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The Winter Rose
In this gripping split-time novel, Grace Tonquin is an American Quaker woman who works tirelessly in Vichy France to rescue Jewish children from the Nazis. After crossing the treacherous Pyrénées, Grace returns home to Oregon with a brother and sister whose parents were lost during the war. Though Grace and her husband love Élias and Marguerite as their own, echoes of Grace's past and trauma from the Holocaust tear the Tonquin family apart.
More than fifty years after they disappear, Addie Hoult arrives at Tonquin Lake, hoping to find the Tonquin family. For Addie, the mystery is a matter of life and death for her beloved mentor Charlie, who is battling a genetic disease. Though Charlie refuses to discuss his ties to the elusive Tonquins, finding them is the only way to save his life and mend the wounds from his broken past.
More than fifty years after they disappear, Addie Hoult arrives at Tonquin Lake, hoping to find the Tonquin family. For Addie, the mystery is a matter of life and death for her beloved mentor Charlie, who is battling a genetic disease. Though Charlie refuses to discuss his ties to the elusive Tonquins, finding them is the only way to save his life and mend the wounds from his broken past.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 11, 2022
223 people are currently reading
5884 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Dobson
50 books1,744 followersWriting fiction is a fun excuse for Melanie to explore ghost towns and old houses, travel to unusual places, and spend hours reading dusty books and journals. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction with threads of romance and suspense.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost thirty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The Winter Rose, and The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Five of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were both finalists for Christy Awards in historical fiction.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost thirty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The Winter Rose, and The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Five of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were both finalists for Christy Awards in historical fiction.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
January 29, 2022
4.5 strong stars for this moving World War II historical fiction novel. The Winter Rose was the second novel I have had the pleasure of reading by Melanie Dobson. I was quite taken by her novel, Memories of Glass, so when I saw that she had written a new novel I was excited to read it. The Winter Rose was written in a dual timeline format. Melanie Dobson’s research was impeccable and the characters tugged at my heart. I listened to the audiobook of The Winter Rose that was superbly performed by Nancy Peterson. It took place in 1943 in Vichy, France and in 2003 in Oregon. Both stories were bound together by the common threads of Charlie’s or Elias’s demons, struggles and choices that plagued him through his adolescent years and into adulthood and into his senior years. The Winter Rose exemplified the courageous role the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization, played during World War II and how they helped Jewish Children escape the constant threat and menace of the Jew hating Nazis and their fellow conspirators. It was quite difficult to pull myself away from this audiobook. The story and characters pulled at my heartstrings and made me want to keep listening.
In 1943, Grace Tonquin found herself in Vichy, France. She had been brought up by her loving grandparents on their farm in Oregon. Grace’s grandparents treasured Grace and brought her up to believe in their Quaker beliefs and lifestyle. Her biological mother, Ruby, was not suited to bring Grace up. Ruby was a Hollywood actress and cared more about her looks, attracting attention from her numerous male suitors and living a life that focused on parties and a good time. Grace was lucky to have had her grandparent’s love and guidance during her impressionable years. It was no wonder then that Grace found herself in Vichy, France during World War II where she worked tirelessly as a member of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) to rescue Jewish children from the hands of the Nazis. It was while doing this work that Grace and Roland began working side by side in order to accomplish this. Her work brought Grace into constant danger and fear but she maintained her goal to help as many Jewish children escape as possible. Grace had had some training as a nurse before the war but she put her training on hold to concentrate all her efforts on helping these children who had either lost their parents during the Holocaust or were separated from them find safety and freedom away from the brutalities of the Nazis. With Roland’s help, Grace found herself responsible for eleven children’s escape. She needed to get them safely across the Pyrenees and into Spain where the children would be united with love ones in America, Israel or wherever they might be. The children, as well as Grace, lived in constant fear and danger. They never knew when Nazi soldiers would appear. They needed to be ready to leave a safe house at a moments notice. All of the children Grace had to help cross the Pyrenees were dear to her but a brother and sister had twisted their way around Grace’s heart perhaps more than she realized. Elias with his bravery, courage and determination to keep everyone safe and Margarite with her extraordinary talents as an artist and her ability to read other people for their trustworthiness, kindness or evil qualities through an aura of color that she alone could see, were the two that had captured her heart completely. It was not surprising then when Grace returned to America with the children and could not locate Elias’s and Margerite’s uncle in New York that Grace did not hesitate for a moment to bring the children home to her farm in Oregon to raise them as if they were her own. Grace tried to instill her Quaker upbringing and love of God in Elias’s and Margerite’s life.
In 2003, fifty years later, a young widowed woman named Addie Hoult, traveled to Oregon, to Tonquin Lake, with the sole purpose of finding a member of the Tonquin family. Addie’s mentor and the closest person to being a father to Addie had grown up there and was now dying. Charlie Tonquin (Elias) had helped save Addie years ago so now it was Addie’s chance to help save him. He was suffering from a rare genetic illness and the only way to prolong his life was to find a family member, preferably a sibling or niece or nephew, that was a match for a bone marrow transplant. Charlie had never talked about his family much and believed that his only sister had died many years ago. He had described the farm he grew up on with fond memories of a willow tree in particular that was near the farm. Charlie believed that the willow tree represented the idea that rules and things in life could bend but they could not break even under pressure. This was so true about how Charlie’s life had gone. Charlie had changed his name from Elias to Charlie to sound more American and to fit in better. The experiences Charlie lived through and partook in during the war haunted him for the rest of his life. They led him and influenced him to make decisions that were not always sound and the best ones he could have made. Faith helped Carlie to begin his life anew and help others find their way back from the mistakes they had made. Addie had had a rough life before she met Charlie and his wife Emma. She had done things that she was not proud of. Sole Creek Home for Girls and meeting Charlie and Emma saved Addie from the path she was traveling down. Charlie taught Addie how to love again and want to live a life guided by faith. Addie could not see a life without Charlie in it. She had to find a member of his family for the bone marrow transplant. Would Addie be able to untangle all Charlie’s secrets and find a family member in time to save his life?
The Winter Rose portrayed the role the Quakers played in World War II. Many Quakers risked their lives and lived in constant danger to help others. The horrors of the war affected many during and after the war including the children that lived through those horrific times. The Winter Rose explored how the war had affected Elias (Charlie) and Louis, another rescued French child, differently throughout their lives. Up until this book, I have read about Holocaust survivors, but mainly adults, and how they tended to push the thoughts of their own suffering and the atrocities they witnessed deep inside them, reliving them in their ongoing nightmares. The Winter Rose addressed how some of the children were affected and how they coped with everything after the war was over. Some became dependent on alcohol and drugs to help them block their memories and choices they were forced to make, some through friend choices, some by obsessing over attention and love and some by defiance and acting out. With no outlet to express all they had gone through no wonder some children acted out and found escape in ways that were not considered favorable. The Winter Rose was about survival, forgiveness, family bonds, love and having faith. It was a story about second chances and new beginnings for some. The Winter Rose was haunting, heartbreaking and yet full of hope. I loved the characters for being powerful, flawed, and yet hopeful and determined. I highly recommend this book.
In 1943, Grace Tonquin found herself in Vichy, France. She had been brought up by her loving grandparents on their farm in Oregon. Grace’s grandparents treasured Grace and brought her up to believe in their Quaker beliefs and lifestyle. Her biological mother, Ruby, was not suited to bring Grace up. Ruby was a Hollywood actress and cared more about her looks, attracting attention from her numerous male suitors and living a life that focused on parties and a good time. Grace was lucky to have had her grandparent’s love and guidance during her impressionable years. It was no wonder then that Grace found herself in Vichy, France during World War II where she worked tirelessly as a member of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) to rescue Jewish children from the hands of the Nazis. It was while doing this work that Grace and Roland began working side by side in order to accomplish this. Her work brought Grace into constant danger and fear but she maintained her goal to help as many Jewish children escape as possible. Grace had had some training as a nurse before the war but she put her training on hold to concentrate all her efforts on helping these children who had either lost their parents during the Holocaust or were separated from them find safety and freedom away from the brutalities of the Nazis. With Roland’s help, Grace found herself responsible for eleven children’s escape. She needed to get them safely across the Pyrenees and into Spain where the children would be united with love ones in America, Israel or wherever they might be. The children, as well as Grace, lived in constant fear and danger. They never knew when Nazi soldiers would appear. They needed to be ready to leave a safe house at a moments notice. All of the children Grace had to help cross the Pyrenees were dear to her but a brother and sister had twisted their way around Grace’s heart perhaps more than she realized. Elias with his bravery, courage and determination to keep everyone safe and Margarite with her extraordinary talents as an artist and her ability to read other people for their trustworthiness, kindness or evil qualities through an aura of color that she alone could see, were the two that had captured her heart completely. It was not surprising then when Grace returned to America with the children and could not locate Elias’s and Margerite’s uncle in New York that Grace did not hesitate for a moment to bring the children home to her farm in Oregon to raise them as if they were her own. Grace tried to instill her Quaker upbringing and love of God in Elias’s and Margerite’s life.
