Beyond the Lavender Fields by Arlem Hawks, New Release!!!

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.

 

My Review:

This historical fiction novel was wonderfully written and absolutely captivating. The main characters Gilles and Caroline could not be farther apart in their views and their lives. Once they met they immediately clashed yet there was something there, would they realize it? Could they move past their differing political beliefs? Hawks flawlessly weaves together the French Revolution with the everyday lives of two people on opposite sides. I just wanted them to find common ground! It was so frustrating to watch them make progress and then regress. It seemed like the revolution was always going to come between them. 

 I loved the historical aspects of the book and the growth of the characters. I felt like I learned so much from this story; from French words to what a Jacobin was, Hawks covers it all. The Etienne family had this beautiful dynamic in it. I loved Gilles maman, she shared wisdom with Gilles in a way that made him think and reflect on himself. I do not want to share any spoilers, but suffice it to say that you need to read this book if you are a historical fiction fan. Hawks has you from the start and she unfolds a story that you have to finish. If you are a historical romance fan, this is a must read!

I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

Happy Reading!!!

 

You can pick up your own copy via  

Amazon.

Barnes & Noble  

Deseret Book

 

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.

 

For author interview requests, please contact Callie Hansen at chansen@shadowmountain.com

 

 

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.

 

 

Book Trailer:

https://youtu.be/fjr6vMhBn0Y