My Sistas—Mary Kay Taylor, Diane Comer, Julie Kohl, Ann Menke, and Jodi Stilp. You show me love in abundance, and I love each of you back. Thank you for linking arms and praying for me, empowering me with your kindness, and sharing your own stories. And to Jodi’s sister-in-law, Quenby, for letting me borrow your very cool name.
My friend Tosha Williams, to whom I dedicated this book. I’m grateful for every one of the thirty years that we’ve journeyed together arm in arm as sister friends. I savor your prayers and every encouraging word.
My entire family, who are an endless fount of encouragement as I write, including my parents, James and Lyn Beroth; my sister, Christy Nunn; my husband, Jon; and my daughters, Karlyn and Kinzel. Each of you keep me grounded (in the best sense of the word) and God-focused. I love you to pieces.
The power of story has transformed my own life, and I’m incredibly grateful to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of faith, for enduring pain and humiliation and ultimately conquering the evil in this world, redeeming and healing because of His boundless love for His kids.
About the Author
MELANIE DOBSON is the award-winning author of sixteen historical romance, suspense, and time-slip novels, including Chateau of Secrets and Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor. Three of her novels have won Carol Awards; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010; and The Black Cloister won the Foreword magazine Religious Fiction Book of the Year.
Melanie is the former corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and owner of the publicity firm Dobson Media Group. When she isn’t writing, Melanie enjoys teaching both writing and public relations classes at George Fox University.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with work, the Dobson family has settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to hike and camp in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest and along the Pacific Coast. Melanie also enjoys exploring ghost towns and abandoned homes, helping care for kids in her community, and reading stories with her girls.
Visit Melanie online at www.melaniedobson.com.
Discussion Questions
At the beginning of the book, Dietmar’s heart is torn. He wants to rescue his parents, but he’s not strong enough to overpower the Gestapo. Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to help but could not? How did you reconcile this?
As Quenby struggles with insecurity and fear of abandonment, she tries to escape her feelings by immersing herself in someone else’s story. What are other ways people escape from either past memories or present conflict? What do you think is the best way to heal from emotional wounds and fear?
Mr. Knight believes that many people don’t understand or honor faithfulness. What does faithfulness mean to you? How are you faithful to the people in your life? How has someone been faithful to you?
When Dietmar and Brigitte are in the public hall, Dietmar believes he must walk away in order for Brigitte to find a home. Does he make the right decision? Was there a time in your life where walking away was the best or only choice?
Brigitte identifies with fairy-tale characters and stories while she lives with the Terrells. How has a book or movie changed your life? What are some stories or characters that have stayed with you over the years? Why have they stuck with you?
This novel slips between historical and contemporary stories. How do actions in the past affect the present-day characters? What was a seemingly small decision from your past that had a significant impact on your future?
Rosalind thinks of herself as wise and perhaps courageous to leave her daughter with Brigitte, in order to protect the child. Do you think she made the right choice? How did her decision change the future for multiple characters in this story?
The magnolia tree is common in England today but would have been rare during World War II. What does the magnolia represent along Brigitte’s journey? If you had Cinderella’s wishing tree, what would you wish?
As they get to know each other, Lucas and Quenby discuss “superpowers,” including the abilities to forgive and to expunge things from the past. Do you think we can forgive and forget things that have happened in the past? How do you process hurtful things that happened to you as a child or as an adult?
Quenby believes that the death and forgiveness of Christ have the power to change her life today. Do you believe that God can heal both the past and present through forgiveness? If so, what does this look like in your life?
Mr. Knight is fascinated by heroic knights from the past, but Lucas thinks Mr. Knight is a modern-day hero. What is your definition of a hero or heroine? Has someone served as a hero or heroine in your life?
Quenby wrote an article comparing the Kindertransport during World War II to the flood of refugees in our world today. How does the portrayal of Brigitte, a young refugee, influence your perspective on the current crisis? How do we balance caring for the needs of refugees while stopping those intent on doing harm?
What does the wind symbolize throughout this novel? How does it bring the characters together?
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