Blog Archives
Where the Orchard Ends
Where the Orchard Ends is a quiet and emotionally stirring novel about grief, healing, and the deep connections that form when words fail. It follows twelve-year-old Wren Harper, who hasn’t spoken in seventy-three days after her mother’s death. Sent to live with her grandmother on an apple orchard in the Pacific Northwest, Wren drifts through silence and sorrow, until a storm leads her to a wounded Appaloosa mare, a wild horse who’s just as lost and broken. In that fragile, unspoken bond between girl and horse, the story slowly opens up to become a tale about trust, resilience, and finding a way back to oneself.
This book pulled at me in ways I didn’t expect. The writing is gentle and raw, full of details that make even silence feel loud. Wren doesn’t say a word for much of the book, but her thoughts and emotions are laid bare through beautiful imagery, quick sketches, and soft moments between her and her grandmother. The mare, Talowa, becomes more than a metaphor, she’s a mirror. The way Wells writes their connection is tender without being saccharine. And Mimi, Wren’s grandmother, is quietly wonderful. She gives Wren space, makes mistakes, and listens better than most people ever do.
Wren’s pain is sharp and honest, but so much of it is held back behind carefully drawn scenes. The pacing can feel slow, especially in the middle, where the book lingers on similar beats. Still, those moments aren’t empty. They just simmer. And honestly, the slower parts give the reader a chance to breathe, to sit in the orchard with Wren, to feel the weight of memory pressing down alongside her.
This book is best for readers who are okay with stories that unfold like mist slowly dissipating. It’s perfect for teens who feel out of place, for adults remembering the ache of being twelve, and for anyone who’s ever needed something unspoken to feel a little less alone. Where the Orchard Ends doesn’t shout. It hums.
Pages: 297 | ASIN: B0FHBQ2VXP
Brave Money: Build Financial Freedom, Confidence, and Wealth as a Single Mom, Without Shame, Guilt, or Fear (The Brave Rebuild Series)
Brave Money is a warm, steady-handed guide for single mothers who feel financially overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted. It’s part practical workbook, part soul-level pep talk. The book tackles money not just as a numbers game but as a deeply personal, emotional subject. Wells walks readers through fear, debt, income challenges, investing, and planning for the future, all while weaving in themes of empowerment, self-worth, and resilience. Each chapter builds with small, manageable steps, designed specifically for those who are doing it all alone and still hoping for more.
What stood out to me most was the writing itself. It’s tender but fierce, honest without ever being harsh. It doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of financial struggle, but it also never talks down. I felt like Wells was in the room with me, saying, “I know it’s hard, and I’m not going to let you give up.” The emotional honesty of the book surprised me. She gives permission to feel ashamed, scared, or behind, but never lets those feelings write the ending. I appreciated how she connected money to the heart. That’s something most financial books avoid. Wells redefines budgeting as an act of love, saving as rebellion, and wealth as something rooted in mindset long before the bank balance shows it.
Some chapters revisit the same ideas, especially when she revisits mindset themes. But honestly, even that repetition felt like it had a purpose. Sometimes you need to hear “You’re not broken” five different ways before it actually sticks. And for an audience likely drowning in both stress and self-doubt, a little extra encouragement doesn’t hurt. What might feel over-explained in another context feels like necessary care here.
I’d recommend Brave Money to any woman, single mother or not, who’s ever felt like she’s failing at money, or like she missed the class everyone else took on “how to do adulthood.” It’s not a quick-fix manual. It’s a slow burn of healing and hope. This book is for anyone who needs both a plan and a hand to hold.
Pages: 142 | ASIN: B0F9VS3JM4
LITERARY TITAN 