In 2003, fifty years later, a young widowed woman named Addie Hoult, traveled to Oregon, to Tonquin Lake, with the sole purpose of finding a member of the Tonquin family. Addie’s mentor and the closest person to being a father to Addie had grown up there and was now dying. Charlie Tonquin (Elias) had helped save Addie years ago so now it was Addie’s chance to help save him. He was suffering from a rare genetic illness and the only way to prolong his life was to find a family member, preferably a sibling or niece or nephew, that was a match for a bone marrow transplant. Charlie had never talked about his family much and believed that his only sister had died many years ago. He had described the farm he grew up on with fond memories of a willow tree in particular that was near the farm. Charlie believed that the willow tree represented the idea that rules and things in life could bend but they could not break even under pressure. This was so true about how Charlie’s life had gone. Charlie had changed his name from Elias to Charlie to sound more American and to fit in better. The experiences Charlie lived through and partook in during the war haunted him for the rest of his life. They led him and influenced him to make decisions that were not always sound and the best ones he could have made. Faith helped Carlie to begin his life anew and help others find their way back from the mistakes they had made. Addie had had a rough life before she met Charlie and his wife Emma. She had done things that she was not proud of. Sole Creek Home for Girls and meeting Charlie and Emma saved Addie from the path she was traveling down. Charlie taught Addie how to love again and want to live a life guided by faith. Addie could not see a life without Charlie in it. She had to find a member of his family for the bone marrow transplant. Would Addie be able to untangle all Charlie’s secrets and find a family member in time to save his life?
The Winter Rose portrayed the role the Quakers played in World War II. Many Quakers risked their lives and lived in constant danger to help others. The horrors of the war affected many during and after the war including the children that lived through those horrific times. The Winter Rose explored how the war had affected Elias (Charlie) and Louis, another rescued French child, differently throughout their lives. Up until this book, I have read about Holocaust survivors, but mainly adults, and how they tended to push the thoughts of their own suffering and the atrocities they witnessed deep inside them, reliving them in their ongoing nightmares. The Winter Rose addressed how some of the children were affected and how they coped with everything after the war was over. Some became dependent on alcohol and drugs to help them block their memories and choices they were forced to make, some through friend choices, some by obsessing over attention and love and some by defiance and acting out. With no outlet to express all they had gone through no wonder some children acted out and found escape in ways that were not considered favorable. The Winter Rose was about survival, forgiveness, family bonds, love and having faith. It was a story about second chances and new beginnings for some. The Winter Rose was haunting, heartbreaking and yet full of hope. I loved the characters for being powerful, flawed, and yet hopeful and determined. I highly recommend this book.
April 14, 2022
A thoughtful look at the secrets we keep, why we keep them – and the cost and reward of revelation. Melanie Dobson‘s The Winter Rose plumbs the depths of an intriguing group of characters, more interconnected than they know, as past and present collide. Set among two ranges of mountains and two eras in time, Melanie’s beautiful writing brings the history, the setting, and the characters to life. Highly recommended.
December 9, 2021
Grace Tonquin is the daughter of a famous movie star, and she was raised by her Quaker grandparents on their dairy farm in Oregon. Addie travels to Spain and then to France, where she’s a member of Les Secours Quaker movement, they rescue Jewish children and take them to safety in Spain. They have to travel across the dangerous snow covered Pyrenees Mountains, sleep in isolated huts and try to stay one step ahead of the German patrols. Grace has no idea that her final crossing will be in 1943, and it doesn’t go as planned.
Elias and Marguerite Dupont travel with Grace from France, to Spain and to America. Grace assumes the children’s mother and baby brother died after they left camp at de Gurs by train, possibly bound for Auschwitz and are victims of the Holocaust. Grace and her husband Roland raise Marguerite and Elias as their own, Elias struggles with his memories of the terrible war years and he turns into a very angry teenager and he lashes out. One night everything spirals out of control, the Tonquin family are torn apart, and they leave Oregon?
