Wonderful book about finding love despite differences and during a time of great unrest and division. I found so many truths in this book and so much I could relate to our day. Wonderful historical romance.

This is such a great book! It is set in the French Revolution and author Arlem Hawks takes time to set up the characters for us. We have Gilles and Caroline, who seem to be on two different sides of the revolution. I appreciated learning from both perspectives and I also really enjoyed learning more about this period in time. I always love a historical fiction book and this one has some romance as well, which is a bonus! If you love either of those genres this is absolutely the book for you!

Hello historical fiction!

Not sure how to put my feelings into words at this point. Arlem Hawks is a pro at accuracy, flow, characterization, setting, and foreign languages; basically the works. The storyline somewhat reminded me of a book I would reread as a teen called Time Enough For Drums by Ann Ronald. One of my favorites.

I found this book gorgeous inside and out. Gilles and Marie-Caroline are *chef kiss* Gilles also adds an extra layer of hotness (removes jacket, rolls up his sleeves, shows off forearms) 😱 *fanning myself* And Marie-Caroline, you are absolutely made of steel. Guuurrrrlllll why you make him suffer like dat? *snapping my fingers*

I would also like to show some love to Gilles's parents. They're great side heroes.

The last 30% had me wanting to hurry through yet also wanting to savor it. I know I can't have it both ways but I want it both ways. *Stomps foot!* "Mom! My favorite author is doing it again!"

Also this is an Arlem Hawks shout out. I think we should be besties. 😘

Thank you to this author and @shadowmountainpub for the #giftedarc

I will admit that when I first starting reading this book I was a bit lost. The French terms and deep storyline was a bit hard to follow but I am glad I kept going. Once I got used to the language and got into the story I was completely hooked. This story is well written and compelling. I highly recommend it.

I enjoyed this novel set during the French Revolution, a different setting and time period for the historical fiction that I usually read. The story was interesting although I did find too much attention was focused on the romantic relationship between the main characters and not enough on the historical context or motivations for the revolutionaries. The first part of the novel was a little slow but picked up in the second part. The writing style was engaging and the main characters likeable. Overall, a good light historical fiction read that was a bit too much on the romance side. I like romance novels but I want to be transported to the setting in which historical fiction novels are set and this one was a bit lacking in that regard in my view, 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved how the author was able to convey the history, the complexity and diversity of this time. I love history but really haven't studied the French revolution since it seemed to have gone sidweays so much from radical factions. With this book I got a glimpse with what it might've been like to be a citizen of France at this time along with a sweet romance. I highligted many passages that were nuggets of wisdom. I thought the author's use of letter writing in the story was a unique and creative way to advance the story and share the history. I found the story interesting, tragic and hopeful. I love a book where you can ride the emotions and feel alongside with the characters and this book did just that for me. The climax and resolution of this book was heart pounding and a page turner for sure! If you'd like to read a fictional story of what it might have been to live during this time this is a great choice. since we don't have a time machine. I found the story thoughtful. The romance can be described with this quote from the book "Not a fiery passion that consumes us both, but a mutual respect and unspoken attraction." Giles' growth and how he evolves as well his relationship with his father was so well written.
*thank you so much to netgalley and shadow mountain publishing for this ARC. All opinions are 100% my own*

“I do not want you to kiss me.” When Gilles Étienne accepts a bet to charm a friend’s sister into kissing him, he does not expect such a scornful rebuff. But the beautiful and independent Marie-Caroline Daubin (known as Caroline) is not interested in playing games with her father’s revolutionary clerk. Having already experienced the cruel effects of the incipient revolution in France, Caroline does her best to tread the right path, arguing that forcible equality is not equality at all. Discontents like Gilles Étienne don’t understand how close they are coming to unraveling the fabric of society and making France even worse than it was under the oppressive monarchy.

Intrigued by the beautiful royaliste, Gilles cannot help but question his revolutionary principles. When his brother goes to Paris as a revolutionary soldier, Gilles endures the stigma of coward to stay behind in Marseilles and protect his mother. He gives up the games and follies of youth, although he cannot quite give up the revolutionary principles that he espouses. As tensions heat up within the coastal city, he finds himself called to help the Daubin family elude escape from his own Jacobin friends. And although Caroline continues to protest that she does not want to kiss him, their friendship seems destined to become something else entirely.

