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Jan 30, 2010

Louise rated it:

I found this sequel to be a bit better and more interesting than the debut novel 'Fireflies in December'. You can see the improvement in the author's writing already.

From back cover:

"I've heard the dead whisper. Everytime I tell my best friend Gemma that, she tells me I'm crazy. But I'm not crazy. The dead really can whisper, only it isn't their ghosts that do it. It's the memory of them.

The summer of 1936 is one that seventeen-year-old Jessilyn Lassiter More...

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Jan 01, 2010

Debbie rated it:

"Cottonwood Whispers" is a historical fiction with some romance set in 1936 in a small town in the South. The author does an excellent job of conveying the idea of Southern accents without being obvious or making the text hard to read.

This novel is the second in a series, but you don't need to read the first one to understand this one. However, a mystery element in the first novel is revealed in this one, so I'd recommend reading "Fireflies in December" first--I s More...

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Dec 16, 2009

Amydeanne rated it:

I closed my eyes last night and couldn't sleep. My mind wandered back to the year of 1936 in the deep South. The air was too hot to breath. I couldn't shake the feeling of great sadness that crept in.

Why was I feeling this way? I just finished reading --Cottonwood Whispers by Jennifer Erin Valent. It is an amazing, heart wrenching sequel to "Fireflies in December" (which I haven't read). Valent grabbed me from the get-go and drew me deep into her story. It drew me More...

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Sep 18, 2009

Jane rated it:

This is a sequel to another book, Fireflies in December, but I've never read the first book and felt this one stood pretty well on its own. Though I wished I knew more about how Jessilyn and Gemma became friends... which is a good incentive to go find that first book!

The story takes place in the south in 1936. Jessilyn is 17, and her best friend is black. The author does a great job dealing with the prejudices of the time and pointing out some of the complications; the injustices and More...

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Sep 20, 2009

Ruth rated it:

Having loved Jennifer Erin Valent's first book, Fireflies in December I was eager to read this sequel which takes place about three years later. Gemma is still living with Jessilyn's family, but is now finished with school and working as a domestic servant for the rich family down the street. She is developing a relationship with the adult son of the family. Jessilyn realizes her family is in financial trouble (it is 1939 after all) and so she gets a part-time job helping a neighbor lady, who wa More...

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Oct 15, 2009

Nora rated it:

1937...a year when life was simple and carefree - or so we think? Can you imagine a time in life when you could send your kids walking to a store or to church without you? They did in 1937; Jessilyn and Gemma are best friends that have grown-up quick. Life was simple, but it wasn’t without its own racial tensions, where the rich tried to push around the poor, and a time when people thought they could take justice into their own hands.

Jessilyn says, “Daddy had told me before that som More...

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Sep 18, 2009

Clockstein rated it:

Cottonwood Whispers by Jennifer Erin Valent is the haunting follow-up to Fireflies in December. Jessie Lassiter has been "sister" to Gemma Teague since Gemma's parents died four years ago, but Gemma's feelings for her employer's scoundrel son come between the two young women. Tragedy strikes the small town of Calloway once again with the hit and run killing of a little girl for whom Jessie babysat, and the town is split in two when a mentally handicapped man is accused in her death. Je More...

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Feb 17, 2011

Lauren rated it:

This was the sequel to "Fireflies in December" although I think one would be able to read this book without having read the first one. It takes place 4 years later and Jessilyn Lassiter is now 17. Not much has changed. Her best friend is still Gemma Teauge and she's still dead set on marrying her hero, Luke Tally. Jesse has grown up some, but still has a sharp tongue and a hot temper. Jessilyn and Gemma face a trouble in their friendship when Gemma develops a crush her wealthy but whi More...

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Jan 19, 2012

Julie (julie37619) rated it:

First of all, thanks to Tyndale for sending me this ARC. I didn't realize it was a sequel, but it can be just as easily read as a stand-alone book. After reading it, I'm definitely going to be looking for a copy of the first book as well as any continuations. I'd love to see this as a series.

First and foremost, it was anything but the typical inspirational fiction cliche. The protagonist is likable, witty, self-reliant, and not a Christian. There is also no "Damascus Road" More...

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Dec 26, 2010

Erin rated it:

This is book #2 in a (so far) 3-book series. You are placed back into the life of Jessilynn Lassiter. This time she's 17 years old. The plot of this book centers around the death of a 3 year old girl. Someone hits her with their car and an innocent man is accused of killing her.

I'm really impressed with how well one book flowed into another. In fact, it's hard to write a review as it feels just like a continuation of 'Fireflies in December'. I'm now about 25% done with the 3rd book 'Ca More...

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May 21, 2010

Maureen rated it:

I actually read this a while ago, but was recently privileged to read for endorsement the upcoming final book in this series (Catching Moondrops, which releases this fall/2010). Reacquainting myself with this series reminded me how much I enjoy this author's work. The 1960s come alive in these books, and even though we'd rather forget some of the harsh realities, the hopeful messages behind these stories is too good go miss.

