Review by ten_924 -- Midwinter Turns to Spring
-
ten_924
- Posts: 9
- Joined: 09 Feb 2018, 16:07
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 15
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-ten-924.html
- Latest Review: The Queen of Xana by Fred Pilcher
Review by ten_924 -- Midwinter Turns to Spring
[Following is a volunteer review of "Midwinter Turns to Spring" by Maria Veloso.]
Midwinter Turns to Spring by Maria Veloso, is a romance novel. But beyond romance, it deals with true love, heartbreak, the healing power of music, as well as God's lead to success. For easy perusal of the review, I have divided the book into two parts. Part one is about the early life of Savannah Curtis, when she must have been in her 20s, an Artist that lives in San Francisco; her brief relationship with Alfonso Madrigal, a handsome musician of Spanish origin. Part two deals with the later stage of Savannah's life, when she was in her 50s and recovering from memory loss (amnesia) which she sustained as a result of autor crash. In between these two extremities lies a period of twenty-six years in which she sank into oblivion. It is only by coincidence that one Cassidy Hamilton, a paralegal with a law firm, becomes a tenant in the Victorian House, 201 Pacific Avenue, where Savannah used to live. It is also by coincidence that Cassidy stumbles on the personal journal of Savannah Curtis. It is out of curiosity that she read the story that Savannah told in the journal which makes her to go in search of her, possibly she thinks that the journal must have been of great importance to her. And that of course becomes the bridge we use to reconnect with Savannah.
Alfonso met Savannah at the University of San Francisco, where she delivered a lecture on the paintings of Picasso. His motive was simple. He wanted her to unravel the mystery behind an artwork in his possession that may or may not have been the work of Pablo Picasso. Little did she know that what seemed to be a brief encounter would metamorphose into a full blown love affair. Alfonso became a frequent visitor to 201 Pacific Avenue where Savannah used to live. It didn't take long before Savannah realized that she had fallen for Alfonso. She attended a concert organized by Alfonso, it was there that she started feeling the impact of his music on her. This relationship that was just a few days old came with its own consequences. We were briefly introduced to Kimberly, an extroverted friend of Savannah, and how Savannah refused to leave with her even when two of them attended Alfonso's show together. Alfonso had more than one reason to believe that Savannah loved him more than his wife, Isabel. Even at that, he had a duty to continue to love his daughter, Catrina. The worst is that Savannah called off the wedding with his fiancé of almost four years, Russell Parker, and vanished into thin air, with painful secrets in her heart.
By the time Cassidy found Savannah in her new home at the artists' village of Mendocino, she already had a son named Brandon. She got at Savannah after Zendrik had told her the story of Savannah and Alfonso. Savannah had made up her mind to divulge the information about the paternity of Brandon to Alfonso. But before she could do that, Savannah had an accident that made her suffer memory loss (amnesia). She was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of the Mendocino Coast Hospital. It was here that Alfonso met her. Afonso's love for her was put to the the test. Once in Savannah's home, Alfonso volunteered to be her caregiver and canceled all the business engagements he had for the season in order to give her the maximum attention that she deserved, even to the point of bathing her. Savannah's memory deteriorated to the point that she could not remember Alfonso's name, however, it was agreed between the two of them that she'd be calling him Running Stream. Although she had undergone a surgery, her memory remained unstable, but she made progress with her battle to remember things that happened in the past. She confessed that she took the decision to do what she did in order to save her love for Alfonso. For instance, when she realized that she was pregnant for Alfonso, she called off her wedding with Russell. She kept the identity of Brandon's father from him all this while so that he does not grow up believing that he had no father. She equally revealed how she vanished from Alfonso's life so as not to make him lose the love he had for his wife and his daughter. As reserved as she were, she still recalled how she was able to live with the abuses she suffered at the hand of his father, Lyndon Daryn Curtis, instead presenting him as a man that wanted her to be perfect in whatever she does. Twenty-six years down the line, Alfonso had flown from Spain, where he had relocated, to be with her love, and that's after all seemingly hurdles had been removed. For example, his wife Isabel has died, and now her daughter Catrina is happily married. What is more, he's a proud father of a son. What a destiny!
It's amazing how Veloso is able to use inanimate objects to prove that no matter how long something is hidden from human eyes, that with time, such secret would be revealed. For example, the painting that was signed Ruiz 1897 by Picasso was authenticated as a pentimento i.e. where a painting that is convered by another painting is revealed after some time. I also like the fact that she infuses her music into her writing. For example, Savannah grew to see Alfonso as a music maker who could impact her in many ways, and not just a mere Flamenco guitarist. I like the manner in which the author infuses her Spanish, Latin as well as French into her English, perhaps to make her characters flow in their expressions. I personally like the part where Savannah stood her ground and agreed to be wheeled into the theater for her operation. This's a clear demonstration that she believed in God.
