by Nicole A. Seitz
General Fiction / Contemporary
Published January 31, 2012
Thomas Nelson
336 pages
About the Book
Three lives are bound by a single book . . . and the cleansing waters of Molasses Creek.
Having traveled to the ends of the earth as a flight attendant, Ally Green has finally returned to the Lowcountry to bury her father as well as the past. But Vesey Washington is still living across the creek, and theirs is a complicated relationship—he was once her best friend . . . and also part of the reason she’s stayed away so long. When Ally discovers a message her father left behind asking her to quit running, it seems her past isn’t through with her yet.
As Ally’s wandering spirit wrestles with a deep longing to flee again, a young woman on the other side of the world escapes her life of slavery in the rock quarries of Nepal. A mysterious sketchbook leads Sunila Kunari to believe there’s more to her story than she’s ever been told, and she’s determined to follow the truth wherever it leads her.
A deep current intertwines the lives of these three souls, and a destiny of freedom, faith, and friendship awaits them all on the banks of Molasses Creek.
My Thoughts
I was initially impressed with Beyond Molasses Creek because the plot is complex, the writing is tight, and it was just so different from the other books in my TBR stack. Nicole Seitz manages to write a story told by three different characters, on two continents, alternating between the past and the present. And somehow, she pulls it off so that I had no trouble tracking with all the back-and-forth.
I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I don't know if it was because they were considerably older than me or if I just didn't click with them. However, the plot was strong enough that it pulled me along and kept me reading.
I was disappointed with the ending. I won't give anything away here, but Ally's decision in the last few pages seemed so wrong. I felt like everything she had been through was wasted to a degree—she learned nothing!
Overall, the story is incredibly poignant. Seitz addresses tough issues—racism, human trafficking, single parenting, loss, death. She handles each topic realistically and with great sensitivity. I would recommend Beyond Molasses Creek to anyone looking for a deep, emotional story. [3.5 stars]
NOTE: Although, this book was published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher, I would not classify this as Christian fiction. The novel is definitely spiritual in nature but not Christian. My review and rating were given for the quality of the book; this is just a note so you can set your expectations appropriately.
I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and LitFuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.
I was initially impressed with Beyond Molasses Creek because the plot is complex, the writing is tight, and it was just so different from the other books in my TBR stack. Nicole Seitz manages to write a story told by three different characters, on two continents, alternating between the past and the present. And somehow, she pulls it off so that I had no trouble tracking with all the back-and-forth.
I didn't really connect with any of the characters. I don't know if it was because they were considerably older than me or if I just didn't click with them. However, the plot was strong enough that it pulled me along and kept me reading.
I was disappointed with the ending. I won't give anything away here, but Ally's decision in the last few pages seemed so wrong. I felt like everything she had been through was wasted to a degree—she learned nothing!
Overall, the story is incredibly poignant. Seitz addresses tough issues—racism, human trafficking, single parenting, loss, death. She handles each topic realistically and with great sensitivity. I would recommend Beyond Molasses Creek to anyone looking for a deep, emotional story. [3.5 stars]
NOTE: Although, this book was published by Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher, I would not classify this as Christian fiction. The novel is definitely spiritual in nature but not Christian. My review and rating were given for the quality of the book; this is just a note so you can set your expectations appropriately.
I received a free copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and LitFuse Publicity in exchange for my fair and honest review.
About the Author
Nicole Seitz is the author of several critically acclaimed novels - The Inheritance of Beauty, Saving Cicadas, A Hundred Years of Happiness, Trouble the Water, and The Spirit of Sweetgrass. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism, and also has a degree in Illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Her paintings are featured on the covers of her books.
Nicole Seitz Online
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