The Simplicity of Cider

Books falling under the heading of "magical realism" are a bit of a guilty pleasure, and once again, Reichert doesn't disappoint. The magic comes in with Sanna's ability to "see" the flavors of her orchard's apples, and she uses her talent to blend ciders that will leave you curious for a pint of them yourself. Sanna herself, however, comes across as prickly - at least at the beginning of the story, although her sharp edges are better understood as her story unfolds. She's definitely a complex one that might irritate you as she grows on you. I find this complexity typical of Reichert's characters; here, Sanna's gruffness and stiff edges a sharp contrast to the love and connection she has to her family orchard.

As with her other books, show more the Wisconsin setting is inviting, charming and well drawn. The size of the family homestead, with all its empty wings sharply contrasts with the almost lonely feel of Sanna and her father eating alone, and it is in these scenes that we begin to sense that there is more to her character than appears on the surface.

Quite possibly my favorite character is young Sebastian - an outspoken, curious, bodily-function obsessed ten-year-old, who proves to be a good foil to Sanna's crustiness and in some ways is a good source of the conflict that begins to unfold for the orchard.

This is a solid, steady tale that will quietly draw you in with a mix of romance, intrigue, and family drama. It is a tale of family dynamics - and there is a lot of it here.

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy for my review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. show less

This was a comfortable, heartwarming book, something to curl up and read with an apple and some hot tea, as you follow the story of a "prickly but gifted cidermaker whose quiet life is interrupted by the arrival of a handsome man and his young son at her family's careworn apple orchard."

Sanna's underlying sadness is relieved when she spends time in the orchard, and when making her amazing cider from her heritage trees. She has a dream of selling this cider and paying down the orchard's debts. The arrival of single dad Isaac Banks and his ten-year-old son Bass, while appreciated for the help they can provide the struggling orchard, disrupts Sanna's quiet life.

Sanna's brother Anders wants the family to sell the orchard to a developer for show more a water theme park. Isaac has a secret he is waiting for just the right moment to share with his son. Someone is sabotaging the trees. Surprising revelations are exposed. Throughout the novel Sanna's cider is evocatively described, and Reichert employs magic realism to describe Sanna's unique cider-making skills and the special heritage trees.

The overarching theme is about people from different families who come to learn that they need each other. As the story develops they grow together when their relationships expand into another kind of family. It's a feel-good story that has a bit of romance and happy-ever-after all the way around.

With all the apple-based desserts cooked and eaten in this novel, I appreciated the special recipe included for caramel apple bread pudding. I had read and liked Reichert's earlier novel "The Coincidence of Coconut Cake" so knew I would like this one, too. show less

Digital audiobook performed by Rachel Dulude

Sanna Lunde has taken over the apple orchard run by her family for five generations in Wisconsin’s Door County. The business is struggling but she has plans to expand despite her brother’s pressure to sell out to a developer. Isaac Banks has basically raised his son Sebastian alone. Trying to bond (and to find the right time to tell Bass about his mother’s death) they take off on an adventure and wind up at the Lunde’s orchard.

Yes, the plot has been done before and includes most of the rom-com tropes. Yes, the heroine’s hard shell will be cracked by the genuine goodness (not to mention tall, dark, handsome charm) of the hero. Yes, she – a confirmed avoider of children – will show more come to love the precocious Sebastian. Yes, there will be major obstacles to their getting together. But has that ever stopped a couple in a rom-com? Well, Reichert is not about to break that mold.

Despite all the predictability this meet-cute romance ticks all the right boxes for me. It’s set in a place I love (Hubby and I visit Door County a couple of times a year), and I feel right at home with the descriptions of the location, the people, the traditions. I love the food references, even though I’m not a big fan of the fish boil (still, it’s a sight to behold). It’s a fast read, relaxing and completely enjoyable.

Rachel Dulude does a fine job performing the audiobook. She sets a good pace and I like the say she voiced Sanna, Isaac, and Sebastian. show less

I was excited to be approved by NetGalley to read and review this book.

This book pulled me in right from the start, Isaac and his son Sebastian (Bass) are on a road trip, Isaac is looking for a diversion and avoiding telling Bass some awful news about his Mom. The two are traveling from California and taking odd jobs along the way. They end up at the Apple Orchard in Door County, Wisconsin. I have always wanted to visit that part of the country so I was quite happy about the setting of this book. Isaac and Bass take on jobs at the Apple Orchard. Sanna and her father need help as the orchard is failing and Sanna's father is aging.

