Beyond the Orchard

By: Anna Romer

Narrated by: Hannah Norris

A haunting story of yearning, love and betrayal from the best-selling author of Thornwood House.

Lucy Briar has arrived home in turmoil after years overseas. She's met her fiancé in London and has her life mapped out, but something is holding her back.

Hoping to ground herself and find answers, Lucy settles into once familiar routines. But old tortured feelings flood Lucy's existence when her beloved father, Ron, is hospitalised and Morgan - the man who drove her away all those years ago - seeks her out.

Worse, Ron implores Lucy to visit Bitterwood Estate, the crumbling historic family guesthouse now left to him. He needs Lucy to find something - an old photograph album, the very thing that drove Ron and his father apart.

Lucy has her own painful memories of Bitterwood, darkness that has plagued her dreams since she was young. But as Lucy searches for the album, the house begins to give up its ghosts and she is driven to put them to rest.

And there, held tightly between the house, the orchard and the soaring cliffs, Lucy uncovers a long-hidden secret that shattered a family's bond and kept a frightened young girl in its thrall...and Lucy discovers just how fierce the lonely heart can be.

©2016 Anna Romer (P)2016 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Narrator too monotone.

Narrator made it difficult to listen to this book. A good story line but it would be a better read

Great summer read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Very engaging story and characters; not hard to follow. Love how the fairy tale was woven in. Suspenseful and kept me interested to the end. Excellent narration. Can't wait for the next book!

Want more!

Anna Romer has become one of my favorite writers with her twist of mystery, romance and history. Hannah Noris is a wonderful nattator. I can only hope this team continues to produce more books.

Good but

I found it confusing during the first half. Had trouble keeping the characters straight.

Creepy love story

Aside from everything else in the book, which haunting and suspenseful and very interesting, there is a romance between the main character and a man much older than herself. While age differences generally do not bother me, there was a bit of a creepy factor to the detail that she grew up from childhood with this much older man in her life, and he “loved” her before she had “grown up”. While there was no romance prior to her being an adult, that part of the story detracted from the experience for me. From her side I understand having feelings for an older male figure in your life, though the fact that he is friends with your dad and the father of one of your best friends should perhaps give pause. It was his interest and waiting and passion about having loved her for so long that was creepy.

Convoluted Story, Good Narrator

This story jumped around from one time period to another. It was hard to place the characters for several chapters. I'm thinking that it might be better to read this book, rather than listen to it. The narrator was the only reason I finished the book, as none of the characters were very interesting or sympathetic.

Take the time to listen....so worth it!

You definitely need to pay attention to keep up with the three story lines. By chapter 8...I was sorta lost so started at the beginning and listening only when I was able to concentrate....like doing dishes, making Beds, blow drying my hair or at work editing photos. I loved the narrator.

beautiful spiderweb

She has a magical way of tangling the past and future, like a beautiful spiderweb, that it holds you gripped till the end. I have read two of her books and they have the same staging but 5minutes in I discovered why; it is the perfect way to to set up the flow and unravelling of her tale. This book is perfect for a relaxing vaca or just a rainy day enjoying wine and grapes.

Confusing Time Periods

This was the third Roamer book I listened to. Three different time periods and two fairy tales made this one more difficult to follow. The transistions between these periods and characters were often weak or non-existent. I had to restart the audio book after chapter 15 to be able to find the story line. Once that happened and my creating a character tree. I was able to get into the book.

Trouble following story

What disappointed you about Beyond the Orchard?

I had a lot of trouble getting into the storyline.

Have you listened to any of Hannah Norris’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not, but her performance was fine. I would definitely listen to other reads of hers.

Any additional comments?

Just disappointed.