Can a woman ever really know herself if she doesn’t know her mother? From the author of the smash-hit bestseller Firefly Lane and True Colors comes a powerful, heartbreaking novel that illuminates the intricate mother-daughter bond and explores the enduring links between the present and the past Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children …
Meredith and Nina Whitson are as different as sisters can be. One stayed at home to raise her children and manage the family apple orchard; the other followed a dream and traveled the world to become a famous photojournalist. But when their beloved father falls ill, Meredith and Nina find themselves together again, standing alongside their cold, disapproving mother, Anya, who even now, offers no comfort to her daughters. As children, the only connection between them was the Russian fairy tale Anya sometimes told the girls at night. On his deathbed, their father extracts a promise from the women in his life: the fairy tale will be told one last time and all the way to the end. Thus begins an unexpected journey into the truth of Anya’s life in war-torn Leningrad, more than five decades ago. Alternating between the past and present, Meredith and Nina will finally hear the singular, harrowing story of their mother’s life, and what they learn is a secret so terrible and terrifying that it will shake the very foundation of their family and change who they believe they are.
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Another great read from Kristen Hannah. She draws you in and doesn’t let you go until the last moment. Great story!
Even though I read it several years ago, I still think about it. It is a story that you won’t forget.
Excellent!
Loved this story.
Loved this book!
This book was very moving. Because the story line was so emotionally devastating during parts, it was sometimes difficult to read between tears. It was a very good story.
I learned something from this book. It was a bit hard to follow at first. Stick with it as it is worth finishing!
You can almost always count on Kristin Hannah for a GREAT story. I did have a bit more trouble with this one at first. The characters are SO determined to screw up their lives I nearly lost patience with them. But I stuck in there and the second half of the book made it well worth the effort. Such a haunting look at Russia during WWII. The …
Mother / daughter stories are always entertaining. I enjoyed learning about Russian family traditions. Interesting how their relationship took various twists and turns.
I hate books like this. Too emotional for me. Very sad, very emotional, but very well done. The ending gave me a crying headache. For that I would give a star. But it got me connected to the story. For that it gets four overall.
Kristin Hannah is one of my favorite authors and Winter Garden was not a disappointment. I found this book to be quite a page turner with a surprise ending.
It was the very best book by Kristen Hannah and I have read almost all of them.
I recommended it to All of my reading friends.
Great read by a Great Author.
I really enjoyed reading this book…Learned a lot about what some people lived thru…
Very emotional. Enjoyed the info about Leningrad during WW1.
The first half of this book was quite tedious–could have been reduced by about 75%. I almost abandoned the book, but was glad I didn’t because the part of the book that takes place in Leningrad in WWII was excellent.
Love love this book! Really pulled my heart strings.
great picture of Eastern Washington crop growers and a unique set up with her Russian mother.
Not one of her better books but I still had to read it.
Tedious, the story telling was boring, no point.