The dedication in this book reads: To those who long to be free.

This story is told from the individual voices of its three most prominent characters, Ally, Vesey, and Sunila. It begins when Ally and Vesey are children – when white children are not to be friends with black children – so theirs is a secret friendship until they are found out and Vesey pays the penalty in a volatile climate of racism. Later, Ally travelled the world over when her heart’s desire could not be attained, and now at sixty years of age she comes home to South Carolina because her father died.

The tragedies and disappointments that affected Ally’s life led to her searching for peace from “the gods”, even though she was brought up to know the true God of peace. Vesey, who lives across the river – Molasses Creek – suffered poverty and racism, but he knows Jesus Christ as his source of peace. Then there is Sunila, twenty years younger but also searching for freedom and peace in her life of hard labour in India and the racism of caste in that country. Because of an unfortunate event connected with Ally (which in real life probably would not occur – but this is fiction), her life is not what it should have been.

The author has written an intriguing tale. It took me awhile to get into the story because of how it is broken up – into short chapters that jump from one person to another – but once I caught on to this it was easier to keep track. The story gradually picks up momentum, and layer upon layer the questions that are raised are answered.

One thing that bothered me was the hinting about the Lord but the outright repetitiveness about the idols and gods of man-made religions, with not much of a decision made when it was obvious the Lord answered Ally’s heart’s cries. She thanked God but it did not seem to be much more than saying, oh, He IS real. Perhaps the reader is supposed to understand that through all of Ally’s searching God was waiting for her all along.

Another thing that bothered me – and I’m being careful to not write spoilers into this review – is that Ally told a whopper of a lie near the end of the story, which I felt was very dishonouring to her friend who was an honest man. It just seemed shockingly wrong and could only lead to more pain. It simply made no sense to not tell the truth.

If you are looking for a Christian book, Beyond Molasses Creek is not near the top of my list. But if you are looking for a different kind of fiction, this could satisfy that hunger. I will say that I was moved to tears in a few places, so it definitely was not a total letdown. The reader can get pulled into the story, and I found that once past the halfway point I wanted to skip ahead to find out some things because of what was unfolding a little too slowly for my liking. (I resisted and stayed the course, though.)

Nicole Seitz has written an emotionally charged novel that I actually enjoyed, despite the points I mentioned above. I wouldn’t mind reading more of her books. ( )

Having read Saving Cicadas by this fabulous author, I was excited to jump into a new novel by her. Beyond Molasses Creek is both a dramatically complex read AND a light, refreshing read. It's not often you find a book that can be BOTH of those things in such way that the reader never looses interest. This book is wonderfully written in a style that will win your heart, your mind, your soul. Filled wonderful messages between the lines, you'll loose your heart to Molasses Creek!

Ally's character is one that you would love to meet in real life. She's come back to the South Carolina town she grew up with to handle the loss of her father. Once there, she learns of her father's dying wish. For her to STAY in South Carolina again. But, there's one thing that Ally must deal with if she does. Across her Molasses Creek lives a wonderful, God-fearing man. Vesey,the man she calls her closest, best friend. Ally's loved him from afar since she was little, but she can never have him. Why? It's nearly unheard of for a white woman and a black man to have a relationship in the 50s.

Ally is coming to terms with the consequences of her actions in her younger years. Vesey is sent away, she leaves and travels the country, becomes pregnant, loses her daughter to a kidnapping and comes full circle with herself and her home, when her father dies. The complexity of Ally's character is beyond stunning. She grabs your heart and squeezes it til you become a part of her, til the reader FEELS each emotion from happiness to sadness, from hurt to anger.

Sunila's character is wonderfully portrayed as a 30 year old woman living as a slave. Each emotion she felt overflows to the reader, helping the reader to see through the eyes of the young woman learning about her true identity.

Vesey's character is one that I would love to know in real life. He's a wonderful man who trusts so wholly in God and his tenderness with Ally shines bright.

This is most definitely a highly recommended 5 Book worthy novel from an author who can take the complexity of life's issues, the intensity of kidnapping, loss, survival, forbidden love, and infuse it with wonderful Southern charm to turn out a story that will leave the reader often in tears, and with a smile of awe on their face. By the last page, you don't want to leave Molasses Creek. The reader will want to sit down with Ally, Vesey, Sunila and all the other characters, take trips back into the past, and live out the future right along side them. I am pleased to say that I am adding this to my all time favorite Christian novels, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Seitz' wonderful work in the future!

This review originated at Reviews By Molly in part with a blog tour. ( )

I'm a huge fan of the exotic twist in a novel. I'm intrigued by books about women who do the unexpected/perhaps "wrong" thing in life by other's perceptions, reinvent themselves or survive a crisis and come out of it perhaps less "whole," but more wise and capable of real empathy. I also like a story that hints at travel to interesting places, along with an eventual coming home theme. Nicole Seitz offers all of that and more in "Beyond Molasses Creek." She is no novice to writing, and having come out of the very prestigious UNC Chapel Hill School of Journalism, you can believe that she understands how to convey her deepest thoughts. All of the above, plus amazing characterization makes her book top shelf. Let me state right up front that this is a book you'll be interested in reading; actually, it's a book worth savouring. I could not stop reading "Beyond Molasses Creek" from the Prologue to the end.

