Whispers from the Ashes [Kindle Edition]

Patricia Hester (Author)

Book Description

Pennsylvania coal country, 1955.
A community struggling with economic collapse, religious differences, and an encroaching underground mine fire.
A mysterious entry in a dead man’s diary.
A father with a troubled past.
A daughter's innocent curiosity.
A house filled with secrets.
A debut coming-of-age story that will tug at your heart-strings.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Whispers from the Ashes is based on true events in Pennsylvania history.  Underground mine fires have become a fact of life for many mining regions.  The one highlighted in this book is the Red Ash fire, located in the borough of Laurel Run.  It continues to burn to this day.

About the Author

PATRICIA HESTER, who grew up in Pennsylvania, presents her debut coming-of-age novel, Whispers from the Ashes, semi-finalist in both the 2005 James Jones First Novel Fellowship and the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Patricia, a Registered Nurse and freelance writer, lives in Washington State. Her short story "The Light of Life" placed first in Nursing2009's annual story contest.

Product Details

• File Size: 582 KB
• Print Length: 418 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0984561609
• Publisher: Patricia Wiggins; 2 edition (October 29, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0049U4W7Y
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,724 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

133 of 137 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Whispers from the Ashes September 29, 2010

By Susan Craig

Format:Paperback

What a delightful coming of age novel by a new author. It is a fast moving story about Molly, a young girl searching for answers from the past as she moves forward to the future. Molly is a member of close knit family in the 1950's. She has a loving mom who has so much love to give that she shares it with her children as well as the children of other family members. She has a warmhearted dad who is probably an alcoholic but she constantly forgives his binges because of her deep love and respect for him. Molly's stories of family hardships and good times are entwined with a family secret she is attempting to solve by eavesdropping on private family conversations and trips to the library searching old newspapers. This appears to be is an innocent novel but at times there are shocking revelations. A very good read.

64 of 67 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Whispers from the Ashes took me home. November 3, 2010

By Tressa Lee

Format:Paperback

Loved this novel. I was born and raised in the Wilkes-Barre area and moved away. Whenever I would go back to visit my family I would say I am going home. My husband heard about this novel from a friend and bought it for me for my birthday.
He wrote on the gift card, "Going Home". And that is exactly what this novel did. It took me home. It took me back to Northeast Pa. It took me back to the fifties and how simple life was then. I fell in love with Molly Branigan. As she narrates her story she reminds me of Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. The story moves quickly and each chapter is just as interesting as the last. This would be a good choice for a Christmas gift for anyone who calls Northeast Pa home.

43 of 45 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant November 18, 2010

By chaky

Format:Paperback

Loved that this story unfolded through the eyes of a 5 yr old...made it more real because of using a child's voice to describe the family goings on before she was born that still affect her. And she knows there is more to unfold as she uses all that is available to her as a child to learn it. There was so much family loyalty that prevented the truth from coming out...people moved and kept secrets to protect the family. Amazing how it all came together with all the twists and turns as life kicked in. Was able to visualize the area from the author's description without ever being in similar environments. For me it was a mystery until the end .... loved how the truth caused her to become even closer to her dad. Was hard to put down .. brilliant book. A must read.

More About the Author

Originally from Pennsylvania, now living in the Pacific Northwest, Patricia Hester has served as a Registered Nurse in states from Florida to Alaska,served as an officer in the United States Air Force, owned and operated a bed and breakfast, organized investment clubs, worked in the only female corrections center in Washington State, and guided three children into adulthood.

Her debut novel, Whispers from the Ashes, previously titled Giant's Despair, was a semi-finalist in both the 2005 James Jones First Novel Fellowship and the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Her story The Light of Life took first prize in Nursing2009's short story contest. Currently Patricia combines work as a substance abuse/mental health nurse in a small county jail with authoring full length historical and mystery novels.