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The Flowers #1
Daisy Crown
What is Hazel, a young house-servant, to do when her adored mistress Katherine leaves to marry a man in a distant city? It's 1870, and she's been forbidden to go with Katherine as her maid.
She's not at all sure Katherine loves her the way she loves Katherine, but she has little option but to remain behind in Maylane, the little Midwestern village where the two girls grew up together.
When Katherine returns home, freshly widowed and with two young daughters of her own, Hazel assumes the role of maid again. But is a maid what Katherine wants of her? And can Hazel confine her feelings to a subservient role?
Or can they discover something different and far better than either of them ever dreamed possible, and make it a reality?
She's not at all sure Katherine loves her the way she loves Katherine, but she has little option but to remain behind in Maylane, the little Midwestern village where the two girls grew up together.
When Katherine returns home, freshly widowed and with two young daughters of her own, Hazel assumes the role of maid again. But is a maid what Katherine wants of her? And can Hazel confine her feelings to a subservient role?
Or can they discover something different and far better than either of them ever dreamed possible, and make it a reality?
158 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2018
About the author
Olivia Lark
7 books9 followersOlivia Lark lives on a small Maine farm, where she writes with her partner and several excellent helper dogs. She writes the love stories of lesbians in other times, heartwarming historical and time travel romances about finding one's soulmate right next door -- or a century away.
Sign up for her publisher's mailing list at http://threebunnyfarm.com/subscribe/ to receive advance notice of new releases, free short fiction, and advance reader opportunities.
Sign up for her publisher's mailing list at http://threebunnyfarm.com/subscribe/ to receive advance notice of new releases, free short fiction, and advance reader opportunities.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 27, 2020
An Interesting FF Historical romance on kindle unlimited. It's short at well under 2 hours, But I enjoyed the premise.
Hazel and Katherine grew up together, though Hazel was the maids daughter, and Katherine the little miss of the estate. However neither children understood the rules and boundaries of their circumstances until they were much older.
It was heartening to see how they interacted with eachother in such sweet ways during their girlhood. Hazel often calling Katherine 'her princess' and them spending much time playing in the daisy meadow and creating floral crowns for their hair. They simply and innocently think they will be friends forever. Once Katherine gets engaged to be married though, it is decided Hazel will not be going with her to Chicago to be their maid. It is said Hazel needs to learn her place. So she is left behind.
6 years later Katherine's husband has passed away leaving her a very wealthy widow with 2 young daughters to care for. She returns home to her parents to find Hazel both has and hasn't changed, and that the attraction she now understands as an adult, is still there.
Seeing the two rekindle that spark was heart-warming, but it was also saddening to hear about Hazel's hardships in the interim. Katherine however steps up for her and I was cheering along for the couple.
It would have been nice for it to be longer and maybe get an epilogue, but it's still a lovely little story.
Hazel and Katherine grew up together, though Hazel was the maids daughter, and Katherine the little miss of the estate. However neither children understood the rules and boundaries of their circumstances until they were much older.
It was heartening to see how they interacted with eachother in such sweet ways during their girlhood. Hazel often calling Katherine 'her princess' and them spending much time playing in the daisy meadow and creating floral crowns for their hair. They simply and innocently think they will be friends forever. Once Katherine gets engaged to be married though, it is decided Hazel will not be going with her to Chicago to be their maid. It is said Hazel needs to learn her place. So she is left behind.
6 years later Katherine's husband has passed away leaving her a very wealthy widow with 2 young daughters to care for. She returns home to her parents to find Hazel both has and hasn't changed, and that the attraction she now understands as an adult, is still there.
Seeing the two rekindle that spark was heart-warming, but it was also saddening to hear about Hazel's hardships in the interim. Katherine however steps up for her and I was cheering along for the couple.
It would have been nice for it to be longer and maybe get an epilogue, but it's still a lovely little story.
September 28, 2020
4 Stars - enjoyable historical romance - packs a lot of story in few words
This a super quick read but what was weird is it really got all the points across without feeling rushed. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and my only complaint is that I wished they had figured out the pining was mutual a little sooner as I do like to see my couples enjoy their HEA a bit before we say goodbye.
If you are looking for a short palate cleanser between longer reads, this could be the story you are looking for.
This a super quick read but what was weird is it really got all the points across without feeling rushed. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and my only complaint is that I wished they had figured out the pining was mutual a little sooner as I do like to see my couples enjoy their HEA a bit before we say goodbye.
If you are looking for a short palate cleanser between longer reads, this could be the story you are looking for.
September 24, 2021
I needed a small break from my typical binge-read genre of choice (murder mysteries and detectives), and for the longest time had been meaning to pick up Olivia Lark's historical romances.
Daisy Crown is the first in her series, and I haven't yet read the synopsis on the second to find out if these are a connected series or not. This worked as a standalone romance novel for me, regardless.
