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Season of the Dragonflies
For generations, the Lenore women have manufactured a fragrance unlike any other. Hidden in the quiet rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, their perfumery guards unique and mysterious ingredients. A secret known only to a select clientele of movie stars, politicians, artists, and CEOs, the Lenores’ signature elixer is the key to success for the world’s most powerful women.
Willow, the coolly elegant Lenore family matriarch, is the brains behind the company. Her gorgeous, golden-haired daughter, Mya is its heart. Like her foremothers, she can "read" scents and envision their power to influence events. But Willow's younger daughter, dark-haired, soulful Lucia, claims no magical touch, wanting no part of the family business, she has left the mountains to make her own way in New York City.
When a divorce leaves Lucia at loose ends, she returns to the Blue Ridge Mountains for an uncomfortable family reunion and discovers trouble brewing. Willow is experiencing strange spells of forgetfulness. Mya is romancing a younger man and plotting to take the reins of the business. A client is threatening blackmail. And most ominously, the strange, magical plants that provide the perfume’s secret ingredient seem to be dying.
With the Lenore empire at stake, the sister who can save their lucrative scent stands to inherit when Willow steps down. Though Mya schemes, Lucia has suddenly begun to show signs of possessing her own special abilities. And her return to the mountains—heralded by a swarm of blue dragonflies—may be the answer they all need.
Capturing the essence of sisterhood with the sweetness of flowers, Season of the Dragonflies is a beguiling tale of practical magic, old secrets, and new love.
Willow, the coolly elegant Lenore family matriarch, is the brains behind the company. Her gorgeous, golden-haired daughter, Mya is its heart. Like her foremothers, she can "read" scents and envision their power to influence events. But Willow's younger daughter, dark-haired, soulful Lucia, claims no magical touch, wanting no part of the family business, she has left the mountains to make her own way in New York City.
When a divorce leaves Lucia at loose ends, she returns to the Blue Ridge Mountains for an uncomfortable family reunion and discovers trouble brewing. Willow is experiencing strange spells of forgetfulness. Mya is romancing a younger man and plotting to take the reins of the business. A client is threatening blackmail. And most ominously, the strange, magical plants that provide the perfume’s secret ingredient seem to be dying.
With the Lenore empire at stake, the sister who can save their lucrative scent stands to inherit when Willow steps down. Though Mya schemes, Lucia has suddenly begun to show signs of possessing her own special abilities. And her return to the mountains—heralded by a swarm of blue dragonflies—may be the answer they all need.
Capturing the essence of sisterhood with the sweetness of flowers, Season of the Dragonflies is a beguiling tale of practical magic, old secrets, and new love.
324 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2014
462 people are currently reading
4328 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Creech
4 books124 followersBorn and raised in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Sarah Creech grew up in a house full of women who told stories about black cloud visions and other premonitions. Her work has appeared in storySouth, Literary Mama, Aroostook Review, Glass, and Glimmer Train. She received an MFA in 2008 and now teaches English and creative writing at Queens University of Charlotte. She currently lives in North Carolina with her two children and her husband, a poet. This is her first novel.
Photo by Magen Portonova
Biography taken from HarperCollins
Photo by Magen Portonova
Biography taken from HarperCollins
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 386 reviews
August 19, 2014
This is a beautifully written book. The story is captivating. The only thing that stopped me was the constant reference to the mother, Willow, as being old. Gees, she was only sixty. This book is a must read for all those who love to mix magic with a good relationship story. Excellent book.
July 10, 2014
Season of the Dragonflies was one book that I had just expected to fall in love with. I love magical realism and I love Sarah Addison Allen's books (which this book was compared to), so I thought all of those elements would add up to something truly spectacular for me. But it wasn't. Not really.
My main issue with Season of the Dragonflies was that the characters all fell flat for me. I liked Lucia enough, found Willow to be meh, and didn't like Mya one little bit. More than that though, I realized that I didn't care about any of the characters or what they're going through. I just found them all to be so boring. And once the characters fail for me, the rest of the book can be amazing, but I'll still find it average.
Another thing that was off-putting for me was that where other magical realism books have this sort of cozy feel to them, I felt like Season of the Dragonflies was less cozy and comfortable and more soap-opera like. There was so much drama and angst. Usually I'm a big fan of this because it keeps things interesting. But in Season of the Dragonflies, the angst and drama weren't presented in an intriguing way.
So, overall I found Season of the Dragonflies to be just okay. It wasn't even close to the most horrible book I've ever read, but it doesn't hold a candle to other magical realism novels. I say skip it.
Disclaimer: I read this book while sick so that might have colored my view of it a little bit.
My main issue with Season of the Dragonflies was that the characters all fell flat for me. I liked Lucia enough, found Willow to be meh, and didn't like Mya one little bit. More than that though, I realized that I didn't care about any of the characters or what they're going through. I just found them all to be so boring. And once the characters fail for me, the rest of the book can be amazing, but I'll still find it average.
Another thing that was off-putting for me was that where other magical realism books have this sort of cozy feel to them, I felt like Season of the Dragonflies was less cozy and comfortable and more soap-opera like. There was so much drama and angst. Usually I'm a big fan of this because it keeps things interesting. But in Season of the Dragonflies, the angst and drama weren't presented in an intriguing way.
So, overall I found Season of the Dragonflies to be just okay. It wasn't even close to the most horrible book I've ever read, but it doesn't hold a candle to other magical realism novels. I say skip it.
Disclaimer: I read this book while sick so that might have colored my view of it a little bit.
December 27, 2016
This story starts with Serena who has been recently engaged to short, unattractive Mr. Chase so has footsies under the table with Dr. Alexander at her engagement party before taking him into a closet to sex him up so as to convince him to take her with him to the jungles of Borneo so she can get away from her oppressive life.
I hated that beginning.
From there, it moves to Serena's descendants.
There's Willow who is all disappointed that her mother would be disappointed that Willow's daughters are not in relationships and not making babies. So throwbacky. Because, as Aunt Iris shows, if you don’t marry and have kids, you’ll lose your family, you’ll have a crap job and a loveless life and you’ll die alone of a stroke and no one will find you for days. In fact, the flowers in this tale, the ones that form the base of the perfume? Yeah, if they don't have babies, they all die. The moral of this story is: Fall in love with a man and have babies OR ELSE!
There's Lucia, Willow's youngest, who has decided to run away to her childhood home but she doesn’t call to tell anyone because bratty children are bratty. Also: Entitled.
There's Maya, the older sister, who is a petty, jealous, dim, dumbass dreamer and is passive/aggressive about it all.
These women make perfume, specifically a high-end magical concoction created from Serena's Borneo flower. The perfume in question brings good fortune to any woman who wears it.
Willow is aging and declining in mental fortitude so needs to leave the business to one of her daughters. Maya stayed home to learn the trade so assumes she will take the helm from her mother but then Lucia randomly shows up on the tail of a divorce and threatens everything. But, really, Maya is the one who threatened everything by breaking the contract made with her ancestors that clearly stated no one can ever change the formula to this perfume or else there will be DOOM!
See, movie star Zoe cajoled Maya into making a signature scent by threatening to expose the secret perfume as a potion for success if Maya doesn't comply. Now, this wouldn’t have worked because it would've sounded crazy and everyone would have mocked the starlet as a nutcase but since this is what the drama hinges on, this is the big hitch in the plot, you must forget logic.
I thought the story was fairly boring. It’s chick fic and it’s supposed to be about liberated women but, really, it’s about boring people living college-like lifestyles. It seemed to want to be Yay, Woman Power! You control your body! You have big careers! You rule the world! But then it veered off into But you can’t do that and also have a man/be happy/be fulfilled!
Everything is about working, sex, and drinking. Oh, and women’s health, both physical and psychological but that part is rather overly obvious and ham-fisted.
It feels young, like there’s not enough experience here to create a character who is more mature than fresh-outta-college.
Willow, Maya, and Lucia are idiots. They all the lack of self-esteem and the plethora “I don’t deserve it," it’s just crap.
The writing doesn't translate well into narration, either. I listened to this and the word "said" drove me crazy.
For instance, read this out loud:
Willow said, “I didn’t even have a chance to say hello to you.” She opened her arms to Ben and wrapped him in a hug.
Lucia said, “The beers are getting warm.”
Ignoring Lucia, her mother said, “Robert called you, I hope.”
“He did,” Ben confirmed. “Would it bother you if I went to the fields while it’s still light?”
Willow said, “I wish you would.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lucia said.
“Me, too,” Willow said.
Then expect that for nearly every conversation. It grates on the ears after awhile.
There's an overload of useless information, too:
--Getting the parking pass out of the glove compartment in Willow’s SUV. First, why would the company owner need a parking pass? Why would anyone need a parking pass? It’s a gated facility. And then why make a big deal out of getting the parking pass out of the glove compartment if this never comes into play again throughout the story? That paragraph could totally have been axed.
--Maya being naked from the waist down. Just say she didn’t put her pants back on. Or shorts. Or whatever. This isn't important information.
--Little yellow sundress that still fits except it's tight in the hips. Is this meaningful in some way? Nope, it's not. The reader just needs to know that this sundress had fit in high school but now it's tight in the hips because that's what happens when young women grow all the way into adulthood. Holy hell, why are these things even mentioned?
All the intentional miscommunications were ridiculous, too. I hated them.
So, no, I didn't enjoy this. Really, I’d give it 1.5 stars, but I’ll round it up to 2 for dragonflies because I love those guys.
I hated that beginning.
From there, it moves to Serena's descendants.
There's Willow who is all disappointed that her mother would be disappointed that Willow's daughters are not in relationships and not making babies. So throwbacky. Because, as Aunt Iris shows, if you don’t marry and have kids, you’ll lose your family, you’ll have a crap job and a loveless life and you’ll die alone of a stroke and no one will find you for days. In fact, the flowers in this tale, the ones that form the base of the perfume? Yeah, if they don't have babies, they all die. The moral of this story is: Fall in love with a man and have babies OR ELSE!
There's Lucia, Willow's youngest, who has decided to run away to her childhood home but she doesn’t call to tell anyone because bratty children are bratty. Also: Entitled.
There's Maya, the older sister, who is a petty, jealous, dim, dumbass dreamer and is passive/aggressive about it all.
These women make perfume, specifically a high-end magical concoction created from Serena's Borneo flower. The perfume in question brings good fortune to any woman who wears it.
Willow is aging and declining in mental fortitude so needs to leave the business to one of her daughters. Maya stayed home to learn the trade so assumes she will take the helm from her mother but then Lucia randomly shows up on the tail of a divorce and threatens everything. But, really, Maya is the one who threatened everything by breaking the contract made with her ancestors that clearly stated no one can ever change the formula to this perfume or else there will be DOOM!
See, movie star Zoe cajoled Maya into making a signature scent by threatening to expose the secret perfume as a potion for success if Maya doesn't comply. Now, this wouldn’t have worked because it would've sounded crazy and everyone would have mocked the starlet as a nutcase but since this is what the drama hinges on, this is the big hitch in the plot, you must forget logic.
I thought the story was fairly boring. It’s chick fic and it’s supposed to be about liberated women but, really, it’s about boring people living college-like lifestyles. It seemed to want to be Yay, Woman Power! You control your body! You have big careers! You rule the world! But then it veered off into But you can’t do that and also have a man/be happy/be fulfilled!
Everything is about working, sex, and drinking. Oh, and women’s health, both physical and psychological but that part is rather overly obvious and ham-fisted.
It feels young, like there’s not enough experience here to create a character who is more mature than fresh-outta-college.
Willow, Maya, and Lucia are idiots. They all the lack of self-esteem and the plethora “I don’t deserve it," it’s just crap.
The writing doesn't translate well into narration, either. I listened to this and the word "said" drove me crazy.
For instance, read this out loud:
Willow said, “I didn’t even have a chance to say hello to you.” She opened her arms to Ben and wrapped him in a hug.
Lucia said, “The beers are getting warm.”
Ignoring Lucia, her mother said, “Robert called you, I hope.”
“He did,” Ben confirmed. “Would it bother you if I went to the fields while it’s still light?”
Willow said, “I wish you would.”
“I’ll go with you,” Lucia said.
“Me, too,” Willow said.
Then expect that for nearly every conversation. It grates on the ears after awhile.
There's an overload of useless information, too:
--Getting the parking pass out of the glove compartment in Willow’s SUV. First, why would the company owner need a parking pass? Why would anyone need a parking pass? It’s a gated facility. And then why make a big deal out of getting the parking pass out of the glove compartment if this never comes into play again throughout the story? That paragraph could totally have been axed.
--Maya being naked from the waist down. Just say she didn’t put her pants back on. Or shorts. Or whatever. This isn't important information.
--Little yellow sundress that still fits except it's tight in the hips. Is this meaningful in some way? Nope, it's not. The reader just needs to know that this sundress had fit in high school but now it's tight in the hips because that's what happens when young women grow all the way into adulthood. Holy hell, why are these things even mentioned?
All the intentional miscommunications were ridiculous, too. I hated them.
So, no, I didn't enjoy this. Really, I’d give it 1.5 stars, but I’ll round it up to 2 for dragonflies because I love those guys.
May 1, 2014
If you took Patrick Suskind’s ‘Perfume’ and mixed it with Alice Hoffman’s, well, any of her books, you might come up with ‘Season of the Dragonflies’. In the 1920s, on a tropical island, Serena Lenore discovers a magical variety of gardenia, which not only smells divine but also amplifies a woman’s talents and gives her… something… that allows her to succeed beyond all others. Through the decades this perfume has been shared, secretly and profitably, with a very few women in all different trades. There are a few rules that Serena handed down; one was to never, ever alter the secret formula. The sales of this perfume has made the Lenore family fabulously wealthy, although they live without conspicuous consumption and put a lot of money into philanthropy.
Willow has run the company alone for decades. When one of her daughters,Mya – who was the assumed heir to the company- goes behind her back and makes a deal with a client that blows up, the entire operation is in danger of failing. And when she performs some dark magic to repair things, it gets even worse. Can the recently divorced Lucia, who never had any magic in her and had no talent for mixing scents, help her mother and sister?
During the book, things change dramatically for all three Lenore women. Their roles change, their relationships change, even their talents change. It’s a time of growth for them; sometimes very painful growth. It’s also a time of learning to let go and trust the universe.
The story is well written enough although it does have a little bit of ‘first novelism’ in places- mainly in the romances. All three women find themselves involved with men who are almost too good to be true; it’s always hard for me to accept characters that have no flaws and when three of them appear in the same book it’s unbelievable- but then, this book *does* have magic as a reality in it, so perhaps this can be forgiven. The other thing I found a bit difficult was how easily the three women accepted the changes- major changes- in their lives. Still, I enjoyed the book a great deal and look forward to more by this author.
Willow has run the company alone for decades. When one of her daughters,Mya – who was the assumed heir to the company- goes behind her back and makes a deal with a client that blows up, the entire operation is in danger of failing. And when she performs some dark magic to repair things, it gets even worse. Can the recently divorced Lucia, who never had any magic in her and had no talent for mixing scents, help her mother and sister?
During the book, things change dramatically for all three Lenore women. Their roles change, their relationships change, even their talents change. It’s a time of growth for them; sometimes very painful growth. It’s also a time of learning to let go and trust the universe.
The story is well written enough although it does have a little bit of ‘first novelism’ in places- mainly in the romances. All three women find themselves involved with men who are almost too good to be true; it’s always hard for me to accept characters that have no flaws and when three of them appear in the same book it’s unbelievable- but then, this book *does* have magic as a reality in it, so perhaps this can be forgiven. The other thing I found a bit difficult was how easily the three women accepted the changes- major changes- in their lives. Still, I enjoyed the book a great deal and look forward to more by this author.
August 22, 2019
In the same vein as Practical Magic and Garden Spells, SotD is the story of two sisters -- the one who stayed and the one who left -- with magic, botany, and food all tied up with it. Besides being a bit too familiar, this debut novel lacks the cozy, effortless beauty that both Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen capture so well.
Read for book group, August 2015.
Read for book group, August 2015.
June 10, 2014
Season of the Dragonflies: A Novel
By
Sarah Creech
What I knew about this book before I read it...
My perusal of this book led me to believe that it was about a family...dominated by women...who invented and manufactured a delightful perfume. I also anticipated a little touch of magic!
My thoughts after reading this book...
I found this book to be very lovely and magical! It takes place mostly near the Blue Ridge mountains but its opening pages were quite different. Serena is being "given" to an older banker in order to save her father's money. At her dining table that night is a young doctor. They immediately fall in love and leave on a sailing ship for exotic places. They have two daughters and Serena discovers a sort of magical flower that she hides in her hair...I know...that part was far fetched...and brings back to America. The flower only thrives for her and her daughters and becomes the basis for their perfume dynasty. The flower can be made into perfumes that will help the careers of other women. This is all very discreet and is the mainstay of their fortune until a teensy mistake is made and the flowers begin to change. Willow and her daughters Mya and Lucia have to figure all of this out. Plus...they have issues of their own that Willow worries about...Mya's childless state and her young boyfriend and Lucia...recently divorced...definitely floundering, and Willow's forgetfulness...who will save and inherit this family business? Can the flowers be saved? Can Mya and Lucia repair their relationship?
What I loved about this book...
I loved the magic of it all. The dragonflies that swarmed around Lucia. Mya's cooking...especially her vegetable soup...I am gathering things to make some momentarily. The land around their cabin, the deer who follow Mya and the fawn...all so lovely. I loved the idea that although these women were billionaires...they lived in a rustic simple and messy cabin...no granite or stylized kitchen...just Formica and moonshine in a jar!
Final thoughts about this book...
I found this to be a lovely book. It was beautifully written, with multi- layered slightly complicated yet interesting characters. It had just enough magic to give it a slightly mystical feel. I loved the setting. I enjoyed the characters. It was just a very special reading experience for me.
Sent from my iPad2 by PattyLouise
By
Sarah Creech
What I knew about this book before I read it...
My perusal of this book led me to believe that it was about a family...dominated by women...who invented and manufactured a delightful perfume. I also anticipated a little touch of magic!
My thoughts after reading this book...
I found this book to be very lovely and magical! It takes place mostly near the Blue Ridge mountains but its opening pages were quite different. Serena is being "given" to an older banker in order to save her father's money. At her dining table that night is a young doctor. They immediately fall in love and leave on a sailing ship for exotic places. They have two daughters and Serena discovers a sort of magical flower that she hides in her hair...I know...that part was far fetched...and brings back to America. The flower only thrives for her and her daughters and becomes the basis for their perfume dynasty. The flower can be made into perfumes that will help the careers of other women. This is all very discreet and is the mainstay of their fortune until a teensy mistake is made and the flowers begin to change. Willow and her daughters Mya and Lucia have to figure all of this out. Plus...they have issues of their own that Willow worries about...Mya's childless state and her young boyfriend and Lucia...recently divorced...definitely floundering, and Willow's forgetfulness...who will save and inherit this family business? Can the flowers be saved? Can Mya and Lucia repair their relationship?
What I loved about this book...
I loved the magic of it all. The dragonflies that swarmed around Lucia. Mya's cooking...especially her vegetable soup...I am gathering things to make some momentarily. The land around their cabin, the deer who follow Mya and the fawn...all so lovely. I loved the idea that although these women were billionaires...they lived in a rustic simple and messy cabin...no granite or stylized kitchen...just Formica and moonshine in a jar!
Final thoughts about this book...
I found this to be a lovely book. It was beautifully written, with multi- layered slightly complicated yet interesting characters. It had just enough magic to give it a slightly mystical feel. I loved the setting. I enjoyed the characters. It was just a very special reading experience for me.
Sent from my iPad2 by PattyLouise
December 3, 2022
This debut novel started out so well with potential to be a fascinating story of strong women connected by complex family relationships, who face a crisis in the successful business which has supported them for years. However, a third of the way through the book, fantasy, curses, unexplainable events and romantic entanglements muddied the narrative and I quickly began to lose interest.
For a hundred years and three generations, the Lenore women have produced a perfume made from the flowers of a rare and exotic plant brought to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia from the wild jungles of Borneo. The plant has a distinctive essence and the power to bring success to the women who wear it, whether they be entertainers, politicians, lawyers, judges or businesswomen. Serena, the woman who discovered the plant and developed the recipe for the perfume, always chose her clients carefully and discretely, so only a select few ever had the experience of wearing it. Her granddaughter Willow continued the practice, carefully timing the introduction of new clients to ensure there would only be one or two superstars depending on the industry. The perfume was extravagantly expensive and whoever was chosen to wear it, did so only after agreeing to keep the perfume a secret.
Willow has now grown older and come to the point of passing the business down to her eldest daughter Mya. Maya has always had a nose for scents, a passion for the flowers and an understanding of their power. She stayed at home, faithfully tending the plants, mixing the recipe for the perfume in her workshop and helping her mother with the business. Lucia, Willow’s youngest daughter never had interest in the business and left home when she was eighteen to pursue an acting career in New York City. Her absence ensured Mya would be the next president of the company and Lucia had no problem with that; all she was interested in was her acting career. However despite her efforts, her career never took off. Her marriage to an artist named Jonah fell apart, they divorced and after years of being away, Lucia returned to her family home, feeling like a failure. She was not greeted warmly by either her mother or her sister, which did not surprise her, she had barely communicated with them during her fifteen-year absence.
Shortly after her arrival, Lucia learns things are in a turmoil. Willow is getting older and experiencing problems with her memory. The gardenia potentiae, the precious rare flower that serves as the base of their perfume appears to be sick and dying and Mya has made a critical mistake with the contract of one of their clients, a former pop music sensation, now a Hollywood starlet who is threatening to ruin their business. When Mya attempts to fix her mistake by altering the recipe of the perfume, strange things begin to happen. Serena had always insisted the perfume be used only for the empowerment of women and never for any ill purpose and had promised a curse on anyone who varied the formula. Willow had always adhered to the warning, kept to the original formula and used the growing methods created by her mother.
Lucia never before interested in the business, believing she did not have the skills required, suddenly discovers she may have talents that will help save the business, but Maya, who has never made any other plans for her life except taking over the business, resents Luca’s intrusion and feels she is being pushed aside.
Then suddenly men become very important in the lives of these women who for years have lived without strong male relationships. Mya who is thirty-six, is playfully romping with Luke, a handsome young man who is only twenty-six, but wants more from this relationship than Mya is willing to give. Willow who has been alone for years, has just begun a romance in her early sixties, and Lucia has re-established contact with the high school boyfriend she left behind years ago.
The narrative includes interesting characters, is well paced and well written, but the plot itself proved to be a problem. I enjoyed the drama of the unfolding relationships between the sisters and between the mother and her daughters as they struggled to cope with the crisis in their business. But as the pages continued, there was more and more fantasy elements, with curses, hallucinations, visions, magic, spells, hovering black clouds, falling tree limbs, unexplained inventory issues and accidents. I have no problem with a dash of fantasy and mysticism, touches of what some refer to as “magical realism”, but when it takes over and drives the plot, my interest drops off. That was made worse when the unlikely romances of these strong independent women, who had spent much of their lives single, became the focus of the evolving narrative. So what began with three strong women and a business crisis, ended up being a story with magic, curses and romance. It was not the focus I expected and not what I wanted to read about.
The novel poses another problem, which Willow recognizes and voices silently to herself. What would have happened to the women if they have never used the perfume? Would they still have been successful? Was the perfume the only reason for their success? If so, what is Creech trying to say about women? That they cannot use their own talents to be successful; that they must rely on a special potion? Are they unlike men who can be successful without a special perfume?
It presents a stark problem in a novel that had the potential to be so much more substantial, with a story of how three strong women came together to avoid catastrophe in their business despite the family dynamics that could have brought the entire business into ruin.
Creech’s debut novel does have its strengths and can be enjoyed by the right reader, but unfortunately, I was not one of them.
For a hundred years and three generations, the Lenore women have produced a perfume made from the flowers of a rare and exotic plant brought to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia from the wild jungles of Borneo. The plant has a distinctive essence and the power to bring success to the women who wear it, whether they be entertainers, politicians, lawyers, judges or businesswomen. Serena, the woman who discovered the plant and developed the recipe for the perfume, always chose her clients carefully and discretely, so only a select few ever had the experience of wearing it. Her granddaughter Willow continued the practice, carefully timing the introduction of new clients to ensure there would only be one or two superstars depending on the industry. The perfume was extravagantly expensive and whoever was chosen to wear it, did so only after agreeing to keep the perfume a secret.
Willow has now grown older and come to the point of passing the business down to her eldest daughter Mya. Maya has always had a nose for scents, a passion for the flowers and an understanding of their power. She stayed at home, faithfully tending the plants, mixing the recipe for the perfume in her workshop and helping her mother with the business. Lucia, Willow’s youngest daughter never had interest in the business and left home when she was eighteen to pursue an acting career in New York City. Her absence ensured Mya would be the next president of the company and Lucia had no problem with that; all she was interested in was her acting career. However despite her efforts, her career never took off. Her marriage to an artist named Jonah fell apart, they divorced and after years of being away, Lucia returned to her family home, feeling like a failure. She was not greeted warmly by either her mother or her sister, which did not surprise her, she had barely communicated with them during her fifteen-year absence.
Shortly after her arrival, Lucia learns things are in a turmoil. Willow is getting older and experiencing problems with her memory. The gardenia potentiae, the precious rare flower that serves as the base of their perfume appears to be sick and dying and Mya has made a critical mistake with the contract of one of their clients, a former pop music sensation, now a Hollywood starlet who is threatening to ruin their business. When Mya attempts to fix her mistake by altering the recipe of the perfume, strange things begin to happen. Serena had always insisted the perfume be used only for the empowerment of women and never for any ill purpose and had promised a curse on anyone who varied the formula. Willow had always adhered to the warning, kept to the original formula and used the growing methods created by her mother.
Lucia never before interested in the business, believing she did not have the skills required, suddenly discovers she may have talents that will help save the business, but Maya, who has never made any other plans for her life except taking over the business, resents Luca’s intrusion and feels she is being pushed aside.
Then suddenly men become very important in the lives of these women who for years have lived without strong male relationships. Mya who is thirty-six, is playfully romping with Luke, a handsome young man who is only twenty-six, but wants more from this relationship than Mya is willing to give. Willow who has been alone for years, has just begun a romance in her early sixties, and Lucia has re-established contact with the high school boyfriend she left behind years ago.
The narrative includes interesting characters, is well paced and well written, but the plot itself proved to be a problem. I enjoyed the drama of the unfolding relationships between the sisters and between the mother and her daughters as they struggled to cope with the crisis in their business. But as the pages continued, there was more and more fantasy elements, with curses, hallucinations, visions, magic, spells, hovering black clouds, falling tree limbs, unexplained inventory issues and accidents. I have no problem with a dash of fantasy and mysticism, touches of what some refer to as “magical realism”, but when it takes over and drives the plot, my interest drops off. That was made worse when the unlikely romances of these strong independent women, who had spent much of their lives single, became the focus of the evolving narrative. So what began with three strong women and a business crisis, ended up being a story with magic, curses and romance. It was not the focus I expected and not what I wanted to read about.
The novel poses another problem, which Willow recognizes and voices silently to herself. What would have happened to the women if they have never used the perfume? Would they still have been successful? Was the perfume the only reason for their success? If so, what is Creech trying to say about women? That they cannot use their own talents to be successful; that they must rely on a special potion? Are they unlike men who can be successful without a special perfume?
It presents a stark problem in a novel that had the potential to be so much more substantial, with a story of how three strong women came together to avoid catastrophe in their business despite the family dynamics that could have brought the entire business into ruin.
Creech’s debut novel does have its strengths and can be enjoyed by the right reader, but unfortunately, I was not one of them.
October 12, 2015
Ok. I'm just gonna come right out and say it--I'm a closet Nora Roberts fan. Some times you need a good read where everyone lives happily ever after (after a few close calls, of course!) and although this book was not written by Nora, it reminded me of her style. Three single women, a mom and two daughters, run a family perfume business. You have the prerequisite mother-daughter, sister-sister drama with a little bit of "magic" thrown in. Add the three perfect men who just happen to show up at the right time and you have the perfect blend for what I like to call "pool fluff". This book is not going to win any literary awards, but it hit my feel good spot.
October 17, 2014
This had such a promising premise, but ultimately became trite and boring. Wish the story was about the great-grandmother.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2024
A very readable tale. However, I'm not usually a fan of magic, and this tale was set on a foundation of magic that I simply could not buy into.
October 17, 2014
As seen on my blog:
2.5 STARS
Think, Practical Magic. Minus Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Minus the possession and the super-handy ability to light a candle by blowing on it. The ladies in Season of the Dragonflies dealt in scents, in perfume, to be exact. I enjoyed the magic realism aspect of this book, and appreciated the fact that it made me nostalgic about one of my all-time favourite movies, but completely capture me, it did not. Too predictable, too neatly tied-up, too much running-around-but-not-actually-GOING-anywhere happening.
The run down: an enticing Prologue, a curious flower is found, a legacy is born. Skip forward three generations, a Lenore daughter is returning to her hometown of Quartz Hollow (loved this name), after a particularly depressing bout of roughing it on her own. After a failed marriage, and minimal job options, Lucia returns to her mother Willow, and sister Mya, in hopes of recapturing peace-as ALL those who return home, in novels, tend to seek. Lo and behold, she slowly creeps out of her funk, rekindles a love from her teenage years (gasp! didn't see THAT coming..no but, I did), and attempts to quell the family troubles that were brewing while she was away.
I wouldn't exactly deem Season of the Dragonflies a "comforting read," as there were some tense moments, and characters that I, more often than not, wanted to strangle, namely Mya Lenore. However, it was fast-paced in nature, and boasted a pretty cool concept: a specific flower with magical properties, capable of propelling the careers and allure of woman. These woman used the flower in it's perfume form, provided by the Lenore family, and all was fantastically well up until the moment a client decided to breach her contract. I definitely enjoyed the story happening in front of my face, the love and life stories of the Lenore women, rather than the almost unnecessary sub-story happening in Hollywood. I understood that essentially, one story needed the other, to exist as a whole, but I just couldn't bring myself to CARE about what happened with the starlets who wore, and were abusing, the perfume.
I was most wrapped up in Lucia's story, and the love-hate relationship she carried on with her sister, Mya. The author did a fantastic job of creating such distinct personalities for the two. I was able to picture them clearly in my minds eye, and felt Mya's angst as clearly as I might feel my own. It was their story, and the refreshingly luscious town of Quartz Hollow that kept me reading a book that I would otherwise not have picked up for myself.
A great read for anyone that wants an added touch of something more in their fiction, a tinge of the unexplained, if you will. But just a tinge.
2.5 STARS
Think, Practical Magic. Minus Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. Minus the possession and the super-handy ability to light a candle by blowing on it. The ladies in Season of the Dragonflies dealt in scents, in perfume, to be exact. I enjoyed the magic realism aspect of this book, and appreciated the fact that it made me nostalgic about one of my all-time favourite movies, but completely capture me, it did not. Too predictable, too neatly tied-up, too much running-around-but-not-actually-GOING-anywhere happening.
The run down: an enticing Prologue, a curious flower is found, a legacy is born. Skip forward three generations, a Lenore daughter is returning to her hometown of Quartz Hollow (loved this name), after a particularly depressing bout of roughing it on her own. After a failed marriage, and minimal job options, Lucia returns to her mother Willow, and sister Mya, in hopes of recapturing peace-as ALL those who return home, in novels, tend to seek. Lo and behold, she slowly creeps out of her funk, rekindles a love from her teenage years (gasp! didn't see THAT coming..no but, I did), and attempts to quell the family troubles that were brewing while she was away.
I wouldn't exactly deem Season of the Dragonflies a "comforting read," as there were some tense moments, and characters that I, more often than not, wanted to strangle, namely Mya Lenore. However, it was fast-paced in nature, and boasted a pretty cool concept: a specific flower with magical properties, capable of propelling the careers and allure of woman. These woman used the flower in it's perfume form, provided by the Lenore family, and all was fantastically well up until the moment a client decided to breach her contract. I definitely enjoyed the story happening in front of my face, the love and life stories of the Lenore women, rather than the almost unnecessary sub-story happening in Hollywood. I understood that essentially, one story needed the other, to exist as a whole, but I just couldn't bring myself to CARE about what happened with the starlets who wore, and were abusing, the perfume.
I was most wrapped up in Lucia's story, and the love-hate relationship she carried on with her sister, Mya. The author did a fantastic job of creating such distinct personalities for the two. I was able to picture them clearly in my minds eye, and felt Mya's angst as clearly as I might feel my own. It was their story, and the refreshingly luscious town of Quartz Hollow that kept me reading a book that I would otherwise not have picked up for myself.
A great read for anyone that wants an added touch of something more in their fiction, a tinge of the unexplained, if you will. But just a tinge.
September 8, 2014
The Lenore women grow a rare flower that is the secret ingredient in their powerful perfume. Each generation, only a few women are chosen to wear their coveted scent. These women inevitably rise to the top of their professions and become the envy of the world. But Willow, Mya, and Lucia Lenore, the current generation, aren't doing so well. Willow's not as sharp as she once was, Mya would do anything to run the company, and Lucia wants no part of it. They've made a mistake with one of their chosen few and there could be some dreadful consequences to pay.
Eh.
I really liked the premise of the book. A family of women, the Blue Ridge Mountains (my home), a touch of magic--what's not to love?
These characters.
Willow and Lucia were okay, but holy cow, I could not like Mya. Not one little bit. The point of view shifts between the three women so it's not like I could really ignore her. I felt like I was getting mixed signals about her. She's the one with the great nose, the talent for mixing perfumes, the magic touch to get it right, and the one that forest animals flock to. She's a regular Snow White. Until she mixes a terrible perfume for their problem child of a crossover pop queen/actress. The actress was being a witch, no doubt about it. But Mya gets way out of line with what she does.
Willow was the aging matriarch and I was mostly okay with her. Except that she let Mya have a free rein. Lucia was almost forgettable. She was the broken hearted divorcee who comes back home to the Blue Ridge from New York with her tail between her legs. And that's about all the personality she had. Well, at least she had a conscience.
If you've read many of my reviews, you know that if I don't like any characters, I'm pretty much guaranteed to not care about the rest of the book. The plot itself was okay. I remember more now than I expected to but it still seems like it was a bit too long for what it was. That said, I would have liked a bit more story about the founding of the company. Granny Lenore (or whatever she was called) was pretty fascinating and a strong woman.
I have a feeling I'm going to be in the minority on this one. Most of you will probably enjoy it more than I did, especially if you aren't as dependent on likeable characters as I am. If you like the idea, go ahead and give it a try.
Thanks to the publisher for lending me a copy for review.
Eh.
I really liked the premise of the book. A family of women, the Blue Ridge Mountains (my home), a touch of magic--what's not to love?
These characters.
Willow and Lucia were okay, but holy cow, I could not like Mya. Not one little bit. The point of view shifts between the three women so it's not like I could really ignore her. I felt like I was getting mixed signals about her. She's the one with the great nose, the talent for mixing perfumes, the magic touch to get it right, and the one that forest animals flock to. She's a regular Snow White. Until she mixes a terrible perfume for their problem child of a crossover pop queen/actress. The actress was being a witch, no doubt about it. But Mya gets way out of line with what she does.
Willow was the aging matriarch and I was mostly okay with her. Except that she let Mya have a free rein. Lucia was almost forgettable. She was the broken hearted divorcee who comes back home to the Blue Ridge from New York with her tail between her legs. And that's about all the personality she had. Well, at least she had a conscience.
If you've read many of my reviews, you know that if I don't like any characters, I'm pretty much guaranteed to not care about the rest of the book. The plot itself was okay. I remember more now than I expected to but it still seems like it was a bit too long for what it was. That said, I would have liked a bit more story about the founding of the company. Granny Lenore (or whatever she was called) was pretty fascinating and a strong woman.
I have a feeling I'm going to be in the minority on this one. Most of you will probably enjoy it more than I did, especially if you aren't as dependent on likeable characters as I am. If you like the idea, go ahead and give it a try.
Thanks to the publisher for lending me a copy for review.
September 14, 2014
This novel had an intriguing premise - one matriarchical family creates a magical perfume and markets it exclusively to promising young women who then become successful via the magical properties of the perfume. I generally love novels with magical realism but this book just didn't work for me.
I think part of the problem for me was that I didn't really connect with any of the women.For the most part they were just bland. I also had problems turning off the logic brain. One of the major plot points hinges on one of the clients threatening to go public and announce that the perfume is the reason for her success. First of all what actress is going to admit that she actually isn't all that talented? Secondly even if they did announce that all their success was due to perfume I don't feel that it would be any different than stating the success was due to a certain diet, or philosophy or... Certainly I doubt anyone would have the perfume analyzed and even if it were why would the women think anything beyond organic ingredients be found?
The second illogical point had to do with Mya running the business. We are told repeatedly how impulsive she is yet these are good qualities for running a company? Willow felt that she had to give the company to her yet never reaches out to her other daughter even though they were supposedly a close knit family? I didn't buy it.
I'm sure others will enjoy this book it just wasn't for me
I think part of the problem for me was that I didn't really connect with any of the women.For the most part they were just bland. I also had problems turning off the logic brain. One of the major plot points hinges on one of the clients threatening to go public and announce that the perfume is the reason for her success. First of all what actress is going to admit that she actually isn't all that talented? Secondly even if they did announce that all their success was due to perfume I don't feel that it would be any different than stating the success was due to a certain diet, or philosophy or... Certainly I doubt anyone would have the perfume analyzed and even if it were why would the women think anything beyond organic ingredients be found?
The second illogical point had to do with Mya running the business. We are told repeatedly how impulsive she is yet these are good qualities for running a company? Willow felt that she had to give the company to her yet never reaches out to her other daughter even though they were supposedly a close knit family? I didn't buy it.
I'm sure others will enjoy this book it just wasn't for me
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 26, 2014
I asked for a review copy on a whim, and am I ever so glad that I listened to my intuition.
This is a contemporary fiction novel with fantastical elements that mesh together to tell a story that I could not put down. I read it in one day.
The premise surrounds a magical perfume that grants success to women who wear it. But that's not what the story is truly about. It's about how the power of the perceptions we have of ourselves affect our lives and our relationship with others - especially family.
The perfume is a catalyst not the source and Creech cleverly tells a story about how the Lenore women discover this at a terrible cost. It is a power to be used to empower not destroy and when this understanding is abused, the consequences are nearly catastrophic.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book. It comes out in August and it's worth the wait.
This is a contemporary fiction novel with fantastical elements that mesh together to tell a story that I could not put down. I read it in one day.
The premise surrounds a magical perfume that grants success to women who wear it. But that's not what the story is truly about. It's about how the power of the perceptions we have of ourselves affect our lives and our relationship with others - especially family.
The perfume is a catalyst not the source and Creech cleverly tells a story about how the Lenore women discover this at a terrible cost. It is a power to be used to empower not destroy and when this understanding is abused, the consequences are nearly catastrophic.
I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book. It comes out in August and it's worth the wait.
September 15, 2018
Love the magical tone, the fantasy events. Love that 3 women rule the story. Would recommend.
There are, however, one or two places this story lost me. A little confusing, but very good overall. Also, the Mya character was not likeable at all., and I found myself getting bored with Willow’s story. Liked Lucia. One last thing...have no idea what the dragonflies have to do with anything. I expected them to be a distinct symbol for something, especially since they are actually in the book title. I may have just embarrassed myself by missing the whole meaning there, but they served no purpose for me.
I know people compare ths to Practical Magic, but this is a very distant second to that book.
There are, however, one or two places this story lost me. A little confusing, but very good overall. Also, the Mya character was not likeable at all., and I found myself getting bored with Willow’s story. Liked Lucia. One last thing...have no idea what the dragonflies have to do with anything. I expected them to be a distinct symbol for something, especially since they are actually in the book title. I may have just embarrassed myself by missing the whole meaning there, but they served no purpose for me.
I know people compare ths to Practical Magic, but this is a very distant second to that book.
August 28, 2014
Beautifully written, absolutely captivating and as addictive as the perfume the Lenore women create.
August 17, 2017
I love books where women have a force or connection to nature that is strange, powerful and beyond explanation. Strange power bestowing flowers, dragonflies and deer irresistibly to one or the other of two sisters, Season of the Dragonflies delivers on this front. All three characters, mother Willow and her two adult daughters Mya and Lucia are well drawn, with very different problems and personalities.
Together, they all are facing a potential curse from a mistake Mya and Willow made that could lead to the ruin of their perfume business and much worse. They each have a potential lover in their lives that adds interest. There is a lot to like. However, the way they spoke to each other and handled each other sometimes seemed a bit harsh and out of step with their personalities and, unfortunately, without enough background information to feel natural.
I also didn't love the resolution to the flower situation. It felt abrupt.
On the upside, this is really creative, the setting in TN is alive with beauty, magic and power. I'm glad I read it, even if I questioned certain elements.
Together, they all are facing a potential curse from a mistake Mya and Willow made that could lead to the ruin of their perfume business and much worse. They each have a potential lover in their lives that adds interest. There is a lot to like. However, the way they spoke to each other and handled each other sometimes seemed a bit harsh and out of step with their personalities and, unfortunately, without enough background information to feel natural.
I also didn't love the resolution to the flower situation. It felt abrupt.
On the upside, this is really creative, the setting in TN is alive with beauty, magic and power. I'm glad I read it, even if I questioned certain elements.
August 10, 2018
Overall, meh. I was thinking this would be more like Sarah Addison Allen's books of interesting stories about women with a touch of magic. But this started off being dumb, then just was one calamity after another as a curse is unleashed when one of the women changes the perfume formula to teach a lesson to a client that badly backfires. I found myself rushing through the book to get it done, hoping it would get better. It has the requisite happy ending, where everything is tied up in a pretty little bow, feeling really cliché and predictable. The characters never really came alive for me. So, not recommended.
July 27, 2017
Great story line. I particularly enjoyed the magical elements. We all need that little bit of wonderment in our lives after all. Found it just a bit scattered at times or maybe details were not deep enough but all in all a nice read.
November 8, 2017
Love the cover, overall I enjoyed the book and liked the ending.
July 9, 2025
An interesting fantasy, magical female centric story. However, none of the characters really captivated me.
March 14, 2025
This tale started off great, but then just kept getting e we worse and worse. I had to push my self to finish this one up.
April 18, 2014
I would like to thank William Morrow publishers for this advance review copy of Season of the Dragonflies, by Sarah Creech.
Season of the Dragonflies is the story of the Lenore women, Willow, the mother, and her two daughters, Mya and Lucia. They are heirs to a continuing legacy of a very special perfume; one which fully amplifies any talents that the wearer may already possess. Though the Lenores are millionaires, they live humbly in the Blue Ridge Mountains, cultivating the magical flower that is at the essence of their very special scent. However, when the flowers begin to lose their power for the first time ever, the Lenore women are faced with a crisis that may be the end of their idyllic world.
Season of the Dragonflies is being compared to southern confections by authors such as Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen. With its strong female cast, theme of natural magic, and focus on romance, I can see clearly where the comparison arises.
Having read The Peachkeeper by Sarah Addison Allen, and seen the movie Practical Magic, based on that novel by Alice Hoffman, I would guess that if you enjoy fiction by these authors, you will be well pleased with Season of the Dragonflies by Sarah Creech.
However, I found myself frustrated and disappointed with this novel for several reasons. First of all, despite the moniker "magical realist" which has been applied to this novel (and those of Sarah Addison Allen), I feel that this comparison does a disservice to that term.
Having studied the magical-realist novels of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende at university, I believe that as works of art, they have a profound, if subtle, difference from novels such as Season of the Dragonflies. Magical Realism is by definition difficult to define, in fact, Mexican critic Luis Leal stated "If you can explain it, then it's not magical realism." And this is, in fact, where I see the problem with Season of the Dragonflies.
In the novels of Garcia Marquez and Allende, the magical elements are ambiguous, difficult to capture, without logic, and seem to point to a great inexplicable reality beyond themselves. In Season of the Dragonflies, the magic that exists has a logical, understandable framework. The flowers consistently produce a certain positive result. The Lenore women use them in order to make money, and to help actresses and politicians succeed. The magic in Season of the Dragonflies lends an extra, fairytale element to what might otherwise be a rather generic, over-dramatic, romance novel.
In the novels of Garcia Marquez and Allende, the magical realist elements are inextricably intertwined with the ordinary in such a way that the novel itself references mysterious ideas that are difficult to capture with words alone.
Another thing that frustrated me in Season of the Dragonflies was that several of the characters are just plain unlikeable, as they selfishly "play god" with their gifts, and interfere with the lives of others. I also found the over-the-top sexuality a bit of-putting. And finally, I found the narrative voice confusing, as it seemed like we were privy to all the characters' thoughts and feelings simultaneously.
In the end, Season of the Dragonflies is not a realistic novel, nor is it truly a magical realistic read. However, it serves up a dose of romance, melodrama, and magic, and will offer light escapism to anyone who reads it.
Season of the Dragonflies is the story of the Lenore women, Willow, the mother, and her two daughters, Mya and Lucia. They are heirs to a continuing legacy of a very special perfume; one which fully amplifies any talents that the wearer may already possess. Though the Lenores are millionaires, they live humbly in the Blue Ridge Mountains, cultivating the magical flower that is at the essence of their very special scent. However, when the flowers begin to lose their power for the first time ever, the Lenore women are faced with a crisis that may be the end of their idyllic world.
Season of the Dragonflies is being compared to southern confections by authors such as Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen. With its strong female cast, theme of natural magic, and focus on romance, I can see clearly where the comparison arises.
Having read The Peachkeeper by Sarah Addison Allen, and seen the movie Practical Magic, based on that novel by Alice Hoffman, I would guess that if you enjoy fiction by these authors, you will be well pleased with Season of the Dragonflies by Sarah Creech.
However, I found myself frustrated and disappointed with this novel for several reasons. First of all, despite the moniker "magical realist" which has been applied to this novel (and those of Sarah Addison Allen), I feel that this comparison does a disservice to that term.
Having studied the magical-realist novels of Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Isabel Allende at university, I believe that as works of art, they have a profound, if subtle, difference from novels such as Season of the Dragonflies. Magical Realism is by definition difficult to define, in fact, Mexican critic Luis Leal stated "If you can explain it, then it's not magical realism." And this is, in fact, where I see the problem with Season of the Dragonflies.
In the novels of Garcia Marquez and Allende, the magical elements are ambiguous, difficult to capture, without logic, and seem to point to a great inexplicable reality beyond themselves. In Season of the Dragonflies, the magic that exists has a logical, understandable framework. The flowers consistently produce a certain positive result. The Lenore women use them in order to make money, and to help actresses and politicians succeed. The magic in Season of the Dragonflies lends an extra, fairytale element to what might otherwise be a rather generic, over-dramatic, romance novel.
In the novels of Garcia Marquez and Allende, the magical realist elements are inextricably intertwined with the ordinary in such a way that the novel itself references mysterious ideas that are difficult to capture with words alone.
Another thing that frustrated me in Season of the Dragonflies was that several of the characters are just plain unlikeable, as they selfishly "play god" with their gifts, and interfere with the lives of others. I also found the over-the-top sexuality a bit of-putting. And finally, I found the narrative voice confusing, as it seemed like we were privy to all the characters' thoughts and feelings simultaneously.
In the end, Season of the Dragonflies is not a realistic novel, nor is it truly a magical realistic read. However, it serves up a dose of romance, melodrama, and magic, and will offer light escapism to anyone who reads it.
May 13, 2014
I found the plot shrewd and imaginative. I really enjoyed the perfume empire premise and the fact both business and female protagonists were supportive of females in positive ways. The magical perfume and intuition as well as sorceress gifts was dubious but entertaining, added a uniqueness to the entire story. The decision on who would take over from Willow was another piece of the narrative keeping the reader on their toes. Somewhat predictable with enticing elements. With the sensuous descriptions of flowers I wish my eReader was capable of scratch and sniff, instead I relied upon my creative imagination.
Willow, Mya and Lucia were well done. All three very different women, however, all three equally strong and independent. Interesting to learn of each individual woman's personality and goals. As the story progressed so did the characters, their evolvement was well done. The Lenore's had a strange relationship, somewhat aloof and unemotional almost detached. Despite their questionable closeness there was a bond as only family permits. Separate yet united best describes their pull to each other. Willow's early onset Alzheimer's was delicately introduced and incorporated well into the plot without being suffocating. Mya's questionable business tactics and approach towards family added a spark to the storyline and livened up the interaction with characters. Lucia's uncertainty and estrangement was another plus.
Creech has a sold, straightforward writing style. She is definitely bold and artistic to lean towards such an interesting and original narrative. I am curious to read future writings. A great debut with a memorable plot and intriguing protagonists.
A good read with magical elements which create a far fetched outline although entertaining.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review
Willow, Mya and Lucia were well done. All three very different women, however, all three equally strong and independent. Interesting to learn of each individual woman's personality and goals. As the story progressed so did the characters, their evolvement was well done. The Lenore's had a strange relationship, somewhat aloof and unemotional almost detached. Despite their questionable closeness there was a bond as only family permits. Separate yet united best describes their pull to each other. Willow's early onset Alzheimer's was delicately introduced and incorporated well into the plot without being suffocating. Mya's questionable business tactics and approach towards family added a spark to the storyline and livened up the interaction with characters. Lucia's uncertainty and estrangement was another plus.
Creech has a sold, straightforward writing style. She is definitely bold and artistic to lean towards such an interesting and original narrative. I am curious to read future writings. A great debut with a memorable plot and intriguing protagonists.
A good read with magical elements which create a far fetched outline although entertaining.
A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review
October 18, 2015
I felt a bit let down by this book. It just didn't enthrall me like I thought it might. It was an "okay" read, but certainly not a favorite. For some reason, the characters didn't seem fully actualized to me, but rather shallow. I almost feel as if this was more of a 'romance novel' than anything else. If you're just looking for something rather light to read, then this might fit the bill, but it certainly isn't as intense as I had expected.
February 1, 2024
Well, this was a re-read from 10+ years ago, but it was simply re-read because I won it at 'book bingo'. Sure wish I'd chosen a different book. There's just something wrong with this. I ended up not liking any of the characters. From the name of it, I thought it would good, like a sweet smelling baby; instead the baby had a stinky diaper.
August 16, 2014
This had such a whimsical, magical storyline I thought it would be perfect. Not so much. The characters were flat and I kept feeling that I was missing something or details were left out. Just didn't click with me.
October 4, 2014
Great book! The relationships between generations were lovingly portrayed. You really knew each person and their strengths and weaknesses. Some of the magic was watching them realize they had other strengths than the ones they had used from birth.
February 24, 2014
This book was fabulous. Picked it up today, a Sunday morning and literally couldn't put it down. Finished it already. Loved the flowers and essential oils.
May 6, 2016
I really enjoyed this story. Very imaginative and interesting.
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