Amazon Customer Reviews
Literary Redhead reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Lush, Poignant and Very Funny! February 17, 2021
The debut of Phyllis Melhado, former VP of PR at Estée Lauder, is as elegant as haute couture, as lush as vermilion. We meet a cast of characters at the world’s premier spa in Palm Springs, as captivating as they are rich, competing for lavish attention from beleaguered owner Madame Demidova and one very sexy man. You have the sense that Phyllis has inhabited this celestial strata, her eye as keen as Austen’s or Kwan’s. Funny, poignant and so very enticing. I loved it!
Linda Switzer reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Very entertaining! December 16, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great characters and intriguing story line. I hope they make a film out of it Phyllis!
RP reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
A great escape from COVID November 29, 2020
I bought this book for my mom to provide her an escape from COVID fatigue. Her exact words were: "I haven't enjoyed a book so much in so long, gave me the feeling of the 'good old days of Dynasty & Knots Landing. I hope she writes a sequel."
Whatsername reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Intriguing October 11, 2020
I found Lavender Lane to be a mesmerizing place with fascinating characters. My interest was piqued immediately and never faded. All in all, it is an entertaining, well written novel with a unique story line. Not your same old same old chick lit for sure.
My only complaint is that it was too short. I felt like I paid for a ten-day stay and only got a long weekend out of the deal, a bit cheated. While the introductions of the guests were adequate, I would have liked to have known more about their back stories. Madame Demidova was the central character, yet I barely knew her. And the spa itself was the focal point of the entire story but I kept wondering how it came about, what it was like in the beginning and how it had evolved over the years. How/why did Madame first envision such a place, and how did she choose that particular spot? There was - in my opinion - just a lot which was missing. However that did not detract from what was there, and I do recommend it to other readers.
I would not hesitate to pick up another book by this author. In fact, I'd absolutely love a sequel to this one. I just hope there will be more of it.
Samantha M reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
September 23, 2020
This wasn’t a novel that pulled me in right from the beginning and wouldn’t let me go, but it was more of a slow burn that kept me interested enough to keep coming back for more. I’m glad that I decided to keep reading, because I felt the more I got to know the array of characters, the more intrigued by their lives I became. The setting of the spa is also quite glorious – definite bucket list goals to attend something like that one day! – and there was plenty of juicy secrets behind the spa doors. While it wasn’t a story that had me on my toes from beginning to end, it was still an enjoyable and bit salacious read that I enjoyed.
3.5 stars
beenreading4ever reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Engaging and surprise plot twists September 17, 2020
Perfect reading for a literary getaway. Wonderful array of characters that kept my attention to the end. Great first novel.
Amazon Customer reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Extremely Well Written Page-Turner August 30, 2020
What a fun read. A real page-turner, great story line, and lots of intrigue. But what I liked the best was the language and descriptions Ms. Melhado used to describe the characters, the spa, and the various scenes that go on.
Neil reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Enjoyable, Escapist and Moving July 28, 2020
Take a trip to Lavender Lane Spa and find yourself absorbed in the lives of its staff and clients. The settings and amenities could not be finer and Melhado describes them with such lush precision, I thought I was the one getting the facial or the massage, or breathing in pleasurable gusts of mimosa and lavender. Such wonderfully evoked dynamics of female relationships and friendships. And there's also an eligible and handsome man intensifying the drama!---Regina McBride
Patti reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Treat yourself to some saucy summer and/or sheltering-in-place reading July 11, 2020
As an avid spa goer and voracious reader of novels, I found Phyllis Melhado's book doubly entertaining. Her writing is inviting and entertaining. She defines her characters so well you can picture them in your mind. The story line is saucy and sexy. It holds you rapt until the very end. I think in the course of my spa outings I may have encountered some of the characters in this book. She nailed them. I highly recommend reading 'The Spa on Lavender Lane'.
cara kagan reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
A Sexy, Sassy, Summer Read June 29, 2020
A delicious and delightful way to completely lose yourself in the lap of luxury and all of the intrigue and sexcapades of the rich and famous.
