When they have broken you, when you have been humiliated, bullied, deserted and destitute, can you find a place where you may dare to be happy? Susan travels with her mother, escaping a life of heartbreak and poverty in the city, to live with their one remaining friend in a small rural village. At twenty Susan is still bound by the trauma of her youth, but starts to blossom into womanhood, thanks … into womanhood, thanks to the tender encouragement of Luke, the eccentric occupant of ‘The Cherries’, who lives surrounded by books and art. It is a journey of tears and laughter, helping to heal mind and spirit.
But can the past ever be truly behind you?
Feeling safe and secure at last, mother and daughter nurture artistic talents that they had long since thought worthless, and their lives take directions they could never have imagined.
Yet, amongst the kindness and love in their new community, there lies hidden grief and a long-suppressed secret that must come to light. Something that might force Susan to another life beyond the confines of the village.
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This book handles the issues of bullying and relationships in a way that is sensitive and kind. It allows for the education of those involved as well as forgiveness. It shows love and charity in a new light not seen in many novels today. And brings God back into the picture. And of course, love wins.
Let me start by saying romance is not a genre I read often. However, this tale offers so much more as I began reading. The cast of characters all have their own stories to tell and I became invested in the lives of so many. Outside of their love lives, the characters also face real life situations involving mental illnesses, bullying, faith questioning, growing up, and death. This riveting read shows the effects of all these circumstances on several characters. The main character’s arc of growing up is exponential and inspiring.
The story stays relatively mild, following life as it happens, but every so often the author will throw the reader a curve ball (especially toward the end) that pulls at your own emotions. This story ranks as one of my favorite reads this year so a big congratulations to the author on an amazing debut.
Twenty year old Susan, and her mother Marian, have moved in with a dear friend whose home in a small rural village provides them with an escape from the city, poverty and, in Susan’s case, bullying. Their friend Viv, is comfortable financially and helps them in various ways to blossom, after years of difficulty. Luke, the young man who lives next door, becomes enamored of Susan and proves to be a very helpful friend to her and all of his neighbors.
This novel was entertaining and thought provoking, as well as a squeaky clean romance. This is not an objection, merely an observation. The story includes characters whose lives are touched by alcoholism. anxiety, PTSD and homosexuality. All are handled in a non-judgemental manner.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author D.B. Carter and the publisher Cameron Publicity and Marketing Ltd. for a complimentary ARC of this novel. This is my honest review.
Mother and daughter, Marian and Susan, have endured many of life’s bitter dramas with their only escape being to stay with their life long friend, Vivian. Beaten down by years of abuse, they’ve lost all their material goods, arriving at Vivian’s with literally the clothes on their back. Next door at The Cherries, their new neighbors, Luke and Dominic, watch as these broken souls arrive. All of their lives are about to change.
We meet the residents of a charming village, buoyed by the efforts of many. There are secrets, fears, and those in poor health—but that doesn’t stop the uplifting attitudes and spirit of community, even when dealing with the cruel acts of a few. Marian and Susan are soon thriving in their new environs and are given the chance for a major life upgrade. New friendships, creative passions, and the gift of self confidence and trust allow each woman to bloom and grow. Romance is in the air as friendships blossom for some, but will past doubts and judgements destroy their newfound happiness?
Author D.B. Carter’s, The Cherries, is a heartwarming, bittersweet read that keeps you glued to the page–waiting to see what will happen next. As the characters and their situations unfold, we get to know their hopes and dreams, and the fears that sometimes paralyze them, spiritually and physically. The story’s finale will keep you on pins and needles to the very end. This is a life tale that enchanted this reader, highly recommended!