The Whispering of the Willows


Fiction - Southern
357 Pages
Reviewed on 05/27/2017
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

The Whispering of the Willows by Tonya Jewel Blessing is a southern fiction, religious themed story that would appeal most to a mixed audience of adults and mature young adults who enjoy Appalachian drama fiction and can handle a rape scene. The story takes place in Big Creek West Virginia in the 1920s and follows Emerald Ashby and her family as they navigate life in their poor household, with a father with a mean temper and no mercy. Emerald Ashby’s life growing up was far from happy, as her father was very willing to whip her with a switch any time she so much as nicked him when she shaved his face. However, young Emerald’s life took a turn for the worse when she is traded into a marriage against her will for financial gain. Will the struggle for freedom make Emerald stronger or will it break her spirit?

The Whispering of the Willows by Tonya Jewel Blessing had a very melancholy beginning in how the book opened with Emerald facing punishment from her father and hiding in fear of it. As the plot continued, the tone of it began to change as Emerald faced being traded into a marriage. This might have seemed horrible to Emerald, but it was also a defining moment for her that allowed her to find her inner strength. The author was clearly in her element as she created wonderfully developed characters with their own unique thoughts and personalities. I found the ending to be different from what I was expecting, but I found that ultimately it was the perfect ending for this book!