Like a Flower in Bloom by Siri Mitchell

Book Description:
He Stole the Work She Loved.
Will She Let Him Steal Her Heart as Well?
It's all her uncle's fault. For years Charlotte Withersby has been free to pursue her love of plants and flowers by assisting her botanist father. But now that she's reached the old age of twenty-two, an intrusive uncle has convinced her father that Charlotte's future--the only proper future for a woman--is to be a wife and mother, not a scholar. 

Her father is so dependent on her assistance that Charlotte believes he'll soon change his mind...and then Edward Trimble shows up. A long-time botany correspondent in the South Pacific, Trimble arrives ready to step in as assistant so that Charlotte can step out into proper society--a world that baffles her with its unwritten rules, inexplicable expectations, and confounding fashion. 

Things aren't perfectly smooth between Trimble and her father, so Charlotte hatches a last gasp plan. She'll pretend such an interest in marriage that the thought of losing her will make her father welcome her back. Only things go quickly awry, and she realizes that the one man who recognizes her intelligence is also the person she's most angry with: Edward Trimble, her supposed rival. Suddenly juggling more suitors than she knows what to do with, Charlotte is caught in a trap of her own making. Will she have no choice but to leave her beloved flowers behind?

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To be honest a book about botanist, well I just wasn't sure... But I am a big Siri Mitchell fan, so I had to get it. And am I ever so glad I did! I loved this novel. From the beginning I was captured by the characters and the story. Charlotte, was absolutely delightful! Her complete honesty, unknown trespasses against society codes/standards, all made for a highly entertaining read. While I was not laughing out loud, I found this to be a quiet humorous story. In truth, I felt as if I could picture all of it happening and had an almost movie like reel going through my mind. 

All the characters were wonderful and add so much to the novel. And surprised, yes, delightfully so was I by Mitchell's way of writing about botany and this time in history where it is fascinating and fun! Very hard to put this one down and completely enjoyable reading all the while! Bravo, Mitchell!