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The Apple Doesn't Fall Far
Stand-alone sequel to the best-selling The Apple of My Eye
Twelve years after the untimely death of her husband, Brea and her thirteen-year-old son, Noah, are hitting a rough patch.
Noah is keeping secrets just like his dad did. Paul may have died a hero, but did he leave another legacy behind? When Brea discovers a series of instructions left behind by their kindly neighbor, it could be the opening to bring them together again. But will Noah's obsession with a mysterious old newspaper clipping about the Hero of Viborgne derail those efforts?
Following instructions leads them on a trip to Europe to track down ancestors and search for answers in Viborgne. Once there, Brea and Noah are forced to confront the past to deal with the present as they grapple with what it really means to be a hero.
Twelve years after the untimely death of her husband, Brea and her thirteen-year-old son, Noah, are hitting a rough patch.
Noah is keeping secrets just like his dad did. Paul may have died a hero, but did he leave another legacy behind? When Brea discovers a series of instructions left behind by their kindly neighbor, it could be the opening to bring them together again. But will Noah's obsession with a mysterious old newspaper clipping about the Hero of Viborgne derail those efforts?
Following instructions leads them on a trip to Europe to track down ancestors and search for answers in Viborgne. Once there, Brea and Noah are forced to confront the past to deal with the present as they grapple with what it really means to be a hero.
214 pages, Paperback
Published October 21, 2021
18 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Mary Ellen Bramwell
7 books40 followersMary Ellen Bramwell, a bestselling and award-winning author, has been writing stories since she was ten years old. After working in other fields and raising five children as a stay-at-home mom, Mary Ellen returned to her first love, writing. She resides in the Mountain West with her husband of over 40 years where she enjoys writing, editing, and is slightly obsessed with jigsaw puzzles and board games.
You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/maryellenbramwellauthor or at her website www.maryellenbramwell.com.
You can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/maryellenbramwellauthor or at her website www.maryellenbramwell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 29, 2021
When a dear friend dies and leaves behind a stack of envelopes addressed to them, single mom Brea Cass and her 13-year-old son Noah embark on the adventure of a lifetime. Acting on the instructions in the envelopes, the two take off on a trip to Europe to find out more about their ancestors. What they learn helps them to heal old wounds and brings them a renewed understanding of each other.
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far is a lovely story about the importance of family as well as a travelogue of the sights and cuisine of Italy, Germany and France. The mother and son relationship is authentic and well-written as is the descriptions of their travels. Don’t miss this one!
The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far is a lovely story about the importance of family as well as a travelogue of the sights and cuisine of Italy, Germany and France. The mother and son relationship is authentic and well-written as is the descriptions of their travels. Don’t miss this one!
October 13, 2021
A mother-child relationship novel, mystery, and a European travel log filled with evocative descriptions! The subject matter turned out to be a little outside of my usual wheelhouse, so I wasn't entirely enthralled, thus the less-than-perfect score. Nonetheless, this would be a solid choice for those so inclined.
September 27, 2021
Part mystery, part ancestral search, part mother-son relationship, The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far, by Mary Ellen Bramwell, is much more than the sum of its parts. It is nothing less than a remarkable travelogue of the human spirit and what it means to love, to forgive, and to move on. Brea fears she’s losing her teenaged son, Noah; his is distant and has secrets. Looming over them both is the death of Noah’s father twelve years earlier. Even after so much time, neither is coping well with his death or the manner of his death. Was he a good person? Was he a hero? Was he a person to love or to hate? Why did he make the choices that led to his death and their life without him?
Making life even harder is the recent death of their neighbor and dear friend, Martha, who had served as sounding board and confidante for both of them. Noah called her his Switzerland, a neutral territory where he could bare himself without judgment. And now that was gone for both of them.
Fortunately, Martha had a plan. She left behind a box filled with sealed envelopes for each of them and both of them. Her instruction: they must open the numbered envelopes in order and not open the next until the instructions inside had been followed.
And so the adventure begins, taking them to Italy and France and, with Martha’s help, the very depths of their relationship. Writing about relationships is hard, and coming to grips with the Brea-Noah relationship could have been overly sweet and sentimental in less capable hands. But Bramwell keeps it real and believable with a brilliant, page-turning plot and finely drawn characters who think and act like real people. She not only helps us understand Brea and Noah, but makes us love them and cheer them on. We are Brea. We are Noah. And we all wish we were as wise as Martha—and Mary Ellen Bramwell.
A wonderful, wondrous book. Highly recommended.
—Len Boswell, author, A Grave Misunderstanding
Making life even harder is the recent death of their neighbor and dear friend, Martha, who had served as sounding board and confidante for both of them. Noah called her his Switzerland, a neutral territory where he could bare himself without judgment. And now that was gone for both of them.
Fortunately, Martha had a plan. She left behind a box filled with sealed envelopes for each of them and both of them. Her instruction: they must open the numbered envelopes in order and not open the next until the instructions inside had been followed.
And so the adventure begins, taking them to Italy and France and, with Martha’s help, the very depths of their relationship. Writing about relationships is hard, and coming to grips with the Brea-Noah relationship could have been overly sweet and sentimental in less capable hands. But Bramwell keeps it real and believable with a brilliant, page-turning plot and finely drawn characters who think and act like real people. She not only helps us understand Brea and Noah, but makes us love them and cheer them on. We are Brea. We are Noah. And we all wish we were as wise as Martha—and Mary Ellen Bramwell.
A wonderful, wondrous book. Highly recommended.
—Len Boswell, author, A Grave Misunderstanding
November 16, 2021
The Apple Doesn't Fall Far is a carefully crafted quest story set against a travelogue. A single mum, Brea, seeks to revive the closeness she once had her son. Noah, who is 13, wants to trace the story of George Harrison, the mysterious Hero of Viborgne. These themes are framed within a group of challenges left to them by a late beloved neighbour. Much of the book unfolds as Brea and Noah visit the principal cities of Italy and France. Throughout their travels they ask themselves, “what is a hero?”
Being old-fashioned myself, I lament the frequent absence of the preposition “of” in phrases such as “couple weeks”. To me that sounds like naughty holidays. However the writing is excellent throughout and there is just enough description to establish time and place. The key Italian and French villages are nicely depicted.
I didn't know until I finished it that The Apple Doesn't Fall Far is a sequel. In this book, Brea is trying to be both father and mother to her son, years after the brutal death of her husband, a man with a complicated history. She is not without flaws herself, and is obsessed with being the perfect parent. Gradually she realizes that she bears some responsibility for the distance between herself and her very mature thirteen year old son. A recent visit with my own thirteen-year-old grandson reminded me of just how capable such a boy can be.
Being old-fashioned myself, I lament the frequent absence of the preposition “of” in phrases such as “couple weeks”. To me that sounds like naughty holidays. However the writing is excellent throughout and there is just enough description to establish time and place. The key Italian and French villages are nicely depicted.
I didn't know until I finished it that The Apple Doesn't Fall Far is a sequel. In this book, Brea is trying to be both father and mother to her son, years after the brutal death of her husband, a man with a complicated history. She is not without flaws herself, and is obsessed with being the perfect parent. Gradually she realizes that she bears some responsibility for the distance between herself and her very mature thirteen year old son. A recent visit with my own thirteen-year-old grandson reminded me of just how capable such a boy can be.
October 22, 2021
A warm-hearted mother/son tale of redemption and hope
Parenting can be difficult. For single parent Brea Cass, it’s a heavy burden. When her son’s recent behavior begins to seem so similar to his father’s, who died amid controversy a dozen years ago, she fears the past has returned to haunt her.
Then, she stumbles upon a “treasure chest” of sorts left by her confidante and close friend, who had incredible sensitivity and insight into Brea and her son’s relationship. Before she passed away, Martha left several broad assignments for the mother/son pair, which leads to a road trip through Europe to learn about their ancestor, a World War I hero.
At this point, readers gain another reason to enjoy the book. Bramwell takes the pair (and the reading audience) on a delightful tour of France, Italy and Germany, including famous and not-so-famous historic sites. Vivid descriptions of people, cultures, and sights make reading this story of mother and son reconnection surprisingly fun. It’s like a novel about reconciliation and a tourist guidebook at the same time — two for one!
Parenting can be difficult. For single parent Brea Cass, it’s a heavy burden. When her son’s recent behavior begins to seem so similar to his father’s, who died amid controversy a dozen years ago, she fears the past has returned to haunt her.
Then, she stumbles upon a “treasure chest” of sorts left by her confidante and close friend, who had incredible sensitivity and insight into Brea and her son’s relationship. Before she passed away, Martha left several broad assignments for the mother/son pair, which leads to a road trip through Europe to learn about their ancestor, a World War I hero.
At this point, readers gain another reason to enjoy the book. Bramwell takes the pair (and the reading audience) on a delightful tour of France, Italy and Germany, including famous and not-so-famous historic sites. Vivid descriptions of people, cultures, and sights make reading this story of mother and son reconnection surprisingly fun. It’s like a novel about reconciliation and a tourist guidebook at the same time — two for one!
October 21, 2021
What a wonderful book! I loved reading this book. Author MEB has created such a beautiful and brilliant work, with charismatic characters, and a truly captivating story. The author writes in such a beautiful and vivid way that my background in film and television allowed me to almost "watch" this novel play out in my mind. For me, that is the sincerest of compliments. I highly recommend picking up your copy of "The Apple Doesn't Fall Far," and I promise you will enjoy every moment. Kudos to the author. I look forward to reading more of this author's works.
October 9, 2021
I loved the first book, but in my mind this sequel is even better. Author Bramwell has a knack for portraying human relationships, especially when they have been knocked off-track a bit and need to be corrected. In this case, a mother and her son set off on a journey together and along the way come to realize the bond they have that thought they had lost was there all along. A beautifully written story by a master story-teller. Highly recommended.
October 11, 2021
A well-crafted novel that takes the reader on a European journey with a mother and son who seek answers about ancestors and along the way take “a journey out of the shadows” of the death of their husband/father twelve years earlier. This is a big-hearted story, embracing the characters, and the reader, with warmth and understanding.
October 19, 2021
I did not read the first book but it is now on my list. I loved everything about the story , from the description of a marriage going south to the mother-son relationship. The descriptions of Europe were spot on and make me want to travel there again. Ms. Bramwell can write! Well crafted in its characters and plot, I was enthralled from beginning to end. Read this book!
December 23, 2021
If I were to take a word from the book that to me sums up the whole story, it would be ‘Becoming’. This whole delightful story is about becoming more, becoming aware, becoming free to let go and experience life.
Wonderfully told, this tale is both insightful and thought-provoking. I would definitely recommend it.
Wonderfully told, this tale is both insightful and thought-provoking. I would definitely recommend it.
May 17, 2022
Could not put this book down. Strong characters with their own personal nuances. Good story line and waited with baited breath for the next adventure in their story to unfold. Family, trust and love build slowly allowing you to see into their hearts. Loved this story. Kudos to the author, Mary Ellen.
January 22, 2024
I thought the book was okay. I also thought it was going to be taken in a different direction so I was a bit disappointed when it wasn't. The book started off good but the middle-end part was just so much history and traveling that it really lost my interest!
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April 26, 2022Wonderful book that I could not put down.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews