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The Promise of Pierson Orchard
Long before fracking ever came to Minden, Pennsylvania, the fissures in the Pierson family were developing into major fault lines. Green Energy arrives, offering the rural community of Minden the dream of making more money from their land by leasing natural gas rights for drilling. But orchardist, Jack Pierson, fears his brother, Wade, who now works for Green Energy, has returned to town after a twenty-year absence so desperate to be the hero that he’ll blind their hometown to the potential dangers. Jack also worries his brother will try to rekindle his relationship with LeeAnn, Jack’s wife, who’s recently left him. To protect his hometown and to fulfill a promise to himself, Jack seeks out his mother and environmental lawyer, Stella Brantley, who abandoned Minden—and Jack and Wade—many, many years ago.
288 pages, Paperback
Published April 22, 2017
7 people are currently reading
755 people want to read
About the author
Kate Brandes
5 books97 followersAn environmental scientist with 20 years of experience, Kate Brandes writes book club fiction with an environmental bent. The Promise of Pierson Orchard is her first novel. Stone Creek is her second. Kate lives in a small town along the Delaware River with her family. When she’s not working, she’s outside on the river or chasing wild flowers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 12, 2016
Kirkus Reviews described this book as "...an eloquent portrait of a small town struggling with compromise." This is very true, but I latched onto the family element of this book. Brandes tells the story through the POV of two brothers, the woman they both love, and the mother that left them as young boys. The portrait she created of this small family, as they too struggled with compromise, was well done, emotional, and heartfelt. Their motivations, passions, and fears were evident on the page, and I held my breath during the last few chapters to see how their stories would end.
August 3, 2017
Fini! The last quarter is TENSE!!! The hits keep coming! (I love that my copy came with seeds to grow my own zinnias! :) How cute! I'm totally doing it.)
April 24, 2017
Full review, giveaway, and guest post on my blog: http://www.thebookwhisperer.org/2017/...
December 15, 2016
The Promise of Pierson Orchard hooked me from the start, and didn't let me go until I finished the book. The author skillfully weaves together a story about fracking (and its complex environmental and economic implications) with one of broken relationships and redemption. I'm a sucker for a love triangle, and I was immediately drawn into the one at the heart of this book featuring LeeAnn, her moody, fight club-inclined husband Jack, and Jack's brother Wade, who left town 20 years ago and just returned as the face of a large energy company. The Promise of Pierson Orchard will give you something to think about, and characters to cheer for.
April 24, 2017
THE PROMISE OF PIERSON ORCHARD by Kate Brandes & GIVEAWAY
18 Apr 2017 ~ Cindy Roesel ~ Edit
Small town America, struggling with compromise.
Place and home are just a couple of the topics explored in Kate Brandes’ novel, THE PROMISE of PIERSON ORCHARD (Wyatt-MacKenziePublishing). Everyday people are already dealing with complex lives before fracking comes to the small community of Minden, Pennsylvania and the townspeople stand to risk losing the land they love.
Cracks are already deep in the Pierson family, when after twenty years, brother Wade swoops into town hoping to make everyone rich off the land his brother Jack has been tending to for the past two decades. THE PROMISE of PIERSON ORCHARD alternates between the points of views of the two brothers and LeeAnn, Jack’s wife who recently left him, and now Wade shows interest. Boundaries are constantly being pushed to the breaking point.
Kate Brandes’s writing is subtle, but clear and fast paced in juxtaposition to the patterns of a small town. Jack, LeeAnn, Wade and Green Energy, as well as the arrival of the brother’s estranged environmental lawyer mother, growing conflict eventually comes to a point of finality, and a resolution where nobody is really a winner.
Brandes’ tackles issues of “abandonment, identity, loneliness, love, personal choice” – so many, only a talented writer like Brandes could successfully navigate the landscape of THE PROMISE of PIERSON ORCHARD. I enjoyed being out in the orchard with Jack and LeeAnn. I had no idea what complexities go into being a orchardist … and the huge amount of work.
.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
About Kate Brandes
An environmental scientist with 20 years of experience, Kate Brandes is also a watercolor painter and a writer of women’s fiction with an environmental bent. Her short stories have been published in The Binnacle, Wilderness House Literary Review, and Grey Sparrow Journal. Kate is a member of the Arts Community of Easton (ACE), the Lehigh Art Alliance, Artsbridge, the Pennwriters, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Kate lives in a small town along the Delaware River with her husband, David, and their two sons. When she’s not working, she’s outside on the river or chasing wild flowers.
