4.5 Stars!!

This book was so great.

The Setting
I know very little about the French Revolution; however, the author did a great job explaining the setting and the world around the characters in a way that someone like me (with limited knowledge of the French Revolution) can catch on pretty quick to the setting. The writing was beautiful. Imagining the the characters and scenes was easy, and the author paints such a beautiful settings.

The Plot
I feel like this book is more character centered than plot centered (which is what I personally prefer), so the characters really did the work of moving the plot. This is a story less about the French Revolution and more about how people lived through it.

The Characters
The characters were so wonderfully written!! Each had their own motives and questions. It is very rare that I read a book and I feel like each and every character is more than a two-dimensional figure there to simply advance the story, but this book delivered in so many ways. I loved how Gilles and Caroline respected each others' thoughts and opinions. I love how Caroline explains their love: "not a fiery passion that consumes us both, but a mutual respect and unspoken attraction". (how lovely is that??. I also want to mention how much I loved Gilles' mother's character. She is such a strong and brave woman, and I loved it every time she was on page.

Other Thoughts
I love how the characters show grief and loss. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "how dare the world keep on existing as before, when all our light has been snatched away?" The author really blew me away with the characters' feelings.

I subtracted 0.5 stars from the overall rating because I felt the book lagged a little in the beginning. At around the halfway point it really picked up, and I could hardly put it down!

Beyond the Lavender Fields is one of the best books I've read this year!

Characters
Marie-Caroline and Gilles are at odds with each from chapter one. One believes in the revolution and the other in the monarchy. The characters beliefs evolve through out the story as they see how the revolution brings change to their country, friends and family. For me their development was near excellent. I do wish that there was a little bit more focus at the beginning showing why each supported their cause so strongly, especially Gilles.

Plot
The narrative is driven primarily by the characters but the external and internal conflict is woven brilliantly with the development of the characters that it is hard to put the book down.

Themes
The novel explores political extremism and the possibility of finding common ground with those whom disagree with each other. Other themes explored are the cost of liberty and duty to country vs family.

Overall: This is a wonderful historical fiction novel.

I was given the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy via Net Galley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Vive la France! Can I book a ticket for tomorrow please?

Arlem Hawks has created a beautiful story set in the city of Marseilles during the French Revolution. There we meet royalist Caroline and revolutionary Gilles who both love their country and want what is best for it but see "what is best" in two wholly different lights. Or do they?

I loved how both Gilles and Caroline were committed to their beliefs but were still able to form a friendship based on mutual respect. I loved that they both stood up for what they believed was right and against what they believed was wrong. And I loved that over time their perspectives changed. And my favorite line: "I still do not want to kiss you."

It was interesting to read a book with two different points of view where one is all written in letter form. But I found it worked well and I actually enjoyed it.

My favorite side character surprised me by being Gilles' father who in the beginning I thought was going to be an unredeemable character. Imagine my surprise when he was better than redeemed!

The history and insight into the revolution was well done without being an information overload or over my head. This book was advertised as historical fiction but it really was a romance as well. I'm actually surprised it wasn't advertised as being part of the Proper Romance series produced by Shadow Mountain because it would fit in beautifully with those stories. Maybe it still will be? The romance was just as good as the history and the combination of the two was a perfect blend.

I would have loved to isten to this as an audiobook to get all the pronunciations correct but was happy to see a guide at the end of the book.