Customer Reviews

Times and Seasons (Seasons Series #3)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Terri Blackstock is one of the strongest authors writing Christian fiction today, and this is one of her best works. I was so overwhelmed by my first reading that my only comment was "Wow!" It was just as good the second time through. You'll find wonderfully developed characters in real situations with a beautifully touching ending. Time with this book is definitely time well spent.

My reviews of the last two books in this series stated that I cannot wait for the next one, and that bears repeating! Once again, Blackstock and LaHaye have focused on the families of Cedar Circle, and the readers of this series know that when one family is in crisis, all of them are! Cathy's long-awaited wedding to Steve is almost here when young son Mark is arrested for drugs. Devastated, she halts the wedding plans indefinitely. To make matters worse, ex Jerry, Mark's father, gives her no support and makes no effort to reach their son.Once again, the friends and neighbors rally around Cathy and give her the support that she needs. The best support comes from fiance Steve, who lovingly and unconditionally guides Mark into the realization that he is a child of God, and, like the prodigal son, can return to his heavenly Father at any time. Meanwhile, Tory is stressed out with caring for baby Hannah's needs and begins to neglect her other children while caring for the Downs syndrome baby. Brenda is having trouble letting go of her teenaged son and allowing him to make and learn from his own mistakes. Worlds away in Nicaragua, Sylvia cares for the needs of the victims of the hurricane, and finds some surprising help from one of the neighbors of Cedar Circle. Once again, Blackstock and LaHaye have written a heartwarming novel of real people with very real problems, but whose reliance on God gives them the grace to cope. Thanks, writers, for this wonderful series, and keep them coming!

I have been eagerly reading all the books in this series, though out of order. I've been moved many times throughout. One thing I appreciate about the books is we have real people with real life issues. They aren't fairy tale books; they have meat in them and people can relate. It shows Christians have struggles and that we don't always handle everything the way we should. Despite our failings, God is able to intervene, take a disappointment or bad situation, and use it for good.

As each book does, this focuses on one of four families and yet continues the stories of the other three. Cathy, Mark, Rick and Annie are the main focus. Cathy is about to celebrate her engagement shower with family and friends when something happens which will shatter her world at first. A knock on the door brings the unbelieveable news that her youngest child, Mark, was arrested for possession and distribution of drugs. He was caught red-handed, trying to sell to an undercover police officer.

Cathy is terribly shaken at first and calls off her wedding with Steve. Mark finds himself at a juvenile detention center for a year. His mother should be able to stop all of this, he thinks as he places blame on everyone but himself for his plight.

It takes awhile, but little by little the reader will start to see victories amidst the struggles. How it ends, when Mark returns home after serving his sentence is absolutely wonderful. The prodigal son indeed!

I rated this one a little lower than the other two I've reviewed so far because I was disappointed that there wasn't more about Annie's year on the missionary field with Sylvia and Harry. It would have been good to have included more from this. The book was wrapping up too quickly for me as I neared the end and saw there was no way the authors could have included more details in the few pages that remained. Despite how I felt about this, I very much enjoyed the book.

Just as Steve and Cathy are planning their wedding, her fifteen year old son Mark is picked up on a drug charge. Angry, frustrated and guilt-ridden, Cathy calls off the wedding indefinitely.

The other members of Cedar Circle are secondary characters in this book. The Flaharty family is central. Nineteen+ year old Rick is preparing to leave for college. Eighteen year old Annie is in flux-she is a high school grad,and a pretty, somewhat materialistic girl. Lacking a father's encouragement and love, her life is quite shallow until she commits to the biggest challenge of her young life. Steve and Cathy have started major remodeling which cannot be postponed. Mark's arrest places all the adults in precarious positions. Cathy is determined NOT to marry Steve until Mark approves or he is free.

Brenda and David Dodd are dealing with a son who is learning to drive. Tory and Barry are learning to parent and cope with the challenges of a baby with Downs. Tory's overprotectiveness and fear needs some adjustment, but is she ready? Dr. Harry and Sylvia are still in Nicaragua, serving God and feeding the hungry. Their devotion is astonishing at their age.

Central to this story is the change that comes to Mark while he is incarcerated. An unlikely source provides support, while his father, Jerry, keeps his distance, ashamed and angry at Mark for embarrassing him. One Bible story in particular impacts Mark's life and when he is finally released, the story comes alive in its' greatest beauty, with both spirituality and human emotions.

I hope there is a fourth book in this series, featuring Dr. Harry and Sylvia, the missionaries.

This book was awesome. It is the third book in a series. I was never a reader until I read the first book of this series and then I read the second I would look on the shelf for the third book every time I went into the book store. Even though this book is classified as fiction, Cedar Circle in Breezwood really exists in my life. I enjoy forgetting life and sinking into the lives of these four families. I feel like the authors keep the lives very realistic and they apply the word or God to the situations in a way that ministers to you. I never looked at the story about the Prodigal son the way the book did it. I learned something about God and him being my father. I can't wait until the 4th book is released.

The third in the series and I continued to enjoy reading them. Keep up the great work.

I purchased the 3rd book of this series before a long flight not realizing it was a four book series. After not being able to put the book down I could not wait to get the other three and start at the beginning. I loved the entire series and have passed it along to a Christian friend I know will love it as well!

This book was just wonderful. It was a perfect addition to what has been a great series so far! The characters are true to life and help you to better understand yourself through them.

I've read all 3 books in this series now and I love them all! I couldn't put this down. The women are so real, with strengths and weaknesses, and struggles and victories. There are no perfect Christians here. As in all 3 books, the problems on the cul de sac don't get solved easily or quickly. It takes time and struggle and faith and mistakes. It's not neat and easy. But it shows in a realistic way the Christian life and family and marriage, and the way God works through His faithful ones.

In this one, I enjoyed seeing more of Cathy's relationship with Steve, and also how her relationship with her daughter Annie grows. I enjoyed also seeing how her kids especially Mark, came to accept Steve, and respect him. It wasn't all at once, like in real life. It took time. The end of the book made me cry!

As always, a great book from LaHaye and Blackstock. I can't wait for #4!

This series was wonderful. I read all three books within 4 days. I felt like I was part of that community. Like they were my neighbors. In the second book, Cathy's boyfiends daughter changed to Amanda then in the third book changed back to Tracy.