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Planting the Seeds of Love: A Novella

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Torn between two men, Sally must follow her heart and decide if love will lead her to the city or the countryside.

Twenty-Two year old Sally Rayton returns to the family farm she deserted four years ago to bury her grandfather. Her plan: to settle her grandfather's estate and return to her life in the city with her boyfriend, Trevor Mattson.

Her childhood friend, Jack Smith, has other ideas.

Jack convinces Sally to transform the farm into a brewery and fulfill her grandfather's dream while keeping the Rayton Farm in the family. Sally works side-by-side with Jack while Trevor is hundreds of miles away in the city. The more time she spends with Jack, the stronger her feelings are for him.

When Trevor shows up to propose to Sally right before Christmas and finds her in Jack's embrace, she must make the biggest choice of her life: true love.
Book Trailer: animoto.com/play/emNoj04aSL9tWY0iuIb5...

125 pages, ebook

First published September 15, 2015

1 person is currently reading
365 people want to read

About the author

N.N. Light/N. N. Light's Book Heaven

6 books2,133 followers
Life is meant to be lived; cherish the exciting moments, and relish in those all too brief moments of relaxation. We're here to live our own lives, read as many books as humanly possible and share our love of reading passionately. N. N. Light's Book Heaven serves as a vessel to project our passions, and clue in our loyal readers as to what inspires us in this crazy world. So, sit back, relax, and read on.

N. N. Light is the award-winning husband-wife writing team, commonly known as Mr. N and Nancy.

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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
Profile Image for Jacquie.
Author 84 books885 followers
September 11, 2015
What would you do if everything in your life changed in one fatal moment?

Sally Rayton left home to pursue a career in the city, never expecting to receive a call that the man she looked up to more than any other, her grandfather, had passed away and left her the family farm.

Heart-broken, she returns to bury her grandpa and settle the estate but things get complicated when she runs into her old friend, Jack. Long buried feelings rise to the fore and muddy the waters between Sally and her boyfriend, Trevor.

Soon she realizes that she’s going to have to make a choice between these two special men in her life. Will Sally go back to the world she’s created in the city, or will she stay and make a life on the farm? You’ll have to read the book to find out, :)

I love this type of story-line. It’s a true-to-life conflict that a lot of us face (well a girl can dream, right? :)) Two hot guys, a successful career, or a budding business, what’s a girl to do?

The author does a splendid job of building the internal tension as well as some wonderfully lighthearted interactions that play out perfectly and keep the reader engaged. The secondary characters are well thought out, and bring an added dimension to the setting.

Favorite lines:

He looked like five miles of bad road. (Very visual :))

Jack made a move to sit upright, clutching his head like a bowling ball.

“So, this is your new place?” She curled a finger around a cell bar. “It’s nice, a little sparse, but nice.”

I give this book:

5 lovely Kisses

I received this book in exchange for an honest review

Blogged on http://jbiggarblog.wordpress.com
Profile Image for Nicholas Rossis.
Author 21 books119 followers
October 14, 2015
A sweet, clean romance featuring a woman caught between two worlds - the small-town farm she inherits from her grandfather, and the big city she has moved to. Each comes with its own romantic interest: a childhood friend for the former; a fellow student who adores her for the latter.

The writing is impeccable, the pacing perfect, the heroes easy to identify with and care for, and the story a welcome change from the usual "good boy vs bad boy" tale. In this novella, no choice is perfect, and that only adds to its charm.

