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A review by abookarmoire
Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith
4.0
“She had the baby and they’re out there somewhere and you never told me about it. You wrote a book about it instead. A whole-ass book,” Vincent said. She took two big gulps of wine.
Cillian writes a tell-all, autobiographical book revealing that when he was a teenager he had a child that was left behind in Dublin. After years of marriage, and two grown kids, Cillian’s wife Vincent is blindsided and betrayed by this secret.
Vincent escapes to her parent’s condo in Paris. Leaving reality behind, Vincent creates a cocoon of friends, art, romance, work and a new found sensual freedom.
Loup is an artist, a musician and is taking Vincent’s art class. He is enamored by her and the tension is palpable.
“I fought off my feelings for you… for a while,” she says.
“I didn’t even attempt to fight off my feelings for you. I knew I couldn’t. I didn’t waste my time trying. Ça sert à rien?” Vincent asks.
Cillian is trying all he can to win Vincent back, not an easy feat being separated by an ocean, and competing for her attention with Loup in the picture.
Vincent and Loup are trapped in their own web.
Beware of this intoxicating story. It will pull you in. Paris will enchant you. And so will Loup.
Paris, France has charmed romantics around the globe.
But.
A non-ending ending.
Why is there no ending?
When you realize you are flipping through the last few pages and there is no resolution to an intense predicament, you know it will not end well for the reader.
Unless this was an intentional full circle of Karma and what goes around, comes around - I can’t think of any other reason to not end the story. Is that it? The husband reveals something shocking from the past that upsets Vincent - which, in exchange for unintended retribution, the wife has to deal with her own complications and actions - to which we do not know what happens. Oye vey! I find that so infuriating.
Reminiscent of [b:Call Me By Your Name|36336078|Call Me By Your Name (Call Me By Your Name, #1)|André Aciman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519203520l/36336078._SY75_.jpg|1363157]. Very enchanting, tense, brief and European.
Cillian writes a tell-all, autobiographical book revealing that when he was a teenager he had a child that was left behind in Dublin. After years of marriage, and two grown kids, Cillian’s wife Vincent is blindsided and betrayed by this secret.
Vincent escapes to her parent’s condo in Paris. Leaving reality behind, Vincent creates a cocoon of friends, art, romance, work and a new found sensual freedom.
Loup is an artist, a musician and is taking Vincent’s art class. He is enamored by her and the tension is palpable.
“I fought off my feelings for you… for a while,” she says.
“I didn’t even attempt to fight off my feelings for you. I knew I couldn’t. I didn’t waste my time trying. Ça sert à rien?” Vincent asks.
Cillian is trying all he can to win Vincent back, not an easy feat being separated by an ocean, and competing for her attention with Loup in the picture.
Vincent and Loup are trapped in their own web.
Beware of this intoxicating story. It will pull you in. Paris will enchant you. And so will Loup.
Paris, France has charmed romantics around the globe.
But.
A non-ending ending.
Why is there no ending?
When you realize you are flipping through the last few pages and there is no resolution to an intense predicament, you know it will not end well for the reader.
Unless this was an intentional full circle of Karma and what goes around, comes around - I can’t think of any other reason to not end the story. Is that it? The husband reveals something shocking from the past that upsets Vincent - which, in exchange for unintended retribution, the wife has to deal with her own complications and actions - to which we do not know what happens. Oye vey! I find that so infuriating.
Reminiscent of [b:Call Me By Your Name|36336078|Call Me By Your Name (Call Me By Your Name, #1)|André Aciman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519203520l/36336078._SY75_.jpg|1363157]. Very enchanting, tense, brief and European.