Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    The Lemon Orchard: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Lemon Orchard: A Novel
    Unavailable
    The Lemon Orchard: A Novel
    Audiobook8 hours

    The Lemon Orchard: A Novel

    Written by Luanne Rice

    Narrated by Blair Brown

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    From bestselling author Luanne Rice-a captivating and sexy novel of love, both enduring and unexpected.

    Year after year, Luanne Rice's fans eagerly await her next book. Their enthusiasm is soon to be rewarded with The Lemon Orchard, Rice's romantic new love story between two people from seemingly different worlds.

    In the five years since Julia last visited her aunt and uncle's home in Malibu, her life has been turned upside down by her daughter's death. She expects to find nothing more than peace and solitude as she house-sits with only her dog, Bonnie, for company. But she finds herself drawn to the handsome man who oversees the lemon orchard. Roberto expertly tends the trees, using the money to support his extended Mexican family. What connection could these two people share? The answer comes as Roberto reveals the heartbreaking story of his own loss-a pain Julia knows all too well, but for one striking difference: Roberto's daughter was lost but never found. And despite the odds he cannot bear to give up hope.

    Set in the sea and citrus-scented air of the breathtaking Santa Monica Mountains, The Lemon Orchard is an affirming story about the redemptive power of compassion and the kind of love that seems to find us when we need it most.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJul 2, 2013
    ISBN9780307704979
    Unavailable
    The Lemon Orchard: A Novel
    Author

    Luanne Rice

    Luanne Rice is the author of Secrets of Paris, Stone Heart, Blue Moon, Home Fires and Crazy in Love. Originally from Connecticut, she now lives in New York City with her husband.

    More audiobooks from Luanne Rice

    Related to The Lemon Orchard

    Related audiobooks

    Romance For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Storytime

      Aug 14, 2019

      by Lesley Pearse, Penguin Random House Lesley Pearse’s career as an author didn’t begin until she was in her late 40s, but once started, she hasn’t looked back and her books have a large fan base. Her latest absorbing story begins in a fishing villag

      2 min read

    • Article

      Book CLUB

      Nov 23, 2021

      Book CLUB
      1 min read

    • Article

      Heart & soul

      Jun 19, 2022

      The reader is parachuted into the town of Ballarat, Victoria, from the pre-WWII years until 1948 in The Secret World of Connie Starr. It’s a town where everyone has their challenges to contend with. Connie is the youngest in Baptist Pastor Joseph Sta

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Course Of True Love

      Dec 11, 2022

      The Course Of True Love
      3 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Aug 19, 2022

      Books
      4 min read

    • Article

      Books

      Mar 23, 2021

      Twelve years ago Lizzie was with her friend Alice when she tragically died. Lizzie can’t remember anything due to her epilepsy. But with a new boyfriend and her epilepsy under control, she’s finally looking forward to the future, until she realises s

      1 min read

    • Article

      Book CLUB

      Apr 26, 2022

      Book CLUB
      1 min read

    • Article

      Chill Out | Booksquirky Love Stories

      Apr 28, 2023

      By SARAH LOTZ HARPERCOLLINS Nick is a failed writer in an unhappy marriage, while Bee is a serial dater and dressmaker. They start communicating with each other when he one day accidentally sends a rather rude email to her which was intended for som

      2 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      Jun 2, 2021

      This evocative story captures the highs of love and the lows of betrayal, woven around paintings of the Annunciation. Lottie Archer is an archivist for expatriates in Rome and is fascinated by diary entries of the late Nina Lawrence, a restorer of ga

      1 min read

    • Article

      ‘Small Fry’ More Than A Steve Jobs Story

      Nov 10, 2018

      “Small Fry: A Memoir” (Grove Press), by Lisa Brennan-Jobs The ghost of Steve Jobs haunts “Small Fry,” the memoir by his first daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs. He looms larger than life even on the pages where he is missing — and he missed a lot. But we a

      3 min read

    • Article

      Mother Love

      Oct 5, 2023

      Mother Love
      7 min read

    • Article

      Behind Closed Doors

      Jun 19, 2022

      Behind Closed Doors
      3 min read

    • Article

      Provocative Reads

      May 13, 2022

      Samantha is an influencer and self-help guru who has become a wealthy celebrity with millions of female followers, whom she refers to as “her girls”. They’re ready to like all her posts, buy all her products to better their lives and tickets to her s

      2 min read

    • Article

      Small Fry

      Nov 9, 2018

      “Small Fry: A Memoir” (Grove Press), by Lisa Brennan-Jobs The ghost of Steve Jobs haunts “Small Fry,” the memoir by his first daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs. He looms larger than life even on the pages where he is missing — and he missed a lot. But we a

      3 min read

    • Article

      Mother Love

      Oct 5, 2023

      Mother Love
      7 min read

    • Article

      Head & heart

      Dec 12, 2021

      Head & heart
      3 min read

    • Article

      What To Read?

      Mar 12, 2021

      Frankie Elkin is a middle-aged recovering alcoholic. Her mission in life is finding missing young women who the police have given up on. She’s not a private detective and doesn’t get paid – instead she searches the internet for worthy cases. One such

      2 min read

    • Article

      Best Books

      Apr 12, 2022

      Best Books
      1 min read

    • Article

      Book CLUB

      Apr 13, 2021

      Book CLUB
      1 min read

    • Article

      Great Reads

      Aug 5, 2020

      It’s winter in Melbourne and Detective Emmett Corban is starting to regret his promotion to head of the Missing Persons Unit, as the routine reports pile up on his desk. So, when Natale Gibson goes missing, he’s convinced this is the big case he’s be

      2 min read

    • Article

      Holly Wainright

      Sep 10, 2020

      There is no doubt that 2020 has been a trying year, and its difficulties have placed strain on many marriages. While author Holly Wainwright – who also wrote The Mummy Bloggers and How To Be Perfect – didn’t have a global pandemic in mind when she be

      1 min read

    Reviews for The Lemon Orchard

    3.5/5

    48 ratings14 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      This was a really nice story but I absolutely hated the way that it ended.
    • 4/5
      The book opens with a heart breaking loss for Julia Hughes. Julia goes to her aunt and uncle's lemon orchard in Malibu to house sit and heal. There she meets Roberto, an illegal Mexican farm worker who is nursing his own loss. On the boarder crossing from Mexico into the US Roberto lost his five year old daughter, Rosa. Julia and Roberto's mutual heart ache draw them together and they begin a relationship. As they draw closer Julia begins an investigation into what really happened to Rosa. The topical relevance of this book is especially timely. There has been a lot of arguing in the news about immigration reform and how best to protect our borders. I can't say it is a topic that I have given an extraordinary lot of thought to despite living in South Florida a place that sees a large influx of people from South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. This book really drove home for me the desperation that the immigrants felt. They were willing to risk their lives not for themselves but so they could help their families. The description of the dessert crossing with the coyotes was truly horrifying. In South Florida we have a lot of people trying to cross from Haiti and Cuba in rickety boats and rafts and they don't always make it. This book made me see the plight of the immigrants in new way. They face the tough choice of staying home and starving or risking their lives to provide a better life for their families. The immigrant story line was the more compelling one for me in the book. The love story between Roberto and Julia was at times a little forced in my opinion. The story of Roberto and his daughter was the one that really elevated the book for me. After reading this book my eyes will be more open to the struggles of the people around me trying to make a better life. If you are willing to work than everyone deserves the chance to provide for their families. I also really loved the ending. It's not what you would typically expect but it felt true to the story.
    • 5/5
      The Lemon Orchard by Luanne RiceI wanted to read this book for a few reasons: 1. the author is from the same state as I and I've read all her other books and loved them=they make you think 2. it's about trees-love knowing others use their hands to make a living and know I will be learning something new in this book.Book starts out with Jenny and her dad in the car on their way when there is an accident. Love the idea of moon picnics and we learn she was going to divorce Peter..Next it turns to Roberto, an immigrant with a daughter in Mexico and he lives in East LA where they gangs live, he runs her uncles n his lemon orchard. His family heads to Ireland for a month and Julia Hughes is there to watch over the place. She's come to the west coast with the dog, Bonnie.She had spent much time at her uncle John Riley's orchard over the years and he was the one to encourage her to study anthropology and she had. She also dined with Lion-an actor her aunt Gracie used to work with.Love the bond and things Julia and Jenny did together! Love learning about the lemon trees.Roberto tells her of how he lost his daughter and she pulls out her old research: she was in the desert in Mexico with her daughter one summer for her grad work. She may have some leads as to how to find her again. They start sharing dinners together...Many others are involved and their clues lead them to more discoveries.Particularly liked hearing of the terrain, the desert and the big city and especially the shoreline. Characters are easy to keep track of. Loved the new things I learned along the way.I received this book from Edelweiss by Penguin Group (USA) Inc in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      Julia Hughes is taking life day by day. It's been five years since her daughter and husband died in a car accident. Her marriage was on the verge of collapse, her daughter was distraught and Julia must face the notion that the accident may have been an act of patricide and suicide. This idea is difficult for her to accept because she and her daughter Jenny were very close. Now she's left the East Cost to travel to Malibu, California. She'll stay in her uncle's home and try to find some balance and purpose for her life. It is there that she meets Roberto Rodriguez, the orchard manager for her uncle's lemon orchard. Although Roberto and Julia come from two completely different worlds, they are both mired in grief over the loss of their daughters . . . Julia's in an accident and Roberto's in an illegal immigration from Mexico across the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. Is it possible for two disparate people to find love and healing?Julia Hughes comes from a relatively privileged background. Her family history is mired in California history. She attended Brown University, majoring in Cultural Anthropology and eventually became an adjunct professor at Yale University. Her deceased husband was a lawyer. Roberto Rodriguez came from a poor village in Mexico. He lived with his grandmother and was a single-father just hoping to make a better life for himself and his daughter, Rosa. Roberto's father had immigrated to the United States many years ago, when Roberto was just a child, and had gained residency. Although Roberto knew that relying on a "coyote" to help cross illegally into the United States would be hard, he was determined not to leave his daughter behind. Their attempt to cross the desert was beyond difficult and resulted in capture by Border Patrol. Regrettably, Roberto had put his daughter down and was attempting to reach the pick-up vehicle when he was caught. Border patrol agents refused to listen to his pleas to find his daughter and when they went back out to find her, she was gone.As Julia and Roberto's relationship progresses, Julia is determined to try and provide some answers for Roberto. Her quest leads to various agencies that attempt to reconcile families with their loved ones, deceased or alive. What follows is a story of love and hope for a better tomorrow. The Lemon Orchard isn't a typical love story. It presents a different slant to illegal immigration from both perspectives, that of the immigrant and that of Border Patrol. Ms. Rice does a wonderful job of incorporating an abbreviated history of California and modern reconciliation efforts into the story. The ending was rather unexpected yet I can't imagine it ending any other way (you'll have to read it for yourself to understand). If you enjoy stories that incorporate a hope for a better tomorrow with romantic overtones, then you'll definitely want to read The Lemon Orchard.
    • 4/5
      I listened to this book while traveling and finishing a craft project. The story was full of emotions and adventure. The characters were believable. The author did a super job of making the emotions believable also. The author also did a good job of presenting the darker side of life in a true light. This reader likes the writing style of this author.
    • 4/5
      THE LEMON ORCHARD is a bittersweet love story set in a beautiful Malibu lemon orchard by the Pacific Ocean. It's in this orchard that Julia, an anthropologist, and Roberto, an undocumented immigrant worker, meet and fall in love. Julia's teenage daughter was killed in a tragic accident five years earlier, and she's been living in a fog of grief ever since. A job as house sitter for her aunt and uncle at their lemon orchard seems like the perfect escape. Roberto has been living with his own grief too. He lost his daughter Rosa in the Arizona desert after crossing the border from Mexico, and she was never found. Living in the United States illegally makes it almost impossible to find Rosa again, but he won't give up hope.This book was so much bigger than the unlikely romance between two different individuals. It gave an eye-opening account of the lengths desperate people will go through to support their families. Illegal immigration from Mexico is a hot-button issue in the US, and I think this book brings to light the horror and suffering that individuals and families go through to cross the border. Throughout the book, the author compares the poor treatment of Irish immigrants in the 19th century with what is happening with Mexican immigrants today, which is compelling food for thought.THE LEMON ORCHARD was an emotional and suspenseful read for me, and I enjoyed it. Luanne Rice has a beautiful, fluid writing-style that completely pulls me in. Her vivid descriptions of the lush orchard and the Santa Monica Mountains were so gorgeous. I so wanted to be there. This book left me with a couple of niggling questions, particularly about Julia's daughter, but that's okay. THE LEMON ORCHARD was heartbreaking and thought-provoking, and well worth a read.Rating: 4.25 StarsSource: Review copy from the book tour company
    • 3/5
      A good read. What I found most interesting was the story of Roberto crossing illegally into the US from Mexico with his six year old daughter , Rosa. it was interesting to learn how these poor Mexican people risk their lives hoping for a better life in the US only to maybe die in the crossing.
    • 3/5
      The lemon orchard is the story of Julia and her coming to terms with the death of her daughter and husband in a vehicle accident. Helping her deal with this is Roberto, an undocumented worker in California. Roberto is dealing with the loss of his daugher and Julia helps him find her once again. This is not the best Luanne Rice book I have read, but it is an interesting read.
    • 3/5
      Liked some of the elements of the story- but she could have left out some of the schmaltz. I found the border crossing and the Santa Ana winds info interesting, but some of the story was just not necessary. Quick read... something for the beach.
    • 5/5
      California, Mexico, a lemon orchard, an estate owner, and a special Mexican worker in the lemon orchard.Roberto, a worker in the lemon orchard, and Julia, the niece of the owner of the lemon orchard had one thing in common, and they were drawn to each other.Julia and Roberto had both lost children, one in an accident and one in the desert. Both of their lives were consumed with the grief of their loss even after five years, and they shared this common bond.THE LEMON ORCHARD was a beautiful story about the cruelty as well as the beauty our lives hold for us. You will become a part of the lives of Julia and Roberto in this splendidly told tale of what it means to truly love and to truly lose something or someone you love.Ms. Rice’s descriptions of the California and Mexico landscapes was amazing. I could easily visualize the lemon orchard, the estate's house and grounds, and the raging forest fire as well as the desert and the path Roberto had to follow to cross the border from Mexico into the United States.The characters were well developed and believable. The authenticity and reality of the border control operation and the suffering of the Mexicans crossing the border definitely had been well researched.This is the first book I have read by Ms. Rice, and I was very pleased with her writing as well as the storyline. The story flowed nicely, kept your interest, and the ending pages had me turning as fast as I could to see how things would turn out. The book will pull you right in as you soak up the beauty of the Malibu countryside as well as the lives of the characters.Marvelously written and researched, I hope you are able to read this book. It took a few pages to see where the book was headed, but THE LEMON ORCHARD is well worth the wait. ENJOY!! 5/5This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      To be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this book at first but I am so glad that I did. It is a beautifully written story about two broken people finding each other and a way to heal the hurts in their hearts. The book starts off with a heartrending story and keeps the emotional level up through the rest of the book.Julia is in California at her aunt and uncle’s lemon orchard house sitting for them while they are in Ireland. She is still mourning the loss of her daughter in a car accident five years before and living in body but not spirit. Her marriage was troubled at the time of the accident and the death of her husband in the same accident left Julia with a mix of grief and guilt. While at the orchard she meets Roberto, a migrant worker from Mexico who is in charge of the orchard’s workings. In Roberto she sees a kindred soul who has also had loss in his life. In an odd coincidence, his daughter was lost five years before at the same time as Julia’s daughter. Eventually the two share their stories and find themselves falling in love. As wonderful as it is for the two to find happiness in each other, it is an incomplete happiness because of their shared sense of loss. Ms. Rice must have done an incredible amount of research in this book to so accurately portray the journey that Roberto went through coming from Mexico and the terrible thing that happened. When Julia becomes obsessed with solving the mystery of that awful journey, the reader finds themselves immersed in the immigration issue from a point of view that most of us never consider. Interestingly for me, the day I finished this book I watched a TV news magazine do a story that covered one of the type of groups that Julia goes to on her quest. I think the character of Julia is especially interesting because she finds happiness is prepared to sacrifice it all for the peace of mind of her lover and that she can find a measure of solace by doing so.This is an excellent book that needs to be read when one has the time to really sit and read it and to get immersed in the story. I found it impossible to put down and thoroughly enjoyed it.
    • 2/5
      Julia is still reeling five years after the death of her daughter and husband. While visiting her Aunt and Uncle in Malibu she forms a bond with Roberto, a man who is also suffering through the loss of a daughter. Julia’s daughter died and is truly gone, however, Roberto’s daughter was lost in the desert while attempting to cross over into the United States from Mexico.The relationship between Julia and Roberto was initially very moving and their bond was very apparent. I loved seeing the two come together and heal one another because of shared grief but their relationship quickly became stagnant and never developed (as relationships typically do). The characters in general were never unrealistic but they definitely lacked a convincing quality that made me invested in their story.What played a huge part in this story is Mexican immigration and I can honestly say if I had known this I would have never picked this book up. It’s just not a topic of interest for me, especially when it’s portrayed in this manner. At one point in the