Reviews

The Apple Orchard by Susan Wiggs

jillmwald's review against another edition

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3.0

First Susan Wiggs book I've read (bought this on a Kindle deal). Surprisingly good, I thought more depth than your average beach read.

michelehoward's review against another edition

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4.0

A lovely heartfelt story with glimpses into history, teaching me things I didn't know. I love that.

librarianinperiwinkle's review against another edition

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4.0

Tess has worked hard to get where she is in her career as a sort of modern-day treasure hunter who tracks down lost objects such as Annalise Winters' mother's necklace, missing since the day Ms. Winters' mother was taken by the Nazis in Denmark. Her firm not only locates items of immeasurable personal and monetary value but also arranges auctions for the items clients wish to sell, and Tess is expecting a big promotion when an unexpected visitor arrives and upends her world. The grandfather she never knew is in a coma, and she must work with the half sister she never knew she had to save the family's property, an apple orchard in Sonoma, CA, from imminent foreclosure.

I "shelved" this book as both romance and non-genre fiction because although there are strong romantic elements (i.e. Tess falling for the banker who comes to tell her about her grandfather), the romance isn't central to the story. It's every bit as much about Tess learning to slow down and really allow people into her life. It's also about family history, told in flashback scenes from the point of view of her grandparents when they were children in Denmark during the Nazi Occupation, as well as Tess's mother during her pregnancy. And it's a bit of a mystery, solving the puzzle of what happened to a particular family heirloom. I'm glad this is book #1 because I'm hoping to learn more of Isabel's story in book #2.

The one thing I didn't like? As a stepmother myself, I found the epilogue highly improbable, at least as far as the children's reaction went.

For readers' advisors: character doorway is primary, story is secondary, and setting is strong, too. There are a couple of sex scenes, but nothing explicit--more the "fade to black" type.

keen23's review against another edition

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4.0

I hope this is the start of a new series.

chocolatereader's review

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slow-paced

2.5

faithemt's review against another edition

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5.0

a gem of a story. Full review is on my blog at Gold in the Clouds!

lenaoknihach's review against another edition

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3.0

Tess Delaneyová miluje svou práci - pátrá po starých pokladech a snaží se je navrátit právoplatným majitelům. Jednoho dne ale zjistí, že je polovičním vlastníkem jabloňového sadu v Archangelu. Nastal čas odkrýt vlastní minulost.

Kromě kouzelného maloměsta v Kalifornii se čtenář ocitne i v minulosti, konkrétně v Dánsku během 2. světové války.

Postavy mi byly sympatické, ale příběh byl mnohdy zbytečně zdlouhavý a neutíkalo mi to tolik, jak bych si přála. Neměla jsem problém kdykoli přestat číst. Jedná se o milý příběh, ale pro mě jen průměrný a ničím výjimečný.

Od Susan Wiggsové u nás už vyšla kniha Knihkupectví ztrát a nálezů, kterou mohu doporučit. V Jabloňovém sadu se ale odehrává dřív a pokud si nechcete vyspoilerovat, jak to s hlavními hrdiny dopadlo, měli byste začít právě s touto podzimní novinkou a Knihkupectví přečíst až poté.

gmamartha's review against another edition

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3.0

Newfound sister. Recipes. Ww2 treasure.

jlaz's review against another edition

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5.0

Great read! Can't wait for number two!

luciearan's review against another edition

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4.0

Příjemná, lehce nostalgická kniha, s pozvolna se odvíjejícím příběhem, který postupně mapuje historii rodiny a zároveň právě se v rozvíjející vztahy v ní, i mimo ni. Já mám knihy tohoto typu ráda a tak zklamaná rozhodně nejsem, i když ztracený Faberge, byl i pro mě poměrně neuvěřitelným příběhem. Postavy působily příjemně a sympaticky, jen mě trochu mrzí, že toho "pátrání" nebylo víc.