The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season by Molly Fader

The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season by Molly Fader
Published by Graydon House ISBN 9781525804557
Trade paperback, $17.99, 320 pages

Sometimes you read a book and the characters and storyline just touch your heart. Molly Fader's newest novel, The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season, is one of those.

As the novel opens, Hope is on the run with her 10 year-old daughter Tink, who refuses to speak. We know that something bad happened because Hope is hiding a black eye behind her sunglasses. She arrives unannounced at the orchard home of her late mother's sister Peg very late in the evening.

Peg greets the car that has pulled onto her property with her shotgun. She has no idea that Hope is coming. Peg is a taciturn, closed off woman. It's been many years since she has seen Hope, so long ago that Hope doesn't remember ever visiting.

Peg feeds Hope and Tink, and puts them up in her farmhouse. She can see that something happened to Hope, but she doesn't push Hope to tell her.  Having Hope show up has undone something in Peg. It's clear that she too has a secret that she is hiding, something to do with the time that Hope was at her home years ago.

It's cherry season, so Peg has Hope and Tink help her harvest the cherries, along with Abel, a young man who left the army, came home and bought some of Peg's land. Abel suffered from PTSD and recognizes some of those same symptoms in Hope. He begins to have feelings for Hope, and enjoys Tink's company too.

As the four work together in the orchard, slowly Hope begins to trust Peg and Abel, and opens up a little about her reason for running. She also learns more about her mother's past life, things that may be painful for her and for Peg.

I loved watching Hope's journey to build something for her and Tink, and I found life on Peg's farm so interesting. But it is Peg who really stole my heart. She made a decision years ago that cost her everything she loved, and to see her open her heart back up was so rewarding.

When the world outside can seem so overwhelming, a book like The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season can bring much needed comfort. I highly recommend it, and if you like cherries (I do!), there are a few cherry recipes at the end to try. (The Chocolate Cherry Brioche is calling my name.)

Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Summer Reads Blog Tour.