Welcome to the HFVBT blog tour for The Scent of Gardenias! I have really been enjoying my historical novels lately, and when I saw the cover of this one, I knew I had to dive in!
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About the Book
The Scent of Gardenias Author Larraine Haas
on April 19, 2022
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | GoodreadsShe had big dreams. But will war, tragedy, and naïveté ruin her aspirations?
America, the 1940s. Margaret Rose longs to escape her family’s poverty. So against her domineering father’s wishes, the determined young woman elopes with an older man. But shortly after the US enters WWII, her grand ambitions sink when her husband’s ship is torpedoed.
Training to become a nurse to give herself a future, Margaret’s despair deepens when she discovers she’s pregnant and must quit to have the baby. And now without income to support a child, the desperate widow marries a man who takes her far from home… and into disaster.
Will Margaret rise above catastrophic misfortune and create the life she deserves?
Poignant and heartfelt, The Scent of Gardenias chronicles the struggle of a Twentieth-Century woman carving a place in a society stacked against her odds for success. Inspired by her mother’s true story, Lorraine Haas lays bare a brave and challenging journey of grit and self-discovery you won’t soon forget.
The Scent of Gardenias is a beautifully crafted women’s fiction novel. If you like raw emotional battles, family drama, and gut-wrenching dilemmas, then you’ll love Lorraine Haas’s tale of courage and tenacity.
My Perspective
Haas pulled me into this story from the very beginning. First of all, I could completely connect with Margaret and her relationship with her father. (side note – the alcoholic and abusive nature of her father could be a trigger for some readers) At times in my life, I had the same fears, struggles, and ways of coping that Margaret did. Though painful, it was still nice to read a character that went through some things that I did. And while I hope not all readers will have that connection to Margaret’s story – I think that it can and will open some eyes up to how important it is to treat others, especially when you don’t know what they’ve been dealing with. Haas handles all the delicate topics delicately. There is no detail, just enough to let you know what happened. I appreciate that she didn’t go into depth about them.
As you walk with Margaret along her journey you have a roller coaster of emotions. Her character had so many highs and lows in life and it was interesting to see how Haas dealt with all of them. I felt she handled them realistically and true to the character. This was a true women’s fiction novel – concentrating on Margaret’s life rather than just the romance. Margaret’s story was a coming-of-age journey, and though I disagreed with many of her decisions, I could see in the moment why she chose the path that she did.
Here’s the thing, which is a great reminder to us all. We’re all searching for something. I think Margaret was searching for both love and happiness. Unfortunately, she allowed herself to get caught up in moments of “get me outta here” which led to her not listening to that still small voice in her head. This led to heartache after heartache. Ultimately, when she did have a chance at happiness, Margaret showed huge strength and courage. A time where she stopped, listened, and acted on that voice. That spoke volumes to me.
The Scent of Gardenias is full of history, emotion, and life lessons. I think women’s fiction and historical fiction fans will enjoy Margaret’s story. I received a complimentary copy of this novel. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the Author
Lorraine Haas is a lover of life, learning, and leisure. She’s been accused far too often of being a strong woman, and even that she was raised to be too “independent.” She loves stories of women overcoming obstacles and thus, decided to write about them. She loves men–being married to one, the mother of one, and friends with many.
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Blog Tour
Monday, June 27
Review at Pursuing Stacie
Tuesday, June 28
Interview at Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Romance
Wednesday, June 29
Review at Novels Alive
Review at Book Reviews and More
Thursday, June 30
Review at Cover Lover Book Review
Friday, July 1
Review at Reading is My Remedy
Tuesday, July 5
Guest Post at What Is That Book About
Wednesday, July 6
Review at Books, Cooks, Looks
Friday, July 8
Interview at Jathan & Heather
Saturday, July 9
Review at Older & Smarter
Monday, July 11
Feature at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, July 12
Review at A Baker’s Perspective
Sounds like a book I will enjoy reading.
Sounds like a book I would enjoy reading.
Thank you for being part of the HFVBT blog tour and for bring “The Scent of Gardenias” to my attention. This is a new to me author, but one I would love to get to know with the opportunity to read this great sounding book.
2clowns at arkansas dot net