Beyond the Lavender Fields
by Arlem Hawks
Synopsis:
1792, France Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Étienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.
A bourgeoise and a royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles’s efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Marie-Caroline takes risks to follow her beliefs, Gilles catches her in a dangerous secret that could cost her and her family their lives. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes that per-haps they have more in common than she thought.
As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. Gilles must choose between supporting the political change he believes in and protecting those he loves. And Marie-Caroline must battle between standing up for what she feels is right and risking her family’s safety. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a révolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together in a world that forces people to choose sides.
Book Trailer:
My Review
This story that pairs a Jacobin with a Royalist during the French Revolution is enlightening, refreshing, and riveting. The characters were compelling and I found myself relating to Gilles. His perspective was definitely softened as compared to his contemporaries. I found the underlying conflict relevant, especially as concerning some of the all or nothing perspectives I see recently. The line from the book that stood out most to me was “Doing what is right is more important than who is right, I think.” It captured the entire essence of the book. The conflict between your values and your beliefs and how those values and beliefs affect those that are not of the same heart and mind. I felt the conflict, I felt the uncertainty of the time, I felt the hate that was a part of this time period. Arlem Hawks did an amazing job capturing the conflict of the French Revolution as well as the humanity that existed on both sides. I received an early copy from the publisher VIA NetGalley and this is my honest review
About the Author:
ARLEM HAWKS began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications, with an emphasis in print journalism, and she lives in Arizona with her husband three children.
Advance Praise:
“With each successive encounter, Gilles has with Marie-Caroline...makes him realize that people, like politics, are full of complexities and nuances. Historical fiction fans will revel in Hawks' (Georgiana's Secret, 2021) refreshingly different, perfectly evoked period setting that seamlessly captures both the drama and danger of revolutionary-era France, while romance readers will appreciate the sweet love story the author expertly threads through the plot.” —BOOKLIST
“The writing was spectacular and transported me to Marseille during the French Revolution.” —ALEX C.
“The rich and vivid way that Arlem Hawks presented this story stole my heart.” —RENAE S.
“A well-told tale that sweeps you off your feet and through the streets of France.” —TRISTAN R.
“Captivating and engaging to the very end.” —JESSICA M.
“Well-researched and rich in historical detail.” —PATRICIA W.
“This one has it all: history, romance, suspense, intrigue. . . . It does not disappoint.” —JULIA D.
“A beautiful story! Arlem Hawks has sealed a place on my ‘best authors’ bookshelf!” —JESSICA M.