Once Upon a Summer

Seasons of the Heart, Book 1

By: Janette Oke

Narrated by: Marguerite Gavin

Length: 6 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

An excerpt from the book: "Sure, it's unusual to have an 18-year-old mother when you're 12. But when you're an orphan and she's your aunt and the only mother you've ever had well, as I explained, it had worked out real well.

That's why I got so riled up when I heard Grandpa and Uncle Charlie talkin' about findin' a fella for Auntie Lou!

You see, somethin' had to be done! I couldn't just sit back and watch our special family get broken up. But with Grandpa and Uncle Charlie workin' so hard to get Auntie Lou married off, I really had my job cut out for me.

Then, when that poor preacher came along, it really got complicated.

And maybe you'll find out what I found out about the best kind of family, I mean."

©1981 Janette Oke (P)1999 Blackstone Audiobooks

Wrestling with God . . . Learning . . .and Loving

This is a sweet story about family, faith and loss . . . a young man growing up without his parents, being raised by his grandpa and his aunt, who isn't too much older than he is . . . and blaming God that he can't even remember his parents . . . it is a different era, a time of working on the family farm, of respecting and obeying one's elders, and going to church in a wagon . . . a gentle tale of life, growing, changing, accepting . . . I only wish is that a different narrator had been chosen . . . I would have enjoyed it a lot more if the voice of Josh had not been a woman . . . it set me on edge throughout the whole book

Very nice story

This is not my typical genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Such a nice. Story but it was fun to put myself back in time.

great for young teens

Good christian values and it is a easy read/listen.... My 11 year old loved this book.

Finding God

A families love for one another. Strength of community. God’s love working all things together for good.

𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌

𝙄 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙅𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚'𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙨𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍! 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐❤️𝑪𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌!

From a young boy’s viewpoint

I really enjoyed this story. I connected with the boy and his dog part because my youngest son had a dog who followed him everywhere. We called him Bear because at his puppy stage he looked like a polar bear cub. We lost him when a truck ran over him. Very clean story with humorous parts. Recommend to anyone.

Great story of a faithful, loving family.

I bought this series & read these books while in college. I was very happy when I saw them on audible. The story was just as wonderful now as it was then. I felt like I was at a family reunion. I still love these characters as I did the first time I was introduced to them.

Seasons of the Heart - series

I'm leaving this review for the whole series because that's how I read it.
My sister's read Janette Oak books years ago. I remember seeing them sitting around the house. she loved them. I just recently ran across this set and thought I'd check them out. I wish I hadn't waited 40 years.
This is one the most beautiful books/story series ever.
During the series, Josh grows up, of course... and the book tells of life through his eyes. His family, grandpa, uncle Charlie, auntie Lou, his school mates and friend, his loves and his losses. it tells of his life on the farm and his relationship with Christ.
I laughed and I cried. Janette Oak has a way of making you feel like you almost belong in this family or are somehow right there, seeing and feeling it all.
I listened to this series by both narrators. Marquette Gaven and Johnny Heller. While I think they both read it equally well, I've listened to Johnny Heller before and if listen to him read the phone book.
I honestly can't praise this series enough. I hope you'll enjoy it too.

Quite good, I like it

It was a little boring at the start of it got good at the middle-end of the book.

Enjoyed it very much!

This story was easy to slide into. While listening, I felt that I was in the story and could see everything and smell the cooking. It had a good balance of optimism mixed with some real-life challenges.

Kept me smiling

Such a lovely story
A sweet love story Told through the eyes of a young boy so sweet and funny I totally enjoyed it

Wholesome part 1:

If your someone who believes 100% in what the bible says you’ll love this book. It’s a wholesome story that’s sweet and shades the listener from the negative aspects of this time period. There is good story telling, accents aren’t too bad and it’s soothing to listen to.

Delightful

Lovely feel-good factor without any foul language, no violence and no sexual content. A little gem of a book. Downloading the next in the series.

Heart warming!

I loved this book, Josh was so innocent, so blunt and funny, loved all the characters! The way a child perceives God is quite something...the little prayers made me chuckle:) it was a good story and the narrator was amazing, making somehow a distinct voice for each character. I especially loved grampa's 'Bed time, boy!' :D

Once Upon A Summer

Lovely, homespun tale of pioneer folk in the West. The storyline is gentle, yet compelling and is narrated beautifully.