Category Archives: Seasons of the Heart Series

Review: Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard

springTitle: Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard
Seasons of the Heart Book Four
Publisher: Zebra Books
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

As a bright season brings a fresh start to Willow Ridge, Annie Mae Knepp feels she can never make peace with the past. Her disgraced ex-bishop father is furious she has taken her five siblings to live with her. She’s never been truly at home in her faith. . .or believing in herself. And Annie Mae fears no man will want to take on the responsibilities she’s gladly shouldered. True, her quiet neighbor Adam Wagler has been steadfast and unshakeable helping her through her trials, but he surely couldn’t think of someone so lost as more than a friend. Believing she is unworthy because of her doubts, Annie Mae will find in a moment of surprising revelation that God can work impossible miracles–and that love makes all things new.

The Review:

Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard is a sweet contemporary romance that provides a realistic and informative look into Amish life. This heartwarming fourth installment in the Seasons of the Heart series has an engaging cast of charming characters and a storyline that is refreshingly unique.

Annie Mae Knepp is a young Amish woman whose life is dramatically altered after her father leaves town to build a new religious community. Now working as a waitress to support herself and her younger sister, Nellie, she has been warmly accepted into the owner of the Sweet Seasons Cafe’s family. The rest of the town is also very supportive but it is her former neighbor Adam Wagler she has come to rely on after he rescues her from a couple of dangerous situations.

Annie Mae has a lot of responsibility resting on her, and she sometimes yearns to be free of the strictures of her religion. She sometimes puts her trust in the wrong person and makes very unwise decisions that lead to some perilous circumstances. Annie Mae is sometimes resentful of Adam’s (perceived) interference, but in the long run, she comes to appreciate his loyal support. Helping him make peace with long ago mistakes brings them closer and their friendship begins to look a lot like love.

Adam is well-respected in the Amish community but he is haunted by his past mistakes. Living with his widowed brother, their frequent clashes over household duties leads to some surprising insight into how negative their lives have become. Adam begins to change his reactions to their conflicts which leads to a more positive outlook in most areas of his life. Despite evidence to the contrary, he remains convinced he should not be responsible for anyone but himself, but his vow to remain a bachelor is soon tested by his growing feelings for Annie Mae.

Amish life appears to be deceptively simple but a slower pace of life does not necessarily mean trouble free. As demonstrated by both Annie Mae and Adam, rebellious behavior is also a rite of passage and leads to sometimes tragic consequences. There is also strife and dishonesty among community members. Children are sometimes mistreated and corporal punishment can occasionally cross over into abuse. Struggling with faith is universal to all religions as is guilt that stems from poor decisions. It is very refreshing to see that Ms. Hubbard does not always paint a rosy picture and that the characters in Breath of Spring also must overcome some of the same problems that exist in secular communities.

Another high point of the story is the slow progression of Adam and Annie Mae’s relationship and how they first resolve their past issues before entering into a romantic entanglement. The solutions to their problems are not quick or easy and they take the time to listen to one another and offer useful advice for solving their respective issues. Although the two have been acquainted for their entire lives, it is not until they step out of their usual roles that their perception of one another begins to change. This makes their evolving relationship believable and sets the stage for their respective transformations.

Although Charlotte Hubbard does not gloss over hardship or real life problems, Breath of Spring is an endearing novel that is always upbeat and positive. The Amish faith is explored in great detail but the story is never preachy. Likable characters (with a few notable exceptions), strong friendships and a close-knit community are greatly enriched by the beautifully developed storyline. The tantalizing excerpt from Harvest of Blessings leaves readers impatiently awaiting the next novel in the Seasons of the Heart series.

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Filed under Amish, Breath of Spring, Charlotte Hubbard, Contemporary, Rated B+, Review, Romance, Seasons of the Heart Series

Review: Love on Mimosa Lane by Anna DeStafano

mimosaTitle: Love on Mimosa Lane by Anna DeStafano
Seasons of the Heart Book Three
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 329 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Law Beaumont and Kristen Hemmings have watched each other from a distance for years. But Law, a bartender with a bad-boy past, and Kristen, an assistant principal devoted to helping her community, couldn’t seem more different. When they unite to mentor a young foster child and to help Law’s troubled daughter through the aftermath of her parents’ ugly divorce, their attraction deepens. They face the undeniable connection between them, and a whirlwind of challenges they can only conquer together.

A stirring love story and a candid look at the complexities of divorce, substance abuse, and our country’s foster care system, Love on Mimosa Lane is a love song to an entire community, and a novel about the power of family—the family you’ve been given, the one you’ve chosen, and the one that can lift you up, even when the world is tearing you down.

The Review:

Love on Mimosa Lane is a heartwarming story of love, family and friendship. This latest installment in Anna DeStafano’s extremely popular Seasons of the Heart series is sure to be a hit with old and new fans of the series.

Chandlerville is a tight-night community where the residents look out for one another. So when assistant principal Kristen Hemmings needs help with one of her new students, she is quick to ask Law Beaumont to help mentor the young man. Law is no stranger to trouble and while he is at first hesitant to become involved, he soon sees an opportunity to not only help Fin Robinson, but his young daughter Chloe as well.

Both Law and Kristen have complicated family histories that continue to plague them even though they are now adults. They each tend to keep an emotional distance and while Law has been married, Kristen ends her relationships long before they get serious. Kristen’s issues are fairly easy to overcome whereas Law’s are going to take a lot of work and most of the novel to fully resolve.

Law thought his problems with his wife Libby would end once they were divorced. Unfortunately Libby is bitter, vindictive and out to ruin not only his reputation, but his relationships too. Their daughter Chloe is caught in the middle until Law finally starts to listen some of the advice from his friends and his brother, Dan and begins to take control of his life.

All of the characters in Love on Mimosa Lane have a lot of emotional baggage and some of them are dealing with some pretty serious problems. Law and Libby have substance abuse issues, both in the past and present, and Law has a prison record. Chloe is caught between doing what she wants and trying to please her mother. Fin has been in the foster care system for most of his young life and he is having trouble adjusting to his new foster home. Ms. DeStafano does an exemplary job of handling each of these topics with sensitivity and the story never feels overwhelmed by the various conflicts. It is not a light, fluffy read, but it is not bleak or depressing either.

There is a romantic element to Love on Mimosa Lane but this part of the storyline is very understated. Instead, most of the novel centers around Law and the various obstacles he is facing. He has a lot a demons in his past and before he can have a successful relationship with Kristen, Law needs make peace with his mistakes and change how he deals with adversity.

While I liked Love on Mimosa Lane, it is fairly slow paced for the first half of the novel. Some of the sentences are a little awkwardly written. I really liked Fin and Chloe but they seemed a lot older than third graders. Libby’s character has no redeeming qualities and her maliciousness becomes predictable and grating.

Despite these minor issues, I really enjoyed Love on Mimosa Lane. The characters are likable with genuine problems that are realistically resolved. The storylines are compelling and the novel’s conclusion is emotionally satisfying. This powerful story of healing is a fascinating addition to Anna DeStafano Seasons of the Heart series.

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Filed under Anna DeStafano, Contemporary, Love on Mimosa Lane, Montlake Romance, Rated B, Review, Romance, Seasons of the Heart Series