Book Review: A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor

In the last few months, I've started listening to Audiobooks and I'm really enjoying them. My latest audiobook is A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor, a stunning story about the flower sellers' in London at the beginning of the past century. Have a look at my thoughts about this story: 

Title: A Memory of Violets

Author: Hazel Gaynor

Published: February 12th 2015 by Harper

Amazon | Amazon UK

Blurb: In 1912, twenty-year-old Tilly Harper leaves the peace and beauty of her native Lake District for London, to become assistant housemother at Mr. Shaw’s Home for Watercress and Flower Girls. For years, the home has cared for London’s flower girls—orphaned and crippled children living on the grimy streets and selling posies of violets and watercress to survive.

Soon after she arrives, Tilly discovers a diary written by an orphan named Florrie—a young Irish flower girl who died of a broken heart after she and her sister, Rosie, were separated. Moved by Florrie’s pain and all she endured in her brief life, Tilly sets out to discover what happened to Rosie. But the search will not be easy. Full of twists and surprises, it leads the caring and determined young woman into unexpected places, including the depths of her own heart.

Review: For the last month, I've been listening to the audiobook of A Memory of Violets and enjoying every minute. Not only is the story captivating and beautifully executed but the narration is superb. With a steady pace and so many twits and secrets, A Memory of Violets makes for a great story that will keep you glued to its pages for hours.

The story centers around Tilly Harper, a sweet girl from the Lake District that starts working in a home for flower girls in London. There, she discovers a whole new world and a whole new family as she is welcomed by the girls with open arms. But she also discovers a box full of secrets... the box contains everything that is left of Florrie's life. As Tilly unravels her story, she can't help but try to uncover all the secrets surrounding Florrie and her missing sister.

I think that Hazel Gaynor has the ability to bring a whole era to life and A Memory of Violets is a perfect example of this. With her generous descriptions of the London at the turn of the century, Hazel takes us readers on a travel back in time. If I closed my eyes I could easily picture Florrie and her sister trying to sell posies in Covent Garden and even their fear and desperation when they separated. The setting is definitely a strong point on this novel, but the characters also play a big part in making this story so memorable. It's difficult not to warm to and care for these girls and every one of them steals a tiny bit of your heart.

A Memory of Violets is a stunning and heart-wrenching story that surprised me and took my breath away. Hazel Gaynor is rapidly becoming one of my favourite authors as her stories are truly beautiful. I can't recommend them enough.

Rating: 5 stars