Description

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Betrayal, forgiveness, identity and obsession churn against the tumultuous landscape of the Islamic revolution and the seemingly perfect gardens of Southern California in this compelling novel from bestselling author Dora Levy Mossanen.

Amidst a shattering betrayal and a country in turmoil, Soraya flees Iran to make a new life for herself in Los Angeles. The cruel and intimate blow her husband has dealt her awakens an obsessive streak that explodes in the heated world of Southern California, as Soraya plots her revenge against the other woman, her best friend. What she discovers proves far more devastating than anything she had ever imagined, unleashing a whirlwind of events that leave the reader breathless.

"A lush, superbly narrated and highly provocative excursion into the passions and politics of love in our own tumultuous times."—Jonathan Kirsch, The Jewish Journal

About the Author

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Born in Israel and raised in Iran, Dora Levy Mossanen fled to the United States at the onset of the Islamic Revolution. She is the recipient of the San Diego Editor's Choice award and the author of The Last Romanov, Harem and the international bestseller Courtesan, which have both been translated into numerous languages, as well as The Last Romanov. She is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and a graduate of the USC masters of professional writing program. She lives in Beverly Hills, California.

Praise For…

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"... a lush, superbly narrated and highly provocative excursion into the passions and politics of love in our own tumultuous times." — The Jewish Journal

"Politics and history play a small part in this tale, the real story here is of friendship, betrayal, and insanity fostered in those gated mansions, lush with the scent of spice and flowers." — Publishers Weekly

"Very eloquent... " — Charming Chelsey’s

"Layered over plot are lavish details of Soraya’s old life back in Iran, revealing a culture in which women of elite families are pampered but also restrained on a "diamond-studded leash." — Historical Novels Review

"Mossanen’s novel of betrayal and obsessive love is spiced with fantastical elements" — RT Book Reviews

"Beautifully written... a lyrical and poignant tale of a woman with a heart burning from the sting of betrayal and a soul tormented with the longing for home." — Reyna Grande, author of The Distance Between Us

"Dora Levy Mossanen has outdone herself in this scintillating tale of love, betrayal and self-discovery. Soraya, the main character, taunts and plays with the reader in her journey from the confines of Tehran to the chaos of Los Angeles. With vivid details and raw emotion, Scent of Butterflies is an enticing read that touches all the senses." — Fariba Nawa, journalist, speaker and author of Opium Nation and Afghanistan, Inc.

"A novel that twists its way into the dark heart of friendship, betrayal, love, and identity, Dora Levy Mossanen’s Scent of Butterflies assumes the shape of its titular creatures, beautiful, surprisingly dangerous, and too delicate to pin down." — Elizabeth Eslami, author of Bone Worship and Hibernate

"Dora Levy Mossanen's words flow lyrically across the pages..." — BookLoons.com