Wild Lavender

By: Belinda Alexandra

Narrated by: Kate Hood

Length: 20 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Simone Fleurier is wrenched from her home on a Provencal lavender farm at the age of 14 after the accidental death of her father. Forced to become a maid at the boarding house of her Aunt Augustine in Marseilles, Simone's life is hard and impoverished. But one of her aunt's boarders, the beautiful Camille Casal, a star at the local music hall, gives Simone a dream: that one day she too will be a famous singer and dancer. Years later, the famous Simone Fleurier, toast of Paris, watches Nazi troops occupy the city. Suddenly, her world is turned upside down, and Simone must make new and dangerous choices.

©2005 Belinda Alexandra (P)2005 Bolinda Publishing Pty. Ltd.

Boring

This book was very boring until part 3. At that point the story picked up. Otherwise I struggled to stay with it.

Beautiful story of strength and the ability to love again

Great story. Love all the characters. The history and the atrocities of war and the aftermath. The strength and ability to recover and learn to love and trust again. The only complaint that I have regarding the narrator is Kate Hood does a strange pause between sentences. Maybe just her style?? Otherwise perfect

Wonderful Historical Fiction!

I was sad when it was over-I definitely recommend this for you audible library. I enjoyed learning more about the time period between the wars in Europe through Belinda Alexandra's characters.

A passionate story of love and resilience.

This was a great listen. The story was well thought out and thorough. Every character had depth and was as believable and real as a person standing beside you.

Mediocre

The first two thirds seemed shallow and a waste of my time, and I almost gave up on it. The last third, however, was different and partially redeemed the story. I must admit that the weakness of the first 2/3 may have enhanced the strength of the last 1/3.

Loved this book!

This book actually had me listening outside of my car (my only usual audiobook spot). The story was rich and engaging. I enjoyed the narrator a lot, the only thing that bugged me with her reading was the heroine's voice early in the book - it was super high pitched and annoyed me, but once I realized she was trying to portray the youth through that, I got over it. It was very well researched and made me wonder if it was based on a real person (it wasn't). Best book I've "read" in a while.

Excellent!

Almost passed this one by. So glad I decided to give it a go. Amazing WWII history, well developed story and characters.

An Extrodinary Story

I want everyone to hear this wonderful story. It is one of the best I have ever heard (read) and will remain one of my favorites. I know I am in love with Simone Fluerier the main character. The novel is filled with suspense, merriment, love, sadness and other emotions that follow us through life. Kate Hood's narration is superb and she has command of all the varied voices in this book.
Historians of this period 1930-1945 will find this novel highly researched and informative equal to any historical fiction even though the book is not. I felt as though I was in Paris as the Germans filled the city. Don't miss this one if you like life stories wonderfully told.

Wild Lavender

Time is the 1920s through the end of WWII. The story is one of a naive girl is swept to stardom during the rise of Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich in Germany. Sleazy bars where drugs and trans entertainers are lauded to elegant entertainment stages through France, Germany, New York, with little name dropping cameos by Marlene Deitrich, F. Scott Fitzgerald, the Gershwin brothers, Ziegfeld, Ruby Keeler, Al Jolson, Durante, etc.

Wild Lavender is essentially a love story between a cabaret-style entertainer and a priest - the two being raised together from childhood and he sheltering her from the Nazis when they are adults. She’s been mad about him since they were kids, but he has felt obligated to the church. The plot is a familiar one - priest and damsel in distress - some parts made me think of The Thornbirds, but Wild Lavender isn't nearly as good.

No explicit language or sex scenes. If you’re interested in WWII, you might find it interesting - but it’s not a the typical ‘war’ book - think more along the lines of the musical Cabaret.

Audiobook narrated by Kate Hood - no issues with narration, about 20 hours in listening, released by Bolinda Publishing to Audible in 2005.

Wonderful historic novel.

Where does Wild Lavender rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

In the top 10.

What other book might you compare Wild Lavender to and why?

The Tea Rose - for its terrific heroine.

What about Kate Hood’s performance did you like?

Love her voices and accents.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I cried many times in the book, there are a great number of moments which make you laugh or cry!

Any additional comments?

Loved this story and have since listened to 2 more of this author's novels. I love how she weaves history into fiction.