Genre: Contemporary

I am a rules follower. I worked for good grades for the first part of my life. I worked to raise my kids. I worked to put them through school and get a pension to retire a bit early. Never did I really act on a dream or pursue a giant whim. My life is not a sad one, not at all. I just don’t take chances. So… I was drawn to The Memory of Lavender and Sage by Aimie K. Runyan narrated by Caroline Hewitt and to Tempèste much like I was drawn to Frances in Under the Tuscan Sun. I will not likely ever buy a house overseas and live there, renovate it, get to know the neighbors, and have affairs and adventures. But gosh, I like reading about it.

That being said, of course, I loved the character development of Tempèste. I admire her taking charge of her life with the move in spite of an obvious lack of support from her brother and her grandmother. She overcomes much - a very neglected house, strong dislike from some of the locals, a need for purpose. Runyan creates the village and its residents in a lovely way. I appreciate how as she gets to know the people there, Tempèste learns about her mother and comes to appreciate her more. In the process, she learns surprising details that … you should read and find out. Tempèste also learns that she has some unexpected abilities - to impact the things and people around her in an almost mystical way. I don’t read much fantasy, but this element is woven into the plot in such a believable way that I found myself, well, believing it.

I am probably not going to change a lifetime of behavior any time soon. To be honest, in retirement, I find myself still not necessarily pursuing those things I thought I’d might - certainly not yet. I suppose I need to think about why…maybe. (I’m sure the articles exploring such behavior exist.) But anyhow that doesn’t mean I can’t love reading about those who do. And I loved reading Aimie K. Runyan’s The Memory of Lavender and Sage and hanging out in a small village in France for a time.