At this point in her life, bravery is not a trait Willa Hart would readily claim. She believes her seven-year-old daughter, Savannah, who never knew her father and successfully tackled chemotherapy, is truly the courageous one. Yet after Willa has a fateful encounter with handsome young doctor Patrick McCade, her outlook—and her view of herself—begins to change.Patrick, a thrill-seeking world … world traveler and temporary resident of Lenox, Oregon, sets out to show Willa the value of adventure, even within her tiny town. But just when their friendship shows signs of turning into something more, Patrick’s life as a traveling doctor calls him back. Will his last days in town signal the end of their journey, or will Patrick and Willa find the courage to transform a single season into a lifetime?
more
A charming, well-told story! Since I’m a longtime historical fiction fan, the contemporary romance (with no mystery or dual timeline involved) authors whose backlists I’ve binge read make a pretty short list: Susan May Warren, Rachel Hauck, Becky Wade, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Dorothea Benton Frank. So now I can add Nicole Deese. I love her writing style & the characters she creates. I’m glad she has a book list for me to enjoy into the future!
Sweet romance with a kick start.
I was worried at the worrisome start. But the laughs and fun eased my mind and let me enjoy a lovely story!
What an absolutely delightful story! I enjoyed every single minute of A Season to Love by Nicole Deese.
Willa Hart has more heartache in her young life than most, with the death of her husband and the cancer that her young daughter survived. She suffers from anxiety and lives a carefully constructed life governed by fear, with absolutely no risk-taking. Her hometown doctor gave her a beautiful photograph of a sunset which gave her hope during her daughter’s cancer treatments when she had no words for prayers. Enter the wise doctor’s son to cover for his dad for a couple of months and I fell in love right there. It took Willa a little longer to see the kind and generous man beneath the funny doctor who immediately bonds with her daughter. Patrick McCade helps Willa overcome her fears one step at a time. She finds it easy spending time with him as she knows he is only there temporarily. He is an adventurer and risk-taker who travels and works around the world. It was so much fun to see their real friendship develop before our eyes. Author Nicole Deese has a wonderful way of crafting heartfelt stories that simply and beautifully ring true every step of the way, with humor and swoony romance. All the other characters add wonderfully to the story. I love that Willa befriends a co-worker, the blue-haired Alex, a 17-year-old girl who just needs to be loved, and it was great to revisit Lenox and many of the characters from A Cliche Christmas.
“We take risks every day. The key is to make the ones you take count.”
“Sunsets are a reminder that every day will come to an end. And no matter how hard, or how trying, or how all-consuming that 24-hour period might feel…… every day can be as different as every sunset.”
“If I could believe God was responsible for every sunset, then I had to believe He was with us, too.”
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9
I highly recommend A Season to Love!!
Nicole’s characters are so relatable! I love the sweet romance, the real feelings, the quiet Biblical messages and the humor. There is nothing like reading a book with a smile on your face. Great read, now on to the next book!
This story was adorable. I enjoyed the realistic family feel and the realistic struggles that occur when dealing with traumatic and life-changing events. It is always a joy to read anything by Nicole Deese. This was no exception. I enjoyed the unique banter between the two main characters, and the underlying tension – as we all knew the world-traveling doctor would eventually have to leave, and then where would she be!
Great story, highly recommend it.
Wow, wow, wow! I won this book in a giveaway a good while ago, but just now got around to reading it. It is an amazing book! I was fully invested within a few short pages of the first chapter with my heart breaking for Willa and understanding her struggle. Willa’s journey to overcome her fear is beautiful and it’s something I can really identify with. The writing of each step forward and the half steps back here and there is so well done. So, so much of Willa’s fight with fear—from her worry over making a decision too quickly, to not wanting to make a mistake, to the fear of failing that keeps one from even trying, to trying to keep everyone she loves safe (something impossible for any human to do) makes for an unbearable, but so very relatable weight on her shoulders. Willa is real, her battle is real, her heartbreak is real, and her healing is real.
I loved Patrick’s character—the way he invests in Willa; how he spurs her on; how he doesn’t make her feel bad for not being the same kind of adventurous he is, but rather encourages her and helps her begin to take steps to be the kind of brave she wants to be for her daughter.
I love the supporting characters as well. I love that Willa’s brother, Weston, asks her the tough questions and so desperately wants the best for her, even if he doesn’t always go about things the best way. Alex, Georgia, Georgia’s grandmother, and so many others are such wonderfully written characters that add so much to the story.
This book is real, deep, emotional. It’s not just regurgitated fiction that seems to happen so often. It’s story that has a purpose with characters and situations you feel invested in and it is more than worth the read!