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The Memory of Lavender and Sage
Food critic Tempèsta Luddington has always felt like the odd person out in her family, ever since she lost her beloved mother at the tender age of thirteen. When her workaholic father passes fifteen years later, Tempèsta is not surprised that the majority of the considerable family money will pass to her dutiful younger brother, Wal. Still, she is left a modest remembrance from her mother, and for the first time Tempèsta has a world of choices before her. Lost in grief and hoping to reconnect with her memories and her mother’s past, she uses the money to buy a ramshackle manor house in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence, where her mother had grown up. But she is greeted with more questions than answers. Her welcome, especially by the town’s stodgy mayor, is cold at best, and she finds herself wondering if the entire experiment was a mistake. Yet she stays, stubbornly sticking it out, slowly learning that her mother’s legacy was more than just a nest egg. Through her mother and the village, Tempèsta learns the value of community and friendship, the importance of self-confidence, and the power of love and trust. What’s more, she sees for herself that there is magic and beauty in the everyday—even something as simple as a sprig of lavender and sage.
368 pages, Paperback
First published March 5, 2024
About the author
Aimie K. Runyan
13 books1,270 followersAimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a three-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond. Her next books, The Castle Keepers (in collaboration with J'nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan) and A Bakery in Paris will release in 2023 from Harper Collins. Also from Harper Collins, Aimie's contemporary Women's Fiction debut, The Memory of Lavender and Sage, will release in early 2024. She lives in Colorado with her amazing husband, two (usually) adorable children, two (always) adorable kitties, and a dragon. To learn more about Aimie, please visit www.aimiekrunyan.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
March 5, 2024
Happy Publication Day!
“…there has to be more ways to live a life than cramming yourself into a tiny apartment and living shoulder to shoulder with people you don’t care about and who don’t care about you, all in pursuit of a job at a corporation that would happily replace you within two weeks if you died at your desk.”
Atmospheric, comforting and wholesome; this book was a wonderful way to start the year.
Tempèsta lost her mother at the age of thirteen. Her relationship with her father and paternal grandmother had been strained ever since and after her father’s passing she decided to leave the city life in New York and to travel to her mother’s home town in the south of France.
There were secrets to be discovered, some of which heartbreaking, but the idyllic setting, combined with the soothing life wisdom, balanced out the heaviest details.
I loved the community, the found family aspect, and the subtle hint of magic that made the book even more charming. Even though this was not exactly a romance novel, there was a love story that won over my romance loving soul.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pub Date 5 March 2024
——
This book was like a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, I loved it!!
RTC
“…there has to be more ways to live a life than cramming yourself into a tiny apartment and living shoulder to shoulder with people you don’t care about and who don’t care about you, all in pursuit of a job at a corporation that would happily replace you within two weeks if you died at your desk.”
Atmospheric, comforting and wholesome; this book was a wonderful way to start the year.
Tempèsta lost her mother at the age of thirteen. Her relationship with her father and paternal grandmother had been strained ever since and after her father’s passing she decided to leave the city life in New York and to travel to her mother’s home town in the south of France.
There were secrets to be discovered, some of which heartbreaking, but the idyllic setting, combined with the soothing life wisdom, balanced out the heaviest details.
I loved the community, the found family aspect, and the subtle hint of magic that made the book even more charming. Even though this was not exactly a romance novel, there was a love story that won over my romance loving soul.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Pub Date 5 March 2024
——
This book was like a warm blanket and a cup of hot chocolate, I loved it!!
RTC
January 12, 2024
New York food critic Tempèsta Luddington has always felt like she didn’t fit into her family, her mother Nadajèta died when she was thirteen and two weeks later her snobby grandmother Lucille moved in. Her father runs the Luddington Foundation and it’s a stressful job, and fifteen years later he dies suddenly, and she’s not shocked when the family fortune is left to her younger brother, Wal.
Tempèsta is bequeathed a small inheritance by her mother, she’s no longer has to worry about trying to please her family and not that she ever did. Tempèsta decides to go to France, and she uses the money to buy a rundown manor house in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence, and where her mother was born. When Tempèsta arrives she questions her rash decision to purchase a house online, without viewing the property and the local builder assures her it has good bones.
Tempèsta starts the huge job of cleaning, de-cluttering, having the greenhouse repaired, the manor painted and rewired and she feels happy here. Her main issue is the mayor and owner of the kitchenware shop in town and he doesn’t like her, he’s sure all the Bruèissa women are trouble and witches.
His granddaughter Esètva, her mother’s friend Jenofa and builder Tibèri don’t agree with him, he’s stuck in his ways and all the young people have left Sainte-Colombe, the town looks tired and the school is at risk of being closed.
I received a copy of The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan from Edelweiss Plus and HarperCollins Focus in exchange for an honest review. The author points out at the end of the novel that she doesn’t normally write contemporary fiction, I don’t know why and it’s one of the best books I have read by Ms. Runyan.
A story about discovering your heritage and uncovering secrets and most of all it’s a narrative about finding a place to call home, making true friends, escaping the rat race, being valued and loved, and becoming a member of a community.
I loved how Tempèsta gained confidence, she discovered she had a green thumb and was an amazing cook, and the meanings of the herbs she grew and used and in her teas, recipes and creams. Five stars from me, I didn’t want the story to end and please write a sequel about her brother Wal.
