I received "The Secret Language of Stones: A Novel - The Daughters of La Lune #2," via NetGalley. This ARC e-book copy is in exchange for an honest review.

I was smitten right away by the characters and historic subplots at work in the story. [a: M.J. Rose|69003|M.J. Rose|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1375875010p2/69003.jpg] writes well. It is obvious that this author has done her homework and is an artist with words.

This novel took me away from here and today, and launched me into France during the time of the First World War.

"The Secret Language of Stones" is #2 in a series but lacks nothing. This book stands alone. It is not a quick read. To gather the essences of this story; the families, and places - the reader must invest their full attention in this read.

There is violence and intrigue within the folds of the story.

Magic and the arts of witchcraft are woven here. I found love and death, sadness and kindness. There is erotica, but nothing vulgar or obscene.

I will recommend this series to our library for purchase. ( )

The Secret Language of Stones is the sequel to The Witch of Painted Sorrows. In this book, we get to meet Opaline, the daughter of Sandrine who was the main character in the previous book. And just like Sandrine is Opaline a Daughter of La Lune, a descendant from La Lune, the famous courtesans from the sixteenth-century Paris.

I read the first book last year and I found it intriguing and looked forward to getting the chance to read this one. However, it has taken me forever to get to this book, despite having had this book for a long while. But, the third book will be released next year so I thought I should take the time to read this one. And, I liked this one just as much as I liked the first one. I like the whole La Lune storyline, with women being descended from her with different abilities, like Opaline who can read stones and by doing that receiving messages from the dead. And, now in the time of war is that a gift that is comfort too many,

The story in this book is about Opaline embracing her gift, she has long struggled with her gifts, wanting to be normal, and she has never really accepted her abilities fully. But, now she faces many difficulties, she finds herself in love with a fallen soldier, and a daughter of La Lune can only love once. Is she doomed to love a man that she can never have? And, the world is in turmoil and perhaps she can help the Romanov dowager empress find out what happened to her grandchildren...

The Secret Language of Stones is a sensual, well-written story about a woman that has to face many obstacles in her quest to find herself. I did suspect the ending, it felt very predictable, but I still liked it because I wanted just that ending for Opaline.

It was a good book, and I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy through Edelweiss for an honest review! ( )

I love reading books by M.J. Rose. She writes with such atmosphere, and not only is there connection with the characters, there is also connection with the material world. It's like being immersed in a lovely cocoon as you read her books. Even more so with this series, The Daughters of La Lune.

The psychic phenomena experienced by Opaline, the book's main character, is portrayed as a gift and a curse at the same time. Opaline is having difficulty coming to terms with her powers, and until she encounters someone she feels a deep connection with through her powers, she is almost ready to shut the door on them forever. This says much about the character of Opaline. She is so much of an individual that she wants to break free from the legacy of her mother, and her ancestor, La Lune...to be that individual. Yet, she recognizes the importance of this connection she has made. Opaline has depth and I love her (plus, my birthstone is opal...I loved learning about the ancient beliefs about the power of the opal). That's the true beauty of an M.J. Rose novel. You will fall in love with the characters.

Another aspect of this book I enjoyed was the incorporation of history. The horrors of WWI were heartbreakingly described by those who were experiencing it on the homefront in France. We're shone that war is tragic for all involved...those fighting and those keeping things together at home. Also, the inclusion of the subject of the assassination of the Romanov family was an interesting element, as that is a story that endlessly fascinates me.

I'm always excited when a M.J. Rose releases as new book. Truthfully, The Witch of Painted Sorrows (book one of the La Lune series), and this book can very easily be read as stand alone novels. However, to me it is so much the better for us readers that we can continue to experience these stories via the series. I can't recommend this book enough. You need to read it!

(I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review) ( )

Opaline, a talented jeweler, works in Paris for a protégée of Faberge. She has a special gift, the ability to connect with the spirit of the recently departed. However, one ghost seems to linger, and she can’t get him out of her mind. As rumors fly about the Romanov family, Opaline is pulled into Russia intrigue, putting herself in danger.

Well written and engaging, this book flowed smoothly. It did seem to be too descriptive at times, leaving little to the imagination. The book combined interesting characters with an intriguing plot, keeping me reading until long into the night. ( )

It is 1918, and Opaline Duplessi has been working in Paris for three years in the jewelry shop of her Russian friends Pavel and Anna Orloff. Opaline specializes in making talismans for mothers whose sons died in the war. The descendant of a witch, Opaline practices “a combination of psychometry and lithomancy.. . ” This means that when she combines personal items, such as locks of hair, with gemstones, she can receive messages from beyond the grave, and pass them on to grieving loved ones.

Everything changes when Opaline receives a visit from the mother of Jean Luc Forêt, lost on the front. Jean Luc was a journalist and author of the “Ma Cher” columns in the paper - weekly columns to a fictional, unnamed fiancée. As Jean Luc’s mother explains, every woman imagined that she was “Ma Cher.”

To Opaline’s shock, Jean Luc begins to speak directly to her through the talisman. Thus Opaline can’t resist keeping the actual talisman of Jean Luc, substituting a replica for his mother. She then begins to have a relationship with a ghost. And this is no tepid relationship either.

Moreover, there is some background intrigue regarding the changing government in Russia, and several of the characters are put in grave danger.

Discussion: I found this book to be very reminiscent of Susanna Kearsley’s book The Firebird, with its mix of the paranormal skill of psychometry, emphasis on arts and artifacts, and Russian history (albeit set some 150 years later). But this book has an emphasis on “paranormal sex,” which to me seemed more than a bit over the top. In addition, I didn’t find either the twist or the ending unexpected at all.

Evaluation: This was a fairly enjoyable read, at least for the parts about the history of WWI Paris and the information about gemstones. I suspect many women will appreciate the erotica, but for me, it was a turn-off, so to speak. Other reviewers enjoyed it more, however. ( )