The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen

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Pub Date 7 Nov 2019 | Archive Date 28 Jul 2020

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Description

“You’ve seen the woman in the photo. The woman screaming . . .”

So begins the story of Molly Valle, who at forty-eight thinks she knows all that life has to offer a single, middle-aged woman—namely, men’s dismissal and disrespect. But when handsome activist John Pressman arrives in her Mississippi hometown, he challenges her self-doubt along with nearly everything else in her world. Soon, Molly discovers a strength and beauty she never knew she had—and a love so powerful, it can overcome the most tragic of consequences. 

The Magnolia That Bloomed Unseen is a love story, an adventure novel, and a self-realization journey. It reignites the truth that many women—and men—have unconsciously extinguished: you are special and worthy of love, and it’s never too late to make your dreams come true.

“You’ve seen the woman in the photo. The woman screaming . . .”

So begins the story of Molly Valle, who at forty-eight thinks she knows all that life has to offer a single, middle-aged...


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ISBN 9781072707110
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Average rating from 18 members


Featured Reviews

The Magnolia that bloomed unseen by Ray Smith.

This story is about Molly Valle a middle aged schoolteacher who lived and worked in Mississippi in the sixties and by a quirk of fate that changed her when she makes a stand against the bigotry around her and joins the civil rights movement of the time.

A really well written book about a dark time in the Deep South you can imagine sitting in the diner at the time. It makes you think would I have had the courage?

Really good book not my normal taste but thoroughly enjoyed.

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This was not my usual type of book, but I really enjoyed it.
Super interesting to see perspective of that time period and I really liked Molly.
Well written and left me wanting more!

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Although this is at first hand appears to be a love story, it goes much deeper than a straightforward romance story. Molly and John are the lovers, they meet in a diner in Mississippi in 1961 as the civil rights movement is taking place.
Molly, a divorcee, thinks of herself as an invisible member of society, a middle aged woman, unlike the beautiful movie stars who men lust after. That is until she meets John who sees the beauty in her, in fact he thinks the other men in the diner are blind or stupid not to find her attractive. ‘Or, [are they] like men everywhere... so conditioned by billboards, by magazines, and by television to only appreciate women whom society deemed attractive?’ John has a different idea of beauty, he thinks, ‘the slim, the young … the interchangeable, the undernourished’ were ‘breathing mannequins displaying accoutrements, which only decorated the shell of a person but never her soul.’
Molly also finds John very attractive physically and mentally as he ‘sees the magic beneath the everyday and finds happiness by helping people.’ They both begin to work with the oppressed black population, who are segregated in most aspects of their lives. Their work can at times be dangerous and frightening, but they push on in their quest to change opinions.

This is a thought provoking, well written book which transports you back to a time when life was very different. The main characters come to life and you really do feel as if you know them, or someone like them.

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When Netgalley approved this book for me in exchange for a review, I started reading the book without much expectations. First hundred pages there was nothing to complain and since the author was spinning the tale with beautiful yarn, I continued. Once I was past a hundred and fifty pages, the book came just alive. Everything started taking shape. The conversations between John and Molly are the one which everyone craves for. I can understand what a pleasure it must have been to find each other when one starts considering oneself old enough to get Into new relationships. You will lose yourself in their conversations, you will take a stroll with them, you will cook with them in their kitchen and you will, cry when he proposes. You will cry once more and then one more time and yet again.

Sometimes it takes half a life to find someone worthwhile to spend the life with and another half to realise that the life you lived was not there at all. How much courage it takes to change the past in your mind and then one day confront the truth?

This is a story about two beautiful people, two old souls who in the first instant knew that they were meant to be even if they weren't meant to be.

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Molly Valle is a 48-year-old, divorced school teacher in Mississippi living a quiet and unremarkable life in 1961. In the diner one afternoon she finds herself in the middle of a civil rights demonstration. When she decides to stand up against her townsmen and back the demonstrators her life changes. She meets John and they fall in love. There is a lot more to this story than just a romance. This is about finding the beauty below the surface and living your life in the best possible way.

The story is told from Molly's and John's points of view but Molly was telling her story to RC, a former student, in the hopes that this would be the material he would need to write a novel. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if it was just told from Molly's perspective. Otherwise, it was well written. The language was such that I could feel the tension in the air in the diner and the hate and ignorance of the town people. The love between John and Molly was breath taking. I am anxious to read more of Mr. Smith's writings.

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This book was great! It was so easy to lose yourself in the story, and kept you turning pages to see what happened next! Will definitely be recommending!