A perfect read, even for a reader like me - someone who doesn't normally read romances.
Profile Image for Olga Miret.
Author 44 books250 followers
February 4, 2016
It will make you smile I’m reviewing this novella as part of Rosie’s Book Review Team and I was offered a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This romantic novella (with no erotica) centres on a young woman, Sally. When her grandfather dies she goes back to his farm that she’d left to go and study in the city. His death and his testament turn her ordered life upside down. She has a boyfriend in the city, Trevor, and she plans to have a coffee shop back there. But in his will her grandfather asks her to look after the farm and to do it with the help of her childhood friend, Jack. They used to play together as children, and he was the knight in shining armour to her beautiful princess. The farm is in financial difficulties, but those can’t compare to the troubles of the heart Sally gets into. Ultimately she must decide if she wants to stay in the farm (now turned into a brewery) with Jack, or go back to the city with Trevor.
This is an easy read, with likeable characters. There are no major complexities and although the two male characters confront each other, there is no big drama or real tragedies on the way, although there are mishaps and worries. Most of the difficulties Sally experiences are down to her heart and her lack of clarity about her true feelings. The author is good at capturing the nuances of the emotions and the subjective state of mind of the main character whilst avoiding explicit scenes. She is also particularly skilled at creating romantic scenes, without going into too much description or detail, allowing the readers to use their own imagination and put themselves in the characters’ place.
Planting the Seeds of Love will make you smile and it’s the perfect read for when you want something short, sweet and not taxing. The perfect break from a heavy day; it will lift your spirits.
Profile Image for Ann M. Noser.
Author 6 books139 followers
September 5, 2015
I don't usually read romance novellas (or romance in general, call me hard-hearted if you want to), but this is a sweet coming of age novel which makes you wish too could come back home.

I was really glad the romance didn't get too graphic, because that's just not my thing (some people are into that I understand, but it makes me turn the page).

I liked the idea of turning the farm into a brewery and wouldn't have minded seeing more of that.
In fact, I wouldn't have minded seeing more of several things (which would, of course, turn this into a novel instead of a novella...)

This celebration of returning to your roots and love for the land is a more realistic coming of age novel because in high school hardly anyone knows anything--and she finally "comes of age" when she comes back home. This sweet love triangle is really between her love for city versus country life.
Profile Image for Amazeballs Book Addicts.
2,811 reviews243 followers
October 14, 2015
Planting the Seeds of Love is a short quick read. Sally left her country family farm and went off the college in the city. While there is found love in Trevor. Trevor is career driven. Sally returns back to the farm when her grandfather passes away. While there she reconnects with her childhood friend Jack. There are definitely sparks between Jack and Sally. Jack and Sally both inherit the farm and have to spent time together. There time together pushes them closer but we can't forget that Trevor is back in the city waiting for Sally. Both Jack and Trevor have good qualities and Sally has to decide what her future will be and which guy will be there with her.

A copy was received for a review.

Profile Image for Ariel C.
38 reviews18 followers
February 6, 2017
Very cute, feel good contemporary romance novella.

Twenty two year old business student Sally Rayton reluctantly returns to the family farm for her grandfather's funeral with Trevor her city boyfriend.
Although her grandfather wanted her to keep the farm in the family, Sally has other ideas and plan's to: settle her grandfather's estate, bid her childhood friend Jack goodbye and return to her life in the city.
But Jack has always loved Sally and has other ideas for the future.
Sally is unsure... so grandfather's ghost decides to pay her a visit and help her decide.
Torn between two men and two ways of life, Sally must decide where her heart and future lies- city or countryside.

A very sweet, warm and gentle read.
Short and clean- scenes with some light fighting and swearing but no sex or extreme language.

Sally came across as a bit of a spoilt little princess, with Jack as her clear Prince Charming.
I really didn't like the character Trevor- so possessive and arrogant.

Great descriptive narrative, vivid dialogue that not only breathed life into the characters but provided a window into life in a tight knit countryside community.
The countryside community was portrayed so positively, it even lured this committed city girl into sampling a taste of country life with a farm visit next holiday.
Profile Image for Jennie Rosenblum.
1,295 reviews44 followers
June 24, 2018
A sweet quick read of a romance novella. This story was a nice way to spend a quiet afternoon. The characters are all everyday folks that could easily be your neighbors. I enjoyed the fact that Sally was in love with two good guys who were just what they seemed to be. There is a little disconnect or abrupt ending of a few scenes that made me feel like maybe the author had originally intended for the story to be longer.
Profile Image for Kimberly Westrope.
Author 8 books9 followers
August 27, 2016
This is a short and very sweet romance. What do you do when you love two men? Sally must choose between her current boyfriend, Trevor, and her life-long friend, Jack. For a short story, this one is so well-developed and full of wonderful characters, it was a pleasure to read. All of the emotions, and the interactions between the characters (even secondary ones) are so well-written, the reader is instantly drawn into the story. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for Mary.
Author 30 books261 followers
June 27, 2022
Do you like romance? This is a wonderful tale of loving two very nice and decent men who love her. Sally didn't know what to do. In the end her heart told her where home was and who belonged there with her. In a situation like this someone is going to be hurt. If you want to know more you'll need to read it. I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Lynn  Davidson.
8,204 reviews35 followers
May 21, 2020
This is a sweet romance story.
Sally went home to the farm to take care of her grandfather's funeral and estate, leaving her boyfriend, Trevor, in the city. While working with her good friend, Jack, her feelings for him grow stronger and she realizes she must make a decision. Unannounced, Trevor arrives to propose and Sally struggles to choose the life she most wants.
Great story.
Profile Image for Nina Silva.
198 reviews11 followers
December 28, 2017
If you’re looking for a sweet, quick read with a Christmas theme, you’ve found it.

