The Memory of Lavender and Sage is a story of self-discovery and found family with a side of baking and magical realism.

The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance, Small Town Life, Friendship, Magical Realism, France

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary of The Memory of Lavender and Sage:

Thanks #NetGalley @HarperMuseBooks for a complimentary e ARC of #TheMemoryOfLavenderAndSage upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Tempèsta has lost both her parents and she uses a small inheritance from her mother to buy a run-down manor house in a small village where her mother had grown up. She is surprised by the cold welcome she receives from some villagers, but she is stubborn and resolves to stick with her plan and learn more about her mother in the process. Tempèsta discovers a great deal her own unique gifts and learns about her mother.

My Thoughts:

Finding Yourself

I always appreciate a theme of self-discovery and finding your true self. Tempèsta learns that she is more like her mother than she could have imagined.

Small Town Life

One setting I especially enjoy is a small, rural village with quirky, colorful characters who provide opportunities for friendship and community. I love the sense of belonging and found family.

Magical Realism

I impulsively seized the opportunity to read another book by Runyan after having loved A Bakery in Paris. I accepted the arc based on the author and didn’t look too closely at the synopsis. I was a little surprised that The Memory of Lavender and Sage is contemporary fiction with a generous side of magical realism. If you enjoy magical realism, you will find a lot to love here. Realism is my preference.

Recommending The Memory of Lavender and Sage

I recommend The Memory of Lavender and Sage for fans who appreciate a strong sense of place, a quaint village setting, themes of self-discovery and family themes, and magical realism. Recipes included!

Related: Also by Aimie K. Runyan, A Paris Bakery.

My Rating:  4 Stars

Meet the Author of The Memory of Lavender and Sage, Aimie K. Runyan

Aimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a three-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond. Her next books, The Castle Keepers (in collaboration with J’nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan) and A Bakery in Paris will release in 2023 from Harper Collins. Also from Harper Collins, Aimie’s contemporary Women’s Fiction debut, The Memory of Lavender and Sage, will release in early 2024. She lives in Colorado with her amazing husband, two (usually) adorable children, two (always) adorable kitties, and a dragon. To learn more about Aimie, please visit http://www.aimiekrunyan.com.

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