The Bitter and Sweet of Cherry Season

Starred review from May 15, 2020
A battered Hope and her silent daughter, Tink, show up at Hope's Aunt Peg's house in northern Michigan in the middle of the night. Peg is startled to see them, but she is lonely in the Orchard House, so she agrees to take in the pair in exchange for help with the cherry harvest. Peg tries to keep her distance, but she grows fond of the two, and soon Tink begins to speak with her over her interest in learning how to shoot a gun. Peg and Tink bond over early-morning target practice, while Hope tries to figure out her next move. Peg and Hope both have their secrets, but they are afraid of revealing the truth. Eventually, Hope decides to come clean and lets her aunt know that she was abused by her boyfriend?and he may be following them. Instead of fleeing, Hope decides to stay at the Orchard House. But while she and Tink begin to build a life with Peg's support, their past comes back to haunt them. This page-turning story about family secrets and finding strength will have fans of Jill Shalvis and Jane Green delighted to have another author to watch.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)