Making Scents

by Sue Cross

Kristin Jones has a vision to formulate her own skin care range and perfume but struggles with the demands of running a successful beauty salon and family life. It is the 1970’s when women’s roles are changing fast and Kristin is eager to take advantage of the promises that the era offers. Just before realising her dream, she meets Tash, a young drug addict, and helps her to get her life in order. Suffering burn out, Kristin visits her two best friends, Celine and Sam in southern Spain to try to get her own life in order. Tash also takes a trip to Andalucía and falls in love with a handsome, young Spaniard. Little does she know that he too has a secret past life.

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 21, 2013

About the author

My first attempt at serious writing was a play titled, Twinkle’s Magic Ring, which I wrote when I was ten. Such was the success of the play that parents as well as pupils and teachers attended the production.
After leaving school, I relocated from the Wirral to Cheltenham, became a fashion buyer, married and later moved to live in the tropical paradise of Mauritius. Then followed ten years in Hong Kong, where I raised a family.
With a desire to have my own business, I first opened a beauty salon and then realised a dream – to launch my own skin care company. Due to hard work and lots of grace, the range, Susan Molyneux, became a success. After selling the business, I had the opportunity to start writing.
My latest novel is Making Scents, the sequel to Tea at Sam’s (my first novel) and I hope to produce a third. I have incorporated some inside knowledge of the beauty business into my books.
Widely travelled, I have visited more than fifty countries and like to incorporate some colourful experiences abroad into my writing.

Reviews

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished this lovely story. Sue Cross, never heard of her before as this is her first novel of course, she writes expertly and I had an easy read. I didn't realize there was a first book to this, but it didn't much matter as I seemed to have picked it up OK and learnt quite a bit along the way about the beauty industry. After reading Sue's bio I can see why she is so knowledgeable on the subject, but do not be mislead, this is NOT all about the beauty industry, its a story with all kinds of angles to it. Kristin has a vision, and she sees this vision, believes it, and makes it happen, of course, like I say, reading Sue's bio you can't help but see this is her life coming out apart from the other bits that make is fiction.

Meeting Tash who is a young drug addict, I did find it strange that she befriended her so quickly, apart from that, everything about this book was wonderful and a joy to read.

I was given this book as an advanced copy by the author. I will need to read book 3 to find out what happens next in this story.

[Catherine Hewkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susan Cross's storytelling is terrific!
She pulls you in from the beginning as she developes a compelling story introducing several complex characters and their personal endevours.
A rattling good story of compelling reading. The characters, drive determinations, and disappointments add to their inspirational tragadies.
She extends events and locations introduced in her first novel 'Tea at Sams '( which I also read and enjoyed ) .I like stories with good and somewhat, unexpected endings. This book does not disappoint in that respect.It is well researched and draws from personal experiences which make it a very credible and evoacative read.

Catherine Hewkin.

[Gill Wyatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sue Cross' beautiful descriptions of faraway places help the reader to feel the atmosphere. Her characters are intriguing because, having read her first book, Tea at Sam's, I felt that I already knew a fair bit about them and in Making Scents they have grown.
I love the fact that the book gives us the benefit of Sue's many years in the beauty industry, and was fascinated by the information enveloped in the story.