Hard Cider

by Barbara Stark-Nemon

Abbie Rose Stone’s acquired wisdom runs deep, and so do her scars. She has successfully navigated the shoals of a long marriage, infertility, challenging children, and a career. Now it’s her turn to realize her dream: producing hard apple cider along the northern shores of Lake Michigan that she loves. She manages to resist new versions of the old pull of family dynamics that threaten to derail her plan―but nothing can protect her from the shock a lovely young stranger delivers when she exposes a long-held secret. In the wake of this revelation, Abbie must overcome circumstances that severely test her self-determination, her loyalties, and her understanding of what constitutes true family.

Genres: Fiction, Adult Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published September 18, 2018

About the author

Every story needs a narrator, and Barbara stepped up early in life. She learned storytelling, and a fascination with the magic of language from her grandfather. He wove unforgettable tales of a former life in Germany to his family in America. Barbara learned to speak the language of her German family, and later, the signs of the deaf children with whom she worked.

An undergraduate degree in English literature and Art History and a Masters in Speech-language Pathology from the University of Michigan led to a teaching and clinical career. Everywhere, there were stories. Barbara has come to appreciate that different languages impact the form of stories, and that everyone has the need to be heard and seen.

Barbara lives and writes in Ann Arbor and Northport, Michigan

Reviews

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Cider is a meandering, tangled tale that takes you on an emotional path toward a beautiful resolution.

Women’s Contemporary Fiction is not a genre into which I often delve. The scenarios in the book either are so far from my wheelhouse that I cannot relate, or they mirror my own problems so closely that there is no escape or joy in the reading for me. However, because I absolutely adore hard cider, I had to give this book a try. What a wonderful surprise I had in store for me within the covers of this book!
Abbie Rose Stone has retired from teaching, navigated the stormy seas of infertility, adoption, raising her somewhat eclectic family to adulthood and, now, is ready to begin the next chapter of her life – one of her own choosing – making hard cider. Neither her sons nor her husband are completely on board with Abbie’s plan, but this is her passion and something she wants to do, with or without their support. As she prepares her orchard, meets with other growers and learns her trade, she begins to feel confident in what she’s doing. That confidence, however, is threatened when a young woman comes to Abbie with a secret that could potentially destroy the tenuous threads of Abbie’s family.

When I began reading Hard Cider, I felt as though I was trapped in a maze that was going no where. There is a bit of skipping forward from one time to the next that left me rather confused. The author spends a great deal of time on minute daily details of Abby’s life and then skips entire months or years into the future. At first, this was frustrating; however, as I continued following along Abbie’s story, I found that this style worked really well. Not only did it work, the details and the flowing prose of Abbie’s thoughts, deeply pulled me into her life and that of her family. Soon realized that the conversations Abbie was having with her grown children were, in fact, some of the more difficult conversations I’ve had with my own adult kids. The messages she would tell herself in order to remain calm while discussing problems with her husband – yep, I had done, said and thought those things as well. Rather than boring me or pushing me to set the book aside as “too familiar” with my own life, I was further drawn into the story as I related more and more to Abbie and her life. I, too, began an “adventure” at mid-life, one that had no support from my immediate family. Watching as Abbie grew as a woman and as an entrepreneur helped me to see how I, too, could grow and change. It is, in essence, a “coming of age” story for women in the 21st century. It helped, too, that I love heirloom apples, cider making and hard cider because there is a lot of information about this process within the book which also highlights the incredible beauty of the Midwest that I have come to love so dearly.

I suspect that this might not be a great read for men; it is, after all, labeled as Contemporary Women’s Fiction. However, I would not categorize it as “chick lit” either. Hard Cider is a solidly written story about women, their strength, character and growth. It’s a short read, very enjoyable and one that I highly recommend.

Thank you to Edelweiss for me copy of this book.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

At age fifty-four, Abbie Rose decides its time to follow her long-held dream: to produce hard apple cider on the Leelanau Peninsula in Michigan where her family has vacationed for over twenty years.

