Piper, Once & Again

Zani’s romantic debut novel about reincarnation shows promise that goes unfulfilled. Piper suffers from what she calls scent-aches, moments consisting of occasional phantom whiffs of lavender or burnt raisins. Random and inexplicable, they hint at a previous incarnation so traumatic that its lessons, loves, and scents have lingered beyond lives. Besides these scent-aches, Piper possesses an uncanny knowledge of horses and an eerily realistic invisible friend she calls Vander. As she grows up, she seeks answers to questions on which she has only the most tenuous grasp. Meanwhile, her marriage is happy but lacks passion. A second story line that takes place in 19th-century rural France follows best friends Piper and Vander, who grow up together and eventually marry. Unfortunately, the present-day story isn’t nearly as compelling as that of her previous incarnation, and the big plot twist is too little, too late. Agent: Devra Jacobs, Dancing Word Group. (July)