Making Candy and Falling in Love in 1910 ~ Unrivaled Book Review

Do you remember that scene in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang where Caractacus Potts and Truly Scrumptious sing “Toot Sweets” in her father’s candy factory, playing the music on candy that looks like a whistle?

It’s a classic movie. It’s a classic scene.

I daydreamed of that scene through my entire reading of Unrivaled, a new Christian historical romance from Siri Mitchell.

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The hero, Charlie Clarke, has a less-than-stellar life on the south side of Chicago, so his mother sends him to St. Louis to learn the candy-making business from the father who left several years earlier. His father’s main goal in life seems to be to make money and put the rival candy company out of business, and Charlie, eager for his father’s approval, does whatever he can to make this happen.

The heroine, Lucy Kendall, is the only daughter of a man with a talent for making candy but not for running his business, the rival business of Charlie Clarke’s father. While her father lays in bed unwell, she sets out to prove the company can make a profit before her mother sells it and marries her off to the most eligible, but boring, bachelor in town.

This rivalry between the adult children of the two candy manufacturers in 1910 St. Louis lands them both, but especially Lucy, in some difficult but amusing situations. Each try to outdo the other in their marketing and business development efforts while denying the obvious fact that they are perfect for each other.

I particularly enjoyed the scene where a mutual friend is introducing Charlie to the gospel. The friend seems a bit ditzy, as if she is talking in circles. Charlie is initially confused, but as it all comes clear in the end for him the reader realizes that the friend isn’t so scatter-brained after all. The dialogue in the entire novel is wonderful. Banter is a better description as the characters try to best each other in their business rivalry.

So, grab some taffy, settle in your favorite chair, and escape to the early 1900s.

Do you like historical fiction? If you’ve read Unrivaled, what did you think?

This e-book was provided to me by the publisher, Bethany House Publishers, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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My Daughters’ Modest Monday ~ At Church Softball Night

Who says girls can’t play ball in a skirt?

Our church had a family softball night on Friday complete with a hot dog roast. So I took along my camera and snapped a few candid shots, thinking that you wonderful ladies might like to see some pre-game action shots. J

As the 13yo played with the 2yo and kept him out of the bonfire, she wore ~

Turquoise striped shirt ~ Wal-Mart purchase given as Christmas gift {the same she wore to the zoo a few weeks back}

Denim jumper ~ thrift store

White tennis shoes that now may be stained green from the wet grass clippings J ~ Payless {She noticed once the evening was over that her shoelaces matched her shirt.}

Lilla Rose flexi ~ half-up in an extra-small Scrollwork Butterfly clip

As the 11yo ran to get her picture taken J, she wore ~

Striped shirt ~ Kohl’s 50% off plus another 15% off {or something close to those percentages}

Denim skirt ~ thrift store

Brown tennis shoes you can’t see because of the length of her skirt ~ Payless

Lilla Rose flexi ~ oblong bun in a large Scrollwork Butterfly clip

As the 7yo came to tell me it was beginning to rain, she wore ~

Lands’ End knit dress ~ thrift store on half-off day

White and purple tennis shoes ~ hand-me-down from friend

Perhaps I should have had the 7yo wear something shorter. But this dress was new to her and she was so excited to wear it. It’ll wash. J

And…the boys didn’t want to be left out.

I love this last picture ~ boys and their daddy.

Do your girls like their shoelaces to match their clothes? Does your thrift store ever have a half-off day?

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Let’s connect on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest.
Or follow this blog with Google Friend Connect on the sidebar.

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This post may be linked up, with much gratitude, to these blog hops.