Situated on Lake Michigan's sand dunes, the family cottage had been their escape from the high-pressure life of Ann Arbor, Michigan where Abbie taught and her husband Steve had a law practice. With a windfall of money, Abbie has purchased a farmhouse and outbuildings and is ready to learn the skills needed--business and professional--to create a quality product.

Abbie's dream is not Steve's dream. He not only has no interest in her plan, he thinks it is a bad decision. He likes Ann Arbor life.

Their marriage has been challenged before. First, battling infertility and through failed treatments and in-vitro fertilization and grappling with the decision of surrogacy vs. adoption. And secondly, when their house burned down right after Abbie finally gave birth to a son after adopting two other boys.

As Abbie forges ahead with her plans, living Up North while Steve days in the city, her attention is further divided by her boys' personal problems and challenges. Then a young woman, Julia, arrives in Northport whose secret will bring further turmoil and tension in Abbie's life and marriage.

Barbara Stark-Nemon's novel Hard Cider has a distinct Michigan flavor, reflecting her life in Ann Arbor and Northport.

Michigan ranks as the second or third state in apple production and has more farm and fruit stands than any other state.

And where there are apples, there is apple cider!

Hard Apple Cider is a leader in the craft brew industry, especially in Michigan. Michigan is already fifth in the nation for its number of breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs.

So, Steve's objections aside, Abbie is onto something. And she needs the challenge and she needs to at least try and make her lifetime dream come true.

Readers who are not interested in Michigan and our apples will find their interest perk up when Julia comes on the scene. Abbie must juggle the needs of her sons and husband and the secret she discovers while holding fast to her dream.

Fans of women's fiction will enjoy Hard Cider.

Oh, and there is knitting.

I received a free ebook through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

*****
My one complaint is: Abbie, you must be CRAZY to love to walk along the Lake Michigan beach in WINTER. I did that for ten minutes ONCE in October and that was brutal! At least in winter, perhaps you don't get sand in your nose.

Winter in Pentwater is not for the faint-hearted. Which is why we only lasted one winter...

The bars were at least open.

We had to dig the mailbox out every day.

Perhaps Abbie benefited because Northport is on the 'sunrise side' of the Leelanau Peninsula...and protected from the Lake Michigan gales that assaulted our house.

So, I'll give Abbie the benefit of doubt regarding her sanity for leaving Ann Arbor to go Up North in winter.

Except.. the driving on the west side of Michigan downstate can also be brutal...

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's difficult to try to achieve a personal dream if you are married with children and it's even more difficult when you are in your 50s and don't have the support of your husband or your sons. But with a lot of hard work and perseverance, personal dreams can be reached.

Abbie Rose Stone is 54 years old. Her husband likes his life in Ann Arbor and only visits their cabin near Traverse City when it suits his schedule. Their three sons are scattered all over and rarely get home. Abby prefers the quiet of the cabin on the shore of Lake Michigan and goes there to revive her soul and help get her bearings in her life. She has always had a dream to have her own business and has decided that she wants to start a business that makes hard cider from the plentiful apples in the area. Her husband and sons are skeptical but she forges ahead with her plans. Just when things are starting to look positive for her, several major things happen in her family that cause family turmoil and may make her dream impossible to reach.

This is wonderful story about family and love and reaching your dreams no matter what your age. I absolutely loved Abbie Rose and feel like I could sit down and have a cup or coffee with her.

This was a special book to me because I am familiar with the area that the book is set in and think that the shore of Lake Michigan is the most beautiful place in the world. That said, you don't need to be familiar with the area to enjoy the beauty of the area that the author provides.

