Winning Violet

Parker Sinclair, an American, is on a very important mission. He has been sent to England to meet Mr. Wilson, who will help him pick flowers for Thomas Jefferson’s supposed garden. Parker is none too thrilled to be doing this because he hates England, but begrudgingly, he goes anyway. The journey, however, is not what he expects. He is robbed upon arrival and must find his own way to Salisbury. When he gets there, he meets Edgar Wilson and his daughter Violet—then promptly faints. Violet, upset at the disruption Parker causes, feels sympathy for him and decides to nurse him back to health. As Parker gets stronger, he is intrigued by Violet, slowly falling for her, but can Parker take Violet back to his life in America?

Readers will be enchanted by the deftness of the writing and the beauty of the setting. Unfortunately, the story’s time period doesn’t seem to fit well with some of the things the characters do, stretching plausibility. The bullying of the heroine makes the reader wonder whether it was happening before Parker showed up or if it begins upon his arrival. Parker may have a handicap, but that only makes him more lifelike, and even his dislike of anything English, including the people, is endearing. At first, Violet isn’t very likeable, but as the book progresses, she becomes a great heroine. Smart, sensible and caring towards everyone, including the bully, Violet is a strong person to look up too. The story flows seamlessly, and the characters are drawn sweetly and realistically.

Roslynn Ernst