Tempèsta is bequeathed a small inheritance by her mother, she’s no longer has to worry about trying to please her family and not that she ever did. Tempèsta decides to go to France, and she uses the money to buy a rundown manor house in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence, and where her mother was born. When Tempèsta arrives she questions her rash decision to purchase a house online, without viewing the property and the local builder assures her it has good bones.
Tempèsta starts the huge job of cleaning, de-cluttering, having the greenhouse repaired, the manor painted and rewired and she feels happy here. Her main issue is the mayor and owner of the kitchenware shop in town and he doesn’t like her, he’s sure all the Bruèissa women are trouble and witches.
His granddaughter Esètva, her mother’s friend Jenofa and builder Tibèri don’t agree with him, he’s stuck in his ways and all the young people have left Sainte-Colombe, the town looks tired and the school is at risk of being closed.
I received a copy of The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan from Edelweiss Plus and HarperCollins Focus in exchange for an honest review. The author points out at the end of the novel that she doesn’t normally write contemporary fiction, I don’t know why and it’s one of the best books I have read by Ms. Runyan.
A story about discovering your heritage and uncovering secrets and most of all it’s a narrative about finding a place to call home, making true friends, escaping the rat race, being valued and loved, and becoming a member of a community.
I loved how Tempèsta gained confidence, she discovered she had a green thumb and was an amazing cook, and the meanings of the herbs she grew and used and in her teas, recipes and creams. Five stars from me, I didn’t want the story to end and please write a sequel about her brother Wal.
May 10, 2024
I have enjoyed the authors prior works, and so I thought I would give this book a try, which is her first venture into "contemporary fiction." I was not disappointed, but at the same time I felt that the plot was easy to figure out, and the ending was just what I expected. That does not make it a bad book, instead this is a rather good book. While it's a book of contemporary fiction, there's a lot of old charm to the book because our narrator, Tempesta Luddington, upon her father's death, eventually moves back to her mother's hometown of Sainte-Colombe in Provence, France. Her mother had died years before, and when she was basically disinherited and never made to be part of the family, she decided to go visit her mother's hometown. Once there things begin to change for Tempesta. She is greeted with animosity by some members of the town (population approximately 1200) and also finds a town that is on its last legs at all. Its businesses are drying up and it's youth are moving somewhere else. This is a story that can be set in any European country because the trend is alarming in Europe as well as many other areas of the world. What we do discover is that Tempesta has a magical green thumb for growing herbs and begins to cultivate them and also use them to make lotions, salves, food, and drinks that include the herbs she grows in her garden. The book concentrates on the positive and what people can do to both honor the past, but live in the present and plan for the future. Too often we are mired in what used to be, and it took a wake up call by the town Mayor to realize that his point of view was not helping the town at all, and that it was time for new ideas and new people to take over. Well, you can figure out where this is headed, as well as the fact that the first man that Tempesta meets in Sainte-Colombe she will eventually fall in love with. Again, a bit predictable to put it mildly but I enjoyed this book and feel that I would like the author to return to this town with more books, because there are many more stories to be told. The book reminds me of the written by Joanne Harris in her series set in France. But here there is an innocence about our narrator, a genuineness to help new friends as well as finding out family mysteries. The author makes a point to show that small towns can possibly rebrand themselves to become vibrant. As I said, this is a story that could be set in any country in Europe, but the point of view is what makes this different and so very enjoyable. A good effort and looking forward to more from Aimie Runyan
July 22, 2024
Atmospheric but otherwise run of the mill formulaic chick lit with a sprinkle of magical realism. I can’t forgive factual errors that a simple Google search would have prevented (i.e. cherries are not in season in early spring) or laziness (we’re told five times in the first 30 pages that every single item of clothing the protagonist owns is thrifted. We get it - she’s broke.)
January 15, 2024
The Memory of Lavender and Sage is a remarkable story that reminded me why I love reading so much! The joy I got from turning each page is something I can’t quite explain but it’s a joy that I hope to carry with me throughout my 2024 reading journey!
This is a story about Tempesta and her desire to find a place and a family where she belongs. This journey takes her from the concrete jungle of New York to her late mother’s birthplace in a small Provence in France. There she discovers things about her mother she never knew from the very people who knew her as a child. It’s in this small village that she discovers she has quite the green thumb and she turns the things she grows in her greenhouse into delicious food and products that not only help others but bring them together. The more time she spends in this place, with these people…she realizes that she has finally found her home and calling in life.
I loved each and every page of this story! It’s a very immersive story as you find yourself wanting to smell the lavender that was planted to keep the scorpions away, the basil that is loving harvested to make a decadent pesto, the lemon verbena cookies as they bake and see for yourself the antiques in a local shop that each have a story to tell.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Muse and most of all Aimie Runyan for allowing for to read this gem of a novel before it hits the shelves! What a great way to kick off 2024!
This is a story about Tempesta and her desire to find a place and a family where she belongs. This journey takes her from the concrete jungle of New York to her late mother’s birthplace in a small Provence in France. There she discovers things about her mother she never knew from the very people who knew her as a child. It’s in this small village that she discovers she has quite the green thumb and she turns the things she grows in her greenhouse into delicious food and products that not only help others but bring them together. The more time she spends in this place, with these people…she realizes that she has finally found her home and calling in life.
