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The Apple Orchard
In the charming town of Peasebrook, there's a place for everyone. War vet Joe has made new friends and a new home for himself here, overlooking a beautiful apple orchard. But when tragedy strikes and Joe is left out in the cold, it will bring them all together in entirely unexpected ways . . .
The Apple Orchard is a truly feel-good short story about friendship and kindness. It's the perfect introduction to Veronica Henry and includes an extract of her upcoming novel The Forever House.
84 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2017
379 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Veronica Henry
68 books1,601 followersVeronica Henry was a television script writer before turning her hand to fiction. She has published sixteen novels which she describes as realistic escapism - her setting are gorgeous, but her characters have problems and dilemmas everyone can identify with.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
April 25, 2017
For those who have read How To Find Love in a Bookshop, this short story reunites with one or two familiar characters. A lovely read - sad but heartwarming at the same time. My only disappointment was that it was too short (it ended at 30% on my Kindle, the remainder being an extract from the new book The Forever House) and I could quite happily have read more. This was free to download but if it had been a little longer, maybe a novella, then I would have happily paid.
February 19, 2018
I knew this was a short story but have to admit was very sad when it ended at 30% and then you get a taster of a full length novel that I assume follows on from this short. I can't believe in such a short space of time the author had me in tears. It really does make for a heart warming and emotional read. Will certainly be keeping my eye out for the full length book.
June 23, 2017
A delightful but incredibly short story, set in Peasebrook. It is a small heart warming tale about a man's life who is a bit down on his luck and how the community feel about him.
I loved even this short visit to Peasebrook, as it was the setting for the authors two most recent full length novels, and I loved seeing characters that I have met before in this.
The Apple Orchard is the sort of book that is ideal as a quick read in a lunch break...in fact I didn't even finish eating before I had hit the end of the story!
Often short stories can feel rushed or you don't get too much sense of any depth on characters, but that is definitely not the case here. This a rounded look at one person's life and feels like the perfect length for this piece of writing.
May 20, 2023
Charming and bittersweet story of a damaged veteran of the Falkland War who finds friendship when he least expects it.
The story exemplifies the best and worst of human nature within its few pages.
A very short story that is rich in characters that will pull at your heart strings.
Note: This book is touted as a 'romance', but there is no romance between its pages. It is merely a vignette of English village life.
The story exemplifies the best and worst of human nature within its few pages.
A very short story that is rich in characters that will pull at your heart strings.
Note: This book is touted as a 'romance', but there is no romance between its pages. It is merely a vignette of English village life.
April 27, 2017
Very sad but beautiful story.
November 30, 2025
not heart warming at all
More like heart breaking. The title is so misleading and I am glad I got it for free. Awful story.
More like heart breaking. The title is so misleading and I am glad I got it for free. Awful story.
July 10, 2020
Although I knew this was a short story, I felt it was too short. There could have been so much more
June 26, 2017
A short and sweet little read.
November 1, 2023
A lovely little story, free to download followed by an excerpt of The Forever House which I’d read recently. Nice to see the lovely estate agent feature again 🥰
February 8, 2019
She could cope with tax returns and difficult customers and flat tyres, but injustice was impossibly hard to come to terms with.
I read one story this morning on the way to work... It was emotional as hell and made me cry.
I finished one now, on the way to home. It is emotional as hell, too.
The story is about Joe and his dog and what becomes of them. It is written in a way that touches the heart.
October 11, 2017
I rate this book 3.5/5.
A short, bittersweet read. The narrative follows a man who is down on his luck, and focusses on how the locals feel about him. There is a powerful message about greed, helping neighbours, and how society treat people living in poverty. Does a lack of material possessions constitute poverty? Are you rich if you're contented with your little slice of life?
A short, bittersweet read. The narrative follows a man who is down on his luck, and focusses on how the locals feel about him. There is a powerful message about greed, helping neighbours, and how society treat people living in poverty. Does a lack of material possessions constitute poverty? Are you rich if you're contented with your little slice of life?
March 4, 2021
I failed to find a link
I thought I was in afor a quick read with a heartwarming story, problem was... it wasn't a story. It was fragments, maybe, incomplete to say the least. Only the first part was cohesive, and quite frankly the only reason it got 3 stars,the second part was merely an introduction to another book? Not sure.
I thought I was in afor a quick read with a heartwarming story, problem was... it wasn't a story. It was fragments, maybe, incomplete to say the least. Only the first part was cohesive, and quite frankly the only reason it got 3 stars,the second part was merely an introduction to another book? Not sure.
October 19, 2020
A short story about war vet Joe living in Peasebroke overlooking an apple orchard then disaster strikes and all the characters are brought together ✨
Although very brief I enjoyed this cute read. 2.5🌟
Although very brief I enjoyed this cute read. 2.5🌟
March 7, 2018
The Apple orchard
Very good short story. Wish it had been a bit longer as just as you get into it its finished. Would definitely read more by this author.
