Spring brings a series of fresh starts … and a glimpse of a future more complex than Melinda expected. No one is exempt from the winds of change, and that includes the residents of little Prosper. Between debate about the fate of a vacant property and the rush to open the community center, new ideas are taking root all around town. But it’s a season of secrets, too. Someone seeks a chance to start over, while others are too proud to ask for a helping hand. And as Melinda searches for answers to a decades-old rumor, she discovers the past is never far away from the present. When Uncle Frank and Aunt Miriam take a much-needed vacation, Melinda suddenly finds herself at the helm of her family’s business. As the weather warms and more challenges emerge, can she find a way to stay afloat?
Melanie Lageschulte is the author of the "Growing Season" women's fiction series. She grew up on an acreage in northern Iowa with a menagerie of four-footed friends. She’s spent much of her professional life telling the stories of Iowa and its residents, including several years as a features reporter and editor for the Des Moines Register. Melanie holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in American history from the University of Iowa.
It’s a mark of a good book when you’re sad that it’s over. I have enjoyed reading about Melinda’s life in prosper since I found the first book in the series, and have been waiting for this one. It did not disappoint me and I actually plan to read it again very soon. And now I’m waiting for the next one!
The problem w these books are that they are just so wonderful to read that I gobble them up so fast and am left wanting more! Melinda’s adventure continues w always new and interesting dimensions. I just want more of Melinda and her cast of characters in Prosper. Keep them coming please! So enjoyable!
What a sweet visit with "old friends.". Melanie Lageschulte punctuates the mundane and everyday events in the lives of her rural and small town citizens with just enough drama and angst to keep readers curious and interested in what they will report on the next visit. I look forward to the next visit!
So although I still want more, this was my least favorite of the series. Still good. Still want to keep reading the story...like forever but this one was kinda just blah. I do not need any drama but I need more content. The other stories had passion and emotion in the writing. I want more of this story with all of that. Hoping that with so many books in series it doesn’t become a let down. I am cheering on more for sure though! Although I say it’s my least fav in this series, this series is still at the top of my list.
I don’t feel like there was real meat to this book. Those first few were like being engulfed in Melinda’s world but this one felt like watching a clip show.
Melanie Lageschulte is a gifted writer, and an ambitious one, to be turning out new books in this series every 6 months. I love that I don't have to wait years to read "the next installment.". Its a rare thing in Ms. Lageschulte's books to see a typo or misspellings - this book #9 is no exception. I think I saw 1.
One of the things I really enjoy about visiting the town of Prosper and its denizens is that I'm not reading the same things over and over. The characters grow, change, move forward or move on. I liked the fact that in this book - side characters, such as Jesse the owner of the only restaurant in town steps up and gets involved with Melinda a bit more and a new character in the community is introduced. One of these books is like going back and visiting friends I don't see often, and love picking up where we left off.
Reading this book, as with the previous 8 - it's a peaceful read. That is not to say there are no moments of tension in the tale or that nothing bad happens to liven the story - there are and it does...but it is a book I enjoy filling in the moments I have to read and I never want it to end. In fact, I was disappointed when the book came to an end - and it ended on the cusp of new things about to happen and in this case, I do not want to wait 6 more months to see what happens next...so color me disappointed. But now, I am looking forward to book 10. This book definitely lives up to the hype of a "GoodRead".
We are introduced to a new character, Lauren, is leaving her husband and needs a place to stay. Melinda lets Lauren stay with her for a night and of course Melinda comes up with a plan to have her stay at the future bread and breakfast.
The new community center in Prosper is coming along.
Josh tells Melinda he wants her to meet his son Aidan. Melinda isn't sure about this but I don't understand her reasoning. If you really care about this guy, you'd want to meet the person he cares about. She was so willing to do so much for Evan's daughter, how can this be different?
Speaking of Evan, Auggie mentions that he's coming for a visit and promises to keep him away from Melinda, but I think it would have been nice to have a reunion and see where Evan is at now and why he left without even saying goodbye. That would have brought some more interest to the book.
I have read all the books in this series and hope the series continues for a long time! The characters are well developed and become just like your own friends and family. Their stories are well written and realistic. They make you feel like you're reading letters from home, catching up on people you know. I like that these stories are not made overly dramatic or completely based on romance as the constant main theme. They're just regular life stories and I find that very engaging. These kinds of stories remind me of the Little House stories and they're hard to come by these days! I highly recommend all of the books in this series and encourage the author to keep them.coming!
Another trip to the rural town of Prosper, where Melinda is taking things day by day. The author wanted to stop this series before this book, but was talked into doing another one, and it shows. Although the story is interesting, the book is thin, and the plot line of another woman seeking to start over was glossed over. There was a good opportunity for a deeper story, but it seemed like the author just wanted to get it done and over. Still, it is enjoyable to visit with these characters again.
I was eager for this latest book to find out where things were going with Prosper and Melinda. I enjoyed this book as much as the others but was a bit surprised that it ended so quickly. Reading on my iPad doesn’t show me how far along I am. I sure wasn’t ready to have it end. 🙂 However, I did enjoy “catching up with old friends”. That’s what I call a good series!
Nice read like sitting and chatting with an old friend. The only slightly annoyance was Lauren’s job skills, first it said she was a nurse, then she got a job as a barista (which is fine for a stop gap, if she didn’t know if she would stay) but then said she was an aide? A little continuity would be nice. A nurse is a nurse, one doesn’t typically give up ones license - even if not working...
4. Starsfor Daffodil Season. As like the other "Season" books it was an easy, fun read. I have enjoyed getting to know Melinda and her friends and appreciate the consistency of the characters from one book to the next.
4 stars for Daffodil Season. As like the other "Season" books, it was an easy, fun read. I have enjoyed getting to know Melinda and her friends and appreciate the consistency of the characters from one book to the next.
Daffodil Season by Melanie Lageschulte is the 9th book in this series. It follows the story of Melinda who has moved back home from the city to her small hometown, Prosper in Iowa, and has taken on a small farm and farmhouse.
Once again I loved the slow pace and detail of this book, I love the characters and the plot line. It is a nice comforting read, of a slow pace of life in the country. A lovely warm hug of a book to read. I think that the next book is the final in this series.
I’ve enjoyed all nine books in the series due to the reminder of how there were simpler times in years past. Harder working people with extremely busy lives but slower in comparison to today with too many hectic schedules and lack of visiting with our friends and relatives.
This series has been so fun to read. The characters are like my own friends with their life adventures and choices adding spice to the small town pace that helps me unwind as I read at the end of my day. Looking forward to reading the next and last one in June!
I was hooked on this series if books after reading the first in the series. The characters are well developed, very likeable people. These novels deal with ordinary people in a small town setting. And animals, both domestic and farm, add such warmth to the story line. I can't wait for the next in the series!!!
This is a pleasant series although the author wears out a few elements in the telling of the story and there was very little new or resolved in this one. Glad I read the series thus far but not sure about continuing when the next one comes out. I found myself skimming through parts since much was a retelling of things from the other volumes.
I just enjoy this group of characters and their small rural town lives. As the crazy busy world spins away this small rural Iowa town starts their day being grateful for their blessings family and friends. I enjoy the coffee hour and I can almost taste it along with the delicious baked goods. Highly recommend this book series.
I'm really enjoying the story as it unfolds. The characters are old friends by nowI. The rural life descriptions are so familiar. I recommend this easy going series.
Good story. I have read the series up to date. I like the way the author developers characters and like Melinda and the going ons at home and this delightful story town. I feel right at home in Prosper.
I love the characters in this story. It’s an fun story and I feel like I know these people. They could be my neighbors. I want to go to Prosper and hang out with them. And visit the animals on Melinda’s farm.
As usual Melanie Lageschulte does a great job bringing this tiny spot in Iowa to life..You can see the daffodils..the donkey and Hobo..As well as Melanie and the colorful towns people
I adore this series. This book was a wonderful continuation of the story about Melinda, the town, the hardware store, and the wonderful animals. It makes me want to find this small town and relocate. It leaves me feeling warm and cozy.
This book was just one I could not get into. The constant jibbering conversations going on throughout the book was irritating to me and overall, I didn't really feel a plot or story line develop. Wouldn't read any more of the authors books myself nor would I recommend
I have read everything in this series so far and absolutely loved it. I will definitely read whatever other books this Author writes for this series. It is absolutely wonderful and I would definitely recommend it.
I finish each book in this lovely series with a big sigh of contentment. Each character has become a good friend. And I would love to spend a few hours in the Prosper Hardware.
Fun addition to this series about small town life in rural Iowa. At times, I was a little bored, but then the story picked up again. Lageschulte’s writing flows and it’s enjoyable to know and care about the characters.
I loved this whole series! Could be partially because It am from a small town in Iowa. Each book was well written and kept me entertained. I actually was disappointed when I finished this last book.