I loved each and every page of this story! It’s a very immersive story as you find yourself wanting to smell the lavender that was planted to keep the scorpions away, the basil that is loving harvested to make a decadent pesto, the lemon verbena cookies as they bake and see for yourself the antiques in a local shop that each have a story to tell.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Muse and most of all Aimie Runyan for allowing for to read this gem of a novel before it hits the shelves! What a great way to kick off 2024!
April 5, 2024
I enjoyed the descriptive details of French life in this little dwindling village in the French countryside. All of the backstories of the people that stayed there and didn't move away, brought this one to life.
I also liked the MC and how she came to be there in the village where her mother's family was from and how she managed to find her voice.
However, with all that said, the one thing that kept this from 4 stars was how she kind of fell into her "specialties". I get the part where she had a gift but now all of a sudden she can make soap, teas, remedies, oils, etc. Really? No Google? No trip to the library? No long forgotten recipe book kept by ancestors? It sounded a little hokey, so 3 stars.
I also liked the MC and how she came to be there in the village where her mother's family was from and how she managed to find her voice.
However, with all that said, the one thing that kept this from 4 stars was how she kind of fell into her "specialties". I get the part where she had a gift but now all of a sudden she can make soap, teas, remedies, oils, etc. Really? No Google? No trip to the library? No long forgotten recipe book kept by ancestors? It sounded a little hokey, so 3 stars.
February 16, 2024
Y’all—this was such a beautiful book to get lost in! The atmosphere was just perf! 👩🏾🍳💋😍 I hated having to put it down and looked forward to picking it back up each day.
Tempèsta Luddington is a food critic in NYC—and the black sheep of her family. After her mother passed away when she was thirteen, she was blacklisted by her paternal grandmother, neglected by her father, and tolerated by her brother.
After her dad dies, all he leaves her are her mother’s old things and a nest egg she’d saved for her. Hoping to discover more about her mother and her heritage, she takes the money and buys a cottage in the small French village of Sainte-Columbe where her mother was born. But what Tempèsta discovers will shake the core of her identity.
I enjoyed every single moment of this book. The author did such a great job with painting a picture with her words! I could imagine the setting as I read. The side characters were truly lovely as well! There was also a bit of magical realism—I’ve never read a book with this element so it was something to get used to. It enhanced the story and wasn’t overdone, which I appreciated!
If you love character-driven books with a touch of romance, a beautiful setting, and found family, give this one a read. It’s out on 3/5/2024. Absolutely loved every second of it!!!
Tempèsta Luddington is a food critic in NYC—and the black sheep of her family. After her mother passed away when she was thirteen, she was blacklisted by her paternal grandmother, neglected by her father, and tolerated by her brother.
After her dad dies, all he leaves her are her mother’s old things and a nest egg she’d saved for her. Hoping to discover more about her mother and her heritage, she takes the money and buys a cottage in the small French village of Sainte-Columbe where her mother was born. But what Tempèsta discovers will shake the core of her identity.
I enjoyed every single moment of this book. The author did such a great job with painting a picture with her words! I could imagine the setting as I read. The side characters were truly lovely as well! There was also a bit of magical realism—I’ve never read a book with this element so it was something to get used to. It enhanced the story and wasn’t overdone, which I appreciated!
If you love character-driven books with a touch of romance, a beautiful setting, and found family, give this one a read. It’s out on 3/5/2024. Absolutely loved every second of it!!!
February 17, 2024
An ode to dying towns across the globe, this lovely book centers around a tiny town in Provence, France. It is a novel of fresh starts, new beginnings, rejuvenation and community.
When Tempesta's father dies unexpectedly at an early age, she is adrift. He was the glue that tied her to her rather odious grandmother and her brother, Wal. Now, without his influence, Tempesta feels free for the first time. With this newfound freedom, she travels to her French mother's birthplace, the small Provencal village of Sainte-Colombe. There she purchases a ramshackle old farmhouse, adopts a black kitten, and finds true friendship. In addition, she discovers some previously unknown family history and the fact that she just may have inherited her late mother's 'gift'.
Tempesta finds that she does not miss New York, and her job there as a food critic. In France she feels 'at home'. She nurtures her love of cooking and gardening, and despite some major hiccups at the beginning, makes herself an indispensable part of the village.
The book expounds upon how important it is to 'belong'. How being an integral part of a community can boost morale and evoke happiness.
The lavender and sage of the title are fragrances that, to Tempesta, evoke the memory of her mother. They also epitomize the region where she now lives. A region where the street signs are posted in French and the ancient language of Occitan.
I thoroughly enjoyed my brief acquaintance with Tempesta and her new friends. My visit to Provence, France was a pleasant one. The inclusion of some of Tempesta's recipes at the end of the book were a nice surprise.
I recommend this novel to readers who relish uplit women's fiction with a touch of magical realism.
When Tempesta's father dies unexpectedly at an early age, she is adrift. He was the glue that tied her to her rather odious grandmother and her brother, Wal. Now, without his influence, Tempesta feels free for the first time. With this newfound freedom, she travels to her French mother's birthplace, the small Provencal village of Sainte-Colombe. There she purchases a ramshackle old farmhouse, adopts a black kitten, and finds true friendship. In addition, she discovers some previously unknown family history and the fact that she just may have inherited her late mother's 'gift'.
Tempesta finds that she does not miss New York, and her job there as a food critic. In France she feels 'at home'. She nurtures her love of cooking and gardening, and despite some major hiccups at the beginning, makes herself an indispensable part of the village.
The book expounds upon how important it is to 'belong'. How being an integral part of a community can boost morale and evoke happiness.
The lavender and sage of the title are fragrances that, to Tempesta, evoke the memory of her mother. They also epitomize the region where she now lives. A region where the street signs are posted in French and the ancient language of Occitan.
I thoroughly enjoyed my brief acquaintance with Tempesta and her new friends. My visit to Provence, France was a pleasant one. The inclusion of some of Tempesta's recipes at the end of the book were a nice surprise.
I recommend this novel to readers who relish uplit women's fiction with a touch of magical realism.
March 9, 2024
This one just felt good. I can’t explain it really but it felt like it radiates happiness. Perhaps, like the main character, the author has super powers that allow us to feel her feelings while she writes. Either way, it was an adorable romance with a town that is so easy to fall in love with.
🌀Synopsis
Tempesta has always felt like an outsider within her family. After her mom died, her father didn’t act like he cared for her and her grandmother was certainly never pleased with her. When her father dies and leaves her money from her mother only, she decides to go to France to see where her mother came from.
The town she returns to is small and dying. People are barely surviving and it’s so bad even the school is on the brink of being shutdown. There is no one who can breathe new life into them. Until Tempe arrives.
Tempe buys a fixer up house and gets to know the town who, especially at first, is not very accepting of her. She hears more about her mother and finds a hidden talent that she has for gardening. A romance stirs just as Tempe finds out the real truth about why her mother really left town all those years ago. Tempe still finds the place comforting and is able to help the town move into the future so her new friends can revive the town with her.
🌀Synopsis
Tempesta has always felt like an outsider within her family. After her mom died, her father didn’t act like he cared for her and her grandmother was certainly never pleased with her. When her father dies and leaves her money from her mother only, she decides to go to France to see where her mother came from.
The town she returns to is small and dying. People are barely surviving and it’s so bad even the school is on the brink of being shutdown. There is no one who can breathe new life into them. Until Tempe arrives.
Tempe buys a fixer up house and gets to know the town who, especially at first, is not very accepting of her. She hears more about her mother and finds a hidden talent that she has for gardening. A romance stirs just as Tempe finds out the real truth about why her mother really left town all those years ago. Tempe still finds the place comforting and is able to help the town move into the future so her new friends can revive the town with her.
October 9, 2023
I loved this book! It was so atmospheric. I loved the community, the setting, the friendships, the herbs and all the food! But, I especially liked the characters, and watching them develop throughout the book. It was just a joy to read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Read
September 22, 2024Another DNF for me. The premise of Tempesta going to France to "reconnect with her memories and her mothers past" (quote from book blurb) seemed interesting and having her live in an old house in France seemed intriguing, but alas at just over 100 pages, I just lost interest.
April 19, 2024
"Always so concerned about making a living that you never take a time to worry about making a life."
The memory of lavender and sage is a story of a food critic / journalist Tempèsta Luddington who lost her mother when she was just 13. She is never welcomed by her paternal grandmother who brainwashes her father and brother both to stay aloof to her.
When her father passes away too after 15 years, she knows that there's hardly anything left for her to stay in the big city of New York anymore so impulsively she buys a ramshackle manor house in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence, where her mother had grown up.
Hesitant at first she starts to warm to village and stubborn people of the village. This felt such a cliched story written just to make a movie based on and yet a part of me really loved it. What makes it standout though is the main character Tempesta, she is so well balanced character and even when she has faced so many difficulties in life, she did stand straight and strong and it made this book a very important one in my opinion.
Unfairness of the situation didn't make her break down but fight harder.
"I became the woman I'm and will become despite this family."
I don't like when heroines whine throughout the book about how unfair things had been in their lives if they had been treated as badly as Tempesta is treated by her family. She never annoyed me, she knew what to say, when to say and how to say (not a single annoying thing she said whole book) and I could not help but love her. She is the most likeable female protagonist I have come across in very very long time.
But that's not all it is about, it is about making a difference without harming the goodness of old things. It is also about not losing ourselves in the chaos of modernity and technology.
There is enough change in the world it's nice to see something stay the same.
The audiobook narration is totally amazing which kept me hooked to the book.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins focus| Harper Muse for the wonderful audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Some quotes worth mentioning
It still seemed wrong that torch meant more than the person who bore it.
I realised the Hardest truth .Even offering of love, harmony, courage and joy could not work its magic who refused to take partake of it
You spent so many years thinking you are unlovable , unworthy that you start to begin to think that's true.
The memory of lavender and sage is a story of a food critic / journalist Tempèsta Luddington who lost her mother when she was just 13. She is never welcomed by her paternal grandmother who brainwashes her father and brother both to stay aloof to her.
When her father passes away too after 15 years, she knows that there's hardly anything left for her to stay in the big city of New York anymore so impulsively she buys a ramshackle manor house in Sainte-Colombe, a small village in Provence, where her mother had grown up.
Hesitant at first she starts to warm to village and stubborn people of the village. This felt such a cliched story written just to make a movie based on and yet a part of me really loved it. What makes it standout though is the main character Tempesta, she is so well balanced character and even when she has faced so many difficulties in life, she did stand straight and strong and it made this book a very important one in my opinion.
Unfairness of the situation didn't make her break down but fight harder.
"I became the woman I'm and will become despite this family."
I don't like when heroines whine throughout the book about how unfair things had been in their lives if they had been treated as badly as Tempesta is treated by her family. She never annoyed me, she knew what to say, when to say and how to say (not a single annoying thing she said whole book) and I could not help but love her. She is the most likeable female protagonist I have come across in very very long time.
But that's not all it is about, it is about making a difference without harming the goodness of old things. It is also about not losing ourselves in the chaos of modernity and technology.
There is enough change in the world it's nice to see something stay the same.
The audiobook narration is totally amazing which kept me hooked to the book.
Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins focus| Harper Muse for the wonderful audiobook ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Some quotes worth mentioning
It still seemed wrong that torch meant more than the person who bore it.
I realised the Hardest truth .Even offering of love, harmony, courage and joy could not work its magic who refused to take partake of it
You spent so many years thinking you are unlovable , unworthy that you start to begin to think that's true.
March 5, 2024
Before I share my review of The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan-Vetter, let me tell you a little more about the author herself. I fell in love with Aimie’s writing with her debut novel, Promised to the Crown, and for the last 7 years it’s been an amazing experience to watch her writing evolve. I have faith that Aimie can write anything, so I knew without a doubt that her first book of contemporary fiction would be wonderful, and it is.
The Memory of Lavender and Sage is a lovely, joyous story about a young woman’s journey to find not only herself, but to also find her family, her legacy, and the place where she truly belongs. I don’t often write about settings, but in this book the setting is a very important part of the story. We are transported to a small village in Provence, and at once we are walking its cobbled streets, smelling the lavender and herbs—a completely immersive experience. Tempesta is authentic and genuine, grief-stricken but courageous when she journeys to her mother’s hometown, hoping to reconnect with the memories her mother left behind. She discovers so much about herself, about her mother, and about all the gifts she herself has to offer. This heartwarming book is full of hope and possibilities, an uplifting story with memorable characters that is sure to enchant readers.
The Memory of Lavender and Sage is a lovely, joyous story about a young woman’s journey to find not only herself, but to also find her family, her legacy, and the place where she truly belongs. I don’t often write about settings, but in this book the setting is a very important part of the story. We are transported to a small village in Provence, and at once we are walking its cobbled streets, smelling the lavender and herbs—a completely immersive experience. Tempesta is authentic and genuine, grief-stricken but courageous when she journeys to her mother’s hometown, hoping to reconnect with the memories her mother left behind. She discovers so much about herself, about her mother, and about all the gifts she herself has to offer. This heartwarming book is full of hope and possibilities, an uplifting story with memorable characters that is sure to enchant readers.
March 21, 2024
"In the space of a gap of a hummingbirds wing"...
If an author can transport me straight to the French Provençal Countryside, complete with all the sights, sounds, scents, and yes, savory tastes, without ever having to leave my couch or favorite reading nook... especially when it is narrated so beautifully, it is worthy of 5 stars for me. Aimie Runyan created such well-developed characters and immersed them in a most-vivid, atmospheric setting, I felt like I was touching the herbs with Tempesta. And Caroline Hewitt brough Tempesta and the rest of the characters to life, enriching the dialogue, and seamlessly navigating between dialect and languages,
The reason for the quote? It is one of many beautiful quotes that resonated with me as I listened to this wonderful contemporary fictional novel of a woman searching her roots in Provençal France. I truly cannot wait to try the recipes when I get my hands on a physical copy! Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers for granting me the audiobook opportunity in exchange for my review.
If an author can transport me straight to the French Provençal Countryside, complete with all the sights, sounds, scents, and yes, savory tastes, without ever having to leave my couch or favorite reading nook... especially when it is narrated so beautifully, it is worthy of 5 stars for me. Aimie Runyan created such well-developed characters and immersed them in a most-vivid, atmospheric setting, I felt like I was touching the herbs with Tempesta. And Caroline Hewitt brough Tempesta and the rest of the characters to life, enriching the dialogue, and seamlessly navigating between dialect and languages,
The reason for the quote? It is one of many beautiful quotes that resonated with me as I listened to this wonderful contemporary fictional novel of a woman searching her roots in Provençal France. I truly cannot wait to try the recipes when I get my hands on a physical copy! Thank you to #NetGalley and the publishers for granting me the audiobook opportunity in exchange for my review.
January 1, 2024
A strong, Tempesta Luddington has felt lost since her mother died when she was 13. An outsider, even in her own family, to no fault of her own, she can't seem to find footing in this life she lives. When her father dies, she receives a small inheritance from her mother. After a little coaxing, she decides she must go see the quaint village in France where her mother grew up. But the pull she feels is strong and she jumps with both feet, buying a home there, sight unseen, that could modestly be described as a "fixer-upper." She soon learns her mother's past and her legacy hold a very different story than she ever imagined. Her life, once void of affection and connection, begins to fall into place and she finds the home, and the people, she was always meant to know.
This book was un-put-downable! Aimie K Runyan's first attempt at contemporary fiction was a massive success. Having read her previous historical fiction, I knew this would be stepping out of the norm for her and she hit it out of the park. The vibrant details are woven beautifully throughout the pages and you can't help but fall in love with the place and the people she's created. (And you may get a little hungry because all of the food she creates sounds INCREDIBLE.)
