The Book of Lost Fragrances (Reincarnationist, #4) by M.J. Rose

Apr 19, 2012 Carol Waller rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Finished it. Probably against my better judgement.

Overly wrought and complicated, as many threads as the Bayeaux Tapestry. I think it suffered from not having a strong editor. Plot basics, fine. Conversations, a bit wooden. Exposition, way too much pointless and unused details. And just the sheer number of characters thrown on the pages, almost as if let's just see what sticks.

1. Bring in the stepmom for barely two page mention. Why didn't she get some control of the family business? And after...more Finished it. Probably against my better judgement.

Overly wrought and complicated, as many threads as the Bayeaux Tapestry. I think it suffered from not having a strong editor. Plot basics, fine. Conversations, a bit wooden. Exposition, way too much pointless and unused details. And just the sheer number of characters thrown on the pages, almost as if let's just see what sticks.

1. Bring in the stepmom for barely two page mention. Why didn't she get some control of the family business? And after Dad's illness we get another character as caretaker.
2. Not just a "we are being followed", but a silly throwaway about converting microwave to electrical energy?
3. "I am a skeptic because I'm a scientist" but really she's just a American reality TV "star".
4. Oooh, the house may be bugged so let's talk in a restaurant and in the garden. But using the house wifi, yes, that's secure.
5. Can we go more than five pages without "ah, soulmates"? Lost in time, together forever, blah, blah, blah. Until you actually get to the point of meh, who cares.
6. Foreshadowing and flashbacks both done with the subtle touch of a cast iron skillet.
7. I keep hearing "Mama, We're all Crazy Now" as the soundtrack.
8. I had a miserable life (but my brother turned out great), so I became the kind of person who goes up to stranger's children to tell them THE TRUTH about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy. It's hard to having such an unlikable protagonist.
9. Let's see: the China "Chinese" guy & his girlfriend & prof & spy & friend/spy, the Paris Chinese girl & her father figure/boyfriend & company, the Paris police, the old and current Egyptologist (one actually being a perfumer), the nun/fiancée, the brother, the father figure/doctor, the really inept spies/mercenaries, the father, the dead mother, the grandparents & aunt, the stepmom, the caretaker, the Egyptian lovers and pursuers, the whole Dalai Lama organization, the fake Dalai Lama people (see previous) who also turn out to be brother's lover-whew, I think I caught most of the list.
10. Only Caucasians call them Triads, but that's what we will call ourselves only a few pages later and throughout the book??
11. 1798, Napolean goes to Egypt. ~1794, Reign of Terror ends. But girlfriend/nun/fiancée dies in the Terror AFTER dude dies in Egypt with Napolean. No evidence of blue British police box so far but would seem to be necessary to explain discrepancy.
12. Dude dies in Egypt but also brought back all this stuff - obelisk, jars, stories, etc. so far only 1 trip to Egypt defined. Brought, not shipped, brought back. Again, missing large blue box that's bigger on the inside.
13. Oh, wait. Not dead. Either of them. See #5, ad nasuem. And really, waltzes back into life in Paris after being dead in Egypt and even the family does not remember?
14. And of course, that free sample of perfume you were supposed to get if you pre-ordered the book. Never got it. Never got a response to the email either. Scamarama.

Yeah, really needed an editor. (less)

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Feb 16, 2012 Bonnie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, arcs-read, adult, netgalley, mythology-egyptian

Edited 2/16/2012: One of my blog readers was kind enough to forward my review on to the author and she was in turn kind enough to provide me with proof that fantastical is indeed a word.

I stand corrected.

__________________

The Book of Lost Fragrances was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Simon & Schuster, Inc..
Expected Publication Date: March 13th 2012

Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!

2.5 stars

Storyline

Jac L’Etoile escapes to America after the suicide of her mother. Her bro...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Holly Weiss rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, to-review, 2012-release

A French perfumer is commissioned in the 1800s to recreate a scent formula from Cleopatra’s fragrance factory. It is believed that those who smell the euphoric scent find a portal to past lives. The Book of Lost Fragrances—part thriller, part ancient history, and part romance—surprises on many levels.

Martyred Tibetan monks attempting to prove reincarnation. Napoleon. Cleopatra’s secret soul-mate fragrance formula. A modern day near-bankrupt perfume company. The famous 18th century French L’Etoil...more A French perfumer is commissioned in the 1800s to recreate a scent formula from Cleopatra’s fragrance factory. It is believed that those who smell the euphoric scent find a portal to past lives. The Book of Lost Fragrances—part thriller, part ancient history, and part romance—surprises on many levels.

Martyred Tibetan monks attempting to prove reincarnation. Napoleon. Cleopatra’s secret soul-mate fragrance formula. A modern day near-bankrupt perfume company. The famous 18th century French L’Etoile House of Fragrance. Children cooking up scents to be used as a secret language for the nose. A jazz musician and martial arts instructor tied to the Chinese mafia. A past-life therapist.

All are linked by a secret fragrance.

Jac L’Etoile, haunted by the past and her psychotic episodes, tries to cope when her brother, Robbie, disappears. Preferring to live in reality, Jac reluctantly delves into the hazy history of her family’s two hundred and fifty year old perfume business to find her brother and save their legacy.

