The Year With No Spring

by Moira Leigh MacLeod

It's 1949 and the harsh weather has taken a sharp turn. The thick ice sheets in the harbour have dissolved into the Atlantic, and mounds of coal-dusted snow have melted into the ground. There is a palpable energy throughout the gritty coal mining town, yet Mabel has a sense of foreboding. She's worried about what has become of Lily and her children, and terrified that a troubling secret she has been keeping from those she loves will soon be exposed, tearing families and friendships apart. In The Year With No Spring, the author once again masterfully weaves humour throughout an engrossing, fast-paced and suspenseful tale that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. MacLeod's rich story line, beautiful imagery and realistic dialogue will make you feel as if you are walking among the characters as this heartwarming, sometimes heartrending, story of love and friendship unfolds.

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 29, 2020

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this series. The people and the setting are so endearing and fun to spend time with. I do find it challenging at times to keep everyone straight but overall such a great series.

[Debbie Symonds · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moira MacLeod has partially redeemed herself with this fourth book in The Bread Maker series. Her 3rd novel was a disaster, but this story was entertaining and interesting. The only reason I've given this book a two-star rating, instead of the four stars it deserves, is the lack of editing. From beginning to end, there were endless typos, missing words, words that were spelled incorrectly, grammar mistakes, and glaring errors. It was so disappointing and, frankly, infuriating. This book should never have been published in that appalling condition. I was so distracted with the numerous errors that it significantly reduced my enjoyment of the story. I feel like I should reach out to Ms. MacLeod and offer to edit her next book for free!

[Mary Oxendale Spensley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually ask my online book provider for stand-alone novels, so when I got The Year with No Spring I was baffled by the large population of minor characters, many getting only a sentence or two of explanation. I started to wonder if this was actually a series where minor characters with little background were more important and memorable in earlier novels by this author.

It's true, this is the fourth book in a quartet. So I can fault only myself for my bafflement.

All in all, this is a pleasing, happy ending type of book. It's not predictable, and the characters are believable and interesting. The story is told from multiple points of view, Lily, a single mother struggling to keep her kids with a roof over their heads and food in their bellies, her abusive and coercive partner, an especially kind family Lily used to work for, and a kind man who wants the best for Lily.

The story is set in the late 1940s in Canada's Maritimes. Although I am Canadian, and travelled through those provinces in Canada, it was years ago and I needed a map to sort who was where and how far they were from other characters.

Most of the dialogue reflected what I think is typical of people from that area, lively and colourful, though the dialogue among the Indigenous characters was oddly stilted.

This is a feel good story, very much welcomed on stressful and sleepless nights. It's good to occasionally read about ethical, empathetic people helping others, and doing the right things.

[Amanda Fraser · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite of the series

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

4th book of the series......I have loved every word, sentence, paragraph and page of each book. Wonderful characters. Moira Leigh MacLeod is a great story teller.

[Mary Melnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story,going on to the next in the series.

[Barry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laughed and cried again. I will miss these characters and can only hope that more is to come. A wonderful story and I will miss them.