The Apple Diary – Gerri Hill

This newest one by Gerri Hill must be one of the slowest of slow burns I have read in a long time. I don’t mind a good slow burn once in a while. But this is Gerri Hill. I was not prepared for this 😏. Once I got over the shock though I found The Apple Diary one of the sweetest lesbian romance novels I have read 🥰.

Madilyn Marak is the heiress of the Marak fortune. She is staying at the estate where her grandfather lives. He’s alone now after the passing of his beloved Belle, Madilyn’s grandmother. Madilyn agrees to stay with him for the summer. While there she finds a hidden diary, written by her great-greatmother Isabel. She is very surprised when she reads about her secret love affair with Lorah, a travelling sales woman she befriends. Madilyn is enthralled by the beautiful but sad story of their love during that one summer in 1933, that mostly took place at the apple orchard on the Marak estate.

Madilyn decides to restore the neglected apple orchard and hires Dylan Hayes to do the work. Which is very odd seeing that Dylan has hardly any experience. But Madilyn has a feeling about the woman. A feeling of recognition. There is an instant connection between the women and they become close friends. Though unlikely seeing that Dylan is a ‘commoner’ as Madilyn’s grandfather calls her. But the friendship cannot be denied. It gives Madilyn the joy in her life that she seems to lack. Madilyn somehow feels there’s a link with Isabel and Lorah. But how? Madilyn is not gay, unlike Dylan. Or is she?

So ok. This story is predictable and it takes a while before any sparks are flying. But I don’t know, I found this one to be surprisingly refreshing. Just a really sweet story about soulmates. I feel these stories are hard to find nowadays. So there you go, another fav of mine by my favorite author Gerri Hill 🥰.