About the Book
Author: Lauraine Snelling
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: January 30, 2024
Can her dreams for the future–and a budding romance–survive the trouble that comes calling?
Larkspur Nielsen is determined to keep her family homestead running and to fulfill their dream of starting a seed catalog, with or without her siblings’ help. With Isaac McTavish back in town, Lark finds herself at odds with her own heart and her determination to shoulder the burden of carrying her responsibilities alone. But Isaac is set on convincing her that he’s here to stay and she doesn’t have to carry everything by herself.
As a new romance blossoms between Lilac and an old schoolmate and the other Nielsen sisters are busy caring for their families, Lark bears more and more responsibility on the farm. When a long-feared threat returns and Lark approaches the breaking point, the life she has always dreamed of is in danger of disappearing forever.
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My Thoughts:
This is the fourth in a series that I did not start from the beginning with. This particular book goes back and ties up some loose ends concerning older sister Larkspur, which by the way I really like that name. Anyway, I do think that I would have benefitted more with knowing the dynamics of the family and what Lark was going through if I had started from the beginning. That was my mistake as this is a very well told family drama.
I felt for Lark, as she is seeing a lot of change. Her sisters are marrying and branching out on their own with their families. She acts as a mother hen towards her youngest sister all the while trying to keep the once upon a time family dream of running their own homestead alive. The theme of family and staying together was crucial, I feel the same. They had been through a lot, and I do like that this last book catches up with everyone and wraps everything up. I only wish I started from the beginning first.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
About the Author
More from Lauraine
Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, A Season of Harvest.
Lauraine Snelling: With her three sisters all finding their own paths of life and love, Larkspur Nielsen determines to shoulder their family farm and business dream herself and stay single—even if drifter Isaac McTavish, claiming he’s back in town for good, now seeks her heart. When danger from the past comes knocking, Lark must choose whether to insist on going it alone or accept the love and support God—and Isaac—hold out.
Each of the previous books in your current series, Leah’s Garden, follows a different Neilsen sister as the main character. What led you to save Larkspur’s story for the series conclusion?
LS: I’d actually planned Larkspur’s story to be first since she’s the oldest. However, once The Seeds of Change started coming together, Forsythia took over the story! So the first book became hers.
Loyalty plays a key role in A Season of Harvest. Without giving spoilers, can you hint at why loyalty is at the core of the story?
LS: Loyalty threads through the whole series. These sisters are loyal to each other, to their friends, and to everyone they know. Through all the books, they take care of each other so faithfully. Even their initial departure from Ohio stems from drastic action they take to protect each other and their family. Loyalty then streams over into other characters in the series, especially Isaac McTavish, who really grows into loyalty in this book. Even our villain stays loyal to his purpose all the way through.
Which of the four Neilsen sisters do you personally resonate with the most?
LS: Truth be told, I resonate with each of them. But really, I tend to identify with whichever one I’m writing at the moment! 😊
A Season of Harvest returns to a major conflict from the first book in the series, The Seeds of Change. Was it always in your plan to circle back and address that conflict again in the series conclusion?
LS: It wasn’t always in our plan, but as the book came together, it became inevitable. One benefit of a great editor is that they sometimes contribute ideas, and my editor, Jessica Sharpe, pointed out how key it would be for Ringwald to confront Larkspur at the end of the series. As the book went on, it became so important to resolve that conflict, and we kept the villain in the stories just enough to keep readers from forgetting about him.
What do you hope readers learn or take away from this series?
LS: A reminder of how important our families are. The Nielsens stood by each other in so many crises, and that’s what I would hope readers take away—just a reminder of how important your family is and how absolutely critical faith in Christ is. Salton becomes a place of healing, a place for people to recover joy. That we have so many joys and things to learn in this life is a theme that weaves through all my books.
What led you to set these stories in the homesteading period? How was the setting important to the story you wanted to tell?
LS: It’s one of my favorite periods! The homesteading era was such a time of change and adventure. As for why Nebraska, I hadn’t set stories there very much yet. For Kiersti, it was special to join in on The Seeds of Change and get to write about Nebraska homesteaders living in a soddy because her great-grandfather, a son of Danish immigrants, was born in a soddy in Nebraska in the late 1800s.
Is this truly the last your readers will see of the Neilsen sisters and the rest of their community?
LS: As far as we know!
Now that you’ve wrapped up the Leah’s Garden series, what are you working on next?
LS: A series set in 1889 near Decorah, Iowa. Six-year-old Ruth and twenty-one-year-old Amalia are thrown together on a ship crossing over from Norway when their families die of cholera. Ruth’s dying mother gives her daughter into Amalia’s custody, and the two orphans travel to Iowa to take over the family boardinghouse Ruth will inherit. They must battle a greedy relative trying to claim the property and somehow make ends meet for the motley band of orphans who gather under their roof, while finding a way to make this new land home.
Blog Stops
Wishful Endings,
February 5
Debbie’s
Dusty Deliberations, February 5
Locks, Hooks
and Books, February 6
Texas Book-aholic,
February 7
The
Avid Reader, February 7
Truth and Grace
Homeschool Academy, February 8
Gina Holder,
Author and Blogger, February 9 (Author Interview)
Books
You Can Feel Good About, February 9
She
Lives to Read, February 10
Jeanette’s Thoughts,
February 11
Mary Hake,
February 11
Happily
Managing a Household of Boys, February 12
For Him and My
Family, February 13
Splashes of
Joy, February 13
Holly’s Book
Corner, February 14
Cover
Lover Book Review, February 15
Connie’s
History Classroom , February 16
Paula’s Pad of
Inspiration, February 16
Live.
Love. Read., February 17
Jodie Wolfe –
Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, February 17
lakesidelivingsite,
February 18
Pause for Tales,
February 18
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Lauraine is giving away the grand prize package of a $15 Amazon gift card and a paperback set of all four books in the Leah’s Garden Series: The Seeds of Change, A Time to Bloom, Fields of Bounty, and A Season of Harvest!! (US Only)
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/29c4f/a-season-of-harvest-celebration-tour-giveaway
Growing up, were you rebellious or a rule follower?
ReplyDeleteI am a fan of Lauraine Snelling’s epic series, so I will be sure to start with the first book of this series and thus enjoy the series in its entirety.
ReplyDelete