The Lavender Hour

by: Anne D. LeClaire

Published by: Ballantine Books

Reviewed by Andrea Sisco

Anne D. LeClaire is the author of eight previous novels including Entering Normal, Leaving Eden and Land's End.

Jessie Long is 32, has lost her teaching job through downsizing, her love life is non-existent (she's experienced numerous disasters in that area), her mother, to Jessie's dismay, is in love with a much younger man, and Jessie is five years into recovery from cancer.

A year on Cape Cod, in the family lodgings, might help Jessie reclaim her life and give her a sense of direction. She settles in the cottage, far from Virginia, where she creates jewelry made of human hair and volunteers with the hospice program. Jess is assigned to Luke, a fisherman who has little time to live and is angry about it. Luke's mother takes care of him, and it is Jessie's job to give her respite.

It is weeks before Jessie meets her charge as he is adamant about keeping to himself. During those weeks, Jessie sees photographs of him, feels his presence in the house and falls in love with the shadow of the man. When she does meet him, they slowly build a deep friendship; one in which they both share their lives with the other in a way they haven't with others.

As death draws nearer, Luke makes a request of Jessie that, should she agree to the request, will alter her own life and that of Luke's family forever.

LeClaire's novel is thought-provoking. It challenges the reader to examine their own life, how they're living that life and how far will they go to help a loved one who is dying a difficult and heart-wrenching death. Some of the lines were so beautifully written that I found myself re-reading them and finally writing them down to savor later.

Armchair Interviews says: The Lavender Hour is dark and meanders through parts of us that we don't always want to visit. Its message will linger with you long after you've finished the book.

Author's Web site: http://www.AnneLeClaire.com