B. J. Madoff reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Sexy, edgy and fun. June 28, 2020
This book is exactly what it should be, a fun read. Like her character, Nadia Demidova, (love that name), the author, Phyllis Melhado, is a wickedly keen observer and wickedly funny. She also understands why and where her power lies; Lavender Lane, where the rich, the beautiful and the damaged go to get out of the public eye. I can't help but to think the author's years of experience in the world of the beauty business and public relations, chock full of towering egos, jealousies and bank accounts, gave her an education and a case study in human behavior. She ramped it up and wrote it down to create a wonderful diversion in a world where we very much need it. Lavender Lane is a spa I'd go back to.
Susan R reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
June 28, 2020
This debut novel is a fun book to read. Just the descriptions of the treatments that the women get at Lavender Lane make you feel more relaxed but, also jealous that you can't afford to get the same treatment as these women do at $1,000 dollars a day. Still it's fun to read and dream about.
The Spa claims “rest, relaxation, and the rejuvenation of mind, body and spirit” and women sign up for 10 day sessions to help them feel better about themselves. The new group checking in as the novel begins are very different from each other: a burned-out Fifth Avenue retail executive...a striking former model and Chicago socialite... an overweight Texas housewife on the brink of her second divorce and her beautiful, teenage daughter...and a CEO who, unhappy with recent plastic surgery, is secluded in her room. Will their ten days at the spa make them feel better about themselves and love their lives again? Will they remain bitchy about each other or will any friendships be formed?
My favorite character was Charlotte, an overweight woman in the midst of a divorce from her husband. She has checked into the spa with her teenage daughter who is a difficult teenager and almost anorexic so that she can become a model. Charlotte was hoping that the spa would help them re-connect with each other but it appears to be driving them further apart. Charlotte eats the 'rabbit food' at her meals but has a supply of candy bars in her room to help her over the stress.
This is a fun book to read with just the right amount of bitchiness and friendship wrapped together. It would be a great book to read on your next beach trip.
ReadingA-Z reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Now more than ever you need to escape to The Spa at Lavender Lane! June 6, 2020
If you need an escape from your day (and who doesn’t once in a while?) go to The Spa at Lavender Lane... so much fun! Great for book club discussions too... Which character are you?
Annie McCormick reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Simply Fabulous! June 6, 2020
I loved this. Every word of it. I wanted to have lunch with the characters, sleep with the handsome surprise arrival, buy the face cream and take a tennis lesson. A great cast of characters, terrific setting, a story that unfolded beautifully and moments that made me want to cheer. The Spa at Lavender Lane does wonders for its guests.... and its readers. Enjoy. Relax. Dive in.
Joan Ullman reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Clair Booth Luce's The Women Updated May 30, 2020
Phyllis Melhado has performed a miracle. In the Spa at Lavender Lane, she's written an un-putable-down wry, bitchy and witty version of The Women for 21st Century readers. With it's cast of rich, yearning, clashing and at times desperate women of all ages and twisty plot, she hooks you from the start. A perfect escapist book for today's shut-in, Pandemic starved readers.
Laura Brown reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
What a fun read! May 22, 2020
Just finished reading this wonderful first novel from Phyllis Melhado, and I miss the Spa and its guests already! Such a fun page-turner. The cleverly crafted plot will keep you reading to see what's going to happen next, and the dynamics among the characters--friendship, rivalry, compassion, grief--are well drawn. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "The Spa at Lavender Lane," and I can't wait for the sequel!
Ash Danger reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
A Great Escape May 21, 2020
This is a great quarantine read. While not normally a fan of the genre, the subject matter was sufficiently foreign and interesting to me to draw me in, the characters kept me there, a couple of surprise plot twists urged me on, and I finished it quicker than I had expected. Well written with an engaging style. I will read the sequel I expect to come. There's enough left unsaid about each character and his/her future to easily fill two or more books.