Very good short story. Wish it had been a bit longer as just as you get into it its finished. Would definitely read more by this author.
February 8, 2019
Lovely little filler if you need it between books. Also comes with an extract of Veronicas book The Forever Home which definitely seems intruiging
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January 16, 2020Hát mit ne mondjak, ez még "short story"-nak is túl rövid volt, szinte csak egy tárcahossznyi novella. (Az értelmét meg inkább hagyjuk, mert az pláne nem sok volt ://)
August 29, 2024
That really was a short story! I could've read a whole novel it was so lovely and bittersweet.
June 23, 2017
I am not a lover of short stories and I am not really sure why I chose to try this one.
The potential for this to have made a really great book was there , but unfortunately there was no room to flesh out the characters completely and I found that the book seemed to end very suddenly and unexpectedly.
It could have been so much more.
I will stick to full length books in future.
The potential for this to have made a really great book was there , but unfortunately there was no room to flesh out the characters completely and I found that the book seemed to end very suddenly and unexpectedly.
It could have been so much more.
I will stick to full length books in future.
August 14, 2017
A lovely story but too short!
February 25, 2018
Not worth buying
Only 30 per cent of this book is the short story. The rest is a sample of one of her other books, which I have already read. Total waste of money, don't bother
Only 30 per cent of this book is the short story. The rest is a sample of one of her other books, which I have already read. Total waste of money, don't bother
March 21, 2022
Great but sad short story 😢 only 30 pages. Followed by a taste of another book. Glad I read it though
December 10, 2025
A Short, Sweet, and Beautifully Heartwarming Read
[Introduction: Pacing and Style]
The Apple Orchard is a beautiful short read that delivers maximum impact in a concise format. I really liked the author’s style of writing, which is easy to settle into. It’s short and sweet, making it a perfect read for a lunch break or a quick escape!
[Praise: Setting, Emotion, and Characters]
The story is beautifully written; the setting sounded beautiful and lovely descriptive writing truly brought the apple orchard to life. While it is certainly a sad read, it manages to be ultimately beautiful and heart-warming.
The characters are instantly engaging, particularly the delightful dog! I loved Digby the dog and was so glad he didn’t have to go back to the dog rescue centre.
[Conclusion: Looking Ahead]
My only critique is that I wished it was longer—I didn't want the story to end! I definitely want to read the full-length book where these characters feature, and I was excited by the hint of the bookshop. Highly recommended for a quick dose of charm and emotion.
[Introduction: Pacing and Style]
The Apple Orchard is a beautiful short read that delivers maximum impact in a concise format. I really liked the author’s style of writing, which is easy to settle into. It’s short and sweet, making it a perfect read for a lunch break or a quick escape!
[Praise: Setting, Emotion, and Characters]
The story is beautifully written; the setting sounded beautiful and lovely descriptive writing truly brought the apple orchard to life. While it is certainly a sad read, it manages to be ultimately beautiful and heart-warming.
The characters are instantly engaging, particularly the delightful dog! I loved Digby the dog and was so glad he didn’t have to go back to the dog rescue centre.
[Conclusion: Looking Ahead]
My only critique is that I wished it was longer—I didn't want the story to end! I definitely want to read the full-length book where these characters feature, and I was excited by the hint of the bookshop. Highly recommended for a quick dose of charm and emotion.
December 15, 2017
++++++++++
SPOILER ALERT - DO NOT READ IF YOU DIDN'T READ THE STORY FIRST!!!
++++++++++
The description of the story is a bit misleading... this is not a "feel-good" story. It is moving, yes, but it is totally sad, no feel-good whatsoever! After reading it I wanted to cry, not smile!
The poor guy end up evicted, separated by his only canine companion and dies on a bench in a cold night... instead of fight to keep his dog and find a way to improve his life he just gives up. Two women wanted to help him but they were too late... this is tragic, not heartwarming!
Anyway I still enjoyed it, the writing was nice, even if I prefer happy endings...
The book came with an excerpt of another story by the same author but I preferred not to read it (worried it may be as sad as the first)...
SPOILER ALERT - DO NOT READ IF YOU DIDN'T READ THE STORY FIRST!!!
++++++++++
The description of the story is a bit misleading... this is not a "feel-good" story. It is moving, yes, but it is totally sad, no feel-good whatsoever! After reading it I wanted to cry, not smile!
The poor guy end up evicted, separated by his only canine companion and dies on a bench in a cold night... instead of fight to keep his dog and find a way to improve his life he just gives up. Two women wanted to help him but they were too late... this is tragic, not heartwarming!
Anyway I still enjoyed it, the writing was nice, even if I prefer happy endings...
The book came with an excerpt of another story by the same author but I preferred not to read it (worried it may be as sad as the first)...
February 12, 2023
This was billed as a feel good story but it was utterly heartbreaking.
Joe is a war veteran and couldn't cope with civilian life so left his old one behind and took up busking.
He and his dog Digby lived in an old caravan on a lady's estate.
But when she dies and her daughter wants to sell up, there is no concern for the homeless Joe and Digby.
This absolutely broke my heart and I don't know how it was an uplifting tale of friendship, all I got out of the story is that when you are absolutely desperate, even if people can help they won't until it's too late.
Such a good story but so sad but definitely not as light and breezy as the blurbs suggest.
Joe is a war veteran and couldn't cope with civilian life so left his old one behind and took up busking.
He and his dog Digby lived in an old caravan on a lady's estate.
But when she dies and her daughter wants to sell up, there is no concern for the homeless Joe and Digby.
This absolutely broke my heart and I don't know how it was an uplifting tale of friendship, all I got out of the story is that when you are absolutely desperate, even if people can help they won't until it's too late.
Such a good story but so sad but definitely not as light and breezy as the blurbs suggest.
August 9, 2020
It was nice. But too short to actually be invested in the story. Seems like it could have been really nice if it was just a little longer.
Also, it was 20 pages, not 83. The 75% was the beginning of another book, called “the forever home”.
With her other book I just read “the long weekend” -which was nice btw- the last 20-something % was also an extract from another book. I don’t quite like that. Don’t try to “tease” me into buying more of your books. Just give me a complete good book, then I’ll buy your next.
Also, it was 20 pages, not 83. The 75% was the beginning of another book, called “the forever home”.
With her other book I just read “the long weekend” -which was nice btw- the last 20-something % was also an extract from another book. I don’t quite like that. Don’t try to “tease” me into buying more of your books. Just give me a complete good book, then I’ll buy your next.
October 1, 2022
(Short review)
First of all, I only read the short story. It comes with an extract of another book, that makes out about 70% of what you get when you get this story on kindle.
And I really liked it! I loved the writing style, and the idyllic setting. I was amazed at how much I cared for the characters in such a short amount of time, and the ending caught me off-guard. It contains a lot of interesting themes like greed, generosity, injustice and capitalism.
It’s a very quick read, and if you’re looking for something to pass the time, I would definitely recommend it!
First of all, I only read the short story. It comes with an extract of another book, that makes out about 70% of what you get when you get this story on kindle.
And I really liked it! I loved the writing style, and the idyllic setting. I was amazed at how much I cared for the characters in such a short amount of time, and the ending caught me off-guard. It contains a lot of interesting themes like greed, generosity, injustice and capitalism.
It’s a very quick read, and if you’re looking for something to pass the time, I would definitely recommend it!
May 5, 2017
Ok so i downloaded this as I'm pretty sure its part of the forever house which i belive is coming out pretty soon and thank god because i want more of this story! In length its about 30 pages long a 15 minute read at most, and its a warm and touching little story although incredibly sad i literally was all geared up for a happy ending which unfortunately wasnt to be 😔. I definitely recommend this if you get the forever house its not essential but i think it gives a back story worth reading 😊
August 11, 2018
★★★☆☆ (3/5)
My favourite passages from the book
-I make quite a bit of money in Peasebrook. It’s a bit like time’s stood still, and the coppers turn a blind eye. I’d get moved on in the city, but Peasebrook’s like the old days. It’s the kind of town they stick on biscuit tins and chocolate boxes. It’s why I’ve stuck around for so long.
-That’s when you know you’re the lowest of the low, when you’re not wanted at a funeral.
My favourite passages from the book
-I make quite a bit of money in Peasebrook. It’s a bit like time’s stood still, and the coppers turn a blind eye. I’d get moved on in the city, but Peasebrook’s like the old days. It’s the kind of town they stick on biscuit tins and chocolate boxes. It’s why I’ve stuck around for so long.
-That’s when you know you’re the lowest of the low, when you’re not wanted at a funeral.
February 24, 2021
My first read of a short story by Veroniva Henry.... and oh how I wish it was a full length story , I quickly fell for the wonderful character Joe , and the loveable dog Digby . It was very well written even if in my opinion far too short. It had the wonderful writing style of veronica which I love and get drawn into ! Then end pages of the book are previews of her other books....which just makes you want to get them both too!
November 12, 2021
Storia breve, una trentina di pagine più o meno, su Joe.
Ormai vecchio, Joe era diventato praticamente un barbone. Viveva con il suo cane in una roulotte nel giardino di Maddy, sua amica che lo aveva aiutato in un momento di bisogno.
Joe non ha più nulla, se non Digby, il cane.
Quando Maddy muore, Joe è costretto a lasciare la roulotte...
Anche se molto breve è davvero molto intensa, mi è piaciuto molto.
Ormai vecchio, Joe era diventato praticamente un barbone. Viveva con il suo cane in una roulotte nel giardino di Maddy, sua amica che lo aveva aiutato in un momento di bisogno.
Joe non ha più nulla, se non Digby, il cane.
Quando Maddy muore, Joe è costretto a lasciare la roulotte...
Anche se molto breve è davvero molto intensa, mi è piaciuto molto.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews