To Everything a Season

Song of Blessing #1

by Lauraine Snelling

Lauraine Snelling Launches New Red River Valley Series
Trygve Knutson has been promoted from well drilling to heading a construction crew for the fast growing town of Blessing, North Dakota. Though devoted to the land and his family, he sometimes dreams of other horizons. But is he willing to leave Blessing permanently?
Miriam Francini hopes to become an accredited nurse in a large city hospital. She is simply tolerating her assignment at the hospital in rural Blessing because it will give her the experience she needs to accomplish her goal. She can't wait to finish her training and head to New York to begin a nursing career.
Then Miriam meets Trygve Knutson and all her plans are suddenly in a jumble. She quickly realizes she doesn't want to live without him, yet she's a smart, independent woman--she's even a suffragette. She can't let anything get in the way of her own plans, even if she's in love. Or can she?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Romance, Historical, Inspirational

352 pages, Paperback

First published August 5, 2014

About the author

Award-winning and bestselling author Lauraine Snelling has over 80 books published with sales of over 4.5 million. Her original dream was to write horse books for children. Today, she writes adult novels about real issues centered on forgiveness, loss, domestic violence and cancer in her inspirational contemporary women’s fiction titles and historical series, including the favorite, Blessing books about Ingeborg Bjorklund and family.

Lauraine enjoys helping others reach their writing dreams by teaching at writer’s conferences across the county. She and her husband Wayne have two grown sons, and a daughter in Heaven. They live in the Tehachapi Mountains with a Basset named Sir Winston ob de Mountains, Lapcat, and “The Girls” (three golden hens).

Reviews

[Caity · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a gorgeous cover. :}

Lauraine Snelling has a much slower style of writing than I prefer and it was hard for me to enjoy the moment by moment descriptions of the characters daily lives- I'm sure that it's refreshing and calming to some readers, but I got pretty bored. It was kind of strange to me that the hero wasn't even mentioned until chapter 5, and the heroine not until chapter 16...Haha
To Everything a Season was super clean, and there were parts that made me smile, but overall it just wasn't my style.

The only truly negative thing here (besides my writing preferences) would be that the author seems to be introducing a multi-religion mindset, and characters that are lukewarm and negatively neutral. Again- that's just not what I like in my books.

I've heard good things about some of this authors earlier works, so perhaps sometime when I need a low key read I'll give one of those a try. :)

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ramblings-If you have been following my blog (http://acceleratethejesusmovement.wor...) for a long (long) time, then you know that Lauraine Snelling is the author who is to blame for my obsession with Historical Fiction. It started with her Dakotah Treasures series and then went to the huge Red River series (in fact, I was so crazy about her books, that a few Christmas's ago, I told everyone that I only wanted her books....and I got pretty much all of them!!!). Anyways, I was so excited to find out that she would be adding to the dear town of Blessing, that I've been beside myself with joy waiting for it! So onto the review!

Review-To Everything a Season was everything that all of the other books were! I loved reading about Trygve (pronounced trig-vee) all grown up and continuing the stories of all the beloved characters from before! As always the writing was beautiful, full of detail (but not too much), and lots of snippets from the Norwegian language. Even though this book is book one in the Song of Blessing series, the series is actually series 5 in a long series, not including the prequel that just came out, so there is still some background that may lose you in some places if you don't know everyone's story. If you find this kind of confusing, never fear, I will explain! Each series works like a single book in a series, so you'll have series one, two, etc.... and you have to read them in order.

The Prequel to the Series is: An Untamed Heart

Series One is: The Red River Vally of the North ("of the north" might be left off.....) and has 6 books listed in order.

Series Two is: Return to Red River and has 3 books listed in order.

Series Three is: Daughters of Blessing and has 4 books in order.

Series Four is: Home to Blessing and has 3 books in order.

Series Five is: Song of Blessing and I believe will have 3 books....but I am not positive because book 2 will not be out until October 2015.

If you have read the past Red River series, you will not be disappointed with Lauraine's newest addition!

"I received this book from the author/publisher for the purpose of this review. All comments and opinions are my own."

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Everything A Season***** by Lauraine Snelling

Miriam Hastings leaves her home in Chicago to continue her nursing training in Blessings North Dakota, with doctors Elizabeth Bjorklund and Astrid Bjorklund Jeffers. Once she has finished her training she will be an accredited nurse and plans to work in a women's hospital in Chicago where she can help care for her ailing mother and siblings.