This is my first book by Barbara Stark-Nemon but I enjoyed this one so much that I just ordered her early book. A big thank you to the publisher for providing this book for me to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[Dorene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Cider is about paths: those of a wife and mother that branch out into those of her husband and children. Abbie Rose Stone treads not only the literal labyrinth in her neighbor's yard but the winding path of marriage that, much like the apple tree limbs in her beloved orchard, is shaped by forces beyond her control. Trees are a quietly engaging metaphor for family, each character's story as unique and fascinating as the disparate limbs on a budding apple sapling. Woven into the complex lives of this blended family whose matriarch is seeking her place in the new and intimidating hard cider business is a perfect dose of unexpected suspense: Will Abbie grasp the intricacies of cider production as well as the proclivities of the locals on whom she depends for her success? Will this endeavor unite or divide her family? Who is the stranger in town that has taken such an interest in the Stone family? An added treat are the deftly crafted setting descriptions that span all seasons as they move across the grand lakes and lush forests and quaint towns of northwestern Michigan.

[White Hot Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard Cider was different from what I expected however it was a good and solid story. I don’t think it’s a book that will stay with me forever but it was very good and I enjoyed it.

[Carol (Reading Ladies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley, She Writes Press, and Barbara Stark-Nemon for the free copy of Hard Cider in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Have you faithfully cared for your family, enjoyed a fulfilling career, and now your nest is empty? Is it finally time to focus on something for YOU? Is this the time to realize YOUR lifelong dream? To pursue YOUR goals?

Meet Abbie Rose Stone: a retired teacher; a creative, supportive, understanding, and seasoned mom; a loyal, attentive, and caring wife; a hard worker and an ambitious dreamer.

Is it possible for Abbie Rose who has enjoyed raising three children, trying her best to meet their unique challenges and understand their different needs and personalities, to follow her heart and establish her own hard cider business without her husband’s or children’s full support? Just as Abbie Rose finds the courage to make her decision, a stranger presents information that will affect her family’s future and complicate their lives.

When is it a good time for Abbie Rose to pursue her dreams?

Barbara Stark-Nemon creates the memorable character of Abbie Rose, provides an exquisite sense of place as readers can easily envision life along the northern shores of Lake Michigan, pulls us into complicated family dynamics, and describes what the production of hard cider involves.

Readers will appreciate strong and thoughtful themes including infertility, adoption, determination, persistence, compassion, parenting adult children, mature marriage, following a dream, and drawing a wider circle.

The story lines that most affected me include how a woman manages to follow her dream while continuing to creatively and thoughtfully handle complex family issues, how adoption affects children and families, and how compassion and acceptance allow us to draw a wider circle of inclusiveness. One story line I couldn’t relate to is the guidance that Abbie Rose seeks from the Tarot Card reader because I look to God for my spiritual guidance. However, this is a small aspect of the story.

Recommended for readers who are fans of beautifully written stories filled with family dynamics, for those who enjoy an inspirational and motivational story of a woman following her dreams while also caring for her family, for readers who are familiar with the northern shores of Lake Michigan, and for readers of women's contemporary fiction.

Publication date: 9/18 #netgalley #hardcider

For more reviews visit my blog readingladies.com

[Big Time Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Cider is the first book I've read by Barbara Stark-Nemon, but it certainly won't be the last.
She has a wonderful way with words, especially descriptions of people and places. I really enjoyed learning about Michigan and the making of hard cider.

It's obvious a lot of research went into this novel, which always excites me because I love to learn about new things. I was quite interested in all that went into pruning the trees, making the cider and pretty much every part of it.

The characters were varied, some likable and some, like Steven, I didn't care for, but they all seemed real and that's always something I look for in books. The story behind the story, of Julia and her needing to make decisions about her life was just as good as the rest of the book. I wanted to sit down with her, her mother and Abbie, that's how much I related to them.

The main themes of this book are forgiveness, family closeness and bonds and staying true to what you want in life, even if no one else seems to think it's what you need. If you like women's fiction, books about families and books about starting anew, this is one for you.

I'm thrilled that I received an ARC from Netgalley!

[Maren Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has a knack for writing about the setting of northern Michigan that invites the reader into the winter wonderland. The family story is one that is poignant and authentic--filled with imperfect characters that the reader roots for throughout. But it is brave Abby Rose, who inches her way to her true north, that captured this reader's admiration.