story it’s stated that the Irish immigration is just like the Mexican immigration because of the similar types of prejudice that they face. Now, I’m no history professor but that gave even me pause. Based on my understanding, immigration laws were vastly different in the 19th century and not only that but the Irish didn’t have welfare programs to take advantage of like there are in existence today. When the Irish immigrated to America there weren’t laws in place that prevented them legally from doing so and they had to work hard and be self-sufficient in order for them and their families to survive. The current immigration from Mexico does not conform with our current laws so that alone is a huge difference and should prevent any sort of comparison so I’ll just leave it at that.The Lemon Orchard is clearly outside of the author’s comfort zone, touching on hot topic issues like immigration, the stereotypes associated with individuals that immigrate and the mixing of different social classes. While I can appreciate the fact that these topics are being discussed, I’m not sure it succeeded in challenging anything (except for succeeding in following the same stereotypical path) and never quite made me sympathetic as I’m sure was intended.
    • 3/5
      *I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*Luanne Rice is an author that has various books published in Portugal and I was curious to read something written by her, so I requested “The Lemon Orchard” on NetGalley and I was fortunate to have been approved.The story begins at the Super Bowl weekend and Julia, the protagonist, is preparing a party, maintaining the appearances of a happy family even though she is going to get divorced from her husband. On the way back home after some last minute shopping, Julia is driving in her car with her dog Bonnie right behind the car driven by her daughter Jenny with her husband on the passenger side. And suddenly the unthinkable happens: Jenny crashes the car on their home entrance and both her and her father die instantly. Although it’s impossible for her to believe, the authorities conclude that Jenny crashed on purpose, meaning, she committed suicide.Five years later, Julia is in Malibu, house sitting for her uncle and, when she meets the orchard manager, Roberto, she feels a strange affinity with him. Julia recognizes in him the signs of a person that, like her, lost someone. And, as it turns out, they both lost a daughter.Also five years ago, Roberto crossed the desert from Mexico, with his daughter Rosa, looking for the american dream and trying to guarantee a better future for his family, but during the crossing he loses her. All indicates that she is dead, but the uncertainty is almost as piercing as the guilt he feels for losing her.Getting to know Roberto’s story, Julia feels closer to her daughter like she hadn’t since the accident, and decides to investigate and find out what happened to Rosa, so as to provide Roberto with closure.As she investigates and spends more and more time with Roberto, the attraction between them increases and they both begin to accept that maybe it is possible for them to be happy again. But what if discovering the truth means losing their second chance at happiness?The characters are very real and the author is very competent in transmitting the pain and the emptiness that takes over when a parent loses a child. But what I loved the most were the descriptions of the lemon orchard. The descriptions are so vivid I sometimes felt like I was seeing and smelling them... I’ll probably be reading more books from the author and I recommend it for Nicholas Sparks fans. But be warned, the ending is bittersweet...
    • 5/5
      Luanne Rice has written another fantastic novel. In this book, Julia has returned to her uncle and aunt’s house with her dog Bonnie, while they are doing genealogical research in Italy to house sit. In the five years since her last visit, Julia’s life has been turned upside down by her husband’s and daughter’s death, from which she has barely begun to recover. At the orchard, she meets and is immediately attracted to Roberto, also grieving for his lost daughter, who oversees the orchard and who is sending money to his family in Mexico. Two kindred souls, agonizing over their respective losses, slowly develop a close relationship. But, just what can two people from such different lives have in common? Can they bridge the seemingly fathomless divide that separates them? Can they help each other heal from their losses? This story delves into the deepest areas of their souls, where each has hidden their own personal secrets, and bringing out their true selves. The story is well written, with emotional highs and lows as well as exciting twists and turns. Both Julia and Roberto are well developed characters, as are the other, minor characters with whom they interact. This is Luanne Rice at her finest. I was immediately drawn into the story and sped through the book, waiting for the next event or action to occur. This is one book that will stay on with me long after having finished it. The love of a parent for a child is a strong one and also lives on after one of the two involved has gone. I recommend you read this one if you are a Luanne Rice fan, as I am, for this is one of her best books. I was lucky enough to receive this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.