“The Orchard” by Jeffrey Stepakoff, published by Thomas Dunne Books.

Category - Fiction Literature/Romance

Ladies, this one is for you.

Jeffrey Stepakoff burst onto the literary scene with his first book, “Fireworks Over Toccoa.” A scintillating novel that takes place in Toccoa, Ga. during the Second World War.

“The Orchard” takes place in Ellijay, Ga., where Dylan Jackson is keeping the family apple farm business in operation. He is a widower and is bringing up his teenage daughter, Carter, who you will immediately fall in love with.

Grace Lyndon has a natural ability in the area of perfumes and flavors and is wooed away from her prestigious job in France to join a fledging company in Buckhead, Ga... Grace has just landed the biggest job of her career which will lead to a vice-presidency.

Grace picks up an apple from her secretary’s desk and finds that the aroma is nothing like anything she had ever sensed before. She begins a search to find out where the apple came from and discovers in is from the farm of Dylan Jackson.

She becomes totally involved with Dylan, Carter and “The Orchard” and begins to question what really is important to her and her life. The problem is that Dylan is having a difficult time overcoming the love and devotion that he had to his first wife.

Dylan and Grace find themselves struggling with their love for each other and their devotion to their jobs and past. This is further complicated when Dylan finds himself racing against the elements to bring in his crop ahead of a threatening storm.

A wonderful story that will appeal to those who want a good work of fiction/literature and a romantic story put together for a very satisfying read.