Susan Wiggs takes you into the Wine/Apple Country. The one thing that I really like about THE APPLE ORCHARD is that in front of every chapter, we get a recipe. In the chapter that follows they make this recipe. So as you are reading the book, your imagination can smell what they are making.

We get to meet Tess. Her job is to go around the world and find lost treasures. Some she can give back to the family to whom they rightfully belong, some she can sell on the auction block. Recently she has found a treasure belonging to Annelise. The lost treasure is not the only thing somewhat secretive about Annelise, but readers will have to continue reading to discover her biggest secret.

We also meet Isabel, a half sister that Tess did not know she had. It's only after the grandfather that Tess also didn't know about has a near fatal accident that she finds out about Tess, and her grandfather Mangus.

Her first meeting with Dominic a banker, wine maker, and executor of Mangus' estate is because he has come to tell Tess of Mangus' accident. He is the one who has to tell Tess that the stories of her parentage aren't fully truthful, and he suggests to Tess that she go to the orchard, meet Isabel, Mangus, and hopefully find the things in her life that she didn't realize she was missing.

Tess's trip to the orchard unearths more secrets, and with each secret unearthed Tess's relationship with the half sister she didn't know, and with Dominic change and evolve and readers will find themselves engrossed in a story that spans decades and gives a lesson in history that should not be forgotten.

The way that Susan Wiggs writes makes me feel like I was Tess. I found myself wondering what it would be like to find out after all these years that I had a long lost family. Susan's description of the country side, the orchard and the people is great.

Susan Wiggs is one of my favorite writers. I am glad when one of her books comes out. I have probably read almost all of her books.

THE APPLE ORCHARD gives readers romance, mystery, and family. THE APPLE ORCHARD is a good read, yet I would like to know what else happens to these group of characters; especially Isabel as I felt her story was yet to be fully told.