Serena, promised to a man she doesn’t love because it’s a good business decision, runs away to Borneo with another man. After bearing two daughters and relishing their life in the jungle, they are forced to return when the stock market crashes. They bring with them a variant of a gardenia that reaches for Serena when she is nearby, launching a perfume company using the mystical plant.
100 years and 3 generations later, the Lenore family business is thriving. Their special perfume is sold only to women who use it to nurture their talents – actresses, politicians, corporate heads and others are successful because of the Lenore fragrance. Lenore Incorporated is run by Willow, Serena’s granddaughter, who has been having difficulty with her memory. Willow’s eldest daughter, Mya, has been groomed to take over the company, but she’s rash and headstrong. Younger daughter Lucia, who ran away at the age of 18 to become an actress, has returned to their home in the Blue Ridge Mountains on the heels of a failed marriage and career.
Lucia doesn’t know what she’s coming home to. The gardenias are suffering from some kind of disease and the year’s crop is in danger. Mya has made a mistake that could expose the business’s secret. And Willow’s memory issues are worse than they appear.  Lucia also runs into Ben, the high school boyfriend that she left behind, bringing up forgotten guilt and resentments.
As the Lenore women try to figure out what’s wrong with their gardenia, they have to do damage control to fix Mya’s mistake, which brings down the curse threatened by Serena if the formula is altered. They also have to deal with issues with their men – Mya’s boyfriend wants more than she does, Lucia has to deal with her feelings for Ben while still grieving her recently ended marriage, and Willow runs into an old flame who increases her desire to retire.  And the more time Lucia spends around the business, the more she realizes that she does want to take over for Willow.
Season of the Dragonflies by Sarah Creech is a wonderful novel with strong women and a rich setting that the reader can see and smell. The magical realism works well and the flower’s powers are believable.  This is a story of love, forgiveness, and family, and one I recommend.
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sounds like a wonderful story – I’ll have to look for it at my local library
This looks like a fun book to read.
CONGRATS to the winner! ENJOY!
I love a book with strong women characters.
I am interested in reading a ” wonderful novel with strong women and a rich setting that the reader can see and smell “.
My mom loves to read all different kinds of books. I would like to give this to her, and hope she can find a new author to love!
This sounds really interesting and I think my daughter would love to read it
i like reading about women and their struggles
I like books about strong women!
A Family saga full of romance, drama, secrets, family dynamics and a touch of magic sounds like a interesting and engaging read.
Sounds like a fun beach read.
More and more I am only interested in stories about women’s journeys these days, this looks marvelous.
It sounds very interesting and seems to be good reading!
I think I will like the magical feature of it!
This book interests me because I enjoy books about strong women & families & I think I would really enjoy it
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You had me at love, forgiveness, and family. Universal themes. Sounds interesting!
I would enjoy reading about a company that is run by women, and I also like that the story has secrets and family relationships. Thanks for having the giveaway.
Would have to say that it is because of relationships
It sounds exactly like something I’d be interested in!
I love reading books I haven’t met a book I didn’t enjoy lol
I love to read books about families.
The setting sounds good
entered desire lines book giveaway
I enjoy books that portray a strong female character. This sounds like a great read!
I like a good novel and this sounds just up my alley
Your review makes me want to find out what happens!
It’s a novel with strong woman in it
I like books that involve several people in a family so you get a chance to see the way they act in a family dynamic. This sounds like a good book.
This book sounds inspiring.
I’m interested because this book features female characters and the family.
Im interested about this because it has strong family bonds in it.
I like to discover authors who are new to me.
Always enjoy exploring new authors.
I have a soft spot for stories about forgiveness.
I love that this book has a theme about empowerment for women
Well I will be honest and say I love the cover 🙂 also multi generational stories are the best!
Totally judging it by its cover. Looks intriguing from the start!
I like that it has a connection to Borneo, and that the connection to fragrances makes it seem like it would be a very evocative read.
The drama!! Love it! Now I want to know what happens to the gardenia’s. What interest’s me is that when we think everything in our life’s is perfect you never know when everything will turn upside down! This is what makes it interesting!
The family story is interesting.
It sounds like a great read!
A family drama of the story captures me. I like when a book has everything mixed together to cause a stir.
I’ve heard this is a great book — thanks for hosting!
Beth
Beth’s Book-Nook Blog
It sounds like a interesting story involving a family.
Love strong female characters. Also love that it’s family oriented.
I like that it deals with strong bonds that will be tested
sounds like an interesting book .
My husbands family is from Borneo and I’ve never read a book with it even mentioned!
i love reading about strong women, and this sounds like a nice read.
the characters sound interesting
a book about strong women is a read
I like the generational and family story lines.
I like to read stories about families with strong female characters.
This sounds like a wonderful book! I would love to read it!
I like books about strong women.
I don’t really have much interest.
i like reading about women
I Love the family angle and mystical aspect.
like reading about families
I love reading books about women and their stories.
i’m interested in books about empowering woman and strenghting family which i think this is about!! thanks for showing me this book!
The tensions from just life and how they affect the family, is intriguing and would keep ones attention while reading.
I like books about strong women!
I enjoy books about family interactions.
I love to read and this book is the type that I really love to read
This family saga sounds captivating and memorable. Thanks.
I love that it’s a multi-generational saga, and that it is magical realism – my favorite genre.