The Sowing Season

Author: Katie Powner

Publisher: Bethany House

Release Date: October 6, 2020

Rating: 5 Stars

Reviewer: Jessica Higgins

A delightful read that teaches readers about the need to slow down and care about others around them.

Gerrit Laninga has finally decided to sell his family’s farm.  At sixty-three, he has put in almost all his years on the farm, sacrificing his family and health along the way.  He carries the weight of his failures on his shoulders including the death of his brother, his estranged relationship with his wife and children, and now the farm.  Once he got home from signing the papers, he found his wife with a suitcase ready to leave in case he backed out of the deal and chose the farm again.  Can he begin to make amends in his retirement?

Rae Walters has grown up according to The Plan.  She will gain enough volunteer hours, get a part time job, make National Honor Society, become the society president, set the three-point shooting record for basketball in her high school, get accepted to Columbia University, and then attend Columbia Law.  But at fifteen years old, The Plan is starting to put a little bit of pressure on Rae as she begins drivers ed.  She has always found solitude in an old barn, but when she is discovered, she meets a bitter old man.  Is it possible that they could help each other?

This is the first book that I’ve read by Katie Powner, but I really connected with both main characters.  Gerritt’s transformation was just fun to watch.  I love how Hannie’s corgi, Daisy, decided to become his dog and how they became an inseparable pair, even when he acted like he didn’t want Daisy around.  It took a long time for him to finally realize what he needed to do, but he finally found grace.  Rae was your typical overachiever teenager.  She was confident on the outside, but wildly insecure on the inside.  She was scared to think of anything outside of The Plan because that is all she knew.  I’m glad to see that she was able to overcome that fear as well.

I feel like there is much more of this story to be told.  This is just a snippet into their lives, and I would love to find out what happens to them both in the future.  I recommend this to people who just need a good read this year!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher.  The views and opinions expressed within are my own.