The Seed Woman

The Seed Traders' Saga, Book 1

De: Petra Durst-Benning, Edwin Miles - translator

Narrado por: Kristin Watson Heintz

From bestselling author Petra Durst-Benning comes a sweeping emotional story of courage, triumph, and love against all odds in nineteenth-century Germany.

After a long and trying journey from her home, Hannah arrives at a charming village nestled in the foothills of the Swabian Mountains, eager to find Helmut Kerner, a traveling seed merchant she loved and lost. Enchanted by the glorious wildflowers and thriving harvests stretching as far as the eye can see, Hannah feels less like an outsider with each passing hour, until she meets Seraphine, an ethereally beautiful dreamer engaged to be married to Helmut, the father of Hannah's unborn child.

Desperate to win back Helmut's affections, Hannah gets to work and quickly discovers a passion for the seed trade, and with every change of season comes a change of heart. Can Hannah and Seraphine put aside their differences to find a way to work together, or will Hannah and her child be forced to leave this place she has come to love?

©2005 Petra Durst-Benning and Ullstein Buchverlage GmbH (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2017 Edwin Miles

Great listen

Genuinely hope that Petra Durst-Benning continues the story. I’d like to see how Seriphina and Valentine move forward...if he survives. Still lots of questions looming!

ended too soon

wished the ending would have given a clue as to what would finally become of Sarafina and Valentine.

Not as good as others

I listen to Petra’s books because of what I can learn about the time period, location, and challenges of the people in that time and place. This book I didn’t feel gave me all that much insight into the differences in their lives. And one of the main characters had some serious mental issues, which supposedly just cleared up at the end. Not sure how realistic that is.

Good story, bad narration

The narrator has a lisp and is not a great speaker. This is annoying and hard to listen to.

Was a great read until the end

I did not care for the ending. Did she get tired of writing and stopped?

Very irritating narrator who spoiled the story.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No! I didn't learn a lesson regarding Petra's choice of a narrator. I bought her books Glassblowers Trilogy and was already irritated with the narrator. Why can't Petra choose a narrator who speaks with a German accent and not one who speaks like an American and curses like an American? Sh spoils the story!

If you’ve listened to books by Petra Durst-Benning and Edwin Miles - translator before, how does this one compare?

I was so irritated so I didn't think of how good this book was. I listened only halfway and then I skipped it totally.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Her American way of talking was way out of line! Was she the cheapest narrator Petra could get or doesn't she listen to the narrator before hiring her?

Was The Seed Woman worth the listening time?

No!

Any additional comments?

I hope I will remember not to buy any of Petra's audio book.

The Seed Woman

Petra Durst-Benning is a great aurthur. I am so glad I found her through Prime's pre-released monthly book offers. Every book has been a great read always leaving me waiting impatiently for the next. I hope you will get as much pleasure with her novels.

Good listening.

Good listening. i enjoyed the narration. I would recommend to a friend and any get the book version.

Seeds, Sacrifice, Sorrow, and Satisfaction

The Seed Woman is not unlike a Grimm Brothers’ fairy tale. Indeed, that is what it reminds me of. Rich in descriptions of 1800s Europe, particularly the German countryside, its people, their trades and attitudes. And like the fairy tales of old, a darkness looms, a dreadful feeling that you know is threatening to engulf you, whilst at the very same time a beauty, a wholesomeness of spirit and joy that outshines that fear of the evil that threatens. In this story, Hannah and Helmut are that which you cheer for, hope for and pray for that against all odds will endure. And they are not super human, no, not in the least. Hannah, from the large city, coming pregnant to the Swabian Mountains to find Helmut and convince him to marry her, and just before he marries the beautiful Seraphine . . . and Helmut, with his roving eye and raging male hormones . . . yep, very flawed, the both of them. But not evil. Yet this tale is full of evil, from the very start, and that is what makes it such a contrast and keeps you on your toes. Madness, selfishness, lies and deceit of the worst kind. Pressed upon the most innocent. Pack your bags and enjoy the trip . . . travel along with the seed traders . . . you will not be disappointed.

Wish there had been a bit more.

The Seed Woman by Petra Durst Bening is another good story from this author. Having read all of her previous offerings available on Amazon for Kindle, I was looking forward to this one. I was not disappointed until the end which finished somewhat abruptly. I would have liked a better wrap up with a bit more of the present/future of Serefine and Valentin given. Too much is left to your imagination at the end -- 'Do they make it or not?' And, what happens to Margarite? I guess we'll never really know unless Miss Durst includes these characters in a future story. I give this one four and a half stars.