The Promise of Spring

Home to Heather Creek #8

by Leslie Gould

Everyone in Bedford is ready for spring to arrive, but the cool, damp Nebraska days don’t seem to show any sign of disappearing. Heather Creek is swollen with spring rains, and when slick pavement over the bridge sends a car into the water, Sam makes a dramatic rescue, saving a little girl and her grandmother from the rushing river. But when everyone in town starts calling him a hero, will his new found fame lead him directly into danger?

Meanwhile, Christopher is hard at work memorizing his lines for the school play, and Emily discovers her mother’s long-forgotten diary under the floorboards in her bedroom. Reading her mother’s words brings the fresh pain of her loss back again, but as she uncovers secrets meant to remain hidden, she gains a new understanding of the girl her mother was and the woman she came to be.

The first hints of spring bring hope to the Stevenson family and a fresh start for everyone on Heather Creek Farm.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian

214 pages, ebook

First published May 4, 2015

About the author

Leslie Gould is the #1 bestselling and Christy Award-winning author of fifty novels. She received her MFA in 2009 and has taught writing on the university level. Leslie enjoys traveling, hiking, and history. She and her husband, Peter, are the parents of four adult children and two grandbabies. Visit her at http://www.lesliegould.com/.

Reviews

[January]

The Promise of Spring by Leslie Gould
Home to Heather Creek - multi-author series
260-page Hardback

Genre: Christian Fiction

Featuring: Partial Series Bibliography, Small-Town, Emergency Trope, Volunteer Firefighters, Grandchildren, Family Dynamics,

Rating as a movie: PG

Books and Authors mentioned: King James Bible, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

My rating: 🌁DNF @ Chapter 3 on page 22

My thoughts: 📖 Page 22 of 260 Chapter Three - This is the perfect story before bed. They stuffed two family trees worth of characters in the first 2 chapters and the action is going at a soap opera's pace. I'm soothed and sleepy after reading.

Why I quit: This Is an older book series so old that some of the books including the one I currently have (2009 printing) are out of print. So it will be hard for me to find them all. I am being bullied by Libby so I put those e-books before my physical books but I lost my bookmark and I just feel like it's a sign that I should try again later. I wasn't really loving the story but I do feel like this story could be lost if I don't read it soon I was only able to acquire 6 books out of 24 and this one definitely felt 90s minus the cell phones.

Recommend to others: Maybe, I'm certainly going to give it another try.

Home to Heather Creek
An Abundance of Blessings (2008)
Homespun Harvest (2008)
The Promise of Spring (2009)
All Things Hidden (2010)
Before the Dawn (2011)
Sweet September (2011)
April's Hope (2015)
Circle of Grace (2015)
Every Sunrise (2015)
Family Matters (2015)
Giving Thanks (2015)
Growing Pains (2015)
Helping Hands (2015)
Holiday Homecoming (2015)
In God's Hands (2015)
On the Right Path (2015)
A Patchwork Christmas (2015)
Prayers and Promises (2015)
Second Chances (2015)
Seeds of Faith (2015)
Sentimental Journey (2015)
Sunflower Serenade (2015)
A Time to Grow (2015)
To Love and Cherish (2015)

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is still cold in Bedford, but there is hope of spring. The creek is overflowing and Sam makes a dramatic rescue becoming the hero of the town. He decides to run for study body president. Emily decides to rearrange her bedroom and finds a hideaway with their Mother’s diary in it and while reading it starts to live in the past. Christopher is worried about being in the school play and upset because it is his first birthday without his mother. Pete decides to get his GED.

[patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam becomes a hero when he goes into the creek to save a grandmother and her young granddaughter, despite the cold and rushing water swollen from the abundant spring rains. This has him thinking he wants to be a firefighter. He follows the fire truck a few times even though he was told not to by his grandparents. Christopher is trying hard to learn his lines for a school play and fears he won't do well. Emily has found her mother's diary and discovers her teenage mother. She hides the diary and spends every minute she can reading it. Promise of Spring gives the family new hope. Leslie Gould wrote the continuation of Home to Heather Creek.

[Jacquie Stricklind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good book in the series. This one had so much going on in the story. Sam does a daring rescue, will being called a hero, go to his head, also does this experience tell him what he wants to do in the future. Emily discovers her mother's diary does this help or hurt Emily? Does Christopher do fine with the play? How is Pete doing with getting his GED? Read this really good book to find out.

[Amy Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to give this 3.5 stars, but since it isn't an option 4 will do. I enjoyed this little book for pleasure.Gould has a way of making you feel like you are living on the farm with the Stevensons.

[Lavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book more than the others so far in the series. Not sure why? ...because I did love them all, but so far this one is my favourite.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Besides being The Promise of Spring, this, the 8th in the Home to Heather Creek series, promises to be another good read. Right from the start of this one, excitement happens.

Sam's friends want him to run for student council.

Emily finds her mother's diary from many years ago when her mother use to sleep in the same room Emily now has. For some reason, Emily keeps her find a secret from everyone, causing much curiosity for Grandma when she starts asking questions.

There's a girl in the play that Christopher is in who is gaga over him, making him uncomfortable.

[Rosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy reading. Family oriented.

[Cheryl Davitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keep getting better

This is the 8th book of the Home to Heather Creek series. They keep getting better. I love this family and their story.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Roxanne Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flooding and loss is theme of this one on the farm