Well-known for her erotic thrillers, best selling author, M. J. Rose, produces a new historical fiction suspense novel. Fascinated with reincarnation, as evidenced by her three-book Reincarnationist series, Ms. Rose imbues her new novel with a unique plot line.

This is bold writing with an intriguing, original plot. Ms. Rose is a master of intrigue. Suspense and sensuality build through the novel as the characters embark on separate treasure hunts for the mysterious fragrance. While the plot concept is compelling, the execution is less impressive. The novel is overpopulated, dampening its intensity. The story line digresses into so many changing points of view and scenes that the reading is frustrating. The many elements are fascinating and informative, but don’t relate well to each other. Finally, congruence is found but seems forced. If the reader is patient, the last third of the novel satisfies as an electrifying thriller. The book’s most interesting elements are the art of fragrance making, the reoccurring link to reincarnation, and unexpected rekindled romance.

Atria Books through Netgalley graciously provided the review copy.

Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
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Aug 04, 2012 Kristin Lundgren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: artifact-thriller, egypt, paranormal, thriller

This is a very unusual book that draw you deep into the perfumer's world. At the heart of it are Jac E'Toile and her brother Robbie,the heirs to a great and old line of perfumers in Paris; Griffin North, an old friend and scholar; and Malachai, Jac's old psychologist, who helped her after her mother's suicide. Jac has left the perfume house in Paris to the care of her aging father with Alzheimer's and her brother, and gone into the study of myths in New York. She experienced a lot of "hallucinat...more This is a very unusual book that draw you deep into the perfumer's world. At the heart of it are Jac E'Toile and her brother Robbie,the heirs to a great and old line of perfumers in Paris; Griffin North, an old friend and scholar; and Malachai, Jac's old psychologist, who helped her after her mother's suicide. Jac has left the perfume house in Paris to the care of her aging father with Alzheimer's and her brother, and gone into the study of myths in New York. She experienced a lot of "hallucinations" as a child, and Malachai was there to help her understand them and process it, although they disagreed about the source of the visions. Meanwhile, in Paris, Robbie was trying to hold the perfume house together without the necessity of selling off a couple of their top perfumes, which Jac wants to do. It has kept them estranged. He searches for a book of fragrances, supposedly with the secret to a perfume that will aid in remembrances, of past-lives. Robbie became a Buddhist and he wants to find the secret, so that the Dalai Lama can use it in his propaganda war with the Chinese, who have cracked down on reincarnations and the old way of finding the new Dalai Lama - finding a child who recognizes things of the current or newly deceased Dalai. Griffin is an archaeologist, an Egyptologist, and when Robbie finds a piece of broken pottery with hieroglyphics on it, and some scent still remaining in the mess that his father left, he brings in Griffin to decipher it, hoping the key to the perfume is written on the jar. But before they can get far, Robbie is attacked, escapes, but many are out to stop him, or take it for their own. Add in a young Chinese art student and you have a complex web of intrigue, politics, and ancient secrets, all blended together, with superb top notes,and a solid base to give a pleasing glimpse into the world of perfume. A nice appendix and glossary are attached to add some depth to the book. The only quibble is that the title, "The Book of Lost Fragrances" is really only a minor piece of the story.(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Marie Z. Johansen rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have to admit to being a long time fan of M.J. Rose but I think that this is her best yet, although I was, and am, a huge fan of The Reincarnationist. Ostensibly this book it is to be one in a series but I find that this is a solid stand alone book. MJ Rose has an excellent trailer video about the book on her website - and you also find information about about the Joya fragrance that was inspired by the book on her website as well..

This book has all of the elements that make heart sing when I...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am quite surprised by how much I liked this book. The title really intrigued me when I saw it on Netgalley.com and I decided to give it a try. It had something for everyone. There was mystery, intrigue, politics, fantasy, action, romance and adventure. I don’t much care about the romance part of it but, in some ways it is the crux of the story. In other ways, it is a byproduct of one of the key elements of the story. I am not sure how I feel about the ending but, I can say that even if it did...more I am quite surprised by how much I liked this book. The title really intrigued me when I saw it on Netgalley.com and I decided to give it a try. It had something for everyone. There was mystery, intrigue, politics, fantasy, action, romance and adventure. I don’t much care about the romance part of it but, in some ways it is the crux of the story. In other ways, it is a byproduct of one of the key elements of the story. I am not sure how I feel about the ending but, I can say that even if it did not end exactly as I expected there was something unexpected and wonderful at the end.

One of the best things about this book is having multiple locations in the story like Paris, France, along with China, Tibet, and even Egypt. What makes it even more interesting is that the story is told in multiple periods in most of these locations. There is a historical aspect of the book and I like how some of the past is revealed. I don’t think I have ever read a book that covers the topic of reincarnation or Tibet. The relationship between China and Tibet is one of the main storylines of this book and is a merging of fiction based upon fact and M. J. Rose did a good job on the research of the political situation and the life of Tibetan monks and nuns. There was a good history given of fragrance creation and it was I am quite surprised by how much I liked this book. The title really intrigued me when I saw it on Netgalley.com and I decided to give it a try. It had something for everyone. There was mystery, intrigue, politics, fantasy, action, romance and adventure. I don’t much care about the romance part of it but, in some ways it is the crux of the story. In other ways, it is a byproduct of one of the key elements of the story. I am not sure how I feel about the ending but, I can say that even if it did not end exactly as I expected there was something unexpectfascinating learning about Cleopatra and her relationship to perfumes. I had no idea that there were Tibetan nuns. I thought nuns were typically Catholic. It was great to read about Buddhism and the relationship between China and the intricacies of reincarnation.

The characters and their development play a huge role in this book. The author did an excellent job describing the trials of mental illness and the effects it can have on a family. Another great aspect of this book was the in-depth history of the L’Etoile family and their perfume boutique and how the family created the perfumes by hand. There was a good history of each generation as they created the perfumes. Of particular interest was one of the ancestors, Giles, and the time he spent time in Egypt and how one of his discoveries affected the lives of future generations of L’Etoiles.
I was a bit worried that the book was more on the romance side and not something I would enjoy, but, I did stick with it and I was so happy I did by the end of the book. The author did a good job of covering all of the topics and it was very well written. I was a little confused in one of the areas where the past converged on the present, how it happened, and who was actually involved. Despite that, I think that she will attract a large, diverse group of readers and few will walk away from it not finding something they loved about it. For me it was the intrigue, history and art in Paris.

Review can also be found at http://LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspo...(less)

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Mar 02, 2012 Michelle/ The True Book Addict rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, for-review, book-tour-books, historical-fiction, read-in-2012

Once again, I am fascinated and impressed with Rose's knowledge of reincarnation. By now, everyone knows about my interest and belief in the subject and I truly never tire of reading about it, whether it be in a fictional context or in non-fiction (although some may argue that it's all fictional). What I like about Rose's portrayal of the subject is her incorporation of it with history, as well as the current events of the day.

In this book, the fourth installment in The Reincarnationist series,...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Linda A rated it 5 of 5 stars

Adding this to my top 10 books. Wow is all I can say. Ancient Egypt, Tibetian Buddhism, China, Paris, past lives, all are excellantly woven in a fictional story that depending on your belief system holds a truth that has survived beyond the ages. Beautifully written, historical facts make this effort my M.J. Rose a stride out in front winner. If reincarnation is of interest to you then you will be richly rewarded with every turn of the page.

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Feb 22, 2013 Linda Crook rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2013

Neat premise, but I was hoping for something a little more The Historian and a little less The Da Vinci Code. Ebook readers, be forewarned - the text ends about 85% of the way through the file, followed by a glossary and sample chapters.
Updated to add: I didn't realize this was the middle of a series. It's probably more enjoyable in context.

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Oct 25, 2012 Julie55 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book.
It took me on an interesting journey.
It didn't have a strong ending.
Felt a little let down.Left me a little disappointed.
The writing style and story line definately became weaker towards the end.
Wanted to give it a good solid 4 but think a 3.5 would be closer to the mark.

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Jan 06, 2013 Kristine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-groups, mystery, historic-fiction

It's a pity this book didn't come with scratch 'n sniff fragrances. I can hardly think of a book so dominated by the sense of smell, but should that be such a surprise for something titled THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES whose plot involves many-generations of a family of perfume makers and a possible tie to the legendary ancient perfume "recipe" commissioned by Cleopatra to evoke memories of a person's past lives?

At first glance, it seems an odd choice for a book group. The premise is rather un...more
It's a pity this book didn't come with scratch 'n sniff fragrances. I can hardly think of a book so dominated by the sense of smell, but should that be such a surprise for something titled THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES whose plot involves many-generations of a family of perfume makers and a possible tie to the legendary ancient perfume "recipe" commissioned by Cleopatra to evoke memories of a person's past lives?

At first glance, it seems an odd choice for a book group. The premise is rather unorthodox, and it's a mystery --apparently #4 in a series -- and mysteries tend to offer thin hooks for discussion. Yet, there are multiple plot lines encompassing various countries (and time periods) including France, Egypt, the US, Tibet, and China.

Moreover, the book has a dizzying group of both fictional and non-fictional characters, with a key scene with the Dalai Lama, so I suspect a book group will not be at a complete loss for talking points, particularly given the reincarnation backdrop, family and love relationships, a Paris setting incorporating the underground world of the catacombs, the author's carefully researched perfume industry information, the China-Tibet political reality, the artist Panchen Lama kidnapping/defection issues, and the connection posed between mental illness/past life memories for the main character.

What I can say about this book is this: it's entertaining, but it's messy. First, the handling of the plot concerning the mental illness treatments over many years by a therapist "friend" (who is also duplicitous) bothered me; the author does present the visions to READERS as past life stories that are simply not accepted by the skeptical modern day character Jac, but she fears she is losing her grip on reality -- and that made me vaguely uneasy.

Second, several threads that seem to be disconnected have to all come together for the ending, typical of a mystery, but that means the reader's focus is disconnected at the beginning when the chapters jump from one group of characters and plot to another.

Third, although mysteries have murders and violence as the fabric of the genre, mixing fictional and real world persons in a mystery with such violent scenes, especially the Dalai Lama scene, evokes discomfort in me. I'm not sure why, but there it is.

Finally, I've not read anything quite like this previously, so kudos to the creative spirit and writing talent of the author. Indeed, if I bumped into another of the author's books, particularly in the right moment, I'd likely grab it, curious to see what else she could concoct for a reader's pleasure!

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Jan 04, 2013 Hope rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, general-fiction

Honestly, I just wasn't impressed with this book! I tried to get all excited about it! I really did! I checked it out 4 times from the library before I got to read it, I was that determined. Alas... it was mediocre at best. Now of course this is only my opinion and that isn't worth anything. You must also recognize that you can read a book and dislike it and then read it again in a couple of years and it's suddenly fabulous! This is not something I'll reread.

The premise is that somewhere, lost i...more Honestly, I just wasn't impressed with this book! I tried to get all excited about it! I really did! I checked it out 4 times from the library before I got to read it, I was that determined. Alas... it was mediocre at best. Now of course this is only my opinion and that isn't worth anything. You must also recognize that you can read a book and dislike it and then read it again in a couple of years and it's suddenly fabulous! This is not something I'll reread.

The premise is that somewhere, lost in the annals of time, is a perfume that makes the wearer... I guess "smeller" is more the truth... remember their past lives and by doing so you can avoid pitfalls and regrets. There was a TON of research done for this book and it was done well! So much so that it makes me want to research the perfume industry too! That part I liked. It was the actual characters that just didn't grab and hold me. They were nice people, in the end I just couldn't care what happened to them and that is so sad to me. I really tried to like the book. I liked the subject, I liked the idea of the characters, there was just so much that wasn't resolved, so many rabbit trails I would have liked to follow but wasn't allowed to. The book is touted a "a novel of suspense" but there wasn't much suspense that I could find!

Lastly, when I took the time to think about it, I wouldn't want to know my past life. I wouldn't want to know the decisions I took that made things better or worse. I want to live this life fully, without having to carry that knowledge!

So there you have it. I'm sure this book will be immensely appealing to some, I'm just not that some. :-)

From Goodreads.com:
The Book of Lost Fragrances
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The Book of Lost Fragrances (The Reincarnationist #4)
by M.J. Rose (Goodreads Author)
3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 1,111 ratings · 384 reviews
A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra—and lost for 2,000 years.

Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances—and of her mother’s suicide—she moves to America, leaving the company in the hands of her brother Robbie. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing—leaving a dead body in his wake—Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac discovers a secret the House of L’Etoile has been hiding since 1799: a scent that unlocks the mysteries of reincarnation. The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.((less)

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Nov 03, 2012 Robert Carraher rated it 5 of 5 stars

A deeply satisfying mixture of Ann Rice (Vampire Series, Mayfair Witches) meets Dan Brown (Da Vinci Code), M.J. Rose crafts a tale that combines obscure history with modern day current events into a Gothic suspense thriller in the vein of Cornell Woolrich. It’s also a romance spanning two thousand years of history from Cleopatra’s Egypt, and her Persimmon Groves, to Ancient and modern Tibet, China to New York City and Revolutionary France to the current day beauty of Paris. It lures the reader i...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Ashland Mystery Oregon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: culinary-narratives

A legendary Parisian house of perfume is falling behind the times, and the heirs struggle with each other and with tradition, whether to save the brand or let it falter. Rob seeks his family's ancient Egyptian formula for a mysterious perfume to revive the family's fortune and name. It's his sister Jac though who unknowingly carries the perfume's secret.

The life of scent fills your mind as you read the narrative: how it powers memory, suggests a dream and explains the present.

Fantastical, whirli...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Bibliojunkies added it

Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances – and of her mother’s suicide – she moved to America.

Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it’s financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing – leavi...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Lisa Ann rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller-general, mystery, history

I recommend this book to those who enjoy a female protagonist, find that perfume evokes all sorts of memories and emotions, and enjoy historical thrillers. I didn't realize it was the 4th in a Reincarnation series by this writer, but I am sufficiently intrigued to check out her other reads. My new work location is right near the Clarence Dillon Library in Far Hills, and it is a treat to go there at lunch, sip coffee and take a mental break!

Anyway, a quick Amazon search, will give you a good feel...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Laurie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked this book up and put it down several times. Fragrances? Ancient Egypt? Yes, please. But… international intrigue? Thriller? Not my thing. But… fragrance as proof of reincarnation? Paris catacombs? Oh, what the heck. I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did, because from the first lines of the book I was hooked.

Jac and Robbie L’Etoile have a mess to deal with- their father, in the grip of dementia, has sunk the family perfume business deep into debt. The only way out seems to be to sell the r...more I picked this book up and put it down several times. Fragrances? Ancient Egypt? Yes, please. But… international intrigue? Thriller? Not my thing. But… fragrance as proof of reincarnation? Paris catacombs? Oh, what the heck. I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did, because from the first lines of the book I was hooked.

Jac and Robbie L’Etoile have a mess to deal with- their father, in the grip of dementia, has sunk the family perfume business deep into debt. The only way out seems to be to sell the rights and formulas to a couple of the company’s best sellers- but Robbie won’t do it. His attention is consumed by some ancient Egyptian pottery fragments he’s found in the building that holds the family house, perfume lab, and retail store. Imbued with a fragrance over two thousand years old, he feels the scent is the key to remembering past lives. As a Buddhist, this is a very big thing to Robbie: proof of reincarnation. But he’s not the only one who thinks the scent is important; a past life therapist and the Chinese government also want it. What ensues is a mesh of storylines: Robbie disappears, Jac wants to find him, and several people want the shards and their scent.

Some of the storylines are compelling (the search for a missing brother, the ancient fragrance itself, the lamas), some merely interesting (the Chinese Triad members); the characters were all interesting (none are deep, but they are all distinct- and some are not what you think they are at all), and the settings are marvelous. Rose’s strength seems to be in creating an atmosphere that the reader can fall into with all senses. The physical beauty of the house and perfume workshop; the dank, damp mystery of the Paris catacombs; the austerity of the Chinese calligraphy artist’s life; the heat of the Egyptian desert of Cleopatra’s time are all brought vividly to life.

It’s a marvelous mix of the psychological, supernatural and political; a blend you wouldn’t think would work but does, seamlessly.
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Jul 27, 2012 Farrah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-reviews, e-books

First, GORGEOUS cover. I read the digital format but seriously I need to get this book in hardback for 2 reasons. One, GORGEOUS cover…yes I’m saying it again. Can’t help it, I judge books by their covers at first glance, and Rose had me at first glance prior to reading the book summary. Second, it’s a book I could definitely see me reading again.

I was transported between places and times, chapter to chapter, filled with history in the ancient ways, legends, beliefs on past lives and reincarnatio...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Connie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished

I had previously read this author's "The Reincarnationist". It was over two years ago. I remember being somewhat disappointed in it, but couldn't tell you an exact reason.

In this, her most recent novel, M.J. Rose again visits the subtle and fascinating world of past life echoes, over-layered with tense political drama. Well-crafted, with no jarring character notes, the plot flows and builds at a steady pace. Although one can guess what the final crisis will be, the outcome is not a given, and th...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Pinal County Library District rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: staff-picks, mystery, historical-fiction

The Book of Lost Fragrances is a beautifully written novel of suspense. Reincarnation, Tibet, China, Napoleon, Paris, Egypt, and New York all play a part in this story as we follow two star-crossed lovers from ancient Egypt to the present day.

As a centuries old French perfumery — now owned by siblings Robbie & Jac L’Etoile — heads toward bankruptcy, pottery shards are discovered that their ancestor recovered from a tomb in Egypt while traveling with Napoleon. The hieroglyphics on them hint a...more

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Jun 21, 2012 Suspense Magazine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Here’s something a bit different. This exotic, intriguing book is called “a novel of suspense” on the cover, but there are elements of thriller, family saga, and romance sprinkled in.
The House of L’Etoile, a French perfume company that has been in the L’Etoile family for generations, has fallen upon hard times. The present owners—brother and sister, Robbie and Jac—differ on how to save the business, to the point of estrangement. Jac is a mythology expert who has her own cable TV show and has bui...more Here’s something a bit different. This exotic, intriguing book is called “a novel of suspense” on the cover, but there are elements of thriller, family saga, and romance sprinkled in.
The House of L’Etoile, a French perfume company that has been in the L’Etoile family for generations, has fallen upon hard times. The present owners—brother and sister, Robbie and Jac—differ on how to save the business, to the point of estrangement. Jac is a mythology expert who has her own cable TV show and has built her career off demystifying myths, finding the actual historical roots many of them sprang from. One such myth is her ancestor’s tale of the Fragrance of Memory, a perfume that makes you remember things, maybe even past lives.
Since their father was declared incompetent six months ago (their mother died when they were children), Robbie has been running the business in Paris. Only after Robbie, a student of Buddhism in recent years, took the reins did the siblings realize how close to bankruptcy they are.
One solution to their woes would be to sell their two most popular lines, Rouge and Noir. But the two have very different ideas about this. Past lovers intrude into their lives and Jac fights to retain her fragile grip on sanity, earned after a stay in a mental institution when she was in her teens.
Everything swirls around a vial of ancient perfume and its recipe, said to have been found in the tomb of two lovers, by Gile L’Etoile, perfumer to Napoléon. Some pieces of inscribed, broken pottery, found in their father’s disorganized workshop, may be the remnants of that vial. But, if they are, international rival groups, as well as some unexpected others, are quite determined to get their hands on the shards. The cost of human life isn’t counted very high to some of them.
The novel ranges the globe, but I would give away too much if I told you where you’ll end up for the breathless conclusion.