I cut my reading teeth on romance novels when I was younger, and as most fans of the genre will honestly say, there is a definite formula to a lot of harlequin-type books, so I was hoping very much for both the comfort of well-known patterns, but also for something outside of the typical romance.
Daisy Crown does not disappoint in any way. The story is charming, and does follow a certain romantic plot line - which I love. The two main characters have depth, and a chemistry that begins when they're young that evolves and grows throughout the book.
I found the representation of the lgbtq community to be refreshing, especially for it being historical romance, and not current day - the author navigates the trickiness of such a relationship in older times very well, particularly with parents and children and how the church of the day would have been.
The writing style is really appealing - easy to get into the story, plot hurdles here and there for both women, satisfying and absolutely lovely ending. Very much looking forward to book #2!
Daisy Crown is the first in her series, and I haven't yet read the synopsis on the second to find out if these are a connected series or not. This worked as a standalone romance novel for me, regardless.
I cut my reading teeth on romance novels when I was younger, and as most fans of the genre will honestly say, there is a definite formula to a lot of harlequin-type books, so I was hoping very much for both the comfort of well-known patterns, but also for something outside of the typical romance.
Daisy Crown does not disappoint in any way. The story is charming, and does follow a certain romantic plot line - which I love. The two main characters have depth, and a chemistry that begins when they're young that evolves and grows throughout the book.
I found the representation of the lgbtq community to be refreshing, especially for it being historical romance, and not current day - the author navigates the trickiness of such a relationship in older times very well, particularly with parents and children and how the church of the day would have been.
The writing style is really appealing - easy to get into the story, plot hurdles here and there for both women, satisfying and absolutely lovely ending. Very much looking forward to book #2!
December 23, 2023
The writing and characters were OK but there wasn’t much going on in the plot department. If the book wasn’t so short, it probably would have been a DNF because so little actually happened.
And this might not bother everyone, but the “historical” setting drove me bonkers. The author describes a country estate in Victorian England, a taboo crush between the young lady of the manor and her maid servant, Hazel…and later Hazel worries briefly about ending up in poor house, and my brain is on board with all of this until the other one (I forgot her name already) marries and goes to live in Chicago.
Chicago!?! This is supposed to take place in late 1809s American Midwest?? Uh…no. Completely wrong for the setting. My brain didn’t like it. It just threw me out of the story completely.
And this might not bother everyone, but the “historical” setting drove me bonkers. The author describes a country estate in Victorian England, a taboo crush between the young lady of the manor and her maid servant, Hazel…and later Hazel worries briefly about ending up in poor house, and my brain is on board with all of this until the other one (I forgot her name already) marries and goes to live in Chicago.
Chicago!?! This is supposed to take place in late 1809s American Midwest?? Uh…no. Completely wrong for the setting. My brain didn’t like it. It just threw me out of the story completely.
December 1, 2018
A week or so ago I got KU during a promotional period and since then I've been wanting to try out some books that in the past year or so have looked interesting but I never read because my book budget is extremely low and I was waiting to someday get KU. THE TIME IS NOW. So this is the first book I read using KU and I was very happy with it.
Hazel and Katherine are childhood friends whose relationship has always been intensely intimate. But, it's the 1870s. Besides which, Hazel is a servant in Katherine's families household, and even though they are such close friends, there's always that distance between them--Katherine still somewhat expects Hazel to stay in her place and Hazel understands but resents it. Then Katherine marries a man and moves to the city, and she and Hazel are parted for years, only to reunite when Katherine's husband dies and she returns to live with her family, two daughters in tow, one of whom is only a few months old.
I really liked the slow-burn pining in this book. Even though it's a novella it really milks that pining for all its worth. Hazel and Katherine both at different points in the book think the other won't understand that they're sexually attracted to the other, even though their relationship is already intense enough that it clearly reads as a romance even on a physical level, with supposedly platonic kisses and the two of them often sleeping in the same bed. Another thing that I liked was that the familial relationships are also important to the story. Hazel and Katherine both have daughters, and you really get the sense that they're starting a family together. And then there's the awkward power imbalance, with both Katherine and Hazel instinctively feeling that their relationship is not that of servant and employer but Katherine being unable to really get it at first, and her slowly realizing they should be equals. Finally, this is a minor thing, but I thought the author was kinder to Katherine's now-dead husband than many lesfic authors would be; he was a good man, and there was even love between them, and yet you can tell that the relationship was not the same as Katherine's relationship with Hazel.
CW for rape-- and for period-typical homophobia, and for the minor character death of Katherine's husband.
Anyways I'd recommend as...not exactly a light read but still oddly feel good. Gotta love that slow relationship development.
Hazel and Katherine are childhood friends whose relationship has always been intensely intimate. But, it's the 1870s. Besides which, Hazel is a servant in Katherine's families household, and even though they are such close friends, there's always that distance between them--Katherine still somewhat expects Hazel to stay in her place and Hazel understands but resents it. Then Katherine marries a man and moves to the city, and she and Hazel are parted for years, only to reunite when Katherine's husband dies and she returns to live with her family, two daughters in tow, one of whom is only a few months old.
I really liked the slow-burn pining in this book. Even though it's a novella it really milks that pining for all its worth. Hazel and Katherine both at different points in the book think the other won't understand that they're sexually attracted to the other, even though their relationship is already intense enough that it clearly reads as a romance even on a physical level, with supposedly platonic kisses and the two of them often sleeping in the same bed. Another thing that I liked was that the familial relationships are also important to the story. Hazel and Katherine both have daughters, and you really get the sense that they're starting a family together. And then there's the awkward power imbalance, with both Katherine and Hazel instinctively feeling that their relationship is not that of servant and employer but Katherine being unable to really get it at first, and her slowly realizing they should be equals. Finally, this is a minor thing, but I thought the author was kinder to Katherine's now-dead husband than many lesfic authors would be; he was a good man, and there was even love between them, and yet you can tell that the relationship was not the same as Katherine's relationship with Hazel.
CW for rape-- and for period-typical homophobia, and for the minor character death of Katherine's husband.
Anyways I'd recommend as...not exactly a light read but still oddly feel good. Gotta love that slow relationship development.
March 27, 2022
A delightful addition to the historical lesbian romance genre.
All the ingredients of a very good read in this genre are present in this novel. The characters are vibrant and original. Their stories are realistic, intricate and compelling. Hazel's story in particular, that of an unwed mother whose child is taken from her, highlighted the lack of common humanity enforced by the church in this era in England.
All the ingredients of a very good read in this genre are present in this novel. The characters are vibrant and original. Their stories are realistic, intricate and compelling. Hazel's story in particular, that of an unwed mother whose child is taken from her, highlighted the lack of common humanity enforced by the church in this era in England.
November 7, 2018
A beautiful story about love from childhood; well written and the time period as a backdrop works - the 1800s. Two girls growing up together; a maid's daughter and the daughter of the family she & her mother work for. Separation and coming back together and the living in between.
I'm on to the second book in the series.
I'm on to the second book in the series.
June 14, 2022
I was in the mood for a short lesbian historical romance with a happy ending. This is it. It’s light on the historical setting though but that’s probably cause it’s short.
Very short. I read it in about a day - in between Fortnite matches and sometimes playing Genshin. Everything was kind of forgettable but, it was all very likable. Perfect for my one week summer vacation.
Very short. I read it in about a day - in between Fortnite matches and sometimes playing Genshin. Everything was kind of forgettable but, it was all very likable. Perfect for my one week summer vacation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2023
3 stars. A very gentle and quiet romance. The characters of Hazel and Katherine were fine and the romance between them was quite lovely but I didn’t fully connect with this one. The writing threw me off. It was just so sappy and cheesy and a lot of the dialogue made me roll my eyes. I plan on reading the next one but this one was just fine.
September 22, 2024
Good story with rushed ending
I appreciated the character development and story line throughout. However, once the main characters took the leap, the story was too abruptly closed and resolved. It ended in an unrealistic, rushed, and idealistic happy ending. I wanted more realism built in to the conflict, the path forward, and the happy ending.
I appreciated the character development and story line throughout. However, once the main characters took the leap, the story was too abruptly closed and resolved. It ended in an unrealistic, rushed, and idealistic happy ending. I wanted more realism built in to the conflict, the path forward, and the happy ending.
April 23, 2024
A cute and pleasant read with a happy ending.
CW: oblique mention of non-consentual sex, (off-screen) child abuse by religious figures, and period-accurate forced separation of an unwed mother & her child
CW: oblique mention of non-consentual sex, (off-screen) child abuse by religious figures, and period-accurate forced separation of an unwed mother & her child
May 18, 2024
I've moved away from period pieces but when I saw that this one was short, I jumped at the opportunity to check it out. Liked the nice gaps that did not need/require more time to dwell on but instead covered what was needed to convey this love story, of friends, family but ultimately love.
March 18, 2022
Fantastic
I truly loved reading this book. I can't wait to read all of the stories that Olivia writes in the future
I truly loved reading this book. I can't wait to read all of the stories that Olivia writes in the future
April 5, 2022
lovely
Love knows no barriers or time. This beautiful story of friends turn into lovers depicts trauma, strength and the will to survive any odds.
Love knows no barriers or time. This beautiful story of friends turn into lovers depicts trauma, strength and the will to survive any odds.
June 2, 2025
that blind with love, miscommunication trope gets me everytimeeeeee
January 4, 2026
I didn’t want this one to end! This was the sweetest little romance novella. It was well-written and had wonderful character development, as well as wrapping up the end without me feeling like I was left hanging with questions.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews