Historicial Fiction Virtual Tours Book Review: Scent Of Triumph

Please join author Jan Moran as she tours the blogosphere with HF Virtual Book Tours for Scent of Triumph: A Novel of Perfume and Passion, from April 1-17, and enter to win an autographed copy!

Publication Date: March 31, 2015
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Formats: eBook, Paperback
384 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance

Book Blurb: When French perfumer Danielle Bretancourt steps aboard a luxury ocean liner, leaving her son behind in Poland with his grandmother, she has no idea that her life is about to change forever. The year is 1939, and the declaration of war on the European continent soon threatens her beloved family, scattered across many countries. Traveling through London and Paris into occupied Poland, Danielle searches desperately for her the remains of her family, relying on the strength and support of Jonathan Newell-Grey, a young captain. Finally, she is forced to gather the fragments of her impoverished family and flee to America. There she vows to begin life anew, in 1940s Los Angeles. Through determination and talent, she rises high from meager jobs in her quest for success as a perfumer and fashion designer to Hollywood elite. Set between privileged lifestyles and gritty realities, Scent of Triumph is one woman's story of courage, spirit, and resilience.

   

Praise for Scent of Triumph

"SCENT OF TRIUMPH [is a] World War II epic." -Los Angeles Times "Though romance figures importantly in [SCENT OF TRIUMPH], Danielle's professional life is most appealing, profiting from perfume expert Moran's (Fabulous Fragrances, 1994, etc.) authentic experience...The casual demeanor with which Danielle always notices scents in her environment helps establish her character and professional credibility in a charming way...Danielle makes for a strong, unusual heroine who doesn't always make wise decisions, although her resilience, style and knowledge remain admirable.... [A] historical fiction carried by a complex, resourceful heroine with a nose for business." -Kirkus Reviews “Warm and well written, with characters who attract the reader’s sympathy and affection. A lovely story well-told, which will appeal to romantics, fashion and perfume devotees, and fans of historical fiction.” -Amy Edelman, founder of IndieReader.com

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Review: This book is truly amazing. It it is the story of one woman's courage through WWII when everything she loves is being torn apart.

She's on an ocean liner on the way home with her husband when war is declared and the boat she's on is attacked by a German U boat. Her son remains in Poland with his grandmother. There is no way for her to find them and remain safe, as she is pregnant.

There are a lot of things that I loved about this book. I particularly enjoyed reading about Danielle and her creation of fragrances. A lot of the process reminded me of M.J. Rose's novels from the Reincarnationist series.

This is a story about rebuilding life as well as keeping family together. Danielle loses a lot in the space of only 3 years. Your heart will break for her and you'll feel her pain and possibly even her guilt. Then there's her star crossed love for her husband's friend Jon.

One thing I couldn't understand about Danielle was how she was obsessed with finding Nicky, even to the point of not really caring about her newborn, Jasmine and later not wanting to have a child with Cameron.

There's a lot of death in this book, and most of the characters are ones that I came to love, so I shed more than a few tears while reading. None of the deaths are more heartbreaking than her mother-in-law Sofia. There's a little touch of the paranormal to her passing that really will tug at your heartstrings.

The main conflict has to do with her first husband's cousin Heinrich. His character is the only one I have a huge problem with. We know his issues with his family, but I wish he would have been more developed. The explanations for his behavior were explained away a little too easily to give him any depth as a villain.

This was a wonderful read. It wasn't really a novel about WWII, but rather a wartime novel.

If you love an emotional novel with a touch of romance, this book should definitely be on your list.

Rating: 5 flowers

About the Author

Jan Moran is a Rizzoli bestselling and award winning author. She writes historical women's fiction for St. Martin's Press, contemporary women's fiction, and nonfiction books. Her stories are smart and stylish, and written with emotional depth. Jan often draws on her international travel and business experiences, infusing her books with realistic details. The Midwest Book Review and Kirkus have recommended her books, calling her heroines strong, complex, and resourceful. Jan has been featured in numerous publications and on television and radio, including CNN, Women's Wear Daily, Allure, InStyle, and O Magazine. As an editor and writer, she has covered fragrance, beauty, and spa travel for a variety of publications such as Cosmopolitan, Elle, Costco Connection, and Porthole Cruise. A perfume and beauty industry expert, she is the creator of Scentsa, a touch screen fragrance finder in Sephora stores. From Jan: "I love smart and fierce female protagonists. I hope you enjoy these books, and if you'd like to Skype me into your book club meeting, simply send me a message!" For more information and to sign up for Jan Moran's newsletter visit her official website. Jan blogs at Jan Moran Writes. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, Goodreads, and LinkedIn.

Special Offer from Jan Moran!

Jan Moran is running a special incentive on her website for a free digital ebook of her new non-fiction book, Vintage Perfumes, to everyone who purchases Scent of Triumph from March 31 to April 30! All you have to do is email your receipt to Jan Moran at janmoranbooks@gmail.com, along with a photo of yourself with the Scent of Triumph book, eBook, or your tablet.

Scent of Triumph Blog Tour Schedule

Wednesday, April 1
Interview & Excerpt at Passages to the Past
Thursday, April 2
Review at A Chick Who Reads Spotlight &
Excerpt at Genre Queen
Friday, April 3
Review & Excerpt at With Her Nose Stuck in a Book
Interview at Let Them Read Books
Monday, April 6
Guest Post at The Maiden's Court
Tuesday, April 7
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Spotlight at CelticLady's Reviews
Wednesday, April 8
Excerpt at The Never-Ending Book
Thursday, April 9
Review at The Eclectic Reader
Tuesday, April 14
Interview at A Literary Vacation
Thursday, April 16
Guest Post at Book Nerd
  Friday, April 17 Review at The Lit Bitch Guest Post at Mina's Bookshelf Interview at Reading Lark

Giveaway

To enter to win a signed copy of Scent of Triumph, please complete the giveaway form below. RULES Giveaway starts on April 1st at 12:01am EST and ends at 11:59pm EST on April 17th. Giveaway is open to residents in the US only and you must be 18 or older to enter. Winners will be chosen via GLEAM on April 18th and notified via email. Winners have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen. Please email Amy @ hfvirtualbooktours@gmail.com with any questions. Scent of Triumph