The Alchemy of Flowers: A Novel

(Paperback)

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A broken woman. A mysterious job ad. A chance to heal in French castle gardens--but strange things are growing behind the ancient stone walls. This debut adult novel is an enchanting, modern-day take on The Secret Garden, sprinkled with magic. Perfect for fans of Sarah Addison Allen.

Help Wanted: In search of a gardener for the ancient walled Jardins du Paradis in the South of France. Unique and rustic lodging provided. Off the grid in all ways. One must grow flowers from one's merde . . .

Exhausted and broken by loss, Eloise takes the chance of a lifetime to answer an ad in a French gardening magazine. To fly away from her life in the States and tend to both her shattered heart and the flowers of Paradise. And best of all for her . . .

Absolutely no children allowed on the premises.

Within the high garden walls, Eloise starts to learn the strange rules of the elusive estate owner. Living and working in isolation with her three companions, she finds her heart opening again to friendship--and realizes she's drawn to the handyman, Raphael. The flowers whisper to her, enchanting, delighting, healing. But why are the workers forbidden from going out during dusk Who is the "Goddess of the Garden" Is her mind playing tricks on her, or does she see a woodsprite flitting through the trees The giggles and glimpses of a little girl haunt her and make her question: What is real in Paradise and what is illusion

Eloise tries to rationalize her uneasy feelings and the darkness she uncovers beneath the garden's lush beauty, but as she digs deeper into the mysteries of her sanctuary, she begins to suspect there's a child on the grounds--who may be in danger. When Paradise becomes a deadly prison, she must risk everything to protect her newfound family and claim her second chance at happiness.

"The Alchemy of Flowers captivates the senses as well as the imagination in a magical tale of healing and forgiveness. Resau has written with great heart an eerie yet deeply touching story that keeps the pages turning until the very end." --Melissa Payne, bestselling author of In the Beautiful Dark and The Wild Road Home

Reviews

'I devoured this in one sitting! Immersive, enchanting, and packed with mystery, THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS drew me in from page one. I was rooting for the curious and brave heroine, Eloise, and her cryptic compatriots in the Jardins du Paradis, as each finds friendship and healing after their own separate heartbreaks. The dreamy Provencal walled garden is the perfect escapist setting. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will love this charming, feel-good novel.' * Andrea Jo DeWerd, author of WHAT WE SACRIFICE FOR MAGIC *
'THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS captivates the senses as well as the imagination in a magical tale of healing and forgiveness. Yet this Paradise harbors its own dark mystery that threatens the tranquility of the gardens and the well-being of its inhabitants. Resau has written with great heart an eerie yet deeply touching story that keeps the pages turning until the very end.' * Melissa Payne, bestselling author of IN THE BEAUTIFUL DARK and THE WILD ROAD HOME *
'THE ALCHEMY OF FLOWERS is a pure magical and sensory delight. Like roots in soil, though, the gift of this book goes deeper. Resau's novel offers an honest and compassionate portrait of the physical pain and health-related sorrows that go along with being human. So many of us can relate, and we can also relate to the wondrous alchemy and healing found in nature. This gorgeous novel captures both the heartbreak and the true healing at our disposal, if only we seek to turn difficulty into blooms.' * Laura Pritchett, author of THREE KEYS *

Author Bio

Laura Resau is the author of The Alchemy of Flowers, her debut novel for adults, and eleven acclaimed books for young people. Her novels won five Colorado Book Awards and appear on best-of booklists from Oprah, the American Library Association, and more. Trilingual and with a cultural anthropology background, shes lived in Provence and Oaxaca, and now teaches creative writing at Western Colorado University. You might find her writing in her cozy vintage trailer in Fort Collins, Colorado, where she lives with her rock-hound husband, musician son, wild husky, a garden of healing flowers, and a hundred house plants. Connect with her online at lauraresau.com; Instagram: @lauraresau; Facebook: