Siri Mitchell's Unrivaled ~ Reviewed

UNRIVALED

By Siri Mitchell

Published by Bethany House

ISBN#978-0-7642-0797-6

400 Pages

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?

Review: 

Siri Mictchell gives readers a peek into the competitive world of candy making in Unrivaled. I’m thankful for the review copy of this heartfelt, fun book! Candy making is serious business especially in the 1900’s. Keeping special ingredients top secret is paramount to being number one in the candy industry.

Siri writes in the pov of Lucy Kendall and that of Charlie Clarke; Lucy’s father owns Fancy Crunch and Charlie’s father owns Royal Taffy which just so happens to be Fancy Crunch’s rival. Each chapter has Lucy or Charlie’s name on the top page so the reader clearly knows who’s speaking. I like how the author changed views throughout the novel. It drew me in, it flowed well and it made reading it fun.

Lucy Kendall arrives home from a tour of Europe and discovers her father is very sick. She had gathered all kinds of candy treasures and ideas to share with him but that had to wait. Her dad just had to get better. She had so much to tell him. She wanted to brainstorm some new candy ideas; ones she hoped would give Royal Taffy a run for its money. Lucy wanted to be the maker of the number one candy sold; she wasn’t interested in capturing a man to wed. Her mom on the other hand wants her to forget all this candy nonsense and get married.

Charlie recently discovered his father was the owner of Royal Taffy Candy Company. It was his favorite candy ever. This news was mind boggling. He couldn't believe his estranged father offered him a job at his factory. It could be exciting, he should be thrilled at the opportunity but could he get past hurts to work side by side with a dad he didn't know? Could he embrace what his father was offering?

The rivalry between these two companies is brutal. Charlie and Lucy create some pretty clever tactics for getting the attention of their customers. I enjoyed Lucy’s spunk and passion for creating candy. I had compassion for Charlie’s inner struggle as he chased away the past and took one day at a time doing the best job he could and fit in this new life style and his father. It wasn’t easy.

The author has a few surprises for her characters and readers. Some surprises’ had me re-read the page to make sure I read it correctly! Fun! This is the first book I’ve read by this author it definitely won’t be the last! Oh, the fun you’ll have at book club with this novel! Just saying: think of the parties ideas! Candy anyone?

Reviewed by: Nora St.Laurent

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