Our Sweet Violet

Flower Girls

by Rosie Goodwin

Hull, 1905

As the much doted-on daughter of the local doctor Violet Stroud had a comfortable, happy childhood - despite a distinct lack of love from her cold-hearted mother. But when her father unexpectedly dies, Violet's life is turned upside down. As secrets about the family come to light, Violet finds herself homeless and with no one to turn to apart from Edie, the family's gentle and loving housekeeper.

Violet and Edie set out on their own to run a café by the docks and life, while humble, starts to settle down. Perhaps, Violet may find happiness again and even . . . love? But when Violet's brother, Oliver, comes back on the scene, chaos follows at every turn, and while walking home alone one night, something unthinkable happens. With her contented existence and her chance at true love under threat, Violet must summon all the strength she has to put her life back together. Will she ever find the peace that she so desperately desires?

Praise for Rosie Goodwin

'A heartwarming saga fans will love' Woman's Weekly

'Rosie writes such heartwarming sagas' Lyn Andrews

'The new Catherine Cookson' Coventry Evening Telegraph

Genres: Historical Fiction

452 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 27, 2025

About the author

Before becoming a writer, I was a Placement Support Worker and foster carer, and worked in the social services department after completing a teacher training course. Many children have joined my family over the years. I still live in Nuneaton, where many of my books are set, with my husband, Trevor, and our beloved dogs.

I was thrilled to discover that I'd become one of the top 250 most-borrowed library authors in the UK, and would like to thank all of you who have taken out my books over the last few years! I love meeting my readers and am always pleased to hear from you. I hope you will all continue to get in touch and please do sign up for my newsletter!

Reviews

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

What in the VC Andrews is happening in this book? For a while now I've noticed subtle things in Goodwin's books that make me think she read Andrews books and this one sure had a lot of those. I'll get into it as I go through the review. It took forever but finally I got the last of the flower trilogy. I would say this is the weakest and least enjoyable of the three. I liked Lily and Daisy throughout their books can't say the same for Violet. Although I know she was portrayed as naive and innocent she really came across as dumb. Like Dawn Cutler dumb. In fact this book was a bit like the Cutler series in small ways. Violet grows up loved and protected with her beloved father who is a doctor. Her mother is spoiled and selfish, her brother Oliver basically the same so Laura Sue and Phillip. Violet is close to the cook Edie though. Her father has a heart attack and dies Violet learns she was a product of an affair her father had and also that Oliver isn't even her half brother. Violet and Edie buy a small cafe to run together and slowly make it a success. Oliver shows up looking for money and Violet who still adores her brother gives it to him and is an idiot. He continues to visit only to get money off her and then cons her into holding possible stolen goods for him and she still worships him. Eventually she kind of learns but she's still a moron and I actually hated her at times for her stupidity. She inherits a large fortune from an unknown aunt and of course Oliver wants in. Then of course we have an attack and unwanted pregnancy by said brother who wants to marry her, very Andrews like. Of course good prevails over evil in the end. While I enjoyed about 80% of this book I had issues. Violet was too dumb, like Elena Standish from Anne Perry's spy series dumb. How many times can you be taken advantage of before you get it? I'm also sick and tired of almost every book having the main characters raped and get pregnant. There are ways to show danger and drama without this tired and cliched and horrible plot line and I don't think a rape results in pregnancy every time. Also why didn't the aunt show up sooner if she knew that Violet was no longer living with her stepmother? She had been following her or knew of her that made no sense. She sounded like a wonderful person and i would've loved to have seen her. I suppose I'll give points for not shoving the all women fall in love with their babies in my face throughout the pregnancy though hinted at. This part was actually dealt with in a sweet way. Despite Violet getting on my nerves I did get to love the secondary characters like Edie, Cleggy, Sally, Cook and Toby, well actually most of the secondary characters were wonderful and whenever Violet stopped being such an idiot she wasn't so bad. So I'd say overall three and a half stars rounded up to four.

