Nikki Bridges has it good. An enviable home in an upscale neighborhood, a heavenly-scented hobby making personal-blend perfumes, a cherished daughter, and comfortable rituals with a husband she loves. How was she to know it would all blow up with her husband’s affair, a blindsiding divorce, and an identity crisis she never saw coming?

With little money, less work experience, and a modest apartment, Nikki is tentatively moving on. Along the a waitressing job, a bond with an empathetic group of friends, and reentering the dating game at fortysomething. Luring her out of her funk is Niraj, an ex-Londoner with twinkling eyes and a hint of cinnamon and ginger. For the first time in a long time, Nikki feels a warm summer flush—and with it, a spark of inspiration.

On a liberating quest for self-expression and the courage to follow a dream, Nikki is blending the pieces of a new life into a fragrance that is uniquely and passionately her own.


Really enjoyed the story. The characters were relatable. Plot was easy to follow. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

I really enjoyed The Scent of Hours, which is a kind of grown-up Bildungsroman - the coming of age of a middle aged woman post-divorce.

Nikki’s life exploded around her (literally) following her husband’s affair and the novel depicts her rediscovered sense of self, aspiration and hope.

The Colorado setting made for an interesting backdrop to Nikki’s story, which was a quick and easy read on my kindle via Netgalley. I find O’Neal’s books to be slightly more literary ‘women’s fiction’ and this one seems to be one of a number which have been re-released (first published in 2006) - I give it 4* for enjoyment.

This was an odd read. Not something I loved, as I had a really hard time connecting with the characters. The were unique, just not my style.

The Scent of Hours had me hooked from the very beginning. I found this book really hard to put down because I had to know what happened next. It was very much worth the sleepless nights and the pushed aside housework.

I really loved the character development in this book. I found myself falling in love with the characters very quickly. Each character had a unique story to tell and the author does a great job at telling those stories. My favorite character is coming out of an awful divorce and soon finds that she has to find herself all over again and start a whole new life.

I really love how descriptive everything in this story is. The author does a great job at making you feel as though you are there with the characters and are living these moments with them.

The only downside or complaint about this book that I have is that it ended. When I finished the book, I didn't know what to do with myself. I wanted more! Since reading this Barbara O'Neal has quickly became a favorite of mine. I went and bought a few of her books, including a physical copy of this one so that I have it as a trophy on my bookshelf.

10/5 stars for me! I will recommend this book to anyone who will listen to me!

The Scent of Hours started with a bang, literally! When we meet Nikki, she is devastated by a divorce that blindsided her, her daughter is with her husband and his new wife, and life couldn't be more miserable. And then her house blows up around her!

I had never read a book by Barbara O'Neal and didn't know what to expect. This is a story of recovery, self-growth, and resilience, as Nikki learns to raise herself up from the literal ashes of her life and start anew. She moves to a town she loved for its beautiful Colorado views. She moves into an apartment, where she meets two quirky neighbors with problems of their own. Then she sets about building a life, step by step.

I really enjoyed the characters in this novel. Roxanne, the damaged divorcee, who lives down the hall. Wanda, who had sole care of her three children while her husband was away in the army. And Niraj, who Nikki meets at the restaurant she starts waitressing at. Their personalities were varied, complex, and they really seemed to come alive.

I also enjoyed the brief mentions of Nikki's perfume hobby, which she wants to turn into a business. As a perfume lover, I found the scent descriptions interesting and accurate. It was enjoyable to see Nikki nourish this passion and find the perfect space to make her dream come true.

The most surprising thing I enjoyed was the romance between Nikki and Niraj. I avoid romances like the plague. Not that this was a romance book, but there was a romance and even a mild sex scene or two. Usually I'm a skimmer, but as someone whose youth is way in the rear-view mirror, I thought the author did an excellent job of writing about "grown up" love and romance. It felt sweet, real, and well, a little hot!

Now that I've finished and enjoyed The Scent of Hours, I will be looking for more books by Barbara O'Neal!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Nikki Bridges had it all: a perfect home, a perfume hobby, a beloved daughter, and a loving husband. After her husband’s affair and a blindsiding divorce, she’s starting over with little money and a modest apartment. A waitressing job, supportive friends, and a charming new man reignite her passion and inspire her to create a life uniquely hers.

The story centers around a woman in her 40s rebuilding her life after a divorce. Her favorite hobby is to make perfume. I loved this element of the story! Each chapter begins with an entry from her perfume diary with what she is trying to evoke, and the various components she has tested. This was so unique and fascinating.

This novel had a lot of promise. I liked the main characters and the story line. The ending was abrupt with no real conclusion. Couldn't call it a cliff hanger really, not sure what is next. 3.5 stars, I would read more by this author, however this wasn't for me.

Barbara O’ Neal has become a MUST READ author for me. Every book of hers is the perfect amount of contemporary fiction mixed with complex characters/relationships, and drama.

This book was no different.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a 2.5 rounded down.

I felt like it took a long while for the story to pick up. I wasn’t really hooked until chapter 7, and then I was more invested in the main character and her newfound friends.

The journal entries were a bit to all over the place time-wise for me. But I enjoyed reading about the different scents based on the main character’s experiences throughout her life.

I think the pacing could really have used some work on this book because, as I mentioned, the beginning was too slow, but then the ending was a bit too abrupt. Spoilers ahead!

Her friend Roxanne burned down a house and then the book kind of just ended. I wish there had been more about her rehabilitation and what she did to help get her through the trauma of the divorce.

Also, I wanted to see how the perfume store did and the story ended before it even opened. The ending of the book just wasn’t very satisfying to me. I wanted a more developed ending rather than the open ended wondering how things worked out for everyone.

Barbara O'Neal is swiftly becoming a new favorite author of mine. I loved reading about Nikki's self-discovery amonst the seducing scent of perfume. I actually didn't want the book to end. Ever.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read The Scent Of Hours by Barbara O'Neal. It was a wonderful story about a woman finding her way after her divorce.

The story begins when Nikki loses everything, including her daughter and house, after divorcing her husband. After several years of marriage her husband decides the life they've built together is no longer what he wants. She is completely devastated, but she somehow finds it in herself to rent an apartment, make new friends with her neighbors, and find a job after being a homemaker for most of her marriage.

This is such a sweet story about Nikki's struggles to be on her own and the growth that happens for her as she navigates all of the new obstacles that she comes up against in her new life. She not only works her way through the pain she's feeling, but she also becomes stronger and happier in her new life.

She eventually meets a man who she becomes friends with first, but eventually decides she would like to share a relationship with. The author does a fantastic job of showing how divorce often makes a woman feel very insecure and scared about being with someone new. Nikki also finds strength to follow her passion for creating perfumes and she finally maps out a plan to open her own perfume shop.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who knows someone who has divorced or who has gone through a divorce or bad break-up themselves. The story is entertaining and told with such a caring heart.

#NetGalley #TheScentOfHours

Another wonderful read by Barbara O'Neal.
This is the story of Nikki's journey through a crushing divorce and separation from her daughter.
With her life in an upheaval she must find a job to support herself, try to meet new people and try to find herself as a woman in her 40's.
She has a hobby of making custom perfumes for friends and family which she hopes to develop into a business.
A captivating story of self-discovery!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Nicole Bridges was a happy mother and wife until her husband left her for another woman, something she had not seen coming.
He moved to California with their daughter, as he had more to offer her, and she stayed in Colorado.
One night alone in her house she realized that the furnace in the basement was not working, but being afraid to walk down there to check it, she thought she would just wait and check it in the morning, but soon after, most of the house was blown apart, but luckily she got out in time.
She moved into an apartment to wait for the insurance money to come through and she new she needed to have a job but had no real qualifications. She finally found a job as a waitress in a health food restaurant, which she ends up enjoying. But her real passion was creating perfumes for people she loved. Her dream is to make perfume her full time job.
At the apartment nicknamed Splitsville, she met other women with similar problems.
At the restaurant she meets more of the locals and maybe a love interest.
This was an interesting story with some complex character, which I enjoyed very much.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lake union , for a copy of this book.

Nikki is recently divorced and now her house has blown up. The boiler needed to be replaced and she failed to get it done. Now she is living in a modest apartment and waiting tables at a local restaurant. She has dreams that she put on hold in her marriage and she wonders if she can ever make them come true.

Nikki is such a great character. She is truly struggling after her divorce. But, she struggles on! She makes some good and bad decisions. I just love her new friends. All are quirky and have their own issues. But they come together and form a unique family.

I will say, I wanted a bit more about the perfumes and memory connection. I relate to smells and memories and I just expected a bit more in this department. This is minor. The characters and the story are a fun escape you do not want to miss.

Need a story about life, love and happiness…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

In the aftermath of their divorces, two women explore their own paths to grief and moving forward. An enjoyable read with lots of character and heart.

The Scent of Hours by Barbara O' Neal is a republished book. This story is finding yourself and second chances.

Nikki had dreams of being a perfumer, but she dedicates her life to being a good wife and mother. Life has different plans for her, though. She finds herself starting it all over again. Can she restart it all over again?

This book was fast-paced, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the fragrances that are included at the beginning of the chapter. The interactions between Nikki and Niraj sounded a little weird. Some parts I liked and some I didn't. Overall, it was a book I liked, and I would have loved it if the dialogues between these two characters were a little mature.

Thank you, Lake Union Publishing, for this book.

Barbara O'Neal has become one of my favorite authors. It is so so nice to read about women in their 40's. This book, though sad at times, just with the issue of divorce, was a pleasant read. I highly enjoyed the descriptive writing pertaining to scents. The main characters' different memories in her life were all related to certain scents. It just made me so much more engrossed in the story, and it was so easy to visualize. 4 stars.

When Nikki Bridges' husband announced that they were divorcing, her life completely changed. She decided that her daughter would benefit more from his support than from her own, and her daughter moved out with her father. Her house was blown up by her furnace in the basement, which she was too terrified to go down because it hadn't turned on. She went on and acquired a little apartment while waiting for the insurance money despite having little money. Despite having little prior work experience, she managed to land a position as a waitress. Having lost everything, including herself, she regained some confidence after seeing she could handle the job, and she gradually began to begin again.
Her journey of self-discovery, friendship, and life creation as she came to terms with her current identity and her future self are all chronicled in the story. I couldn't stop reading because, despite some obstacles along the way, she persisted and ultimately proved to be the person that the narrative was written for her. It was a great novel by Barbara O'Neal, and I had fun reading her story Barbara's books never disappointment, she is one of my favorite historical fiction book writers. Thank You NetGalley for the advance readers copy.

I received at complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
I liked this story. Nikki, a mother and housewife is forced to start over in her 40s. She has always liked making fragrances and O'Neal weaves the different scents in to each chapter by giving us Nikki's notes on her creations, as well as why she's using them and who they are for. I enjoyed reading about her struggle to rebuild her life and overcome all of the bad things that have recently happened to her. It felt a little rushed to me at the end, when the author was trying to pull it all together. I felt for Nikki and the new friends she met as she rebuilt her life.

Barbara O'Neal is a must-read author for me. Her stories of strong women finding themselves with family, love, and work are always rich, fascinating explorations with twists and surprises and moments when I am taken aback with how genuine and true a moment on the page feels to me. THE SCENT OF HOURS is vintage O'Neal -- the story of a woman stunned by a divorce who relinquishes custody of her teenaged daughter to her ex-husband, finding work as a waitress and slowly, painfully building a rich and rewarding life for herself including the love of a complex man, close friends, and a changed, closer relationship with her daughter. I particularly enjoyed the setting of the story in Colorado Springs -- the setting and the moments sang throughout the story. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.