[Jill Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Cider is filled with stunning descriptions of Northern Michigan's seasonal landscapes. When family matriarch Abbie Rose has decided it's her turn to follow her dream she does it with a determined passion despite what others want her to do and as astonishes revelations are thrown in her path. I highly recommend this page-turning lovely novel.

[Gramannarbor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read for anyone who loves to experience the graces and blessings of characters who are brave enough to open their hearts in fearful or unknown circumstances. Abbie Rose is courageous and insightful and constantly striving to be her authentic self. I loved this book!

[Ellen Notbohm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abbie Rose has done everything she was supposed to do. Stuck with the good if not perfect marriage and the good teaching career, persevered through infertility, adoption, raising a perpetually challenging child. Now in retirement, she has a dream—to produce hard cider on the shores of her beloved Northern Michigan farmstead, up to now a vacation cottage. She embarks on learning the entire process, from apple growing to bottling and distribution. She has money from an inheritance. It’s her turn now, isn’t it? Isn’t it?

Abbie’s family doesn’t stand in her way, but they don’t step up to support. The questions they raise carry the whiff of doubt about Abbie’s ability to be an effective entrepreneur and whether her dream is a wise use of the money.

Abbie’s family’s indifference wouldn’t be enough to sustain a necessary book-length level of suspense. So it’s the subtleties just below the surface that dig in and stick. By any measure, Abbie has a good life—two homes, good health, meaningful career, decent hardworking husband, amiable children. It’s too tempting to ask, why isn’t that enough? Why the risky dream she can’t let go of? Because that’s what humans do—they dream, and take risks that don’t “make sense” to achieve their dreams. The ability and opportunity to dream is intrinsic to the human condition. Abbie’s family’s reticence to let her do that also carries a barely detectable but distinct current that made me wonder if they’d object in the same way if she were an entrepreneurial man. Just sayin’.

In the movie Angels in the Outfield, coach Danny Glover rejects a piece of seemingly outlandish advice as “wacko, crazy!” But then he relents: “What’s the worst that can happen? We fall out of last place?” Abbie’s family needs to ask, what’s the worst that can happen? Then let her go to bat while they cheer from the dugout. Do they? The book doesn’t give us the full answer, and that’s okay. Kinda like real life. Bottoms up!

[BookwormishMe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where some books almost feel difficult to read, Hard Cider is a joy. A book about a woman going through her mid-life change of direction (not a crisis at all.) Abbie Rose has made choices about the rest of her life that affect her husband and kids, but she makes no apologies for those choices. She is a woman who knows what she wants and is going to have it.

Set in northern Michigan, mostly, the story revolves around Abbie Rose’s purchase of an old farm where she intends to start a hard cider business. Abbie Rose was mesmerized by hard cider while living abroad. She now wants this to be her second career/existence and has gone to great lengths to facilitate it.

Abbie Rose’s husband is a busy lawyer in Ann Arbor, and her three children are grown and moved away. As in most families, there is always that one child who demands just a bit more attention and nurturing than the others, and this is found in Alex. Much of the story is about the children, as Abbie Rose struggled to have kids.

The other prominent characters in the book are her northern Michigan neighbors and friends. Abbie Rose is a knitter (something I was drawn to) and she meets up with Julia through the knitting shop. Julia is young and spending the winter housesitting for a family down the road from Abbie Rose’s own farmhouse. Julia becomes a central figure in the story with her mysterious ways.

The description of the scenery and life in northern Michigan was beautiful. While I’ve never visited that locale, Ms. Stark-Nemon makes it sound enchanting. The idea of building a cider business also sounds fairly fun, though a lot of work. I loved the way this story drew me in and made it difficult to put down. It’s a wonderful novel with themes of family and love and acceptance, all things that every family should strive for.

