Publisher's Weekly Review
Rose's third suspense novel featuring perfumer Jac L'Etoile (after 2013's Seduction) again toggles between past and present; this time, the vividly portrayed historical sections are set in 16th-century Italy and France. In 1573, Rene le Florentin, who crafted fragrances for Catherine de Medeci, reflects on the path he took to that position; 40 years earlier, he was in Florence, the apprentice to a monk, Dom Serapino, who instructed him in the art of mixing chemicals to create pleasing odors. Serapino had another focus, however; he believed that by capturing a person's last breath in a bottle, he could collect that person's soul. If he got someone else to inhale it, he thought that he could revive the dead. Rene gets an opportunity to put the theory to the test when his mentor dies, but finds himself suspected of facilitating the monk's death. In the present, L'Etoile is bereft by the death of her brother Robbie, who had run the family perfume business, and finds herself making use of her "ability to see past her own time" to uncover Rene's secrets. Crisp, evocative prose elevate this above other paranormal thrillers. Agent: Dan Conaway, Writer's House. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Jac L'Etoilemythologist, historian and TV hostbecomes embroiled in a quest to find a lost potion that might promise immortality, while revisiting a past love and navigating a dangerous mystery.She just lost her beloved brother, a renowned perfumer, to a quick, mysterious illness. Following his death-bed request that she visit an eccentric heiress in Barbizon, France, Jac is once again confronted with evidence that she has the ability to access past lives through stunningly realistic visions. The heiress's chateau is filled with museum-quality treasures, and it was once home to Catherine de Medici's perfumer, Ren le Florentinewho may have mixed up a poison, too, here or there. During her visit, Jac discovers an ancient book detailing Ren's lifelong pursuit of a potion that would bring the two people he loved most back to life, but the more information she finds regarding his hunt, the more she realizes there might be a dark legacy attached to it, which might be connected to her brother's death. Jac's visit to Barbizon will reconnect her to Griffin, the only man she's ever loved, and force her to use all her intelligence, instincts and gifts to ensure they both survive a dangerous obsessionsince it's becoming increasingly clear that she and Griffin have traveled this path together before. Best-selling author Rose has created a captivating world where reincarnation exists, then built historical and romantic tension around past lives and a modern-day mystery. This book, the third featuring Jac L'Etoile, seems to be the culmination of her journey, and it's a compelling, imaginative look at one woman's intersection with history.A suspenseful and enigmatic story, with gripping historical details and the paranormal subtext Rose has become famous for, which will please her many fans. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
When her brother suddenly and mysteriously dies, perfumer Jac L'Etoile (The Book of Lost Fragrances; Seduction), along with her former lover Griffin North and their unconventional benefactress, decides to continue her brother's research into finding the secret to immortality. This revolves around an arcane recipe for reanimating souls by collecting dying breaths, which had been discovered by Rene le Florentin, the 16th-century alchemist/perfumer to Catherine de Medici. He is also the man responsible for bringing perfume to Paris and to whom Jac feels an almost otherworldly connection. Jac and Griffin delve deep into the potions and poisons of the past, venture into dangerous and deadly waters where the lines between past and present blur, and Jac wonders if one of the dying breaths collected will be hers. Verdict Rose's latest venture into myth and reality is a page-turning, alluring concoction of fiction infused with fantastical yet actual history. Readers will be charmed by her well-drawn and memorable characters, and they will be mesmerized by her enchanting narrative, which takes them on a mystical and magical journey. [See Prepub Alert, 10/20/13.]-Debbie Haupt, St. Charles City-Cty. Lib. Dist., St, Peters, MO (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.