Trygve Knutson has been helping to dig wells in the surrounding communities but is tired of all the traveling involved. He decides to stay home and work there to help his family and longs for a wife and family of his own.

Plans don't always go as hoped for both Miriam and Trygve. Miriam is surprised that she actually enjoys the small town of Blessings. But how can she stay here when her family at home needs her? And what about Trygve, if she leaves will there be a change for them?

I really enjoyed this story and the interaction between the characters. Romance is in the air for more than one couple. Surprises pop up to further enhance the story. Add to that a bit of danger, suspense and faith making this a memorable story.

~~I received a copy of this book from TBCN. This my honest review~~

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think is the second book I have read by Lauraine so I really wasn't sure what to expect. I was excited because this is the first book in a new series so I figured it would be a good place to start. Sadly, I was very disappointed. This book reads like the middle of a series, I knew none of the characters and there was a ton of backstory that seemed important that I didn't know.


Also, the entire plot on the back of the book says this story is about Miriam, this is not the case. She doesn't even enter the picture until half way through the book. The first part of the book jumps from previous series characters until the middle when Miriam makes an entrance. At that point I was really not into the story. It's very slow and I really couldn't connect with the characters. I think this book could have been way better organized and should be part of another series, not promoted as the start of a new one.


If you are a fan of Lauraine already, I'm sure you will enjoy this book.





I wish I could give a better review but I was disappointed and I'm being honest.


Two and a half stars.




"I received this book from Bethany House for free in exchange for an honest review."

[Rebekah Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series so much because unlike most novels or trilogy you become part of this family, part of their legacy. You fall in love, your heart breaks, you laugh until you cry, and you cry until you laugh. Lauraine Snelling has done again. I hope she never stops writing books for Blessing.

[Maryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is number 17 in the series and I still really enjoyed it.

[Jaquelyn Scroggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Everything a Season is the first book I have read by Lauraine Snelling. It is set to release on October 14, 2014. After reading this book, I would love to read more of her books. It is based in a town called Blessing, North Dakota, and also has parts that take place in Chicago, Illinois. It is a branch off of other series also placed in Blessing. Because I haven’t read any of Snelling’s books there were relationships that I felt I should have known about but didn’t. That being said I was drawn into the characters right away. This book is about the whole town of Blessing, but focuses on Trygve Knutson and Miriam Hastings.



Trygve has been out of town and away from family while installing windmills and water wells, but decides with everything that is going on he needs to be home. While running an errand for his family Trygve meets Miriam, and is immediately interested in her. Miriam is in Blessing to be trained more thoroughly as a nurse, and doesn’t want to fall in love with someone where she isn’t planning on staying.

The town of Blessing sounds amazing along with all of the people who are living in it. I enjoyed learning about how life could have been back then. I have never read a story where Norwegians were the main characters, and found it very fun. It was interesting to hear about immigrants and how they lived back then, sometimes in tents until housing could be built. I loved how if anyone needed help no one would hesitate to jump in. Almost everyone in Blessing treated each other like family. And Snelling brought out the fact that a lot of times people can’t speak the same language. This is something most people might not think about, but is too common where I live. When being treated by a doctor it is important to be able to talk the same language and tell them what is going on and for how long it’s been happening. I liked getting to hear the story from several different points of view, even though it made me cry at times. This shows how good of a writer Snelling is, even if crying makes it a little harder to read at that moment. Faith in God is present throughout the whole story. And there are strong family ties, no matter how far away they are. I would like to read Snelling’s other books with the Bjorklund family. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. It’s going to be hard to wait until the next book in this series comes out!
I also posted a review on my blog at:
http://jaquelynsflamingo.wordpress.co...

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since my daughter was young teen girl, she has loved the author, Lauraine Snelling. We have read the Dakotah Series, as well as a few other books from the Lauraine Snelling. To Everything a Season, it is just another incredibly written book, It is based in Blessing, in North Dakotah. She has an entire series based in Blessing. To Everything a Season, is book one of Song of Blessing series.

To Everything a Season, Lauraine SnellingTrygve, a young man that is working on his uncle's well drilling business, is ready to come back home. Something inside him is just telling him he needs to stay home. So home he stays. He works with his family farming. Miriam, is a young lady from Chicago that is being sent to Blessings, to further her training for nursing. She left behind a sick mom and siblings left to care for her mom as well as work to pay the bills.

If you hadn't figured it out yet, I love Lauraine Snelling, and To Everything a Season is another example of what great work she does. I give this book 5 stars. I'd give more if I could. It is easy to read, easy to understand. The author paints a vivid picture in your mind of the story. You almost feel as if you are sitting right there talking with any of the characters. When Haaken was on the riverbank,, I cried. I felt his peace.

