Friday, March 2, 2012

Book Tour: Review--The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

My thoughts:
Once again, I am fascinated and impressed with Rose's knowledge of reincarnation.  By now, everyone knows about my interest and belief in the subject and I truly never tire of reading about it, whether it be in a fictional context or in non-fiction (although some may argue that it's all fictional).  What I like about Rose's portrayal of the subject is her incorporation of it with history, as well as the current events of the day.

In this book, the fourth installment in The Reincarnationist series, we are treated to ancient Egypt, another subject of endless fascination for me, and the culture's use of fragrance as a link to past lives, particularly during the Ptolemaic period.  From there, we are whisked forward to present day China and the endless struggle between Tibet and the Chinese government to control the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama.  As usual, there is mystery and intrigue, which adds a suspenseful element to the story.  For me though, the historical aspects of the story are sufficient to keep my interest.  Add in a bit of alchemy, and you have a well-rounded and interesting story of history, science, and mysticism.

The beauty of this series is that you really can read the books without having read the earlier books.  I still have not read the first and second books in the series (although they are on my shelf), but I had no problem reading the third, The Hypnotist, and the fourth (this one) books as stand alone novels.  Rose is a talented author, with a gift for writing about a subject of which she is clearly passionate.  I sincerely look forward to any and all future offerings from her, whether it be more books in this series, or a new set of books down the road.

About the book:
A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra--and lost for 2,000 years.

Jac L'Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances--and of her mother's suicide--she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it's financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing--leaving a dead body in his wake--Jac is plunged into a world she thought she'd left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother's disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L'Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation - or is it just another dream infused perfume?

The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra's Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet's battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac's quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.



Take a look at the TOUR SCHEDULE to visit more stops on the tour

Twitter Hashtag: #LostFragrancesVirtualBookTour 

If you haven't already, stop by M.J.'s GUEST POST from Wednesday, where you can find out more about her and her fascination with lost fragrances.

Reading Challenges:
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FTC Disclosure:  I received an eBook copy from Net Galley in conjunction with a book tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book tours and in exchange for an honest review.  I received no monetary compensation.

5 comments:

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  1. Thank you so very very much for this wonderful and thoughtful review. I so appreciate it!

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  2. You're welcome! Thank you for writing such great books. =O)

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  3. I find the subject of reincarnation fascinating as well. I really enjoyed this book too. I have her other three books to read - I may have to have my own M.J. Rose read-a-thon. Lol.

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  4. I really really like M.J. Rose's style of writing...her incorporation of history AND recent political controversies moves so seamlessly! And she's so nice in person too! Great review!

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  5. Sounds like a very interesting mix of history and the spiritual. This book caught my eye just yesterday and I am glad to have stumbled upon your review.

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