Customer Reviews

Whisper Town (Millwood Hollow Series #3)

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This is the 3rd book in the Millwood Hollow series. But you don't need to read the series, as each book stands alone. The other two books being "Fallen Angel" and "Nazareth's Song". The book is historical/fiction with just a touch of romance.

Our story takes place in Nazareth, Arkansas as Jeb Nubley the town banjo player former liar and ex-convict is the pastor of Church in the Dell. The town has seemed to all but forgotten Jeb's past as things have calmed down and Jeb has settled in raising the 3 Welby children - Angel, Willie and Ida May. Jeb has even finally won the heart of his sweetheart Fern Coulter. But soon the quiet erupts as in the middle of the night a small bundle of a baby is left on his doorstep. The problem being this is no ordinary bundle of joy as it is a black baby. Since this story takes place during the depression we see how fast the town turns against the minister of Church in the Dell. Oddly as quickly as the baby was dropped off the pastor of the black church in Hope, the nearby town drops off a young girl, Lucky to help out. Jeb knows there's a connection between the baby and the young girl but she's not talking. So Jeb sets out to solve the mystery of baby Myrtle and Lucky while trying to hold the family together against the hatred towards him and Fern and the children as they all stand united to give the two the proper home they so desperately need. Jeb tries to change the town's hearts and minds. As his friendship with Louie, the pastor from the church in Hope, grows all are taught lessons of God's love beyond measure. The end of the story has its ups and downs with sadness and joy, but in the end - everyone must read for themselves, as this story does not end as expected.

Reading this book will make you desire to read the other two books "Fallen Angel", and "Nazareth's Song". After you read this book I'm sure you'll be like more me wanting and waiting for more books to come. But for now enjoy this book, as it is a page-turner must read for lovers of historical/fiction that can't be put down and a definite reread and read again.

Jeb Nubey is now a dependable minister and is still parenting three orphan children. He has finally won the affections of the pretty schoolteacher, Fern. Everything in Nazareth, Arkansas, is going as smoothly as the Depression allows. Until Jeb opens the door to find a basket on his doorstep: an infant girl enveloped in a blanket inside. And the baby is black.

In spite of all Jeb's attempts, the baby's mother is nowhere to be found. The townsfolk feel Jeb ought to throw the baby out with the trash. But how can Jeb do that? Still, the controversy is destroying his church. When a black teenager shows up on his door to work as nanny for the baby, Jeb takes her in too. But what will happen when rocks are thrown through his church members' windows? Graffiti appears on the church walls and the town becomes divided over this controversial matter.

WHISPER TOWN is the second book in the Millwood Hollow series and I recommend that the first book in the series, Nazareth's Song, is read first as the events in this book tie into it. It is nice to see Jeb's character further developed and his relationships with his children improving. I wish we could have seen his relationship with Fern develop too, as it seems she went from giving him a cold shoulder in book one to being completely in love with him in book two.

I never realized times were so hard for people of color back then and the way the story portrayed the actions of the community toward black people really made me ill. I hoped Jeb would be strong enough to stand up under pressure and continue to do what was right. In some ways I was disappointed by the book's end, in other ways it was perfect. WHISPER TOWN is a must read, holding one's attention, especially for all those who love historicals. Discussion questions are included at the end, making this ideal for small group studies. $12.99. 265 pages.

As the Depression grips the nation, a young minister finds himself the accidental foster father to three orphans. Adding one more shouldn't be much different, but this child is very different. The baby girl abandoned on his doorstep is not white, but he is. To Jeb that makes no difference, but it makes a huge difference when he begins trying to find her a wet nurse and in his interactions with the town folk. Jeb and his make shift family find themselves plunged into a violent backlash of hatred and racism. Yet, this makes him all the more determined to hold true to his convictions and do right by the baby girl. Unfortunately, the overall book lives up to the era in which it is set, the Depression. Though historically accurrate, it's rather a downer, bringing up reminders of a world most would prefer to forget.