A Short Story prequel to THE PERFUME GARDEN.
An abandoned house in Spain holds the key to a woman's past, and her daughter's future. Midsummer's night, the Festival of San Juan, and the beautiful Valencian coast is ablaze with fire. Liberty meets John, the love of her life, there. She hopes that together they will discover the truth about the Villa del Valle. Can John learn to live, and can Liberty learn to let go before it is too late?
Praise for THE PERFUME GARDEN
'I found myself bewitched by 'The Perfume Garden' ... a deliciously winding narrative that takes us into the heart of battle, the locked rooms of family secrets, and the alluring promise of finally finding true love' Good Housekeeping
'From the beginning when we read about the Falling Soldier, the famous photo taken by Robert Capa during the civil war, to the end when the secrets are revealed and everything fits into place it is an absolute treat. There were some tearful moments, the occasionally funny moment and several 'Oh no!' moments. If I could have given this book 11/10 I would have done so'. Novelicious 10/10
'The novel is beautifully constructed, with the characters' individual experiences gradually weaving together, and the events of the past unfolding to reveal aftershocks in Emma's present. History fans will delight in cameos from figures including Hemingway, Dr. Bethune and Robert Capa. Brown's pacing is exquisite, revealing each twist slowly and deliberately, leaving you gripped to the end.' We Love This Book (The Bookseller)
'I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes a good story with strong female characters and I especially recommend it to those with an interest in modern Spanish history.' Historical Tapestry Grade: 5/5
'I loved this book, its fabulous characterisations and indulgent, atmospheric writing. I could smell and taste Spain while reading its pages and I was sad to close the book; sad to leave the characters behind, but satisfied at the ending. The Perfume Garden is a historical fiction novel with both a mystery to solve and a dash of romance'. A Fantastical Librarian *****
'Let me start of this review by saying I am not a fan of war books or stories revolving around historical moments. Until now... The horrors and acts of heroism during the Civil War parts brought tears to my eyes, whilst I simultaneously indulged in the romance of modern day Spain. A story you will not forget in a hurry.' BestChickLit.com
'It was like an emotional roller coaster through time and it's one that I will be reading over and over again and I can't wait to read more by Kate Lord Brown. I highly recommend The Perfume Garden to fans of historical fiction, novels that are told in alternating points of view and time periods as well as those interested in reading a book set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War that will break your heart and make you smile.' ***** Turning the Pages
'What I loved about this, was the almost heady sense of description. Right from the very first page, the scene was set so perfectly, I was instantly transported to 1930's Spain and having a main character whose job is to create sublime scents only added to its allure. In fact, it was so good that I wondered rather sceptically about whether it would be sustained throughout the book. I'm pleased to say it was. If you're a fan of books by authors like Kate Mosse and Kate Furnivall, you'll love this.'
Vanity Case Books
'This book is exactly the sort of book I love to read ..the setting is wonderfully romantic and evocative. I have always been fascinated by this period of history, and THE PERFUME GARDEN does an extraordinary job of bringing it to life.' Kate Forsyth. author of 'Bitter Greens'
'Sweepingly romantic ... heartbreaking at times; a vivid, gripping read' Katherine Webb, author of The Legacy
Genre: Historical Romance
An abandoned house in Spain holds the key to a woman's past, and her daughter's future. Midsummer's night, the Festival of San Juan, and the beautiful Valencian coast is ablaze with fire. Liberty meets John, the love of her life, there. She hopes that together they will discover the truth about the Villa del Valle. Can John learn to live, and can Liberty learn to let go before it is too late?
Praise for THE PERFUME GARDEN
'I found myself bewitched by 'The Perfume Garden' ... a deliciously winding narrative that takes us into the heart of battle, the locked rooms of family secrets, and the alluring promise of finally finding true love' Good Housekeeping
'From the beginning when we read about the Falling Soldier, the famous photo taken by Robert Capa during the civil war, to the end when the secrets are revealed and everything fits into place it is an absolute treat. There were some tearful moments, the occasionally funny moment and several 'Oh no!' moments. If I could have given this book 11/10 I would have done so'. Novelicious 10/10
'The novel is beautifully constructed, with the characters' individual experiences gradually weaving together, and the events of the past unfolding to reveal aftershocks in Emma's present. History fans will delight in cameos from figures including Hemingway, Dr. Bethune and Robert Capa. Brown's pacing is exquisite, revealing each twist slowly and deliberately, leaving you gripped to the end.' We Love This Book (The Bookseller)
'I highly recommend this book to everyone who likes a good story with strong female characters and I especially recommend it to those with an interest in modern Spanish history.' Historical Tapestry Grade: 5/5
'I loved this book, its fabulous characterisations and indulgent, atmospheric writing. I could smell and taste Spain while reading its pages and I was sad to close the book; sad to leave the characters behind, but satisfied at the ending. The Perfume Garden is a historical fiction novel with both a mystery to solve and a dash of romance'. A Fantastical Librarian *****
'Let me start of this review by saying I am not a fan of war books or stories revolving around historical moments. Until now... The horrors and acts of heroism during the Civil War parts brought tears to my eyes, whilst I simultaneously indulged in the romance of modern day Spain. A story you will not forget in a hurry.' BestChickLit.com
'It was like an emotional roller coaster through time and it's one that I will be reading over and over again and I can't wait to read more by Kate Lord Brown. I highly recommend The Perfume Garden to fans of historical fiction, novels that are told in alternating points of view and time periods as well as those interested in reading a book set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War that will break your heart and make you smile.' ***** Turning the Pages
'What I loved about this, was the almost heady sense of description. Right from the very first page, the scene was set so perfectly, I was instantly transported to 1930's Spain and having a main character whose job is to create sublime scents only added to its allure. In fact, it was so good that I wondered rather sceptically about whether it would be sustained throughout the book. I'm pleased to say it was. If you're a fan of books by authors like Kate Mosse and Kate Furnivall, you'll love this.'
Vanity Case Books
'This book is exactly the sort of book I love to read ..the setting is wonderfully romantic and evocative. I have always been fascinated by this period of history, and THE PERFUME GARDEN does an extraordinary job of bringing it to life.' Kate Forsyth. author of 'Bitter Greens'
'Sweepingly romantic ... heartbreaking at times; a vivid, gripping read' Katherine Webb, author of The Legacy
Genre: Historical Romance
Used availability for Kate Lord Brown's The Last Rose of Summer