[Michelle Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Stark Nemon has done it again. I loved her earlier book, Even in Darkness, and her follow-up did not disappoint. The fact that Hard Cider is of a completely different genre to her debut is a good indicator of Nemon’s talent as a writer. Hard Cider is one of those books that seems like it’s about one thing, but then reveals itself to be about something else entirely! I love those kinds of books – lots of layers!

The protagonist of the story, Abbie Rose, is on a quest to start her own hard cider business and in the process discovers some family secrets that may derail not only the business but her family as well. This book is about determination, new beginnings, forgiveness and, ultimately, love. It’s an extremely well-written tale that kept me up at night turning pages. I didn’t want it to end!

[Susan Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hard Cider tells the story of Abbie Rose, a woman who seeks to set her life in a new direction, and finds herself on a path beyond her expectations! This is a very warm-hearted book about second chances and families. Abbie Rose is the heart of this book and her family, and despite her missteps, she demonstrates kindness, understanding, and acceptance. The author does an excellent job of putting us right in the scene, mostly set on a Michigan farmhouse; readers will feel the crispness of the air, feel the crunch of the snow under their feet, and smell and taste the apples and the cider that they produce.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Northern Michigan. Best book I have read in a while

[Jean Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Stark-Nemon’s second novel, Hard Cider, begins with an arsonist’s fire that destroys the family home of Abbie Rose Stone, the main character. The fire turns out to be just one of the forging events that will test her in the pages to come. There are many attributes of this novel to admire, among them the breathtaking descriptions of northern Michigan, especially in winter. Abbie Rose’s embrace of this landscape subtly reveals her own strengths. She may encounter obstacles on her path to fulfilling her mid-life dream—to build a business producing hard apple cider—but this is a rose made of sterner stuff. When her family resists her dream, she finds her retreat in the two-hundred-year-old farmhouse in northern Michigan where she hopes to produce her cider. Another of Stark-Nemon’s strengths is her ability to weave details of the business into the plot, showing just how daunting the task will be. There is much to learn, including selecting the right varieties of apples, tending the orchards, harvesting, pressing, bottling, and ultimately distributing. This will not be the work of a dilettante. Then there’s Julie Reiss, the young woman newly arrived in the community of Northport, who seems to have a marked interest in Abbie Rose’s family. Who is this woman, and what is her connection to the Stones? Our heroine’s history suggests she will be up to the mystery that unfolds and to perhaps yet another obstacle to surmount. This is a novel as delicious as the apples it invokes.

[Meghan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disclaimers: I did not fully read the book; I read the first half and skimmed the second half. I also do not typically read "Contemporary Women's Fiction" (ie: Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, Susan Wiggs) which where I think I would lump this book.

I do typically like stories set in Michigan, however, so I picked up this book because of the local interest, hoping I could recommend an indie author to patrons (I'm a librarian.)

Mostly, I think the style was not for me - it read like a laundry list of things Abbie did, with weird details included that really slowed the reading down. Like, I don't care what kind of car each character drives, and it took three words instead of one. I also do not have a passion for hard cider, and unfortunately, instead of being exciting (I like learning new things) the sections where Abbie is learning about cider-making read like a text book.

Also, the stakes were low - Steven is never going to leave Abbie over her decision to pursue cider making, and as she repeatedly points out, she's only investing money they didn't expect to have anyway, and seems to live quite comfortably.

I liked it enough to want to know what happened, so I might pick up something else by this author (if it was set in Michigan) but this was not a winner for me.

