"unrivaled" by siri mitchell

About the book (from Litfuse): Lucy Kendall returns from a tour of the Continent, her luggage filled with the latest fashions and a mind fired by inspiration. After tasting Europe's best confections, she's sure she'll come up with a recipe that will save her father's struggling candy business and reverse their fortunes. But she soon discovers that their biggest competitor, the cheat who swindled her father out of his prize recipe, has now hired a promotions manager—a cocky, handsome out-of-towner who gets under Lucy's skin.

Charlie Clarke's new role at Standard Manufacturing is the chance of a lifetime. He can put some rough times behind him and reconnect with the father he's never known. The one thing he never counted on, however, was tenacious Lucy Kendall. She's making his work life miserable...and making herself impossible for him to forget.

My take: Unrivaled gives a glimpse into the ruthless world of candy making. I know, right? Who would ever think of candy makers as ruthless? Well, apparently they can be, and I enjoyed this look into the inner workings of rival candy companies.

While I enjoyed the subject matter, I wasn't a big fan of Lucy. At first, I felt sorry for her—after all, she only wanted to save her father's company so she could do what she loved. But as the story progressed, she turned to scheme after scheme to harm Charlie's father's business...and every time, her schemes backfired. This could play out wonderfully on the big screen (I'm seeing a Kate Hudson romantic comedy), but in print, it just didn't work as well. Because I didn't really connect with her (or the other characters), I wasn't really pulling for any specific outcome.

I did love the glimpse into the candy-making world, though, and I wish some recipes had been included at the back of the book. While Unrivaled wasn't really my cup of tea, I have enjoyed Mitchell's work in the past, and I won't hesitate to pick up another of her books in the future. 3 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Mitchell's A Heart Most Worthy.

About the author: Siri Mitchell is the author of nearly a dozen novels, among them the critically acclaimed Christy Award finalists Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door. A graduate of the University of Washington with a degree in business, she has worked in many different levels of government. As military spouse, she has lived in places as varied as Tokyo and Paris. Siri currently lives in the DC-metro area. Visit her at www.sirimitchell.com.

About the giveaway: Celebrate Unrivaled with Siri Mitchell by entering to win a Kindle Fire and joining her on April 18th for a Facebook Author Chat Party!

 
One "swooning" winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Vintage Candy Kit
• Unrivaled by Siri Mitchell (one for you and one for a friend!)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 17th. Winner will be announced at the "Unrivaled" Author Chat Facebook Party on 4/18. Connect with Siri, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at a trivia contest, and chat with readers just like yourself. There will also be gift certificates, books, vintage candy kits, and more!

So grab your copy of Unrivaled and join Siri on the evening of the April 18th for a chance to connect with Siri and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."