engaged throughout the entire book. It reminded me of the best of the Bronte sisters and Ms Austen's work, but in a language more reachable by more people of this time period
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without losing the essence of that time.

I was a bit leery about it's message being too intrusive and preachy, as I've read other "Christian Literature", and at times the message feel intrusive and forced, not really adding anything to the story. It was not...in fact it was much in line with the writing traditions of that period and integrated well into the plot.

I would highly recommend this book to any and all, that tend to like Auten and Bronte styles. This book is appropriate for young adults as well as those (like me) who are a bit older. It is great for rainy days, sunny days, or nights when you want to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea or hot chocolate. You will feel transported to a world of sight, sound and smells...a pleasant world the Apothecary shop, a young girls worries, sorrows, and joys. (This review is from my B&N review)
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LibraryThing member pandareads
There were so, so many things to love about this novel. First, there was an actual plot to this romance novel besides the typical "I love him does he love me?" plot. Lilly was raised by her father, an apothecary, after her mother left the family. During the novel Lilly embarks on a journey to
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discover where her mother left to and why. In the end she must come to terms with her mother's abandonment. In addition to that, Lilly's aunt and uncle take her from her small town of Bedsley Priors (which sounds a lot to me like Bedford Falls!) to London, where she learns to be high society and where her aunt hopes she will find a proper husband. Though Lilly loves her new life in London, when her father falls ill she must go back to her small town to help him with his business and to help him heal.I think what I enjoyed most about this novel was that even by the last couple chapters I still had no idea who Lilly was going to end up with. At points during the novel Lilly had up to three potential suitors at one time. For the longest time I thought she would end up with one man, though in the end she ended up with another and I felt as though she had made the right choice. In reading other reviews of the novel I was surprised to read that some readers felt like there was too much Christianity in the story that, they claimed, snuck up on you in the second half. I didn't notice any such thing. The main character is a Christian and prays on occasion, but I didn't feel the novel was overly preachy like some Christian novels can be. In fact, I wouldn't even classify this as a Christian romance novel, but simply a historical romance novel.The only downside to this novel was that I read the eBook version, which was riddled with typos, especially towards the end of novel. Extra letters at the beginnings of words, misplaces quotation marks, etc. It didn't ruin the novel too much and I'm sure a hard copy of the book wouldn't contain such errors. Overall it was a great read.
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LibraryThing member cjsteiner
I picked this up not knowing that it was Christian fiction but I was pleasantly surprised. There is a fair amount of reference to prayer but the plot and events don't make you feel like you are watching an after school special on religion. The characters are well developed and storyline is
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intriguing. I recommend this book to CF fans as well as fans of historical fiction or romantic themes. The main character is a bit of a prude but it is to be expected I suppose.
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LibraryThing member cbilbo
I bought this book off of reviews. Not something I normally do. I'm glad I did. It is an excellent book. All her books are period books. So you do learn a lot about the lives at that time.

There was a lot of research done. To learn the herbs and mixtures. The love story behind the medicine. The
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betrayal. Just all was perfect!

I wish the book ended different. Now I'm needing to read more on the characters. It was an excellent book!
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
What makes this historical romance stand out for me is the network of themes and ideas that interconnect and finally come together at the end. Even the title of the novel plays its own role in this. Things are revealed to be more and different from what they first appeared to be. I also liked the
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role that faith plays in this story. It is a matter of fact part of the story which I found refreshing.
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LibraryThing member ShirleyMcLain930
This is a good book to read if you like romance, which I do. I think it a "us girl's book". It has very strong characters with excellent dialogue. The dialogue is appropriate for the time period. You follow the protagonist from her disatisfaction with life to finding the real meaning of her life.
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This is accomplist through many upheaval's. She has three men wanting her attentions, but things never quite works out the way she wants. I would recommend this book for a good read.
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LibraryThing member lyssa73
2.5 stars.

I felt that this novel went on for way too long. I was surprised by the way some of the characters' loose ends were tied up. Lily was likeable but I felt that she passed from man to man way too easily and without any real feeling. Her father's disgrace was not pretty. I had hoped for the
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best for her mother til the bitter end. One of the reasons that I like reading pieces set during this time is that there is less debauchery and less scandal. Emotions, attachments, etc weigh so much more heavily and are so much more pure. I didn't feel that this story represented that very well at all.
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LibraryThing member BookwormMama14
The Apothecary’s Daughter is a wonderful story beginning in 1810, England. Within the pages you will find heartbreak and romance, hope and despair, sorrow and joy. But above all, Faith.