[Debra Reedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, but weak main character

A gave this book 3 1/2 stars. The story was really good, but Violet was such a weak person that she just let people walk all over her. Even when her friends tried to make her see what was right in front of eyes she still just couldn’t see it. Unfortunately all of this made her seem rather dim witted.

[Natalya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this as I love Rosie Goodwin's books but I found Violet to be a really frustrating, naive and stupid character to be honest. Many of her decisions made no sense and I didn't understand her extreme reluctance to involve anybody else in the issues she was facing. The supporting characters in this were great, including the two villains who grew more despicable as the book went on.

[Julie Devonald-Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant read by Rosie Goodwin.

[Stephanie stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down - the first I have read from Rosie Goodwin- a great storyline
The main character Violet was a bit innocent and weak which was frustrating but overall a great book

[Trudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rosie always puts her main character through a tough time which means it's always a good read. The epilogue was a perfect ending to a really good read.

[Simone McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING: REVIEW CONTAINS POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD.
TRIGGER WARNING: STORY INCLUDES SCENES OF RAPE AND HARASSMENT

Yet another very compelling, heartwarming and gripping read of historical fiction from Rosie Goodwin that I could simply not put down and finished within a matter of days.

I think out of all the Flower Girls books, this has got to be my favourite of the series (certainly no competition with Our Fair Lily, but a rather close one with Our Dear Daisy). What I liked most of all was that very much unlike Lily from Our Fair Lily, Violet was a a very well written, three-dimensional character, who actually gets impatient and complains about the difficult circumstances/changes in her life, rather than have the unrealistic and unrelatable patience of a saint like Lily from Our Fair Lily. She is far from that saintly, PERFECT, Mary Sue character that Lily from Our Fairy Lily was, as she actually complains about things in her life, making her impatience clear, even when she ends up living the life of Riley she complains about feeling useless without a purpose now that she is a lady of leisure, while also having a prejudiced attitude towards people like Toby, rather than just being simply lovely and kind to everyone, which is what made her a much more realistic and relatable character. This was something I really admired and enjoyed, and was definitely a nice, refreshing change from the friggin' saint and Mary Sue that Lily from Our Fair Lily was. This is what more of Goodwin's protagonists should be like, or all of them at that, having those flaws and multiple dimensions that we can relate to, rather than that flawless, saintly Mary Sue archetype, with the patience and generousity of a saint, because let's face it, who on earth can relate to that?! I could certainly see a lot more of myself in Violet than I could in Lily (who honestly made me feel like a bad/horrible person when comparing myself to her)-she is a lovely person, but certainly not without flaws. Even when she volunteers to help the homeless, she shows she cares about them but not in the saintly way that Lily does by bloody letting them live with her and become one of her own all of a sudden, taking on a more realistic kind of approach, with her giving Cleggy a job in her home as a servant rather than simply taking him in as a member of the family-not to mention this isn't until after she's formed a connection with him at the soup shelter, rather than just taking him in straight off the street as with Our Fair Lily. What was also more realistic and relatable is even where she is really generous, such as when she gives Edie her home in the end and caring for Edie 24/7, it is because she actually realises how much she owes her after how much she has done for her, rather than it just being for a stranger or someone who she doesn't owe a damn thing to like what happened with Lily in Our Fair Lily.

I loved the whole scene and setting it set throughout the story, with it having been an overall very bittersweet and complex journey. For instance, despite the fact Violet has had to live with a supposed mother who is cold-hearted and unpleasant to her, she has been fortunate enough to grow up with the love and care from her father and housekeeper, Edie. It was very upsetting when her father, the one parent who was kind to her, died (of course this is not a spoiler since the blurb reveals it which made it less of a horrific shock but was still upsetting nevertheless). However, the shining light and silver lining in it all is that she still has Edie who very lovingly and caringly sticks by her side when her stepmother throws her out, and from then on they stick together as they start a business together. Seeing the kind and loving motherly role that Edie has fulfilled towards Violet throughout her life and how she had always been her loyalest ally and loved one was perhaps the most touching and heartwarming part of the book, as it really makes you feel emotional when seeing the strong love and loyalty they have towards each other as they immediately run to each other's sides and care for each other whenever one of them is in need of support. It really makes you wish you had an Edie in your life I found, and it is not that often that you have characters who aren't an actual relative or nanny even (I think she was just supposed to be the cook/housekeeper originally anyway rather than the nanny), making it all the more beautiful because it's not like she even had a duty of loyalty over Violet anyway yet had the most undying love and loyalty towards her that one could possible have.

I must say that, while I expected Oliver to end up being a trouble maker, who Violet initially idolised and was going to eventually have to see for who he really was, I did not actually expect him to end up becoming as evil and villainous as he ended up being. Basically, he fulfils the exact kind of role that Gilbert fulfilled in the previous flower girls entry, Our Dear Daisy, being an absolute vile, evil scumbag who rapes and harasses the protagonist, and he was also the stepbrother of our flower girl protagonist too! I wouldn't have said he was quite as scummy and evil as Gilbert, but he was definitely not far off, as he definitely got more and more evil throughout the book, as it is after he has already raped Violet that he continues to stalk and harass her frequently, so I was disappointed that he didn't end up getting the death sentence, as he definitely deserved it. Unlike Gilbert though it was more of a shock seeing him turn out to be as much of an evil and vile scumbag as he did, considering that him and Violet apparently used to get on when they were younger, and he starts off at the very beginning being pretty neutral to Violet, showing no real signs that could indicate he could end up turning out the way he does. Fortunately, the rape scene was not quite as graphic and detailed as the one in the previous entry (Our Dear Daisy) but is still very upsetting and distressing nevertheless and still makes you so angry that you just find yourself impatiently waiting for his much deserved death. Another parallel to Our Dear Daisy is that it is another villainous mother and son pairing, with the stepbrothers mum/stepmother also being evil and scheming, with Anna going from being simply cold-hearted and dismissive towards Violet to actually encouraging her son to rape her so that she will have to marry him! Honestly, it was all so twisted and messed up, and much like in Our Dear Daisy, the rape does indeed lead to pregnancy (because of course there prob wouldn't be much point of including a rape scene if it didn't!) but fortunately the consequences aren't anything like as dire and distressing as they are in the previous Our Dear Daisy. Instead, Violet is fortunate enough to have the incredibly strong and loyal support network of Edie and Sally, as she goes away with Sally before she starts showing and fortunately they find a solution as to what to do with the baby so as to avoid the constant stigma of being a mother with a child out of wedlock (can't say too much as might be spoilers!), thankfully avoiding an awful mother daughter home this time because of her strong support network.

Nevertheless, it was still a very tense read that was full of suspense, and I yet again found myself filled with dread, stress and anxiety while Oliver was still around loose on the streets, constantly harassing Violet. That brings me actually to one of the few problems with the book, which is that I did find it really annoying and weird the way Violet continued to frequently walk by herself on the streets, (including at night), even after she had been raped by Oliver that night, with it only to be further proved again and again just how unwise it was as she continues to get followed and harassed and almost attacked again by Oliver many times after the incident of him raping her. It just annoyed me as you'd think it would only be a normal and natural feeling that after somebody had experienced something that traumatic that they would never want to walk alone again on the streets at night or while their rapist is still roaming loose, or at least ride in a carriage. The scenes with Violet encountering Oliver again as he as been stalking her with him to harass her again got too repetitive as well, as I just found myself getting more and more impatient just simply being like "OMG will you just kill him off already?!" which is why I was disappointed he wasn't killed off. Fortunately though he does get sentenced to life in prison, but it still wasn't a comeuppance that was quite fitting enough, as he really did deserve to die. Still, he gets some comeuppance at least. But yeah, I would have said that the scenes with Violet encountering Oliver as he had been stalking her on the streets AFTER he had already raped her did get too repetitive, and in reality a woman would be actively avoiding any more encounters with her rapist by like I say not walking alone on the streets (especially at night). Even one or two more encounters might have not been so bad but there were like at least four or five and it just got far too repetitive. Even if they wanted to have him blackmail her more they could have just had him post notes through the door say. Another con as well is that I'm not sure just how realistic it would have been back then for Oliver got get let off the hook from the death sentence by explaining that it was manslaughter he committed as opposed to actual murder, as what evidence would he have for this being manslaughter, with surely only his word and his gang members who could have easily lied for him for the judge to go by?! Especially as they were particularly strict back then with criminal justice!