Addie Hoult arrives at Tonquin Lake fifty years later, hoping to find members of the Tonquin family and she discovers they left in 1947? Addie asks local's for information about the mysterious family, searching through papers and documents at the town's library and she’s sure Caleb Lange a furniture restorer knows more than he’s willing to tell her. Addie was once a troubled teen, she was sent to Sale Creek Home for Girls, where she turned her life around, and all thanks to Charlie and Emma. Now Charlie’s suffering from cancer, he needs a bone marrow transplant, from a blood relative and Addie’s determined to find one.
The Winter Rose is a dual timeline story that’s set in 1940’s and in the early 2000’s. It’s about two women who have devoted their lives to Christ, how they overcome their own challenges, helped others, and decades apart. Melanie Dobson’s book is a tribute to the brave men and women who transported Jewish children over the Pyrenees Mountains, despite the huge personal risk and harrowing conditions.
I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishing and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, I found the dual timeline a little confusing at times, and it took my attention away from Grace's incredible story and four stars from me.
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Elias and Marguerite Dupont travel with Grace from France, to Spain and to America. Grace assumes the children’s mother and baby brother died after they left camp at de Gurs by train, possibly bound for Auschwitz and are victims of the Holocaust. Grace and her husband Roland raise Marguerite and Elias as their own, Elias struggles with his memories of the terrible war years and he turns into a very angry teenager and he lashes out. One night everything spirals out of control, the Tonquin family are torn apart, and they leave Oregon?
Addie Hoult arrives at Tonquin Lake fifty years later, hoping to find members of the Tonquin family and she discovers they left in 1947? Addie asks local's for information about the mysterious family, searching through papers and documents at the town's library and she’s sure Caleb Lange a furniture restorer knows more than he’s willing to tell her. Addie was once a troubled teen, she was sent to Sale Creek Home for Girls, where she turned her life around, and all thanks to Charlie and Emma. Now Charlie’s suffering from cancer, he needs a bone marrow transplant, from a blood relative and Addie’s determined to find one.
The Winter Rose is a dual timeline story that’s set in 1940’s and in the early 2000’s. It’s about two women who have devoted their lives to Christ, how they overcome their own challenges, helped others, and decades apart. Melanie Dobson’s book is a tribute to the brave men and women who transported Jewish children over the Pyrenees Mountains, despite the huge personal risk and harrowing conditions.
I received a copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishing and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, I found the dual timeline a little confusing at times, and it took my attention away from Grace's incredible story and four stars from me.
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January 24, 2022
I do so love an artfully crafted dual timeline story and Melanie Dobson has a special knack for creating the impossible to put down kind. I particularly love how well this genre suits WWII stories. There's something so hopeful that comes from the partial redemption of such evil -- even if it is decades later.
The historical timeline starts in 1943 and carries a few years past the end of the war while the present day timeline is set in 2003. I was drawn to both stories and the heroines who struggled to live out their faith when faced with impossible odds.
Grace's story is harrowing, as you would expect, and it takes so many startling twists and turns and downright detours that I am left kinda speechless. And I love the way Dobson meshed present day Addie's story into the mix. Her search for Grace or her descendants has an edge of desperation to it and kept me riveted. Not only was I anxious to find out what happened to Grace, but the mystery of Addie's back story kept me on tenterhooks too. And the author takes her time, carefully placing the big reveals at just the right places for maximum impact. I could not stop reading this book!
My heart hurt by the end and I may have ugly cried a time or two during the course of the read. But there's so much promise and hope by the end that my sadness mellowed out into a contented deep rooted feeling of satisfaction.
Exceptional storytelling infused with faith and the promise of redeeming love.
The historical timeline starts in 1943 and carries a few years past the end of the war while the present day timeline is set in 2003. I was drawn to both stories and the heroines who struggled to live out their faith when faced with impossible odds.
Grace's story is harrowing, as you would expect, and it takes so many startling twists and turns and downright detours that I am left kinda speechless. And I love the way Dobson meshed present day Addie's story into the mix. Her search for Grace or her descendants has an edge of desperation to it and kept me riveted. Not only was I anxious to find out what happened to Grace, but the mystery of Addie's back story kept me on tenterhooks too. And the author takes her time, carefully placing the big reveals at just the right places for maximum impact. I could not stop reading this book!
My heart hurt by the end and I may have ugly cried a time or two during the course of the read. But there's so much promise and hope by the end that my sadness mellowed out into a contented deep rooted feeling of satisfaction.
Exceptional storytelling infused with faith and the promise of redeeming love.
September 28, 2022
3.5 stars
The Winter Rose followed two different storylines from two different time periods, though with time, things start to fall into place and the storylines mend together.
Grace is in France in the 1940's helping Jewish children escape the Nazi's. Addie has traveled from Tennessee to Oregon in the early 2000's to find family for her friend/father figure, Charlie. This one started out a little slow for me. The first half was a bit hard to get into. But there were some really great parts and I loved watching everything come together at the end.
The Winter Rose followed two different storylines from two different time periods, though with time, things start to fall into place and the storylines mend together.
Grace is in France in the 1940's helping Jewish children escape the Nazi's. Addie has traveled from Tennessee to Oregon in the early 2000's to find family for her friend/father figure, Charlie. This one started out a little slow for me. The first half was a bit hard to get into. But there were some really great parts and I loved watching everything come together at the end.
Audio book source: Hoopla
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Nancy Peterson
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 10h 19m
July 21, 2022
So, this is not a book you want to start at night before bedtime. It will not help you go to sleep.
From the very first pages I was so hooked I couldn’t stop reading it. And ordinarily I’m not a person to bite my nails but I found myself chewing off my polish.
Two timelines:
1) 1943-1948 with Grace bringing refugee children from France to Spain to save them from the Nazis and eventually to relatives or her Grandmother's home in Oregon, hoping to reunite someday with Roland, another man in the same ministry of escaping with children.
And 2) 2003 with Addie trying to find a relative her dying foster father left behind at the Tonquin Lake. So far there were no donors in the registry to help prolong his life.
I am so impressed with Ms. Dobson's writing, I can barely say. I kept reading most of the day finally finishing about midnight.
I so recommend this God honoring, suspenseful yet heartwarming book!!
From the very first pages I was so hooked I couldn’t stop reading it. And ordinarily I’m not a person to bite my nails but I found myself chewing off my polish.
Two timelines:
1) 1943-1948 with Grace bringing refugee children from France to Spain to save them from the Nazis and eventually to relatives or her Grandmother's home in Oregon, hoping to reunite someday with Roland, another man in the same ministry of escaping with children.
And 2) 2003 with Addie trying to find a relative her dying foster father left behind at the Tonquin Lake. So far there were no donors in the registry to help prolong his life.
I am so impressed with Ms. Dobson's writing, I can barely say. I kept reading most of the day finally finishing about midnight.
I so recommend this God honoring, suspenseful yet heartwarming book!!
January 15, 2022
1943 France & 2003 Oregon
Engaging time slip novel focused on letting go of the past and moving forward. I particularly enjoyed the symbolism of rocks used a couple of times in the pages.
One great thing about historical fiction is learning something new. I had no idea there were Quakers that traveled from the United States to help save Jewish children. What courage and faith this required!
The Winter Rose takes readers beyond reaching freedom from Nazis and into the impact of war in the years that follow. Being a part of the journey with the cast of characters was time well spent. One of the surviving children served in Vietnam providing a nod to the devastation of that conflict as well.
My gratitude to publisher Tyndale for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
Engaging time slip novel focused on letting go of the past and moving forward. I particularly enjoyed the symbolism of rocks used a couple of times in the pages.
One great thing about historical fiction is learning something new. I had no idea there were Quakers that traveled from the United States to help save Jewish children. What courage and faith this required!
The Winter Rose takes readers beyond reaching freedom from Nazis and into the impact of war in the years that follow. Being a part of the journey with the cast of characters was time well spent. One of the surviving children served in Vietnam providing a nod to the devastation of that conflict as well.
My gratitude to publisher Tyndale for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and all opinions expressed are my own.
March 30, 2022
Dual Timeline? Check.
WWII? Check
Clean reading? Check
Suspense? Check
Faith Based? Check
Loveable characters? Check
Historical Fiction? Check
And in addition to all the above there was a fabulous Audible narrator. Most enjoyable listen.
WWII? Check
Clean reading? Check
Suspense? Check
Faith Based? Check
Loveable characters? Check
Historical Fiction? Check
And in addition to all the above there was a fabulous Audible narrator. Most enjoyable listen.
September 26, 2021
This book had ALL the right things. Definitely in my top reads for the year. This is a dual timeline novel with the historical aspect taking place during WWII as members of the Quakers were rescuing Jewish children and getting them out of Nazi territory. The modern day tale follows Addie, a young woman whose life was saved by the house parents in her group home, one of which connects both timelines. I enjoyed the journeys - both physical and emotional - throughout the book. The story-line was exquisite. The characters were likable and relatable. There was a bit of mystery and intrigue, a bit of romance and a beautiful telling of the Gospel. Great themes of forgiveness and letting go were present throughout. The character development and growth was fantastic and I loved how everything tied up at the end. This story was simply beautiful and I'd strongly recommend it to readers of all genres! Special thanks to Tyndale House and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
May 9, 2022
A moving story set to past and present. There is something about Dobson’s writing that has an ethereal tone to it in a way, and I really love that about her books. This one was the same. The Winter Rose pulled me in throughout the story, from seeing the children’s escape from the Nazis to Addie’s search for missing family.
Facing and surrendering the past was a theme in the book and there was one particular exercise the main character did that was a pretty powerful declaration of giving these things to Jesus and letting them go. That just really stuck out to me. I love books that impact you like that!
The beginning was a bit of a slow start for me but I was soon super engaged in it. This was a great dual timeline novel!
Facing and surrendering the past was a theme in the book and there was one particular exercise the main character did that was a pretty powerful declaration of giving these things to Jesus and letting them go. That just really stuck out to me. I love books that impact you like that!
The beginning was a bit of a slow start for me but I was soon super engaged in it. This was a great dual timeline novel!
February 2, 2022
"A winter rose. . . . . . Simple and strong and radiating beauty . . . . A treasure trove in this rugged place, wild with hope, blossoming through the snow and stone." . . . . "The roses always return."
Grace Tonquin's young life had been filled with the sorts of circumstances and obstacles that could have easily snuffed out her "bloom". Instead, thriving under her Quaker grandparents' tutelage, she placed her future on hold and travelled to southern France in order to join those already working tirelessly to rescue Jewish children. When Grace's final, and most perilous trip across the Pyrenees mountains left her with two beloved children, she could only pray that the man who tenderly called her his hummingbird would find his own way home.
Years later another young woman travels from Tennessee to Oregon, desperate to find the illusive, remaining members of the Tonquin family. Someone very dear to her depends on it, for it has quickly become a matter of life and death. What the trip affords however, is an opportunity for Addie Hoult to realize that although life has clearly bent her in directions she never desired to turn, she does not have to break, she can live and love again.
"Every time someone wrongs us, we have two choices. We can collect them . . . . and carry them around for the rest of our lives" . . . . .or, . . "We can throw them away."
This story will tiptoe, rather than rush, into your understanding. "Shattered. Suffering. Surrender."
Grace Tonquin's young life had been filled with the sorts of circumstances and obstacles that could have easily snuffed out her "bloom". Instead, thriving under her Quaker grandparents' tutelage, she placed her future on hold and travelled to southern France in order to join those already working tirelessly to rescue Jewish children. When Grace's final, and most perilous trip across the Pyrenees mountains left her with two beloved children, she could only pray that the man who tenderly called her his hummingbird would find his own way home.
Years later another young woman travels from Tennessee to Oregon, desperate to find the illusive, remaining members of the Tonquin family. Someone very dear to her depends on it, for it has quickly become a matter of life and death. What the trip affords however, is an opportunity for Addie Hoult to realize that although life has clearly bent her in directions she never desired to turn, she does not have to break, she can live and love again.
"Every time someone wrongs us, we have two choices. We can collect them . . . . and carry them around for the rest of our lives" . . . . .or, . . "We can throw them away."
This story will tiptoe, rather than rush, into your understanding. "Shattered. Suffering. Surrender."
October 21, 2021
Addie Hoult wants more than anything to save Charlie, the man who saved her from herself and became a father figure. A much needed bone marrow transplant would give him the gift of healing…a bone marrow transplant from a family member. The problem is, Charlie’s past is elusive. He is tormented by his youth for reasons unbeknownst to Addie or his wife. But…Addie is determined to find anyone from his past that could direct her to a family member and a possible match for Charlie. Her investigation leads her to Oregon and to an abandoned mansion own by the Tonquin family. But who is the Tonquin family and what does it have ti due with Charlie’s past? A dual time line story that takes us to WWII France and post WWII Oregon and 2003 Oregon.