The only thing I didn't was that the author left a huge cliff-hanger at the end. So this book does not stand on its own. Which is fine, as I want to read the next book anyways. I just personally prefer that there is a minimal cliff-hanger so if the reader did not want to finish the series, they wouldn't need too. The story is not finished.

Otherwise, I am recommend this book to you my readers.

I received To Everything a Season by Lauraine Snelling from Bethany House in hopes of an honest review here on my blog. All opinions are my own

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A glimpse at what life was like in Blessing ND in 1905, where life was simple, and air was clean. People were very hard working, and it seemed that neighbors were there whenever there was a need. This is a predominately Norwegian community, and most have immigrated, and are helping others to come over, to where they can own land.
We have a young man, Trygve Knutson, who has decided he is tired of traveling and come what may he wants to stay in one place, and that is Blessing. I loved the interaction he has with his Ante and Uncle, and would love to be in that family.
Then we have a nursing student from Chicago who is being requested to go to Blessing to finish up her training. She is so torn, her father has died and her mother is very ill. She wants to be in two places at once, but her heart tells her that her family needs her. Her younger siblings were working, and helping bring in their meager earnings.
The town of Blessing is expanding so much that they are running out of housing. With the expansion, there are a lot of new people and nationalities that end up there. Was really surprised, and yet shouldn’t have been, how some of the natives of the town didn’t support anyone else to have a freedom of religion.
Will Miriam be able to come and take training? Will Trygve be able to leave the traveling job, when he is offered twice his salary to stay? These are just a few of the questions that will be answered beneath the covers of this great book.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel, set in 1905, is about the small town of Blessing, North Dakota and the interesting people who live there. Some of the things I really liked were the author's ability to write well enough that the reader feels they are present during the story, her understanding of Norwegian culture and her wonderful ability to make it come alive, and the historical details she enter twines with the plot. There were a couple of drawbacks: It begins very slowly, and then about halfway through the reader feels they are going three or four times as fast. The manner in which the story begins make it feel like a continuation of the previous series with the same setting rather than the start of a new novel/series. Judgmental people, prejudice, poverty, family relationships, female doctors, poverty, crime, and romance all make it an interesting, worthwhile read. Christian historical fiction is my favorite genre, and I look forward to discovering what is in store during the rest of the series.

I won a copy of this novel through a first reads giveaway, but was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

[Paula-O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series To Everything a Season, book #1 "Song of Blessing" by Lauraine Snelling

I received this book from Goodreads.com for a review.
I love to read this author so was a "Blessing" for me....


I loved meeting these characters that I have read before, such strong honest hard working people most are from Norway.
This book tells the story of some young girls in training to be nurses and they come to Blessing to work with the Drs Bjorklund's, Elizabeth&Astrid. Miriam is the oldest in her family and works hard to help, it is hard when she travels to Blessing for a year of training.
Miriam meets Trygve and they both find they are caring for one another when she must leave for a trip home when her mother is ill and not expected to live. He hopes she will return but she is not sure she can.
There is struggles in work and faith in this story and you will love reading how this author brings it all together.

Thank you for letting me read and review this book

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really have enjoyed Lauraine Snelling's books about the building of the town of Blessing and its citizens. However, this book really dragged for me. I know one reason is because the storyline was following so many characters. I have a hard time staying interested in a book and connected to the characters when too many are involved. The last one quarter of the book was less busy and more focused which I enjoyed.

As always, I enjoyed the aspects of love, faith and forgiveness that are always woven throughout Snellings stories. I'm hoping the next book focuses more on one family/storyline as the description of this book indicates it was going to be like.

If you are a Snelling fan, love the town of blessing, and what to find out what is going on in the families you will enjoy this read.

I received this book free from bookfun.org for my honest opinion which I have given.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Return to the town of Blessing in the Dakotas. This picks up soon after A Heart for Home with Astrid still one of the main characters the book focuses on as she and Elizabeth prepare the hospital for three new nursing students. Those three nursing students are introduced as they prepare to leave from the Chicago training hospital and approach their assignment in Blessing with very different attitudes. A gang of bank robbers comes to town, the youngest of whom is only twelve. When he is injured in the attempted getaway, Astrid, Ingeborg, and Haakan take him under their wings to heal both physically and emotionally. Trygve gets more focus in this book as he feels led to stay in Blessing rather than head out with the well crew, especially as Haakan has some medical issues and more help is needed on the family farms. With all the new immigrants arriving to work on construction, the town is also faced with deciding if they are meeting everyone's spiritual needs with just the one Lutheran church.