The opening chapter is action packed and very informative. A lot of the backstory is cleverly built into that chapter while setting the scene for an intricate romance.
I’ll admit, a love triangle is not my favourite story unless, of course, one of the guys is a complete loser and doesn’t deserve the girl. However, N.N. Light manages to write two likeable male leads. Both Trevor and Jack are flawed but their love for Sally is evident. They both treat her well and seem to understand her, perhaps better than she understands herself. There is no blatantly obvious male lead to root for.
That brings me to my grievance with the story. Sally. Sally is supposed to be sweet and honourable. Her emotions are heartfelt and she really is torn between two loves, ultimately having to choose the one she simply can’t live without. But I feel Sally brought some of this upon herself and at times I was annoyed with her. Why is she planning a romantic date with Jack when she is definitely still in a relationship with Trevor?
The farm: I loved the descriptions of the farm and the small community within which Rayton Farm is located. The locals are delightfully written and help further the plot.

My favourite part of the story:
The fact that both Trevor and Jack were so well-written, I couldn’t choose between them.

Least favourite part of the story:
Sally’s whiffle waffling between Jack and Trevor then acting the heart-broken one.

Definitely check this novella out if you’re looking for a short and sweet Christmas read.

3.5/5 for this one.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed here are my own.

Profile Image for Susan.
11 reviews1 follower
November 5, 2015
This was a great little romance - it was just the right size.
I hardly read modern romances anymore because they go "too far" too fast. This book had the romantic elements spread throughout at a good pace.
I watch A LOT of romantic comedies and if this book were a movie, it would be among my favourites.
Looking forward to the next romantic novella!
1 review
August 27, 2022
This was an amazing book to read. This book is full of love, sure to take your mind off the problems in the world.
Profile Image for Amanda.
10 reviews1 follower
December 3, 2015
I received this book through Goodreads Giveaways.

This book was a short and easy read, minus the obvious lack of proper proofreading.

The settings are nice but they really could have been fleshed out more, especially the farm since not only is it where the majority of the story takes place but it also changes after the initial description. Even during a farm tour there is a surprising lack of detail.

The characters are all likeable, and while they are also not developed very deeply they are pleasant to read about. The physical descriptions of the main characters are actually rather good, I didn't find it difficult to envision them. I also enjoyed the descriptions of facial expressions and body language.

The story itself is actually rather good. In addition to struggling with her feelings for two men, Sally encounters other challenges as well. It isn't without flaw (I mean really, swooning?) but I feel like with a bit more depth and detail, and without skipping over sometimes large time periods this could have been a full length book.

As it is, this is a nice novella. Not exceptional, but definitely enjoyable. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a short diversion who enjoys a nice love story.
Profile Image for Kim Ligon.
Author 5 books33 followers
February 28, 2024
Choosing between the city and country loves

Sally's grandfather leaves her the family farm with a catch. She has to share ownership with Jack, the man who was her best friend and rescuer growing up. She stays on the farm leaving Trevor in the city finishing school. Who does she love and where will she live the rest of her life? She insists she loves them both and she doesn't want to make a choice until she is forced to. A delightful story of love! Enjoyed it very much!
468 reviews
April 6, 2025
Torn between loving two men, Sally has to choose between her past and her future. This novella was a sweet small town romance and a quick, easy read.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews

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