There is not a lot of times that I come across a book that I like that isn't really a mystery, which is the genre I like. A Fall of Marigolds I did enjoy.
I do like how the story does intertwine with one another from back in 1911 and 2011, on.
Clara is a woman who wants to make a path for herself. So she leaves the comfort and safety of her home to go to New York. Manhattan no less. Seems to be doing good. Thinks she met someone interested in her the way she would like. Sadly that was short lived because of a fire. And he dies. From then on she fights to stay independent and decides to go to Ellis Island and work at the hospitals. So traumatized she never goes off island. She does connect to one of her patients. She feels that she is in a in between world from the fire and this, just like her patient who lost his wife. And the only thing he had of hers was a scarf with bright marigold flowers. This scarf would be the one thing she could clean up and keep safe for him. Clara was brave to get off the island to find out about Lily the patient's wife. And all along Clara keeps the marigold scarf . Through the generations.....
In 2011 Taryn is married and finds out she is going to have baby. Only to try to tell her husband only to find her husband is killed. As someone that works with fabric Taryn finds that she has this scarf she needs to find a match. And she finds that it saved her life too on 9/11.
My review really doesn't do the story justice. All I can say it is a story of hope, pride, strength, and love.
From Clara finding the strength to complete the story of a patient and his wife. To find love herself and come to find peace in what happened in the fire at her job in Triangle Shirtwaist Factory about Edward.
Taryn after all the years after 9/11 she finally finds the marigold scarf. Not til someone else a florist, finds her to give the scarf back after helping her that day. He dedicated his life to find the owner at least at that time of the scarf. Not only can she tell now her daughter about the scarf's history, but she can rest assure that her husband did know before he died on that tragic day.
After meeting people relating to Clara. Taryn gets to keep the scarf for her as well as her daughter who will prosper from the scarf.
It's good to have some history in a story. That way it's easy to look up to want to know more. Enough not to make it feel you need to know facts on the subject.
Two things ring true Marigolds "they can bloom in the fall, even after a frost. Even after other flowers...."
And "Everything beautiful has a story it wants to tell" true to Taryn's motto of her store she has a story to tell.
I give A Fall of Marigolds 5 
Looking forward to reading more of Susan Meissner