Lillian (Lilly) Haswell is the daughter of the village apothecary in Wiltshire, England. However, she longs for
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adventure and a life outside of her father’s shop. Her mother left when she was younger and Lilly dreams of the adventures she is having and longs to follow after her and find her. But she is devoted to her father and her brother, Charlie. When Lilly is whisked away to London by her Aunt and Uncle Elliot, she believes all of her dreams are about to come true. Balls, admirers, the chance to marry a wealthy man and settle in London, but also the chance to look for her mother. Although, following a sad series of events, she has to return home to help her father run his shop, or risk having it closed. One of her admirers, Dr. Graves, follows her home and becomes partnered with the local physician (who dislikes Lilly Haswell and her family). But finds that he is not the only one interested in Miss Haswell. His competition is none other than, Francis Baylor, Mr. Haswell’s former apothecary apprentice. While women were allowed to assist and work in apothecary shops, they were forbidden from diagnosing and prescribing treatments. It is not long before she has to cross the line of the law. Will grace and mercy be shown? Or will this be the end of Haswell’s once and for all? Along her journey Lilly loses herself, but finds who she is and what she truly longs for in life in the most unexpected places. Throughout her trials and struggles she learns how to depend on the Lord for strength and wisdom.

So far I have enjoyed every book by Julie Klassen that I have read. Her novels are long and full of detail (too much to be able to fit it all here) and she draws me in until I am completely obsessed with the story! The Apothecary’s Daughter was no different. I really enjoyed learning about the different herbs and their uses, apothecary. I found it all quite fascinating. I adore historical fiction, especially set in England. I was able to truly taste life in the early 1800s through this book. In a lot of ways I could relate to Lilly as well. I have left “home” twice in my life, living adventurously. But my heart was never at peace until I returned home. My highest compliments to Mrs. Klassen and I cannot wait to read the rest of your books!

Pre-Order Julie Klassen’s newest book – The Secret of Pembrooke Park
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LibraryThing member whybehave2002
I was truly loving this story up until the last few chapters where I felt the author may have been rushed...the characters jumbled together and the depth got lost.
LibraryThing member FennecGirl
I'm generally not a big fan of historical fiction, but decided to give this a try due to the Amazon reviews, and the fact that it was a free Kindle edition. I found myself drawn to the characters and was at times just as confused as Lilly when it came down to her choice of suitors.

This was a nice
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change of writing style for me and I will be looking forward to more of Julie Klassen's titles.
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LibraryThing member kyragtopgirl
Good story.
LibraryThing member caslater83
Wow. This is a great book--imagine having four different men interested in you at the same time! I think she appreciated different aspects of each man, but it sure did take her awhile to figure out which one was the best choice for her.

She had a lot on her plate: an ailing father, a shop that's
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practically run-down, a brother who doesn't quite have his wits about him, and wondering where on earth her mother is. A mother who abandoned her children isn't much of a mother in my opinion, especially when you take Charlie's mental state into account. That boy needed his mother.

The plot was well done. I was pleased with the progression of the story, as well as the ending.
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LibraryThing member cmeilink
This is a free book I picked up on Amazon.com Kindle books section. Not expecting much--it was free, after all--I began the book and was immediately engrossed in the world of Lillian Haswell, the apothecary's daughter.

Living in a world where apothecaries and physicians battle over jurisdiction and
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where women have no place in either role, Lillian serves as a wonderful portrayal of life in those times. Caught up in the politics, she struggles to help her ill father in his shop as she realizes important truths about herself and the men in her life.

Great book!
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LibraryThing member BraveNewBks
It's been number one on the Amazon Kindle bestseller list for at least a couple of weeks, and it was FREE, so I decided to download it. Then I noticed my friend Jenny had read multiple books by this author, so I decided to take that as a ringing endorsement and jump right in.

I'll let you know what
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I think!
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LibraryThing member HeatherLINC
A light, entertaining holiday read although the plot was very contrived. Spent most of the time trying to decide with suitor Lily would end up with (chose the wrong one), but I did find the descriptions about apothecaries and their profession quite interesting. A worthwhile read.

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2009-01-01

Physical description

8.5 inches

ISBN

0764204807 / 9780764204807
Page: 0.4122 seconds