Summary: The Melody of the Mulberries (Big Creek Series #2) by Tonya Jewel Blessing
This sequel to The Whispering of the Willows is set in
the late 1920s' Appalachia, where granny witches and
spiritualism often show the path for wanderers to take, especially in matters
of the heart.
This Big Creek sequel follows the lives and loves of two siblings. Coral
determines to visit the family's nemesis, Charlie, now in prison for the rape
of her sister, Emerald, and the murder of her inlaw. When Mercy re-enters
brother Ernest's life, he has already found a new attraction in his elder
brother's widow.
Coral sat in contemplation under a mulberry tree. It was spring, and the
fragrant female blossoms promised the mid-summer arrival of first white, then
pink, then crimson, and finally deep purple berries. The white berries were
hard and tart and enjoyed by the quail, wild turkeys, mocking birds, and blue
jays. The blackish purple berries were soft and sweet - perfect for pies and
jams.
When the berries turned white, Coral would thank the good Lord for
providing food for the birds. When the berries ripened she would thank the good
Lord for the sweetness savored in her mouth and curse the birds for wanting
more than their share.
Where Emerald Ashby's story leaves us in the last pages of The
Whispering of the Willows, sixteen-year-old Coral Ashby's story begins. Like
the changing mulberries, Appalachian siblings Coral and Ernest Ashby, navigate
life through the late 1920s. Coral is determined to visit the family nemesis,
Charlie, who now stews in prison.
When Ernest's previous love interest, Mercy, returns to the holler of
Big Creek, she discovers that his heart is now singing a melody for Charlotte,
the older Ashby brother's widow. But Mercy has brought along her own spiritual
tools and a special friend who guides her way.
Accompanied by friends and foes,
matters of the heart complicate life for Coral and Ernest. Relationships must
be journeyed carefully (from Amazon).
#Book Review: The Melody of the Mulberries (Big Creek Series book 2) by #Tonya Jewel Blessing
Deeply religious Coral Ashby is determined to
visit family nemesis, Charlie, in jail where he serves a long sentence for
having hurt her family. Coral is adamant God wants her to help Charlie repent. It’s
the first time she travels outside Big Creek, and the trip changes her life
forever.
The Melody of the Mulberries is the second installment in the Big Creek Series written by Tonya Jewel
Blessing. It is set in Appalachian Mountains 1920s and focuses on Coral Ashby as she travels to Charleston to
visit murderer and rapist Charlie in jail. She has prayed a lot and is adamant
God wants her to help Charlie repent. She navigates her new life while praying for
guidance, but has limited experience with judging the characters of someone she
meets and finds herself in a dangerous situation.
Main character Carol Ashby seems a sweet but stubborn sixteen years old girl who knows little about the world outside Big Creek. I admire the way she puts her faith in God to guide her on the difficult mission.
Supporting character Ernest Ashby is Coral’s
brother and the teacher for children of the negro hill people near Big Creek.
He seems to juggle his relationship issues by relying on his faith. As I feel he is
a well developed and relatable character, he is my favorite of
this story.
The Melody of the Mulberries consists of two distinct entertaining
story-lines which follow Carol and brother Ernest’s lives as they struggle with
their unique hardships. This story stood out as it was set in the relatively poor
mountain area of 1920s Vest Virginia. The vibe reminded me a bit of Little House
on the Prairie, with descriptions of how people lived a deeply religious, frugal life close to
nature. I particularly enjoyed the part describing Charlotte Ashby’s bow and arrow
skills during reenactment of Bible stories. The dialogue was well written in a
charming, yet easy to read, local dialect. I loved that the quotations of Appalachian
Folk Beliefs at the beginning of each chapter were so surprisingly similar to
Norwegian Folk Beliefs I heard when I was a kid. I read the story as a standalone
which worked perfectly.
My favorite and most amusing part of the story
was when the children found a talking parrot in the woods. It had very foul
language reminiscent of a bar-keep or a sailor and made very precise voice imitations. The least favorite part was descriptions
of evil spirits. There seemed to be short distance from religious beliefs to mountain
mysticism, and I was pleased to see the teachers were conscious that education was
the best remedy against it.
Anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction of Christian lifestyle in the 1920s would enjoy this story of two siblings who stay close to God while trying to find a way through their struggles.
Similar authors to
explore might be Laura Ingalls Wilder or Misty M. Beller.
Thank you to author Tonya Jewel Blessing for this pdf, which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: This is the charming and entertaining story about two siblings who navigate through hardships while making sure to stay close to God.
Rating: 4 stars / 5
Reasons: charming unique plot and dialogue, relatable characters
Order your copy using any of these links:
Details of the book:
Series: Big Creek (Book 2)
Paperback: 248 pages
Publisher: Tonya Blessing (July 24, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1951084004
ISBN-13: 978-1951084004
Author's Bio
Current Books: Soothing Rain (devotionals with corresponding questions/conversation starters), Big Creek Series: The Whispering of the Willows (award winning), The Melody of the Mulberries (new release).
Growing up Tonya Jewel Blessing spent numerous vacations and holidays in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. Most of her adult life has been spent in full-time ministry with a focus on helping women. She has traveled nationally and internationally as a conference speaker. For a number of years, Tonya and her husband operated a retreat facility in Colorado for pastors and missionaries.
She and her husband currently live in South Africa. They are the founders and directors of Strong Cross Ministries, a non-profit organization that assists local churches in providing humanitarian relief and spiritual reconciliation. She is currently pursuing a degree in pastoral ministries (from Amazon).
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