Wild Lavender

By: Belinda Alexandra

Narrated by: Kate Hood

Simone Fleurier is wrenched from her home on a Provencal lavender farm at the age of 14 after the accidental death of her father. Forced to become a maid at the boarding house of her Aunt Augustine in Marseilles, Simone's life is hard and impoverished. But one of her aunt's boarders, the beautiful Camille Casal, a star at the local music hall, gives Simone a dream: that one day she too will be a famous singer and dancer. Years later, the famous Simone Fleurier, toast of Paris, watches Nazi troops occupy the city. Suddenly, her world is turned upside down, and Simone must make new and dangerous choices.©2005 Belinda Alexandra (P)2005 Bolinda Publishing Pty. Ltd.

Reader is hard to get used to

I don't know if I can finish this book. I have made several attempts, but the readers breathy performance drives me nuts. It sometimes takes a little while to get used to a reader, then you get into the story and forget all about the reader. Not this one. I am about nine hours into it. The story is interesting, but moves way too slow. I found that to be the case with Sapphire Skies also, but Caroline Lee carried it and kept you going.

Long narrative

I do enjoy a long narrative. Easy book to follow and descriptive. The narrator did a great job. The hardships of WWII in France are brought to life in a believable way.

Beautiful Story

This story covers a long time frame, and takes an unexpected twist when it lasts all the way through WW II. It's a beautiful story, especially if you like romance.

Wonderful!

What a great story. I enjoyed it and it held my interest through it's entirety. I'm anxious to experience more of Belinda Alexander's books. Just shows that when good and evil spar, good wins out most of the time.

Outstanding

Highly recommend this well written and researched work of historic fiction. Superb narration added to its engaging narrative.