Today, I bring you a review of The Enchanted Orchards by Kristin Maddock. I got this book for free on my Kindle, and after picking it up and putting it down again and again, I finally managed to finish it at the start of the month.
The basic gist of this story is that the main character has lost her sister. Not lost as in the middle of Asda and not being able to find her, but lost as in died. For the majority of the story we don't know why or how, we just know she has died, coming up to a year ago, and the family are still really struggling to come to terms with it. Our main character, Fern, throws herself into her work at the local diner, whilst also trying to find some sort of faith other than her current one, as she is struggling to come to terms with grieving for her sister through her religion. Her mother sits and prays all day in the home, and has gone from being a woman who bakes, laughs and smiles, to a woman who shuts herself off from the world, praying or pretending to clean. Her father attempts to make effort with his daughter, but we find him becoming more and more withdrawn, only talking to his wife during arguments and practically ignoring his daughter in the process.
So we spend quite a bit of this book witnessing this family's derailment from 'normality'. Until Rocky Lee shows up. Rocky Lee is a farm boy from the town who moved to the 'big city' to study. When he returns, it causes a stir in the town, and Fern. This is where the book goes from depressing to cheesy.
We witness Fern falling in love with Rocky, but in all the stereotypical ways. From avoiding him, to almost kissing him a billion times, I found it go from being sad, to being very tiresome. I found myself only wanting to finish this book because I'd started it and I hate to leave books unfinished, so to see that I was nearing the end I was quite pleased.
Overall, this book rates 1/5 stars. If you're into very cheesy, stereotypical books about teen love then by all means, read it and let me know, you may find it very different to me. Yes, the book deals with difficult issues (which you will find out when you read), and I can honestly understand and sympathise with that. But I found the book to be quit negative in the rest of the aspects, which is not what I was wanting from this book.
Have you read it? What did you think? Please feel free to comment below with your views!
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