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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s a very French love story. :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity, Pregnancy, Abandonment
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Louisville born author!
Such a great piece of escapism - a woman separates from her husband (perm or temp, read to find out!) and spends time in Paris, healing and reflecting and exploring all parts of herself.
I liked reading the thoughts of this women, and thought she seemed like an actual real-life person who feels and empathizes and struggles…it was a really cozy read!
And some sexy parts! These scenes weren’t just thrown in as cheap ways to garner attention - they made sense and were beautifully descriptive but not over the top - as was the rest of the book!
Such a great piece of escapism - a woman separates from her husband (perm or temp, read to find out!) and spends time in Paris, healing and reflecting and exploring all parts of herself.
I liked reading the thoughts of this women, and thought she seemed like an actual real-life person who feels and empathizes and struggles…it was a really cozy read!
And some sexy parts! These scenes weren’t just thrown in as cheap ways to garner attention - they made sense and were beautifully descriptive but not over the top - as was the rest of the book!
Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith is a thought-provoking novel built on the concept of betrayal. It is raw, honest and full of passion. It is a love affair not only between a woman and a man, but also one with Paris. I enjoyed it.
This is a book that feels like it requires the reader to experience what Vincent is experiencing. At times, a single line will come from what the author refers to as ”the narrator”. I feel the depth of Vincent’s despair, learning her husband Cillian has a son from a relationship at the age of 15 after he revealed it all in his latest book. This is not the way one wants to find out about this secret that he has been holding onto for decades.
Vincent’s love affair with Paris is felt in every part of this book. . Even her music playlists which are provided throughout the book exemplify this passion. Those of us who share this sentiment about the city will enjoy this aspect of the book.
The attraction between Vincent and Loup is undeniable. Despite there being a twenty-year age difference, the push and pull of this relationship are palpable. There is no question that the author knows how to write about passion.
What bothers me about this book is the laissez-faire manner in which Vincent holds the hearts of both her husband and Loup. While the conclusion of the book is left to interpretation, I wanted something more cohesive. What a great novel this would make for a book club or buddy read!
I listened to the audiobook version of Half-Blown Rose which was narrated by Mela Lee and Tim Campbell. I appreciated both of their performances which felt natural and easy to listen to. I loved Tim’s Irish accent and Mela’s ability to speak French. I have no hesitation to recommend the audiobook to those that enjoy this format.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
This is a book that feels like it requires the reader to experience what Vincent is experiencing. At times, a single line will come from what the author refers to as ”the narrator”. I feel the depth of Vincent’s despair, learning her husband Cillian has a son from a relationship at the age of 15 after he revealed it all in his latest book. This is not the way one wants to find out about this secret that he has been holding onto for decades.
Vincent’s love affair with Paris is felt in every part of this book. . Even her music playlists which are provided throughout the book exemplify this passion. Those of us who share this sentiment about the city will enjoy this aspect of the book.
The attraction between Vincent and Loup is undeniable. Despite there being a twenty-year age difference, the push and pull of this relationship are palpable. There is no question that the author knows how to write about passion.
What bothers me about this book is the laissez-faire manner in which Vincent holds the hearts of both her husband and Loup. While the conclusion of the book is left to interpretation, I wanted something more cohesive. What a great novel this would make for a book club or buddy read!
I listened to the audiobook version of Half-Blown Rose which was narrated by Mela Lee and Tim Campbell. I appreciated both of their performances which felt natural and easy to listen to. I loved Tim’s Irish accent and Mela’s ability to speak French. I have no hesitation to recommend the audiobook to those that enjoy this format.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Libro.fm for the ALC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
So it took me a LONG time and I mean over half the book to really get into this story. Breaking it down to things I loved vs. things I hated.
I loved the setting in Paris was so idyllic and picturesque the way it was described. I loved Loup, he was my favorite character that seemed the least drama through the whole book.
I hated hated hated the cheating aspect of this story and how it was supposed to be about a woman finding herself…by finding a lover? It made me feel like as woman we can’t find ourselves on our own. Vincent was such a strong character with her own business blowing up, traveling across the world trying to find herself only to find a lover. I hated that part. I didn’t like that it wasn’t about revenge - but yet she couldn’t be honest with Cillian, her husband, or with anyone else and got upset every time she thought of his book.
I get that she had two great loves…but I hated how it all fell into place by her cheating. She was so upset about the betrayl of her husband secret child from his college years, but here she is galavanting around Paris with a lover…
I loved the setting in Paris was so idyllic and picturesque the way it was described. I loved Loup, he was my favorite character that seemed the least drama through the whole book.
I hated hated hated the cheating aspect of this story and how it was supposed to be about a woman finding herself…by finding a lover? It made me feel like as woman we can’t find ourselves on our own. Vincent was such a strong character with her own business blowing up, traveling across the world trying to find herself only to find a lover. I hated that part. I didn’t like that it wasn’t about revenge - but yet she couldn’t be honest with Cillian, her husband, or with anyone else and got upset every time she thought of his book.
I get that she had two great loves…but I hated how it all fell into place by her cheating. She was so upset about the betrayl of her husband secret child from his college years, but here she is galavanting around Paris with a lover…
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
+Age Gap Romance (older woman, younger man)
+Love Triangle
The book follows Vincent on a journey of self-discovery after a betrayal by her husband, Cillian. He's held on to the secret of the child he fathered when he was a teen before his parents whisked him away to another country to start fresh. However, she finds out from his most recent novel and not from him directly. She moves to Paris for a new beginning and starts a love affair with a dashing, younger man Loup.
The playlists.
The swoon-worthy confessions of love and obsession in French.
The emails. The descriptions of memories and colors.
All of it was perfection.
My only issue is the ending. I was so invested, and I think I know Vincent's decision, but I would have loved Leesa to have given us a bit more.
I recommend the audiobook. Hearing the French language added another level of intensity to the romance and indecision.
+Love Triangle
The book follows Vincent on a journey of self-discovery after a betrayal by her husband, Cillian. He's held on to the secret of the child he fathered when he was a teen before his parents whisked him away to another country to start fresh. However, she finds out from his most recent novel and not from him directly. She moves to Paris for a new beginning and starts a love affair with a dashing, younger man Loup.
The playlists.
The swoon-worthy confessions of love and obsession in French.
The emails. The descriptions of memories and colors.
All of it was perfection.
My only issue is the ending. I was so invested, and I think I know Vincent's decision, but I would have loved Leesa to have given us a bit more.
I recommend the audiobook. Hearing the French language added another level of intensity to the romance and indecision.