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The Scent of Hours
(Originally published as Madame Mirabou’s School of Love, by Barbara Samuel)
Sometimes real passion means living the life you’ve always wanted.
Nicole Bridges still can’t believe she’s taken up residence in a Colorado apartment complex nicknamed “Splitsville.” She’s still reeling from her husband’s affair, a divorce she never saw coming, and having to leave the upscale, comfortable world she helped make for her ex and their teenage daughter. With little money, even less work experience, and no idea what to do next, she takes tentative steps–if only to keep her head above water.
Along the way, Nikki unexpectedly finds herself falling in with eccentric new neighbors–and being seduced out of her funk by a charming, elusive ex-Londoner. And through her delight in the sensual elements of perfume, she will discover the courage to form bonds she never imagined. When a discarded flyer printed with the name “Madame Mirabou” provides the spark of inspiration, Nikki dares to blend the fragments of her life into a fragrance that’s uniquely and passionately her own.
Sometimes real passion means living the life you’ve always wanted.
Nicole Bridges still can’t believe she’s taken up residence in a Colorado apartment complex nicknamed “Splitsville.” She’s still reeling from her husband’s affair, a divorce she never saw coming, and having to leave the upscale, comfortable world she helped make for her ex and their teenage daughter. With little money, even less work experience, and no idea what to do next, she takes tentative steps–if only to keep her head above water.
Along the way, Nikki unexpectedly finds herself falling in with eccentric new neighbors–and being seduced out of her funk by a charming, elusive ex-Londoner. And through her delight in the sensual elements of perfume, she will discover the courage to form bonds she never imagined. When a discarded flyer printed with the name “Madame Mirabou” provides the spark of inspiration, Nikki dares to blend the fragments of her life into a fragrance that’s uniquely and passionately her own.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2006
888 people are currently reading
961 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Samuel
75 books393 followersBarbara Samuel is a multiple RITA award-winning author with more than 38 books to her credit in a variety of genres. She has written historical and contemporary romances, a number of fantasy novellas with the likes of Susan Wiggs, Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney. She now writes women’s fiction about families, dogs, and food as Barbara O’Neal.
Her work has captured a plethora of awards, including six RITAs; the Colorado Center for the Book Award (twice); Favorite Book of the Year from Romance Writers of America, and the Library Journal’s list of Best Genre Fiction of the year, among many others.You can find a full list of all titles here.
Now living back in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Barbara writes in a study overlooking Pikes Peak, a pin that draws her home from her travels. She shares her home with Christopher Robin, a British endurance athlete, a gorgeous and lovable chow mix named Jack; a very, very old Siamese named Esmerelda; a rescued street cat who has become the fattest silver tabby on the planet, and the wonder twins, two tuxedo kittens from a local shelter, whose names have changed several times. Yes, a lot of animals.
An avid photographer, cook, and traveler, Barbara keeps a log of travels, recipes, and photos at her blog, A Writer Afoot, where she also sometimes posts writing advice. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, but she doesn’t promise to be particularly interesting there.
Her work has captured a plethora of awards, including six RITAs; the Colorado Center for the Book Award (twice); Favorite Book of the Year from Romance Writers of America, and the Library Journal’s list of Best Genre Fiction of the year, among many others.You can find a full list of all titles here.
Now living back in her hometown of Colorado Springs, Barbara writes in a study overlooking Pikes Peak, a pin that draws her home from her travels. She shares her home with Christopher Robin, a British endurance athlete, a gorgeous and lovable chow mix named Jack; a very, very old Siamese named Esmerelda; a rescued street cat who has become the fattest silver tabby on the planet, and the wonder twins, two tuxedo kittens from a local shelter, whose names have changed several times. Yes, a lot of animals.
An avid photographer, cook, and traveler, Barbara keeps a log of travels, recipes, and photos at her blog, A Writer Afoot, where she also sometimes posts writing advice. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook, but she doesn’t promise to be particularly interesting there.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
April 21, 2021
From another author this story probably wouldn´t have been for me. What makes Barbara Samuel/Barbara O´Neal so special is that she always has characters who´s passions (this time perfumes) take the story in a whole new direction...
