Lady Lavender

By Lynna Banning

Widow Jeanne Nicolet's beautiful lavender fields are threatened by the advancing railroad. With her livelihood in danger, Jeanne will fight to protect her, and her little daughter's, future.

Constantly on the move, surveying the land, suits Colonel Washington Halliday just fine. He can escape the haunting memories of war that have left his emotions as damaged as his injured body.

Under the sultry heat of the Western sun, the scent of the purple fields is heady, but not as intoxicating as the lavender lady herself .

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Australia
• Release date: Jul 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781460832509

Lynna Banning

Lynna Banning combines a lifelong love of history and literature into a satisfying career as a writer. In the past she has worked as an editor and technical writer, and has taught English and journalism. An amateur pianist and harpsichordist, Lynna performs on psaltery, harp, and recorders with two medieval music groups and coaches ensembles in her spare time. She lives in Felton, in the Santa Cruz Mountains, with two cats and a very nervous canary.

Reviews for Lady Lavender

[gincam · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This year of 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, and we will see many reminders in books and films of this terrible American tragedy. "Lady Lavender", by Lynna Banning, takes place in Oregon two years following the end of the Civil War. This story offers a rueful wounded hero, a sassy, independent heroine, and a very well-paced, entertaining story line. Colonel Washington Halliday, known as "Wash", fought for the Union Army, survived a crippling war injury, and endured three years in a Confederate prison camp. Heading back to the West after the war's end, his legal skills and natural leadership ability land him a job as railroad front man, moving from town to town to clear the way for the oncoming and unstoppable arrival of the trains and all they encompassed. He is unprepared for how to deal with one very strong, single-minded Frenchwoman whose field of lavender lies directly in the chosen path of the railroad track. Jeanne Nicolet is a young widow and mother who makes her livelihood through growing and selling lavender just as the other women in her family have done for generations. She and her small daughter live in a little cabin on the edge of the lavender field, and she is unaware that the land was sold to her under false pretenses. Wash Halliday has the unfortunate duty of informing Jeanne that she does not own the land and will have to move and give up her field of lavender. Wash had his heart broken shortly before he left to fight in the war. His fiancee left him for another man, and he has no wish to become involved with a woman and have his feelings stirred. However, he has never met a woman like the beautiful and self-sufficient widow. Before long, he is not only involved, he is captivated by Jeanne and her daughter and is torn between duty and desire. Wash has scars inside and out, but his somber memories are tempered by a wry sense of humor. Jeanne is a lady, but she is also a farmer, a businesswoman, and capable of wielding a hammer and nail without asking for assistance. She touches places in his heart that he thought were long dead, and in return he helps her to harvest her last crop of lavender and becomes a protector for Jeanne and her daughter. The mutual desire felt by Wash and Jeanne is a revelation, something new and wondrous for them both. "Lady Lavender" is a well-paced, involving story with an interesting story line and appealing secondary characters.Jeanne Nicolet is one of the most unique female characters that I have read about in historical romantic fiction. She is a woman who does not shun manual labor, follows her own counsel in business, takes positive action instead of just reacting, and yet retains her femininity and womanliness. She is practical, passionate, and creative. She grows and harvests several types of lavender crops and makes lovely sachets and wreaths to sell for much-needed income. Throughout the centuries, lavender has been valued for its essential oils for use in fragrances and herbal remedies. "Lady Lavender" takes place in the Victorian Era, a time in which the science of botany and the language of flowers were both in great favor. Lavender has long been lauded for its therapeutic properties and its potent scent, which is a combination of homespun comfort and sensual allure. Sachets and other items made with lavender were much in demand by the ladies of Victorian society. For her efforts, Jeanne received five cents for each sachet and ten cents for each wreath. That was her reward for the many hours of labor and the personal sacrifices she made in order to be a businesswoman in Oregon of the 19th century.