Hearts Divided: 5-B Poppy Lane / The Apple Orchard / Liberty Hall

Cedar Cove #5.5

by Debbie Macomber, Katherine Stone, Lois Faye Dyer

Grandmothers know best . . . especially these three grandmothers, all soldiers' brides. Their generation lived through war and peace, good times and bad, love and loss.

5-B Poppy Lane by Debbie Macomber
All her life, Ruth Shelton has loved visiting her grandmother in Cedar Cove, Washington. Now Ruth comes to ask advice about her own romance with a soldier -- and discovers a secret in her grandmother's past.

The Apple Orchard by Katherine Stone
Clara MacKenzie's granddaughter Elizabeth arrives at Clara's Oregon farm needing comfort. That's exactly what Clara offers -- and so does a childhood friend named Nick Lawton. But Nick wants to offer Elizabeth more than comfort. More than friendship . . .

Liberty Hall by Lois Faye Dyer
When Professor Chloe Abbot finds herself caught up in a troublesome mystery, she turns to her grandmother. She needs Winifred's expertise as a wartime code breaker. She doesn't need suggestions about her love life -- all of which involve an ex-marine Jake Morrissey!

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Anthologies, Ebooks, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

304 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hearts Divided consists of three short stories along the same theme: grandmothers who were soldier brides; granddaughters involved with soldiers. The grandmothers are friends from long ago, and the stories weave into one another.

5B Poppy Lane by Debbie Macomber is a Cedar Cove short story that occurs between 50 Harbor Street and 6 Rainier Drive, although it is not necessary to have read the Cedar Cove books to enjoy this romance. Ruth Shelton is studying in Seattle and has been corresponding with a marine, Sergeant Paul Gordon stationed in Afghanistan, although she is against war. Ruth’s grandmother, Helen Shelton, lives in Cedar Cove, at 5B Poppy Lane, and was married to a soldier, Lieutenant Sam Shelton. When Paul and Ruth meet for the first time, they are very much attracted to each other, but Ruth’s stance against the military and Paul’s dedication to his military career presents them with a dilemma regards their ongoing relationship. When Helen meets Paul, she is reminded of her first husband, Jean-Claude, a resistance fighter in Paris during the war. She decides to tell of her wartime experiences, something she has kept to herself for over sixty years. Helen and Sam’s relationship is echoed in Ruth and Paul’s. A sweet romance.

Liberty Hall is the 16th romance story by Lois Faye Dyer. Professor Chloe Abbott is an English lecturer at the University of Washington. Attending a PR event about the donation of equipment for disabled returned servicemen with her grandmother, Winifred Abbott, Chloe meets Jake Morrissey, ex-Marine corps sergeant, now a demolitions expert. They are instantly attracted, and eventually begin seeing each other. Meanwhile, Chloe has the feeling she is being followed, a feeling Jake insists on treating seriously. When a document written in code drops through her mail slot, she enlists Winifred’s help: Winifred worked as a code-breaker with her soldier husband, Richard, during the war. This is a romance with a bit of mystery and action added. A charming romance.

The Apple Orchard is the 24th romance story by Katherine Stone. Elizabeth Winslow is engaged to Matthew Blaine and looking forward to her wedding, although perhaps not as much as the mothers who are doing to planning. Just one thing is bothering her: her beloved grandmother, Clara McKenzie, seems convinced that Matthew is not the right man for her. When this proves, painfully, to be true, Elizabeth retreats to Clara’s Oregon farm in the town of Sarah’s Orchard, for the comfort only a grandmother can give. Although someone else is also standing by to give comfort: ex-Lieutenant Commander Nicholas Lawton, having saved Elizabeth once before, when she was too young to remember it, is only too eager to save her again. I thought the back-story for Nick was beautiful: a delightful romance.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought being a military wife myself I would enjoy this book ....I was wrong. It had interesting parts but the overall effect left me bored.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has 3 stories. 5-B Poppy Lane is part of the Cedar Cove series I’m reading and is the first story. Helen Shelton lives in Cedar Cove. Her granddaughter, Ruth, introduces her to her new friend, Paul Gordon, a marine who has been stationed in Afghanistan. Ruth isn’t sure she sees a future with him though because she doesn’t believe in the war, and she doesn’t see herself being a military wife. Helen talks to the couple about her time in France during World War 2. She was a member of the French Resistance, was married to Jean-Claude, who died during the war, and Ruth’s grandfather, Sam, saved Helen from a concentration camp. Ruth realizes she loves Paul too much to let him go and believes they can live with each other and compromise.
Liberty Hall had Jake Morrissey, a former Marine who now owns a demolition company, saving the lives of Winifred Abbot and her granddaughter, Chloe. A father of a marine who was killed while Jake was in charge of him during the war wants revenge. The father decides to go after Winifred and Chloe. So when Chloe mentions to Jake she feels like she’s being followed, Jake decides to play cop and find out who it is. With pure luck Chloe’s cell phone is still turned on to calling Jake while the killer is leading Chloe and her grandmother to where his home made bomb is. Jake and his partner get to Liberty Hall just in time, right after giving successful directions to have the bomb left there detonated. Jake and Chloe will get married soon.
The Apple Orchard introduces us to the last grandmother in the group, Clara. Her granddaughter, Elizabeth, was to be married to a big shot but apparently Elizabeth went to his place at the right time and caught him with his ex, who he really loved, but didn’t have a wealthy background. Elizabeth goes to her grandmother’s farm, where the perfect man for her is. She actually met Nick when she was only a toddler, when she wandered off in her grandmother’s apple orchard and got lost. Nick, a child with a mom who had one boyfriend after another and moved a lot found her and brought her back to her family. Clara and her husband were forever grateful, welcoming Nick back when he moved back to the town after serving in the military. Nick and Elizabeth care for Clara, taking her in for cataract surgery. Clara will be able to read the letters from her husband in World War Two. And see the wedding of Elizabeth and Nick, the man she truly loves.

[Tunahan Akgün · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the fifth book, there is a side book. The author and friends wrote a book made up of three short stories.
The stories are titled: Poppy Lane, Liberty Hall, and The Apple Orchard.

The main theme revolves around people who have been to war or served in the army, their love stories, the letters they sent each other, the drama, and the challenges they faced. Despite everything, it shows people who loved one another and managed to hold on to life in some way.

Even though they are short, each story is very impressive and beautiful. I actually enjoyed this book more than the fifth volume. It is not just about romance; the second story also includes elements of action, mystery, and detective work.

I especially loved the final story, The Apple Orchard, and I hope the characters from this story appear in future books.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 stories by 3 authors. All of the stories go together. Debbie Macomber, Katherine Stone and Lois Faye Dyer entwine the stories of Helen Winifred and Clare and their granddaughters. Sweet stories, easy to read and enjoy. I feel each story could make for a book to be on its own. I plan to look up the other authors ( have read lots of Macomber books!). I like to try new authors and I think Stone and Dyer will be good ones to try!

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is 3 stories all revolving around 3 grandmas who are involved in their grandkids lives. There's a story for each grandma. All involve some element of war and their granddaughters falling in love. I have reviews in the individual books, but all of these are okay, cheesy, quick novellas. I like the Debbie Macomber one the best just because I love the cedar cove series, but the novella itself wasn't the best thing ever. The next best was The Apple Orchard, then Liberty Hall.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book with three short stories with one of the main characters either a current or x soldier. The stories are all tied together by three grandmothers who have been friends since they were younger. Of the three I liked the last one best because not only is it a love story but also a mystery.

[Zoe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
I only read 5-B Poppy Lane as that was the book I was after. It was a beautiful side story that was a quick read. Something nice and light to split up the main story. It was nice to see Charlotte Rhodes have an appearance and it will be interesting to see if the main characters in this book make an appearance in the main storyline.

[Black Cat Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Debbie Macomber is one of my top authors. Her characters, stories, settings… they never disappoint. It’s like spending time with cherished friends when I am between her book covers! 5🌟 for sure!
First book of 2024!

[Mary Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three stories in one book from three different writers linked together by the characters friendship.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like that there were three shorts stories.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

nice weaving of three stories

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hearts Divided Macomber, Debbie* * 3 Hist.F Hist. WWII WWII
3 short stories about soldiers' WWII brides & Granddaughter. 2015 4/4/2015

[Jerome Policarpio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

three stories, all an ok read

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely impossible to finish.

[Voula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particularly enjoyed this story, weaving current circumstances to the story of the grandmother in her youth. Well done.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

*originally posted at http://rachaelc94.blogspot.com/2013/0...*

I can't say that I think 5-B Poppy Lane really belonged in the cedar cove series. Charlotte Jefferson Rhodes was the only character of the Cedar Cove series mentioned in this short novella. Places of Cedar Cove were mentioned and I enjoyed the characters Debbie Macomber created for this novella.

Ruth was the main character and she has been sending letters back and forth with a marine named Paul although she doesn't believe in the war. He finally comes home on leave and Ruth and Paul finally meet. When Ruth takes Paul to meet her grandmother Helen Shelton in Cedar Cove she discovers mind blowing secrets about a woman she thought she knew so well.

There were parts of this novella that literally gave me goose bumps I was so enthralled in Helen's story. I had parts of the novella where I respected Ruth views and other times when I thought she was being crazy. I really enjoyed this novella and although it isn't really a cedar cove novel it is still a great Debbie Macomber novel. I would recommend reading it since it won't take long and you will love the story.

[Jan Mcleod · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains 3 stories by 3 different authors who are friends. All 3 stories are loosely connected because they deal with war brides.
"Liberty Hall" has an interesting twist. Winifred is an expert at breaking wartime codes which comes in very handy when John and Chloe are being stalked by a father who wants revenge for his Marine son's death. Very interesting and a bit of a mystery, too.

"The Apple Orchard"
Clara lost her soldier husband after many years of marriage, but Nick has returned to town and is honored to help her with whatever she needs. Years ago, Nick rescued Clara's only granddaughter, Elizabeth, when she was a toddler and he was 7 years old, and they never forget what he did. Nick was treated like a son from then on.
Elizabeth came to Clara's for comfort after she broke her engagement, but Clare isn't the only one Elizabeth gets comfort from.
In this short story, we see what real, lasting love looks and feels like from two couples. Good plot that held my interest.

"5-B Poppy Lane" is reviewed in the Cedar Cove series books.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed the two of the stories: 5B Poppy Lane by Debbie Macomber and Liberty Hall by Lois Faye Dyer, but I didn't really care for The Apple Orchard by Katherine Stone. This story just did not seem to flow and I really could not get into the story like the other two. The three stories were loosely connected and written by three authors who were friends with each other. I was going to read only the Macomber story at first, but since they were somewhat connected, I decided to read all three. Had I only read 5B Poppy Lane and Liberty Hall, this would have easily been a 4-star book, but after the final story, I could only give it 3 stars.

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Hearts Divided" was written by 3 females authors who are friends. It is an intersting concept. The basic story line is that there are 3 women who have been friends for a long time. They each were married to a man who was in WWII and they are now dead. They each have a grand-daughter who becomes involved with a man who is either in the service or has been. Each of the authors writes a very short novel about one of the women and her granddaugher.
It is a quick and easy but enjoyable read.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was truely an amazing story. I could'nt put it down because I could'nt wait to see what happend next. I really liked the characters and was glad that they each had a happy ending. I was'nt sure I would like this book because I had never heard of these other two authors, but now that I've read this book I plan on trying to check out their books to. If you truely want an amazing book to read then this book is for you.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable collection of three novellas by three different authors and all related to Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series. Macomber's 5-B Poppy Lane fits between 50 Harbor Street and 6 Rainier Drive. The three grandmothers in these stories were all WWII brides and now they are connecting with their granddaughters who are meeting the loves of their lives. The stories are touching and heartwarming.

[Marsha Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove series. You can probably skip this and not miss a beat in the series, but it is an enjoyable read. Three grandmothers, all WW2 brides and dear friends since the war, each have a granddaughter who finds love with a GI. The three stories that comprise this book come together with the grandmothers' correspondence to each other. The granddaughters' stories are all unique, as are the stories of the grandmother's lives.

[ஐ Katya (Book Queen)ஐ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually quite liked this story (5B Poppy Lane). It's about a young couple falling in love, Helen's granddaughter Ruth and a marine. It's also about Helen finally telling her own story, about her young love in France during WWII and her part in the french resistance. It's only 113 pages long so it goes rather quickly.

[JoAnn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three interesting stories about three woman who fall in love with men who are soldiers or former soldiers with glimpses of their grandmothers' WWII romances.
The stories were very interesting, but far too short. I would have enjoyed reading more about the characters, granddaughters and grandmothers alike.

[Angelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

3 great stories about love found in time of war. 3 great grandmothers who found friendship and love in it and who deeply loved their husbands. 3 lucky granddaughters who found love with the help of their grandmothers' past. 3 amazing man in love. 3 different flavor of stories. 3 wonderful writers. thus, a hundred applause for this book! :) ♥

[JazzRizz · Rating 3 out of 5]

5-B Poppy Lane is such a sweet story. I'm glad I took the time to read this one.

I really enjoyed the other two stories in this anthology. I love how the grandmothers tied the stories together.

[Jane(Janelba) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved all three stories in this anthology.
My favourite author of the moment is Debbie Macomber but it was good to encounter the writings of Katherine Stone & Lois Faye Dyer, both of whom are authors I will seek out again.