Review: Once Upon Jasmine ( La Vie en Roses #2) by Laura Florand

From Reviewers’ Choice Book of the Year nominee and bestselling author Laura Florand:

Ruthless. That was what they said about Damien Rosier. Handsome. Wealthy. Powerful. Merciless. No one messed with his family, because to do so they would have to get through him. No one thought he had a heart. Not even the woman he gave his to.

Cynical. That was what they said about Jasmin Bianchi. A top perfumer of her generation, Jess had achieved commercial success by growing a protective shell over a tender heart. The one time she cracked it open to let Damien in, he crushed it—after a night of unbelievable passion.

Lovers. That one magical night couldn’t survive the harsh light of dawn. When Jess woke up to discover the man in bed beside her had stolen her company, she fled.

Enemies. Now she’s come to the south of France with a threat to his family heritage. If he wants to reclaim both it and the woman who walked away from him, he’s going to have to fight as dirty as only Damien can.

But Jess knows how to fight dirty, too. And these days, she has nothing left to lose.
Certainly not her heart.

Come explore the south of France, a world of heat and fragrance and tales as old as time, through the stories of the five powerful Rosier cousins and the women who win their hearts. A Wish Upon Jasmine, book two in Florand’s addictive new series, La Vie en Roses. “Explosive, sensual, and utterly sweet” (Eloisa James). ~ Goodreads

Source: e-arc provided by the author in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Laura Florand can do no wrong in my opinion. She is my go-to author when I need a story to just get lost in. Even the dogs are on notice not to bother me when I pick up one of her books. lol

I wasn’t sure I would enjoy the new La Vie en Roses series as much as her, previous, Amour et Chocolat series (one of my absolute favorites). I LOVED those burly chefs and they way they put all of their heart into each dessert, offering it up on a platter to the women they loved.

I should never have doubted. So far this series is just as enchanting. The romances are just as beautiful, but for me, it’s the Rosier family that has captured my heart. Especially family matriarch, Tante Collete. I adore how Florand has woven such a rich history for this family as Tante Collete plays matchmaker for the Rosier cousins.

Collete is a facilitator of romance, but she’s also a hardened Resistance war hero, who laid her life on the line to save many children during the war. As an older woman, she’s still trying to right the wrongs and injustices caused during those years, even thought her solutions sometimes hurt her family (at first). I just love this added layer and the relationship each of the men & love interests have with her.  And how this heals Tante Collete’s heart too. She’s a really wonderful character.

But of course this is a romance! Damien and Jess come together for one beautiful night until it all come crashing down the next morning.

Jess and Damien were a really difficult couple in all the best ways. Their passion & fears felt like open wounds at times but I loved how they just hurled insults, compliments and apologies at each other. They laid it all out there – open and raw. They were stubborn, fierce and fiery but never tried to change each other.

And as with all of Florand's books - there is sensory overload with the setting – Provence – during Jasmine picking season and Jess’s attempt at finding the perfect scents to encompass all that is Damien Rosier - super sext stuff!

Basically my pre-stamped approval for Laura Florand. If she writes it – read it.