Orchard: Blooming Among Briars

by Jessica L Todd

After her turbulent first month of moving to East Texas, Zoe is ready for things to finally settle down. However, December proves no easier as she encounters two mysterious phone calls that threaten to unravel the fabric of her new life before it even really begins. With heart-wrenching discoveries about herself and those around her, Zoe wonders if she can stay above the icy waters before being consumed herself. It’s a cold, cold world out there, and the warmth of the heart can only persevere for so long before it stops beating.

264 pages, Paperback

Published December 17, 2025

Reviews

[Colleen Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved returning to these characters!! I love that the author went into more detail on the surroundings and more in depth on the characters. I feel like I got to explore more of the town. I enjoyed the multiple povs in this one and related to a few of the themes in the book - caring for someone older with memory problems, praying so hard for something to happen only to not understand when it doesn’t, and anxiety attacks that hit at the worst possible times. And the tribute at the end was so sweet!! ❤️

I know the author personally and can say that her heart is as big as Texas. She cares about people so much, which carried over into Zoe’s character. And she’s so creative which really showed throughout the book - especially in the gingerbread scene - the details in that are soooo Jess!

I enjoyed this one a lot (I read it in just over 24 hours), so I hope others pick it up, too!