The Lost Perfumes of Paris by Christine Wells

 

Do you have a favorite perfume?  I love the smell of perfume but have sensitive skin, so it has been a while since I have worn any.  My daughter loves perfume.

Elodie Limeaux works at her family’s perfume company in the south of France.  She is a lowly assistant chemist but has developed a perfume through the years that she believes will turn the company’s fortunes around. When her father rejects it, she is stunned. She proposes entering the Essence of Paris competition to keep their investor, Monsieur Caspari from sending production to America.  Elodie wants to she follows her late mother’s, Aurore’s, footsteps as a premier perfumer.  With the help of Monsieur Caspari’s son, Marcelo, will she be able to win the contest?

My thoughts on this book:

·       This was a delightful and engaging book that I could not put down.

·       I loved how plucky Elodie was with her love and obsession for perfumery.  It was in her blood, and she couldn’t be happy without it. 

·       There was a great romance between Elodie and Marcelo.  I loved that he shared her passion for perfumery.  He supported her and let her shine in her own accomplishments, unlike her father. 

·       Wonderful Paris setting in 1956.  The descriptions were fantastic.  I felt like I was there!

·       I loved Elodie’s grandmother and how she took Elodie shopping for a complete Parisian makeover.  I also loved the descriptions of the gowns.

·       I didn’t know much about the development of perfumes, and I enjoyed learning more about it.

·       Elodie’s father was a terrible person.

·       I like how Elodie found her mother’s perfume journals and was able to learn more about her.

·       There was a great author’s note at the end that described how women had a hard time establishing themselves in the world of perfume even in their own family companies.

Overall, The Lost Perfumes of Paris by Christine Wells was an enchanting historical fiction novel with great characters set in the vivid world of 1950s France perfumeries.  I greatly enjoyed it.

Book Source: Thank-you William Morrow for the review copy!

The Paris Gown by Christine Wells (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for the review copy of The Paris Gown by Christine Wells.  This review should have been up last week but was delayed due to numerous technical issues.

Three friends in 1950’s Paris experience life and love, as well as a beautiful Dior gown.  They had previously gone to school together in Paris, went their separate ways, and have now reunited in 1957. 

Claire is trying to make it as a chef in the male dominated world of Parisian cuisine.  She works at her family’s brasserie, Let Chet, but dreams of working for a fancier sit-down restaurant.  When her father sells the family business to her old nemesis, what will she do?  Will she be able to move on to a new restaurant where she can shine?

Margot is hiding out in Paris disguised and working at Dior.  She had an abusive marriage and has fled from Australia to Paris, where she had her happiest memories. Will her husband find her?  Will she realize her dream of becoming an editor?

Gina’s father has lost her family’s fortune, and she has broken her engagement to the love of her life to protect his political career.  She has escaped to Paris to realize her dream of writing the great American novel.  Will she reunite with her love?  Will she finish and publish her novel?

My thoughts on this novel:

·       I loved the relationship between the three women and how they are all able to support each other.

·       The Dior dress was fabulous.  It was give to Claire by a friend who had to leave Paris suddenly.  Claire shares it with her friends for their special occasions.  The descriptions of Margot working for Dior gave me “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” vibes.  I loved it!

·       The beautiful cover of this book shows a real Dior gown.

·       The descriptions of the food were exquisite as well.  It gave me a glimpse of what eating in Paris would be like.

·       The only thing I didn’t like about this book was that I felt like the storyline with Margot’s husband was left unresolved.

·       The book was an interesting look into compromises.  What would you give up for who you love?  Should you give up your dreams?

·       The storyline was very engaging and pleasant.  I enjoyed this book.

Overall, The Paris Gown was a great story of friendship, dreams, fashion, and food all set in 1950’s Paris.  It was a very enjoyable read.

PUB DATE: August 20, 2024.  

The Royal Windsor Secret by Chistine Wells (Bibliolifestyle Book Tour)

 

Thank you, Partner @bibliolifestyle @williammorrowbooks for the review copy of The Royal Windsor Secret by Christine Wells.

What type of book do you like to read to relax?  One type I like to read is more escapist historical fiction.  It’s a type of fun historical fiction with a bit of mystery, a bit of romance, and a high society life that I can only dream about.  It’s a stressful time of year for me and The Royal Windsor Secret fit the bill to help me escape and relax.

Cleo has grown up in Cairo Egypt at Shepheard’s Hotel.  Nicknamed “the princess” she has grown up with rumors that she is the daughter of the Prince of Wales.  She has the opportunity to travel to London in the 1930’s with Lord and Lady Grayson to make her debut.  She begins the search for the truth about her birth.  Is she the daughter of the Prince of Wales?  Who is her mother?  She also explores her true passion for designing jewelry and tries to decide if her childhood friend Brodie is more than just a friend.

The book alternated viewpoints at times with the French courtesan Marguerite Meller and how she became a courtesan and started a relationship with David, the Prince of Wales.  It was very interesting.  I didn’t realize she was a real person until the fascinating author’s note at the end of the novel. I had only ever heard of David’s relationship with Wallis Simpson. The novel ranged from World War I to post World War II from Egypt to Paris to London.  I loved the timeline and the settings.  It was an interesting story, and I was intrigued by the mystery aspect.

The Royal Windsor Secret was published on September 12^th.