June 1, 2011
Okay, this book avoided most of the things that annoy me about a romantic female lead:
--Young
--Skinny
--Comfortably well-off
--Unaware of the world around them
--Careful about offending nobody (unless it's people who don't like sass)
--Helpless
--Yet inordinately brave
Plus, one of the major themes of the book was about assembling perfumes, and I totally geeked out on that.
Smart, painful, funny, broke, overweight and still sexy, dark in spots, fragile in others, and a love scene at the end (it irks me when there are two love scenes at 40% and 70% and happily ever after at 100%; shouldn't there be sex at the end?!?).
--Young
--Skinny
--Comfortably well-off
--Unaware of the world around them
--Careful about offending nobody (unless it's people who don't like sass)
--Helpless
--Yet inordinately brave
Plus, one of the major themes of the book was about assembling perfumes, and I totally geeked out on that.
Smart, painful, funny, broke, overweight and still sexy, dark in spots, fragile in others, and a love scene at the end (it irks me when there are two love scenes at 40% and 70% and happily ever after at 100%; shouldn't there be sex at the end?!?).
August 5, 2023
I love all of Barbara O'Neal/Samuel's books, and this is an early one I hadn't had a chance to read yet. Wonderful story of divorced women finding their way-or not-after the trauma and the good people who help them. The main character's discovery of fresh love is especially moving.
May 22, 2019
Surprising book--nothing like the title or the cover suggests. About a woman living through the aftermath of a divorce.
Nicole “Nikki” Bridges, reeling from the betrayal of her husband and their subsequent divorce, is stymied even further in her life when her house blows up due to a faulty furnace. Homeless, possession-less, and with her daughter touring Europe with her ex and his new wife, Nikki needs to figure out what to do ito get her life together again. She rents an apartment in a building nicknamed “Splitsville”, where she meets an intriguing group of neighbors. She spends her days working at an organic restaurant and dreaming of owning and making her own perfumes—a dream she has had and quashed for many years.
Through the encouragement (and sometimes without it) of friends and a newfound friend, possibly a love interest named Niraj, Nikki makes steps toward discovering who she really is and how to make her dreams come true.
For anyone who has gone through a divorce, Madame Mirabou's School of Love will ring true and hit deep in so many ways. The title is unfortunate, because it makes the book seem like fluffy chick lit when just the opposite is true. This is a poignant, touching look at what happens when life is turned upside-down and you have to discover how to move on.
Each character in Madame Mirabou's School of Love adds another dimension and plays an integral part of the story. Ms. Samuel’s writing style is warm, inviting and definitely moving. It will cause readers to examine their own emotions in light of characters who seem very real and true to life. This book will make you laugh and cry, and you won’t leave the reading unchanged. The smells and tastes in this novel are exquisitely described and make reading it an almost-sensual experience. Madame Mirabou's School of Love is highly recommended.
Nicole “Nikki” Bridges, reeling from the betrayal of her husband and their subsequent divorce, is stymied even further in her life when her house blows up due to a faulty furnace. Homeless, possession-less, and with her daughter touring Europe with her ex and his new wife, Nikki needs to figure out what to do ito get her life together again. She rents an apartment in a building nicknamed “Splitsville”, where she meets an intriguing group of neighbors. She spends her days working at an organic restaurant and dreaming of owning and making her own perfumes—a dream she has had and quashed for many years.
Through the encouragement (and sometimes without it) of friends and a newfound friend, possibly a love interest named Niraj, Nikki makes steps toward discovering who she really is and how to make her dreams come true.
For anyone who has gone through a divorce, Madame Mirabou's School of Love will ring true and hit deep in so many ways. The title is unfortunate, because it makes the book seem like fluffy chick lit when just the opposite is true. This is a poignant, touching look at what happens when life is turned upside-down and you have to discover how to move on.
Each character in Madame Mirabou's School of Love adds another dimension and plays an integral part of the story. Ms. Samuel’s writing style is warm, inviting and definitely moving. It will cause readers to examine their own emotions in light of characters who seem very real and true to life. This book will make you laugh and cry, and you won’t leave the reading unchanged. The smells and tastes in this novel are exquisitely described and make reading it an almost-sensual experience. Madame Mirabou's School of Love is highly recommended.
January 22, 2019
I love Barbara O'Neal, and I’m working my way through everything she’s written. I loved Nikki’s story arc, how she learned and grew, and was sad when the book ended because I wanted to spend more time in her world. I loved getting a glimpse into the perfume world, and now desperately want to visit Colorado (though every one of her books makes me want to visit CO!)
March 30, 2022
I liked the perfume angle in this story. Nikki has been obsessed with scents her whole life and her hobby is making custom perfumes for friends and family. Eventually, she decides to make it a business.
Nikki's life is in upheaval: recently divorced from a marriage that she thought was happy, her teenage daughter is living out of state with her father, and Nikki has to get a job to support herself for the first time since she was single. It's a lot, and Nikki doesn't handle it all perfectly, but I enjoyed reading about her journey.
There's some romance, and some messiness with new found friends, but mostly this is Nikki's story of finding out who she is as a forty-something woman.
The ending felt rushed, I wish there had been just a little more time to spend with these characters.
Nikki's life is in upheaval: recently divorced from a marriage that she thought was happy, her teenage daughter is living out of state with her father, and Nikki has to get a job to support herself for the first time since she was single. It's a lot, and Nikki doesn't handle it all perfectly, but I enjoyed reading about her journey.
There's some romance, and some messiness with new found friends, but mostly this is Nikki's story of finding out who she is as a forty-something woman.
The ending felt rushed, I wish there had been just a little more time to spend with these characters.
May 20, 2015
What do you do when your husband leaves you, the divorce is final, and basically all you get is the house that you subconsciously don’t want? You ignore the fact that the furnace needs repaired and let it blow up. Then you move to an apartment complex lovingly referred to as Splitsville by the tenants. So begins Madame Mirabou’s School of Love.
But if the title gives you visions of the female tenants of the complex receiving words of wisdom from a perpetually happily married matriarch while they all sip wine you’re going to be surprised.
This is a charming little book that lightly delves into the art of perfumery. Sprinkled throughout the narrative are descriptions of different scents, when to use them and the memories they invoke. This is a nice addition to the story; informative without being intrusive.
Nicole’s new life involves waiting tables at a local organic restaurant, helping her neighbors in Splitsville, coping with her daughter’s decision to live on the other side of the country with her father, and testing the waters of being a single woman again after so many years. Top it off with a little will-the-insurance-company-pay-up and what-to-do-with-the-rest-of-my-life quandaries and it all wraps up nicely.
This is a light book. With the exception of Madame Mirabou’s emotional instability, which is not dwelled on, nothing too depressing happens. This makes for a lovely get-away book, a good beach or vacation read.
As an audio book “reader” the narrator is very important to me. This one was great. The narration flowed nicely with different and distinctive voices for each character. The narrator’s voice was easy on the ears and added to the story unobtrusively. That may sound strange if you aren’t an audio book aficionado but those that listen to audio books a lot will know what I mean. The voice of the narrator should never remind you that they are narrating. There shouldn’t be a time when you are shocked out of the story-world by the narrator’s voice.
The one thing about this book that really stuck with me is how it made me more aware of how scents affect us. White Shoulders perfume reminds me of my Grandmother. Smoke from a brush fire reminds me of my ex and our firefighting days. The last state I lived in the air always smelled heavy and oppressive. Since I’ve returned to my home state I’ve noticed that the air has is lighter with light scents of Tide (from my neighbor’s laundry), grills firing off burgers and freshly mown grass. Is it always the scents that invoke these feelings? Or the fact that I’m back home where I love it that filters out unpleasant odors that would interfere with my feelings and memories? Weeks later I’m still thinking about this. Every time I encounter a new or strong scent I think of Madame Mirabou’s School of Love. And really, isn’t that what books are meant to do?
Madame Mirabou’s School of Love rates a 4 on my bookometer. It’s on my favorite list and there are a few friends that I will recommend it to.
But if the title gives you visions of the female tenants of the complex receiving words of wisdom from a perpetually happily married matriarch while they all sip wine you’re going to be surprised.
This is a charming little book that lightly delves into the art of perfumery. Sprinkled throughout the narrative are descriptions of different scents, when to use them and the memories they invoke. This is a nice addition to the story; informative without being intrusive.
