Seeds of Summer by Deborah Vogts with Aussie Giveaway

Synopsis:~

A heart-warming contemporary romance set in the Flint Hills of Kansas where a former rodeo queen abandons her dreams in order to care for her deceased father’s ranch and her two half-siblings, only to realize with the help of a young new pastor that God can turn even the most dire circumstances into seeds of hope.

Spanning the Seasons of the Tallgrass, each story in this series reveals the struggle of the people who live there and the dreams they have for the land until they come full-circle in a never-ending cycle, just as man comes full-circle in his understanding of God.

My take:~

I really enjoyed returning to Deborah Vogts' Seasons of the Tallgrass series with Seeds of Summer, with the story of Natalie and Jared. Deborah excels at writing unique yet realistic characters. Jared's awkwardness with ranch life, vulnerability and even a propensity to sunburn is a refreshing change to the usual macho hero. His conflicted feelings for Natalie, who does not share his faith, are genuine rather than pious. Natalie's independance and occasional poor choices, lend a real authenticity to the characterisation as does her faith journey. This is a delightful romance and although the ends were tied up a little too neatly for my liking, Seeds of Summer was satisfying and shows Deborah's growth as a writer. More please, Deborah!

With thanks to Zondervan & CFBA from my review copy

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Snow Melts in Spring

Character spotlight on Mattie & Gil from Snow Melts in Spring

Visit Deborah's website and blog

Check out Deborah's favourite recipes

Buy Deborah's book at Amazon or Koorong

Deborah Vogts ~ What's Cooking?

Deborah Vogts

I LOVE sharing recipes. Here is an old family favorite--my grandma made this when I was a girl and we still love it.

Chocolate Applesauce Cake

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups applesauce
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 tablespoons cocoa

Topping: 1/2 cup chopped pecans, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In mixing bowl, cream together sugar and shortening.
Add eggs, vanilla and applesauce until mixed well.
In small bowl sift together flour, salt, baking soda and cocoa.
Add to creamed mixture and stir until well blended.
Pour into a greased oblong cake pan.
Sprinkle cake with topping ingredients.
Bake for 35 minutes or until cake is set. Yummy.

Mmmm...I can almost smell this one cooking :) Thanks Deborah!


Deborah's Books

Snow Melts in Spring ~ Seeds of Summer (May, 2010)

Relz Reviewz Extras

All things Vogts @ Relz Reviewz
Visit Deborah's website and blog
Check out more of Deborah's favourite recipes
Buy Deborah's book at Amazon or Koorong

Character Spotlight ~ Deborah Vogts' Mattie Evans & Gilbert McCray

Today the spotlight shines on Mattie Evans & Gil McCray


Deborah Vogts has written an endearing debut novel of an injured horse, a devoted veterinarian and a retired quarterback in Snow Melts in Spring. Her book has left me looking forward to the next instalment in her Seasons of the Tallgrass series. I hope you enjoy this look behind the scenes.

Over to you, Deborah:~

Mattie Evans

Brief physical description

5’1”, 105 pounds, fair complexion with freckles, long red curly hair (often worn in loose ponytail or braided), willow green eyes

Think Amy Adams

Strengths and weaknesses

Very stubborn and knows what she wants in life—to the point that she has a difficult time changing course if necessary.

Quirk (if any)

Sassy

Your inspiration for the character

Completely fictional and made up in my mind.

Background to the story

Mattie is a large/small animal veterinarian trying to establish her business in the rural area of Diamond Springs in Charris County, KS, the heart of the Flint Hills. She loves this land and longs to own her own ranch as her dad once did. When she is called on to save a horse that has been injured in a vehicle accident, she finds herself trying to save the relationship between her good friend, John McCray and his prodigal son, Gil McCray—and ends up falling in love with the latter.

Gilbert “Gil” McCray

Brief physical description

6’2 – 200 pounds, short, curly dark brown hair, steel blue eyes that crinkles when he smiles, cleft in chin. Hunky & handsome.

Think Patrick Dempsey (only taller)

Strengths and weaknesses

Again, stubborn and knows what he wants and is used to getting it. Tends to run away from problems, rather than facing them head-on.

Your inspiration for the character

San Francisco 49er Quarterbacks – Joe Montana and Steve Young

Background to the story

Gil is a retiring quarterback for San Francisco 49er’s and allowed a horrible incident to chase him from his childhood home. When he returns to his father’s ranch after his horse is in an accident, he meets Mattie Evans and ends up falling in love with the beautiful doc. The only problem is that he has no intention of staying in KS on his father’s ranch, and she has no intention of leaving. Gil must confront the problems and fears that chased him away all those years ago and when he does, he then must win Mattie’s heart.

And, to round things off, maybe James Garner as Gil's dad, John McCray (not perfect, but haven’t figured out the perfect actor for John).

Thank you so much, Deborah for your insights into what makes Mattie and Gil tick! Can't wait for more of your stories.


Monday's spotlight is a bit of a mystery! Yet to be completely determined it might toss up a haunted house or a very creative craft :) You will have to check back to find out.....

Relz Reviewz Extras

Review of Snow Melts in Spring
Visit Deborah's website and blog
Check out Deborah's favourite recipes
Buy Deborah's book at Amazon or Koorong

Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts

Veterinarian Mattie Evans enjoys her work in Flint Hills, Kansas, almost as much as she loves gruff old rancher and father figure, John McCray.

When John's estranged son, Gil, proposes selling the land and moving his father to California, she's drawn into a bitter family conflict that exposes deep-seated secrets.

Can she make Gil see reason?

My take:~

There is much to like in Deborah Vogt's debut novel, Snow Melts In Spring, making it a satisfying read. Character driven, yet overflowing with beautifully described scenery, detailed information on horses and veterinarian techniques and an authentic romance which doesn't succumb to clichés. Gil, Mattie and John are well developed characters that struggle with the hurts and disappointments in their lives, their personalities marked by their pain. Drawn together by a tragic injury to a beloved horse, there is still much to keep Mattie and Gil apart, including a family feud, hidden secrets and the defiance of both father and son. Snow Melts in Spring is an excellent start to the Seasons of the Tallgrass series and Deborah's writing career.

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Deborah's website and blog

Check out Deborah's favourite recipes

Buy Deborah's book at Amazon or Koorong

Check back on 2nd July for a spotlight on Mattie and Gil

Coming soon from Zondervan

Zondervan has two new debut authors to watch out for ~ Amy Clipston and Deborah Vogts!

Click on the title links to order from Amazon and check out Relz Reviewz Extras below:~


A Gift of Grace by Amy Clipston

Rebecca Kauffman’s tranquil Old Order Amish life is transformed when she suddenly has custody of her two teenage nieces after her "English" sister and brother-in-law are killed in an automobile accident. Instant motherhood, after years of unsuccessful attempts to conceive a child of her own, is both a joy and a heartache. Rebecca struggles to give the teenage girls the guidance they need as well as fulfill her duties to Daniel as an Amish wife.

Rebellious Jessica is resistant to Amish ways and constantly in trouble with the community. Younger sister Lindsay is caught in the middle, and the strain between Rebecca and Daniel mounts as Jessica’s rebellion escalates. Instead of the beautiful family life she dreamed of creating for her nieces, Rebecca feels as if her world is being torn apart by two different cultures, leaving her to question her place in the Amish community, her marriage, and her faith in God.

Releasing, May 2009



Snow Melts in Spring by Deborah Vogts

Mattie Evans loves her work as a veterinarian almost as much as she loves the Flint Hills of Kansas.

And she has a special place in her heart for a gruff old rancher, John McCray, who has become a father figure to her.

So when John’s estranged son, Gil, returns with thoughts to sell the family land and move his father to California, Mattie is drawn into a family conflict so deep that healing seems unlikely.

As layers of secrets are peeled away and old guilt resurfaces, Mattie struggles to understand Gil’s past and wonders how she fits into his future.

Through the conflict, Mattie faces her own family’s discord—complicated by a sister who has a few secrets of her own.

This contemporary love story, the first of the Tallgrass series, broadens the scope of romance novels to draw a compelling picture of regional beauty, personal conflict, and ultimate forgiveness.

Releasing, July 2009

Relz Reviewz Extras

Visit Amy's website and blog

Visit Deborah's website and blog