Customer Reviews

Spring's Gentle Promise (Seasons of the Heart #4)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Out of all the 4 books in the Seasons of the heart Series by Janette Oke, I can guarantee that Spring's Gentle Promise holds the PROMISE of an awesome book. I have traveled along with Joshua Jones, the main character of the story, throughout his whole life. Through tragedy and disappointment to happiness and joy. In this last book Josh goes through some really hard times. From the love of his life falling for his best friend, to the death of his best friend. But with the bad comes the good and Josh finds himself a beautiful wife, a loving family and a future as a prosperous farmer. I guess it is like they always say, life is never boring for some because just when his dreams are developing Josh and his new family are struck with a devastating blow, a drought that nearly puts them on the streets. All they can do is trust in God to get them through. In conclusion, I would just like to say that you must read this book! Heck! Read the whole series, they are all fantastic books! Get ready to laugh and cry and pick up this heart warming adventure!

If you are a fan of Janette Oke, then you need this book and the others in the series. I have only read this one of the 4 and it ruined it. :) This book is so very powerful, however about the need for family and God. I highly recommend this book.

Spring's Gentle Promise. When I hear that phrase I immediatley think of an awesome book that I read. The book is the final book in a series of four books about a boy named Joshua Jones growing into a young man. I loved this book so much because I got to experience the many trials he goes through and the important decisions he makes throughout his life keep me in the can't-put-it-down-mode until the end of the story. Josh finally finds out his purpose in life and even gets a wife. However, when a huge drought comesto stay for years his dreams slip from his fingers. All he can do is to look for odd jobs, ways to sell his things, and pray. I also loved the authors very dexcriptive writing. It painted very vivid pictures in my mind of Josh's life. I loved to see how he courted his wife. I am obviously very romantic. So if you love excitement and romance, pick up this book and enjoy!

Harvest Brings Love and Tears

This story captivated my mind and gave me a glimpse of a truly loving family. I thought this book, Spring's Gentle Promise by Janette Oke, was a very well done, realistic story. Janette Oke is known for her Historical Fiction books. This book will give you a picture of what it might have been like for some farming families, during the Depression.
I liked the way that Janette Oke gave a mood to the story line to show how the family was operating. When the rains weren't coming, it showed how Josh's family was torn in different ways. I also liked the way Janette Oke focused into Josh's thoughts. She really made Josh's character believable. For instance, when Josh was going back for the Christmas tree in the woods, Janette described how he felt, through first person point of view.
In this story, Josh just gets ownership of a farm that was passed down by Grandpa and Uncle Charlie. Along with the ownership of a farm, Josh finds someone he truly loves. He marries and has a family. The Depression hits Grandpa, Uncle Charlie, and Josh's little family. The family is emotionally broken and separated. The spring then brings the family their Gentle Promise.
If you are the kind of reader that likes books that take over your thoughts and emotions, then take a chance in taking this book home. You will really like this story that gets you sucked in and stuck. If this book sounds appealing to you, then pick it up, grab a blanket, and jump into Josh's world. It will take you through a part of his touching life of love and sorrow.

I love all of the Seasons of the Heart, but this one is my favorite.Springs Gentle Promise is funny,filled with information, and very touching.I laughed and cried and fell in love with the great story that was so beautifully written.

Joshua's life is full, with the responsibilities of manhood and a family that cares for him, but is there love in his future?

Spring's Gentle Promise brings an end to the Seasons of the Heart series. This story showcases the joys and hardships in life, with the faith and trust necessary to weather them. A clean read appropriate for all ages.

This was an interesting series. It was neat seeing the world through the eyes of a farm boy and watching him grow up. If you like Christian novels, this is worth reading.

Josh Jones has happily settled into the farming life, glad to know that this is where God would have him be. Grandpa and Uncle Charlie have recently transferred possession of the family farm, and the deed now has Josh's name on it. He owns the farm, it's all his! Josh is near to bursting with this, and he runs the increasingly prosperous farm the best he knows how. Yep, things are pretty good, until a new neighbor starts to come calling on the two girls that live with Josh, Grandpa, and Uncle Charlie.

Mary (the hired help for the kitchen and household duties), and Melissa (the local school teacher that boards at the Jones farm) have become like family to Josh. He cares about them both, but has kind of taken for granted the fact that they would both always be around. So when this new neighbor comes calling on the girls, Josh starts to realize one (or both!) of the girls could up and marry at any time. This sets Josh thinking about having a family of his own..... Mary and Melissa are both great girls, and he cares about them both, but in different ways. How will Josh ever choose which girl to court?

I don't want to give away any more of the story line, so I won't say who Josh chooses. But I will say that Josh and the girl he picks go through quite alot, and even though their faith is stretched at times, they still try to trust God and depend on Him to get them through the tough times.

While this is a nice ending to the series, I would've liked a little more closure...it ended and I was like, "That's it?!" The short epilogue was okay, but I think one or two more chapters would've really been ideal to totally wrap things up. (However, don't let that stop you from reading the series, it does have an ending, it was just different than I expected.) In closing, I think this entire series would be a good one for just about any age!

I am very pleased with this book, like all of Janette Oke's books it was a very good read. I hated to see the story end.
Thanks,
Ann

This was the first Janette Oke book I read. I was about 13. I adored it. My favorite part was when Josh was deciding which girl he was in love with. I got hooked on J.Oke after reading this one. It is good reading for both preteens and adults. Parents, if you can't get your girls to read, buy them a J.Oke book and watch them change.