Seeds of Summer by Deborah Vogts

Seeds of Summer by Deborah Vogts

May 1st 2010 by Zondervan 

Paperback, 304 pages

Review Copy

Book Synopsis

When opposites attract, sparks fly--like an electrical malfunction. That's what happens when former rodeo queen, Natalie Adams meets the new pastor in Diamond Falls. Upon the death of her father, Natalie returns to the Flint Hills to raise her two half-siblings and run the family ranch, giving up her dreams for the future. She soon realizes her time in college and as Miss Rodeo Kansas is not enough to break the bonds that held her as a girl. Jared Logan, a new pastor in Diamond Falls, is set on making a good impression to his first congregation, but finds that change doesn't come easy for some people. In fact, most in his congregation are set against it. Natalie and her troubled family provide an outlet for his energy and soon become his personal mission project.Having raised her stepbrother and sister from an early youth, Natalie's self-sufficient nature isn't inclined to accept help, especially from a city-boy do-gooder like Jared Logen. Though attracted to him, there's no way she'd ever consider being a pastor's wife. Bible studies and bake sales just aren't her thing................(Taken from The CFBA Tour site) 

Review

After the painful and accidental death of Natalie’s father, she is left not only grieving but also has inherited her two half siblings. Chelsey a fifteen year old teenager heartbroken and determined to make the wrong choices in order to deal with her pain is drinking, dating a much older boy and driving Natalie up a wall. While the younger one, Dillon is dealing with the death by isolation and distance. Putting her own dreams and college on hold, Natalie vows to take care of the kids and keep her fathers ranch running. Problem after problem begin to arise for Natalie as she stresses out about the kids, has no help on the ranch and learns her father left no savings or investments because he hated banks. Now with the worry of not having income Natalie must face a future of uncertainty.

Jared the new boy in town is having struggles almost as tough as branding cattle. Taking over the local church and trying to bring in change and fresh ideas, have some in the congregation in a tizzy. The one thing that does make sense is trying to help Natalie and her family out. Natalie not being one for church or God, knows there are sparks between them but can’t imagine her world coinciding with Jared’s. Life on the ranch is her main focus, but when a threat arises to tear the siblings apart, Jared becomes a strong shoulder to lean on.

This was a sweet and lovely story. I’m not a big fan of westerns romances, but the present day country feel of this novel was perfect and very entertaining. The writing was done very well and the plot moved along at a nice pace. Natalie, although a pretty wholesome character was believable and strong in the sense of herself and doing the right things. She was amazingly brave in the face of adversity and ultimately an encouraging character to look up to. I highly recommend this for a fun, light summer read with a glass of icetea………

Rating

Seeds of Summer is a lovely story suitable for mature teens and adults alike. Issues touched on include: Grief, death, depression, teen drinking, romance, elder boards (shuddering) branding cattle, custody battles, fear and mild sexual discussions.

4/5- Christian Fiction

Copy provided by The Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, to find out more and a complete tour list visit here.

About the Author/ Word from Deborah

If you haven't guessed by now, the books I write are set in the country. I believe my most dedicated readers will be those who live in the country, those who have moved from the country and still hold it in their hearts, or those who have never lived there but long for the simple life it offers. Because of this, I've chosen Country at Heart as my writing brand, which is also the title of my Blog On Writing:

I began my first book when I was in high school. In college I studied English literature and journalism. Then came marriage, kids . . . life. During that time, I piddled with my writing but didn't take it seriously until 2002 when I joined a local writer's group and American Christian Fiction Writers. I also joined a critique group, took online writing workshops, read writing book how-to's and attended writer's conferences. Now I have an agent, Rachelle Gardner, at WordServe Literary and have been contracted with Zondervan for a three-book contemporary romance series.

The Seasons of the Tallgrass series captures the spirit and dreams of ordinary people living in the Flint Hills of Kansas--one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world.The first book, Snow Melts in Spring, is available in stores now. Seeds of Summer released May 2010.

If you would like to read the Prologue and first chapter of Seeds of Summer, go HERE