What do you think?
Rate this book
Midwinter Turns to Spring
Moving Love Story with Spiritual Wisdom Cassidy Hamilton, a San Francisco woman, moves into a Victorian apartment and discovers a hidden drawer tucked behind the baseboard of a built-in china cabinet. Inside the drawer is the journal of Savannah Curtis, a woman who lived in the same Victorian apartment twenty-six years earlier. The journal reveals the story of Alfonso Madrigál, a Spanish flamenco guitarist, who meets Savannah, an artist and art appraiser, when he seeks to authenticate a painting that is thought to be the work of Pablo Picasso. However, the painting has a mysterious pentimento that s just beginning to resurface. Neither of them is looking for the other, and yet when Alfonso Madrigál finds himself attending Savannah's art lecture one Indian summer in 1977. Events from that day forward conspire to irretrievably change both their lives and the lives of those who knew them. Midwinter Turns to Spring is a riveting and romantic story that incorporates a glimpse into the exotic, vivacious and sensual Flamenco culture; a dramatic sub-plot set in the South of Spain, marked by intrigue, murder and deception, and a mystery involving an 1897 painting. It also speculates the outcomes of paths taken and not taken, as well as the punishments and rewards of those that choose to love.
378 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 13, 2019
Midwinter Turns to Spring, second edition by Maria Veloso. Published by Think-Outside-The-Book Publishing LLC. Printed in California, USA. ISBN 0-9770751-0-9. It is a fictional story with a romantic theme that is narrated in a ‘third-person’ style. Its grammatical precision is first-rate. The storyline is enriched with beautiful words from songs and poems that set the romantic mood of the novel. Written in English, the story also contains some translated Spanish words.
Midwinter Turns to Spring is a story of forbidden-but-true love that eventually receives the stamp of approval. It revolves around Alfonso, a married, renowned flamenco guitarist and Savannah, an engaged fine art appraiser-turned-artist. Savannah disappears from Alfonso’s life without proper explanations. Alfonso had given to Savannah his inherited, rare painting of great value by the famous Picasso. This painting eventually brings them back together after 26 years. However, the circumstances are different after an accident claims Savannah’s memory. As the story climaxes, Savannah’s son Brandon, who is a stockbroker, plays his flamenco guitar, for the first time to a big audience, alongside the famous Alfonso Madrigal.
Maria Veloso introduces several themes, the power of music and the power of love stand above all. The story has a romantic tone owing to the poems, songs and language used. Her overview of the Spanish culture is outstanding. Midwinter Turns to Spring is full of suspense, holding the reader to the edge of their seats. The storyline is hot and sexy without crossing the line to bare-faced erotica. Its romantic scenes are not presented in explicit, microscopic details that would offend the reader. It contains no profanities.
I most liked Maria Veloso’s illustrations on the power of love because it reveals how love can bring healing and how true love never gives up. The protagonist’s words give a new definition to true love when he says, “Love does not ask for a small part of your self, it does not ask for a larger part either. It asks for everything you’ve got. Unless you are willing to give everything, you are never really in love.” I did not like anything least because the whole book is splendid with a good flow. I recommend the book to readers who love toned-down romance and those who wish to understand what true unpretentious love is all about. The book contains lots of lessons on love.
Due to these three errors, I will neither rate it a 4 nor will I rate it a 2 because the book content is relevant and its themes fit into one another like a jigsaw puzzle. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
Midwinter Turns to Spring is a story of forbidden-but-true love that eventually receives the stamp of approval. It revolves around Alfonso, a married, renowned flamenco guitarist and Savannah, an engaged fine art appraiser-turned-artist. Savannah disappears from Alfonso’s life without proper explanations. Alfonso had given to Savannah his inherited, rare painting of great value by the famous Picasso. This painting eventually brings them back together after 26 years. However, the circumstances are different after an accident claims Savannah’s memory. As the story climaxes, Savannah’s son Brandon, who is a stockbroker, plays his flamenco guitar, for the first time to a big audience, alongside the famous Alfonso Madrigal.
Maria Veloso introduces several themes, the power of music and the power of love stand above all. The story has a romantic tone owing to the poems, songs and language used. Her overview of the Spanish culture is outstanding. Midwinter Turns to Spring is full of suspense, holding the reader to the edge of their seats. The storyline is hot and sexy without crossing the line to bare-faced erotica. Its romantic scenes are not presented in explicit, microscopic details that would offend the reader. It contains no profanities.
I most liked Maria Veloso’s illustrations on the power of love because it reveals how love can bring healing and how true love never gives up. The protagonist’s words give a new definition to true love when he says, “Love does not ask for a small part of your self, it does not ask for a larger part either. It asks for everything you’ve got. Unless you are willing to give everything, you are never really in love.” I did not like anything least because the whole book is splendid with a good flow. I recommend the book to readers who love toned-down romance and those who wish to understand what true unpretentious love is all about. The book contains lots of lessons on love.
Due to these three errors, I will neither rate it a 4 nor will I rate it a 2 because the book content is relevant and its themes fit into one another like a jigsaw puzzle. I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.
June 13, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Normally I stay away from romance novels, but there was something unique about this one. This novel comes with a soundtrack of Flamenco ballads and instrumentals, with the author writing the lyrics and composing much of the music. I was intrigued and decided to give it a go.
The story begins in 2002, when Cassidy moves into a Victorian painted lady in San Francisco. She finds a secret drawer, and hidden within is a journal written by a woman named Savannah in 1977. Savannah’s journal entries detail her love for the married Alfonso, and ends with Savannah’s decision to make a clean break from Alfonso. Cassidy decides to find Savannah to return the journal. In the interest of not giving too much away, Savannah and Alfonso are reunited. The story outlines the paths they both walked alone, as well as their new journey together.
The story is told from a third-person point of view, and is sprinkled throughout with poetry and song lyrics. The theme is the power of love combined with the power of music to communicate all of love’s qualities (healing, breaking through pain, bringing us together with those we love and reconnecting us with our higher selves and our creator).
Definitely one for all you romance readers! I would recommend watching the trailer and purchasing the soundtrack for a fully immersive experience.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
Normally I stay away from romance novels, but there was something unique about this one. This novel comes with a soundtrack of Flamenco ballads and instrumentals, with the author writing the lyrics and composing much of the music. I was intrigued and decided to give it a go.
The story begins in 2002, when Cassidy moves into a Victorian painted lady in San Francisco. She finds a secret drawer, and hidden within is a journal written by a woman named Savannah in 1977. Savannah’s journal entries detail her love for the married Alfonso, and ends with Savannah’s decision to make a clean break from Alfonso. Cassidy decides to find Savannah to return the journal. In the interest of not giving too much away, Savannah and Alfonso are reunited. The story outlines the paths they both walked alone, as well as their new journey together.
The story is told from a third-person point of view, and is sprinkled throughout with poetry and song lyrics. The theme is the power of love combined with the power of music to communicate all of love’s qualities (healing, breaking through pain, bringing us together with those we love and reconnecting us with our higher selves and our creator).
Definitely one for all you romance readers! I would recommend watching the trailer and purchasing the soundtrack for a fully immersive experience.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
April 19, 2023
The story of how Cassidy found Savannah's journal telling how Alfonso and Savannah met, how their circumstances affected their lives is the perfect example of right person, wrong time.
What I loved the most about this book is how Love is the main topic of the book, how also evolves around what, in this case, who is meant for you, will always find its way to you. Another thing that I loved the most about this book is that Alfonso, one of the main characters, is from Spain, especially from Andalusia and how he uses some Spanish words, and myself am from Andalusia, so I feel kinda appreciated. There is also this quote from th book that I loved to read and have it bookmarked: Dont' go looking for love, for if love finds you worthy, it will find you.
What I didnt like much about this book is that sometimes I found it a bit tiring and boring to read, I dont know exactly why, maybe it is because there is so much description or maybe too many pages/chapters but sometimes I found it hard to keep reading the book.
My rate for this book is a three out of five, because it is good, the story is good and beautiful but it could be a bit better.
Last but not least, I would recommend this book to young adults or adults
What I loved the most about this book is how Love is the main topic of the book, how also evolves around what, in this case, who is meant for you, will always find its way to you. Another thing that I loved the most about this book is that Alfonso, one of the main characters, is from Spain, especially from Andalusia and how he uses some Spanish words, and myself am from Andalusia, so I feel kinda appreciated. There is also this quote from th book that I loved to read and have it bookmarked: Dont' go looking for love, for if love finds you worthy, it will find you.
What I didnt like much about this book is that sometimes I found it a bit tiring and boring to read, I dont know exactly why, maybe it is because there is so much description or maybe too many pages/chapters but sometimes I found it hard to keep reading the book.
My rate for this book is a three out of five, because it is good, the story is good and beautiful but it could be a bit better.
Last but not least, I would recommend this book to young adults or adults
June 8, 2022
This was an amazing and beautiful forbidden love story!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews