In the Spring a fuller crimson comes upon the robin’s breast;
In the Spring the wanton lapwing gets himself another crest;
In the Spring a livelier iris changes on the burnish’d dove;
In the Spring a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.
–from ”Locksley Hall”, Alfred Lord Tennyson
There is something special about a romance that takes place during a holiday, and for romances that holiday is typically Christmas. No wonder the television networks are full of those kinds of stories from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve.
Several years ago, though, several author friends of mine and I wrote a series of novellas set during other times of the year besides Christmas. For my story, I chose Easter time and spring.
The setting is Vermont, when the thaw is taking place and the days are warmer but the night is still chilly. In New England with the maple trees, the first spring thaw means one wonderful thing—the sap begins to run and smoke begins to rise from sugarhouses while the sap gets boiled down to a beautiful maple syrup.
The last few traces of winter are disappearing and things get generally very muddy, while the potholes created by the freeze-thaw-freeze of the roads start to emerge.
Whether you live in New England or elsewhere, the common thread of spring is the newness. New life, new growth, new love.
So with me thinking about spring, I looked up the quote about spring and a young man’s fancy. It’s true, about spring. Something new looks shinier, brighter—anything that replaces the dreariness of some winters.
Starting today, March 17 through Monday, March 21, I am offering a free download of my Eastertime novella, Spring Comes to the Barncastle. I hope you download and enjoy!
Part of the story includes a scene at a Tenebrae service. I attended a Tenebrae service many years ago in college and it was one of the most moving services I’ve ever attended. So while my novella does have a love story, the message of redemption, forgiveness and the Ressurection are also a part of the story.
Here is a bit about my heroine and hero, and what they find at the Barncastle, a special inn located outside the fictional town of Castlebury, Vermont.
After a career disaster, Sadie Barncastle finds herself in rural Vermont, starting over and opening up a gift shop at her cousin’s family inn. She meets up with an old friend from childhood, Peter Appleman, a widower next door with a precocious daughter.
But Sadie’s not sure if life in the Green Mountains is for her and feels the call of Boston drawing her. Peter, however, is drawn to Sadie yet isn’t quite sure if he’s ready to move on yet.
As Easter approaches, a time of forgiveness, restoration, and joy, the two realize that it’s also a time for new beginnings, but does that include with each other?
Lynette Sowell is the award-winning author of over 15 titles for Barbour Publishing, Harlequin, and Abingdon Press. Lynette was born in Western Massachusetts in the shadow of the Berkshire Mountains, raised on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, but makes her home on the doorstep of the Texas hill country. She loves reading, cooking, watching movies, and is always up for a Texas road trip. When she's not writing fiction, she works as a reporter for her city newspaper and has a weekly column called My Front Porch.
That’s such a beautiful quote by Alfred Lord Tennyson. There’s so many Christmas novellas out there, I love that you chose Easter and spring, Lynette. Beautiful cover!
Thank you for the free novella, just downloaded it, now to start reading:)
Thanks for sharing your book. I look forward to reading it. I love the spring, but my body doesn’t because of all the beautiful blooming flowers and trees. UGH! Allergies!
Spring is one of the best times in the desert. The cacti bloom, and they have the most interesting flowers.
Thank you for the free download with the Easter theme. Easter comes early this year. Just hope we are having nice weather for Easter. It can snow on Easter even when it falls in April here in the southern mountains of West Virginia. We have been experiencing late Spring like weather but it will change this weekend with snow in the forecast.
Enjoyed experiencing Easter traditions in Spring at the Barncastle, which was included in the set Love Blossoms. A few years ago I experienced a reflective Tenebrae service. Thanks for sharing. Happy Spring.
Loved Spring Comes to the Barncastle when I read it a couple of years ago. New beginnings, for sure! Around here, the snowdrops are almost done, the crocuses are in full bloom, and the daffodils are growing and will soon bloom. Even the rhubarb is poking from the ground!
Mud season is fully upon us, as is yard clean-up. The puppy next door (at our son’s house) loves to drag things around the yard. We’ve discovered quite a few interesting things since the snow melted!
Thank you for the free novella. Just ordered it. My husband and I went to Vermont on a vacation one year. We decided to stop on every covered bridge and kiss. Luckily, no other vehicles were behind us. :-)
Oh yay! I, too, love spring. Right now I’m especially loving that I can push my boys outside to run some of their energy off. :) Looking forward to the novella, thank you!
Thanks, Jill!
Marylin,
I know what you mean about springtime allergies. I’ve been sniffling here in Texas for weeks and weeks! :)
Nancy,
You are welcome! I hope you enjoy it.
And snow? Oh my! Spring has officially sprung here, although one Easter we woke up to 4 inches of snow.
Sweet story, Melissa! I hope you enjoy this one. This time of year, I miss New England with maple sugar season.
Sounds like a lovely story and can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the free novella.
Great! Off to download. And thank you for giving me a new perspective on spring. :-)
I love the warmth and joy of bright, spring days, but not so much how all the free-flowing pollen stirs up my allergies. For that reason, I think fall is probably my favorite season. I get the wonderful temperatures, but none of the allergies. :)