The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose

The House of L'Etoile has a long history. The perfume business has been in the family for centuries and has a strong reputation. Facing financial problems, the heirs to the House of L'Etoile must decide how to keep the business running. Jac, the sister with a haunted past, wants nothing to do with the perfume business as it brings up painful memories of a mother lost. Robbie, her brother, is convinced that finding the Book of Lost Fragrances will save the business. The book, a long rumored family secret, contains a recipe for a perfume that unlocks your past lives and was created for the illustrious Cleopatra. Found by Giles L'Etoile during Napoleon's invasion of Egypt and transported to France, the book is mysterious. After finding pottery shards that smell of this fragrance, Robbie disappears and leaves a dead body in the House of L'Etoile. Jac frantically races to Paris to save her brother. Adventure, Love and History all await the reader as they travel back in forth between times.

Starting at Cleopatra's Egypt, and traveling to France in Napoleon's time and present day Paris, this book spans many centuries. This novel encompasses all three times with surprising ease and authenticity. Each time period is a critical link to the Book of Lost Fragrances. Even the minor characters, such as Marie Genevieve and Thoth seems to come alive. The main characters are multifaceted and very realistic.  Jac was genuine, even putting her fears aside to find her beloved brother. The plot line was twisted and mysterious, but made perfect sense. The themes of reincarnation are a strong current in this book, though they aren't overwhelming. The ending is wonderful and leaves the reader satisfied, but still wanting more.

I received this book as part of the Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour.

You can check out the rest of the tour here.
Twitter Hashtag: #LostFragrancesVirtualBookTour

AUTHOR BIO:

M.J. Rose is the international best selling author of eleven novels and two non-fiction books on marketing. Her next novel THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES (Atria/S&S) will be published in March 2012.  Her fiction and non-fiction has appeared in many magazines and reviews including Oprah Magazine. She has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio.  Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com.  The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Renincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and runs the blog- Buzz, Balls & Hype.  She is also the co-founder of Peroozal.com and BookTrib.com.

Rose lives in CT with her husband the musician and composer, Doug Scofield, and their very spoiled and often photographed dog, Winka.

For more information on M.J. Rose and her novels, please visit her WEBSITE. You can also find her on Facebook.