[Cathy Zane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beautiful, descriptive prose of Barbara Stark-Nemon’s Hard Cider introduced me to both the landscape of Michigan and the production of hard apple cider. The protagonist, Abbie Rose, is embarking on a late in life quest to fulfill her dream to create a cider business, unsupported by her family. She is no stranger to adversity -- having coped with loss, infertility, and parenting challenges -- and she pushes forward, determined to persevere. But when a young woman with a secret enters her life, her steadfastness is challenged. A wonderful novel about the importance of family, forgiveness, and pursing your dreams.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Decisions get made for us sometimes." Abbie Rose, our main character, is about to find this out.
A middle aged wife and mother living in Ann Arbor, she has always nursed the desire to produce hard cider. Her plans for this become sidelined when complications enter her life.
As she works through these difficulties the descriptions of the scenery and the making of hard cider helped me to feel a part of this book.
It is a wonderful and well written novel.
Family values of living and loving are apparent in so many ways. Impressive is Abbie's patience, persistence and determination in the struggle with the cider mill, all good qualities needed in our own lives.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience of reading Hard Cider! I love the way the author weaves different story lines in a way that truly brings the reader through the experiences with the main character, Abbie Rose. This brilliant novel is about a woman’s journey through reaching for her dreams in the third chapter of her life while navigating her relationships with her adult children and husband. Plus there’s a mystery to keep you in suspense for most of the book! The author’s brilliantly poetic way of illustrating the story with her words really guided me to have a multidimensional experience while reading the book. I couldn’t put it down until I finished!

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of what I greatly enjoyed in Hard Cider was identifying with the author (I, too, am an adoptive mother of sons) and being able to visualize parts of Michigan where I have spent time. But it goes beyond that. The vivid descriptions evoke both a sense of place and a mood, whether achingly beautiful windswept beaches or the tensions of a family under stress. The dialogue perfectly captures the range of sarcasm to sweetness of 20-somethings with their parents, and of spouses negotiating the ever-changing landscape of a long term marriage. The story itself, which I found slow to start, picked up to a rapid pace of intriguing twists and turns. Wonderful story telling!

[erin (readingwithremy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed reading Hard Cider. The writing was beautiful and very descriptive and it made me want to go to the UP of Michigan and go cider tasting!

I liked the depth of some of the characters and the storyline, but I felt something was missing towards the end. There was so much in the beginning and when the story really got going all of sudden it was wrapping up. I just wish the end parts were as detailed as the beginning.

Will be checking out other books by this author too!

[Karen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Cider by Barbara Stark-Nemon is an incredible read, full of heart, intrigue and inspiration, providing all the necessary elements of a "can't put it down" book. The Michigan setting and the hard cider business are described perfectly, but the story of family, with their challenges, love, imperfections, and written so honesty, is what grabbed my heart. I wanted to keep reading about this family, expertly told through the eyes of Abbie Rose, the main character. Nemon's brilliant words are to be savored as they flow along and pull you in......you won't want this book to end!

[Simone Yehuda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard Cider is a beautifully written, wonderful story. Barbara Stark Nemon's voice is so truly hers, as are all the amazing details, and the power of a woman whose commitment to love enables her to overcome all obstacles and so result in such a gloriously happy outcome for herself, her family and so the world. Badly needed in these hate-filled times!

[Lyn Kirkwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading each and every page of Hard Cider. This story, of women dealing with her own dreams of producing hard cider in beautiful northern Michigan while dealing with complicated family dynamics, is gripping. It becomes even more so as a mysterious young women appears to add drama and intrigue. A hard book to put down to say the least.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the paperback edition of this book from the author through a giveaway. However, the font of that edition was difficult for me to read, so I purchased the kindle edition.

I thought the book was very good. I liked the family dynamics. I liked reading about a mother/son relationship since most of the books I read focus on mother/daughter relationships.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book in the wee hours of the morning, which was the perfect remedy to not sleeping. Overall a good story of the ups and downs and trials and tribulations of a family. The writing was a bit rambling in the beginning, but the story settled in nicely.

[Gail Herrmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the storyline and the characters very much. I love the state of Michigan and was very happy that it was the setting of the book. A little more information than I enjoyed reading about growing apples. But a good solid story that I would recommend!

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Hard Cider by Barbara A Stark-Nemon! She has such a beautiful written voice as she describes all things Michigan! I have never had Hard Cider but love apple cider in the colorful Michigan fall. So much #FiveStar #family #mustread #Michigan

[Shelley]

Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2018/10...