Enjoy two historical romances from author Frances Devine set in Georgia at the Cecilia Quincy School for the Deaf. Abigail James is unprepared for the challenges of her new teaching job or the resistance of the staff to new techniques. Will Dr. Trent Quincy, the school’s owner, accept her ideas or resist the pull of his heart? Also includes the bonus sequel, The Scent of Magnolia, about a teacher who is determined not to fall for the father of her favorite pupil.
FRANCES DEVINE is first a Christian, second a Mom, grandmother and great grandmother. After that, the most important thing in her life is books. Like most authors, she can’t remember a time when she didn’t love to read. And right from the beginning, she was crazy about mysteries. When she was in her sixties, she decided it would be fun to write them and the Miss Aggie series was born. She has also written two historical romance series and several novellas. Frances grew up in Texas and still loves her home state, but when she moved to Missouri in 1984, she fell in love with the changing seasons, the trees and hills. The Misadventures of Miss Aggie series is set in the Missouri Ozarks. Frances loves to hear from her readers at fdevine1(at)gmail.com. She also welcomes comments on her blog .
There are two stories in this book and both are by author Frances Devine. This book is about strong women who live faith filled lives and lead by example. These strong women are teachers at a school for blind students and some are deaf. The school is the Celeste Quincy School . The second story has a secondary character as the main focus in this one and it's just as good a story as the first. I enjoyed reading about a school for the blind and deaf in the 1800's. The historical aspect was just right and I loved how strong and faith filled the heroines are. The men's devotion and respect towards their intended was refreshing to see. Pub Date 01 Jul 2017 Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Books for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
Whispers of the Wind by Frances Devine was an enlightening book about teaching the deaf in 1881. Abigail James has excepted a teaching position at the Cecilia Quincy School for the Deaf in Georgia. When she arrives, she finds out the school does not offer sign language. They teach lip reading but the director refuses to acknowledge sign language as a useful and helpful aide for the deaf. Abigail is pretty headstrong and mentions the directors opinion to the owner of the school, Trent Quincy. Trent seems to be a little sweet on Abigail so really takes time to listen to her requests. Sparks fly between the two of them but also the director doesn't appreciate her going over his head. Will they be able to work out their difference in the best interest of the students?
Bonus story is The Scent of Magnolia. Helen Edwards is the History, English teacher at Cecilia Quincy School for the Deaf. When she meets the widowed father, Patrick Flanagan, of her favorite pupil there's an immediate attraction between the two. Patrick owns a thriving business in Atlanta and Helen's not sure if things were to progress with him, she'd be able to leave her students. How can they overcome their differences to give love a chance?
I really enjoyed reading about teaching the deaf and blind. I'm so glad The Scent of Magnolia was also included. I recommend everyone read this if you enjoy historical Christian fiction. I received this book from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of Whispers of the Wind by Frances Devine.
Also Includes Bonus Story of The Scent of Magnolia by Frances Devine
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Barbour Books Christian
Pub Date 01 Jul 2017
I am voluntarily reviewing Whispers of The Wind through Barbour Publishing, Inc and Netgalley:
This book takes us to 1881 Georgia where we are introduced to Abigail James, she has come to Georgia to become a teacher. She will be teaching at the Cecilia Quincy School for the Deaf. The first child she meets is a little blind girl named Lily. Most of her students are deaf, but they are able to read lips.
Abigail is surprised to learn that sign language is not taught in the school. When Abigail tries to talk to the head about teaching Sign Language but he refuses. When the owner of the school discovers the way the director spoke to her he calls him out on it, and explains that they will be teaching Sign on a trial basis. Even Lily Ann takes to learning Sign Language, but Abigail knows she would benefit from learning Braille.
Doctor Trent, the doctor for the school soon finds himself falling for Miss Abigail James.
The Scent of Magnolia's follows Whispers in The Wind once again takes us to the Cecilia Quincy School for the Deaf, in February of 1892 Helen Edwards. Molly Flannigan is her favorite Pupil,but soon a new student Margaret targets Molly as a bully and Lily Ann.
Will Helen find true love in Molly Flannigan's father?
Find out in The Scent of Magnolia's five out of five stars.
Frances Devine is the author of the first story of this book and I put off reading this one because sometimes these books are a bit lacking in substance even though they are full in entertainment. This one is significant in substance and is not only an entertaining read, but is also a meaty read.
Abigail is the new teacher at the Celeste Quincy School for the Deaf and she wants to shake things up--teaching the children sign language for part of their education. She meets with opposition with the director of the school at first. When the owner of the school visits, she is able to get her idea with the sign language instituted and it works with great success.
Abigail is also assigned to teach a young girl, Lily Ann, who is blind. She is at the school because there is no place else to take her. Abigail wants to teach Lily Ann braille and Lily Ann wants to learn sign.
Much of Lily Ann's story reads like how Helen Keller was educated. Abigail forms the signs in Lily Ann's hands and explains what she's doing. Before long, Lily Ann can sign to the other students, and they sign in her hands to communicate with her.
In the second story--The Scent of Magnolia, Frances continues the story with one of Abigail's co-teachers at the center of the narrative, and a student, Molly, Both stories are five star, two thumbs up, and the sign for teacher.
Whispers of the Wind/The Scent of Magnolia is heart-beating, unabashedly tender, blissfully fun, chivalrous, elegant, exhilarating, fascinating and harmonious. This is about Abigail as a new teacher at the Cecilia Quincy School for the Deaf. Now Abigail has some new ways of teaching the children there at the Deaf School and I have to say Dr. Quincy needs. Dr. Quincy may or may not have a problem with her new teaching style - plus she's not only working into the hearts of each of the students she just may possibly be working her way into the heart of Dr,. Quincy or is she just plain annoying him? The progressive teaching from this progressive teacher was sent by GOD - the live-in students felt it and so did Dr. Quincy. Would Dr. Quincy trust GOD to let HIM open his heart? These two stories keep you up turning the pages and not realizing it - because you just do not want to put this down because you have to know more - and the more you know you have to know more - yowza. I received a complimentary copy of the book from the Publisher and Netgalley; all the opinions expressed here in this review are all my own.
Very enjoyable read. This is the first book by Frances Devine that I've read, and I'm glad I did. I'll let you read the other reviews for what the story is about. However, I must say that I can definitely tell that Frances did her homework. The research she did was in depth and articulated well without being teachy or lecture like. Very well done.
Characters are well developed, although I think the superintendent acted a bit out of character sometimes, but then we find out why later on, so the tweaks and quirks are forgiven when we find out.
Lily, one of the children, is well developed, but the others are such minor characters that it doesn't really matter that they aren't developed. But it feels like something is missing -- children -- when we're in a school and the children are weaving in and out of the story as children do naturally.
The plot is fairly good, too. The romance heavily uses anticipation which is quite delicious. I really liked reading this book. Highly recommend.