Review by Philly Shanty -- Midwinter Turns to Spring
-
Philly Shanty
- Posts: 24
- Joined: 14 Sep 2018, 09:42
- Currently Reading: The Girl in the Yellow Scarf
- Bookshelf Size: 20
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-philly-shanty.html
- Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
Review by Philly Shanty -- Midwinter Turns to Spring
[Following is a volunteer review of "Midwinter Turns to Spring" by Maria Veloso.]
"Like the music of fresh fallen rain
and of swallow’s wings you are
Like a young fern
uncoiling leafy fronds into a thousand tomorrows am I
Finding my way
To the clearing in the forest
And the serene quiet shelter of you"
Midwinter Turns to Spring is a romance novel by Maria Veloso, infused with music, art, and poetry. It is set mainly in Spain and San Francisco. In this intriguing read, a young woman discovers a journal in her new Victorian apartment. She cannot let go of the touching story of the lovebirds, Alfonso Madrigal and Savannah Curtis. It’s a story of an inexplicable bond.
Alfonso, a strikingly handsome gentleman, had a tough childhood and left his hometown never to return. He has a deep-seated longing for love and doesn’t smile until chapter 10 of the book. He makes a living playing his guitar at a club. He received a painting from his grandmother. Savannah’s childhood was all bliss (or so she thought) until her father left her and her mum without saying goodbye. She was an art major who painted in her Victorian apartment and had a big heart for orphaned children.
When she met Alfonso after one of her talks, everything changed. Alfonso was married with a daughter and she was engaged to be married to a cocky guy named Russell. What started as an innocent professional relationship turned into full-blown romance so intense it would stick with them forever, no matter how short-lived. In order not to break up Alfonso’s family, Savannah makes the painful decision of moving away, leaving Alfonso broken and yet mended by her deep love for him and more importantly, he for her. For twenty-six years they are apart until the past pays a welcome visit.
Throughout the book, the reader is kept in touch with music and art and can almost feel his ears tingle from the sound of guitar strings. Veloso’s description of places and exotic cuisine may make you want to travel. Her detailed description of emotions will make you want to fall in love again. The Spanish may throw you off in the beginning if you have not had much contact with this language but almost everything is explained so that the story is not lost on the reader. Veloso also puts great effort into letting the reader know where each character ends up and explains why some did the things they did. The timelines were also clear.
What I disliked most about the book was the dialogue towards the end of the story when all anybody could do was wait for the recovery of memories. The wait seemed longer than it actually was because some of the conversations turned into lectures about life and love. I also found it a bit weird that the main characters never got angry at another person even when the situation clearly demanded said emotion. Everything else was fine. What I liked most was the poetry. The book cover which has a picture of Savannah’s Victorian apartment and a book fastener on the side is perfect. Reading the book is like reading Savannah’s actual journal and the Victorian apartment is where a lot of the real action takes place.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because Veloso took a somewhat cliched love story and created something amazing. Midwinter Turns to Spring is a perfect fit for those interested in poetry, music, painting and happy endings. It has an element of the spiritual and a clear-cut belief in God and how he directs one’s destiny.
******
Midwinter Turns to Spring
View: on Bookshelves
"Like the music of fresh fallen rain
and of swallow’s wings you are
Like a young fern
uncoiling leafy fronds into a thousand tomorrows am I
Finding my way
To the clearing in the forest
And the serene quiet shelter of you"
Midwinter Turns to Spring is a romance novel by Maria Veloso, infused with music, art, and poetry. It is set mainly in Spain and San Francisco. In this intriguing read, a young woman discovers a journal in her new Victorian apartment. She cannot let go of the touching story of the lovebirds, Alfonso Madrigal and Savannah Curtis. It’s a story of an inexplicable bond.
Alfonso, a strikingly handsome gentleman, had a tough childhood and left his hometown never to return. He has a deep-seated longing for love and doesn’t smile until chapter 10 of the book. He makes a living playing his guitar at a club. He received a painting from his grandmother. Savannah’s childhood was all bliss (or so she thought) until her father left her and her mum without saying goodbye. She was an art major who painted in her Victorian apartment and had a big heart for orphaned children.
When she met Alfonso after one of her talks, everything changed. Alfonso was married with a daughter and she was engaged to be married to a cocky guy named Russell. What started as an innocent professional relationship turned into full-blown romance so intense it would stick with them forever, no matter how short-lived. In order not to break up Alfonso’s family, Savannah makes the painful decision of moving away, leaving Alfonso broken and yet mended by her deep love for him and more importantly, he for her. For twenty-six years they are apart until the past pays a welcome visit.
Throughout the book, the reader is kept in touch with music and art and can almost feel his ears tingle from the sound of guitar strings. Veloso’s description of places and exotic cuisine may make you want to travel. Her detailed description of emotions will make you want to fall in love again. The Spanish may throw you off in the beginning if you have not had much contact with this language but almost everything is explained so that the story is not lost on the reader. Veloso also puts great effort into letting the reader know where each character ends up and explains why some did the things they did. The timelines were also clear.
What I disliked most about the book was the dialogue towards the end of the story when all anybody could do was wait for the recovery of memories. The wait seemed longer than it actually was because some of the conversations turned into lectures about life and love. I also found it a bit weird that the main characters never got angry at another person even when the situation clearly demanded said emotion. Everything else was fine. What I liked most was the poetry. The book cover which has a picture of Savannah’s Victorian apartment and a book fastener on the side is perfect. Reading the book is like reading Savannah’s actual journal and the Victorian apartment is where a lot of the real action takes place.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because Veloso took a somewhat cliched love story and created something amazing. Midwinter Turns to Spring is a perfect fit for those interested in poetry, music, painting and happy endings. It has an element of the spiritual and a clear-cut belief in God and how he directs one’s destiny.
******
Midwinter Turns to Spring
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Killing Abel by Michael Tieman
