Escape to the heart of rural Iowa with the Season series by Melanie Lageschulte, a heartwarming women’s fiction saga that celebrates fresh starts and the beauty of small-town life. Follow Melinda Foster, a city journalist turned farm dweller, as she navigates life’s twists in the charming town of Prosper, where community and nature weave a cozy, uplifting tale.
With its vivid storytelling and relatable characters, the Season series invites readers to savor the simple joys of rural living. Whether you’re craving a break from the hustle or dreaming of your own reinvention, Melinda’s journey offers a delightful blend of humor, heart, and homegrown wisdom.
How Season Began
Melanie Lageschulte, an Iowa native with a journalism background, crafted the Season series from her deep-rooted love for her home state. After losing her job in 2014, she turned to fiction, drawing on her experiences growing up on a northern Iowa farm and her years as a reporter for The Des Moines Register. Her debut, Growing Season, published in 2017, sparked a beloved series that captures the rhythms of rural life and the resilience of starting over.
The Heart of Season
The Season series begins with Growing Season, where Melinda Foster, nearing forty and jobless, returns to Prosper, Iowa. She rents a rundown farmhouse, tends to stubborn sheep and chickens, and works at her family’s hardware store. Through gardening, canning, and surviving a tornado, Melinda rediscovers her strength and sense of belonging.
Harvest Season follows Melinda’s growing roots in Prosper as she masters farm life and faces a pivotal choice between her past in Minneapolis and an uncertain future. The Bright Season, the sixth book, introduces romance and a mystery involving love letters found in her farmhouse, while Turning Season explores community festivals and small-town politics. Lageschulte’s lyrical prose paints Iowa’s seasons vividly, with themes of personal growth, community bonds, and the healing power of nature shining through. The slow-paced, low-drama storytelling feels like a warm hug, perfect for readers seeking cozy, nostalgic escapes.
Why Season Resonates
The Season series has carved a niche in women’s fiction for its authentic portrayal of rural America and its focus on self-discovery without relying on clichéd romance tropes. Fans praise its relatable characters—like Melinda’s farm dog, Hobo—and its ability to evoke nostalgia for simpler times. For readers in Iowa and beyond, the series feels like a love letter to small-town life, inspiring them to embrace change and find joy in the everyday.
- Publication Years: 2017–present
- Number of Books: 7 in the main series, plus related novellas
- Setting: Prosper, Iowa
Ready to trade city chaos for country charm? Grab Growing Season and dive into the Season series’ heartwarming world today!