Review by Naomi Keeling -- Midwinter Turns to Spring

Naomi Keeling · Post by **Naomi Keeling** » 31 Oct 2019, 12:22

[Following is a volunteer review of "Midwinter Turns to Spring" by Maria Veloso.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Midwinter Turns to Spring is a love story. Alfonso Madrigal and Savannah Curtis meet in 1977 at an art lecture on Pablo Picasso. Intrigued by Savannah, Alfonso requests she does an authenticity test upon a painting he inherited from his grandmother, which he believes to be a Picasso original. The two become enamored with each other and must decide what they are willing to risk for their love. Then, in 2003 Cassidy Hamilton discovers a journal secreted away in her apartment, and it belongs to a Savannah Curtis. A story of romance, loss, pain, and awakening unfold as morals are questioned.

I recommend this book to adults who enjoy romance and anyone looking for a profound read. This book will make you question your view of love and challenge your spiritual understanding.

The plot is intriguing throughout the book; each character contributes to the telling of the story and adds drama through subplots. The opening chapters grab your interest immediately because you are introduced to a story that is already half told. This is because some of the book is set in 2003 and some in 1977. This drives the plot because you want to read the story to find out how the characters reached the point you first met them. Turning the years back enables the readers to fully understand the characters and feel empathy for the Alfonso we met in the first chapter of the book. The relationships in the book add tension to the plot because we see the impact that Alfonso and Savannah's romance has on others around them. The writing is highlighted by the brilliant grammar and punctuation, which suggests the book was proofread.

The characters introduced throughout the book appear to be well thought out and developed. It is apparent Maria Veloso put a lot of effort into creating the two lead characters, Alfonso and Savannah. Fascinatingly, these characters demonstrate traits and flaws that are a direct result of their lives up to this point. For example, Savannah needs to feel safe with the man she is in a relationship with, which is a direct consequence of her father's behavior to her when she was little. Another example, Savannah takes great joy in making children happy and encouraging them, which stems from her need to always prove herself to her father at a young age. Immediately, Savannah is relatable to numerous readers because we know what it is like to sometimes feel inadequate and the need to improve ourselves. Further, the combination of explaining her past and showcasing Savannah's personality portrays the changes she goes through, which are likely to occur in real life. Through this, we see that Savannah is a complicated, yet relatable, character.

The author uses themes throughout the book to convey underlining messages. Mentioned continuously, for example, is the idea of morals. Mainly, whether it is better to sacrifice love, but do right by your family, or take your full but hurt the ones you love forever. I believe the author uses this to impart words of wisdom to the readers. That is, to love but be mindful of those around you because actions can have consequences. Another important theme running through the book is family. This ties back to the theme of morals and, together, they create an ideal picture of how to behave towards one another. This is pivotal to the story as it demonstrates how life could be should we choose to act this way. By doing this, I believe the author has created an outstanding work because this book can impart advice to readers for real-life situations.

The only aspect of the book that I disliked somewhat was the presentation of Savannah's father. From a young age, Savannah idolized him and while this is understandable, the opinions of another character regarding Lyndon Curtis, Savannah's father, were somewhat confusing. After learning about her father, later in the book, there is an idea, we as readers get, that he shouldn't be viewed so positively. However, in the actual book, this wasn't the case; and while not a big issue, I wasn't fond that Lyndon was given a free pass.

I rate this book a 4 out of 4 because it has a fascinating plot and relatable characters. The grammar and punctuation are very good, which makes the reading enjoyable. The message throughout is profound and the lasting effect of the story is brilliant. I highly recommend this book.

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Midwinter Turns to Spring
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OllyM · Post by **OllyM** » 07 Dec 2019, 12:09

Your review is amazing, I have also read and review it but it's still pending at the moment. But the novel is really interesting and I would have loved more Alfonso and Savannah moments in their older years.

aacodreanu · Post by **aacodreanu** » 08 Dec 2019, 10:21

A very nice and detailed review. It is intriguing how a character is seen both as being positive and negative as a function of how he is perceived by others.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 08 Dec 2019, 10:59

That's quite a comprehensive review, well done!

I'm not sure about the romance, but the other elements of the novel seem to make a complex story with nuanced characters. I also see that there's a soundrack with the book.

Aan Granados · Post by **Aan Granados** » 08 Dec 2019, 11:17

A great detailed review. I love romance novels and this seems a little different. Thanks for your recommendation.

AvidBibliophile · Post by **AvidBibliophile** » 08 Dec 2019, 18:57

This one does seem to have a fascinating plot and relatable characters! And a secret journal found decades later? Ooh, what a delightful detail. Really lovely review, thank you for sharing your insights.