Connect with Kate
Website | Facebook | Twitter
On Kate’s website, you’ll find suggested questions for book clubs. Kate believes, “there are parallels between nature, painting, and writing.” She shares some of her beautiful original pieces on her website.
18 Apr 2017 ~ Cindy Roesel ~ Edit
Small town America, struggling with compromise.
Place and home are just a couple of the topics explored in Kate Brandes’ novel, THE PROMISE of PIERSON ORCHARD (Wyatt-MacKenziePublishing). Everyday people are already dealing with complex lives before fracking comes to the small community of Minden, Pennsylvania and the townspeople stand to risk losing the land they love.
Cracks are already deep in the Pierson family, when after twenty years, brother Wade swoops into town hoping to make everyone rich off the land his brother Jack has been tending to for the past two decades. THE PROMISE of PIERSON ORCHARD alternates between the points of views of the two brothers and LeeAnn, Jack’s wife who recently left him, and now Wade shows interest. Boundaries are constantly being pushed to the breaking point.
Kate Brandes’s writing is subtle, but clear and fast paced in juxtaposition to the patterns of a small town. Jack, LeeAnn, Wade and Green Energy, as well as the arrival of the brother’s estranged environmental lawyer mother, growing conflict eventually comes to a point of finality, and a resolution where nobody is really a winner.
Brandes’ tackles issues of “abandonment, identity, loneliness, love, personal choice” – so many, only a talented writer like Brandes could successfully navigate the landscape of THE PROMISE of PIERSON ORCHARD. I enjoyed being out in the orchard with Jack and LeeAnn. I had no idea what complexities go into being a orchardist … and the huge amount of work.
.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
About Kate Brandes
An environmental scientist with 20 years of experience, Kate Brandes is also a watercolor painter and a writer of women’s fiction with an environmental bent. Her short stories have been published in The Binnacle, Wilderness House Literary Review, and Grey Sparrow Journal. Kate is a member of the Arts Community of Easton (ACE), the Lehigh Art Alliance, Artsbridge, the Pennwriters, and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. Kate lives in a small town along the Delaware River with her husband, David, and their two sons. When she’s not working, she’s outside on the river or chasing wild flowers.
Connect with Kate
Website | Facebook | Twitter
On Kate’s website, you’ll find suggested questions for book clubs. Kate believes, “there are parallels between nature, painting, and writing.” She shares some of her beautiful original pieces on her website.
November 4, 2016
The Promise of Pierson Orchard is a book I tore right through, on the edge of my seat as I was reading. The story was fast-paced from beginning to end. It is a family drama with heart and meaning.
A multi-generational family finds themselves conflicted as they debate the best future for their land and orchard when Green Energy offers to lease property in their town, promising financial relief, but also bringing the risks of drilling for natural gas: destruction of the land they love. I consider myself a friend of the environment, so the story appealed to me. At the same time, I appreciated that the story was not a one-sided, predictable description of the damage done by drilling. Instead, it was a balanced telling of both sides of the story. It was thought-provoking and well done.
My favorite aspect of the book was the family tension. Sibling relationships and rivalries make for very strong storytelling. Add in a love triangle, and you’ve got me hooked!
Jack was my favorite character. I love strong, brooding leading men. I related to his suffering and felt his abandonment (by both his wife and his mother, at different times in his life). I don’t know if finding solace through violence is an exclusively American concept, but when Jack fought, I felt like I understood why he was doing it.
I was provided an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. It was a very smart, enjoyable read! I’ll remember this story a long time.
A multi-generational family finds themselves conflicted as they debate the best future for their land and orchard when Green Energy offers to lease property in their town, promising financial relief, but also bringing the risks of drilling for natural gas: destruction of the land they love. I consider myself a friend of the environment, so the story appealed to me. At the same time, I appreciated that the story was not a one-sided, predictable description of the damage done by drilling. Instead, it was a balanced telling of both sides of the story. It was thought-provoking and well done.
My favorite aspect of the book was the family tension. Sibling relationships and rivalries make for very strong storytelling. Add in a love triangle, and you’ve got me hooked!
Jack was my favorite character. I love strong, brooding leading men. I related to his suffering and felt his abandonment (by both his wife and his mother, at different times in his life). I don’t know if finding solace through violence is an exclusively American concept, but when Jack fought, I felt like I understood why he was doing it.
I was provided an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. It was a very smart, enjoyable read! I’ll remember this story a long time.
January 18, 2017
In THE PROMISE OF PIERSON ORCHARD, Kate Brandes parallels a land fractured by drilling and a family fractured by the past. As small-town Minden struggles with the decision to let Green Energy tap into the natural gas beneath the land, the Piersons are reunited unexpectedly when Jack's brother Wade and his mother Stella return after abandoning the family orchard years ago. Standing on opposite sides of the fracking issue, they are forced to face the ghosts of their past. By telling the story from the points of view of Jack, his wife LeeAnn, Wade, and Stella, Kate presents various perspectives on the fracking issue and reveals each character's brokenness. I really didn't know much about fracking before reading this, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about it through story. I also enjoyed the details about caring for the orchard (especially when they are symbolic). I was torn about the decision the town had to make, and I felt the struggle of the characters as they each had to come to terms with their past in their own way. I wiped tears through the last few chapters, not what I expected when I started a book about fracking! But it's not just a story about the environment. It's a love story and a family drama that pulled me in by the heart. A must-read!
September 6, 2017
In this debut novel, Kate Brandes explores brotherhood and what it means to be a mother, a husband, a true partner in life. I learned a lot about the current topics around fracking and pipelines - on both sides of the issue. The story is touching, thought-provoking and pulls the reader through to the end wondering what will happen.
June 19, 2017
My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
While he’d never seen one for sure, ghosts roamed the orchard. Maybe it was his great grandfather who’d planted the first apple tree, or his grandfather who’d expanded the operation, checking on the progress of the work they’d started. Or his dad, who probably thought Jack wasn’t upholding the Pierson reputation. Nothing had ever been good enough for that man.
I finally realized what Rose already knew – all we needed to be happy was to show up for each other… Acceptance and forgiveness. That’s how love grows.
My Review:
The Promise of Pierson Orchard was a relevant, powerful, and dramatic story loaded with family pressures and heartbreaking losses. The characters’ tension practically vibrated from my kindle as I could clearly sense the profound importance of how the various events occurring in the story were impacting each of them. The weight of their fatigue, despair, and devastating disappointments was palpable. The author’s word skills cleverly depicted the heaviness of the years of regret and guilt carried by each. I was absorbed by the complicated tale and was quickly lost in Ms. Brandes’s well-crafted and emotive story. The storyline and writing were captivating and relevant and while the characters were complex, damaged, and frustrating at times, I cared about them and flinched and held my breath more than once while intense scenarios played out. I had tremendous sympathy and admiration for the long-suffering Jack, the unfortunate and obstinate man seemed to have been cursed with adversity yet he continued to labor, battle, and persevere. My poor heart feels battered and bruised, my next read needs to be of the comedic variety.
4.5
Favorite Quotes:
While he’d never seen one for sure, ghosts roamed the orchard. Maybe it was his great grandfather who’d planted the first apple tree, or his grandfather who’d expanded the operation, checking on the progress of the work they’d started. Or his dad, who probably thought Jack wasn’t upholding the Pierson reputation. Nothing had ever been good enough for that man.
I finally realized what Rose already knew – all we needed to be happy was to show up for each other… Acceptance and forgiveness. That’s how love grows.
My Review:
The Promise of Pierson Orchard was a relevant, powerful, and dramatic story loaded with family pressures and heartbreaking losses. The characters’ tension practically vibrated from my kindle as I could clearly sense the profound importance of how the various events occurring in the story were impacting each of them. The weight of their fatigue, despair, and devastating disappointments was palpable. The author’s word skills cleverly depicted the heaviness of the years of regret and guilt carried by each. I was absorbed by the complicated tale and was quickly lost in Ms. Brandes’s well-crafted and emotive story. The storyline and writing were captivating and relevant and while the characters were complex, damaged, and frustrating at times, I cared about them and flinched and held my breath more than once while intense scenarios played out. I had tremendous sympathy and admiration for the long-suffering Jack, the unfortunate and obstinate man seemed to have been cursed with adversity yet he continued to labor, battle, and persevere. My poor heart feels battered and bruised, my next read needs to be of the comedic variety.
March 24, 2017
This engaging family drama set amidst a larger community conflict kept me turning the pages. The environmental conflict at the center of The Promise of Pierson Orchard makes this novel a timely reminder of why love and family bonds must conquer all.
April 24, 2017
Jack's family life began crumbling early in his childhood. When Jack and his brother Wade were four and five years old, Jack's mother walked out on the family due to severe depression. Later in his youth, their father died in a hunting accident. Not long after that, Wade disappears. Jack is left to run their apple orchard by himself. Jack marries a neighbor, LeeAnn and after eight years of infertility, their marriage falls apart. Then, Wade returns along with his new job at Green Energy with hopes to reconcile his past and help out the town. Wade is selling land leases for Green Energy to frack for natural gas in the abundant shale deposits of his hometown of Minden, Pennsylvania. The quick money is a big draw for many of the families and businesses who have seen their town dwindle since the coal companies left. However, Jack is worried about the effects of fracking on the land, his orchard and LeeAnn's organic apple trees. He makes the decision to call in his mother, Stella, now an acclaimed environmental lawyer to get some perspective on the issue. With Wade, Jack and Stella all back together there will be more be more explosions than just the hydraulic fracturing.
