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The Seed Woman  By  cover art

The Seed Woman

By: Petra Durst-Benning, Edwin Miles - translator
Narrated by: Kristin Watson Heintz
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Publisher's summary

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

What listeners say about The Seed Woman

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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.

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1 person found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

very disappointed. more of the same.

sent it back. trite. boring. annoying narration. loved glass blower trilogy. Too similar to first trilogy.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Boring

Boring Boring Boring Hated it, tried to listen to it again and again but couldn't

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not wonderful

Didn’t love this book. Narrator was wonderful and is why I continued to listen. If I was reading this book, I would have stopped. The story is just very flat.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this author

I have grown to love anything by this author! The narrator really lends herself to the story. I must say that The Seed Woman really challenged me as it is rare that one of the characters incenses me so much! It speaks well of the author that she can create such characterizations. The family dynamics of the time period are quite foreign to us modern day folks but the jealousy and somewhat psychotic behavior of Serafina could be straight out of a Real Housewives series. Honestly, I was hoping for this character to get what was coming to her throughout the whole book. I listen on my commute to and from work and I have been known to rant aloud at this character’s machinations, much to the amusement of fellow drivers. Starting the Flower Woman next!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Was a great read until the end

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

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book

Narrator very good, story line very original, very richly developed characters in my opinion. Glad I chose to take a chance on this book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

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.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The seed woman

Really good book! Romance, deceit and travel describes this tale of a family and town that sells seeds and bulbs to farmers.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

ended too soon

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

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