I enjoyed this book. It was a slower paced book - but was well written with characters I enjoyed. I will be picking up the next one in the series. ( )

”Growing Season” is a book I picked up through Kindle Unlimited, after seeing it many times. When I downloaded the book, I thought it is a romance, but I was wrong. It is a pallet cleanser; it is refreshing and seasonal literature (pick it up during summer as the plot takes place during the hot and humid days of summer).
The narration takes place in rural Iowa (2019 is the year that I read books set in small towns in the U.S.)
Melinda returns home after firing her from her copyright job. Losing her job and a family situation makes Melinda rent a farmhouse, take care of the animals, and the garden. Help with the hardware store owned by her family.
It is a story where the main character returns to her root to find herself, take care of family, and friends. It is a story that in time in need, there is someone to standby you and give you a hand.
Yes, I thought that Melinda would also have a love story, but it is refreshing to read something with a complex love story. Maybe in the following books of the series will happen some love.
”Growing Season” has strong relationships between family and friends, that becomes part of the family (I believe that friends are the family we pick, and in this book is truthful to my believe).
The ending of the books leaves with the sensation that you have to read the second of the series to find out what further things the future has for Melinda and the other characters. It is good that Kindle Unlimited for having the whole series to be borrowed. ( )

I read this story mostly standing in a line waiting to shop. I really liked the story and the premise, and I really appreciated the palpable fear at the storm and the missing dog. I got this from Prime Reads and this first one was free, but the intent is clear, sucked me into the series you did. ( )

I saw this book advertised as "heartwarming rural fiction" and that's exactly what it is. I recently finished the latest installment in the Lakeside Resort series by Susan Schild and wanted something that made me feel the same way while I was reading. I wanted something drama-free and stress-free.

This is not a romance story. Perhaps a romance may come later in the series but this was 100% the story of a woman at a crossroads. Melinda loses her job in Minneapolis and is left wondering what she will do. Her job really defined her and allowed her to live a fun, fast-paced lifestyle in the city. When her uncle has health issues, Melinda is called on to come run his business (a small-town hardware store!) until his health improves. She ends up temporarily moving to the nearby small town of Prosper, which means a TOTAL change in lifestyle.

I loved this book so much. I loved the fact that Melinda is open to to a change of venue and a change of pace while she's looking for another job. Moving is such a big step, and she's nervous and a little afraid of such a drastic change, but she adapts so well. I've wondered at times what it would be like to trade my own life for a slower life on a farm in a small town, and I loved that I was able to live through Melinda with this story. I also love the residents of the small town and the rural area around town. The neighborhood and community are all so nice and helpful.

Best of all: there are animals, there is a garden, and there is some renovation to Melinda's rental house. I love all of these things!!

This is what I'm reading before bed because it leaves me feeling happy and de-stressed. The series looks to have a bunch of books after this one and I'm excited to see where Melinda's small-town life takes her. ( )

Growing Season by Melanie Lageschulte
Story starts out with Melanie and sh'es just lost her job along with everybody else. She takes some time looking for work to no avail and ends up back home where she helps an ailing friend run the hardware store.
Her housing problem also is solved as she finds the farmhouse along with all the animals and garden. Story could be a short story but every thing is described in such detail it makes the story on the longside-which I love.
She even has her friends come down to paint-although she's only there for summer months. They also love the farm life and consider moving there themselves. Love hearing how just everybody within 20 miles comes to help when needed and she's there to help them all as well.
Such a close community-loved hearing of the parade and just all the small things that make a difference in rural living.
About the books and other works by her along with bio and excerpts are included at the end.
Would love to read more from this author. ( )