Cover Image: The Orange Grove

The Orange Grove

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Member Reviews

This novel is very atmospheric and obviously written with a great love of Seville. As someone who lives in Dorchester though it is the parts featuring West Dorset that most resonate, especially as I happened to visit Hive Beach whilst reading the book.

The characters are complex and many seem to be hiding secrets which are unearthed throughout the novel. The descriptions of flamenco are particularly moving. A great summer read.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book

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Absolutely gorgeous!!! I loved every page of this book. I’d never heard of this author before but I certainly hope to read more

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My first Rosanna Ley book. I very much enjoyed the read.

Wonderful descriptions of Seville - from the evocative smell of oranges to the sultry flamenco and the mouthwatering tapas. A mother and daughter wrestling with difficult decisions thirty years apart.

What will remain with me most after reading this book is a that so often we women make a choice not to follow our hearts because of the impact that would have on those we are committed to.

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The Orange Grove is a such a sensory read, from the aromas and settings to the food and culture, this story made my senses come alive! I had a compulsion to dig out my orange aromatherapy oil!

The format works well. Ella, Felix and Holly’s narrations in 2018 and Ella in 1988 tangle and intertwine giving suspense, mystery and intrigue. Some things I thought might be clues to what I was trying to work out but turned out not to be 🙂

The characters are complex and we get to ‘walk’ with them as they figure out and come to terms with the choices they made in the past or are about to make. I had conflicting emotions about Ella because I wasn’t ever sure what I wanted for her, wavering one way then another. And then I felt disloyal …

The three generations are relatable and I couldn’t help but feel for each of them. Their relationships reflect the realities of life (the highs, the lows, the duties and responsibilities) that come from caring about and loving others. They each have their secrets that make an impact.

I loved Holly’s ideas for Bitter Orange. The sourcing of products adds another layer I wasn’t expecting to the trip to Seville. I loved how one of the characters steps up.

I love how Rosanna Ley draws me in to the settings and cultures of her stories. It’s not just how she weaves a story about the facts but how alive the places and the people feel. The flamenco – I had goosebumps. Such a skill to be able to use words to get such an emotional reaction. I feel like I’ve spent time in Seville and Triana and it’s a destination on my bucket list now.

The Orange Grove shows us that no matter how complex and broken a situation might seem there is always hope and understanding. And that sometimes sacrifices have to be made that might be painful but turn out to be the best action we could have taken.

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This was a perfect counter after yesterday’s not so suspenseful thriller. A beautiful contemporary story by author Rosanna Ley took me away from darker lanes into the world of baking and emotions associated with it.

Daughter Holly wanted to open a shop selling orange marmalade and everything orange. She wanted to travel to Seville to source orangey products for her business. And all she needed was her mum Ella by her side. But Ella had a secret buried in Seville. Would both the ladies find what they were looking for?

My first book by this author, I was all enamored by the smell and taste of the cake and marmalade. Added to that was the rich culture and landscapes of Seville. The writing managed the capture the essence of passion that resided in the hearts of the characters.

Secrets that could be easily guessed were revealed slowly as the pages unfurled the past and the present. The father Felix too played an important part as he had to deal with multiple issues on the home front.

The author tried to give equal importance to all characters weaving their parts smoothly into the story. A few rough edges were present but they were negligible. What I wanted as the ending did not happen. But what was the ending was apt for the story.

Well, what can I say? I am a closet romantic, I suppose. Overall, a sweet morning filled with deliciousness and passion. I didn’t find marmalade in my larder, but made do with jam. How our books influence us!!

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I always love Rosanna Ley's books as they take me to great places and entertain with well written stories. I absolutely adored this book! I enjoyed the characters and the story! The story flowed great and had me reading and finishing the book in no time! I highly recommend this book! Stunning, a page-turner which stays long in the memory!

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The Orange Grove transported me to Seville. A very evocative story with sun, smells, sights and sounds...

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I have liked all Rosanna Ley's books. I love the locations and the fabulous descriptions of them.

I got a bit confused when the chapters switched between Ella and Holly and had to get my brain in gear. I more or less worked out the result of Ella's holiday in Seville and can certainly empathise with Ella as she would have been entranced by the heady atmosphere of Seville. I have visited Seville myself and certainly fell in love with it. . I loved the characters and really liked Felix for being a kind, understanding man.

Thank you netgalley for this Arc.

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Another winner from Ley!
"The Orange Grove" transported me from grey Dorset to the rich, vivid imagery of Seville. Romance woven with intrigue and a family secret all made for a book that kept me captivated from start to finish.

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Another evocative story by Rosanna Ley. All the smells and sounds of Seville are brought to life in this story. Rosanna's books are almost a travel guide as the descriptive language always make me want to visit the locations of the books. A perfect summer book.

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Lovely book - all the sights, sounds and smells of Spain, but of Seville in particular. The tapas are mouthwatering and the description of the flamenco is riveting. It is dual timeline shared between mother and daughter, the storyline 30 years apart but so well written it doesn’t jar. Sympathetic characters and incredible detail took me from the cold and miserable to orange blossom perfume and sunny skies; a real treat. I think Susanna Ley is one of the most evocative writers, her books are as good as guide books!
Thanks to Quercia books and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

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Thanks to #netgalley #rosannaley for letting me read this book prior to publication .

The book is set in Seville, in 1988 and again in 2018. Ella and her husband Felix were young, and living at his mother's while saving for a home of their own, when Ella decides they should have a holiday to Seville. Felix's mother a widower was not too impressed when they decided to go away. After the first day, Felix received a call from her to say she had fallen down the stairs, his first priority is his mother, Ella is put out and tells if he goes home, she will stay for the remainder of the holiday. While there on her own she meets Caleb, and falls head over heals in love with him.

30 years later, Ella's daughter decides to set up her own shop in her home town of Bridgeport to sell everything connected to oranges (how I wish this type of shop really existed in Norfolk,) to meet with potential suppliers, Holly asks Ella to accompany her on a trip to Seville, Felix persuades her also to go.

Products are sourced, new and old loves found, all in the streets of Seville.... now on my to travel to list.

Enjoy, escape to the sun, forget about COVID... I'm sure you can smell the oranges and orange blossom as you read this book!

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This was an absolutely wonderfully, atmospheric read set in 2 time lines in Seville.
Holly takes her mum back to Seville to search for some orange themed items to stock the new store she's planning. She knows her mum is holding secrets and wants to find out why she's so cagey about her previous visit.
You can just smell the orange blossom in the air, taste the wine, imagine the marmalade being made with the oranges. The scenery and history of the area are explored and you have such vivid imagery that you are transported right into the magical evenings full of dance and music.
The Italian men provide the love interest and there is also the darker element of the area.
I just loved everything about it and now really want to visit Seville.

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I asked to review this book on NetGalley as I am a fan of Ley's books. I also have two unread ready to go.
This tells the story of Ella and her daughter Holly. It has two dual time lines - Ella in 1988, when she goes on a trip to Seville with her husband and Holly in 2018. Although we also catch up with Ella 30 years later too.
It's a love story essentially with Seville at the heart of things. Each woman faces her own trials and tribulations.
Would highly recommend.

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Rosanna Ley is one of the authors I always come back to, and this latest story did not disappoint. I was transported to beautiful Seville, somewhere I’ve never been but is now on my list of places to go when we can travel again. Rosanna once again created a wonderful story which made me feel like I was there. This book was a real dose of much needed sunshine with a group of characters who were both believable and likeable.

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Wow - this book transports you to Seville - the sights, the history, the sun and most of all the smells. For me particular memories are often evoked most strongly by a smell that is familiar. I feel like I have just returned from an amazing break in Spain, which was just what was need on cold, wet winter days in a pandemic! I must now visit Seville when we are allowed as the author describes the city in such detail you really feel like you are there. The story is maybe a little predictable but it is so comforting - a good ending and a great story to get you there, flicking between the modern day story and the story of a very special week in 1988. I loved all the characters and you really cared for and empathised with each I their own way. Another hit from this author who is a favourite of mine.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me access to a digital copy in return for an honest review.

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Rosanna Ley has not let her fans down .In times when international holiday travel is banned,a trip to Seville conjures up the smells and sights of Spain. Pure escapism.

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When Holly and her mother, Ella, travel together to Seville on a buying trip for Holly's new business in her home town of Bridport, they discover more than orange based products. As well as a heartwarming story, the outstanding feature of this novel is the descriptions of the setting in Seville. In these days when we have to stay at home, this book transports you to to Spain and this fascinating city.

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Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Another fabulous book from Rosanna.

The story, a family drama, at the heart is a mother daughter relationship.

I loved how the history and culture was described, not to mention, the orange scented goodness.

At a crossroad in her life, Holly wants to find out Seville, a place her mother loved.. it reveals secrets and along the way opens her heart.

Recommend it.

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A lovely book. Gosh Iwant to go to Seville. A good story line, horide mother in law who turned out to be ok, odd husband, different father and a love element. But it was well writen. .Not all ways a fan of books that jump between years but it worked. . It had a proper ending which I loved

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