This is a direct continuation of Melanie's first book in the series,Growing Season and picks up right where the first ended. We are dealing with the aftermath of the tornado hitting the farming community of Prosper,Iowa. A beautiful and fun telling of life on the farm,a slower pace where you stop to smell the roses and pick the wild plums. The heat of summer is giving way to cooler weather in the rented farmhouse belonging to Horace, Melinda Foster lives in where she takes care of the animals and the garden. With the harvest season upon us the garden is bursting at it's seams with fresh garden veggies ready for canning and giving away. It's even been suggested to busy some of the extra zucchini.
When the community comes together to have a barn raising for the damage done to Horace's barn that's just what they do to take care of each other. Full of amusing tales like when Melinda is chased by the ram in the field then she is trapped in her car because of it. This is farm life at it's finest and reminds me of reading a James Herriott book. Horace is with his brother,Wilbur at an old age home but dreams of coming home to live again. Fall also bring a time of reflection for Melinda. She has a heartbreaking choice to make,should she rescue her old life in the rat race and try to get another corporate job or stay where she feels relaxed on the farm? The time comes for Horace to come home but he has some important decisions to make as well.
Pub Date 29 May 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Fremont Creek Press for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Melinda's story continues pretty much in the same pleasant, leisurely flow it started in "Growing Season" with even less "action".

You experience the changing of seasons from summer to fall in rural Iowa through Melinda's eyes: leaves fall, pumpkins ripen, there is a lot of canning and baking going on, she gives and gets neighbourly support. This was equally charming and boring at the same time.

There is the "Big Question" whether she should stay or tail it back to the Big City when a job opportunity comes calling. And while the inner struggle to decide arches through the whole book, there is no real tension to it.

A very light and relaxing read, but you have to be in the right frame of mind to enjoy it.