Preview
  • The Scent of Hours

  • A Novel
  • By: Barbara O'Neal
  • Narrated by: Mia Barron
  • Length: 10 hrs and 14 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (86 ratings)

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The Scent of Hours

By: Barbara O'Neal
Narrated by: Mia Barron
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Publisher's summary

A divorced perfumer navigates an uncertain but fresh new start in life in a poignant and witty novel about self-discovery by the USA Today bestselling author of When We Believed in Mermaids.

Nikki Bridges has it good. An enviable home in an upscale neighborhood, a heavenly-scented hobby making personal-blend perfumes, a cherished daughter, and comfortable rituals with a husband she loves. How was she to know it would all blow up with her husband’s affair, a blindsiding divorce, and an identity crisis she never saw coming?

With little money, less work experience, and a modest apartment, Nikki is tentatively moving on. Along the way: a waitressing job, a bond with an empathetic group of friends, and reentering the dating game at fortysomething. Luring her out of her funk is Niraj, an ex-Londoner with twinkling eyes and a hint of cinnamon and ginger. For the first time in a long time, Nikki feels a warm summer flush—and with it, a spark of inspiration.

On a liberating quest for self-expression and the courage to follow a dream, Nikki is blending the pieces of a new life into a fragrance that is uniquely and passionately her own.

Revised edition: This edition of The Scent of Hours includes editorial revisions.

©2006, 2014, 2024 by Barbara Samuel. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.
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What listeners say about The Scent of Hours

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

All your senses will be activated with this tale!

Resilience after a devastating divorce and a tale of scents and memories and new possibilities... Change is in the scent notes of new memories and taking chances on people...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

One of my favorites!!

You always know you have found a good listen when you get “sad” when you notice there is not a lot of time left on the book - you just want it to go on and on! The story is so lifelike - you can totally identify with what Nicole is feeling and thinking. Listening to this is thought provoking ….women and independence, starting over what’s really important in life and what true friendships consist of. The “writing” is so descriptive, but not in an annoying “too much detail” kind of way. It really makes you take note of your own surroundings - especially the scents! I always love this author and the narration was “spot on!”

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Didn’t want it to end!

Great story! Good characters. Good reader! I hoping there would be more or a sequel at least!








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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Loved the storyline but…

The beginning captivated my attention. It was about a divorced woman and how she was transitioning into her new life, friends, interactions, kids, the ex, & her identity. Very realistic. I found myself being more aware of fragrances, flowers, food cooking, the scent of candles. I couldn’t put it down. The narrator was perfect for this book. It was about to be my favorite Barbara O’Neal book yet. But then… she introduced a harlequin style romance twist which cheapened and dominated the story. So disappointing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

The thing I love most about how she writes is how her descriptions of things invoke all of the senses. These are every day people, struggling with normal life and finding extraordinary beauty in being present in the moment. I’ll listen to it again.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good book

The book was good. The characters were interesting and well developed. The audible performers were awesome!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Not what i thought it was going to be

This was really just kind of a story of divorce and finding oneself after that... i dont know there were somethings that felt unnecessary and then glossed over... i am not sure how i feel about this novel ... there was a happy ending for the heroine, but really no one else... i mean not that everyone gets a happy ending, this just exploded in a weird way..

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

True to life

Divorce is truly a struggle! And in this book you see how it affects several different characters how life being single whether by choice or because of one circumstance and career can also affect you and how it affects children as well. Enjoyed this story very much do however wish it was a little bit longer.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The parts about scents.

The elegant way the author contrasted the journeys for Nicole, Roxanne, and Wanda,
Wanda was right when she commented about there being a lack of good quality about the husbands. How they disrespected the vows they made by betraying their wives.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Life can be rough, O'Neal doesn't hide from it.

Full, well-developed characters, an intriguing & true to life story.

Barbara O'Neal's novels don't need murder or heroism to be great & engaging stories.

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