Beyond the Lavender Fields - by Arlem Hawks (Hardcover)

About the Book

"In Marseille, on the eve of the French Revolution, a royalist and a revolutionary clash and struggle to navigate their relationship in a society that forces people to choose sides"--

Book Synopsis

1792, France

Rumors of revolution in Paris swirl in Marseille, a bustling port city in southern France. Gilles Étienne, a clerk at the local soap factory, thrives on the news. Committed to the cause of equality, liberty, and brotherhood, he and his friends plan to march to Paris to dethrone the monarchy. His plans are halted when he meets Marie-Caroline Daubin, the beautiful daughter of the owner of the factory.

A bourgeoise and royalist, Marie-Caroline has been called home to Marseille to escape the unrest in Paris. She rebuffs Gilles's efforts to charm her and boldly expresses her view that violently imposed freedom is not really freedom for all. As Marie-Caroline takes risks to follow her beliefs, Gilles catches her in a dangerous secret that could cost her and her family their lives. As Gilles and Marie-Caroline spend more time together, she questions her initial assumptions about Gilles and realizes that perhaps they have more in common than she thought.

As the spirit of revolution descends on Marseille, people are killed and buildings are ransacked and burned to the ground. Gilles must choose between supporting the political change he believes in and protecting those he loves. And Marie-Caroline must battle between standing up for what she feels is right and risking her family's safety. With their lives and their nation in turmoil, both Gilles and Marie-Caroline wonder if a révolutionnaire and a royaliste can really be together or if they must live in a world that forces people to choose sides.

Review Quotes

"With each successive encounter, Gilles has with Marie-Caroline...makes him realize that people, like politics, are full of complexities and nuances. Historical fiction fans will revel in Hawks' (Georgiana's Secret, 2021) refreshingly different, perfectly evoked period setting that seamlessly captures both the drama and danger of revolutionary-era France, while romance readers will appreciate the sweet love story the author expertly threads through the plot."-- "Booklist"

About the Author

Arlem Hawks began making up stories before she could write. Living all over the Western United States and traveling around the world gave her a love of cultures and people and the stories they have to tell. With her travels came an interest in history, especially the history of her English heritage. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two children.