{"product_id":"the-last-of-the-apple-blossom-by-mary-lou-stephens-9781867226437","title":"The Last of the Apple Blossom","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe fire took everything - except two women's fighting spirits. A sweeping, big-hearted Australian family saga for readers of Judy Nunn and Victoria Purman.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e7 February, 1967. Walls of flame reduce much of Tasmania to ash. Young schoolteacher Catherine Turner rushes to the Huon Valley to find her family's apple orchard destroyed, her childhood home in ruins and her brother dead. Despite her father's declaration that a woman will never run the orchard, Catherine resolves to rebuild the family business.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter five sons, Catherine's friend and neighbour, Annie Pearson, is overjoyed by the birth of a much longed for daughter. As Annie and her husband Dave work to repair the damage to their orchard, Dave's friend Mark pitches in, despite the fact that Annie wants him gone. Mark has moved his family to the valley to escape his life in Melbourne, but his wife has disappeared leaving chaos in her wake and their young son Charlie in Mark's care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCatherine becomes fond of Charlie, whose strange upbringing has left him shy and withdrawn. However, the growing friendship between Mark and Catherine not only scandalises the small community but threatens a secret Annie is desperate to keep hidden. Through natural disasters, personal calamities and the devastating collapse of the apple industry, Catherine, Annie and those they love battle to save their livelihoods, their families and their secrets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePraise for The Last of the Apple Blossom:\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'An outstanding historical novel about women and the secrets and burdens they carry' - \u003cem\u003eThe Australian\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'What a cracker of a debut! A beautiful story of family and orchards, of secrets and love and forgiveness' - Victoria Purman, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Nurses' War\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'The crisp prose sparkles and the characters stay with you long after the story ends' - Lauren Chater, author of \u003cem\u003eGulliver's Wife\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e'Australian historical fiction at its finest ... It will linger in your mind and heart long after the last page.' - Karen Brooks, author of \u003cem\u003eThe Good Wife of Bath\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Arotahi Agency","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47487613075692,"sku":"9781867226437","price":32.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781867226437-the-last-of-the-apple-blossom.jpg?v=1775748607","url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/products\/the-last-of-the-apple-blossom-by-mary-lou-stephens-9781867226437","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}