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Lady Lavender
Widow Jeanne Nicolet's beautiful lavender fields are threatened by the advancing railroad. With her livelihood in danger, Jeanne will fight to protect her, and her little daughter's, future.
Constantly on the move, surveying the land, suits Colonel Washington Halliday just fine. He can escape the haunting memories of war that have left his emotions as damaged as his injured body.
Under the sultry heat of the Western sun, the scent of the purple fields is heady, but not as intoxicating as the lavender lady herself .
Constantly on the move, surveying the land, suits Colonel Washington Halliday just fine. He can escape the haunting memories of war that have left his emotions as damaged as his injured body.
Under the sultry heat of the Western sun, the scent of the purple fields is heady, but not as intoxicating as the lavender lady herself .
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 17, 2011
About the author
Lynna Banning
77 books83 followersI was born in Oregon and raised in northern California. While growing up I listened to my grandparents' and my mother's stories about life on the ranch they owned in Douglas County, some miles east of Roseburg.
Later (after I retired from work as a professional editor for an aerospace firm) I began writing fiction based on these stories... my first book was "Western Rose," which is based on the unusual courtship of my grandparents.
A medieval studies major in college, I have also written two medieval novels, one about a Crusader knight and a girl raised in a harem (!) who end up at the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine when she was Queen of England. The second novel is about a Templar knight who falls in love with a young woman troubadour... but of course because of his vows of chastity, he cannot marry.
I hope you will enjoy my books; I always like hearing from readers, so feel free to email me (carolynw@cruzio.com) and also see my website - http://www.lynnabanning.com.
Later (after I retired from work as a professional editor for an aerospace firm) I began writing fiction based on these stories... my first book was "Western Rose," which is based on the unusual courtship of my grandparents.
A medieval studies major in college, I have also written two medieval novels, one about a Crusader knight and a girl raised in a harem (!) who end up at the court of Eleanor of Aquitaine when she was Queen of England. The second novel is about a Templar knight who falls in love with a young woman troubadour... but of course because of his vows of chastity, he cannot marry.
I hope you will enjoy my books; I always like hearing from readers, so feel free to email me (carolynw@cruzio.com) and also see my website - http://www.lynnabanning.com.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 4, 2012
I picked this one up because I enjoyed the author's contribution to Happily Ever After in the West and thought I'd try her out at full length.
Regrets... I have a few...
In a way, I wasn't actually surprised to dislike the book. It is, after all, a Harlequin Historical, and they almost never seem to work for me (unless it's by Carla Kelly.) And this book fails the same way HH books generally do: way too much navel gazing. An entire book based around a flimsy conflict like a hero swearing off love after a fiancee jilts him almost 20 years ago is bad enough. Having to read almost 200 pages of the both of them wondering what their feelings are is just tedious. For every page of dialog between the hero and heroine there are 10-15 pages of the hero idly contemplating how he wants the heroine but is afraid of being hurt or the heroine wondering if she's a fool to get involved with a man who's afraid of commitment. These exact qualms are pondered over and over again, ad nauseam. Boooooooooring.
To top things off, there's an undeveloped sub-plot involving a villainous minor character bent on raping the heroine for no discernable reason other than to provide opportunities for the hero to ride in and play white knight. Sexual assault as a cheap plot gimmick always rubs me the wrong way. It's so trivializing and irresponsible.
I think this is going to be the penultimate Harlequin Historical for me. I own one more to read, and after that, I'm done with this line. It sucks.
Regrets... I have a few...
In a way, I wasn't actually surprised to dislike the book. It is, after all, a Harlequin Historical, and they almost never seem to work for me (unless it's by Carla Kelly.) And this book fails the same way HH books generally do: way too much navel gazing. An entire book based around a flimsy conflict like a hero swearing off love after a fiancee jilts him almost 20 years ago is bad enough. Having to read almost 200 pages of the both of them wondering what their feelings are is just tedious. For every page of dialog between the hero and heroine there are 10-15 pages of the hero idly contemplating how he wants the heroine but is afraid of being hurt or the heroine wondering if she's a fool to get involved with a man who's afraid of commitment. These exact qualms are pondered over and over again, ad nauseam. Boooooooooring.
To top things off, there's an undeveloped sub-plot involving a villainous minor character bent on raping the heroine for no discernable reason other than to provide opportunities for the hero to ride in and play white knight. Sexual assault as a cheap plot gimmick always rubs me the wrong way. It's so trivializing and irresponsible.
I think this is going to be the penultimate Harlequin Historical for me. I own one more to read, and after that, I'm done with this line. It sucks.
January 21, 2011
I confess, I’ve read all the Lynna Banning books from her first release in 1996. I love well-crafted stories with believable characters. I’m a sucker for women with gumption, and when one such woman meets a heartstoppingly sexy, tortured hero, I’m in heaven. I know I can count on a Lynna Banning book to deliver. She describes her writing style as “lean and mean”; I’d call it flowing, beautiful, intelligent, and always historically accurate. Such a story is Lady Lavender, set in 1867 Snake River, Oregon.
War hero, Washington Halliday, a lawyer surveying for the railroad, moves from place to place, doing his job, not putting down roots, and in this way escaping the memories of war and his damaged body. He’s on an assignment overseeing a crew laying track that’s headed straight for the beautiful lavender fields of widow Jeanne Nicolet.
French-born Jeanne harvests the lavender to provide a livelihood for herself and her daughter, and she’s not about to see her fields destroyed. Her clash with Wash provides much of the conflict in this intense drama, but Wash’s inner demons create a different, more intense struggle.
This is a beautiful story showing many facets to the human character, beautifully portrayed in the beguiling Jeanne and the troubled Wash. How they overcome their differences to reach a happy ending will keep you reading. But Jeanne and Wash are not the only fascinating characters in the Old West romance. Jeanne’s daughter Manette and Rooney, Wash’s sidekick, will steal your heart. And for extra measure, you’ll learn interesting facts about how the railroad came through the Oregon Territory and how the Chinese crews laid the tracks.
All in all, a wonderful read. Pick up a copy today. You won’t be disappointed. Lady Lavender is a keeper.
War hero, Washington Halliday, a lawyer surveying for the railroad, moves from place to place, doing his job, not putting down roots, and in this way escaping the memories of war and his damaged body. He’s on an assignment overseeing a crew laying track that’s headed straight for the beautiful lavender fields of widow Jeanne Nicolet.
French-born Jeanne harvests the lavender to provide a livelihood for herself and her daughter, and she’s not about to see her fields destroyed. Her clash with Wash provides much of the conflict in this intense drama, but Wash’s inner demons create a different, more intense struggle.
This is a beautiful story showing many facets to the human character, beautifully portrayed in the beguiling Jeanne and the troubled Wash. How they overcome their differences to reach a happy ending will keep you reading. But Jeanne and Wash are not the only fascinating characters in the Old West romance. Jeanne’s daughter Manette and Rooney, Wash’s sidekick, will steal your heart. And for extra measure, you’ll learn interesting facts about how the railroad came through the Oregon Territory and how the Chinese crews laid the tracks.
All in all, a wonderful read. Pick up a copy today. You won’t be disappointed. Lady Lavender is a keeper.
July 30, 2021
That was Glorious 😊! An entire book full of delightful characters and a setting like Smoke River (that is so easy to imagine yourself there) made for a perfect afternoon read. Action packed in more ways than one 😉 and a love story that you can't help but cheer for shows that sometimes the older books might be a bit better. ☺ I did get a bit teary eyed 😢 at the end but in a totally good way.
June 4, 2011
This year of 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, and we will see many reminders in books and films of this terrible American tragedy. “Lady Lavender”, by Lynna Banning, takes place in Oregon two years following the end of the Civil War. This story offers a rueful wounded hero, a sassy, independent heroine, and a well-paced, entertaining story line. Colonel Washington Halliday, known as “Wash”, fought for the Union Army, survived a crippling war injury, and endured three years in a Confederate prison camp. Heading back to the West after the war's end, his legal skills and natural leadership ability land him a job as railroad front man, moving from town to town to clear the way for the oncoming and unstoppable arrival of the trains and all they encompassed. He is unprepared for how to deal with one very strong, single-minded Frenchwoman whose field of lavender lies directly in the chosen path of the railroad track. Jeanne Nicolet is a young widow and mother who makes her livelihood through growing and selling lavender just as the other women in her family have done for generations. She and her small daughter live in a little cabin on the edge of the lavender field, and she is unaware that the land was sold to her under false pretenses. Wash Halliday has the unfortunate duty of informing Jeanne that she does not own the land and will have to move and give up her field of lavender.
Wash had his heart broken shortly before he left to fight in the war. His fiancee left him for another man, and he has no wish to become involved with a woman and have his feelings stirred. However, he has never met a woman like the beautiful and self-sufficient widow. Before long, he is not only involved, he is captivated by Jeanne and her daughter and is torn between duty and desire. Wash has scars inside and out, but his somber memories are tempered by a wry sense of humor. Jeanne is a lady, but she is also a farmer, a businesswoman, and capable of wielding a hammer and nail without asking for assistance. She touches places in his heart that he thought were long dead, and in return he helps her to harvest her last crop of lavender and becomes a protector for Jeanne and her daughter. The mutual desire felt by Wash and Jeanne is a revelation, something new and wondrous for them both. “Lady Lavender” is a well-paced, involving story with an interesting story line and appealing secondary characters.
Wash had his heart broken shortly before he left to fight in the war. His fiancee left him for another man, and he has no wish to become involved with a woman and have his feelings stirred. However, he has never met a woman like the beautiful and self-sufficient widow. Before long, he is not only involved, he is captivated by Jeanne and her daughter and is torn between duty and desire. Wash has scars inside and out, but his somber memories are tempered by a wry sense of humor. Jeanne is a lady, but she is also a farmer, a businesswoman, and capable of wielding a hammer and nail without asking for assistance. She touches places in his heart that he thought were long dead, and in return he helps her to harvest her last crop of lavender and becomes a protector for Jeanne and her daughter. The mutual desire felt by Wash and Jeanne is a revelation, something new and wondrous for them both. “Lady Lavender” is a well-paced, involving story with an interesting story line and appealing secondary characters.
March 13, 2012
QUICK TAKE: 3.5 stars out of 5 (rounded up to 4)
A captivating historical western read with well drawn colorful characters. Civil war hero Washington Halliday is now working for the railroad, and his job is to clear off a widow and her little girl on property belonging to the railway. Jeanne Nicolet is from New Orleans and determined no one is driving her off her property. She grows lavender (hence the name). Wash is a fine hero, honorable but damaged inside, not only from the war but from a broken heart from some years before. Jeanne for her part, trusts no man. How these two get past all their issues is touching. However, the story ran out of steam for me toward the end. Too many subplots and extraneous characters bogged down the ending for me personally. A very good read nonetheless.
A captivating historical western read with well drawn colorful characters. Civil war hero Washington Halliday is now working for the railroad, and his job is to clear off a widow and her little girl on property belonging to the railway. Jeanne Nicolet is from New Orleans and determined no one is driving her off her property. She grows lavender (hence the name). Wash is a fine hero, honorable but damaged inside, not only from the war but from a broken heart from some years before. Jeanne for her part, trusts no man. How these two get past all their issues is touching. However, the story ran out of steam for me toward the end. Too many subplots and extraneous characters bogged down the ending for me personally. A very good read nonetheless.
June 30, 2015
Maybe 3.5 stars, because the writing was generally very good, and the characters well-drawn and likeable. However, the point of view/time shifts were often jarring or confusing, and there were a couple shifts into minor/secondary charcter povs that were also jarring. I also didn't like the sub-plot, as it felt forced and unneeded. I especially liked the strong yet vulnerable heroine.
A note (which has nothing to do with my rating): the book is not sweet--it has sex scenes, which are okay; just a note for those who prefer actual sweet reads.
A note (which has nothing to do with my rating): the book is not sweet--it has sex scenes, which are okay; just a note for those who prefer actual sweet reads.
February 21, 2016
I've been in need of brain candy lately, and this was perfect for that. Sometimes I found myself rolling my eyes, but I enjoyed it anyway. I especially liked Rooney and Manette's relationship. It was sweet without being saccharine. Wash and Jeanne were fine.
January 14, 2011
Wonderful side characters, well written, sweet western tale.
December 10, 2011
Loved it - enjoyable plot and characters.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews