“The opinions of others had always been like a living, fire-breathing dragon in her life, ready to snuff out her very existence at the merest hint of misjudgment.”

This was a spectacular novel!

Kelly Bowen held my attention from cover to cover and had my highlighter working overtime!

I immediately knew I had characters I could root for and understand. Georgette ‘George’ Chastain and Violet St. Croix were so masterfully crafted that I won’t forget these tenacious women any time soon.

Set in 1934 Nice, France and centered around the theme of new beginnings and pulling together threads of freedom, friendship and adventure, Bowen celebrates those who stepped outside of society’s norms and found happiness.

As much as I loved George, Henri and Violet, I equally detested Mr. St. Croix. His indignation and preoccupation on what other’s think made my skin crawl. I shook my head and was tempted to throw my Kindle across the room on many occasions. He continually fought with his daughter and disregarded her opinions or wishes. He couldn’t accept that she’d toss aside “the future [he] worked so hard to secure for [her].” I wanted to yell at him to remind him that if his daughter was old enough to get married, she was old enough to know what SHE wanted. Don’t get me started on her fiancé! Violet wants to volunteer with the Red Cross and become useful and her father forbids it. What happens next is on him! I pity people who make everyone around them feel small in an attempt to make themselves big.

I loved the emphasis on women doing and saying things that stretched the edges of society’s bounds at the time. I felt Violet’s desperation and was glad when she met George and Henri. I appreciated George teaching Violet that perspective is defined by a person’s happiness and capability. Having dealt with the same fire-breathing dragon that Violet dealt with, I felt her exasperation and championed her on to greatness on her own terms.

The historical fiction lover within was absorbed in the wonderful story centered around the flower of the desert, ‘La Fleur’, who served with the Free French Foreign Legion as a driver for a Commandant, the Legion’s medical officer. My heart fluttered (is that a thing?) reading about a man who knew the love language of the woman in his life…he brought her books. Books! In the middle of a war. Written in English. In a country where English wasn’t the main language. Oh my heart. Swoon.

This was a perfect balance of love, mystery, history and adventure.

A few of the spectacular lines I want to remember:

“Everyone always tells you that adversity and struggle builds character, but they’re wrong. It doesn’t build anything. It only reveals what was already there.”

“Don’t become an accessory. Not to anyone.”

“We can’t control how others choose to think. Best to just keep on living without trying to please everyone but yourself.”

“Everyone’s place is not defined by the opinions of others but where they are happiest.”

I’ll be the one standing on a soapbox with a loudspeaker telling everyone to read this book. Tommorrow IS for the brave.