Seasons Under Heaven

Seasons #1

by Beverly LaHaye, Terri Blackstock

What does a child’s life-threatening illness cost the neighbors of Cedar Circle? What joys can be hidden in life’s greatest tragedies? Behind brightly lit windows and on front porches, marriages are tested and mended, hearts broken, hopes resurrected, dreams released and reformed, values and futures shaped, and faith rekindled . . . or found for the first time. Taking the best and worst of human circumstances—the tender moments, the laughter, the tragedies, and the triumphs—Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock weave from them a poignant, warmly human novel. Gently uncovering the inner struggles, stresses, and joys that surface among neighbors living on a quiet cul-de-sac, the authors show us the power of ordinary lives being knit into a strong, many-textured fabric of family and friendships.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Inspirational, Book Club, Religion, Ebooks

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

wife of Tim LaHaye

Reviews

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the 4-book "Seasons" series. It centers around 4 families that live as neighbors in a cul-de-sac. While each family is in every book, each book focuses on one family and a particular struggle they are going through. These books are Christian fiction, and some of the best of that genre that I have read. I highly recommend the whole series.

[Denise Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book tremendously.

[Kim Washburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great books to read.

[niki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, tissues needed for entire series.

[Teri Pre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I'm not particularly Christian, I do enjoy Christian fiction now and then. While I enjoyed this book, I had a few questions.
When everyone was praying for Joseph to get a heart, they were actually praying for someone else to die. How can that possibly be okay? Maybe the couple whose son died were also Christians. They didn't really have a chance to pray that THEIR son didn't die. How can god grant one prayer when it's at the expense of another's? And NOT ONE PERSON prayed for the family of the little boy who died...even though one of the women actually SAW the couple in the ER. I don't get it.

[Christine Indorf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad I’m reading this again!! I’m throughly enjoying it!! Already on book 2. This is book about Barbara and David son, Joseph, who has to have a heart transplant. You follow the ups and down with a critical situation and the work of God can do through it. You are reminded how much God loves us and what He can do for us. If you need to reminded of God great love for you read this series!!

[Samantha Bartley · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I really enjoyed inspirational writing, I think I’d really like this one. However, it’s definitely not my genre of choice, so it wasn’t really that much of a page turner in my opinion.

Besides that, I did think it was a sweet (yet oh so predictable) story following four women in four different seasons of life. I liked that it followed each one as they maneuvered the same, yet also their own storylines. It kind of felt like I was watching a hallmark movie the entire time I was reading it.

Not the worst book I’ve ever read, but I don’t plan on continuing on in the series.

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the whole series. Easy reading and Inspirational.

[Sherrie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. this series. I was hooked after reading book #1. Definitely a must read.

[Suzan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series.

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was a book I grabbed just to fill up a pango order. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or not, but whoa was I surprised. I immediately ordered the rest of the series. The book follows all of the people on Cedar Circle, but mainly the Todds (Brenda and David). They have 4 kids and homeschool (relatable) and one of their kids (Joseph) starts getting really fatigued and unwell. He passes out at his birthday party, they take him to the hospital and realize that he has an intense heart condition. The only solution is a transplant. The book follows them as they wait for the transplant and this was so emotional for me. I have 2 kids that have cardiac issues and it just felt a little too real. The heart issues were not congenital, but resulted from a virus and thats terrifying. I loved how the whole neighborhood really rallied around the family. I loved the discussion of God's will versus our desires. I loved the strength of the mother, in spite of her greatest fear coming true in front of her eyes. I thought the conversation around Brenda and David's mismatched religious beliefs was interesting. He is not a believer and she definitely is. He didn't completely come around in this book but definitely made realistic progress. I don't know that I would love the community because they are definitely more conservative than I am, but I loved seeing how it worked for them!

[Mark W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edifying read! I know Beverly LaHaye from Concerned Women for America and as my pastor's wife (decades ago.) I know Terri Blackstock as a writer extraordinaire. Upon meeting the families in the cul-de-sac, I saw the family (and biblical) values championed by LaHaye during her long life of service being fleshed out in relatable characters created by the able pen of Blackstock. I loved looking at a lot of conflict in various family dynamics. Everything didn't get neatly resolved, which is satisfying--but then, it's a series, not a one-off story ;) I related to Sheila, the Titus 2 woman who had concerns of her own. Her encouragement to "think of the blessings" even in the midst of the trials is a beautiful lesson that I shared with my own daughter (a mother of six) right after I read the book. I look forward to getting book 2 (and 3 and 4)Seasons Under Heaven
JOY! Julie

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt like a Hallmark movie in book form, though maybe slightly more dramatic. I didn’t mind it, though there were definitely points where the social commentary tone felt a little heavy-handed. There were also some things that I felt were a little cringey or reminiscent of 1990s/2000s church culture in a negative way— Tory implying Brenda is stronger than she would be because she isn’t taking Prozac (medication for mental health isn’t weak), Tory’s big church being villainized in comparison to Brenda’s small church (felt like it was implying all big churches are bad, all small churches are good), Cathy making the comment about the “size-ten blonde in the size-six dress” (comments about other women’s bodies, oof).

