The Secret Orchard by Sharon Gosling BLOG TOUR #TheSecretOrchard @sharongosling @TeamBATC @simonschusterUK #BookReview

 

Can a return to the past be the start of something new?

Bette and Nina Crowdie have never been close – the ten-year age difference doesn’t help, and Bette’s rarely been home since she left for university at eighteen.

When their father passes away and unexpectedly splits the family farm between them, Nina is furious and afraid. She’s been working at the farm for the past five years. It’s the only home her young son, Barnaby, has ever had, and she’s convinced that Bette will sell at the first chance she gets. When they discover the huge debt their father has been hiding, Bette reluctantly agrees to help her sister. But that means they have to find a way to work together, and Bette must face up to the real reason she left all those years ago.

Could a long-forgotten diary and the discovery of a secret orchard on their land help save the farm – and the sisters’ relationship?

The Secret Orchard by Sharon Gosling is published on 12 September 2024 by Simon & Schuster. My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review as part of this Blog Tour 

What an utterly enjoyable and immersive read this is! The Secret Orchard is a story packed with intrigue. The author expertly looks at the relationship of two adult sisters and how long kept secrets have impacted on their lives. She includes historical detail, with feuds and misunderstandings between two local families being explored. There's a wonderful romantic element to the story too, and if you ever wondered about how artisan cider is produced, then her amazing research into turning an orchard into a full working cider producing business is perfectly done. There's not too much technical detail, yet it is a fascinating aspect of the story. 

Nina and Bette are sisters. Bette is ten years older and hasn't been home to the family farm for many years. Nina has always resented Bette; she's the one who seems to have it all. A great job as a lawyer in London, her own flat, plenty of money. She has everything.  Nina, on the other hand is single mother to Barnaby (a wonderful character, I know you will fall in love with him). Nina's relationship with Barnaby's father broke down and she is now living in her childhood home. Their mother lives abroad with her new husband, and since their father died, Nina has taken on the running of the farm. Her only friend is neighbour Cam, a handsome man, alway happy to help and watch out for Nina and Barnaby.

Bette returns for their father's funeral and Nina is not welcoming, despite their mother's attempts to smooth the waters, Nina holds a grudge and believes that Bette abandoned their father. It is a total shock to both of them when they discover that their father has left the farm to both of them, recently changing his will to do this. 

The biggest shock though is when they learn just how much debt the farm has, and that the bank will probably foreclose on the loans now that their father has gone. Bette sets to work on the reams of paperwork and the endless figures, going round in circles, trying to find a solution. 

And then they discover the 'secret orchard'. A field of trees on the side of a cliff that none of them knew anything about. Enter Ryan, a man from Bette's past and someone she never wanted to see again. Nina knows nothing of their past and is puzzled by Bette's reaction. However, Ryan is an expert and he sees the potential for the orchard. Unfortunately, so does somebody else and so begins the incredible task of renovating the trees, grafting new saplings, until tragedy strikes and everything looks lost.

This is a multi layered story that is packed with colourful characters. The plot is enticing, with the historical aspects adding so much depth, and the current relationships of the characters adding to the tension. 

Beautifully written, it's a joy to read and recommend. 

Sharon started her career as an entertainment journalist, writing non-fiction books about film and television. 

She is also the author of multiple children’s books. 

Sharon and her husband live in a small village in northern Cumbria. 

She can be found on X @sharongosling

Instagram @sharongoslingauthor