The Orchard House
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4.7 • 6 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
2022 Carol Award Winner!
Award-winning author Heidi Chiavaroli transports readers across time and place in this time-slip novel that will appeal to fans of Little Women.
Two women, one living in present day Massachusetts and another in Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House soon after the Civil War, overcome their own personal demons and search for a place to belong.
2001
Abandoned by her own family, Taylor is determined not to mess up her chance at joining the home of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. But despite attending summer camp at Louisa May Alcott’s historic Orchard House with Victoria and sharing dreams of becoming famous authors, Taylor struggles to fit in. As she enters college and begins dating, it feels like Taylor is finally finding her place and some stability . . . until Victoria’s betrayal changes everything.
1865
While Louisa May Alcott is off traveling the world, Johanna Suhre accepts a job tending Louisa’s aging parents and their home in Concord. Soon after arriving at Orchard House, Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft and, ignoring Louisa’s words of caution, falls in love and accepts Nathan’s proposal. But before long, Johanna experiences her husband’s dark side, and she can’t hide the bruises that appear.
2019
After receiving news of Lorraine Bennett’s cancer diagnosis, Taylor knows she must return home to see her adoptive mother again. Now a successful author, Taylor is determined to spend little time in Concord. Yet she becomes drawn into the story of a woman who lived there centuries before. And through her story, Taylor may just find forgiveness and a place to belong.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Chiavoroli (Tea Chest) delights with this homage to Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, featuring a time-slip narrative of two women connected across centuries. In 1995, 13-year-old foster child Taylor is adopted by the family of her best friend, Victoria Bennett. Both are aspiring writers, and pursue their calling at the Jo March Writing Camp at Orchard House. But a competitiveness among the two also takes root. Several years later, Taylor walks in on her boyfriend and Victoria kissing and, in a fit of rage, she packs up and hits the road. In 1863, Louisa May Alcott asks her friend Johanna Suhre to come to Orchard House and care for her parents while she travels to Europe. Devout Johanna believes God has led her to the Alcotts and falls in love with their neighbor, Nathan Bancroft, but her happily ever after disintegrates soon after their wedding, as Nathan's drunken abusiveness comes out. Jumping to 2019, Victoria implores the now bestselling author Taylor to come home to reconcile with their ill mother. In the process, she and Victoria stumble onto Johanna's poetry, which may hold lessons for their own lives. Chiavoroli easily slips between narratives and includes many subtle literary references that will please close readers. Fans of Alcott who also enjoy inspirationals will love this.
Customer Reviews
Phenomenal Time-Slip Read
Little Women is my absolute, hands down most favorite novel ever. So I knew The Orchard House was going to be a huge hit for me. I thoroughly enjoyed this time slip novel.
The relationship between the two best friends Taylor and Victoria was very heartwarming and I equally liked the friendship between Louisa and Johanna. Johanna takes a job in Concord helping Louisa’s aging parents. Shortly after arriving at Orchard House Johanna meets Nathan Bancroft. Johanna falls in love with him and accepts his proposal, brushing aside Louisa’s warnings of him. The story of the happenings in their lives was believable and completely realistic. This is a story of the past, present and future generations, the importance of friendship and family and the need for forgiveness.
I loved the dual timeline, and the way the author merged them together was so amazing. The flow ness of the stories was both enthralling and entertaining. The characters were well developed and the way the author transports you to not only 1865 but makes you feel like you are actually in Concord, Massachusetts. Well done Heidi Chiavaroli, this book was an extraordinary read and I highly recommend it.
SOUL-STIRRING!
Heidi Chiavaroli has penned a beautiful soul-stirring split-time novel time involving two women, one living in present day Massachusetts and one living in Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House soon after the Civil War, overcome their own personal demons and find their way home.
Chiavaroli has created dynamic characters that are going to leap off the pages and because they are complex, realistic and relatable they are going to stay in readers’ minds long after the last page is read. She has told their story that, while as old as time, is still relevant today. Why? Because it deals with women who grow up feeling insecure because of their family situations, circumstances beyond their control, and/or just life. It can be any of a myriad of reasons. They are the girls who grow up to be the women who are the ones who always feel left out - until one friend includes them. This is the story of two girls who were blessed to have friends who took time to draw them out. Was it “happily ever after?” Not by a long shot! It was a lifetime of sharing, love, caring, hurt, betrayal, dreams lost and found. Sounds a lot like real life, doesn’t it? Chiavaroli uses these strong personalities to paint a beautiful picture of forgiveness, redemption and a real feeling of home. She concludes this fantastic novel with these heartfelt words:
“God had indeed cast out our fears and brought us to a new place. A place we could call home. A place where we didn’t have to question our worth. A place where we put the pen in His hands and allowed Him to be the One to write our stories. I was sure they would be some of the best yet.”
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.