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Sep 24, 2009

Angela rated it:

More of a visit with old friends than a sequel. They're stuck in that time between childhood and adulthood, questioning the obvious ("why is he avoiding me if he likes me? huh?") and, always, getting in the middle of business that's not theirs. But that's why we love them, and that's why we're itching to read its conclusion.

Or heck, the series could never end and I'd never grow weary of Jessilyn's smart mouth. But no pressure.

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Nov 10, 2009

Sonia rated it:

Follow up to "Fireflies in December". Valent has a wonderful way of writing, but this book was a little dissapointing. It was almost identical to Fireflies. And the main character is really hard to relate to. At points her immaturity, selfishness and lack of thinking before acting/speaking are truly annoying(!) That made it hard to continue interested in the story.

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Jan 04, 2010

Dee rated it:

My book club read Fireflies in December and LOVED it. We normally don't read sequels but decided to make an exception with Cottonwood Whispers. We were not disappointed. This is an outstanding book of making quick assumptions, false acccusations, and how easily people can believe something without exploring justifications. It is a story of true sacrificial love and pure faith in God's sovereignty. I'm looking forward to the sequel where I hope we find Jessilyn discovering God's all redeemin More...

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Jan 03, 2011

Heather rated it:

Excellent sequel in that it flushes out the mysteries from the first book. This book shows you how the main characters heart is opening up as she searches to find Jesus. I've enjoyed both the historical parts of this book, the struggle with civil rights, and the Christian elements of this series.

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Apr 21, 2011

Gregandemy rated it:

Ok is really a good description for this book. I didnt hate it, but I didnt really love it either. The writing style was a little annoying to me.. I've read other books set in the South that didnt use aint every other word. The story was simple and fairly predictable. It was just ok.

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Jun 25, 2010

Nicole rated it:

I am an atheist/agnostic and I LOVE this series. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book in the series. The author does not smack you in the face with Jesus the way a lot of other Christian novelist do. It's a beautiful subtext to a wonderful meaty story.

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Apr 18, 2011

Michelle B rated it:

This is a followup to Fireflies in December and was just as great! Love the characters in these books and they are just someone that you can relate too. There is always a great storyline and i love the building relationship between luke and jessilynn.

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Feb 09, 2010

Diana rated it:

This is the sequel to Fireflies in December. It was WONDERFUL! It made me want the story to continue. Ms. Valent, please hurry and write the next one.

If you read Fireflies in December and liked it. I highly recommend you read this one!

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Apr 14, 2010

Christine rated it:

The sequel was as good as the first (Fireflies in December) as there is more drama in the summer of 1936....a few years after the first book. I can't imagine how hard it would have been to live in the prejudice South of those days...not that things are perfect now.

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Apr 29, 2011

Justin rated it:

Second in the series by Valent, Cottonwood Whispers is emotional, moving and very real. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Jessilyn and Luke's relationship strengthen and evolve. Loved it!

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Mar 03, 2011

Theresa rated it:

I am not sure which of these books is the first in this series- but it was enjoyable, thought provoking, and gave a glimpse as to what it was like in the south in the 50's.

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Dec 07, 2009

Brook rated it:

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. It had more religious dialogue than the previous in the series but that didn't bother me in the least. I love the characters in this book. Jessie reminds me a little of myself and is about as sassy as they come. It's a quick read with a message.

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Jan 23, 2011

Josee rated it:

I thought this book was a good follow-up to Fireflies in December, but I did like the first book better. However, it is not a really deep read. I liked the story but the character development wasn't great. You want to go deeper with Jessilyn, Luke and Gemma. I also didn't realize religious this series was, and at times it is very trying. I felt like the author was pushing her Christianity on me.

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Jun 11, 2011

Sally rated it:

This was the sequel to Fireflies in December...I like this series! I'm starting to find myself talking with a Southern accent :)

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Sep 14, 2009

Blakelyn rated it:

In the sequel to Fireflies in December, Valent continues the story of Jessilyn Lassiter, who is now 17 years old and quickly growing into a young woman (much to her father's dismay). Problems arise when tragedy strikes a little girl in town, and a dear friend of Jessilyn's is blamed. Meanwhile, Gemma has taken on a new job and isn't around as much to spend time with Jessilyn. Written with the same southern charm as Fireflies in December, Cottonwood Whispers will make your heart ache one minute, More...

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Feb 24, 2010

Cheryl rated it:

Loved it! This is the 2nd book in the series and just as clean and fun as the first.

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Sep 11, 2011

Joyce rated it:

The 2nd book in the series, the 1st being Fireflies in December and the last being Catching Moondrops), this book continues the story of the lives of Jessie, Gemma, Luke and their lives in 1930's South, Jessie's growing hate for the KKK and her ,secret love for Luke. This series was full of emotions for me and the story was well told. Even if you feel this book may drag, which I didn't but others have reviewed, please keep reading through the last book. It is a story of love, hate, forgiveness, More...

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Jun 24, 2010

Terri rated it:

2nd installment of the sweet story, but didn't get boring, which is nice.

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Apr 06, 2011

Bari rated it:

A sequel to Firedlies in December.!just as wonderful a read.

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