Reviewed by Kaye George, Author of “Choke”, for Suspense Magazine
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May 29, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 4 of 5 stars

THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES by M.J. Rose is a suspense/thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. It weaves reincarnation,intrigue,perfumery,a book of scents,suspense,legends,Egypt,family secrets,murder,mystery,and romance.What an intense thriller that you can almost smell the fragrances from the pages of “The Book of Lost Fragrances”. Jac L’Etoile haunted by visions of a past and exotic smells,her mother’s suicide,she embarks on a career as a mythologist T.V. personality. Her brother...more

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Apr 27, 2012 KP rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recently, I had the opportunity to pick up a Galley of MJ Rose’s The Book of Lost Fragrances. Lately, I seem to have been spending a lot of time with books of the paranormal, dystopian, or fantasy genre, so I was surprised when I read about this book and couldn’t get it off my mind. The synopsis was awesome and pulled me in right away. Here’s the synopsis from Amazon.com:

“A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualit...more Recently, I had the opportunity to pick up a Galley of MJ Rose’s The Book of Lost Fragrances. Lately, I seem to have been spending a lot of time with books of the paranormal, dystopian, or fantasy genre, so I was surprised when I read about this book and couldn’t get it off my mind. The synopsis was awesome and pulled me in right away. Here’s the synopsis from Amazon.com:

“A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra–and lost for 2,000 years.

Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances–and of her mother’s suicide–she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it’s financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing–leaving a dead body in his wake–Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.

Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L’Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation – or is it just another dream infused perfume?

The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.”

So, let me cut to the chase…this book not only sounded amazing in the synopsis-It was amazing! MJ Rose proves herself to be a master storyteller as she weaves the past and present together. As a reader, I found myself falling in love with the main characters Jac, Robbie, and Griffin. When it comes to romance, this isn’t your classic fairytale romance. It’s beautiful and delicious and a bit messy. That being said, it’s the kind of love little girls dream of despite the messiness. I could imagine myself in the room with Jac and Griffin-feel their pain and love-get sucked into what is clearly a mystery in and of itself. There are a couple of love scenes in which MJ Rose wraps you up in her words as easy as it is to get wrapped up in your own sheets! I found myself transported into each scene and having to catch my breath where Jac and Griffin were concerned.

The story line weaves itself through New York, Paris, China, Tibet, and Egypt. As much as I hungered to find out more about Jac and Griffin, I found myself tearing through the pages in order to figure out just what was happening with Robbie and the mysterious fragrance. Which brings us to the smells. First, let me say I had no idea there was so much to fragrances! And while MJ Rose allowed me to see and understand bits and pieces of a life of a perfumer, what she did even better was allow me to smell the different scents through the use of her words and descriptions. It has made me much more aware of the smells around me as I go throughout my day.

Rose introduces characters from the past and the present that you crave to know more about. Giles L’etoile, Marie-Genevieve, Xie, the Dali Lama, and yes, even Valentine…all of these characters find their way in and out of the story line helping to create several storylines at once. Each one stands on it’s own and adds another layer to the other at the same time.

This book is full of suspense, mystery, and romance. The Book of Lost Fragrances doesn’t need fantasy or the paranormal to make it wonderful. It creates enough magic all on its own. Published by Atria Books, and released on March 13, 2012, I give it 5 out of 5 books.(less)

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Apr 22, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

My thoughts about The Book of Lost Fragrances:

I've read that the author burned highly perfumed candles while crafting this hypnotic story and I can see why. Layer upon layer of stories and characters, drifting back and forth over two thousand years of fragrances make this a winner.

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book as I've always been someone who associates fragrances, scents and smells with people and memories in my own life. Whenever I smell juniper trees it reminds me of a treasur...more My thoughts about The Book of Lost Fragrances:

I've read that the author burned highly perfumed candles while crafting this hypnotic story and I can see why. Layer upon layer of stories and characters, drifting back and forth over two thousand years of fragrances make this a winner.

I was intrigued by the synopsis of this book as I've always been someone who associates fragrances, scents and smells with people and memories in my own life. Whenever I smell juniper trees it reminds me of a treasured great aunt, whose old house on a hill was surrounded by them, and in the air, after a rain, the scents of the junipers that filled the air were like perfume to me. Fresh baked bread always takes me back to my grandmother's kitchen as us kids waited for the bread to cool so she could slice into it and then thickly smear on the lusciously fragrant home made strawberry jam. I'll never pass a fragrance counter without stopping at the Joy bottle and spritzing a bit on my wrist so the wafts bring my Mom back to me.

These are the sorts of things that permeate M. J. Rose's The Book of Lost Fragrances. It wasn't until I had finished the book and sat down to write this review that I learned that this is part of M.J. Rose's Reincarnationist series, don't let that scare you away from this book, it's fabulous on its own.

I liked that Rose told the story from multiple perspectives as it helped the story flow a bit easier. Sometimes the many plots and stories could get a bit confusing, but I was so entranced with the book that I just kept reading. I don't believe in reincarnation, but I accepted it as a plot device that made the ancient Egyptian plot lines easy to buy into, even though I easily saw some twists and turns coming.

All in all, I would have liked a bit more character development as I really like to know the characters, but I suppose the author gave us what she felt the readers needed. It's sure a mystical read!