The incredibly loyal and strong support network that Violet did have though, including Edie, Sally, Cleggy, Toby and all the servants was really incredibly heartwarming and beautiful to see. I like that her romance with Toby was more complex and conflicting than it simply just being the usual interclass barriers. I mean yes Violet ends up going from rags to riches, or rather riches to rags to riches, but even when she is in a working class position when she first meets Toby it isn't really their class differences that sets them apart, which was a big (and far more predictable and cliched) theme in Our Fair Lily, but rather more intricate things like her feelings towards him being conflicted, feeling that she's not sure she likes him initially but finds herself attracted towards him, and of course the predicament that she finds herself in with the baby further complicates things, similar to the previous entry. Even Toby was more three-dimensional than the previous love interests in these series, as he is a lovely, kind guy, but again not just simply a nice, kind guy and that's it (honestly Louis Bellingham in Our Fair Lily was the very worst in this respect!). For instance, he is clearly attracted to Violet but doesn't just simply admire and idolise Violet, and does actually criticise her for her prejudice and stand-offishness towards him, and of course he too starts off seeming snobby and snarky even though he comes to regret it. The characters were definitely the most complex and three-dimensional in this out of all the flower girls books which I definitely really admired.

It was also interesting realising that unlike the previous two entries, this novel was actually set in the Edwardian era as opposed to Victorian, which there perhaps was not a lot of difference between, but you still notice a few smaller changes. Oh, and I know I said possible spoilers in this anyway but I still won't spoil this one thing because it is too big a spoiler, but I did really enjoy the big twist that occurred nearer the end of the book! Must say I really did not see that coming, though feel maybe I should have? I don't know. Still was very exciting and interesting.

Brilliant book, and almost wishing there were more Flower Girl stories! There are certainly enough flower names left, such as Poppy, Flora, Primrose, Rose, Calla, Jasmine, Iris and Marigold! (yes I am hinting/suggesting!)

[Jenny Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

In 1905 when the book opens, Violet is living with her much-loved father, the local doctor, and her cold-hearted mother who lavishes all her love on Violet’s younger brother Oliver. When her father dies unexpectedly, Violet’s life is turned upside down and both she and Edie, the housekeeper have to leave the family home and fend for themselves. Although life is a struggle, they manage to set up a cafe in the Dockland area of Hull and business is booming until Oliver appears on the scene, intent on causing disruption.

This is a good family saga which moves along at a fast pace and is quite gripping. It is also a very easy and quick read with no challenges to the reader along the way. When I read the book I had no idea that it was the third in a series featuring the same characters so it obviously works fine as a stand-alone.

On the down side, the writing was simplistic and did not have much literary merit although this is not necessarily an issue for a book which I assume is meant to be accessible to all.
The character development was more of a problem for me and I generally thought it was poor with the characters having very little depth but concede that there may have been information in the first two books which would have filled in some of the gaps and made the characters seem more “real”.
I also felt that the content was, in places, somewhat distasteful – I can’t give more details without giving away key features of the story but I am not entirely sure that it was necessary to go quite as far as the author did.

Overall I enjoyed this book and although I would not actively seek out more work by this author, I would quite happily read another of her books if it dropped into my lap. Personally I would probably rather read a Dilly Court, which is very much in the same genre but resonates better with me.

