Orchard of Hope

Before Ann H. Gabhart's much-loved Shaker novels and her popular Angel Sister became bestsellers, she wrote three poignant novels centered on the lovable Jocie Brooke and her family, who live in small-town Kentucky. In Orchard of Hope it is 1964, and 14-year-old Jocie Brooke is about to have an unforgettable summer. Her father has found a new love, her hippie sister is about to have a baby, and her aunt is finally a pleasure to live with. When a new black family from Chicago moves into the quiet hamlet of Hollyhill, Jocie finds herself befriending the people that some townsfolk shun. Due to the unspoken racial lines in this southern town, the presence of these newcomers sparks a smoldering fire of unrest that will change Hollyhill--and Jocie--forever. Orchard of Hope, the riveting sequel to Scent of Lilacs, takes readers along to experience unexpected love, fear, forgiveness, new life, and a deeper understanding of the value of each individual's story.