I was born in the spring of 1961. The following fall of the same year our nation was devastated by the assassination of President Kennedy. As I read Orchard of Hope, which is set in the south during the sixties in a small town called Hollyhill; historical events mentioned in story reminded me of other life events. Here in this small town the schools are being desegregated. The population of the area is small enough where most people have known each other for decades.

One colorful character, Miss Sally, though in the twilight years of her life, has never married and is witnessing how the Lord gave her the greatest desire of her heart. Then there is Brother David whose firstborn daughter is about to give birth and that makes David feel old even though he isn't. I liked Leigh who is in her mid-thirties, never married, but has eyes for the one man in the whole town who makes her face turn the color of a rose when she sees him.

Outside the town limits an orchard of apple trees has been planted, but as the drought continues the concern for its output does as well. Perhaps on the night when a gang of bullies come to destroy the orchard and other places on the homestead, it is then that the whole town realizes evil is lurking right there to steal the joy. The first novel in the series is The Scent of Lilacs, which introduces to us the foundation of characters, plot and themes of the books. I have to commend Ann H. Gabhart for this particular story.

Being familiar with an author's many writings never seems to dull the appreciation of hard work done with prayer, wrapped in love. The themes of prejudice and how the Body of Christ should be different, but looks and sometimes acts just like anybody else highlights the need for a change of heart for God's people. The change of heart is what changes people and from there it flows out to the community and beyond. No way have I revealed everything in the book or shared all my thoughts about the story. All I can say is read the series, step back in time and be reminded of others who let God change them. They then go forth to point the way to be changed by the love of God.

I have had the privilege to review other books by this author and have always found her to be extremely talented in plot development and character description. However, this book has to be the BEST yet!!!

The sentence on the back cover of the book describes it well: "The smoldering embers of unrest are stirring- and even Jocie's sweet spirit can't put them out." Jocie, the main character, has had an eventful summer. BUT, she doesn't realize that things in her town have just started to heat up. This small town, in Kentucky, Hollyhill, has had an extreme drought. Everyone in town is praying and dreaming of one thing- rain, looking for a fresh start and a positive look to the future.

A new family moves to town, attempting to make a fresh start and a better life for themselves, by planting an orchard on the outskirts of town. Alex and Myra have already gone through many hardships, all due to only the colour of their skin. Jocie is the first to befriend the family and accepts them for their true value, never thinking about the colour of skin. The rest of the town is not so accepting!! There begins to be unrest in this little town, as they have never had before. Disturbing events begin to occur, with even more threats being made! Can Jocie help this family, as well as her town, to ignore physical appearances and see them for who they truly are???

I found this to be a gripping tale. Unable to put this book down until finished, I was on the edge of my seat. The plot has many twists and turns that are all connected in the main theme. I felt the fear, the cruelty, and the kindness , all visible in this story. The characters became very much a part of me.They were realistic and had so many problems, that many suffer , due only to the colour of their skin. It makes you really examine your beliefs and faith. How would God handle this situation?? Would He care about their colour? Can a young girl change the set thinking of the people of Hollyhill? Only God can truly change a person. The question is, will these folks listen to that quiet , still voice?

LOVED this book!! Definitely a five star book!! Don't miss reading this one!

Ann Gabhart is such a beautiful writer. When it comes to quality of writing, Ann slides neatly into the same group as Lisa Wingate, as her words create clear pictures and a flow in the story that seems completely effortless. Reading books by Ann is akin to taking a breath of clean air — fresh and utterly satisfying.

Orchard of Hope is the sequel to Scent of Lilacs, and I thoroughly enjoyed the continuation. Jocie is as endearing as ever, viewing the world through her unique and introspective lens. Not one to shy away from tough topics, Ann brings the issues of racial discrimination and cruel judgment to the forefront of this book, aptly showing how God's love can change lives and bring people together even in the midst of such harsh adversity.

Orchard of Hope is a wonderfully written novel that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

A book to be savored. Jocie is back and just as captivating. She made her debut in Scent of Lilacs where she stole my heart. No need to have read the first book to enjoy this one (though I bet you'll want to after you've finished Orchard of Hope!) Perfect title, by the way. Doesn't everyone need an orchard of hope? Love the imagery in that phrase. .

Jocie is in the thick of things when racial unrest reaches her small, peaceful town. Gabhart uses her earnest teen aged innocence has a sharp contrast to the brewing unrest swirling around her. But this isn't just Jocie's story. Gabhart allows other characters to share their point of view as the tensions in a complicated plot reach a startling crescendo. A riveting read fueled with hope in the midst of the impossible.

"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group".

I greatly enjoyed the first book in the Heart of Hollyhill Series, "The Scent of Lilacs", and so it was with great anticipation that I picked up the next book, "Orchard of Hope". I was certainly not disappointed! As I've said in other reviews, I'm a sucker for books where the main character is a child or teen and their innocence is tested against the heartbreak that they find as they emerge into adulthood. Jocie is a wonderful character who breathes with life and a sense of justice that is refreshing to read about, and her journey is a beautifully written one. There is a whole cast of characters that I love in this second novel, including the ones from the black community who push Jocie out of her comfort zone and cause her to take a good look at the inequalities in society. I found the writing to be solid, though I will say that some of the chapters in the middle had a tad too much introspection for my liking, such that not all the chapters moved the story forward for me as much as others. However, overall I simply couldn't get enough of this story as I waited for the tragedy that you just know is just hovering over the horizon. And then it hits, and I was held spell-bound by the resulting heroism and deep acts of faith played out on the pages. I soon forgot I was just reading a fiction story, and I'll admit that I basically had tears dripping down my face for the final couple of chapters. The story is a powerful portrayal of evil running up against grace and the light of God's eternal love.

Gabhart has written a story that will deeply engage your emotions, and hold you captive as you live through the characters she so richly portrays on the pages of "Orchard of Hope". Pick up a copy of this book. You will be glad you did. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.