As an environmental scientist, I appreciate pertinent environmental issues featured in contemporary fiction. The Promise of Pierson Orchard expertly incorporates the slowly leaking and infiltrating toxins of the hydraulic fracturing with the disassembling relationships within Jack's family. The characters are definitely the focus of the story. The writing switching between the point-of-view of Jack, Wade, LeeAnn and Stella giving an intimate look into each character's back story and reasoning, making it easy to see everyone's beliefs and why they were convinced they were doing the right thing. The shorter chapters also made for quick reading and a build of suspense as secrets were revealed. I was most impressed with the author's ability to come up with a compromise solution for the town and the hydraulic fracturing. While the dangers of fracking and its many consequences are highlighted, Stella's character is able to come up with a solution that includes fracking done a better way in order to help the community and family that she left behind. With a heart-pounding and surprising ending, The Promise of Pierson Orchard provides an engaging and thoughtful read.
This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.
As an environmental scientist, I appreciate pertinent environmental issues featured in contemporary fiction. The Promise of Pierson Orchard expertly incorporates the slowly leaking and infiltrating toxins of the hydraulic fracturing with the disassembling relationships within Jack's family. The characters are definitely the focus of the story. The writing switching between the point-of-view of Jack, Wade, LeeAnn and Stella giving an intimate look into each character's back story and reasoning, making it easy to see everyone's beliefs and why they were convinced they were doing the right thing. The shorter chapters also made for quick reading and a build of suspense as secrets were revealed. I was most impressed with the author's ability to come up with a compromise solution for the town and the hydraulic fracturing. While the dangers of fracking and its many consequences are highlighted, Stella's character is able to come up with a solution that includes fracking done a better way in order to help the community and family that she left behind. With a heart-pounding and surprising ending, The Promise of Pierson Orchard provides an engaging and thoughtful read.
This book was provided for free in return for an honest review.
April 17, 2017
I was drawn to this book because I grew up in Philadelphia (moving to the Jersey shore when I was 12) so it brought back memories of home. I will also note before I dive into my thoughts that I am anti-fracking. Let me also note that the book is if not even handed on the issue, at least a bit balanced by showing both sides of this contentious issue.
The book takes place in a rural area where farming is a way of life. The main character, Jack Pierson, runs an apple orchard that he inherited from his father – a man who was not a caring man. His mother left early in his life and it left Jack severely emotionally stunted. His wife LeeAnn has recently left Jack because of a myriad of reasons but mostly because of his inability to understand her drive for a child. She is willing to do anything while he just didn’t get how much she wanted a baby. She is also experimenting with organic apple growing which Jack doesn’t understand; why change what has worked for years? And her mother is dying.
Jack has a brother, Wade, who left town after their father died (he accidentally killed him) – but he’s now back in town as the representative of a gas company. He’ trying to get drilling rights from the people in town so that his company can start fracking. To complete this circle, Jack and Wade’s mother has established herself since her absence from their lives as an environmental lawyer – with a particular knowledge of Wade’s company.
Whew!
There are a number of subplots going on in the book involving relationships past and present and Ms. Brandes does a good job of making them easy to follow. She also educates her readers without bogging them down with too much technical jargon and gives them what they need to delve further into the fracking issue if they want to learn more. Each character is unique and well developed. If you enjoy family drama with an environmental twist you will definitely find your bliss with this book.
The book takes place in a rural area where farming is a way of life. The main character, Jack Pierson, runs an apple orchard that he inherited from his father – a man who was not a caring man. His mother left early in his life and it left Jack severely emotionally stunted. His wife LeeAnn has recently left Jack because of a myriad of reasons but mostly because of his inability to understand her drive for a child. She is willing to do anything while he just didn’t get how much she wanted a baby. She is also experimenting with organic apple growing which Jack doesn’t understand; why change what has worked for years? And her mother is dying.
Jack has a brother, Wade, who left town after their father died (he accidentally killed him) – but he’s now back in town as the representative of a gas company. He’ trying to get drilling rights from the people in town so that his company can start fracking. To complete this circle, Jack and Wade’s mother has established herself since her absence from their lives as an environmental lawyer – with a particular knowledge of Wade’s company.
Whew!