Midwinter Turns to Spring is a good book any day. I like the music CD that comes with it, although I've not listened to it. It is properly edited. Maria Veloso has in her writing demonstrated that music has the power, among other things, of connecting us with our higher selves and our creator, as in the cases of Savannah and Alfonso. I recommend it to all those that like to read book about romance. It will also make a good read for anybody that believes in destiny. I would have scored it 3 out of 4 stars, but having seen the efficient manner in which the prologue and the epilogue are worded, I have decided to rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Midwinter Turns to Spring
View: on Bookshelves
Midwinter Turns to Spring by Maria Veloso, is a romance novel. But beyond romance, it deals with true love, heartbreak, the healing power of music, as well as God's lead to success. For easy perusal of the review, I have divided the book into two parts. Part one is about the early life of Savannah Curtis, when she must have been in her 20s, an Artist that lives in San Francisco; her brief relationship with Alfonso Madrigal, a handsome musician of Spanish origin. Part two deals with the later stage of Savannah's life, when she was in her 50s and recovering from memory loss (amnesia) which she sustained as a result of autor crash. In between these two extremities lies a period of twenty-six years in which she sank into oblivion. It is only by coincidence that one Cassidy Hamilton, a paralegal with a law firm, becomes a tenant in the Victorian House, 201 Pacific Avenue, where Savannah used to live. It is also by coincidence that Cassidy stumbles on the personal journal of Savannah Curtis. It is out of curiosity that she read the story that Savannah told in the journal which makes her to go in search of her, possibly she thinks that the journal must have been of great importance to her. And that of course becomes the bridge we use to reconnect with Savannah.
Alfonso met Savannah at the University of San Francisco, where she delivered a lecture on the paintings of Picasso. His motive was simple. He wanted her to unravel the mystery behind an artwork in his possession that may or may not have been the work of Pablo Picasso. Little did she know that what seemed to be a brief encounter would metamorphose into a full blown love affair. Alfonso became a frequent visitor to 201 Pacific Avenue where Savannah used to live. It didn't take long before Savannah realized that she had fallen for Alfonso. She attended a concert organized by Alfonso, it was there that she started feeling the impact of his music on her. This relationship that was just a few days old came with its own consequences. We were briefly introduced to Kimberly, an extroverted friend of Savannah, and how Savannah refused to leave with her even when two of them attended Alfonso's show together. Alfonso had more than one reason to believe that Savannah loved him more than his wife, Isabel. Even at that, he had a duty to continue to love his daughter, Catrina. The worst is that Savannah called off the wedding with his fiancé of almost four years, Russell Parker, and vanished into thin air, with painful secrets in her heart.
By the time Cassidy found Savannah in her new home at the artists' village of Mendocino, she already had a son named Brandon. She got at Savannah after Zendrik had told her the story of Savannah and Alfonso. Savannah had made up her mind to divulge the information about the paternity of Brandon to Alfonso. But before she could do that, Savannah had an accident that made her suffer memory loss (amnesia). She was admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of the Mendocino Coast Hospital. It was here that Alfonso met her. Afonso's love for her was put to the the test. Once in Savannah's home, Alfonso volunteered to be her caregiver and canceled all the business engagements he had for the season in order to give her the maximum attention that she deserved, even to the point of bathing her. Savannah's memory deteriorated to the point that she could not remember Alfonso's name, however, it was agreed between the two of them that she'd be calling him Running Stream. Although she had undergone a surgery, her memory remained unstable, but she made progress with her battle to remember things that happened in the past. She confessed that she took the decision to do what she did in order to save her love for Alfonso. For instance, when she realized that she was pregnant for Alfonso, she called off her wedding with Russell. She kept the identity of Brandon's father from him all this while so that he does not grow up believing that he had no father. She equally revealed how she vanished from Alfonso's life so as not to make him lose the love he had for his wife and his daughter. As reserved as she were, she still recalled how she was able to live with the abuses she suffered at the hand of his father, Lyndon Daryn Curtis, instead presenting him as a man that wanted her to be perfect in whatever she does. Twenty-six years down the line, Alfonso had flown from Spain, where he had relocated, to be with her love, and that's after all seemingly hurdles had been removed. For example, his wife Isabel has died, and now her daughter Catrina is happily married. What is more, he's a proud father of a son. What a destiny!
It's amazing how Veloso is able to use inanimate objects to prove that no matter how long something is hidden from human eyes, that with time, such secret would be revealed. For example, the painting that was signed Ruiz 1897 by Picasso was authenticated as a pentimento i.e. where a painting that is convered by another painting is revealed after some time. I also like the fact that she infuses her music into her writing. For example, Savannah grew to see Alfonso as a music maker who could impact her in many ways, and not just a mere Flamenco guitarist. I like the manner in which the author infuses her Spanish, Latin as well as French into her English, perhaps to make her characters flow in their expressions. I personally like the part where Savannah stood her ground and agreed to be wheeled into the theater for her operation. This's a clear demonstration that she believed in God.
Midwinter Turns to Spring is a good book any day. I like the music CD that comes with it, although I've not listened to it. It is properly edited. Maria Veloso has in her writing demonstrated that music has the power, among other things, of connecting us with our higher selves and our creator, as in the cases of Savannah and Alfonso. I recommend it to all those that like to read book about romance. It will also make a good read for anybody that believes in destiny. I would have scored it 3 out of 4 stars, but having seen the efficient manner in which the prologue and the epilogue are worded, I have decided to rate it 4 out of 4 stars.
******
Midwinter Turns to Spring
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: The Queen of Xana by Fred Pilcher
