TLC Book Tours: The Perfume Collector by Kathleen Tessaro

Title: The Perfume Collector
Author: Kathleen Tessaro
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper
Publish Date: May 14, 2013
Source: TLC Book Tours

Why You're Reading This Book:

• You're a historical fiction fan.

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "An inheritance from a mysterious stranger . . .
An abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank of Paris . . .
And three exquisite perfumes that hold a memory . . . and a secret

London, 1955: Grace Monroe is a fortunate young woman. Despite her sheltered upbringing in Oxford, her recent marriage has thrust her into the heart of London's most refined and ambitious social circles. However, playing the role of the sophisticated socialite her husband would like her to be doesn't come easily to her—and perhaps never will.

Then one evening a letter arrives from France that will change everything. Grace has received an inheritance. There's only one problem: she has never heard of her benefactor, the mysterious Eva d'Orsey.

So begins a journey that takes Grace to Paris in search of Eva. There, in a long-abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank, she discovers the seductive world of perfumers and their muses, and a surprising, complex love story. Told by invoking the three distinctive perfumes she inspired, Eva d'Orsey's story weaves through the decades, from 1920s New York to Monte Carlo, Paris, and London.

But these three perfumes hold secrets. And as Eva's past and Grace's future intersect, Grace realizes she must choose between the life she thinks she should live and the person she is truly meant to be.

Illuminating the lives and challenging times of two fascinating women, The Perfume Collector weaves a haunting, imaginative, and beautifully written tale filled with passion and possibility, heartbreak and hope."

My Two Cents:

This book focuses on two very different women in two different time periods. There is Eva, who leaves her inheritance under mysterious circumstances to Grace, a young woman who is completely adrift when her relationship breaks down. When Grace receives the inheritance, she is sent on a journey to figure why she received the inheritance and learns quite a bit about the woman who left it to her in the process.

It took me awhile to get into the story as the book unfolded rather slowly for me. Eventually the book started speeding up as we got further into the story as the mystery of Eva started to be unraveled. Some of the book felt a little stiff but overall I really enjoyed the story.

Eva and Grace were both interesting characters to me. I really liked reading about both of them but I think I favored reading about Eva a little bit more. She had a really fascinating life and I really liked reading how she was able to cut out a good life for herself in grand Paris. I really like stories about people who are able to turn their humble beginnings into something really great. Eva goes from a maid to one of the most admired women in Paris society. She is truly a fascinating character to read about! Grace was interesting to read about. I loved reading about her adventures in Paris as she begins to unravel the mystery of who Eva was.

I really liked the settings in the book. Grace lives in London when the book opens. She travels to Paris where Eva's story takes place. I would absolutely love to go to Paris someday but in the meantime I shall have to settle for reading about it. I really liked the author's description of the city and of Parisian society. The descriptions were so real to me. This book is definitely a good choice for when you're looking for some armchair traveling.

Follow the Rest of the Tour:
  

Tuesday, February 11th: Svetlana’s Reads and Views
Wednesday, February 12th: The Blog of Lit Wits
Thursday, February 13th: Read. Write. Repeat
Monday, February 17th: Col Reads
Tuesday, February 18th: A Bookish Affair
Thursday, February 20th: Sidewalk Shoes
Sunday, February 23rd: Peppermint PhD
Monday, February 24th: Ageless Pages Reviews
Tuesday, February 25th: Bibliotica
Wednesday, February 26th: Walking With Nora
Thursday, February 27th: Kritters Ramblings