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The Magnolia that Bloomed Unseen is a beautiful love story set in Civil Rights era Mississippi. While this story is undoubtedly a love story, it's Smith's ability to bring the emotion and setting alive that really sets it apart from its peers. The book is framed as Molly telling her story to one of her old students, something that I'm not normally a fan of, but the device works well here, packing no punches. I would definitely recommend this as a fantastic read.

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Thank you to Netgalley for a pre publication copy. In return for an honest review! #themagnoliathatbloomedunseen #netgalley

RC is encouraged to hear and retell the story of Molly Valle during her time with the civil rights movement in 1960s USA. Molly falls in love with John Pressman also part of the civil rights movement. Will they're love outshine the times?

This book was recommended to me by another reviewer from netgalley that I personally know.

This book covers some very emotional but historical and modern topics which are essential to be spoken about. Such as the Civil rights movement, love knowing no boundaries of race and culture, gender stereotypes and the disasters that the USA saw during the 20th century. This book should be circulated amongst the young adults and older teens to show the true history of the world.

The characters are all loveable in their own way. You can see they are all clawing at the pages for their story, thoughts, feelings and ideas to be heard. These are all provided with such delicate poetic license that your heart is enlightened with every chapter.

Watching Molly gain confidence in her new life and body is great to see and you almost feel like she's your child and the proud feeling you have warms you.

This book is not only a romance, historical and factual book it is also full or spirituality and life lessons. You will come away with lessons, meanings and a full soul.

I would love to hear the rest of Molly and John's story in a sequel.

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Molly Valle is 48 years old. A school teacher living in Mississippi in the early 60's. Her life is no different from the usual. Until the afternoon she decides to go out for dinner. This one decision changed her life.
I was not expecting this kind of book, as I'm not familiar with one of the main subjects. But in a way it was very interesting once I started the reading. The story is about passion, and how unexpectedly it can be found.
The characters are very well developed and the author guides the reader through a path of discovery, not only through the reading but igniting questions about personal patterns and unveiled passions to come.
It is an insightful story to be savored. I loved it!
Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This romance novel is about Molly and John, told from Molly's point of view from the moment they met until that tragic day. RC is a writer/journalist whom Molly has met when he was still schooling. In her advance years, Molly has appointed RC to write her story, her biography.

It has been a short romantic journey from the day Molly and John met, albeit a tumultuous one during the apartheid movement filled with racism obstacles. The Magnolia that Bloomed Unseen is unlike any other romance novels so do not expect a happy ever after ending.

It's written in alternate point of views between Molly, John and RC though mostly from Molly. It did digress a lot about insecurities, self-worth and appreciation to life with how their relationship brought out the best of each other. As it was set in Martin Luther King's era, racism and the treatment of coloured people then were the centre of the plot.

Though it was well written with a clear, distinct prose, well described and mesmerizing, at some point some parts were kinda slow and it did droned on a little too much that it felt repetitive for me. Fortunately, the story itself did intrigued me and I wanted to know the ending which turned out to be unexpected for me.

Overall, this novel is like any other romance novels written by a male author. I just had not expected the depth and the message it carried. It has hit a spot for me as a middle-aged woman after reading this novel and made me realized my many hidden dreams. I guess it is time to rethink my future again.

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A heartwarming read this one is. You'll find yourself wanting to stand up for what's right no matter what comes your way and how refreshing it is at a time as this, reminding us that we can always take action and stand by our acts for good.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC it took me a while to read this book, still I am glad that I did.

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This is a book I didn't see coming. I really wasn't sure what to expect and I actually put off reading it. Now as I wipe the tears from my eyes and wonder how puffy they are and how blotchy my face is I can honestly say this is one of the best most authentic love stories I have ever read. The writing style is easy but it pulls you in when you least expect it. It isn't sunshine and roses, it isn't a happily ever after but of a love that changes you from inside. A love that helps you see the world differently and to steal from the book to see the beauty in the everyday.

Molly is a quickly approaching 50 as a divorced teacher in the south when John Pressman and his fellow freedom riders come to town and start peacefully protesting segregation. Molly steps in when a fellow diner and former student attempts to throw food at a young black woman sitting at the counter in a diner. When the food falls and the angry young man balls his fist to hit Molly, John steps in. The love affair between the two of them is fast and sweet, not a youthful, panty dropping whirlwind but a long walk and picnic on the grass kind of an affair. But what that relationship awakens in Molly never goes away. She learns that there is magic in the world if you only open your eyes to it.

As she tells her story to RC she tries to instill in him the magic that John had passed on to her. To open his eyes to possibilities. Molly has entrusted her story to RC, to tell her tale and share the gift John gave her with the world.

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An interesting read that I'm glad to have discovered. I'll definitely be seeking out more by this author.

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