There are a number of subplots going on in the book involving relationships past and present and Ms. Brandes does a good job of making them easy to follow. She also educates her readers without bogging them down with too much technical jargon and gives them what they need to delve further into the fracking issue if they want to learn more. Each character is unique and well developed. If you enjoy family drama with an environmental twist you will definitely find your bliss with this book.
April 24, 2017
I'm so glad I was able to read an ARC copy of this book! The author did a great job of showing both sides of many areas in this story. I learned a lot about fracking, and the pros and cons of people allowing it on their land.
The story also portrays a family torn apart by secrets, misunderstandings, and things we can't control in life. I liked the family dynamics plot twists that didn't take the easy/normal way out (I won't say more since I don't want to spoil the story.) Filled with life-changing decisions, dreams and regrets, their story will stick with you.
The story also portrays a family torn apart by secrets, misunderstandings, and things we can't control in life. I liked the family dynamics plot twists that didn't take the easy/normal way out (I won't say more since I don't want to spoil the story.) Filled with life-changing decisions, dreams and regrets, their story will stick with you.
July 11, 2017
I received a very nice paperback copy of this novel for free via the Goodreads Giveaways program and would like to say thank you to anyone who had a hand in making that happen, and especially to the author for the nice handwritten note!
This is a wonderful story about a family trying to overcome their history and a hardscrabble town trying to make tough decisions that will affect the land they love. The author did an excellent job of creating flawed and realistic characters that I really cared about as well as a strong sense of place. The setting was really another character and one that I also cared very much about and wanted to see protected. I loved the balanced portrayal of the fracking issue as well and thought it was very well handled.
Though not a genre that I usually gravitate toward, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am very grateful that I got the opportunity to read this one!
This is a wonderful story about a family trying to overcome their history and a hardscrabble town trying to make tough decisions that will affect the land they love. The author did an excellent job of creating flawed and realistic characters that I really cared about as well as a strong sense of place. The setting was really another character and one that I also cared very much about and wanted to see protected. I loved the balanced portrayal of the fracking issue as well and thought it was very well handled.
Though not a genre that I usually gravitate toward, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am very grateful that I got the opportunity to read this one!
February 28, 2019
I won this book from Goodread's giveaway.
This book has one of the best endings I've read. Don't put it down until you finish every last word. The study of a dysfunctional family who attempt the healing process is especially well written. I highly recommend this one
This book has one of the best endings I've read. Don't put it down until you finish every last word. The study of a dysfunctional family who attempt the healing process is especially well written. I highly recommend this one
August 25, 2017
I was worried that this book that about the arrival of fracking in a small Pennsylvania town and its effects on an already fractured family would read like propaganda. Thankfully, it doesn't. (Although, okay, the head of the energy company does come across as a smooth bastard.) Brandes writes well and is particularly good with the rural setting and the small town characters. (I'd vote for Elzer!) She slips some education about fracking and orcharding in without getting didactic about it. I read with pleasure throughout, but I'd say this would be an especially satisfying read for those who enjoy the tying up of many threads in a highly dramatic climax.
I received this book through a contest on the Tall Poppy Writers Facebook page.
I received this book through a contest on the Tall Poppy Writers Facebook page.
September 5, 2017
Fantastic, riveting plot, great storytelling, well-developed characters, exploring the complexities of relationships between people, family, and the planet. Couldn't put it down!
May 9, 2017
4.5 stars.
The Promise of Pierson Orchard by Kate Brandes is an enthralling family drama that also provides an insightful look into fracking.
Jack Pierson is stunned to learn his long estranged brother has returned to their small town as a representative of Green Energy. Wade's return is business motivated since Green Energy is interested in purchasing land leases so they can frack for natural gas. Jack is worried about the long term effects of fracking on the family orchard and other people's property, so he decides to turn to environmental lawyer Stella Brantley for advice. Stella is more than just a lawyer; she is the mother who abandoned Jack and Wade thirty years ago. What effect will Stella's return have on the town? And will her reappearance in her sons' lives help mend the rift between them?
In the wake of a tragedy, Wade left town and never looked back. Not once in his twenty year absence has he contacted Jack or his former girlfriend LeeAnn, who is now Jack's wife. He carefully planned his return to Minden and he hopes his connection to the town will sway its residents in favor of signing the land leases with Green Energy. Wade is also hoping he to resume his relationship with LeeAnn but his plans where his brother are concerned are a little murky.
Embittered and holding onto past hurts, Jack would like nothing more than to fix the mistake he made long ago. This desire to repair his relationship with Wade is at the heart of his decision to reach out to Stella but his plan is not very well thought out. Jack is also desperately trying to reconcile with LeeAnn but she is not at all receptive to his efforts. He soon loses hope his marriage can be saved once he becomes aware that Wade and LeeAnn are spending time together. Jack has never dealt with the events from his childhood and this becomes a huge issue when trying to reconcile with LeeAnn.
LeeAnn blames Jack for their problems and she has given up on him and their marriage. She immediately shuts down his tentative attempts to reach out to her and with Wade's return, she becomes even more resistant to fixing their problems. It takes very little effort for Wade to woo her but LeeAnn soon regrets her decision to spend time with him. By the time LeeAnn realizes she is equally responsible for the troubles in her marriage, an unexpected complication might end any chance for a reconciliation between her and Jack.
As the situation between Jack, Wade and LeeAnn reaches a crescendo, Jack's fears about fracking come to fruition. Stella's efforts to protect the land owners from the effects of fracking cause added tension between her and Wade. At the same time, her relationship with Jack is improving but progress is slow with occasional setbacks. Will Wade find it in his heart to forgive Stella for abandoning him? Will Jack and LeeAnn figure out how to move past their hurt and anger in order to save their marriage?
The Promise of Pierson Orchard is a beautiful novel of redemption and forgiveness. Although the characters are deeply flawed and sometimes difficult to like, readers will become invested in their efforts to repair their fractured relationships. Kate Brandes does an excellent job presenting both the pros and cons of fracking and its effects on the environment. I highly recommend this heartfelt and engaging contemporary novel to fans of contemporary women's fiction.
The Promise of Pierson Orchard by Kate Brandes is an enthralling family drama that also provides an insightful look into fracking.
Jack Pierson is stunned to learn his long estranged brother has returned to their small town as a representative of Green Energy. Wade's return is business motivated since Green Energy is interested in purchasing land leases so they can frack for natural gas. Jack is worried about the long term effects of fracking on the family orchard and other people's property, so he decides to turn to environmental lawyer Stella Brantley for advice. Stella is more than just a lawyer; she is the mother who abandoned Jack and Wade thirty years ago. What effect will Stella's return have on the town? And will her reappearance in her sons' lives help mend the rift between them?
In the wake of a tragedy, Wade left town and never looked back. Not once in his twenty year absence has he contacted Jack or his former girlfriend LeeAnn, who is now Jack's wife. He carefully planned his return to Minden and he hopes his connection to the town will sway its residents in favor of signing the land leases with Green Energy. Wade is also hoping he to resume his relationship with LeeAnn but his plans where his brother are concerned are a little murky.
Embittered and holding onto past hurts, Jack would like nothing more than to fix the mistake he made long ago. This desire to repair his relationship with Wade is at the heart of his decision to reach out to Stella but his plan is not very well thought out. Jack is also desperately trying to reconcile with LeeAnn but she is not at all receptive to his efforts. He soon loses hope his marriage can be saved once he becomes aware that Wade and LeeAnn are spending time together. Jack has never dealt with the events from his childhood and this becomes a huge issue when trying to reconcile with LeeAnn.
LeeAnn blames Jack for their problems and she has given up on him and their marriage. She immediately shuts down his tentative attempts to reach out to her and with Wade's return, she becomes even more resistant to fixing their problems. It takes very little effort for Wade to woo her but LeeAnn soon regrets her decision to spend time with him. By the time LeeAnn realizes she is equally responsible for the troubles in her marriage, an unexpected complication might end any chance for a reconciliation between her and Jack.
As the situation between Jack, Wade and LeeAnn reaches a crescendo, Jack's fears about fracking come to fruition. Stella's efforts to protect the land owners from the effects of fracking cause added tension between her and Wade. At the same time, her relationship with Jack is improving but progress is slow with occasional setbacks. Will Wade find it in his heart to forgive Stella for abandoning him? Will Jack and LeeAnn figure out how to move past their hurt and anger in order to save their marriage?
The Promise of Pierson Orchard is a beautiful novel of redemption and forgiveness. Although the characters are deeply flawed and sometimes difficult to like, readers will become invested in their efforts to repair their fractured relationships. Kate Brandes does an excellent job presenting both the pros and cons of fracking and its effects on the environment. I highly recommend this heartfelt and engaging contemporary novel to fans of contemporary women's fiction.
May 2, 2017
Sort of like a soap opera, but with fracking.
Pierson Orchard has seen its share of hardship and tragedy. Started by Jack’s grandfather, it has much become a family business. Only the orchard is unforgiving and those that work in it never get a break. Jack’s father’s devotion to the orchard caused their mom to run. And now it has cost Jack and Leann their marriage. But when Jack’s estranged brother Wade returns to the town of Minden as an employee for Green Energy, a gas development business, folks in town start to listen to him because he can offer them money for their mineral rights. But when the first fracking well causing toxic trespass into Jack’s orchard, tension begins to run high in the town. Add the unfinished business that Wade left with Jack’s wife before he left, and things might come right down to a bloody pulp.
So, first off, this story is full of wonderfully flawed characters. Everyone one of them is damaged and has a chance for redemption throughout the story. Unfortunately, not all of them find it. I really enjoyed the science behind this story. I live in west Texas, where fracking is a normal part of life. Fortunately, it doesn’t happen around the area that I live, but it is still a widespread industry that affects employment and can easily become a highly charged issue. The same is true in this story. The townspeople always got along when they were in the same boat, but when they started getting money for their land, a type of social pecking order began to development. I also enjoyed have the story told form the four viewpoints of Jack, Wade, Leann, and Stella. That way I was able to easily understand what each character was feeling and how they were handling the situation.
There is some strong language throughout the story and one fairly explicit sex scene. I would recommend this book to mature audiences, especially if this is a field of interest to them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
June 24, 2017
I just finished this wonderful book after several days of not being able to put it down! Kate Brandes has written an impressive debut novel that encompasses both the combustible emotional lives of her characters, as well as the environmental challenges facing their community after a natural gas company arrives offering potential fortunes to the struggling citizens. What I loved and admired about this book, in addition to the dramatic family saga at the center, is how the story never takes a black or white stance regarding the environmental concerns. The author explores both sides with compassion and heart. I highly recommend it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2017
I gravitate to a book when I see that it takes place in Pennsylvania. I guess that's because I'm a PA girl, born and bred.
This is a book that you won't be able to put down. It makes you think, thanks to a the addition of the energy company and fracking, that is part of the culture in PA. Anyone that lives here has an opinion. Mine tends to go with Stella's way of thinking.
From the get go, I hated Wade. I think it was because he worked for the energy company and because he had designs on Jack's wife because they were involved in the past. As the book went on, there was no way of liking Wade. He was horrible and so very messed up. Considering the events in his life surrounding his father's death, it is understandable, but you hope that he will change.
There is so much family drama, that is added to with the help of Stella Brantley who is Jack and Wade's estranged mother. I felt bad for her, because her dysfunctional family seemed to carry forward and really made her own children's lives just as dysfunctional.
Jack is a hard worker. The keep it together type. He's the kind of man that I admire. He wants to do what's right even if it messes things up.
My heart broke for LeeAnn, who is dealing with marital struggles and her mother's illness. She's a character you feel sorry for while wanting to shake too.
I liked how the story was told in the alternating viewpoints of Jack, Wade, Stella and LeeAnn. It gives you a chance to understand each character through their eyes.
You get really invested in each characters and you really hope something good happens to these people, because well, they deserve it.
There's a lot going on here, but everything is beautifully written and the story moves along at a pace that makes you say to yourself, "one more chapter" until you realize you've read the whole thing.
This is definitely a must read for 2017
This is a book that you won't be able to put down. It makes you think, thanks to a the addition of the energy company and fracking, that is part of the culture in PA. Anyone that lives here has an opinion. Mine tends to go with Stella's way of thinking.
From the get go, I hated Wade. I think it was because he worked for the energy company and because he had designs on Jack's wife because they were involved in the past. As the book went on, there was no way of liking Wade. He was horrible and so very messed up. Considering the events in his life surrounding his father's death, it is understandable, but you hope that he will change.
There is so much family drama, that is added to with the help of Stella Brantley who is Jack and Wade's estranged mother. I felt bad for her, because her dysfunctional family seemed to carry forward and really made her own children's lives just as dysfunctional.
Jack is a hard worker. The keep it together type. He's the kind of man that I admire. He wants to do what's right even if it messes things up.
My heart broke for LeeAnn, who is dealing with marital struggles and her mother's illness. She's a character you feel sorry for while wanting to shake too.
I liked how the story was told in the alternating viewpoints of Jack, Wade, Stella and LeeAnn. It gives you a chance to understand each character through their eyes.
You get really invested in each characters and you really hope something good happens to these people, because well, they deserve it.
There's a lot going on here, but everything is beautifully written and the story moves along at a pace that makes you say to yourself, "one more chapter" until you realize you've read the whole thing.
This is definitely a must read for 2017
May 6, 2017
I wasn't too sure how I would feel about The Promise of Pierson Orchard. I was afraid it would be really preachy about environmental issues that go along with fracking. After reading, I felt like the book was pretty balanced in its views. I actually learned something about the process. I also learned a bit about orchards. Those are the aspects of the book that I really enjoyed. But in the end, I just didn't love this book as much as I wanted to.
At the heart of the story is an intense and complex family drama. It's told through multiple points of view. I did like that as it gave me insight into the motivations of everyone involved. But I have to say that I had a really hard time liking any of the characters. I think Jack was the only one I truly felt sorry for. The rest of them made poor decisions left and right and were rather whiny.
LeeAnn was my least favorite. I get that she was separated, but her actions just really put me off. I have a hard time with accepting any type of infidelity. She and Jack hadn't even discussed that their marriage was really over, yet she sleeps with his brother. And in the end, everyone is OK with it. I just didn't buy it and it really ruined the story for me.
The book has received a lot of great reviews. The writing is really good, but I just didn't buy into that one part of the story and that is on me. I think this is one book you will have to try out for yourself.
At the heart of the story is an intense and complex family drama. It's told through multiple points of view. I did like that as it gave me insight into the motivations of everyone involved. But I have to say that I had a really hard time liking any of the characters. I think Jack was the only one I truly felt sorry for. The rest of them made poor decisions left and right and were rather whiny.
LeeAnn was my least favorite. I get that she was separated, but her actions just really put me off. I have a hard time with accepting any type of infidelity. She and Jack hadn't even discussed that their marriage was really over, yet she sleeps with his brother. And in the end, everyone is OK with it. I just didn't buy it and it really ruined the story for me.
The book has received a lot of great reviews. The writing is really good, but I just didn't buy into that one part of the story and that is on me. I think this is one book you will have to try out for yourself.
May 8, 2017
I loved this book! You discover each character in alternating points of view along with the splintered divide of their family, and town, torn apart. You will quickly take up your own stance on the players in this family, a family filled with secrets, shame, and regret. Broken, they bash up against each other - some yearning to re-connect, some wishing for those they love to change, and some desperate to keep the bonds broken. Adding to this complex family drama is the backdrop of a small town in financial distress, whose residents are faced with the decision to partner with Green Energy, a corporation eager to drill for gas and forever change the landscape of the land these small town people know and love. When disastrous events come to bear, environmentally and personally, a storm may be the only thing that brings them all together. This is a powerful story with echoes of the mastery of Nancy Pickard's The Virgin of Small Plains. I couldn't put it down yet at times could hardly keep reading as I feared for the characters I'd come to love and hope for. A highly recommended debut!
March 9, 2023
Beautifully written with endearing characters you find yourself drawn to like real friends. After living in Pennsylvania for a few years, this story depicts the small town life I came to appreciate. Orchard stands, farmer’s markets, fresh corn, family farms. Long held beliefs. The subject of green energy is timely and well drawn. Long held family issues threaten to stand in the way of what’s right vs possibly damaging for an entire community. An intriguing story of rural life and the nuances of responsibility that comes with change.
May 13, 2017
The characters in this novel are so beautifully, honestly flawed—I felt for each of them as they faced down their individual and collective pasts in order to transform their futures. Though the plot is driven forward by the environmental clash of gas drilling (the details of which are fascinating; clearly Brandes knows her stuff!), the narrative is ultimately about family, love, sacrifice, and forgiveness. A surprisingly tense climax rounds out a tender, deeply felt story.
June 26, 2018
The Promise of Pierson Orchard is my kind of book. Brandes' characters are complex and well defined. Each chapter built in such a way that I couldn't put the book down. I was completely caught up in the plot which included masterfully communicated research on fracking in Pennsylvania, orchard farming, law, and family issues. This book is a complete package, and I highly recommend it.
April 26, 2017
A small town, a fractured family, and a community upended by the arrival of fracking. I thought this book did a good job of keeping its various elements in balance and the plot moving forward at a steady pace toward a satisfyingly tidy conclusion.
September 12, 2017
This is a beautifully written family drama with cinematic potential. Any book that makes me laugh out loud or cry automatically gets five stars from me. My masacara was running at the end. I look forward to whatever Brandes writes next!
July 29, 2020
I admire Kate's writing. She creates delicious tension on each page.
October 12, 2016
In her impressive debut set in a small U.S. farming town, Kate Brandes expertly portrays the conflict between single-minded corporate interests and those who unite in their struggle to challenge it. Brandes' characters demonstrate the heart and strength of everyday people leading complex lives. You will be touched by their honesty and root for them to see past their flaws. Deeply relevant to our times, The Promise of Pierson Orchard quickly builds momentum and will have you invested from the first insightful chapter to the whirlwind of an ending.
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