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Seasons of the Heart #1- 4
Once Upon a Summer/The Winds of Autumn/Winter is Not Forever/Spring's Gentle Promise
Janette Oke, with over 11 million copies of her books in print, writes with a special feeling about her characters and their time. This heartwarming collection of four novels is a wonderful series of stories about an American family on the prairies of yesterday.
576 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 1987
28 people are currently reading
536 people want to read
About the author
Janette Oke
346 books3,463 followersJanette Oke is a Canadian author known for her inspirational fiction, often set in a pioneer era and focused on female protagonists. Her debut novel, Love Comes Softly (1979), became the foundation for a successful series, followed by over 75 other novels. The first book in her Canadian West series, When Calls the Heart (1983), inspired the popular television series of the same name.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.
Born in Champion, Alberta, to farmers Fred and Amy (née Ruggles) Steeves during the Great Depression, Oke went on to graduate from Mountain View Bible College in Didsbury, Alberta, where she met her future husband, Edward Oke, who later became the president of the college. The couple has four children, including a daughter who has collaborated with Janette on several books.
A committed Evangelical Christian, Oke has authored numerous works exploring themes of faith. She has received various accolades for her contributions to Christian fiction, including the 1992 President's Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the 1999 CBA Life Impact Award.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
April 13, 2015
4.5 rating for the whole volume.
I don't read book blurbs when I don't have to, and I had no intention of looking at any blurb or other beforehand to know what Seasons of the Heart was about. Janette Oke's name and the fact that I've known for years that the series existed was enough.
I was in for three noteworthy surprises from the first novel: the story is told in the first person, which isn't common for Oke's novels; second, the protagonist is an adolescent boy, Joshua, which isn't common for Oke's novels; and third, Josh's perspective, along with the well-intentioned but not-the-best-idea scheming of his grandpa and uncle, actually had me laughing aloud, something I'm not used to doing with Oke's novels. I mean, sure, I've enjoyed light moments she's handled with a light hand before, but some of the stuff here is just downright hilarious.
I liked seeing the dynamics of the different kind of family Joshua has, and though the tone of the writing gradually changes through the series as Joshua grows, it's well worth it to follow his story right on into his adulthood.
Simple novels of faith and love and learning through trials (and prairie life and the like) are what I count on this author for, and I've not been disappointed. There's genius in telling uncomplicated but engaging stories that just get the job done.
I don't read book blurbs when I don't have to, and I had no intention of looking at any blurb or other beforehand to know what Seasons of the Heart was about. Janette Oke's name and the fact that I've known for years that the series existed was enough.
I was in for three noteworthy surprises from the first novel: the story is told in the first person, which isn't common for Oke's novels; second, the protagonist is an adolescent boy, Joshua, which isn't common for Oke's novels; and third, Josh's perspective, along with the well-intentioned but not-the-best-idea scheming of his grandpa and uncle, actually had me laughing aloud, something I'm not used to doing with Oke's novels. I mean, sure, I've enjoyed light moments she's handled with a light hand before, but some of the stuff here is just downright hilarious.
I liked seeing the dynamics of the different kind of family Joshua has, and though the tone of the writing gradually changes through the series as Joshua grows, it's well worth it to follow his story right on into his adulthood.
Simple novels of faith and love and learning through trials (and prairie life and the like) are what I count on this author for, and I've not been disappointed. There's genius in telling uncomplicated but engaging stories that just get the job done.
December 23, 2016
This is my favorite series of all the Janette Oke books. It follows a young boy through 4 seasons as he ages in about the early 1900s. He lives with his grandfather, his great uncle, and his older sister. Follows him through to adulthood. I loved these and think men would enjoy them. I read this to my father during the last year of his life and he loved the story line.
July 6, 2018
A wonderful book of love, loss, heartache and faith in God. Janette Oke never disappoints.
February 1, 2019
Read this with my 10 year old son. He loved it. Well up until the lovey dovey ending. All of Josh’s adventures growing up gave us some good things to talk about and lessons to learn.
October 24, 2019
A really great coming of age story.
March 12, 2020
Once Upon a Summer
This is my second time reading this one, and I enjoyed it. It followed the coming-of-age type story of Josh and the hardships he went through as a twelve-year-old. It was entertaining and I didn't want to put it down once I got into it. The characters were easy to like. The plot wasn't boring and was well-thought out, I think.
Josh struggled to understand God and "wrestled" with the idea of him throughout the story. He wasn't perfect and definitely came close to severing all ties with God, but he was able to work through it and see God right were he had been all along—with him. I didn't feel like the ending was too rushed when Josh comes to this point and it felt natural. Auntie Lou also finds love and I liked how that turned out to.
This would be a great book to hand off to a pre-teen or young reader. The story is interesting, there is nothing objectionable in my opinion (no kissing, cursing, etc.), and the main character is relatable. The story does deal with death quite a bit, but it is dealt with pretty well, I think. The ending was good, too.
Winds of Autumn
I liked this book even better than the first. The characters grew on me even more.
There were a few times when I laughed out loud at some situations/comments in the book. Josh can be so blunt sometimes, and I can't help but laugh at some of his thoughts/words!
I also cried at the sudden death of someone new to the picture--Janette Oke did an excellent job in creating a character that you cared about in such a short time during the story. I also cried at the death of someone who'd been in the story for a long time. Both were sad, but they were also great opportunities to explore God for Josh. He was quite angry for a good chunk of the book and blamed God for a lot of things. But he had good friends to call him out on it, and I liked that.
The author dug deep, possibly deeper into emotions than in the first one. It was excellently done--not too sappy/exaggerated, but also not dry.
There was nothing objectionable that I remember. There is a detailed fight that happens, discussions concerning a baby dying, plus another death, and evolution is discussed as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed it!
Okay, after writing separate reviews for the first two books, I couldn't control myself and breezed through the rest of the book because it was so good. This book reminds me of the types of books I'd read when I was a preteen and so it has a bit of nostalgia for me. It is also interesting, well-written, and believable. Janette Oke did an amazing job with this series and this book takes a spot on my Favorites list. It's one of those books that I'll be rereading every few years. I laughed and cried and felt like I knew all of these people in real life by the end of the story. That's a good book, in my opinion :)
There are a few kisses in the last 2-3 books in the series, but nothing too descriptive from what I remember.
5 stars.
This is my second time reading this one, and I enjoyed it. It followed the coming-of-age type story of Josh and the hardships he went through as a twelve-year-old. It was entertaining and I didn't want to put it down once I got into it. The characters were easy to like. The plot wasn't boring and was well-thought out, I think.
Josh struggled to understand God and "wrestled" with the idea of him throughout the story. He wasn't perfect and definitely came close to severing all ties with God, but he was able to work through it and see God right were he had been all along—with him. I didn't feel like the ending was too rushed when Josh comes to this point and it felt natural. Auntie Lou also finds love and I liked how that turned out to.
This would be a great book to hand off to a pre-teen or young reader. The story is interesting, there is nothing objectionable in my opinion (no kissing, cursing, etc.), and the main character is relatable. The story does deal with death quite a bit, but it is dealt with pretty well, I think. The ending was good, too.
Winds of Autumn
I liked this book even better than the first. The characters grew on me even more.
There were a few times when I laughed out loud at some situations/comments in the book. Josh can be so blunt sometimes, and I can't help but laugh at some of his thoughts/words!
I also cried at the sudden death of someone new to the picture--Janette Oke did an excellent job in creating a character that you cared about in such a short time during the story. I also cried at the death of someone who'd been in the story for a long time. Both were sad, but they were also great opportunities to explore God for Josh. He was quite angry for a good chunk of the book and blamed God for a lot of things. But he had good friends to call him out on it, and I liked that.
The author dug deep, possibly deeper into emotions than in the first one. It was excellently done--not too sappy/exaggerated, but also not dry.
There was nothing objectionable that I remember. There is a detailed fight that happens, discussions concerning a baby dying, plus another death, and evolution is discussed as well.
Overall, I really enjoyed it!
Okay, after writing separate reviews for the first two books, I couldn't control myself and breezed through the rest of the book because it was so good. This book reminds me of the types of books I'd read when I was a preteen and so it has a bit of nostalgia for me. It is also interesting, well-written, and believable. Janette Oke did an amazing job with this series and this book takes a spot on my Favorites list. It's one of those books that I'll be rereading every few years. I laughed and cried and felt like I knew all of these people in real life by the end of the story. That's a good book, in my opinion :)
There are a few kisses in the last 2-3 books in the series, but nothing too descriptive from what I remember.
5 stars.
February 27, 2022
I loved the characters! This series is full of so many things. I enjoyed the story very much. It was sweet and heart warming. The characters had their ups and down, and their flaws. It was pretty cool reading the years go by and the changes it made. I really liked it. I had a review and rating under each of the individual four books on Goodreads. If your looking to see what I thought of each one separately.
May 17, 2020
One of my favorite comfort books, I've read it at least four times over the years. Watching Josh grow up and description of farm life is wonderful.
November 7, 2021
So glad I took a year to read through this book to really enjoy it and to take some lessons from it for my own life.
February 5, 2023
I absolutely loved all four novels in this book. I laughed and cried and did a bit of soul searching. Very well written.
April 22, 2023
Seasons of the Heart by Janette Oke – A sweet story about a family bound by love! Happy Reading!
February 13, 2025
This whole series was so so good! I read it so quickly. Not surprised as I also loved her Love Comes Softly series so much!
December 12, 2025
I like this series not only because it is entertaining but also because it is in a guy's point of view which is different.
September 2, 2016
Written in the first person of a young boy, Joshua Chadwick Jones, this was a wonderfully interesting story. It was so good, in fact, that when my children were in elementary school, I read it aloud to them, a chapter or two per night, as a bedtime story. Once again, Janette Oke has skillfully crafted a story that intertwines love for God, love for family, and persistence in the face of hardship. We need more authors like her!
November 19, 2009
I really enjoyed this book. It takes place starting about10 years before the depression and goes through the depression in the mid west. This is actually for books all together it's once upon SUMMER, winds of Autumn,winter is not forever and springs gentle promise. It is written from the view of the boy.
August 19, 2014
I think this is such an amzaing book. It's cool to see how Josh and his friends grow up and go through different stages in their lives. I also like how the family is close nit and Godly. At the end of the book Josh finally realized what he was suppose to do with his life. Be a farmer and raise a family. If you haven't read this book please do. It's that awesome :)
March 1, 2015
While I enjoyed books 1 & 2, it was books 3 & 4 that really roped me into the story and characters. I came to love Josh, Grandpa, Uncle Charlie, Gramps, Auntie Lou and others. When you get emotionally involved in the characters' lives, you know the author has done a great job! Definitely worth the read!
May 1, 2009
I love Janette Oke! Her books take me back to a time when life was about family, hard work and introduce me to characters developing their faith in Christ. If I could step back in time it would be this time period for sure!
June 4, 2009
Starts with 12 yr old Josh who lives with Grandpa, Uncle Charlie and his teenaged Aunt Lou. Lots of fun experiences and loving family relationships. The books continue on through Josh’s growing up. Religious fiction. Unfortunately, classic Oke, in other words: someone has to die in each book.
September 29, 2014
I read a lot of Oke's books before they all started sounding the same. This series was the one I remember best for its ability to capture some of life's simple yet precious moments. More than a romance.
November 5, 2010
reread 6/2010
February 26, 2009
Love these books!!! Love anything from Janette Oke. They speak of a much simpler life! Wonderful reading!!!
July 31, 2009
A great reading of a young boy during his life from childhood till an adult. enjoyed this book.
December 28, 2009
I really enjoyed this series. I recommend it to everyone. It's mostly uplifting, but also has great points of going through real life challenges.
November 16, 2009
Typical Janette Oke, sweet stories, easy read and nothing offensive. Always a nice breath of fresh air.
July 19, 2011
I have read these books over and over since my mother gave them to me on my twelth birthday. I read them at least once a year. Josh and his family are such real characters.
August 9, 2011
Great book learn so much from the days before mine
December 11, 2011
Growing up, my mum owned this edition, and so I kind of think of this series all as one book. Even now, I tend to read all four books at once even though each novel is separate.
December 17, 2012
A great love story from an interesting and not often seen perspective
April 13, 2013
I've read this about twenty times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews