Book Report: The Lemon Grove
If you’re still sniffling and suffering through winter, consider a sun-drenched, scintillating journey abroad with today’s book report pick, The Lemon Grove by Helen Walsh. Intrigued? Read on!
What’s The Buzz?: This book has already received quite a bit of advanced praise – with some endorsements comparing it to Gone Girl and Beautiful Ruins (Glamour and Cosmopolitan magazines), and well-known authors like Lori Lansens (The Girls) and L. Marie Adeline (the erotica S.E.C.R.E.T. trilogy) giving it some serious props. Truthfully the book falls squarely in the middle of an erotic romance with literary aspirations – making for a wholly unique reading experience that’s a little bit campy and a little bit classy.
What’s The Story?: Jenn and her husband Greg visit Mallorca year after year – only this year, they’re going to be joined by something of an interloper. Jenn’s ‘inherited’ teenage daughter Emma is bringing along Nathan, her beautiful and reckless boyfriend. It doesn’t take long for Jenn to realize she has a startlingly intense attraction for Nathan, who doesn’t exactly do much to stave her off. If anything, Nathan circles Jenn like a see saw game of cat and mouse, one that Jenn vaguely recognizes is jeopardizing her marriage and her family – but she can’t seem to shake the deep desire she’s chasing. As their relationship intensifies, Jenn is torn between doing the right thing and doing the thing that feels so right.
Tell Me More About The Setting?: I would say the Mallorca (specifically ‘Deia’) setting is definitely a prominent character this novel – in fact I’d go so far as to say it’s what really separates this story from a standard erotica novel. There is a huge amount of attention given to the breathtaking scenery, quaint villages and restaurants, and quirks of the local population (as a perfect escape from our wintery blues). It’s an interesting juxtaposition – this soothing island landscape where time should slow down coupled with Jenn’s intensifying feelings and desire (and set off by her frequent asthma attacks), it’s a perfect storm of languid seductiveness and dark corners for deep secrets.
So How Raunchy Is It?: To be clear, while the book definitely features some rather graphic erotic passages, I struggle to define it wholly in that genre. The book hops between literary fiction, erotica and romance for an altogether different reading experience. It somewhat tackles serious issues like the fragility of marriage, the struggles of parenthood, even class. That being said, if you blush at the use of some slang terms for lady and man parts, or if you find the whole cougar-esque mom / teenage romance a little too taboo, you may want to pass on this one. But if you’re looking for a saucy spring break read, the story is an ‘escape’ on multiple levels. At least, until the end – let’s just say many chickens come home to roost by the end of the story, in a rather shocking, explosive matter.
I’ll round out my Book Report by saying this type of story may not be for everyone – but if you’ve had fun reading some of the mainstream erotic fiction that’s become increasingly popular over the last two years, this is another entry in that same vein that may be just the ticket to spice up your reading pile. Did I mention I’ve also got five signed copies of The Lemon Grove to give away? Because I do!
1) Tell me in the comments below by March 12th – why would you like to add this book to your to-read pile?
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around March 13th, 2014 to select the winners, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entries: I’m offering up two bonus entry opportunities.The first is to like Random House of Canada on Facebook and leave a comment about why you’re coveting a copy of The Lemon Grove. As always, you’re under no obligation to mention the CGG, but you MUST provide me a link to your Facebook post in the comments below so I can give you a bonus entry.
Your second option is to add The Lemon Grove to your Goodreads to-read list, and link back to that list (on the same page as wherever the book is) to earn another entry.
Canadian Gift Guide 
I think this would be a fascinating read from the outline you’ve described.
I think it would be an interesting read.
I’d want to read this book because it sounds like the perfect mix of summer beach read and the thinking girl’s read 🙂
I’d love to win this book. We’ve been to Mallorca before & this book would bring me back to the wonderful beaches we visited.
I like reading books that are set in places I want to visit!
I’d like to read this book. Sounds interesting, though not the usual kind that I read. Your write-ups always make books sound so must-read!
I need something to warm me up during this cold winter! 😉
I like Random House Canada on Facebook as Susan Terendy.
My comment: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152662451259768.1073741883.6688529767&type=1
This is on my goodreads TBR shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/21502628?shelf=to-read
it looks like a really good read
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18007528-the-lemon-grove
I have never read anything from this author so am eager to start.
i love your review . makes me want to read it
I’m always looking to discover a great new author!
GOOD REVIEWS
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3355322
I pledges to read 150 books in 2014 and have read 24, on track for 151. But I’d like to make it to 200. Books like this are exactly what I love to spend a snowy sunday curled up in the chair reading.
This author is new to me, which is exactly the point. I need to get away from just reading medical mysteries & such & branch out. This would be a good way to do it.
The review is enticing me and I cant wait to read it.
I’d like to win this book as it sounds rather saucy and something I’d like to read!
Thanks.
Added to my GoodReads shelf:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/7279126?page=29&shelf=to-read
I would love to read this book.
This is a new author for me so would love to read her work.
I love all books and this one sounds particularly good! I would definitely love to win it!
I love books that are written with balmy breezes,sand and sex.Truly a great combination,and great to read on a cold winters day in Canada.
I like the exciting adventures the characters go through. Adding eroticism is just bonus!
I have already liked The Random House of Canada.
I would love to read the Lemon Grove! I heard the good reviews on it!
Dilemmas about right and wrong are always interesting…we’ve all been in that spot before…I’d love to see how this works itself out.
The “buzz” about this book, story line and setting, not to mention just the right amount of “raunch” 🙂 have most certainly piqued my interest. Plus I always enjoy learning about and reading a new author.
Based on the description, this sounds like an interesting read.
I like reading a wide variety of genres.
I think it would be a great book to read at the beach!
Great book for summer reading, when and if that happens lol
These days I have been more open to the kinds of genres I read and I would like to use this book to open it up even more
This sounds like my kind of book – and if I don`t win I will have to pick it up.
seems like a book that i would like
Looks like it would be a great read!