All-in-all, I didn’t mind it. It was nice to read something small town and cozy, even if there were parts where I smiled and rolled my eyes a little at the cheese or cringe of it all.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this book on Audible. The reading was done by Kathy Garver and I did not like her narrative. When she spoke a man’s voice it was a deep grunting voice which gave all male characters the same voice and no personality.

As far as the content goes it felt typical and predictable. I have read Terri Blackstock before (her Christian works) and I really enjoyed her writing, which is why I selected this book. But I didn’t feel like Terri put very much into the plot.

I don’t know if the audible reading was what turned me off on this book. There were several moments where a “late add” recording was dubbed in and it was quite obvious that the recording was on different equipment.

[Karen Lawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, there is nothing wrong with this book and I found myself wanting to skip ahead to find out what happened to the characters, but...it was almost too perfectly christian to relate to and too much like a soap opera to want to read. I am a Christian and enjoy Christian fiction but sometimes think the genre is simplistic in it's view of life and people. If this is the only genre you read, you will probably enjoy it but if you have a broader library of works that you have read, this may come across as lacking depth.

[Beth Baier · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know a book is good when you don't want it to end!! I was excited when I reached the end and noticed there is Book 2 in the series!! Can't wait to get into the next book!!
I felt I connected with the families in this story... and parts of it brought me to tears!!
The authors paint such wonderful pictures of the neighborhood, that I want to move there!! and be their friends.
The faith and prayer walk of especially the mothers in this book are so inspiring!! Gave me a realization that I really need to step up my prayer time with God!!
Excellent book!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is about four families who live in a subdivision and have a great friendship with one another. Each family has their own struggles.

It took a while, probably halfway through the book for me to get really interested. The book has a lot of characters which makes it confusing at times. It is a moving story and shows how even Christians can struggle with their faith and how others can become believers in God. Good read.

[Danielle Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seasons Under Heaven By Beverley Lahaye and Terri Blackstock , follows the story of four couples who live on the same cul e sec. One of the couples is Brenda and David Dodd who;s son has an enlarged heart.

I loved the way the community came together to support the Dodd in their time of need,

I thought that the plot, was a good balance between the situation with Joseph Dodd and the other happening in the lives of the neighbors of Cedar Circle.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this one after I read Book 4 (an error on my part) and it was slow to develop at first. This being the first in the series, I read on and hoped it would pick up the pace. It did not let me down. The lives of these neighbors are intertwined when illness strikes a neighborhood child. This reminds me of what neighborhoods used to be and should still be. I enjoyed the developing relationships and the forging of new friendships. A beautifully written series.

[Delinda Mauney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book about a small neighborhood where the families are all close friends. When tragedy strikes one of the families it is a great story of how they all come together to help each other out and bond.

A true Christian story of how lives should be today - God first and then we all work together for His glory and watch things happen.

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

neighbours: Brenda, Cathy, Tori and Sylvia interaction/ relationships with each other, spiritual walk and family. This series has been on my to read list, and glad I have read the first story. Tissues and believing in God to answer prayers of faith. I could relate to Cathy in her relationship with her kids as a single mum.

[Barbara Lagrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of faith and the power of prayer.



It's a story of a family who's youngest boy needs a heart transplant and the close knit neighborhood who give their all to stand by them give a lot and together raise money to pay the extensive hospital costs. In the end they all gain a greater faith and growth in God.

[Sarah Abernathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a beautiful story

This book kept me emotional on almost every page. As a mother, with a son (named Joseph) who is dealing with illness, it ripped at my heartstrings almost constantly. It was a story of struggles, every day life discouragement, growth and trusting God through it all. I can’t wait to start the next book!!

[Angelina Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kleenex Alert...the main plot centers around a young boy who is suddenly very sick. The characters might come across as checking the boxes. They live in a culdesac and one couple are empty nesters, one family is homeschooling, one family is public school, etc...

Still an enjoyable read and I will be looking for the next book in the series.

[Kendra Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very interesting. In the book the authors write about more then one family but it all ties together and its intriguing. If you dig in deeper there's a lot of amazing messages and lessons that everyone should know.

[Chelsea Faith Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story about community, fellowship, prayer, motherhood, and both the struggles and the beautiful hearts of the different women. I love the little cul-de-sac they live on. Blackstock truly showed the beauty of trusting God and investing in your children. 💜

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how you can give this less than 5 stars! Brought tears to my eyes almost the entire way through. What a great show of friendship, family, faith, courage, love during a time where doubt & anger can creep in the most.

[Sarah Creeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspirational fiction

This is a very emotional book with a lot of good lessons for Christians and parents. It took a little longer than I'd like to read it, but it was interesting and thought-provoking. All in all, I recommend it.

[Jeanette S. Stracner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very good book!

Beverly LaHaye and Terri Blackstock did a great job on this book. Everyone should read it! This was a group of people in a cult-de sac. Each one was special. This one is great. Jeanette Stracner

[Rita Löwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 von 5 Sterne
Ich bin zwar mit einigen Sachen was die Gemeinde anbetrifft nicht einverstanden,aber ansonsten hat das Buch sehr viele gute Lebensweisheiten. An einer Stelle kamen mir sogar die Tränen.