I enjoyed Arlem Hawks’ previous naval novel Georgana’s Secret, and since I’m currently teaching The Count of Monte Cristo (which is set in Marseilles, thirty years later), the setting of this book appealed to me. This book provides a fascinating view of the ordinary family’s experience during the early days of the French Revolution. The story sheds light on the plight of refractory priests (who refused to give up their religion or leave France) and the persecution they faced at the hands of the revolutionary mob. A few subplots seemed underdeveloped–such as what exactly happened to make Gilles despise his piratical father so much–but all in all, this was a compelling story with memorable characters exploring how romance can flourish between people with differing political views in a society torn by revolution.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Read if you like: French Revolution history, forbidden romance.
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Taking place in Marseille during the French Revolution, the book focuses on two characters. Gilles is a young Jacobin, but when he meets royalist Marie-Caroline, he starts to question some of his staunch beliefs. Marie-Caroline doesn't want to even consider a connection with Gilles because of the differences in political beliefs, but as the book progresses, there is no denying a common attraction between the two.
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I love a good romance taking place during a major historical event. I also love that the book looked at the impact of the revolution outside of Paris, and how it had people questioning their faith and loyalty to the nation.
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CW: revolution, war, violence, death of a loved one, sexual harassment.

Great story!! Loved the descriptive nature the author has and her character development.. The story had some good exploration of themes, I got a little bored in the middle but the end picked up again.

A great story centered around two people on either side of the French Revolution, who fall into unlikely friendship and love, as the violence and hatred of the revolutionists changes from seeking liberty to seeking vengeance and retribution. While they try to determine how to navigate their different political views and what they stand for, they find that love can lead them towards common ground because “doing what is right is more important than who is right.”

Ms Hawks paints a vivid and heart wrenching picture about the passion, brutality, violence, and fear of the time period in France, and also shows very important truths about figuring out what you believe and are built to do rather than blindly getting swept up in someone else’s opinions and passions. So much in that time period was so dark and full of hate, from a group of people that was oppressed too long and then fought back in such evil ways in the end, becoming no better than their oppressors.

The love and friendship between Gilles and Caroline was beautiful and self sacrificing, and I enjoyed the growth and determination in their characters, as well as their families. Ms Hawks did an excellent job and having you fully invested in each of the characters, hoping for the heroes to succeed, and for the villains to lose. Very well written.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for honest review.

Set in France during the Revolution in 1792, Beyond the Lavender Fields is a beautifully-written story with a wonderful assortment of fascinating characters, splendid Historical Fiction laden with refreshingly clean romance. But not all is roses as people are tortured and killed for their beliefs (not described in gory detail). It is about relationships, courage in the midst of trials, respect and hope.

Gilles works as a clerk in a high-end soap factory (intriguing to learn about!) and studies nights as he wishes to become doctor. He often follows his brothers' pursuits but throughout the book becomes more and more his own independent spirit as a revolutionary. His life changes forever the day he meets lovely Marie-Caroline at his workplace who, unlike many giggling vacuous young ladies commands respect at a time where men ruled supreme in nearly all aspects of life.. As the daughter of the factory's owner, she has known a level of comfortable life but also knows her own mind and uses it. She is a royalist, a very passionate one at that.

Much of the story is about the revolution and its political repercussions, fierce loyalties and dong what one passionately believes in., sometimes at great sacrifice. The reader is also privy to the friendship of Gilles and Caroline as well as others. My favourite characters are Gilles and his mother. The story did take awhile to grow on me but when it did, I was really immersed! The writing is smart and the historical bits are stunning. Not for a moment did I believe I was anywhere but France in 1792.

Historical Fiction readers who seek something with a different twist ought to read this. It would also appeal to clean Romance readers as well.

My sincere thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and NetGalley for introducing me to this marvellous author...such a happy discovery.

This is a thrilling and heart-wrenching tale of love and loss during the French Revolution. I knew so little about the French revolution when I started reading. I love the historical fiction that makes me dig into history myself to learn more about the era. These characters have such depth. They perfectly illustrate feelings on both sides of the conflict. I love that they could learn from each other and find the individuals underneath the titles or affiliations within the French revolution. It is a nice change that this story is written from Gilles's POV. We get some insights into what Maria-Caroline is thinking through letters she writes. The suspense kept me up until late in the night. The ending is just perfect.

BEYOND THE LAVENDER FIELDS by Arlem Hawks

Revew:

“A Jacobin and a royaliste make for a dangerous friendship.”

Gilles was a Jacobin and Marie Caroline a royaliste. Jacobin was a revolutionary political club and movement who wanted to liberate France from the monarchy. Royalistes were conservatives who were in favor of the current ruler. From enemies to lovers, their story was a slow burn romance with many opposing beliefs. But attraction was there from the start. Caroline’s greeting, “I do not want to kiss you.”, was funny at first but it got a little too much for me later on. I definitely rooted for them to get through all the hurdles and life threatening situations.

I found the conversation between Gilles and Monsieur Daubin was insightful. The savonnerie was in trouble. I know it happened years ago but the financial and social impact of war were real. Similar to the problem we have experienced these past two years. It affected the lives of many. The French people felt there was no end in sight. All they had was hope. Hope that it will end soon. Hope that everything will go back to normal. Hope in God to see them through the turmoil.

If you love historical fiction, you will enjoy this book. It was set in 1792 during the French revolution.. A lot of unrest, conflict and uncertainties during this time. Violence and death were common among differing factions. A few details were mentioned to make the story realistic but not gruesome. Fear became a part of their lives. I really like the author’s writing style. Her words were poetic and full of meaning at times. So many quotable quotes.

Rating: 4 stars
Pub date: 01 Feb 2022

Thank you Shadow Mountain Publishing for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I struggled getting to to this story. The beginning was a bit of a slow start, and there were a lot of names and characters to keep up with making it difficult to really keep track of what what’s happening with the plot. The author seemed to focus a lot on the political side of the French Revolution and I was hoping for more romance and less politics. Perhaps it was just a misunderstanding of what this book was supposed to be, but I wasn’t tempted to keep reading based on how the book shaped up in the first 30%. I’m sure this book will be perfect for readers who are looking for a more womens lit type historical novel.

Arlem does her research and turns it into a beautiful and unforgettable story. She sweeps you away into the time period and really gives you an understanding of the thoughts and feelings of those who lived during that time. I truly enjoyed learning more about the French Revolution through Gilles and Caroline’s story. It is the type of tale that leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished. Thanks to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is an exceptional rendition of the events taking place during the French Revolution. Two young people find themselves on different sides of history. Gilles is a young man who has been drawn to the teachings of the Jacobeans. He along with an older brother and several friends believe that the monarchy must be destroyed. Coraline is a young lady who supports the monarchy. Her father is Gilles’ employer and her brother is his brother’s best friend. This tangled relationship leads to a story that becomes even more complicated. They each begin to realize that they have a lot more in common than differences. It is a magnificent love story that even the ravaging of a country could not destroy.

It's rare, this early in the year that I label a read as a ‘book of the year’, but I am confident that I will for sure be seeing this book in my top 15 when all is said and done. I was completely blown away with this storyline. I am a big fan of political intrigue in my books. This story of the French Revolution is eye-opening, jaw-dropping and honestly, very relatable in any politically charged government. I loved how thought provoking the characters were regardless of which category they fell under. You have your loyalists, extremists, revolutionaries, royalists and it was so intriguing to realize how easy it is to forget your goal and become someone else when trying to achieve what you or your political party think is best. This is a book that will stay with me for a long, long time. I can’t recommend this book enough!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

“Doing what is right is more important than who is right, I think.”

There's some humor and some romance and some pain and some loyalties tested and broken, there is love and politics and country and violence and confusion and all the pieces swirl and blend together into a truly poignant tale of being true to yourself and allowing yourself to grow and change. Once you know better, you do better.

This book was a gem. It masterfully uses the enemies to lovers trope and it kept me turning pages. To risk a spoiler, in the opening Gilles is set up to attempt to kiss Marie-Caroline by her own brother. Their interactions after that were delightful, as they never go as Gilles hopes, nor do they go exactly how Marie-Caroline interprets it. It left me wanting to keep reading to see how their friendship developments. Beautifully done.

Thank you Shadow Mountain for the ARC.

Set just before The Terror, a particular violent phase of the French Revolution that took place between 1793 and 1794, <i>Beyond the Lavender Fields</i> eschews the more common setting of Revolutionary Paris for Marseilles, the point of origin for the French national anthem during this time. And while the coastal city lacks the extreme violence of Paris, it's definitely a location worthy of its own French Revolution novel. Happily Arlem Hawks is up to the job.

The story revolves around the difficult relationship between Marie-Caroline, a royalist, and Gilles, a Jacobin. At first they believe their political stances to be too different to allow a romance (or a friendship, for that matter), but one of the best done elements of the novel is the way that they slowly come to understand that neither side is without blame and to adjust their ways of thinking based on that. The parallel that the leaders of both groups are unable to understand that makes them stand out in Marseilles in some uncomfortable ways, particularly Gilles, who is initially very heavily involved in the Jacobin movement. Coming to realize that there really are only shades of grey takes them most of the novel, but it's a rewarding journey and feeds directly into the romance plot.

I particularly enjoy how the narrative is structured: we get Gilles' third-person point of view in most of the chapters, while Caroline's is interjected in the form of letters she writes to her cousin in Paris, providing her first-person narration. Since she is the more difficult to read of the two, having her first-person voice is important. Gilles is the more interesting character, however, with far more interior conflict, so the choice to make him the primary point of view is a solid one.

The start of the book is a bit slow, and Caroline takes time to grow on you, but by the end I was having a hard time putting this down. It's a fairly different approach to a novel set during the French Revolution than we often get, and if you're interested in the time period and enjoy a clean romance, this is worth picking up.