[Paul Adler · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want a good book to read with a lovely story and a happy ending, Rosie Goodwin never lets you down. This was a great story about Violet who was born illegitimate to 2 people who loved each other but could never marry. Due to circumstances she was brought up by her father who loved her dearly. When circumstances change tragically Violent finds herself homeless, but is looked after by Edie who was the house cook. She later finds out that people she thought were her mother and brother were not who she thought they were. When she is raped by “her brother “ and becomes pregnant she pushes away Toby a man who adores her. She goes to London with a friend to have the baby. The baby is adopted by someone she knows. Violet tries also to find her birth mother. When she finds out who it is a big surprise. Everything turns out right in the end. This is a great book and is well worth a read. Rosie Goodwin is a great author.
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

[Lynda Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say this book was addictive!!I couldn't put it down because I needed to know what was going to happen next.But I found Violet rather a weak person(I know she was naive and innocent but she never listened to people when given advice)and it made me so annoyed!!At the end I felt that once Toby found out what had happened and once Violet was well enough he would of confessed to loving her sooner.I found the whole story annoying and stressful at times because Violet was taken advantage of too many times and I wanted to shake her and tell her to tell all to Toby🤣🤣Im just pleased that all came right in the end as do all of Rosies books.Im now looking forward to the next one.

[irene currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It did not disappoint

What a story I thought the first two books in the flower girls series were really good and didn't think that Rosie Goodwin could pull another out but she did and then some the twists and turns sadness and laughter and the ending was well worth the reading of it again I don't think 5 stars is anywhere near enough but as it's all that's there then I would definitely recommend this book to read brilliant story from the first sentence to the last thanks again Rosie for another outstanding book

[Jeanne Grice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book as I did the series. I did become rather frustrated with Violet's naivety towards Oscar, although, that probably was Rosie Goodwin's intention. The characters mainly were very likeable and the storyline captivating, I just wish there could be more narrative at the end of the books when the situation becomes happy and the villains of the book get their comeuppance!

[Judy Tolley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Violets

I enjoyed the first book in the Flower Girls collection. Violet was left with her father as an infant and raised by him and his wife. Violets stepmother was cold and rather mean to Violet. And then her father dies. Violets life takes a spin through trials and tribulations.

[BCheesman · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author but I really enjoyed it easy reading with a main character you warmed to. I learned a bit about Victorian history too. Story kept moving no back and forward chapters which I hate and not padded out with dccor or clothes descriptions unless necessary to the plot.

[Julie Doherty]

All three of Rosie’s, flower books are just fantastic page turners.
I have stayed up later to read them a few mornings in the last few weeks and they have been fantastic stories. Lots of strong characters in all three books. Well done.

[Lynn Edwards · Rating 2 out of 5]

After listening to the other flower girl books. I thought I’d try our sweet violet. Without wanting tk sound mean. It was so predictable. I’m not sure if it’s the Marriott. I just felt like bid listened to it before unfortunately.

[Sandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Similar to the previous one. Don't like it. Usually Godwin books are splendid, but look forward to read her next book.

[Abby Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another great book by my newest favourite author. In the last few months I have read the whole collection of books! So I had to have the newest. And it didn’t take me long to read.

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always brilliant, has you hooked from the beginning.
Violet what a heroine, strong and powerful.
Love all the characters.

[Janet Glenc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much.

[Amanda Broad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and well written as always

[Joan Frear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joan

A brilliant book to read like all Rosie books I just didn’t want it to end looking forward to reading her next book xx

[Margaret Egginton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from Rosie Goodwin. Never takes you long to read her books as she has you gripped from the first page to the last.

[margaret bulcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read

Another great book from Rose. I just need to decide which one to read next, can't wait for new releases.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another bestseller, an excellent read.

[Lisa Thewlis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Why have I read this book before, if it's a new release. But it's a fantastic storyline and I enjoyed again.

[Sue Hickling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rosie Goodwin,s books .Cant wait for her next one to come out .

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant read from Rosie can't wait to read her next book

[Nicola Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book

[Debby Grindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written

Such a beautiful story. A fantastic page turner, I've cried, been angry but most of all thoroughly enjoyed this book. Amazing author.