Editorial Content for The Lemon Orchard
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When Julia lost her 16-year-old daughter, Jenny, and her husband in a car crash on a cold February day in Connecticut, she knew her life would never be the same again. They had been planning a get-together for that evening, gathering supplies and food to feed their guests and laughing together as a family. Between a trip to town and the journey home, Julia became the sole survivor simply because she was in another car.
It’s now five years later, and Julia has moved forward with her life as best she can. Although she still feels the loss of her daughter intensely, she's ready to make a trip to Malibu, California, to house-sit for her favorite uncle and aunt while they're away on a research trip to Ireland. With her trusty, elderly dog, Bonnie, at her side, Jenny drives across country, anticipating a welcome change of scenery and a chance to connect with old friends and family.
"THE LEMON ORCHARD is an intensely touching book that immediately transports the reader from wherever they are to the balmy California coast. It's almost possible to feel the Santa Ana winds, smell the lemons and experience the spray of the ocean in the breeze."
When she arrives at Casa Riley, she soaks up the clean, fresh scent of the lemons growing on the trees, enjoys the sparkling view of the Pacific, and revels in the feeling of being nestled in the Santa Monica mountains. She also meets the manager of the lemon grove, native Mexican and undocumented worker Roberto.
Strangely enough, Julia feels an immediate connection with the kindhearted man whose life couldn't be more different from her own. Before long, she discovers that Roberto has suffered the loss of his own daughter, although under completely different circumstances. When Roberto made the trip through the desert from Mexico to the United States, he brought his six-year-old daughter, Rosa, with him because he couldn't bear to leave her behind. Unfortunately, during the crossing, they became separated and he never has been able to discover her whereabouts in the five years since it happened. Like Julia, he's filled with grief and despair at the loss of his precious girl.
As Roberto and Julia grow closer, she becomes determined to search for little Rosa. Using her connections in the anthropology world, Julia rounds up several individuals who help her try to discover Rosa's fate on that long-ago day. Even if they find out the worst, at least Roberto can find the closure that he so desperately needs. While Julia can't bring back her own daughter, could it be that she could locate Roberto's?
THE LEMON ORCHARD is an intensely touching book that immediately transports the reader from wherever they are to the balmy California coast. It's almost possible to feel the Santa Ana winds, smell the lemons and experience the spray of the ocean in the breeze. The characters of Julia and Roberto are mesmerizing as we learn what makes them tick throughout the chapters. While the novel does contain elements of suspense surrounding the search for Roberto's daughter, it can still be considered a comfort read solely from the charming setting, the interaction between the characters, and the warm emotions that fill the pages.
Teaser
Julia’s life has been turned upside down by her daughter’s death. While she expects to find nothing more than peace and solitude as she house-sits, she finds herself drawn to the handsome man who oversees the lemon orchard. Roberto reveals to Julia the heartbreaking story of his own loss --- yet, unlike Julia, his daughter was lost but never found. Despite the odds, cannot bear to give up hope.
Promo
Julia’s life has been turned upside down by her daughter’s death. While she expects to find nothing more than peace and solitude as she house-sits, she finds herself drawn to the handsome man who oversees the lemon orchard. Roberto reveals to Julia the heartbreaking story of his own loss --- yet, unlike Julia, his daughter was lost but never found. Despite the odds, cannot bear to give up hope.
About the Book
Year after year, Luanne Rice’s fans eagerly await her next book. Their enthusiasm is soon to be rewarded with THE LEMON ORCHARD, Rice’s romantic new love story between two people from seemingly different worlds.
In the five years since Julia last visited her aunt and uncle’s home in Malibu, her life has been turned upside down by her daughter’s death. She expects to find nothing more than peace and solitude as she house-sits with only her dog, Bonnie, for company. But she finds herself drawn to the handsome man who oversees the lemon orchard. Roberto expertly tends the trees, using the money to support his extended Mexican family. What connection could these two people share? The answer comes as Roberto reveals the heartbreaking story of his own loss --- a pain Julia knows all too well, but for one striking difference: Roberto’s daughter was lost but never found. And despite the odds he cannot bear to give up hope.
Set in the sea and citrus-scented air of the breathtaking Santa Monica Mountains, THE LEMON ORCHARD is an affirming story about the redemptive power of compassion and the kind of love that seems to find us when we need it most.
