Nikki Carrington has lost everything. Her husband of 18 years left her for a younger woman, her daughter lives with them and the house Nikki asked for in the divorce settlement has just gone up in smoke—literally. All she has left is a laptop and her precious perfume case, full of fragrance absolutes and essential oils. Now she's thrust into a life she never wanted, forced to make a new start as a 40-something ex-housewife with no savings. The answer? A job waiting tables at a local organic restaurant, a rented apartment at a complex filled with divorcees and regular walks in the gorgeous mountains surrounding her little Colorado town.

One shuffling step at a time, Nikki moves forward, trying desperately to untangle herself from her shock and rage at the sudden turn her life has taken. New friends help, and a charming, seductive man steps in to remind her of the joys of life after divorce. There's even a dilapidated storefront near the restaurant that would make a perfect perfume shop—with a lot of elbow grease and a serious leap of faith. And through the rediscovery of her lifelong love of perfume, Nikki catches the scent of her future.

Although the title MADAME MIRABOU'S SCHOOL OF LOVE turns out to be misleading (Madame Mirabou's School of Bitterness would perhaps be more accurate), Ms. Samuels shows a true sense of the deep tragedy inherent in divorce. The action unfolds slowly, almost ploddingly, as Nikki reluctantly makes an effort to get her groove back. There are some complex emotional issues at play: Nikki's ex-husband is black, while she's as white as can be, with blue eyes and pale blond hair. Nikki gave up custody of their 15-year-old daughter partly because she wanted her to have access to the African-American community. Samuels explores the race question delicately, but her interests clearly lie elsewhere. The story doesn't really come to life until Nikki focuses on her unique talents with perfume. The writing vibrates with Nikki's passion for scent and the memories it so effortlessly evokes. You'll never smell a bottle of perfume the same way.