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This book was un-put-downable! Aimie K Runyan's first attempt at contemporary fiction was a massive success. Having read her previous historical fiction, I knew this would be stepping out of the norm for her and she hit it out of the park. The vibrant details are woven beautifully throughout the pages and you can't help but fall in love with the place and the people she's created. (And you may get a little hungry because all of the food she creates sounds INCREDIBLE.)
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 15, 2024
Chances are, you've read this book before: woman escapes trauma/heartache/family pressures, buys a rundown house in Italy/France/Greece, and falls in love with the local handyman. There's nothing inherently wrong with this trope. In fact, it can be a fun escape. Unfortunately, there is nothing new to see here.
"The Memory of Lavender and Sage" reads like it's been written by someone who's never lived in New York, never lived in the south of France, never met a food critic, etc. Tempesta's family back home are broad, sweeping caricatures of the Evil Rich, and the characterizations of the Provenciale and the New Yorkers are stereotypes at the most surface level. I didn't even realize that the love interest was meant to be a mean, gruff, hard-nut-to-crack guy who is won over by Tempesta's charm until she flat-out told me, because he's genuinely the kindest person to her from the start.
I am very grateful to the publishers and to NetGalley for this ARC, but this book was not for me.
"The Memory of Lavender and Sage" reads like it's been written by someone who's never lived in New York, never lived in the south of France, never met a food critic, etc. Tempesta's family back home are broad, sweeping caricatures of the Evil Rich, and the characterizations of the Provenciale and the New Yorkers are stereotypes at the most surface level. I didn't even realize that the love interest was meant to be a mean, gruff, hard-nut-to-crack guy who is won over by Tempesta's charm until she flat-out told me, because he's genuinely the kindest person to her from the start.
I am very grateful to the publishers and to NetGalley for this ARC, but this book was not for me.
June 25, 2024
In the captivating novel "A Memory of Lavender and Sage," readers are introduced to Tempèsta Luddington, a food critic who has always felt like an outsider within her own family. Set against the rustic backdrop of a ramshackle manor house in the picturesque village of Sainte-Colombe, Provence, the story weaves together themes of family bonds, community, and personal growth.
Whether you're drawn to historical fiction, romance, or magical realism, this book offers a delightful blend of all three. The enchanting world created by the author invites readers to savor the intricate connections between characters and the evocative setting.
I encourage readers seeking a rich exploration of love, family ties, and self-discovery to immerse themselves in "A Memory of Lavender and Sage." Much like a warm cup of herbal tea on a sunny afternoon, this book promises to leave a lasting impression.
Whether you're drawn to historical fiction, romance, or magical realism, this book offers a delightful blend of all three. The enchanting world created by the author invites readers to savor the intricate connections between characters and the evocative setting.
I encourage readers seeking a rich exploration of love, family ties, and self-discovery to immerse themselves in "A Memory of Lavender and Sage." Much like a warm cup of herbal tea on a sunny afternoon, this book promises to leave a lasting impression.
June 19, 2024
This is a highly recommended feel good audio. The plot itself is fairly predictable. Young girl not welcomed by surviving family goes off to find herself and learn of her family's history. This is full of deep and meaningful life lessons told suttley. The descriptive and love of the French countryside and culture really shines through in this story. The Natrator did a good job of telling the story I felt the emotion of the characters . I loved the way it was about regeneration both for the characters and the place.
Recommended for anyone needs a feel good story .thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator.
Recommended for anyone needs a feel good story .thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator.
March 4, 2024
This story is every bit as lovely as lavender and sage. I’m pretty sure it cast a spell on me, because I listened to the audiobook with rapt attention, finishing in a day because I couldn’t put it down. Witnessing Tempèsta coming into her own, experiencing life in a small French town, learning more of her family history, was just wonderfully enchanting.
Caroline Hewitt did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.
Thank you Aimie K. Runyan, HarperCollins Focus, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
Caroline Hewitt did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook.
Thank you Aimie K. Runyan, HarperCollins Focus, Harper Muse, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 18, 2024
Cooking, writing, the French countryside. What’s not to love?
April 21, 2024
Such a lovely book filled with self awareness, family, hurt, forgiveness and beautiful French countryside descriptions. Found family is one of my favorite themes.
Not fast paced, just Sunday slow.
Not fast paced, just Sunday slow.
May 22, 2024
The Memory or Lavender and Sage is a charming, quaint story. It's not a page turner, to me this is a story to be read leisurely, to just soak in the atmosphere and delight in all the different characters. I just loved it!
January 31, 2024
With THE MEMORY OF LAVENDER AND SAGE, bestselling historical fiction author Aimie K. Runyan takes readers on a journey to contemporary Provence in this heartwarming comfort read that had me wanting to jump on the next flight to buy a petite maison in a charming provincial town. Having traveled extensively in the locations she writes about, Runyan captures the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of Provence perfectly.
This is a book that not only engages the senses, but also has great emotional payoff as main character Tempesta travels to France after her father’s untimely death and discovers secrets hidden in her Occitan mother’s past as well as the magical gifts she inherited from the generations of women before her.