I give this one 4 stars out of 5.

**This was provided to me by the publishers through NetGalley and that in no way affected my ability to write an honest review. (less)

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Apr 15, 2012 Elizabeth B rated it 3 of 5 stars

If you have seen the movie The Red Violin (which I dearly love) you will understand that this book seems to follow the same premise: one object (in this case, a fragrance) that travels through time and generations with each time period getting it's own story and plot with the thread of the objects discovery in modern time. The stories were not as interesting or emotional as the Red Violin but the similarities to the plotline are the same. Although the characters didn't seem fully developed, the...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Martha Bryce rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-love-the-cover

Since I loved The Memorist and The Reincarnationist, I ordered The Book of Lost Fragrances as soon as I found out about it. As usual, MJ Rose has crafted a lovely book, full of gorgeous imagery, haunting relationships in an atmosphere that is rich in details of the past and present. I did enjoy the book, although I felt that the main character, Jacinthe (Jac) was rather short sighted and self absorbed. After her mother's death, the very young Jac was diagnosed as psychotic. She found surcease th...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars

You may also read my review here: http://www.mybookishways.com/2012/04/...

The Book of Lost Fragrances was a nice change of pace for me. Jac L’etoile is a woman haunted by her past and also by the auditory and visual hallucinations she’s had as a child. Smell is a huge component of that, having been raised in a family of perfumers, and she has a natural ability for fragrance. However, she’s chosen a different path, as the creator and producer of Mythfinders, which originally sought to debunk myth...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Present Day

Jac L’Etoile is a celebrity. She has a book out titled Mythfinders and a television show by the same name. What started out as a way to prove that myths are not real, has turned out to be something more. In the process of Jac’s show, she can not help but admit a little to herself that myths are built around some truth. Instead of following in her family’s foot steps and becoming a perfumer, Jac became an explorer of ancient myths.

One that is a myth…a perfume that is known as the frag...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Carolyn Hill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Three and a half stars. This book had a lot going for it - various elements that I find intriguing all in one package: a romantic thriller with a theme of reincarnation, flashbacks to past lives including ancient Egypt and the reign of terror in France, soul mates, the history of perfume, the suppression of Tibetan Buddhism by China, and a setting in (and underground) modern day Paris. Scent is known to trigger memories, and at the heart of the story is a broken pottery jar from Cleopatra's Egyp...more Three and a half stars. This book had a lot going for it - various elements that I find intriguing all in one package: a romantic thriller with a theme of reincarnation, flashbacks to past lives including ancient Egypt and the reign of terror in France, soul mates, the history of perfume, the suppression of Tibetan Buddhism by China, and a setting in (and underground) modern day Paris. Scent is known to trigger memories, and at the heart of the story is a broken pottery jar from Cleopatra's Egypt that contains the dessicated remains of a fragrance that is supposed to evoke memories of past lives and loves. This piece of history is part of a family legend of the House of L'Etoile, a centuries old French perfume company. Robbie and Jac, brother and sister, are the current co-owners of the company which has fallen on hard times, and they are at odds on how to salvage it. Robbie has discovered an Egyptian relic - pot shards with hieroglyphics and a residue of a waxy substance. Could this be the source of the family legend that an ancestor had brought back from an Egyptian tomb - the broken fragments of a memory tool using scent to enable one to remember past lives? Robbie enlists his friend Griffin, an Egyptologist, to translate the hieroglyphics. Griffin is Jac's former lover, a relationship that neither have recovered from.

Word about the found memory tool leaks out and opposing forces are determined to possess it. One is Dr. Malachi Samuels, a reincarnation researcher who works with children who have apparent past life memories. Another is the Chinese mafia, presumably working for their government, who want to destroy any possible device that might support reincarnation and, therefore, the beliefs of Tibetan Buddhism and the succession of their highest lamas. Robbie wants to give the relic to the Dalai Lama, who is making an unannounced visit to Paris. In another plot thread, a young Chinese calligrapher, originally from Tibet, is given the opportunity to travel to Paris for an exhibit. He must hide his true identity and purpose to rendezvous with the Dalai Lama.

Jac was tormented in her youth by psychotic episodes where she lost touch with current reality and would find herself in hallucinations involving other times and places. Her delicate mental balance teetered further with the suicide of her mother. She is helped by the psychiatrist and researcher Malachi who teaches her to mythologize her visions. She also has the 'nose' of a true perfumer, who can detect and break down scents into their various essences. However, she no longer works in the family perfume business, but as a writer and film presenter about mythology. Jac is a practical minded cynic who does not believe in reincarnation despite her experiences. Robbie is the gentle romantic who wishes to save the family's legacy perfumes but not at the cost of selling any part of their history. The action ignites when a gunman, posing as a journalist, demands that Robbie turn over the Egyptian relic.