Nicole’s new life involves waiting tables at a local organic restaurant, helping her neighbors in Splitsville, coping with her daughter’s decision to live on the other side of the country with her father, and testing the waters of being a single woman again after so many years. Top it off with a little will-the-insurance-company-pay-up and what-to-do-with-the-rest-of-my-life quandaries and it all wraps up nicely.
This is a light book. With the exception of Madame Mirabou’s emotional instability, which is not dwelled on, nothing too depressing happens. This makes for a lovely get-away book, a good beach or vacation read.
As an audio book “reader” the narrator is very important to me. This one was great. The narration flowed nicely with different and distinctive voices for each character. The narrator’s voice was easy on the ears and added to the story unobtrusively. That may sound strange if you aren’t an audio book aficionado but those that listen to audio books a lot will know what I mean. The voice of the narrator should never remind you that they are narrating. There shouldn’t be a time when you are shocked out of the story-world by the narrator’s voice.
The one thing about this book that really stuck with me is how it made me more aware of how scents affect us. White Shoulders perfume reminds me of my Grandmother. Smoke from a brush fire reminds me of my ex and our firefighting days. The last state I lived in the air always smelled heavy and oppressive. Since I’ve returned to my home state I’ve noticed that the air has is lighter with light scents of Tide (from my neighbor’s laundry), grills firing off burgers and freshly mown grass. Is it always the scents that invoke these feelings? Or the fact that I’m back home where I love it that filters out unpleasant odors that would interfere with my feelings and memories? Weeks later I’m still thinking about this. Every time I encounter a new or strong scent I think of Madame Mirabou’s School of Love. And really, isn’t that what books are meant to do?
Madame Mirabou’s School of Love rates a 4 on my bookometer. It’s on my favorite list and there are a few friends that I will recommend it to.
December 14, 2009
I enjoyed this so much. it was perfect light reading for a day at home nursing a slight cold. I love how the women band together, mostly do the right thing, forgive when necessary. I love that the main character is 40ish, plump and still beautiful, I loved the setting in the mountains of Colorado, enjoyed the sexy parts, and the cat and the perfumes and even Nikki's fear of spiders.
July 17, 2020
Something to read but not really worth the time.
March 8, 2018
Barbara O'Neal made me want to move to this place and befriend some of the characters!
July 12, 2018
What a fun read. A divorcee finds friendship, a lover, her sense of self, and a lifelong dream of opening her own perfume store!
Read
July 28, 2022I bought this book on audio (no edition for audio available as I write this) with an Audible Credit, because I thought it was a new book by Barbara O'Neal. It is a renaming of Madame Mirabou's School of Love. I like the new name better. I actually read it under the original title, though it only seemed familiar; I didn't really remember the story.
It is a good story that explains women's emotions after upheaval well. It shows that men are human and can act badly as well as good. She does not make men evil as some authors do.
The Goodreads summary of the book is essentially correct, but emphasizes the wrong parts of the book. The emphasis on the Madame Mirabou flyer is misplaced and there is virtually no mention of how Nikki grows and changes. This is a warm book that is great for soothing jangled nerves.
It is a good story that explains women's emotions after upheaval well. It shows that men are human and can act badly as well as good. She does not make men evil as some authors do.
The Goodreads summary of the book is essentially correct, but emphasizes the wrong parts of the book. The emphasis on the Madame Mirabou flyer is misplaced and there is virtually no mention of how Nikki grows and changes. This is a warm book that is great for soothing jangled nerves.
December 18, 2017
Don't let the title fool you; it doesn't truly reflect the narrative of this book at all.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
I had a hard time putting this quick read down. I was intrigued by the sensory aspect of this book. Nikki has had a love of perfume and scents all her life, and each chapter opens with notes on blending a perfume to reflect a specific time or person in her life. Not only still recovering from her divorce, she has to re-establish her life after her home is destroyed after a faulty furnace explodes one night. She settles into an apartment complex nicknamed Splitsville which reminded me somewhat of the apartment Frances moved into at the beginning of Under the Tuscan Sun.