Runyan marries touches of sparkling fabulism with healthy, grounded romance, relatable family dynamics, and a sense of cathartic self-discovery as Tempesta uses her skills to bring new life and purpose to the sleepy hamlet of Sainte-Colombe and its citizens. If you enjoyed Chocolat and Practical Magic, you will love this feel-good novel.
This is a book that not only engages the senses, but also has great emotional payoff as main character Tempesta travels to France after her father’s untimely death and discovers secrets hidden in her Occitan mother’s past as well as the magical gifts she inherited from the generations of women before her.
Runyan marries touches of sparkling fabulism with healthy, grounded romance, relatable family dynamics, and a sense of cathartic self-discovery as Tempesta uses her skills to bring new life and purpose to the sleepy hamlet of Sainte-Colombe and its citizens. If you enjoyed Chocolat and Practical Magic, you will love this feel-good novel.
March 5, 2024
It took me a bit to get into this story at the beginning but I quickly became invested in the journey of self-discovery, family secrets, and charming small Provincale French villagers who band together to help revive their community. Full of heart, romance, a touch of magic and lots of found family this was great on audio and an entertaining feel-good read I definitely recommend especially for fans of books like Under the Tuscan sun. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
February 28, 2024
I loved everything about “The Memory of Lavender and Sage” by Aimie K. Runyan. In this captivating and well-written novel, the author writes in a sensory manner, and vividly describes the scenery and the landscape as well as the colorful and dramatic characters. Not only can I see the plants, and the food, but I can smell, and feel them. There is feeling of magic in the air. The genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, Romance, France, Magical Realism, Family Drama, and Fiction. The story takes place in a small province in France and New York.
The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Some come from dysfunctional families. The female protagonist, Tempesta, is a food critic, and feels uncomfortable with her family. Tempesta’s mother passed away when she was a thirteen, and she was brought up by a cold and indifferent grandmother and a father that works compulsively. When her father passes away, her brother Wal reads the will, and Tempesta doesn’t inherit anything from her father. She is left with an envelope with some money that belonged to her mother. Tempesta has always been drawn to France, her Mother’s home.
Tempesta is captivated by a run-down in the French village, and purchases it. The Mayor and some of the people don’t seem to want Tempesta there. She gets help from some of the people, and starts to fix the house. Tempesta realizes that there are secrets that her mother had, and she wants to discover them, and herself. Tempesta has an unusual talent of growing herbs and plants.
I appreciate how the author discusses the importance of family, friends, communication, honesty, love and hope. There is also a wonderful section of recipes. I highly recommend this charming, delightful, memorable and thought-provoking novel to everyone
The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Some come from dysfunctional families. The female protagonist, Tempesta, is a food critic, and feels uncomfortable with her family. Tempesta’s mother passed away when she was a thirteen, and she was brought up by a cold and indifferent grandmother and a father that works compulsively. When her father passes away, her brother Wal reads the will, and Tempesta doesn’t inherit anything from her father. She is left with an envelope with some money that belonged to her mother. Tempesta has always been drawn to France, her Mother’s home.
Tempesta is captivated by a run-down in the French village, and purchases it. The Mayor and some of the people don’t seem to want Tempesta there. She gets help from some of the people, and starts to fix the house. Tempesta realizes that there are secrets that her mother had, and she wants to discover them, and herself. Tempesta has an unusual talent of growing herbs and plants.
I appreciate how the author discusses the importance of family, friends, communication, honesty, love and hope. There is also a wonderful section of recipes. I highly recommend this charming, delightful, memorable and thought-provoking novel to everyone
February 6, 2024
3.75 raised to 4.
Tempesta is at a crossroads with her job and family. She lost her beloved mother at an early age, her father has just died leaving her younger brother his full estate, Tempesta only receiving a small inheritance from her mother. Her grandmother is cold, always making Tempesta feel unwanted, unloved, an outsider. Tempesta is a food critic who is cautioned about writing an honest review. This leads her to taking time off to reevaluate her goals and life and in this leap, finds herself and a new passion.
From the beautiful cover to the descriptive writing of a small village in France, this is a treat to the senses. From the food to life in a small, struggling village to finding one’s passion, and add a little magic to the mix. This is a slow build, teasing us with a little more in each chapter. The characters are realistic, their personalities coming thru strongly. However I felt a sort of disconnect in their interactions, not truly feeling the relationship developing between Tempesta and Tiberi, or Tempesta and Wal. The characters on a whole felt one dimensional. The ending felt slightly rushed, trying to tie things up neatly in a bow. When I think of France, my thoughts are always of Paris, but after reading this book, I want to visit the small villages to get the full experience. I look forward to reading this author again, will definitely look into her historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Tempesta is at a crossroads with her job and family. She lost her beloved mother at an early age, her father has just died leaving her younger brother his full estate, Tempesta only receiving a small inheritance from her mother. Her grandmother is cold, always making Tempesta feel unwanted, unloved, an outsider. Tempesta is a food critic who is cautioned about writing an honest review. This leads her to taking time off to reevaluate her goals and life and in this leap, finds herself and a new passion.
From the beautiful cover to the descriptive writing of a small village in France, this is a treat to the senses. From the food to life in a small, struggling village to finding one’s passion, and add a little magic to the mix. This is a slow build, teasing us with a little more in each chapter. The characters are realistic, their personalities coming thru strongly. However I felt a sort of disconnect in their interactions, not truly feeling the relationship developing between Tempesta and Tiberi, or Tempesta and Wal. The characters on a whole felt one dimensional. The ending felt slightly rushed, trying to tie things up neatly in a bow. When I think of France, my thoughts are always of Paris, but after reading this book, I want to visit the small villages to get the full experience. I look forward to reading this author again, will definitely look into her historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
September 5, 2024
NYC food critic and black sheep of her family, Tempèsta Luddington is feeling burned out and uninspired by her job. After the death of her father, she finds herself scrolling real estate online in the French countryside—her mother’s homeland, who passed away when Tempèsta was a child. With a little nest egg of money and a pull to explore, Tempèsta buys a rambling and very run down home in scenic Sainte-Columbe. And so her adventure begins and the search for a place to belong.
💭 My thoughts:
What a charming story! This is for the reader who loves to explore faraway lands and enjoys books filled to the brim with beautiful imagery. Add in a magical green house brimming with herbs and spices that will tempt all your senses— this book will make you feel as though you traveled to France yourself.
I loved Tempèsta’s character and fell in love with the village and its residents, especially Jenofa and Estèva ! I flew through this enchanting book while on vacation. Thank you to @becomingbookbybook for her original recommendation!
Read if you enjoy:
-Found family
-Saving a small village
-Discovering one’s heritage and history
-Family secrets
-Deep Friendships
-Lush descriptions of France
-Mouth watering food & cooking descriptions
-Gardening
-Home restoration projects
-Colorful characters
-Magical realism
-Women’s Fiction
-Touch of romance
-Self discovery
-Forgiveness
-Beauty found in the simple things
Content: death of parents, grief, mention of witch/spells, a couple kisses only. Closed door.
💭 My thoughts:
What a charming story! This is for the reader who loves to explore faraway lands and enjoys books filled to the brim with beautiful imagery. Add in a magical green house brimming with herbs and spices that will tempt all your senses— this book will make you feel as though you traveled to France yourself.
I loved Tempèsta’s character and fell in love with the village and its residents, especially Jenofa and Estèva ! I flew through this enchanting book while on vacation. Thank you to @becomingbookbybook for her original recommendation!
Read if you enjoy:
-Found family
-Saving a small village
-Discovering one’s heritage and history
-Family secrets
-Deep Friendships
-Lush descriptions of France
-Mouth watering food & cooking descriptions
-Gardening
-Home restoration projects
-Colorful characters
-Magical realism
-Women’s Fiction
-Touch of romance
-Self discovery
-Forgiveness
-Beauty found in the simple things
Content: death of parents, grief, mention of witch/spells, a couple kisses only. Closed door.
July 29, 2024
Grandma and Elli bookclub read #1 🫶🏻
The first part of the book had me expecting a hallmark movie type plot, but it slowly turned into a whole lot of nothing plot. It felt very underdeveloped and underwhelming. There are many points in the story that should have been dramatic or heartfelt, and they all fell flat. On a positive note, it did make me want to start planning a trip to France.
The first part of the book had me expecting a hallmark movie type plot, but it slowly turned into a whole lot of nothing plot. It felt very underdeveloped and underwhelming. There are many points in the story that should have been dramatic or heartfelt, and they all fell flat. On a positive note, it did make me want to start planning a trip to France.
June 17, 2024
A lovely story. Set in Provence, France. A book about finding new beginnings and starting over in unexpected and magical ways.
April 26, 2024
Do you have a favorite plant?
When Tempèsta’s father dies, it’s not much of surprise that he left the entire estate to her equally business-focused brother. Since her free-spirited mother died when she was very young, she’s felt a disconnect from her family, her job, her life in general.
A small nest egg left by her mother is just the push she needs to find her way. She leaves New York for Provence, where her mother was born, to try and carry on her mothers legacy.
What she finds is so much more.
I absolutely loved this sweet and magical story. It felt like a bit of Eat, Pray, Love meets Under the Tuscan Sun - but all the best parts - so was a complete joy to read. The writing is stunning and transports you to France through gorgeous descriptions of the landscapes, foods, and people. I adored all of her new (and old!) found family, was captivated by the mystery of her mothers past, enchanted with her blooming romance, and fully entranced by the magical powers of plants.
Bravo, Aimie K. Runyan for this wonderfully charming book - it was such a pleasure to disappear in such a vibrant and delightful story!
When Tempèsta’s father dies, it’s not much of surprise that he left the entire estate to her equally business-focused brother. Since her free-spirited mother died when she was very young, she’s felt a disconnect from her family, her job, her life in general.
A small nest egg left by her mother is just the push she needs to find her way. She leaves New York for Provence, where her mother was born, to try and carry on her mothers legacy.
What she finds is so much more.
I absolutely loved this sweet and magical story. It felt like a bit of Eat, Pray, Love meets Under the Tuscan Sun - but all the best parts - so was a complete joy to read. The writing is stunning and transports you to France through gorgeous descriptions of the landscapes, foods, and people. I adored all of her new (and old!) found family, was captivated by the mystery of her mothers past, enchanted with her blooming romance, and fully entranced by the magical powers of plants.
Bravo, Aimie K. Runyan for this wonderfully charming book - it was such a pleasure to disappear in such a vibrant and delightful story!
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