by Jenna Mindel
And a lot of dreams yet to be fulfilled.
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for picking up a copy of my book SEASON OF DREAMS. I’ve always held farmers in my heart as heroes. I’m enamored with the Leelanau County area of Michigan, so creating a cherry-growing hero was a natural fit. Playing with the Adam and Eve metaphor was fun, but the story didn’t start there. A long time ago, I heard about a wealthy business owner’s son. He was destined to become a romance novel hero—and so I tucked him away for someday. That day dawned with Adam, a man who didn’t trust women. And just like in the book of Genesis, Eva’s character came from Adam’s. Eva is his perfect helpmate, complete with serious trust issues of her own. I hope you enjoy reading their journey to love and wholeness through faith as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I’d love to hear from you. Please visit my website at www.jennamindel.com or drop me a note c/o Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, Suite 1001, New York, NY 10279.
Many Blessings,
Jenna Mindel
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
The book opens when the orchard is dormant and in need of pruning to spurt new growth and let in light. Eva is spiritually dormant. How does God use Adam to shed light into Eva’s darkened spirit?
Eva experienced a real problem many young women face. Date violence statistics are shocking, with up to half of college-aged males admitting that they’ve perpetuated one or more sexual assaults during their college experience. Of these men, seventy-five percent were involved in drinking or drugs prior to the incident (as cited by www.ncvc.org/dvrc). What can the church community do to combat this problem? How should Christians address this?
Eva blamed God for His lack of protection. Why is it that we tend to blame God when bad things happen to us?
Eva held on to her fear and she refused to extend forgiveness. This blocked her ability to find peace. Is there anything keeping you from experiencing God’s peace?
Adam walked away from family expectations to follow his dream of becoming a farmer. Does God give us our dreams or does He honor our pursuit of them? Or both? What if our dreams are not financially practical—should we still pursue them? Is there anything holding you back from realizing a dream?
Adam made peace with his empty past by returning to his faith. The Bible promises a peace that surpasses all understanding if we’d stop worrying and pray for everything. What worries can you turn over to God?
Harboring unforgiveness often harms the person wronged far more than the wrongdoer. Eva needed to face her attacker to gain closure and overcome her fears. Can forgiveness be extended without a face-to-face confrontation? If so, how? And what might be the advantages of each?
Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. How did this happen for Adam and Eva?
Adam and Eva each had their own trust issues when it came to relationships. What small steps did they take that demonstrated the strengthening of their friendship into something more?
Adam and Eva had a dream setting for their wedding. Where’s your favorite place to get married?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-8529-7
SEASON OF DREAMS
Copyright © 2011 by Jenna Mindel
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Steeple Hill Books, 233 Broadway, New York, NY 10279 U.S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
This edition published by arrangement with Steeple Hill Books.
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