Sheri O'Neill reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
I want to visit that spa!! May 20, 2020
What a fun and sassy read! This book is perfect for a book club or your summer beach read this year. It's a slightly naughty yet laugh out loud story that stays with you. The author has a wonderful writing style deftly written characters and a well developed plot. I loved the ending, which I don't get to say often enough for books. I love that it celebrates the sense of being a woman, in all aspects of life; in loving herself, love relationships, friendships and even second chances at careers. I found myself totally engrossed with this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done!!
Justine reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
4 Stars! May 20, 2020
If you liked Liane Moriarty’s novel Nine Perfect Strangers, pick this up! This is an amazing book filled with a wonderful and crazy cast of characters. This would be an awesome pick for a book club (when we’re done quarantining) or for a beach read. It just has that vibe about it. I never read this author before, but I will be looking into her. Her writing style is to die for and allows you to completely immerse yourself in the story. The sense of girl power within this novel is also AWESOME!
Judith Ruskay Rabinor reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
A perfect choice for the beach or your book club May 20, 2020
Reading offers us the opportunity to rethink our lives, and meeting the women at Lavender Lane gave me the opportunity to review my past decisions and choices. Melhado reminds us that women's friendships are sustaining--until they are not. Whether you have been betrayed or blessed by a dear friend, this book will keep you reading into the wee hours of the night. A true winner!
Mulligan reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Great Read! May 19, 2020
Once you visit the Spa at Lavender Lane you won't want to leave. And, you won't have to spend $1,000 a day to be in this fun world, filled with engaging characters you will love, hate and definitely recognize.
Alice Simpson reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Ready To Get Away? May 17, 2020
My stay at "The Spa At Lavender Lane" was absolutely FAB-u-lous, and while I didn't have to shell out $1000 a day, I did feel like the pampered guest on every page. The service was impeccable and the staff and guests were both engaging and complex. Author, Phyllis Melhado, formerly Vice President of PR at Estee Lauder understands her rich, famous, demanding—and kind-hearted characters.
Julie reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
I want a week at The Spa at Lavender Lane! May 17, 2020
There are women who marry well to afford a luxury week at one of the finest spas in the world. Other women earn every penny to pamper themselves for $1,000/day. But, how do they manage to intertwine themselves so completely and totally in just 7 days?! Girls will be girls...no matter the age or journey in life, the essence of being a well-coiffed woman come with insecurities and private pride can all add up to a mess of a time amid pilates, facials and rabbit food served to melt away the pounds.
Even this one sentence proves that all is not what it seems at The Spa at Lavender Lane..."I'll never get out of here. I'll never get out of here alive."
I enjoyed the fabulous pampering amidst the intrigue. I feel like I've gone a girls' trip through this novel, but I didn't have the shocking price tag for hours of THIS fun!
Carol L. Hymowitz reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Wonderful writing and great characters May 10, 2020
Once you start this book you won't put it down. Melhado writes with depth and wit about women's friendships, rivalries and passions.
Amazon Customer reviewed The Spa at Lavender Lane
Fun at the Spa...... May 8, 2020
I enjoyed it. It was a fun read but it also showed the meaning of friendship,
whether old or new. Hope there is another novel in the works!
Good Reads Reviews
Julie rated it it was amazing
There are women who marry well to afford a luxury week at one of the finest spas in the world. Other women earn every penny to pamper themselves for $1,000/day. But, how do they manage to intertwine themselves so completely and totally in just 7 days?! Girls will be girls...no matter the age or journey in life, the essence of being a well-coiffed woman come with insecurities and private pride can all add up to a mess of a time amid pilates, facials and rabbit food served to melt away the pounds. ...more
May 17, 2020 Alice rated it it was amazing
My stay at "The Spa At Lavender Lane" was absolutely FAB-u-lous, and while I didn't have to shell out $1000 a day, I did feel like the pampered guest on every page. The service was impeccable and the staff and guests were both engaging and complex. Author, Phyllis Melhado, formerly Vice President of PR at Estee Lauder understands her rich, famous, demanding—and kind-hearted characters.
While you stay-in-place, self manicure and pedicure, yearn for a professional massage, pampering, and the company ...more
Jul 07, 2020 Vivienne Fleischer rated it it was amazing
I absolutely ADORED this book and was hooked from page one. I felt like I was at the SPA with all of these new colorful friends . . . some that you want as your new BFF, others that you are slightly envious of and some outright scandalous.
This book has everything.... it's fun, it's sexy, it's romantic. The perfect escape novel!
Jun 29, 2020 C. Gonzales rated it it was amazing
Shelves: women-s-fiction
Absolutely loved this book!! The way it walks you through each character and introduces you to all the characters was very well done!
Overall this was a very engaging story about the wealth and glamour, but so much more!
I found this book very hard to put down! The characters were relatable.
This is a great read if you just want to get lost in a book that will take you away from it all for a bit.
I would highly recommend this book
Apr 16, 2020 Sheri rated it it was amazing
What a fun and sassy read! This book is perfect for a book club or your summer beach read this year. It's a slightly naughty yet laugh out loud story that stays with you. The author has a wonderful writing style deftly written characters and a well developed plot. I loved the ending, which I don't get to say often enough for books. I love that it celebrates the sense of being a woman, in all aspects of life; in loving herself, love relationships, friendships and even second chances at careers. I ...more
Jun 06, 2020 Annie McCormick rated it it was amazing
I loved this. Every word of it. I wanted to have lunch with the characters, sleep with the handsome surprise arrival, buy the face cream and take a tennis lesson. A great cast of characters, terrific setting, a story that unfolded beautifully and moments that made me want to cheer. The Spa at Lavender Lane does wonders for its guests.... and its readers. Enjoy. Relax. Dive in.
Jun 06, 2020 S Michael rated it it was amazing
This was a refreshing and fun read as I stepped into The Spa at Lavendar Lane. I met a unique cast of intelligent, successful, often entitled, bitchy, beautiful women that you can love, hate, feel sorry for and celebrate. A quick and delightful read, perfect for an afternoon at the park or beach...a must read for summer!
Apr 08, 2020 Marissa DeCuir rated it it was amazing
This is an addictive character-driven novel that anybody with insecurities can relate to. It does a great job of showing that women should be able to reinvent themselves. Just like in real life, you'll get caught up in the gossip and stay for the care you come to have for the characters. It's entertaining while encouraging us all to look at own lives and may empower us to think about our own second chance.
Apr 08, 2020 Books Forward rated it it was amazing
This book is a great read for women who are feeling like they are in need of rejuvenation. It celebrates the idea of a second-chance in career, relationships, and self-love. That lesson is dispersed through tales of romance and competition within a diverse group of characters. It's a book that you get caught up in!
Apr 08, 2020 Jackie rated it it was amazing
This should be your go-to beach read this year! A delightful, sexy, laugh-out-loud novel that will stick with you because of the author's glossy writing style and well-written characters. Toni was my favorite from the group of ladies, and I was so pleased with the smart, classy ending. If you have no plans to hit the beach this summer, definitely bring this to your next book club meeting!
Apr 29, 2020 Catherine rated it it was amazing
A delicious, addictive read!
Jun 25, 2020 R.K. Emery rated it it was amazing
Shelves: women-s-fiction
This book is so superbly written! I was completely immersed in this story from the get-go.
I think the cover does a great job of setting the mood. It's not your typical read, there are even ultimately aspects that are open to interpretation, some of the takeaways I may have from it will be different from others.
The characters were probably my favorite part. I really enjoyed each of their stories. I didn't feel like anyone was out of place or didn't fit.
Aug 02, 2020 Gina Stamper rated it it was amazing
Shelves: womens-fiction
I absolutely loved the writing style of Phyllis Melhado, you get a hint of it in the synopsis, but it really is beautifully written.
This novel was very easy to follow. There was something wonderful about how simple it was. I didn’t have to overthink things. There was plenty of comic relief in it to lighten any of the deeper moments.
I loved the way this story unfolded. We got bits and pieces and just enough juicy bits to keep us actively engaged and flipping pages. Such a imaginative piece of wri ...more
Aug 03, 2020 Samantha Turley rated it it was amazing
Shelves: womens-fiction
This story moves quite quickly and definitely, holds your attention.
I found that it challenges and brings out deep emotions in the reader, is a truly great find.
Praise from Early Readers/Reviewers
Turn off your phone, get yourself a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, a comfy chair or couch and get ready for a riveting read. It’s the perfect get-away from your daily life. This book will take you away from your problems and into the life of glamour and excitement. Oh, and get dinner ready for your family before you start the read, because once you start you won’t be able to put it down!
Christine Schwab, Author, Take Me Home From the Oscars (Skyhorse) and The Grown-Up Girls Guide to Style (William Morrow)
"Phyllis Melhado has written a wonderful, lively, bitchy novel populated with a cast of women, young and old, that make the Real Housewives look like Girl Scouts. You'll love them. You'll hate them. You'll be glad they don't live next door to you. The perfect beach read, even if there's not a beach within a hundred miles."
Charles Salzburg, Award-Winning Author of Second Story Man (Down & Out Books) and the Swann Series (Five Star Publishing)
"Loved my stay at The Spa At Lavender Lane. Felt like the pampered guest—with the delight of being a fly on the wall. Melhado understands her rich, famous, demanding and self-indulgent characters. Now, if only I can get hold of the spa’s Quince Face Cream!”
Alice Simpson, Author, The Ballroom (Harper)
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I loved the book. I REALLY LOVED THE BOOK!!! I thoroughly enjoyed every chapter, every character and all the twisting and turning plots!! I love your writing. Congratulations.
Paul Thomas, Artist and Broadway Executive
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Destined for best-sellerdom!
George Christy, The Beverly Hills Courier
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Bravo Phyllis. What a great fun read. The characters are just wonderful and if I may say, you let it all hang out! So now I hope and pray that dreams come true and it will be on the NYT summer best seller list. You done good, talented girlfriend...keep going.
Lyn Leigh, Co-Founder, The Perfumed Plume
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The Spa at Lavender Lane immediately drew me into a world that I wanted to be a part of. From Nadia's celebrity guests to the handsome man turning all heads when he arrived - I found myself reading every chance I could to be with them and see what was about to unfold. Ms. Melhado's ability to bring characters to life, spin a story that twists and turns and makes you long for the sequel is truly stunning.
Vivienne Fleischer, Health and Wellness Blogger and Ergonomics Entrepreneur
You are a great storyteller and love your writing style!
Shi Kagy, West Coast Media Ad Exec
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Karen Rigby, Foreward Reviews
The Spa at Lavender Lane is a charming novel about women at a crossroads and the desires that they hide under their beautiful surfaces.
In Phyllis Melhado’s entertaining ensemble novel, The Spa at Lavender Lane, women bond during a ten-day Palm Springs retreat, enjoying luxury, gossip, dreams, and new friendships.
5 Stars from Readers Favorites Reviews
The Spa at Lavender Lane by Phyllis Melhado delves into the comings and goings at the famous Palm Springs Spa. Nadia Demidova sits in her atelier office, watching new guests arriving. She can always tell, from one look, which women will fit in and which will be nothing but trouble. This latest group is no different. A CEO whose plastic surgery didn’t go as planned, an overweight housewife from Texas about to be divorced, her daughter, a former model and socialite and burned out executive from Fifth Avenue. Nadia has always relied on her assistant director to keep control but, this time, she is about to make a daring move. A highly eligible male is about to enter the lioness’s den and what happens from there is anyone’s guess.
The Spa at Lavender Lane by Phyllis Melhado is quite an addictive story. This is very much a story driven by the main characters, each of which is a real person. They have been developed with real personalities and real-life issues and show that women really can reinvent not just the wheel but themselves too. You will bond with these ladies, some of them you will relate to, and you will read on because you want to know how the story ends. This is a story of life, romance, and humor, a story of second chances in life, love and in business. It’s a steady story but there is plenty going on; at times you will laugh out loud and you’ll feel every emotion – that’s how well written this story is. It is compelling reading and I highly recommend it for any woman and for anyone who simply wants to disappear into another life for a few hours.
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