Whisper Hollow by Carol Warburton

Whisper Hollow

Author: Carol Warburton

Published Date: October 2011

Publisher: Covenant Communications

Softcover; 222 pages

Genre: Historical Romance

ISBN# 978-1-60861-760-9

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: review copy in exchange for honest review

Goodreads Summary

Talitha Evangeline Spencer enjoys a happy life with her parents in the tiny mountain hamlet of Whisper Hollow, but the onset of the Civil War brings the simplicity of her girlhood to a sudden end. When rebel soldiers wreak havoc on her family, unraveling her mother’s already fragile state of mind, Tally must take charge of the family farm alone. The burdens of providing for the household prompt her to consider a marriage proposal from Ollie, her childhood friend, but Tally determines to hold out for love.

My Review

I don’t recall ever reading a book that takes place in the Smoky Mountains before Whisper Hollow. The author did a great job with the setting, using descriptions that brought detail to my  mind without weighing down the story. Whisper Hollow has character and personality all its own. Combine the beautiful location with interesting and memorable characters during one of the country’s most defining time periods and you get the unexpected pleasure that is Whisper Hollow.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Whisper Hollow at first. The book started a bit slow and didn’t pick up for me until page 80 or so. After that point, however, I was swept into the story and am so glad I stuck with it. I was pulled into a tale of sorrow and triumph, struggle and victory, prejudice and forgiveness, hatred and love. Not only did I enjoy the characters, location, and storyline while I read the book, it persisted with me for several days afterward.

As far as characters, there were many I really liked, a few I was ambivalent toward, and some that I simply couldn’t stand. I enjoyed the growth I witnessed in the main character. I adored her father, never really connected with her mother, and experienced fear and love right along with Tally. There were a few points in the story that I expected to go a certain way and was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t quite turn out like I thought they would. I was satisfied with the end and found myself hoping for a chance to visit Whisper Hollow again.

While I was unsure at first, I now gladly put Whisper Hollow on my bookshelf and look forward to reading it again in the future. Readers who like historical novels with depth and emotion will enjoy Whisper Hollow.