Sanna is one of the most complicated and prickly characters that I have met so far, she does not want any show more help and is determined to scare Bass and Isaac away. Bass is assigned to Sanna and Sanna has decided that she will run him off by being herself, she does not like children and thinks that they do not like her. Bass however is hilarious and uncaring what Sanna thinks of him, oh he is a bit scared and intimidated by her, he thinks she is very tall. Here is my favorite Bass quote "Do you smell farts up there?" This is one of the first things that Bass said to Sanna! That is why Bass is one of my favorite all time characters!

The growing relationship between Sanna and Bass was developed very nicely and the slow romance between Isaac and Sanna was threaded quite nicely into the story. As I mentioned earlier Sanna is very complex and has abandonment issues regarding her mother and that makes her relationships very complicated. There are family secrets and drama, I kept wondering why Sanna's mother left and why not contact? I found myself very involved with the story and the characters.

Verdict:

I thought that this book was so well written, story line was very good and I truly enjoyed most of the characters. As always there are the annoying characters that do make the book all the more interesting. Sanna and Bass were my favorites, Bass and his fart comments were hysterical! This book will go on my favorite books of 2017 list.This review was originally posted on Cindy's Book Binge show less

Sanna only wants to made the perfect blends of cider. Isaac wants to give his 10-year old son, Bass, a last innocent summer. Their worlds collide when Sanna's father hires Issac to work on their apple orchard. Sanna and Isaac are attracted but with the baggage both carry they try to keep is simple between them.

I loved Sanna and Isaac. They are both strong people who are carrying heavy burdens. Betrayals abound in this story--parents and children, husbands and wives, neighbors. Watching how the thinking of each character is muddled until they come clean with the truth is interesting. I liked how the chapters changed between Sanna and Isaac. I also liked how Eva, the real estate agent, also has some chapters from her point-of-view as show more well as Bass has a few scenes. I liked how Sanna's thinking develops in regards to the orchard and her burdens. I enjoyed this story. show less

First off, this book was set in a real town. Door County, Wisconsin sounds so adorable that I didn't realize it was real. Then I saw pics online and now it sounds like a great vacation spot.

Back to the book, Sanna lives on an apple orchard with her dad. They sell the apples and Sanna is working on craft cider that it is her dream to sell.
There's a touch of magical realism involved with how Sanna gets her flavor combinations.

Sanna and her dad live a solitary life. Her mom has been out of the picture since Sanna was a child and Sanna is not close with her brother Anders.
I honestly never understood why Sanna has been mad at Anders all these years.

Sanna's life changes when Isaac and his son Bass arrive. Isaac is running away from his own show more life and trying to protect Bass as he sees best.

A road trip evolves into Isaac and Bass staying at the orchard, getting room and board for working there.

Soon Sanna and Isaac are forming a connection neither one expected.

I absolutely loved the setting. I don't even like hard cider but I'd drink the seemingly magical ones Sanna makes :)
Isaac is a totally wonderful guy. Love him.
Sanna is very self sufficient and occasionally pig headed. But she's got a good heart.

I am definitely suggesting that if you've got this on your TBR list that it would be a perfect fall read. Or really, for anyone who wants a little bit of fall any time of year. show less

The Simplicity of Cider is another fantastic book by Amy Reichert. I have read her previous books and enjoyed them all but this is my favorite. The characters are so well done that you feel like you know them and the descriptions of Wisconsin (on Lake Michigan) are so beautiful that you want to visit.

Sanna Lund and her father run an apple orchard that has been in their family for five generations. Along with growing apples, Sanna is trying to make cider that can help boost the profits of the orchard. She is happy with her uncomplicated life and her love of the land. Then along come the complications - her brother wants to sell the orchard to a company that wants to build a water park on it. Her brother is justified in wanting to sell show more because the orchard is losing money. Along with that, her father hires a single father Isaac who has a young son Bass and they are fleeing family issues in California. Once her father falls and breaks several bones, things really become complicated for Sanna. The reader doesn't know if she'll be able to save her beloved orchard until the end of the book but readers are in for a fantastic story to find out. This is the perfect book - a little suspense, a little romance and a lot of family love in a charming community. Read it - you'll love it!

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. show less