Lori Duff Writes

Scent of the Past

“Scent of the Past,” by Erin Marie Bernardo combines the genres of chick-lit and historical fiction, with the sci-fi element of time travel for an entertaining read.

Note: This book was provided to me by the good folks at Books and the Bear in exchange for an honest review.

Addison and Elissa are cousins, each the only daughter of twin sisters. They are as close as sisters, and completely opposite. The first few chapters, which take place in the present day, present Addison and Elissa in somewhat two-dimensional form. Elissa was the good girl, sweet and giving and socially awkward; Addison was the belle of the ball, a popular party girl, who often left Elissa in her wake. Elissa has to come out of her shell, Addison has to learn what’s really important. You’ve read that book a few times, huh?

I was a little disappointed, because the first ‘chapter’ is an excerpt from a diary which is dramatic and intriguing, and Addison and Elissa just seemed like the same old archtypes.

My disappointment was short lived, however. The book took off when it went to the past, specifically to the Court of King Louis XV. The women find themselves transported to the past. They have to figure out why and how to get back. The writing in the French scenes – the vast majority of the book – is vivid and detailed and page turning. We watch Elissa and Addison grow into themselves and solve the mystery of their past lives. It’s an interesting thought that carries the book – that tendrils of our past lives creep into our present ones, tying it all together.

The story isn’t terribly complicated, there aren’t clever, jarring twists, but it is a fun, entertaining read, perfect for poolside, with just enough murder and mayhem to keep it interesting.

To read more, click the handy-dandy Amazon link below.

Lori Duff

Lori B. Duff is an award-winning author who practices law on the side.  Her latest book, “If You Did What I Asked in the First Place” was awarded the Gold Medal for humor in the Foreword INDIES awards in 2019. You can follow her on Twitter at @LoriBDuff and on Facebook. For more blogs written by Lori, click here. For more information about Lori in general, click here. If you want Lori to do your writing for you, click here. If you want Lori to help you market your book, click here.