Melanie Lageschulte

"... a relatable heroine whom readers will want to follow to her next adventure." - (BookLife/Publishers Weekly) Downsized from a Twin Cities ad agency, it's not long before Melinda is working at her family's hardware store in rural Iowa and tending to a barn full of animals. And like the garden she tends, Melinda begins to thrive. 1st in series!

A Novel

Growing Season

"A new year brings new challenges ... and the chance to make a dream come true. Melinda expected to spend January relaxing by the fireplace while paging through the seed catalogs’ promises of spring. After all, the slower pace of the country was one of the reasons she'd let go of her bustling life in the city. Instead, she finds herself struggling to keep the worst of winter’s threats from her door. Shoveling snow, thawing her acreage’s water lines, and anxiously watching over the pregnant sheep in her barn fill Melinda's shorter days and longer nights. She pushes on because Horace’s offer still stands: He’ll sell her the farm in the spring if she truly wants to stay. But as winter tightens its grip, Melinda’s biggest trials are still to come. When a series of events threatens to break her heart and shatter her hopes, can she find the strength to see the season through?" --

Waiting Season

When you get everything you wanted, where do you go from there? The first blush of spring finds Melinda filled with great expectations and high-flying goals. She's officially taking the reins of her charming farm, the lambs and rescue kittens are thriving, and new life is popping up in unexpected places. But as the songbirds return and the garden's soil is turned, not everything's coming up roses: A no-nonsense housing inspector claims Melinda's sweet deal with Horace could come at a high cost, and a plan to help the cats in her rural community draws skepticism from some of the locals. When Uncle Frank makes a shocking discovery in the town's archives, the fallout threatens to dim Prosper Hardware's bright future. As friendships are tested and family ties begin to fray, can Melinda restore the harmony in her life? Fifth in a series Large print edition Font is 16pt Georgia. See back cover for sample of text.

Songbird Season

In the little town of Prosper, the holidays are merry and bright! As a reflective hush falls over the harvested fields surrounding her farm, Melinda packs away her memories of city life and turns her thoughts toward Thanksgiving and Christmas. She's not only home for the holidays, but truly home at last. She has a list of projects that will make the season perfect, and she's checked it more than twice: Insulate her acreage and animals against the coming winter, fill her farmhouse with festive decorations, and plan the perfect menu for her family's Christmas dinner. And her calendar is full off the farm, too. Melinda can't wait to use her marketing smarts to upgrade Prosper's charming holiday festival, and bake holiday cookies with her neighbors. As Christmas draws near, can she set her lofty expectations aside and focus on the true spirit of the season? Third in a series Large print edition Font is 16pt Georgia. See back cover for sample of text.

The Peaceful Season

The right road will always lead you home. But how do you know which path to choose? As late summer fades into fall, Melinda's efforts at her rented farmhouse are starting to bear fruit. She's learned to preserve produce, outsmart some stubborn chickens and wrangle a flock of spoiled sheep. She revels in the peace she's found in the country, where time is marked by morning-fresh eggs and stunning sunsets. But even in the small town of Prosper, nothing stays the same. One member of the hardware store's coffee group shares a startling announcement, and a trip back to the city makes Melinda realize how deep her roots run in rural Iowa. When autumn's changing winds bring new opportunities, will she seek the security of her old life or take a chance on an uncertain future? Second in a series Large print Font is 16pt Georgia. See back cover for sample of text.

Harvest Season

She has matrimony on her mind ... but not necessarily for herself. As summer slips in over the countryside, Melinda's focused on giving her farmhouse the facelift of a lifetime and planning Prosper's first Founders Day festival. Her to-do list gets longer when Horace's great-niece suddenly needs a wedding venue. Melinda and her friends vow to give Jen a celebration she will never forget ... but will Jen be the only one to make a commitment? Love may be in bloom, but things in Prosper aren't so simple and sweet. Auggie's grand plan to expand the co-op has many residents seeing red, and the stability of Prosper Hardware could hang in the balance. And when a beloved community member is sidelined, an unexpected visitor is determined to pick up the slack. Through it all, Melinda has to confront her past and consider her future. Can she make the right choices to secure the life she wants? Don't miss the final installment in this heartwarming series!

Firefly Season

Autumn's reds and golds make tiny Prosper picture-perfect, but under the surface lies a startling truth: Not everything is what it seems. Melinda throws herself into plans for the rural community's first-ever fall festival, and all the seasonal tasks around her small farm. But her sun-dappled days are disrupted when little Prosper is suddenly thrust into the spotlight. An unexpected windfall gives new life to a long-held hope, and a surprising discovery puts everyone on edge. And as the mayor's race heats up, Melinda discovers small-town politics can be worse than anything that goes bump in the night. As the leaves change color and drift away, Melinda's personal life is also evolving. Her new relationship appears to be a happy one, but will different perspectives and shifting priorities cloud its future? Seventh in a series Large print edition Font is 16pt Georgia. See back cover for sample of text.

Turning Season

A new romance, a stash of old love letters ... a season she won't soon forget. Moving to the country has given Melinda a new set of skills, but does she have what it takes to fix matters of the heart? It's hard enough to let the past go, and let a new love in. But when a mysterious box is pulled from her farmhouse's crawlspace, she's torn between protecting the former owner's privacy and tracking down the woman he once loved. Prosper's Main Street may appear deserted on these sleepy summer afternoons, but there's plenty happening behind the scenes. One Prosper resident is ruffling feathers with her grand plans for the tiny town, and a new Fourth of July contest sparks a competitive spirit that's as American as apple pie. But as the temperature climbs, the shadow of hard times falls over the rural community. Can Melinda make the tough choices that will keep her dreams from turning to dust? Sixth in a series Large print edition Font is 16pt Georgia. See back cover for sample of text.

The Bright Season

Autumn's reds and golds make tiny Prosper picture-perfect, but under the surface lies a startling truth: Not everything is what it seems. Melinda throws herself into plans for the rural community's first-ever fall festival, and all the seasonal tasks around her small farm. But her sun-dappled days are disrupted when little Prosper is suddenly thrust into the spotlight. An unexpected windfall gives new life to a long-held hope, and a surprising discovery puts everyone on edge. And as the mayor's race heats up, Melinda discovers small-town politics can be worse than anything that goes bump in the night. As the leaves change color and drift away, Melinda's personal life is also evolving. Her new relationship appears to be a happy one, but will different perspectives and shifting priorities cloud its future? Seventh in a series

Melanie Lageschulte

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