The momentum of the plot picks up in the last third of the book. Perhaps its dealing with backstory or the introduction of the multiple viewpoints that slow down the earlier chapters. There are almost as many points of view as there are characters. This is one of my criticisms. While it is necessary for plot development and tension, it does break up the flow and makes it feel choppy. There are other things that bother me about the book. I never really warmed up to Jac, the central character. She wore her cynicism and lack of belief as protective armor despite her remarkable experiences. Desperately hurt by Griffin's past rejection, she has closed herself off. Though she loves her brother dearly, she steadfastly refuses to consider his viewpoint. Rather than finding her sympathetic, I just got annoyed at her aloofness and stubbornness.

I didn't get the character of Malachi at all. On the one hand, he was presented as being a dedicated healer; on the other, an obsessed man determined to obtain the relic at whatever cost. As a believer in reincarnation he longs to experience his own past lives, but he is the one who taught Jac to distance herself from her visions and to see them as Jungian archetypes. I kept expecting him to throw a curveball into the story arc, but he never does. He could have added another twist to the plot, but the author chose not to use him for that, and I began to wonder why he was present at all.

Another problem I have is with the history, especially in the story of Giles L'Etoile, who is with Napoleon in Egypt. When Giles is reported to have died in Egypt, his distraught lover joins a nunnery where she is raped and thrown into a river during the reign of terror. But that is years before Napoleon journeys to Egypt. This timeline is never reconciled, nor is Giles' reappearance later. Furthermore, there is the confusion of Jacobins with Jacobites, as another reviewer pointed out.

Despite these annoyances, I enjoyed the book, especially as the suspense amped up in the latter chapters. I found the author's descriptions of fragrance evocative and the use of scent as a memory tool an interesting concept. However, I couldn't quite buy the idea that anyone would go to such lengths to possess or destroy it, viewing it as the 'proof' of reincarnation. Like a perfume with many layered essences, this book had all the elements of a fabulous read, but some notes were too jarring, others too elusive, and instead of it being heady, it was merely a pleasant whiff.(less)

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Mar 31, 2012 Maxie rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Book of the Lost Fragrances M. J. Rose

From the dark underground burial places of Egypt to the murky hiding places beneath the streets of China, Paris and New York secrets fill the air with mysterious scents for anyone brave enough to explore.

The Book of the Lost Fragrances is captivating stand alone book by M. J. Rose. Ms. Rose has written an intellectual stimulating series that possess paranormal energies, romance and suspense. The title The Book of Lost Fragrances along with its backdrops...more The Book of the Lost Fragrances M. J. Rose

From the dark underground burial places of Egypt to the murky hiding places beneath the streets of China, Paris and New York secrets fill the air with mysterious scents for anyone brave enough to explore.

The Book of the Lost Fragrances is captivating stand alone book by M. J. Rose. Ms. Rose has written an intellectual stimulating series that possess paranormal energies, romance and suspense. The title The Book of Lost Fragrances along with its backdrops in Ancient Egyptian tombs created an irresistible urge for me to explore the book. My personal interest in the myths of ancient gods and rulers of Egypt secrets buried in those famous tombs blended with historical elements attracted me like a magnet.

Ms. Rose's dynamic personalities of the lead characters Robbie and Jac L'Etoile, their sibling relationship propels this mind-blogging suspenseful story. Robbie and Jac L'Etoile have ideas for saving the family perfumery business generates powerful conflicts between them. Each one feels their notions, is the best methods for saving the family company The House of L'Etoile. This family perfumery business dates back centuries. Ms. Roses' development of the realistic tensions between siblings makes The Book of Lost Fragrances a spell bounding read.

The settings in The Book of Lost Fragrances: Tibet, Egypt, New York and Paris are crafted in such a believable manner clearly demonstrates the talent of Ms. Rose as a prolific author. Ms. Rose's vivd imagination is contagious mixed with rapid locations changes will have the reader spinning wildly through the time portals from current time back to the ancient era.
Ms. Rose's juggling act keeping her many strong characters coupled with the surprising and thrilling events manufacture a fascinating plot full of mystery, romances wrapped with reincarnate spirits an enchanting book that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Woven through the rising actions and plot one discovers a scents of distrust of authority, envy, confusion, and rebirth of fears and love. The secret essences used by of ancient gods and rulers accompanied by extraordinary combination of scents believed to be capable of transporting the inhaler through a time portal back to places and events where love and devotion is an aroma to die for.
Jac, with her rare abilities for detecting fragrances is the source of her constant battles that boil within her. These complicated blend of aromas overtakes her transporting Jac back to a past life evoking trauma. The conflict between Jac and Robbie keeps the story moving at a steady clip. During the strange disappearance of Robbie with the secret shards I found the amazing manner utilized to resolve the conflict brilliantly done.
There are many complexities in the settings as well as the personalities of characters creates a whirlwind in the mind of the reader. Occasionally, the many rapid transitions from one locale to another combined with the quick shift of characters frustrating. Despite my temporary moments of confusion I found the book's storyline riveting and enjoyed the roller coaster ride to the end of the book.
Ms Rose is a magnificent captain through each time portal in her fast paced novel possessing everything a reader of mystery, action, suspense and romance could ever hope to find.
My journey with Ms. Rose and The Book of Lost Fragrances is a mind vacation that will remain with me for a long time. (less)

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The Book of Lost Fragrances (The Reincarnationist #4)

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