I wish that this book had been expanded somewhat to deal more with race and other issues that are raised during the story. I also wanted to hear more from the character Mary and how she might have helped Nikki navigate life with a bi-racial daughter. I appreciated how race was gently added to the story instead of being dumped on us all at once.
My rating is 3.5 stars.
I had a hard time putting this quick read down. I was intrigued by the sensory aspect of this book. Nikki has had a love of perfume and scents all her life, and each chapter opens with notes on blending a perfume to reflect a specific time or person in her life. Not only still recovering from her divorce, she has to re-establish her life after her home is destroyed after a faulty furnace explodes one night. She settles into an apartment complex nicknamed Splitsville which reminded me somewhat of the apartment Frances moved into at the beginning of Under the Tuscan Sun.
I wish that this book had been expanded somewhat to deal more with race and other issues that are raised during the story. I also wanted to hear more from the character Mary and how she might have helped Nikki navigate life with a bi-racial daughter. I appreciated how race was gently added to the story instead of being dumped on us all at once.
November 9, 2018
Thought it'd be so different.
I have only read one other Barbara Samuel Book, Night of Fire, which I absolutely loved. While I knew this wasn't a historical, I thought I'd like the story. I didn't.
This was too depressing, even with some good things happening. I also don't like lots of F words, both C words and others in my stories. I thought this would be a nice, sweet story-not sickeningly, but a good one, but it was just too dark and left me feeling cold.
I have another book of hers ready to read that I bought, so I'll give that one a try.
I have only read one other Barbara Samuel Book, Night of Fire, which I absolutely loved. While I knew this wasn't a historical, I thought I'd like the story. I didn't.
This was too depressing, even with some good things happening. I also don't like lots of F words, both C words and others in my stories. I thought this would be a nice, sweet story-not sickeningly, but a good one, but it was just too dark and left me feeling cold.
I have another book of hers ready to read that I bought, so I'll give that one a try.
November 8, 2023
Overall, I enjoy books by author Barbara Samuel, but here, I'm sorry to say "The Scent of Hours" was not an enjoyable read. I didn't like the characters, especially when the book focused on their love entanglements, which were rather tiresome. Also, I've come to an age where erotic scenes have become so uninteresting to me. Suffice to say, I am not a fan of flaky characters. While I truly appreciate and prefer my characters to be flawed, I start to get irritated when they make bad decision after bad decision, after bad decision. Sorry to say this book wasn't for me.
October 22, 2022
a story of love, loss, and life
Barbara O’Neal never disappoints. I don’t remember how many of her novels I’ve read, but this one is among my favorites. I’m not, nor ever have been, in the predicament of our main character, but I’ve learned to remember how precious love is and how my life, as mundane as it sometimes feels, is precious and exciting and meaningful. And I’ll never forget that.
Barbara O’Neal never disappoints. I don’t remember how many of her novels I’ve read, but this one is among my favorites. I’m not, nor ever have been, in the predicament of our main character, but I’ve learned to remember how precious love is and how my life, as mundane as it sometimes feels, is precious and exciting and meaningful. And I’ll never forget that.
October 23, 2022
So very creative ...
I am a dedicated Barbara O'Neal fan, and this novel just strengthened my love of her writing. Her characters are complex and imperfect, totally believable. In The Scent of Hours the imaginative way Barbara describes the perfume aromas and relates them to scenes from Nikki's life is so very clever. This is another book that I couldn't put down but didn't want it to end. Just wonderful.
I am a dedicated Barbara O'Neal fan, and this novel just strengthened my love of her writing. Her characters are complex and imperfect, totally believable. In The Scent of Hours the imaginative way Barbara describes the perfume aromas and relates them to scenes from Nikki's life is so very clever. This is another book that I couldn't put down but didn't want it to end. Just wonderful.
March 8, 2023
Feel Good read
Wow, great story. I loved every minute, every character as if I knew them personally. The storyline is so hopeful and real. I laughed ghee, I shed a few tears and routed for Nikki and her relationship with Niraj. It was wonderfully written just like Ms. O’Neal‘s other great books! I highly recommend this author. Her stories are tales of women growing and finding themselves, their strengths and their happiness!
Wow, great story. I loved every minute, every character as if I knew them personally. The storyline is so hopeful and real. I laughed ghee, I shed a few tears and routed for Nikki and her relationship with Niraj. It was wonderfully written just like Ms. O’Neal‘s other great books! I highly recommend this author. Her stories are tales of women growing and finding themselves, their strengths and their happiness!
March 8, 2020
Another great read
So much of the story line in this book could have been chapters of my life. I have found an author who can stir up so many emotions in me. Her female characters are so real, not perfect and flawed but with redeeming qualities that you want to know them, to be them. These stories get better and better and I gave more to read. Definitely recommend.
So much of the story line in this book could have been chapters of my life. I have found an author who can stir up so many emotions in me. Her female characters are so real, not perfect and flawed but with redeeming qualities that you want to know them, to be them. These stories get better and better and I gave more to read. Definitely recommend.
December 26, 2023
This was a really interesting read by one of my favorite authors-Barbara O'Neal. I love that the main character is mature and not perfect. I also love learning about the making of perfume. The way the author added "journal" entries from the main character's scent journal was fascinating. I would definatly recommend this book to anyone.
December 11, 2020
Faye
Love her books! Am slowly working my way through them. She has such lovable characters. Needed a good story about women struggling to find their way and succeeding. Glad she has written so many. On to the next!
Love her books! Am slowly working my way through them. She has such lovable characters. Needed a good story about women struggling to find their way and succeeding. Glad she has written so many. On to the next!
October 10, 2021
Barbara Samuel/O'Neal is one of my favorite writers because I always learn something from her books, in this book it was interesting to learn about perfumes. Plus the story is entertaining and an easy read.
January 31, 2022
I love her later books and decided to take a peek at her writing early on. It’s good, a bit predictable. She has really stretched as an author in her latest books. I did love seeing whispers of where further books might lead.
September 4, 2022
Well written, bittersweet and satisfying, this story follows Nikki as she navigates her suddenly single life, struggling to adjust to a new job, a new home and new friends. Slowly, Nikki embraces her new life and finds joy in the new freedom. A great read!
February 15, 2023
Great book full of emotion
I loved this book, loved the characters, loved following the transition from one lifestyle to another, slowly and full of emotions but finally finding her own self worth.
I loved this book, loved the characters, loved following the transition from one lifestyle to another, slowly and full of emotions but finally finding her own self worth.
February 20, 2023
Lovely mesmerizing story
Romantic and so real! Her characters clearly expressed what many go through with a divorce or life change. I didn’t want to put this book away until i’d finished it completely. And, now I’m sad it’s over.
I cannot wait for Ms. O’Neal’s next book.
Romantic and so real! Her characters clearly expressed what many go through with a divorce or life change. I didn’t want to put this book away until i’d finished it completely. And, now I’m sad it’s over.
I cannot wait for Ms. O’Neal’s next book.
July 22, 2023
This followed the plot of many of O'Neal's (Samuel's) novels - a woman reinventing herself after one or more big life changes - and it was enjoyable, as always. But I particularly liked the perfume/fragrance details.
August 24, 2023
I loved it
It was just such a good story and so well written. I loved the words of description and how fluidly they fit into the narrative. It had everything. Love. Hate. Anxiety. Self actualization. Healing. Family. Understanding. Very full of life.
It was just such a good story and so well written. I loved the words of description and how fluidly they fit into the narrative. It had everything. Love. Hate. Anxiety. Self actualization. Healing. Family. Understanding. Very full of life.
August 25, 2023
The Scent of Hours
Barbara O'Neal is a favorite of mine. She never disappoints. This novel was not my favorite but still an enjoyable read. Many sad moments with happy ones discovered. Her description of the perfumes are wonderful.
I look forward to her next adventure!
Barbara O'Neal is a favorite of mine. She never disappoints. This novel was not my favorite but still an enjoyable read. Many sad moments with happy ones discovered. Her description of the perfumes are wonderful.
I look forward to her next adventure!
September 11, 2023
Great book for anyone who has been betrayed by their husband.
There's a lot of truism for those of us who have beenbetrayed. But there's so much more to the book. Great characters, great writing, great emotional and psychological insights.
There's a lot of truism for those of us who have beenbetrayed. But there's so much more to the book. Great characters, great writing, great emotional and psychological insights.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews