Hearts Divided: 5-B Poppy Lane\The Apple Orchard\Liberty Hall [Mass Market Paperback]

Debbie Macomber (Author), Katherine Stone (Author), Lois Faye Dyer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2006

Grandmothers know best . . . especially these three grandmothers, all soldiers' brides. Their generation lived through war and peace, good times and bad, love and loss.

5-B Poppy Lane by Debbie Macomber
All her life, Ruth Shelton has loved visiting her grandmother in Cedar Cove, Washington. Now Ruth comes to ask advice about her own romance with a soldier -- and discovers a secret in her grandmother's past.

The Apple Orchard by Katherine Stone
Clara MacKenzie's granddaughter Elizabeth arrives at Clara's Oregon farm needing comfort. That's exactly what Clara offers -- and so does a childhood friend named Nick Lawton. But Nick wants to offer Elizabeth more than comfort. More than friendship . . .

Liberty Hall by Lois Faye Dyer
When Professor Chloe Abbot finds herself caught up in a troublesome mystery, she turns to her grandmother. She needs Winifred's expertise as a wartime code breaker. She doesn't need suggestions about her love life -- all of which involve an ex-marine Jake Morrissey!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A can't-miss combination of multi-generational romance and international suspense, financial rivalry and family secrets." -- Booklist on Pearl Moon by Katherine Stone

"Macomber is a adept storyteller . . . and many will be entertained by this well-paced story about four women finding happiness . . ." -- Publishers Weekly on The Shop on Blossom Street

From the Back Cover

Grandmothers know best...especially these three grandmothers, all soldiers' brides. Their generation lived through war and peace, good times and bad, love and loss.

5-B Poppy Lane by Debbie Macomber All her life, Ruth Shelton has loved visiting her grandmother in Cedar Cove, Washington. Now Ruth comes to ask advice about her own romance with a soldier--and discovers a secret in her grandmother's past.

The Apple Orchard by Katherine Stone Clara MacKenzie's granddaughter Elizabeth arrives at Clara's Oregon farm needing comfort. That's exactly what Clara offers--and so does a childhood friend named Nick Lawton. But Nick wants to offer Elizabeth more than comfort. More than friendship...

Liberty Hall by Lois Faye Dyer When Professor Chloe Abbott finds herself caught up in a troublesome mystery, she turns to her grandmother. She needs Winifred's expertise as a wartime code breaker. She doesn't need suggestions about her love life--all of which involve ex-marine Jake Morrissey!

Three brand-new stories about love--past and present.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Mira (February 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778322122
• ISBN-13: 978-0778322122
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #659,302 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Hearts Divided, February 9, 2006

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts Divided: 5-B Poppy Lane\The Apple Orchard\Liberty Hall (Mass Market Paperback)

*** In this sweet little story collection, past and present are bridged by a common thread of love and revealed secrets. Granddaughters learn lessons about love from their grandmothers' recollections of the past, of loves they had in the WW II era. The stories are connected by email messages between the three grandmothers, but they do have a common theme. Debbie Macomber's entry that opens the anthology is the strongest of the three, however, each one is a sweet, safe read for book lovers of all ages to enjoy. ***

Amanda Killgore

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad..., February 6, 2006

By 

Samantha (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hearts Divided: 5-B Poppy Lane\The Apple Orchard\Liberty Hall (Mass Market Paperback)

Of the three stories, I enjoyed the one by Katherine Stone the best. It was very sweet and the characters were cute. The bit about the grandmother's eyesight seemed sort of random, though... kind of like the author wanted to just throw in some information that people should know about cataracts.
The story by Debbie Macomber sort of seemed... a little dated, I guess. As I read it, I sort of wondered if it had been written years ago and was being republished, with a few updates to accomodate for technological advances (cell phones, email). It was just an impression I got from the characters, I think.
I have no real complains about the Lois Faye Dyer story. It was fine.
All in all, an okay book, but not a keeper.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars three terrific Washington State novellas, February 1, 2006

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hearts Divided: 5-B Poppy Lane\The Apple Orchard\Liberty Hall (Mass Market Paperback)

"5-B Poppy Lane" by Debbie Macomber. In Cedar Cove, Washington, anti-war protester Ruth Shelton has been exchanging letters and email with USMC Sergeant Paul Gordon. However, he is coming home from Afghanistan on leave and wants to meet her in person. She has doubts because of his occupation

"Liberty Hall" by Katherine Stone. Former sergeant Jake Morrissey visits his friend Dan at the University of Washington Medical Center's rehabilitation Medicine Department where his brother in arms is getting an artificial leg installed. Jake meets English Professor Chloe Abbott whose group the Seattle's Women's Club has donated much of the medical equipment. They are attracted to one another form the start, but someone with a grudge plans to use her as a throw away pawn to get at Jake.

"The Apple Orchard" by Lois Faye Dyer. In Sarah's Orchard, Washington though he knows he will be punished by his mother's latest boyfriend, Nick rescues the toddler. Elizabeth's grandparents Charles and Clara are grateful. Years later, an adult Nick returns to Sarah's Orchard where to his shock Clara knows him instantly as Elizabeth's hero. He stays there basking in the grandparent-like love of Charles and Clara. When Charles dies he remains there for Clara. When Elizabeth returns home, she and her hero fall in love but he keeps his military experience secret from her so she has doubts.

These three terrific Washington State novellas star heroic military men and realistic women with doubts about a relationship with a soldier/veteran. The key to the tales is that diverse opinions on the Global War Against Terrorism is treated with respect and not wrapped inside phony for or against patriotic fervor while honoring the soldier.

Harriet Klausner