If you haven't read any of Snelling's books about the people of Blessing before, I suggest you not start with this one. I'd back up at least to the beginning of Astrid's series, The Home to Blessing series. By this time Snelling has introduced at least 100 characters in the town and she keeps all of their stories going. The main focus is the Bjorklund family, one of the original settlers of the town with enough branches now to pretty much run the town on their own. The town's growth and the hospital's operations are also main points. I love the way that Snelling manages to incorporate faith into the characters' everyday lives and make it feel so natural. Ingeborg especially is an encouragement in the way she walks in faith. I also enjoy seeing the medical developments of the time period in a pioneer town. So glad I have the next book in this Song of Blessing series because this one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. Also warning, there's a very bittersweet part in this book as long standing character dies Haakan.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. A compound fracture and surgery somewhat described as is a death due to a lung disease and another due to heart failure.

[Linda Yezak · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first Lauraine Snelling novel. She is definitely a talented writer, which makes it harder for me to admit I couldn't finish this one. I think the back cover copy threw me off. I kept waiting for the story to be about Trygve and Miriam, so when I reached the halfway point and Miriam hadn't even been mentioned yet, I got confused.

This is the first of a series, though, so the author was probably developing the foundation for the town of Blessing and its citizens. The first half of the book was primarily about the town's two female doctors and their families---stories told through seemingly unrelated events. Everyday life with its mundanities and oddities. Good stories, just not quite compelling enough for me. Since I don't usually get to follow a series through to the last novel anyway, I'm afraid I gave up on this one.

This shouldn't dissuade those who do read every installment of a series. Like I said, Lauraine Snelling is a terrific writer. Keep in mind, a 3-star rating means "I liked it." The series is likely to be a good one. Just not for me at this time.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life in Blessing, ND in 1905 could not be called bustling. However, the town is growing. The town now has a soda shop, a school for the deaf, a boarding house, a church and a hospital run by two female doctors, Astrid Bjorklund Jeffers and Elizabeth Bjorklund. Soon three nurses from Chicago will be coming to finish their training as well as construction workers to help with the building needs of the town. The Bjorklund family has lived near the town for some time.

This is my first introduction to the Bjorklund family and I can't wait to read more about them! The importance of family is paramount in this story. Some of the characters are very welcoming to outsiders and are ready to offer hospitality in whatever way they can. Others feel outsiders bring trouble. There are accidents, illness, a robbery, a developing love story and the difficulties present because of the time in history.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good read. Following the lives of the people in Blessing kept me interested. I love reading about this time period where everything is so rustic. People trying to make a community out of a small town. Everyone pulling together through crisis and happy times. Miriam and Trygev's story was a fun romance to add to the story. Family is very important to everyone in this story. Even Miriam's family back in Chicago is not forgotten. There are so many people interrelated in this story, that it was a little bit hard to keep track of who was who and which kids belonged to what parent and how they were all related. Ingeborg seems to be the backbone to hold everything together. Astrid and Elizabeth have their hands full running the hospital. But can't wait to read book two in the series.

[Jess & Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blessing has leveled up, trains, telephones, and a steady influx of newcomers mean the gossip mill is in overdrive. The Bjorklunds are older, wiser, and somehow still pulling off flawless hospitality while running half the town.

This is the book where the story shifts from “we’re surviving” to “we’re building a legacy.” I loved the mentoring moments between generations, the gentle romances starting to spark, and the occasional drama that reminded me Blessing isn’t immune to a good scandal. Snelling still makes room for romance, old-fashioned matchmaking, and just enough medical emergencies to keep the town doctor’s blood pressure interesting. I especially liked seeing familiar characters mentoring the next generation, it’s like watching your favorite sitcom cast take on spin-off roles.

[Wayne McKirdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read Loraine Snelling for ages -- good to be back -- in Blesssing. How many stories can you put in one? I guess about as many as there are lives in Blessing, N.D.. And, of course the one set of lives I wanted to follow will be found in the next book (I figure). The last time I was "in" Blessing, it was a smaller town than my home town (Gladstone, ND). Now it seems to be about the same size. So it is so easy to place my self at home there. Course, when I lived in Gladstone (more than 70 years ago), I didn't see things as I do now. Anyway. It was a fun read, getting away and going back. Thanks Loraine. (Not much of a book review is it.)

[Cathy Bickerstaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved every Lauraine Snelling book I've ever read, but this may be the best yet. Even though this is the first of a series, I would recommend you start with the Red River of the North series and read them all in order. They build, and keeping the family tree straight is confusing to start after all the relationships are established.
How Ingeborg and the rest depend on God and listen to the Holy Spirit is inspiring. I am anxious to see how the rest of the stories unfold, and how the town of Blessing grows and solves the problems.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It started out a bit slow, but the characters grew on me and by the end, I had to find out how it all plays out. This one is a cliffhanger, normally, I don't like those, but since this book is more about family and community than romance, it works. I listened to the audio and she is fantastic. I've already downloaded the rest of the audio books since they are part of the romance club Audible now has. Happy reading/listening!

[Kathryn Rothermel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy Lauraine Snelling's books. They take place in the part of the country where I was born and grew up, the Red River of the North and North Dakota. The main characters are part of my heritage, the Norwegian immigrants to this country. Her books are interesting, based on history, and feature people I care about. The books are in series, and it is a good idea to read them in order if you can. I also recommend An Untamed Heart, the prequel to the Red River of the North series.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book introduces lots of new characters besides just Miriam. Once I was used to that idea, it flowed better. The rest of the main characters including Ingeborg, Haakan, Astrid, Elizabeth, Trygive, and more appear on a regular basis. Life deeply affects the reader in this book. Snelling prepares us for it, but it still comes as a surprise.
Leave it to Inga to make an appearance and leave me laughing. I'm excited to read the 2nd book.

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was the first in the series but it appears that there are books before this. This is not my usual kind of book but I read it because it takes place in North Dakota and I needed a book with North Dakota as its setting. I found the characters weak and pretty predictable. Though it appeared to me that when a character didn’t believe with the author’s point of view the character became unlikable and appeared to be screaming. I did enjoy the fact that there was no cursing.

[Victoria Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, but too slow for me. I love Lauraine Snelling, but this one dragged for me. Still a great read and enjoyable to see the continuing story of the Bjorkland/Knutson familes and the town of blessing. OH WAIT! This one had me crying so hard at one point. I did not want that character to ever die! *wails*

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book says it's book #1 of a series, but it reads like the middle of a series. There are a ton of characters with weird names I couldn't pronounce and couldn't keep straight. The supposed main character doesn't even enter the story until toward the end, and yada yada. It wasn't that great of a book, sadly.

[Betty Horton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blessing is growing. New people, mean new ideas, new methods, and different ways to worship the same God.

I love all the Blessing Series. This is my second time going thru the entire series. I love the history, the relationships of additional people added in each book. Most of all this author is a Christian writer who we can learn from.

[Ivonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, I love this story so much! It reminded me of why I’ve always loved this kind of stories. When a book has faith, family, community, and happily ever afters it is a win for me, those are a few of my favorite things in a story. And when you’re inspired and lift up after finishing your book t is an amazing feeling. And that’s why Ms. Snelling is one of my favorite authors of all times 😊

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is based on the town of Blessing which has grown from a small town into a town of many people and needs. This book starts with one basic need of the town more nurses and medical persons to take care of the needs of this growing town. Miriam Hastings has been offered a nursing position at the town’s hospital which will count toward her degree in nursing in Chicago. Her family needs the income provided by her position at the hospital which will be lost if she accept the position in Blessing, is she doesn’t accept it may be the end of her nursing career. I love how the hospital found a solution to her responsibility to her family allowing her to go to Blessing for a year.

Trygve Knutson is a native of Blessing and has been making his living digging for wells in this upcoming town. With the aging of his parents he has been thinking of taking care of their land helping out his family. Meeting Miriam hastens his decision to stay home in the town.
Things seem to be great and everyone helping each other until a stranger came to town from his clothing he could be a preacher but his comfort to others comes in contrast to the established religion of the town. Some of the town’s people are against another religion being established in the town although it seems to be a need for many of the people who are moving their seeking work. This sort of disharmony could be the end of this town’s growth if the small minded people have their way of having only one church when so many of the workers needed the message of this stranger. This is book one in the series of “Song of Blessing” and I am looking forward to the next book which may show how this town can grow and include others of different religious leaning .

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I thought I wouldn't be able to keep track of all the characters but the story unfolds piece by piece of this small town and the lives of all who live there.
I really enjoyed this and preparing to read the next two.

[Leah Isenberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me awhile to get into the story, but I am thankful I stayed with it!! The beginning is slow, but it does get better. The ending will keep you wanting to continue the saga! I am now ready to start the next book in this series!!