carstensena's review against another edition
3.0
Thoroughly enjoyable for its Provence setting, gothic creepiness and Rebecca-like plot.
gr33nb00ks's review against another edition
3.0
This book was cozy and spooky at the same time! Lots of imagery of the landscape of Provence. Loved every word about the Lavender fields. It was quite slow moving but did have the build-up that I like in a story. I do crave mystery every now and again!
pvhouse's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
aotales's review against another edition
2.0
TOO MUCH DESCRIPTION!! The first 35 pages of this book were almost too much for me, I was suffocating on the extensive detail with which Lawrenson describes the smells from her little hamlet in Provence. (Yes the entire setting of the novel is in fact the hamlet she owns in Southern France, go to her website to see actual photo tours of the property!). The middle of the book starts to pick up and actually piqued my interest, almost enough for me to forgive the first half of the book. However the ending is extremely predictable, and too easily tied together. A huge disappointment!
asegurasmith's review against another edition
1.0
Decent plot but the language too flowery and the end was not worth the read.
ladywrenalot's review against another edition
4.0
Two tales intertwine. I was right about the outcome but I may have seen too many episodes of CSI and Bones!
lazygal's review against another edition
5.0
This was another book highly recommended by a friend (as in, "what ever you do, Get.This.ARC. at ALA"). And was she ever right! Usually I'm not the biggest fan of books with tons of description (my brain doesn't quite work that way, and I tend to get lost) but here it really worked.
This is two stories intertwined. The first is a Rebecca-esque tale of a younger (unnamed) woman with little family who meets an older man and falls in love. Of course there's no time spent exploring each other's pasts, it's full-on heady romance. They travel, and buy a rather run-down house (actually, a hamlet) in Provence. There, eerie things start to happen and Dom's reluctance to talk about his past (which is clearly torturing him) begins to prey on our heroine.
The second story is told by Benedicte Lincel, the only remaining member of the Lincel family (who'd owned the house for centuries before our lovers purchase it). Again, eerie things are happening: she's being haunted by the ghost, and memories, of her rather deranged brother Pierre and her blind sister Marthe. Marthe, though blind, becomes a master perfumiere - an amazing "nose" - and is is through her tutelage that Benedicte becomes aware of the scents and colors of their surroundings.
Of course the two narratives tie in (no spoilers on how or why) in a way that harkens back to the best in Gothic romance. This is more than Rebecca (or Jane Eyre), this is truly different, and not just because the landscape and the aromas play such an indelible part.
ARC provided by publisher.
This is two stories intertwined. The first is a Rebecca-esque tale of a younger (unnamed) woman with little family who meets an older man and falls in love. Of course there's no time spent exploring each other's pasts, it's full-on heady romance. They travel, and buy a rather run-down house (actually, a hamlet) in Provence. There, eerie things start to happen and Dom's reluctance to talk about his past (which is clearly torturing him) begins to prey on our heroine.
The second story is told by Benedicte Lincel, the only remaining member of the Lincel family (who'd owned the house for centuries before our lovers purchase it). Again, eerie things are happening: she's being haunted by the ghost, and memories, of her rather deranged brother Pierre and her blind sister Marthe. Marthe, though blind, becomes a master perfumiere - an amazing "nose" - and is is through her tutelage that Benedicte becomes aware of the scents and colors of their surroundings.
Of course the two narratives tie in (no spoilers on how or why) in a way that harkens back to the best in Gothic romance. This is more than Rebecca (or Jane Eyre), this is truly different, and not just because the landscape and the aromas play such an indelible part.
ARC provided by publisher.
luckyliza13's review against another edition
4.0
Lawrenson is a very descriptive writer, now I'm into reading about Provence. Good book, I thought it was just a well written ghost story/mystery, but packs a triple punch at the end!
chapseachelsman's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
julie_loves_books's review against another edition
3.0
This story is told by two characters: one from the present and one from the past. They both include an old house in the French countryside. I love the house and the visuals that the author created in my mind. It sounded like a place I might want to visit.
I was drawn in to the supernatural side of this story more than anything. Were there ghosts haunting this house...and who did they belong to. As the story unfolds, we find out what really happened in this house and I found it quite tragic, which was quite unsuspecting.
I was drawn in to the supernatural side of this story more than anything. Were there ghosts haunting this house...and who did they belong to. As the story unfolds, we find out what really happened in this house and I found it quite tragic, which was quite unsuspecting.