Lily and the Mockingbird

by John Ellington

From the author of Whispering Winds of Appalachia comes another emotional tale set in the vibrant landscape of Southern Appalachia...

Is lost love worth clinging to, or must one embrace healing and the hope of new love, turning the page on a story they thought would never end?

Brenner Miles grapples with this question after tragedy devastates his marriage to Lily, leaving his world desolate and directionless. Unable to continue his work as a small-town veterinarian, Brenner sets out on a soul-searching trek along the Appalachian Trail with his loyal hound, Samantha, seeking solace in the high ridges and deep forests.
But as Brenner delves deeper into the mountains, he senses an ominous presence trailing him. Haunted by recurring dreams and the cryptic warnings of a mockingbird, he begins to unravel the threads of his past and confront the ghost of his love.

As the line between reality and the supernatural blurs, Brenner must decide whether to grasp at a fading past or embrace the possibility of a new beginning. His journey leads to harrowing choices and life-threatening encounters, testing the strength of his heart and his bond with Samantha.

Will the Appalachian wilderness heal Brenner’s fractured soul, or will it claim what little remains of him?

Genres: Fiction

292 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

John Ellington hopes to be living, authentic proof to his readers that dreams are worth chasing, no matter how outlandish or unrealistic. As a practicing veterinarian with a background in biology, John is not your prototypical author. He has no formal training in literature or publishing. He spends the majority of his time calculating drug doses and peering through the lenses of microscopes. However, since a young age the creative side of his brain has been unsatisfied by science alone. He spends his free time exploring nature and writing songs. One particular dream of his was always to craft a story that would be worth sharing. His first novel, "Whispering Winds of Appalachia", is an expression of his innermost thoughts and feelings and was fully inspired by his hopelessly romantic spirit. There is more to the world around us than purely what meets our eyes, and he hopes his readers can not only sense that but feel it in the depths of their souls.

During veterinary school and the following few years Ellington spent his time exploring creeks in the Appalachian Mountains searching for trout and other evidence of the soft hand God uses to paint nature. At the age of 29, around the time he completed his first novel, a major life change led to him moving from South Carolina to Montana, where he currently resides. He continues to practice veterinary medicine and spends his free time fly fishing, hunting, and snow skiing. His Beagle, Milly, is the current love of his life and accompanies him on all adventures that allow a furry companion.

Reviews

[Sharon_🌺 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this!

[Emma Brauneller · Rating 4 out of 5]

With first ‘Whispering Winds of Appalachia” and now “Lily and the Mockingjay,” John cements himself as one of the best writers of wild spaces. His descriptive writing makes me feel like I’m in the wilderness along side his characters, and that’s a beautiful gift. This story tells the tale of love, loss, and how we deal with the aftermath of both.

[Roni Morton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another absolutely amazing book!

I loved every single thing about this second book by John Ellington. It was a beautiful story about the very difficult healing that you have to live through after such a profound loss. It resonated with me because I have recently lost my husband after a forty year marriage. John is masterful in his writing, bringing everything to life with his words... The feelings that Brenner is feeling, the trails that he hikes, the sights, sounds and smells, the other characters (Sticks, Rami and Hope), and the love between his beloved dog, Samantha, and himself. I fervently hope that between his veterinary practice, fly fishing and other outdoor adventures he enjoys that this extremely talented author will gift us with a third book!

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me from the very beginning. I felt as if I was walking beside the Characters the entire time. I was able to imagine the struggles and triumphs along the way. I don’t want to give anything away but it’s such an amazing book. I would compare this author to C. S. Lewis. I have read both of John Ellington’s book and really enjoyed them. Keep them coming!

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. What an interesting story! There were twists that I didn’t see coming, sad moments, happy moments, and it was just a book that I didn’t expect to be as entertaining as it was. While there were a few editorial errors (such as names being spelled differently throughout and a couple cases of names changing, footnotes of changes, etc), it didn’t distract too much from the story itself.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

never figures out what hurts the trees in the whole book.

I must have missed something because I have no clue what It hurts the trees had to do with the book, other than they moan when the ting dies.

[Angela Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily and the Mockingbird is such an amazing book! It has adventure, spirituality, a bit of a fright, curiosities, romance. The story felt so heart wrenching from the beginning and you are taken on the confusing healing journey with Brenner. I felt, when I was reading this book, the confusion of Brenner’s reality, the nostalgia for his past, and his desire for lost love. What a truly beautiful story.

[Djlent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I’ve read by John Ellington. I loved it! I am a sucker for animals and the outdoors- and the main character being a veterinarian was icing on the cake. (I have worked in a veterinary clinic for all of my adult life-a considerable time lol) Because the author really is a veterinarian the details felt authentic and I didn’t have to cringe when reading it.

The story was a just right mix of suspense and supernatural elements. I used to dream of hiking the AT so this was an especially fun aspect of the story.

I will be reading more by Dr. Ellington.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought the book continually got better, and it was so hard to put down toward the end. It really draws you in and makes you experience the quick rhythm and emotions in the book while describing the scenery as Brenner hikes through the mountains, seeming especially spooky and eery in the last several chapters. I'm a huge fan of John Ellington's books!

[Liz Schimmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful love story and the fight between good versus evil as we go thru grief and healing, set in the Appalachian Mountains which are my favorite place. I love John Ellington's poetic way of describing the surroundings. I am able to step into the story. I can't wait for his next book!

[Adrienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily and the Mockingbird is a beautiful story. Fresh, new and enjoyable reading.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story

I really enjoyed the book. The ending was happy. There were moments when I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't read fast enough.

[Lauren Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers but being from NC and knowing about the Appalachian Trail and all of its spooky stories made me love this book even more!