One of the most difficult things a Southern girl from a small town could ever face in the 1960's was interracial relationships. While Alley and Vesey shared the common bond of growing up together and finding their deep connection, this could never compensate for the overwhelmingly negative odds they faced in their community of a small town. Religion and "brotherly love" notwithstanding, their desire to be special friends could only bring disaster for them, and the only possible reaction for Alley of being an outcast in Molasses Creek. When a forced separation is imposed on their friendship, what follows is her escaping into travel to foreign countries, her eventual pregnancy out of wedlock, and the kidnapping of her beloved daughter.

It was heartbreaking to read about Alley's stolen daughter, Sunila's, harsh life in Nepal. Ms Seitz's grasp of the isolation of both mother and daughter and the emotional loss they felt was palpable. She provides us a good grasp of who Sunila is, her insecurities, and how she came to discover something more about her past.

Without spending time telling you the story of this book, let me say only that you who love a Southern woman's book will enjoy "Beyond Molasses Creek" very much. It is both a woman's story of love and independence, and a redemptive tale, and it's a story that will give you more than a small glimpse into the caring heart of a parent...especially a heavenly Parent. With roots in a Southern culture that harbors the strongest of human qualities for good and for bad, you will come to experience a universal sense of hope, I think, in relationships both natural and spiritual.

One of the things that spoke most sweetly to me was the symbolism of her father's dying and "calling her home" and his wanting to provide a resting place for her so she could stop "running." This part of the novel is so poignant and so beautifully rendered. And this is only one of the more touching parts of Ms Seitz's references to love, loyalty, forgiveness and redemption in this engaging book.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy an author of intelligence and fine storytelling. And to those who enjoy a woman's story...one with a strong woman character or two who is capable of overcoming adversity and loss to find her way "home." Like I did, you may come to love the waters of Molasses Creek, and you may find a word of inspiration there. ( )

Beyond Molasses Creek is first and foremost a wonderful story. Beautifully written, its setting and characters immediately pull you in. It is a novel of things lost and found that will keep you thinking long after the covers have been closed.

Ally Green is a 60 year old former flight attendant that has finally come home to South Carolina following the death of her father. She has been searching for something beyond herself since she was a little girl, always thinking it could be at the end of the next flight. Her childhood friend, Vesey Washington, has always been rooted to Molasses Creek. Now they are rekindling a friendship once thought lost. And although Ally has experienced just about everything one could in her worldwide travels, it is Vesey that has the most to teach. Another story unfolds across the world in a stone quarry near Kathmandu. Sunila is also looking for something that seems just out of reach. An outsider even among the outcast Dalits of Nepal, she knows her home is somewhere else.

Beyond Molasses Creek is a book rich in contrasts — the two lives and worlds that are separated by the creek itself, the statue garden in Ally’s backyard and the stone quarry prison of Sunila’s life, and the carved gods in Ally’s garden and the simple clothesline cross behind Vesey’s house. And although Ally is 60 years old and Sunila is 38, it feels like a coming of age story. Maybe we are never too old to really grow up!

I feel that I have failed to convey just how special this book is. So I will just say, get it and read it! It is great!

Highly Recommended.

(I received an ARC of Beyond Molasses Creek from LitFuse in return for an honest review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

Beyond Molasses Creek takes place over a 50 year span from the 50's to present day. Ally is the sheltered daughter of a small town doctor who knows she shouldn't be friends with the little black boy across the river and he knows that his parents and her parents wouldn't want them sneaking off to fish or talk. The relationship between these two is innocent and friendly and even though Ally would like it to it never goes further. Ally eventually initiates a kiss between them and Vesey's mother who had followed them catches them and separates them by sending him to his Uncles farm where he ends up learning to farm, gives up his schooling and dream to be a doctor. The difference between both families is vivid and almost startling.

This is the story of Ally, Vesey and Sunila. The story of racism and prejudice travel around the world to Nepal where the story of Ally becomes the story of Sunila - Ally's greatest loss.

I will say that even though this book is said to be about faith I wouldn't say it is a Christian book. Ally's parents and Vesey seem to have faith - but Ally doesn't. There are several comments about her having statues of various idols from around the world (Greek, Buddha, and others) and she talks to them. She also says that she prays - but she doesn't know to whom and isn't even sure there is a god. There is no scripture and nothing that shares salvation or a Christian faith. There is some comment of Ally sleeping with someone and getting pregnant and she refuses to have an abortion. I will say - there is no language, drinking, drugs in the book. There are also questions in the back for group discussion. ( )