The Whispering of the Willows, Tonya Jewel Blessing
The Whispering of the Willows, Tonya Jewel Blessing
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The Whispering of the Willows
An Historic Appalachian Drama

Author: Tonya Jewel Blessing

Narrator: Courtney Patterson

Unabridged: 12 hr 28 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 08/20/2019

Synopsis

Set against the superstitions and old time religion in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, author Tonya Jewel Blessing tells a difficult, yet redemptive story of a blossoming young woman who is accompanied by her friends and her foes on a journey towards hope and healing. Love weaves through gut-wrenching circumstances and dismal poverty where Emerald Ashby grows strong despite grievous wrongs committed against her. In this desperate historical setting, mysterious disappearances lead to traps set for the innocent.

Now, when key individuals begin carving out a rescue plan, Emerald Ashby sets a few of her own traps. What will be their measure of success?

Cleverly suspenseful and sweetly spoken, the storyteller's unassuming voice transforms an Appalachian trail of tears into holy terror against an evil that stalks the innocent. In The Whispering of the Willows, an Appalachian marriage practice might be compared to the modern sex trade which exploits young females.

Not since Catherine Marshall's strong heroine named Christy, has an Appalachian drama come to life like The Whispering of the Willows.

About Tonya Jewel Blessing

Tonya Jewel Blessing is a true life heroine to many. Growing up Tonya spent numerous vacations and holidays in the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. Most of her adult life has been spent in full-time teaching in local Colorado schools and in women's 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 directors of Strong Cross Ministries, a nonprofit organization that assists local churches in providing humanitarian relief and spiritual reconciliation.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Angie on October 16, 2017

3.5 Stars Emerald "Emie" Ashby is a young girl from a dirt poor family, just starting her teen years, coming of age in the small Appalachian town of Big Creek, West Virginia during the 1920s. With her 8th grade year of schooling coming to a close, Emie's father decides "she ain't a boy that can carry......more

Goodreads review by Julie on March 24, 2017

The Whispering of the Willows by Tonya Blessing Met the author and her book on the book fun chat and knew I wanted to read this book. It starts out with a large family that live in the holler in the Appalachian Mountains. Girls are named after gems which I loved right from the start. Boys run the hog......more

Goodreads review by Anne on November 30, 2017

If this young romance doesn't touch your heart, I think you need to run--oops, no, walk or drive--to the nearest cardiologist, because there is something wrong with your ticker. Emie is the child of a manipulative and sadistic father and a placating mother in the superstitious Virginia hill country.......more

Goodreads review by Vickie on August 21, 2017

I just finished The Whispering of the Willows by Tonya Jewel Blessing and have to say it is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. That's saying a lot because I'm a bookworm! This book introduces the reader to the Ashby family and the people of Big Creek. It is a work of historical fic......more

Goodreads review by Shirley on August 26, 2019

Love and Faith I loved the folk beliefs before each chapter, and the songs and hymns contained within the book. Life was hard in the 1920's and especially in the poor regions of the Appalachian mountains. The young grew up too soon, the adults grew old too soon. Some were scared by tragic events or t......more

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