Scent of the Roses

Reviewed by Michelle Ellis © 2006

Wild Child Publishing.com © 2006

Title: Scent of the Roses
Author: P.G. Forte
Publisher: SynergEbooks
Genre: Paranormal Romance
ISBN Number: 0-7443-0591-8
Release date: 2004
Author's website: P.G. Forte

Scent of the Roses began slowly. Although meeting everyone at this pace gave me a chance to get to know the characters, I did wish the pace had been a little faster. This may be a personal preference of mine, as I like quick, to-the-point stories. This plot, though, wouldn't have worked if it had been slapped onto the page without the care and thought that had obviously gone into it. P.G Forte had so many people entwined with one another that to rush through it too quickly would have been confusing.

A long story, Scent of the Roses starts with the return of Scout Patterson to the town of Oberon. After a twenty-year absence, the death of her stepmother means Scout has to go 'home'. Things that happened in the past don't bode well for Scout's return, as certain people are still holding grudges.

While young girl, Scout's friends hypnotise her to ensure that the information they glean from her mind helps them to pass their math exams. After Scout finds out what they have done, she tells one of her teachers, which results in the girls' expulsion from school.

Scout's stepsister, Lisa, discovers her boyfriend, Glenn, slept with Scout. Lisa then goes missing. Scout's father had been killed in a car accident, so alone, and very worried for Scout's safety, her stepmother packs Scout off to live with her grandfather. For the next twenty years, Scout believes her stepmother didn't love her. During those twenty years, she misses Nick, the love of her life, whom she left behind in Oberon. Scout believed Nick wouldn't miss her. He found out that she had concealed her age and was a minor when they dated. Being a policeman, and a few years older than Scout, Nick would have been in big trouble had their relationship been common knowledge.

History repeats itself once Scout is back in Oberon. Sinister happenings give this story a freaky edge, though I will say the cats were the icing on the cake for me. Talk about a creep fest! The old house, coupled with the image of the cats, gave me the jitters.

When Scout was hypnotised, I was gripped! These scenes moved along swiftly, and I found I couldn't stop reading once I started. I was fascinated by the intricate way P.G Forte weaved the regression and journey through the subconscious. I found my heart hammering once things from the past started to become clearer, and I wished my eyes could have gone from side to side just a little more quickly!

I suspected many people as the real culprit throughout this novel, but wasn't unduly surprised when it was revealed who had actually ensured Scout's sister's disappearance.

I also related to the scene where Glenn thought about his fear of water. I share this phobia, so his thoughts were mine, and I saw this scene in my mind very well indeed.

Lisa got on my nerves. She is a typical 'in your face, say-what-I-have-to-say-even-if-you-don't-like-it' type person. I wanted to shut her up many times, but this just shows how P.G Forte was able to annoy me with words and created a character that I really did begin to despise. I muttered many obscenities aloud when Lisa was in a scene!

Without giving any more of the story away, things in Oberon get darker and more mysterious. Everyone is intertwined. The women characters in this story were well written. Small town life with its rumours, tittle tattlers and general nosiness was wonderfully drawn. I live somewhere quite similar, so was able to identify with Lisa, Marsha and Scout.

Okay, so I didn't expect to be crying when I finished this book! I just don't do crying when reading books anymore! Well, I like to think that a book won't make me cry with regards to romance. I get a little tearful at other things in books these days, so to get choked up regarding love and the mushy stuff just isn't me. That all changed when I reached the end of this story.

Overall, a good read, but make sure you have the time to devote to it! It's a long one!

Rating: 4 Cats

* * *

To find out more about how to purchase Scent of the Roses, visit P.G. Forte's web site.