Customer Reviews

Seeds of Summer (Seasons of the Tallgrass, Book 2)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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I think the author outdone all her previous books with this one. It isn't a book you can put down.

Natalie at the start is disappointed she never made rodeo queen - only runner-up. On top of that she has lost her Dad and is taking care of her brother and sister. In the midst of this Jared, the new minister, who moved to town is fishing when her brother, Dillion, comes upon him. While Natalie is looking for her brother she comes upon Jared. Reminds me of the first time I met my husband. I was mad too. Yet something caused a spark in Jared and he wanted to get to know this family better. He thinks he is just making them his Mission project and isn't counting on falling in love with Natalie.

I had to laugh about her Dad hiding money all over the house as growing up I knew a Pastor and his wife and the wife hid enough money all over the house, to keep her husband for 4 years after she passed away.

One thing I could definitely relate to was a teenagers rebellion. I remember well when my oldest rebelled for 3 years. At least Chelsey returned home sooner than 3 years. But they always call the one they know who loves them when they need someone.

I liked how God worked it out for Natalie to have the desire of her heart but only after she learned to turn to him. She finally got to reign as the Rodeo Queen because the Queen came down ill. The support of the family is something that is unique in spite of problems.

This book truly shows God's plans are not always what we think they are and we face disappointments in life. But he can make them a learning process.

Deborah Vogts first captured my attention with her debut release of "Snow Melts in Spring", book one in her Seasons of the Tallgrass Series. Just a few pages into it I knew that this was going to be a ride to remember and an author whose work I'll be keeping an eye out for! I'm not a big fan of contemporaries, but for Deborah, I'll make an exception!

Her second book in this series, "Seeds of Summer," does not disappoint! I love her writing style- the emotions are real and natural and acutely felt by the reader; the scenery is ruggedly breathtaking, immersing you in the sights, smells and sounds of the Kansas Flint Hills; and faith is portrayed in a very genuine and powerful way, showing its struggle to grow and persevere in the midst of pain and hardships. Her characters are authentic and believable, revealing the depths and layers of the human soul.

Natalie Adams, who we're briefly introduced to in SMIS, is a young, beautiful former rodeo queen, with a broken heart in more ways than one. Her dreams come to a screeching halt, when reality hits like a physical blow and responsibilities heavy weight is thrust upon her unprepared shoulders. She's strong though, but for a good portion of the story she relies on her own strength, which only gets her so far. She's hurt, confused and feels abandoned by those she has loved and trusted, including God. But throughout the story, we see the gradual change that takes place in her life, as the seeds of faith and trust and hope are planted within her heart and allowed to grow. And what (or who) helped to bring about this change and diligently worked to break up the fallow ground of Natalie's heart, so seeds such as these could take root?

Jared Logan, is a young, handsome, pastor, fresh out of the city. He has a good heart and a selfless nature, but he is not without spot or blemish. This city boy turned cowboy has lessons of his own to learn and tightly held past disappointments that need to be laid down. However unintended, he has taken on Natalie and her family as a mission project, reaching out to them, yet, not expecting to become so deeply intertwined in their lives. Jared keeps pointing her to Lord, gentle and persistent in his witness, but ends up losing his heart in the process. Natalie sees something in him that gives her a glimmer of hope that there are good people out there, even good men, and the wall she has built around her heart begins to crack allowing the love of not only Jared, but God to shine through. But is it the Lord's will for this love to bloom? Can hearts be healed and dreams reformed? Or will the past, and the present, stand in their way? I promise the answers are well worth the read!

Cover to cover, this book is fantastic! The supporting characters are wonderful and their diverse personalities add so much. I was also pleasantly surprised that Deborah added quotes by some beloved poets throughout the story, as well, truly lending this romance a poetic beauty. I encourage you to take your time and savor this book, for as a seed should not be rushed to bear its fruit, "Seeds of Summer" should not be rushed in its reading.

Deborah Vogts has another wonderful Christian romance novel out set in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

Seeds of Summer features Natalie Adams, a former Rodeo Queen, who has to give up college plans to care for her family and property after her father dies. Her two half siblings - a teenage girl and young boy - help her with the large ranch, but also give her trouble. She struggles to maintain the business, mother her siblings and find peace with herself and the memory of her father.

Jared Logan is a newly ordained minister who has moved to her country town longing to relive his fond childhood memories on his grandfather's farm while following God's word.

When the two meet, misconceptions abound causing conflicts. In the end, they help each other find their destinies.

Deborah writes realistic fiction from the endearing characters to the colorful setting. And I love how she weaves in all the animals so that you can easily picture the ranch.

My favorite plot twist has to do with Natalie's father and his secret - I won't spoil the surprise!

This is the second book of the Seasons of the Tallgrass series.

To learn more about the author and her books, visit [...]

It seems that none of Natalie Adams's hopes and dreams are working out for her these days. Just when she seems to have adjusted to her disappointment and sets new goals with a return to college, her father dies unexpectedly. Not only is she devastated, she has the sole responsibility of raising her half-brother and half-sister. She's had to abandon yet another dream to make a go of her father's ranch. Just when she thinks the burden of running a ranch can't get any heavier, her step-mother, long believed to be dead, shows up suddenly wanting a relationship with her brother and sister. Is her step-mother sincere? Will Natalie be able to handle this burden on top of everything else with the ranch? She is a strong-willed and independent young woman and finds it difficult to lean on anyone else for help, including God. When the new pastor in town seems to have made her family his latest mission project, will she be able to accept the help from a man of God - the very same God that, in her eyes, abandoned her years ago?

Pastor Jared Logan, the newly ordained minister with a heart for God and serving others, comes to town and finds himself wanting to help Natalie and her family. While he struggles with his congregation's resistance to change, he finds himself entrenched in the Adams family's struggles. Despite being a city boy, he pitches in valiantly as he draws on the memories and skills taught him by his grandfather during summers spent with him on his farm. Jared has struggles of his own as he finds himself having feelings for Natalie. Can he protect his heart from a woman who has no room in her life for God? He has decisions to make. Has God really called him to the ministry?

Many times in our lives, circumstances seem unfair and our burdens too heavy to carry. But God never gives us more than we can handle as we lean on Him for guidance and strength. This poignant story portrays the lives of those who grieve, struggle, and question the circumstances of their lives. Deborah has shared with us a wonderful story of love, forgiveness, redemption, and faith. I enjoyed this book and found myself not wanting it to end. I'll be marking my calendar, and I hope you will as well for the release of her third book in the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, Blades of Autumn, to be released in the summer of 2011.

This is going to be a short review, but that in no way reflects my opinion about this book.

I'll just say that I really enjoyed this book. The characters were realistic, the storyline was engaging, and in the end I was very pleased with how everything turned out. :) I would definitely recommend this book and the first one in this series.

Natalie Adams secretly resents being only runner up in the Miss Rodeo America competition on the heels of raising her brother and sister after their mother abandons them. When their father unexpectedly dies, leaving the 5000+ acre ranch to his three children, Natalie takes over the reins with her younger siblings' help. Natalie doubts God when He straps her to this lifestyle, depriving her of her dreams of rodeo activity and college. When a new pastor, Jared Logan, arrives in town he tries to help Natalie's little family, but her independence has served her well over the years and she declines his offers. But as her burdens grow in number and weight, Jared seems to be there when she needs him, their friendship growing. But can a pastor take a doubting believer as a wife? Can Natalie share Jared with his congregation and God? Seeds of Summer is a story of love, forgiveness, and faith. The end was abrupt but pleasing. I would like to have read more about the family Jared and Natalie probably would have forged.

Seeds of Summer is a true-to-life story about family bonds. Set on a cattle ranch in the Flint Hills area of Kansas, Seeds of Summer reflects Vogts' love for the area and her knowledge of ranch life.

The story opens when the main character, Natalie Adams, is one of two finalists in the Miss Rodeo America competition. Natalie has spent years in preparation for this moment, and when she comes in second, she's lost more than a contest--she's lost her focus. To compound events, her father is killed soon after in a ranch accident.

Natalie is forced to leave college to be a full-time ranch owner and mother to her younger half-sister and brother. Parenting is never easy, especially with children who are acting out their grief for the father in rebellious ways.

Through her little brother, Natalie meets the new pastor in town--a man she suspects of making her little family his personal mission project. Vogts has incorporated the faith element organically, so that it never feels forced into the story.

Seeds of Summer is filled with realistic characters and situations. Vogt's use of a rodeo background adds depth and interest. I recommend this novel--and be sure to try the recipe for Chelsey's Spice Pancakes included in the back of the book. They're delicious!

Natalie Adams is a former rodeo queen, but now she's a twenty-two year old orphan, left in charge of the family ranch, two younger half-siblings, and dying dreams of getting a college degree. Natalie doesn't even know where to begin.

Jared Logan is a new pastor to the community, serving in his first parish. He repeatedly comes to Natalie's rescue, but Natalie is loath to accept help from anyone--especially his. When the church resists Jared's suggestion to change, and with his involvement with Natalie's family, Jared begins to question his calling.

When Natalie's absent step-mother suddenly reappears with her own plans, Natalie is forced to choose between her own desires or the needs of the family. What will it take for her to face her fears--to find a future and a hope?

SEEDS OF SUMMER is the second book in Ms. Vogts Seasons of the Tallgrass series, but it easily stands alone. Natalie, though still a very young adult, has a lot of challenges on her shoulders, more than most have at that age, but she seems quite capable. Jared is an idealist pastor, fresh out of seminary and facing the harsh realities of his chosen profession.

I enjoyed getting to know Natalie and her siblings, as well as Jared, in this book, and viewing the Kansas prairie though the pages of this book. I highly recommend SEEDS OF SUMMER as well as the first book in the series. This is definitely an author to watch. A yummy sounding recipe, and a sample of Blades of Autumn, the third book in the series is included at the end of the book.

SEEDS OF SUMMER was a wonderful summer read, hitting on everything I like: ranch living, a stubborn heroine, and a gentlemanly hero. If you are a sucker for anything set in the west, you will love Deborah Vogts SEEDS OF SUMMER.

Natalie Adams' life is no longer her own. Having to put aside her Rodeo Queen dreams, she must deal with the reality of life after her father's sudden death. Once again in the role of mother to her younger brother and sister, she feels she's in a no win situation. With her teenage sister, Chelsey rebelling at every turn, her brother, Dillon feeling the loss of his father, and the responsibility of maintaining the family ranch, she feels as if her world is closing in around her. But, she trudges on doing what she can to keep her head above water. When the new pastor in town befriends Dillon, and takes an interest in the Adam's family, Natalie immediately resists his interference. But soon, she starts to lean on the help that Jared is so willing to give.

Jared feels an emotional pull to the Adam's family, but deeper still a draw to Natalie. His attempts to expose her to the love of God falls on deaf ears, but he doesn't allow that to interfere with his time spend with Dillon, or his helping out around the ranch. But, the more time he spends working the ranch, and with Natalie, has him questioning his current vocation. Would God really allow him to fall in love with someone who has no room for God in their life?

The characters were real, the scenery rich, and the story genuine. A book I couldn't put down.

Book provided for review purposes.

Deb Vogts certainly has a talent given by God for writing. I do enjoy reading her books. The Christian values in them are a good lesson to readers too. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. I'm anxiously awaiting the 3rd book in this series. I hope Deb continues writing for many years to come.