The Orchard House

Heidi Chiavaroli has penned a beautiful soul-stirring split-time novel time involving two women, one living in present day Massachusetts and one living in Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House soon after the Civil War, overcome their own personal demons and find their way home. Chiavaroli has created dynamic characters that are going to leap off the pages and because they are complex, realistic and relatable they are going to stay in readers’ minds long after the last page is read. She has told their story that, while as old as time, is still relevant today. Why? Because it deals with women who grow up feeling insecure because of their family situations, circumstances beyond their control, and/or just life. It can be any of a myriad of reasons. They are the girls who grow up to be the women who are the ones who always feel left out - until one friend includes them. This is the story of two girls who were blessed to have friends who took time to draw them out. Was it “happily ever after?” Not by a long shot! It was a lifetime of sharing, love, caring, hurt, betrayal, dreams lost and found. Sounds a lot like real life, doesn’t it? Chiavaroli uses these strong personalities to paint a beautiful picture of forgiveness, redemption and a real feeling of home. She concludes this fantastic novel with these heartfelt words: “God had indeed cast out our fears and brought us to a new place. A place we could call home. A place where we didn’t have to question our worth. A place where we put the pen in His hands and allowed Him to be the One to write our stories. I was sure they would be some of the best yet.” I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.