Years

by LaVyrle Spencer

As World War I threatens to take those she holds dear, a lovely schoolteacher grows to womanhood in the arms of a man who'd given up on love.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Westerns, Fiction, Western Romance

496 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published March 1, 1986

About the author

LaVyrle Spencer is an American best-selling author of contemporary and historical romance novels. She has successfully published a number of books, with several of them made into movies. Twelve of her books have been New York Times bestsellers, and Spencer was inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame in 1988.

Spencer is known for creating realistic characters and stories that focus on families rather than only the relationship between a man and woman. These "ordinary" men and women are warm and vulnerable and are always portrayed sympathetically.[1] Her heroines tend to be a mix of fire and warmth, strength, savvy and soft–heartedness who must overcome some sort of adversity, such as pregnancy, divorce, a lengthy separation, the loss of a loved one, and then undergo a catharsis. The stories center on themes of abiding love, family ties and strength in difficult times.

In the 1980s and 1990s Spencer wrote 12 New York Times Bestsellers. Her books have been sold to book clubs worldwide, and have been published around the world. Condensed versions of many of her novels have appeared in Reader's Digest and Good Housekeeping.

She retired from writing in 1997.

Reviews

[Kristin (KC) · Rating 5 out of 5]

An oldie, but goodie...

*5+ Stars* A truly epic read! One of my all-time, unforgettable favorites!

Years is a breathtaking historical romance that I have been rereading faithfully since my teen years. It was my first (mildly steamy) "adult" read, so I may be slightly biased in my opinion, but this has to be one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read.

Lavyrle Spencer is an amazing storyteller who knows how to play with a reader's heartstrings. Her stories are tender, but powerful, and Years is a prime example of Spencer's writing at its finest. Please do not let the slow start of this story scare you off -- it gradually builds its way to brilliance.

Linnea Brandonberg is a young but very determined heroine. She's also proper, intelligent, and graceful. When she lands a teaching position and is sent to live with the Westgaards, she is initially appalled by their seemingly barbaric behavior. However, as time passes, this eccentric family works their way into her heart, as well as mine, and honestly became one of my most beloved fictional families.

Theodore Westgaard is a rough and brooding hero who offers no patience or grace in welcoming Linnea into their home. He's a busy, dedicated, hard working farmer who's not a fan of some woman occupying a man's teaching position at their local schoolhouse. The tension/bickering between these two was adorable, and you could truly feel their passion building. Although Linnea was considerably younger than Teddy, the maturity of her character far surpassed that of an average 18 year old heroine. Teddy genuinely fought his feelings for this reason, but a connection like theirs was hard to deny...and I loved watching the ice surrounding Teddy's heart slowly melt away.

Although Years contains one of my most favorite love stories to date, it is far more than just a romance novel. The prominent bonds of family and friendship are heartwarming as the characters face the very intense hardships of their time—1917. There were moments that honestly and violently ripped my heart out--but many more that deeply touched my soul and propelled this story into something extraordinary.

If you enjoy a slow-building romance, complimented by a heartbreaking love story that examines real life issues—AND happen to be a fan of historical fiction—do not pass this one up! It does take a bit for the story to pick up, but once it does, it has the power to hold your heart forever!

Book Stats:
▪ Genre/Category: Historical Romance
▪ Steam Caliber: Mild
▪ Romance: Slow-building. Beautiful. Passoinate.
▪ Characters: Extremely well-developed. Original and lovable.
▪ Plot: Deeply layered. Heartbreakingly beautiful.
▪ Writing: Captivatiing, powerful and graceful. Expert storytelling.
▪ POV: 3rd Person Perspective
▪ Cliffhanger: None. Standalone.

[Naksed · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ultimately a disappointment for me.

It started out great, with the plucky young teacher arriving in the small community lost in the middle of endless, golden wheatfields, full of dreams, hopes, and....her imaginary friend that she likes to talk to out loud. The hero, a grumpy, bitter, cynical farmer, tries everything to dampen that sunny optimism. The setting of this rural farm town founded by a mostly Norwegian immigrant group still clinging to tradition, while the shadow of World War I looms menacingly over their idyllic, isolated bubble was perfectly rendered. The extensive cast of secondary characters, from the close knit family that sprouted a thousand aunts, uncles, and cousins, to the town villain of the spoiled parson's son, to the gentle giant who timidly becomes friends with the heroine, to all the schoolchildren, were all wonderfully illustrated. It gave it a 'Little House on the Prairie" feel. When joy or tragedy befell these people, you could connect and feel for them easily.

Alas, the romance, for me personally, was dismal. I like conflict as much as the next gal. It makes it more fun to read and makes the payoff of them ultimately falling in love that much sweeter.
But whereas the heroine grew over the years from a flighty girl to a mature woman, I never saw such a development him. He remained stagnant. Again and again,he hurt, disappointed and dismissed the heroine. Maybe the barriers he put up were a welcome challenge to his devoted wife, but his attitude and actions were a total turn-off this reader.

The trope of the girl pursuing the boy was never my favorite to begin with, but coupled here with the callous, cruel, humiliating behavior of the hero, which he keeps up to the bitter end, it was a definite letdown. I never felt a genuine love or sacrifice from the hero towards the heroine. It was very imbalanced, and that just doesn't fly for me in a romance.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eager to begin her first teaching position, lovely Linnea Brandonberg stepped off the train looking as grown up and worldly as her eighteen years would allow. The golden fields and fragrant wheat of Alamo, North Dakota, were as new and different as the Westgaard family with whom she would live.

This book was interesting. I haven't read a lot of stories set in this era. World War I in America. Linnea is young and innocent but she has a backbone too. It's her first job away from home, teaching in rural North Dakota. Her first run in with Theodore is not good. They bicker, they fight, they snarl at one another...

... somewhere between thirty and forty was very old indeed ...

Indeed, Linnea, to a young Missy like yourself that age is quite ancient indeed. I liked her. I liked her spunk. I liked Teddy too. Oh, the emotions ... he was attracted to her but for him, the age difference was too much.


I loved Teddy's family. I loved seeing how life was back then. It was tough. Working the land was hard ... the weather was hard in the winter... and with the war, life was even tougher.

You just wait, Theodore, you old sourpuss. I'll make you smile yet.

Over the years the vista hadn't changed at all: horses, harvest and horizon.

The book was quite slow paced for the first three quarters. Then nearing the end, some things happen and they are heartbreaking. But you know, this was reality on the cold plains of North Dakota, where the weather is no man's friend. There was life, there was death, laughter, tears, heartbreak, joy.

"Watch who you're calling names, little missy."

I enjoy this author's work for the most part. Some might find the stories a bit old fashioned and dated.

Theodore tried to remember when he'd felt this angry.

... the minutes, the days, the years ...

[Floripiquita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Se me atragantó hace dos años y por un reto de lectura lo he retomado. Me ha gustado, pero no enamorado como me ocurrió con Maravilla, y de dulce tiene poco. Me enerva la manía que tenemos en España de poner los títulos al tuntún. ¡Qué vida más dura la de los granjeros de Dakota del Norte durante la I Guerra Mundial! Te pasas la mitad de la lectura de esta historia con el corazón en un puño.

#Popsugar21 Reto 49: Un libro DNF de tu lista TBR.

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 5 out of 5]

09/23/2014 --

I was talking to my friend Jill the other day. We were discussing good books of a certain caliber. She wanted to know about really good Native American reads. We chatted a bit and I mentioned this one. It is not Native American, but I call it "prairie" romance. It is utter perfection.

I read this one when it first came out; 1986. My daughter was two years old. Life was very different for me then. I was a stay at home mom. I read to pass time while seeing to the house and to my children. I'm not that person anymore. However, this book still touches that something deep inside me.

It is a love for the ages. It never gets old reading about the journey love takes for two truely good people. I've been reading quite a few lately that have quick relationships with over the top personalities that love to live in chaos. It is so nice to read about two people. Just simple people who love deeply. Their families and friends and each other. It is a slow building story. Not boring, but the romance develops slowly. You have wonderful, fully developed characters. A wonderful back-drop; wheat country in WWI North Dakota. Can't get much more prairie than that.

I can't believe I waited to long to read this again. My daughter will turn 30 in three [3] days. The time flies. Life changes. It is so nice to know some things don't.

If you haven't read this story - you really should. Enough said.

Thank you Jilly Boo. For the chat that sparked my search for this book. I'm reading another by this author right now. Loving it as much now as then. Thank you!

Happy Reading!

[Jac K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this one… so high that I saved it for over a year… which could be part of the problem. (unrealistic expectations) I really thought it was going to be the farmer version of The Heart Breaker, but it didn’t shake out that way… mainly because Teddy is no Sloane McCord and Linnea felt like a child compared to Heather. It’s also not an arranged marriage/MOB situation, so the relationship takes a while to get going.

It started out all right. Teddy is a gloomy, contemptuous farmer jaded from his awful first marriage that isn’t happy at all when he learns the new teacher his family is hosting is female. Linnea is a spunky, quirky ray of sunshine super excited for her new adventure. There’s even a hint of protentional OW drama from Isabelle the traveling cook. Add in Teddy and Linnea's instant dislike for each other, and I was hooked.

But, then plot-blocking secondary characters started popping out of the woodwork everywhere creating filler . Linnea started talking/writing to imaginary friends and kissing chalkboards and her quirky attitude morphed into childish and immature… and it got old. I get that she’s only 19, but I acted more grown up at 16… and this is 1917, times were different… my gma had 3 kids by 19. Teddy wearing his overhauls and being manhandled by the OW wasn’t sexy. And Isabelle the loud, crass, sweaty, large, manly, barefoot, missing teeth, frizzy headed lover was even less appealing.

Bottom Line- Great setting, but this one didn’t work for me at all. I didn’t find either mc interesting and felt zero chemistry. To me, the relationship felt manipulated by tragic events rather than developing a believable/authentic romance. There were too many extra characters, too much school/student filler, and the ending was depressing as hell. (mc’s get HEA)

[Marisa Sauco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Preciosa. ❤️

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was the first book for me to read by LaVyrle Spencer. The writing was beautiful, and I am certainly open to reading more books by her. One of the signs of good writing is the ability to make readers relate and empathize with the characters. I did and cried more than one time. I can certainly understand why this book would receive so many five-star ratings.

Linnea was a young woman of 18 who was quite immature. She acted much younger at times. Over the 14 months covered by the book, she grows up and matures a lot. Theodore was a grouchy man of 34 who had a quick temper and did not like women. The book started off perfectly for me. However, I had two major issues which caused me to lower my rating.

1) Although the whole premise of the story is the number of years between Linnea and Theodore, I didn't think it would be out of the ordinary for a 34 year old widower to marry an 18 year old school teacher, especially in a small town where most of the adults are related and/or married.

2) Theodore had a mistress who loved him and dreamed of more. He was using her for companionship and sex. He continues to have sex with her even after he is falling in love with Linnea. After they are married, when Linnea is in the last 2 months of her pregnancy, Theodore flirts and flaunts his mistress in his wife's face who he has not had sex with for over a month.

I could have overlooked the first two parts if Theodore would have grown in character throughout the story as much as his wife did. Instead he was a man who continued to not emotionally treat his wife kindly without her threatening to move out of his life. I think Linnea was fortunate that her husband's mistress was the type of woman who did not sleep with married men and there were no other adult unmarried women he was not related to living in the area.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eighteen-year-old Linnea Brandonberg has traveled to Alamo, North Dakota, to start her first teaching job. She is met at the train station by Theodore Westgaard, a 34-year-old wheat farmer who is not happy to meet her. Teddy was expecting a man. The teaching job includes room and board at the Westgaard farm, and the teachers have always been male. With no way of pawning her off on another family, Teddy takes her to his home where his mother and teenage son live.

Linnea soon has her eyes open to the farmers way of life. The boys work in the fields and have no time for school until the wheat has been taken care of. She and Teddy clash over his son's schooling. But when the fighting turns to attraction, Teddy does everything in his power to keep her at arms length.

This is a wonderful historical romance that was very hard to put down. I'm usually not a fan of older man/younger woman romance, but I certainly loved this one. Linnea is a great heroine who cares about her students and wants to fit in with the people in the small town. Teddy is a fantastic hero whose wife left him and his child years ago. He never thought he'd have another chance at love. This book is also a tearjerker. There are a couple situations where I had to set the book aside to grab a kleenex. My rating: 4.5 Stars.

2023 Re-read: Audible has several LaVyrle Spencer books available for their members to listen to for free, so I thought I'd revisit this book since I liked it so much when I read it years ago. This book is set during WWI. That is a setting you don't see very often in historical romances. I loved the setting and I enjoyed the story, even though the second half of the book is a tearjerker. It has many memorable characters.

Linnea was sometimes immature, but I could see her growing and changing as the story progressed. Teddy was grouchy and was hung up on the sixteen-year age gap between them. He fought his feelings for over half the book. I was relieved when he finally gave in and told Linnea he loved her. He still made some boneheaded moves during the book. At times he needed smacked in the head with an iron skillet to knock some sense into him.

The downfall for me was the audiobook narration by Susan Hanfield. Her narration made the story feel like a children's book. Half of the time she would pronounce "Theodore" as "Theater". She drove me crazy and made me want to dig out my paperback to finish the book. I would say if you're interested in checking out this book, stay away from the audio.

[Céloise · Rating 2 out of 5]

2☆ Looking for a small town blue collar historical romance? Keep looking.

Honestly this book put me in a horrible mood, which is a shock right after enjoying the beautiful and heartwarming Morning Glory so much. But the 'hero' in this was so disappointing, infuriating, and hurtful, and he didn't seem to grow much. I was disgusted by some of the things he did and said, and couldn’t get over them because they're not isolated--he's still being a dickhead at the end of the book. On top of this, the last quarter of the book is weirdly piled-on tragedy, trauma, and death just overflowing everywhere, with important characters being pointlessly hurt or killed off due to multiple terrible events. Just boom-boom-boom. It was too much. 🤯😓🤯😱

In case you care, this is not a "safe" book. At 40% (wow), horny Teddy has his annual week of weirdly secret sex with Isabel, an almost comically unattractive harvest season friend-with-benefits. Yes, there is on-page stuff including emotional pillow talk. Yes, this is long after meeting the heroine and just when they've been starting to have breakthrough moments. No, there is no inner conflict or second thoughts, he just showers and shows up in her wagon to get his rocks off. And almost halfway through the story, too. Fucking Ew. On top of this, Teddy acts more compassionately toward old Isabel than he does toward his super pregnant wife, who he also dares to blame for getting pregnant from all that sex she obviously forced on him. Uh huh. The author even keeps it unclear for a while at the end if he actually cheated on her, though the upshot is that he was just out drinking and dancing with Isabel all night, knowing very well that he was hurting his wife. Wow, bravo, sir. 👏👏👏

The H’s son, Kristian, who is actually Linnea's age and has a big crush on her in the beginning, is way swoonier and a better dude than his dad. So she clearly picked the wrong Westgaard. Kristian ended up having an adorable mini-romance side story of his own, and I found myself wishing that he had been the central focus instead. I'd much rather just remember the sweet scenes between the MCs, like their first ILY and that critical "merry vs marry" spelling lesson, or even some of their funny arguments. But Teddy's unfeeling asshat behavior obliterates the good parts and the pretty writing. I won't "spoil" the string of horrible tragedies that needlessly saturate the last quarter of the book, but it seemed imbalanced, especially for a romance. And those poor horses? Just NO. 🙅🏻‍♀️😭

I will say that as angry and sad as so much of it made me, the book kept me reading to the very end. I think I was just so determined to get my damn HEA after all that. 😡 So yeah, I made it to the 'after' part. But y'all, I ain't happy.

[☆ Susana ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Era uno de esos momentos de claridad meridiana, un hueco al margen de su vida que se grabaría para siempre en su memoria en toda su grandeza y realismo, como el momento real en que sucedían".


Es una maravilla lo bien que escribe siempre LaVyrle Spencer. Todas sus historias me atrapan desde el principio y no me sueltan nunca más. Días después de haber acabado este libro aún le sigo dando vueltas, aún sigo pensando en sus personajes y aún sonrío cuando recuerdo escenas o conversaciones. Me pasa con muy pocos autores, con muy pocos libros, pero con LaVyrle me pasa siempre. Siempre.

En este libro nos encontramos con Linnea, una mujer fuerte, valiente, testaruda, con carácter y a la vez dulce, inocente y vulnerable (es el perfil típico de protagonistas a las que la autora nos tiene acostumbrados y a mí particularmente me encantan), y con Teddy, un hombre rudo, independiente, desencantado con la vida, muy trabajador y que no quiere que nada ni nadie altere su vida apacible. Ambos pertenecen a clases sociales muy diferentes, están en edades muy dispares entre sí, y más en aquellos años, (34 años él, 18 años ella) y tienen una idea muy diferente de la vida.

Todas esas barreras, y muchas más, van siendo solventadas por ambos poco a poco, se van conociendo, respetando y enamorando hasta que ya no hay vuelta atrás.

La manera de narrar de la autora es tan maravillosa, tanto, que hace que una vez que te sumerges en sus páginas no quieras salir de ellas para nada.

Los secundarios son otra maravilla, Nisa, John (ay, mi John… ❤️), Christian, los niños… Todos son personajes muy humanos a los que la autora sabe dar su lugar perfecto en el momento perfecto haciendo de cada uno de ellos personas muy especiales.

Los dulces años es una maravillosa novela que narra una historia de amor de las que se cuecen a fuego lento, con un millar de sentimientos entrelazados y mil aventuras entre medias todo ello en un marco sencillo, muy sencillo, y muy humilde. Una historia de amor en mayúsculas. Una novela muy humana, preciosa y con mucho sentimiento.

Me pasó con Maravilla, otra novela espectacular y que aún llevo clavada en el alma, y me ha vuelto a pasar con esta. Pocas autoras me despiertan tanto sentimiento y tanta emoción como LaVyrle Spencer. Sin duda, una de los mejores libros que he leído. Sobra decir que pienso leer todo lo que esta autora tenga publicado. Todo ❤️

[JP · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful novel. I was looking for great romance books and this turned up on a list of ten all rime favorites. I’d never heard of this author and I knew I was in for a treat. I listened to this as an audiobook and it drew me right in.
I loved the side characters and really loved the h and H. They had something special going on. Great chemistry and angst. The heroine was feisty and the Hero was stubborn. This was just what I wanted for a feel good, relaxing time. I’m looking forward to starting another by her next week. I highly recommend it.
Thanks public library.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five stars when I read it years ago, 4 stars today. Linnea and Teddy were made for each other.

[I. Mónica del P Pinzon Verano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suelo recordar y sentir pasajes, en la casa de una tía lejana, en la casa de mi abuelito Germán (en realidad mi bisabuelo) o de mi abuelita Tulia (bisabuela también), todos familia de mi mami, todos en fincas pequeñas en Santander. Puede ser mañana, tarde o noche, siempre hace un frio delicioso y hay bruma (puede ser del frio, puede ser la ambientación de mis recuerdos). Soy una niña tímida que piden pasar a la mesa, una mesa de madera rustica, con quemones, a veces barnizada; algunas, de una sola tabla de cedro o roble; otras, tres gruesos y anchos listones. Recuerdo eso, recuerdo acariciar los hoyos en la madera siguiendo una ruta concéntrica, recuerdo el olor a aguapanela o a caldo con cucharón de palo y el sonido del carbón que arde o de una estufa a gasolina. Siempre que evoco ese lugar y esa mesa, pienso, me imagino y creo que todos tenemos en común “esa mesa”, que quizás cambie el color, la delicadeza, algunas hasta tendrán mantel, estarán en una zona de comedor o en la misma cocina, pero tengo la seguridad que es un recuerdo común que todos compartimos y eso me hace sentir segura y feliz. Levyrle Spencer me llevó a esa mesa con aires fríos y estelas blancas. Estoy dichosa de haber vivido un libro encantador y descubierto una gran autora.

Encontré el libro buscando algo así, como encanto, amor, ingenuidad, ternura…No me hallaba con los títulos que me topaba, entonces se me ocurrió mirar mi tablet más viejita (la primera que tuve, un regalo de navidad del 2012) y allí estaba este título entre varios más. Lo seleccioné porque era romántico y me dio mucha curiosidad el cómo se iba a abordar el tema de “diferencia de edad”, porque para mí una diferencia de 16 años no es algo que me asombre o inquiete; sin embargo, el interés seguía porque supuse que la trascendencia a esa diferencia de edad, se lo iba a dar la época y la cultura.

La novela transcurre entre 1917 y 1918, en una provincia de Estados Unidos. Sus protagonistas, como bien reza la sinopsis, son un hombre de campo de 34 años y una joven maestra de 18 años que se enamoran. Ambos con una terquedad noble que me dejaba sin aliento, me llenaba de ternura, me sentía desarmada. Un amor entre dos personajes adorables y de ingenuidad a la par, donde la diferencia (que no está en el natalicio, es lo que nos muestra la autora) genera los conflictos entre los personajes y tensión en el lector. Si, tensión de amor, de pasiones, una tensión que seduce; también un poquito de erotismo; pero distinto, erotismo delicado, sutil, tierno. Tensión de muchas cosas y sentimientos, tensión porque urge amar; y no necesariamente hay tensión sexual. Claro, estoy describiendo un romance, pero no es un romance empalagoso ni edulcorado, es humilde, es bello. Y, curiosamente, no será la historia de amor por lo que yo recordaré el libro. Los Dulces Años, es una historia de más cosas. Una historia de crecimiento, de nuestros propios prejuicios, de vivir, de despedidas, de madurez, el valor de la familia, de la guerra y de la cotidianidad, que esta ultima para mi es la que lleva la batuta. Levyrle Spencer ha sido generosa en la totalidad de la composición del libro, pero en lo que más me he fijado es en cómo ella trata la cotidianidad. Definitivamente, me encanta la cotidianidad, disfruto mucho la mía y siempre quisiera espiar la de los demás. La autora hace un poema visual con sus descripciones, que no solo fueron películas para mí, sino emociones y recuerdos. Es como si ella cogiera lo más grande y lo llevara al límite de la modestia y te dijera “mira que hermoso”, y/o, lo más simple y te mostrara su grandeza. Y no es porque ella nos retrate la vida de unas personas sencillas que viven en el campo o en un pueblo, es por cómo ella lustra no solo la cotidianidad que viven o lo que hacen, sino también el valor de lo que pareciera simple. No quiero spoilear, pero me pareció noble y precioso el asunto de los mensajes en las pizarras.
Esa cotidianidad me descubrió lo que aquí he querido compartir. Pero me parece imprescindible acentuar la primera guerra y la familia. Porque Levyrle Spencer muestra como la guerra quizás se fue acercando como animal silencioso de pasos gigantes, porque en un principio era algo lejano que no afectaba la vida diaria de la comunidad y como, despacio, empieza a ser visible, palpable. En simultánea, están los días de las personas, está “esa mesa” de madera donde se reúne la familia. La familia…como apoyo, la familia como la primera fuente de amor, de calor, de fraternidad. La familia como agente responsable para la formación y malformación del individuo. A mi parecer, la autora busca que volvamos a los valores de la familia, pero no de una forma aleccionadora y con moraleja; lo hace con el lenguaje de los días, del tiempo compartido, de lo cotidiano.

Hace tiempo que no encontraba un libro de cinco estrellas ni un autor del cual me volvería devota. Cuando iba por el 80% del libro, me dije que lo valoraría en 4.5 estrellas y me decía que no le daba las cinco porque cinco es la excelencia y a veces me pongo cansona con eso de la excelencia (me enseñaron que la excelencia no existe), también me dije 5 estrellas parece fanatismo o efervescencia. En el 85% me quedé sin argumentos y no me aguanto y le pongo las cinco estrellas, porque se lo merece. Un libro hermoso, sin pretensiones construido desde lo simple. Quiero este libro en papel y se lo obsequiaría a mi mamá, a mis amigas, a mis primas de todas las edades, me parece un regalo bonito!.

[Krisaundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lavyrle Spencer is, in my opinion, the best romance writer of all the ones out there I have come across... her books take place in many places throughout America, in various time frames, yet always come across as current and applicable to any woman, anywhere, at any point in time... Her ability to create rich characters filled with human flaws is what appeals to me most. None of them are perfectly gorgeous, with fabulous lives and not all of them have happy endings in the way we think of, or expect from a romance novel, making them incredibly relate-able... If you love a beautiful romance story with characters who are as less than perfect as most of us, and are willing to accept realistic twist and turns rather than the expected "they lived happily ever after" ending, then you will love this, or any, of her books. ♥

[Viri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fue una historia bonita pero sinceramente esperaba más. Me gusta que esté ambientada en otra época pero por momentos me parecía demasiado lenta y aburrida, además el final estuvo súper drama jajaja

[Petra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a review, just a few notes.
I am pleasantly surprised by Lavyrle Spencer since this is my first book by her. The romance was great and I was completely glued to the book. But also it was long. I found myself skipping passages.
There are descriptions of some gruesome stuff.

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer and loved that book so much that I wanted to read more from her backlist. So my library had the audio for Years too and I jumped in! This is a historical romance set in 1917 between a new-to-town school teacher and a gruff North Dakota wheat farmer.

Linnea is 18-years old and excited to begin her first teaching position in North Dakota. She gets picked up at the train station by Teddy who is expecting a male teacher. Teddy’s family has always housed the teachers in town and to say they get off on the wrong foot would be an understatement. He is not a fan, thinks she’s too young, doesn’t want a young woman living in his home, and is just all together flabbergasted that she isn’t the male teacher he thought he was picking up. Teddy shares a home with his mother and his teenage son and wheat farming is his life.

Honestly this book was giving Sarah, Plain and Tall vibes and I was not mad about it. He’s a gruff farmer and sees himself as so much older than her (he’s 16 years older and does have a son a year younger than her). But there is some chemistry brewing as well. This book felt very long, the audio was 20 hours and at times you really felt it but then other times it made sense why it was so long. Very slice of life style of storytelling but it was kinda needed with these two, the slow burn is definitely slow, but you get a lot of their life, the town, the side characters happenings, the weather/seasons as well. I liked seeing him come around and open up to her, she teaches him how to read, we have WWI happening, influenza, their romance, etc. I still loved Morning Glory so much more, but this one was solid as well. I wouldn’t say this book is for every reader, but I enjoyed it.

CW: animal death (horse)

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely book!! Wow, LaVyrle Spencer was a fine writer. Although I'm sure I had read this one some time ago, I'd forgotten most of it so it was like a new read this time.

Taking place in a remote wheat-farming community of Norwegian immigrants in north Dakota in 1917-1918, this novel captures a picture perfect moment in time. And it's not overly romanticised. Although there is the strong and loving community, many of whom are related (LOL), Spencer also depicts some of the problems such a community faced. The harsh conditions of work and life there, the cruel winters, the challenges of living so isolated, the older immigrants who still remember and miss the land of the midnight sun they left behind. And not all of the characters are perfect people. There's the horrible Allan Severt, for example. And the creepy Rusty.

This story is centred around an older man, Theodor, or Teddy (34) who falls for the new school teacher, Linnea, who's only 18. And she falls hard for him too. Linnea doesn't fight it - she knows she's in love and wants to marry this quiet, steady farmer. She doesn't care about the 'years' (of the book's title) between them. But Teddy thinks he's too old for Linnea and he keeps on fighting it, until...he can't.

They do get their HEA, but the book doesn't end right there. This is a big, slow-burn story with a big cast of fascinating characters, and the story moves graciously on till the final, final moment, when, yes, I shed another tear. By this time events in the wider world are impinging on their little community - the devastating war in Europe, and the shocking Spanish influenza epidemic.

You get to know and care about a whole cast of characters in this book, not just Teddy and Linnea. There's the wonderful John, Teddy's brother, quiet, sturdy, a little 'slow', and deeply loved by everyone. There's Nissa, their mother, a warm and wonderful Grandma to her grandchildren, who tells them stories of her youth in Norway, and is always cooking, knitting, busy. There's 16-year-old Kristian, who dreams of being a pilot in one of those new-fangled planes. There are Linnea's students - from the sweetly lisping very young up to the 16-year-olds who are starting to feel their hormones waking up. As a teacher of teens myself, I really enjoyed the scenes of school. Linnea's naivety and inexperience, but her love of her job and her charges, and her fabulous energy and teaching ideas. The funny conversations between teen boys on the cusp of manhood, shyly wanting to confide in each other about girls, but not wanting to say too much.

There are some sad and wrenching moments in the book. Spencer doesn't shy away from the reality of the times and the dangers faced. Yet at the same time as a reader you feel you are looking in at a warm and magical tableau, frozen in time, of a hundred years ago. Some of my own forebears were farmers from Germany, Poland and Denmark who emigrated to the other side of the world (Australia), and I feel a connection with the characters in this book. But even if that weren't the case, it's still a beautifully written book by anyone's standards, and a very moving story with a lovely ending.

[Marie Saville · Rating 5 out of 5]

«De hombres y caballos trascendía cierta magnificencia, tan pequeños contra la majestad de la tierra que se extendía ante ella. ¿Cómo era posible que estuviese desarrollándose una guerra, si ante ella sólo se extendían abundancia y belleza? Y se decía que la guerra se libraba precisamente para conservar lo que estaba contemplando.
Pensó en la bandera que acababa de colgar y en las palabras que había escrito en la pizarra. Contempló a los tres hombres que guiaban a los animales a través de un espeso trigal. Hizo una profunda inspiración y, dando pequeños saltos, los saludó con los brazos.
Uno de ellos le devolvió el saludo».
— Lavyrle Spencer, 'Los dulces años' 🍂

Algunos libros resisten las relecturas y el paso del tiempo. No importa lo mucho que cambies; esos libros, que te hicieron suspirar siendo adolescente, siguen despertando las mismas sensaciones que aquella primera vez en la que los tuviste entre las manos.
'Los dulces años' es para mi uno de esos libros.

Linnea, Theodore, una pequeña escuela perdida entre un mar de trigo y una pequeña comunidad de personas fijada en el tiempo; exactamente en ese otoño de 1917, en el que el mundo vivía entre grandes tragedias y pequeños milagros.
Eso es lo que describe Lavyrle Spencer en esta preciosa novela hecha de pequeños milagros cotidianos.

Linnea y Theodore no empiezan su relación con muy buen pie. Ella acaba de llegar a Alamo, Dakota del Norte para ocuparse de la escuela local. Él es uno de los miembros destacados de la pequeña comunidad de emigrantes noruegos que trabaja en los campos de cereal. Él tiene 34 años, ella 18. Él apenas sabe escribir su nombre, ella exhibe orgullosa su recién estrenado diploma de maestra. Y pese a sus diferencias iniciales y a la reticencia de Theodore, la enemistad da paso a la complicidad e incluso a las risas compartidas; a furtivos cruces de miradas durante el desayuno o el primer baile de la cosecha...
Eso es lo que cuenta, con exquisita delicadeza, 'Los dulces años': la tierna y sencilla historia de dos buenas personas que se enamoran.

Estoy convencida, pasarán los años y continuaré regresando a este libro con la misma emoción.
Me seguiré enamorando de Theodore y de Linnea y de esas sencillas escenas cotidianas que comparten y que me siguen acelerando el corazón; de Nissa, del adorable John, de Kristian y de los niños de la escuela; e incluso del estofado de corazón, aunque yo también hubiese tenido que aguantar las arcadas, como Linnea, de haber tenido que comérmelo...
Como olvidar la escena de la despedida en Navidad, los estragos del 'aquavit', la terrible tempestad de nieve, a John cargando el abeto para Linnea, a Nissa tejiendo en su mecedora, mientras Theodore aprende el abecedario con la ayuda de la 'pequeña señorita'...

Si buscáis una novela romántica llena de entrañables personajes, realista y en absoluto edulcorada, no lo dudéis. Estoy convencida de que adorareis 'Los dulces años'.

[Rebecca M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend!!

This book isn't just about a slow burning romance, this book is about a community, family, farming life, how World War One changes a country behind the scenes, the galloping of wild horses in winter, the seasons changing...
Quite frankly, this book written twenty years ago with such richness and character depth, is going to make everything else seem two dimensional and simplistic for a very long time, this has set a very high bar.
If you love the complexity of Anne Of Green Gables, as an example. Or Outlander, where the history of life surrounding our main characters, is just as strong, this your kind of book.
When the author takes the time to introduce us to a variety of complex characters, family members, all facets of life from a farm, a classroom, church; allows us to fall in love with everyone deeply (or hate), care for everyone so much with affection... well it makes you as the reader feel everything so much more, from a first kiss, first love, first passion, joy and grief.
I should have finished this book at 78% when it was a beautiful HEA. Afraid to go on because I knew this author wasn't finished with me yet.
Sigh!! The last 20% will make you cry, several times. Tears are very cathartic, aren't they?
This book Is beautifully written. It will make you feel. It will make you laugh and swoon, fear with despair, cry in sadness, yet appreciate life goes on in its various seasons, changing us forever and moving us forward.
I highly recommend.

[Katrina Passick Lumsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmmm. After reading Spencer's Morning Glory, this tale pales a bit in comparison. It's good in its own right, but nothing when compared to some of Spencer's other work. I liked Linnea and Teddy, but sometimes their immature antics grated on the nerves a bit. I enjoyed their chemistry together, but felt like there wasn't really enough time spent on just them. Once they got together, it was like they'd never fallen in love. And that was disappointing.

The avalanche of bad that occurs in the final chapters of the book might be a bit much for some readers to handle. It's not a light read, it's a rather gut-wrenching drama. Coming from Lavyrle Spencer, is that any surprise?

[Serena Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha encantado este libro. La verdad es que hasta las ultimas cien paginas estaba siendo mi libro favorito numero uno...
Me encantan Teddy y Linnea, como ella lo corrige, como él se come la cabeza por la edad
Me encanta Nissa, una mujer fuerte y vital
Me encanta John y su forma de ser... adoro a los niños

OJOOOOOOO SPOILERRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Pero en las cien ultimas paginas a la autora le ha dado la vena y ha hecho como J.K. Rowling en Harry Potter... me ha roto el corazon... menudos lloros que me he pegado.

no me gusta que en una casa llena de gente derrepente se queden asi... me ha entristecido totalmente

9.5/10

[Beleth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uno de los libros imprescindibles de esta autora y una clara muestra de que el amor lo puede todo.

Reseña completa en http://beldevoradoradelibros.blogspot...

[Pikolina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Es una historia preciosa, con muchos sentimientos y con personajes que se hacen querer.
Me encanta la autora.
Recomendable 200%

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Los dulces años” de Lavyrle Spencer, es un libro de género romántico que fue publicado por primera vez en 1986, en el género romántico cualquier libro anterior a 2010 se considera ya viejo, porque 2010 fue el año a partir del cual se consideró que la romántica debía dejar atrás ciertas cosas.

Sin embargo Lavyrle Spencer no cae en esos tópicos. Es cierto que se nota el paso del tiempo en algunos pequeños aspectos, pero aun así este es un libro que ha envejecido bien. Es un enemies to lovers pero no cae en tópicos del género.

“Los dulces años” cuenta una historia de pioneros, de vidas duras dedicadas a una tierra que exige mucho, son gente que vinieron de otro lugar, en este caso Noruega, para buscar una vida mejor y poder darle un futuro a sus hijos y a los hijos de sus hijos. En ellos hace mella el desarraigo que afecta incluso a las generaciones ya nacidas en la tierra de Dakota del Norte. No saben si son del todo americanos y no sienten que hayan dejado de ser noruegos, viven aferrados a las viejas costumbres de su tierra de origen y les cuesta adaptarse a la lengua y las costumbres de la nueva vida.

Linnea es una joven maestra de escuela que se enamora perdidamente de un hombre sencillo, trabajador, inteligente y analfabeto. Theodore es un buen hombre aunque sea cabezota como una mula y esté obsesionado con que le saca 16 años a la joven. Pero ella tiene fe en lo que sienten ambos y está dispuesta a luchar por los dos y por esa familia extensa de noruegos grandes, cabezotas, sencillos y tremendamente entrañables. Linnea se hace hueco entre la fuerte mujer que es la madre de Teddy y el enamoradizo hijo de 16 años, Kristian y reclama un lugar propio en el corazón de un hombre dispuesto a crecer y avanzar con tal de ser digno de ella. Las partes en que Linnea enseña a Teddy a leer son de mis favoritas. Y las partes en que Teddy le pide a su hijo que le ayude con su lectura también.
De fondo, la primera guerra mundial, en tierras lejanas pero presente y cada vez más amenazante en las sencillas vidas de Alamo. Y la dureza del clima, la lucha por la supervivencia, el enorme amor que une a todos los hermanos, los sobrinos, los hijos, las madres. Es un libro que tiene partes muy duras, a Lavyrle Spencer no le tiembla la mano en ese sentido, pero que vale muchísimo la pena. Creo que es un libro que voy a releer mucho y recordar con mucho cariño, por la fuerte, decidida y soñadora Linnea, por el gran corazón de Teddy, por la dulce presencia de John, por la matriarca que siempre tira del carro Nissa, por ese jovenzuelo Kristian que descubre los primeros amores, por esos niños tan increíbles de la escuela, por tantas cosas.

Quiero leer más cosas de Spencer porque además, a pesar de que la traducción tiene algunos fallitos, se ve perfectamente que hacía magia con las palabras. Esta es una historia tan profunda y tan bien llevada, tiene una ambientación tan real, tan vívida que da rabia que tesoros como este tengan esa etiqueta tan despreciada por el gran público. Merece ser leído.

[Simply_ego · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un historia de amor pausado, cocinado a fuego lento. Donde puedes disfrutar de cada momento, de cada mirada.

Lo gruñidos de Theddy son geniales. Como lucha por su necesidad de ella. Como se engaña a si mismo diciendo que NO PUEDE SER!.

Que madurez de carácter tiene Linn. Si es cierto que tiene 18 años, pero también es cierto que en la época en la que se desarrolla y con las circunstancias, es más que creíble.

Con este libro crees en el amor sin edad, sin barreras absurdas que te impidan ser feliz.

Te ríes, lloras y disfrutas de cada momento y sentimiento que la autora te provoca en cada situación.

[Andre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tercer libro que leo de esta autora, siempre coloca a sus protagonistas en situaciones muy complicadas o con vidas muy sufridas, pero que te llevan a hermosos desenlaces.
Linnea llega a emplearse como profesora en un pueblo que gira en torno a la cosecha del trigo, debe quedarse en casa del granjero Teddy que le hará la vida muy difícil. Entre ellos nace un secreto amor y la desdicha de tener bastante diferencia de edad.

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

What do years have to do with this feeling we have? They're just...just numbers.

[Nell · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ever since I started to know much about anything about romance books, I had a list of authors that I wasn’t too interested in reading. Over the past few years I’ve slowly been working through that list and giving these authors a fair chance, because really, I was basing this opinion on inklings and feelings and why shouldn’t they get a fair chance?

Anyway, LaVyrle Spencer was one of the authors on my list that I didn’t think would be my kind of writer, so I thought I would give her a try.

I had Years recommended to me as a good place to start with her, so that was the book I choose.

Now, for the first ¾ of this book I was going along okay, it was a bit too much “community-romancey” which I’m not a big fan of and I wasn’t overly taken away by the story, even if I was quite amused by the uniqueness of the setting – 1917 in North Dakota in a Norwegian farming community. Definitely a unique setting for me.
So, yes, I get to 75% through the book, and I know that this isn’t an author I’d read again, but there was nothing too objectionable about the book. Then the hero and heroine proclaim their love and get married – usually that’s the HEA, right?

Well, then we get the last 25% of the book, which was, quite frankly, god damn awful. It was miserable and depressing and horrible, and did not need to have happened.

Serious spoilers ahead, and please, tell me, does this sound remotely romantic? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not expecting all sunshine and roses and lollipops in my romances, but if something bad happens, I do expect it to have a point in the emotional growth of its characters towards their HEA. Keeping in mind, this has already happened in this book.

There was a snow storm, they had to kill and gut their beloved horses so they could climb inside their corpses and still John dies.

Then one of the heroine’s students starts choking and tries to rape a little girl.

Then the mother dies in a Spanish Influenza outbreak while the son trots off to war.

Cheerful stuff right?

Honestly, if I hadn’t been reading on an ereader, this book would have been tossed across the room post-haste. The last quarter of this book made me angry and turned my general ambivalence about this book and this author into a firm vow never to go near one of her books ever again. Awful, awful stuff that didn’t have to be there.

Bah.