Elderberry Croft by Becky Doughty is a series of stories that take place in the Coach House Trailer Park in southern California after Willow Goodhope moves into Space 12.
Willow is an enigma to her neighbors at first. She festoons her run-down spot with plants, wind chimes, fairy lights, and sun-catchers. She's gorgeous enough to turn heads, but not at all flirtatious. She takes the initiative to introduce herself to her neighbors, even the standoffish ones, and seems to know just what everyone needs. She has a loud, outrageous laugh. But every now and then, someone will catch just a glimpse of hidden sorrow.
These stories are published in four books, with a sequel called Elderberry Days. I've wondered if they were originally published this way, or if they were blog posts or some other venue.
But here's a little taste of the stories:
Elderberry Croft: Volume 1: January Breeze, February Embers, March Whispers
January Breeze: Kathy Kekoa watches from her window with binoculars as her strange new neighbor move in. Kathy is convinced that everyone in their trailer park has come there to die. Or, at the very least, they're stuck. But Willow seems vibrant. Until Kathy hears her weeping one night. Willow's gift of home-mixed tea leaves and other treats when Kathy is sick opens a door of friendship for them.
In her heart of hearts, Kathy yearns for her son, Makani, who hung up on her the last time she tried to call him.
February Embers: Richard Davis suffers from scarring resulting from extensive burns. His wife, Patti, has taken care of him for years. But she feels unappreciated, especially after she notices Richard eyeing the new neighbor. However, an unexpected gesture stirs the embers of the love they almost let die out.
March Whispers: Everyone thinks Joe Sanderson is single. He loves to cook and garden. He's been content with his secrets. But Willow's influence persuades him it's time to step out of his comfort zone.
Elderberry Croft: Volume 2: April Shadows, May Enchantment, June Melody
April Shadows: Shelly keeps to herself, has several cats, follows a rigid routine, and only leaves her house once a week. But a seeming stalker in the neighborhood draws her out of her self-imposed isolation.
May Enchantment: Eddie is the manager of the trailer park. His new tenant, Willow, is sure shaking things up around the place. He feels protective of her, especially when his lazy lecherous brother notices her. When Eddie meets the reported stalker one night, nicknamed Shadowman by the park, his assumptions are upended and he doesn't know what to think.
June Melody: Myra may be a hypochondriac, but she has a sharp eye to notice and welcome misfits and oddballs. She loves to be needed. But an accident lands her flat on her back, and Willow is the first to help her.
Elderberry Croft: Volume 3: July Madness, August Memories, September Longing
July Madness: Donny Banks, Eddie's brother, is single again and moves in with his mother---again. She's always been soft with him and let him get away with most anything. But he's going too far, and she has to stop coddling him.
August Memories: No one knows Al Tanner's deepest secret. The day of reckoning he always knew would come has finally arrived. He's ready to take the consequences. But Willow presents him with another option. Dare he hope life could turn out differently?
September Longing: Prudence Merriweather loves hot pink and animal prints, both in her clothing and decor. She's been dating Carney, a huge trucker, for ages. But his distance in their last phone call makes her wonder where his heart really is.
Elderberry Croft: Volume 4: October Mourning, November Awakening, December Dawning
October Mourning: Andrea and George met at the post office where they both work and love their lives. Andrea's pregnancy was a surprise, but they're both looking forward to their baby's arrival. But Andrea's past threatens everything. Willow offers to help, but doing so will mean sharing a painful part of her own past.
November Awakening: Doc is a pleasant man who drinks a little too much. But no one knows he suffers from post-traumatic stress which drove him from his wife and daughters. When he finds Willow burning letters in her yard late one night, he recognizes the pain in her eyes and tells his story, hoping to relieve her.
December Dawning: Willow is finally able to face what she was running from. She knows it's time to start on the long road to healing. But how can she leave this community who has become family to her?
Elderberry Days: Season of Joy is the sequel to the series. Willow finds that reconciliation and facing the tragedy she ran from is just the first step in healing. The road back to wholeness is a long and slow journey. But her friends help her along the way. In-between chapters of this book are recipes for the elderberry treats and remedies that have been mentioned in the books.
Three things stood out to me in these stories. First, ministry to others doesn't have to be demonstrated in grand gestures or "official" ministry channels. Thoughtfulness and kindness go a long way. Secondly, it can be therapeutic to help other people with their needs, but it's no substitute for dealing with your own. Thirdly, everyone has a story. Someone who seems eccentric or oddballish may have hidden hurts.
I got the first set of three stories several years ago when it was free for the Kindle. I just recently rediscovered it when looking to catch up with some of my older Kindle volumes. Of course, when I read the first one, I had to continue with the rest of the series. Thankfully, each book was not expensive.
Willow might seem too good to be true from the description, or the stories a little fairy-taleish. But they are not. The characters and story lines are realistically drawn.
One thing I didn't like, though, is the description that the author's books include "a bit of magic now and then." Magical realism was one of the categories for the book. The only way that really came out was in each character perceiving Willow's scent in a different way, a way that reminds them of something from their past. Also, Willow often seems to know just what to do or what is needed, but she attributes that to God's guidance as she prayed. If you've got the Lord's guidance and provision, what do you need with magic? But, as I said, the "magic" wasn't a major part of the story.
The only other negative was that all the books with the same name or similar names were confusing. Then, after I read all four, I discovered the first four books had been put together in one volume under Elderberry Croft: Seasons of the Heart. (which looks like a separate book until you read the description). It would have saved a little money (at least according to the current prices) to have gotten the one volume rather than four different Kindle books.
But other than that, I loved the stories. I had never read Becky Doughty before, but I'd be willing to read some of her other books now. I enjoyed all the characters (though I lost track of who a couple of them were) and story lines and how everything wrapped up.
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