January 1, 2009
This seventeenth-century romance stars a young servant girl who falls in love with renowned woodcarver Grinling Gibbons when he is still a young apprentice in Rotterdam, Holland. Saskia first sets eyes on Grinling when she becomes thepersonal maid to his mother, and the minute she sees the handsome young Dutchman, she loses her heart. She soon realizes that Grinlings friend Robert has fallen for her, but she only has eyes for Grinling. When the Gibbons family moves to England, Saskia goes with them, her talent for hairdressing and her secret beauty potions making her indispensable to Grinlings mother. In London, Saskia eventually establishes her own business selling beauty potions to upper-class Londoners. Success doesnt bring her the man she wants, however, and Saskia must deal with a broken heart. Filled with rich period detail, this historical romance will appeal to readers who enjoy learning about other cultures and times yet still crave happy endings.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)