This is a great story that introduced me to the Quakers role in WWII and the determination and bravery that had to save as many Jewish children from the Nazi regime as they could. Not being family with the Quakers and their role in the war, I was grateful for that insight. This is also somewhat of a Christian historical novel and that was a bit much for me at times.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tynedale Housr Publishers and Melanie Dobson for access to the story.
This is a great story that introduced me to the Quakers role in WWII and the determination and bravery that had to save as many Jewish children from the Nazi regime as they could. Not being family with the Quakers and their role in the war, I was grateful for that insight. This is also somewhat of a Christian historical novel and that was a bit much for me at times.
Thank you to NetGalley, Tynedale Housr Publishers and Melanie Dobson for access to the story.
April 13, 2022
Another fantastic story by this author! I'm so glad I recently started reading her books. Of course, now I'm hooked and want to devour them all at once. I was absolutely fascinated with Grace and Roland as they secreted Jewish children out of France. I couldn't even imagine what that truly must've been like.
Their relationship with the children was quite beautiful and I was enthralled with Marguerite and how she saw colors. Elias, he just captured my heart in his pain.
I really enjoyed getting to know Addie even though her story is painful. Her devotion to Charlie warmed my heart. I enjoyed watching Caleb and Addie grow to know each other as they searched for anyone who could help Charlie.
There are twists and turns that are unexpected, but compel us to turn the pages as fast as we can so we can get more of the story. I will say, I was not a fan of Grace's mother, Ruby. What a piece of work. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys time split novels set in WWII.
*I received this book as part of a book tour, but not asked to review it. This is my personal opinion.
Their relationship with the children was quite beautiful and I was enthralled with Marguerite and how she saw colors. Elias, he just captured my heart in his pain.
I really enjoyed getting to know Addie even though her story is painful. Her devotion to Charlie warmed my heart. I enjoyed watching Caleb and Addie grow to know each other as they searched for anyone who could help Charlie.
There are twists and turns that are unexpected, but compel us to turn the pages as fast as we can so we can get more of the story. I will say, I was not a fan of Grace's mother, Ruby. What a piece of work. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys time split novels set in WWII.
*I received this book as part of a book tour, but not asked to review it. This is my personal opinion.
July 18, 2022
A deeply emotional read which had me listening so closely that I would stop what I was doing in suspense. The story is a dual timeline with a pregnant widow in the contemporary US seeking answers and a young woman in WW2 Europe trying to save the lives of children in her care. There was plenty of mystery going on in both threads but the WW2 one was the most intense.
For readers of Cathy Gohlke and lovers of intense fiction and dual timelines.
For readers of Cathy Gohlke and lovers of intense fiction and dual timelines.
December 16, 2021
Melanie Dobson’s newest five-star historical time-slip fiction novel was inspired by the American Quaker women who left their homes in the 1930s to care for refugees during the Spanish Civil War and then remained in France to help Jewish children escape the clutches of the Nazis. Dobson explores the courage of one of these heroines.
1940s: Grace Tonquin is an American Quaker who’s been in Vichy France rescuing Jewish children from the Nazis. After a harrowing escape, she walks to safety and after the war returns all but a couple of the children to their families. Providing a loving home for two siblings in Oregon, Grace loves them as if they were her own. However, surviving war comes with a price and it continues to haunt her and the children, eventually affecting her new family.
2003: Addie Hoult is on a quest for her mentor Charlie. He’s battling a genetic disease and is searching for a donor. Addie believes that the Tonquin family can help save Charlie and attempts to find this elusive family who’ve ‘disappeared’ for 50 years. Can she find them in time to help Charlie?
“How did one explain the importance of truth to a child who'd had to deceive in order to survive? To lie in order to live?”
Dobson chose to focus on the effect of war on children, making it an emotional read. Each of her characters has lost someone close to them because of the war. They are all broken souls, yet they choose to continue to love and choose to be useful. I loved how the title reflected the characters; a winter rose booms despite the chill and snow and the characters bloomed in the place they were planted despite their circumstances. When trouble arises, I was brought to tears at how graciously it was handled by Grace and her husband. I loved the strong redemptive message about second chances and forgiveness and appreciated the warning about how choices made in the direst of circumstances have extreme potential to affect our future.
This is my first novel by this author and now I’ll willingly read anything she publishes. It’s refreshing to read a clean novel with references to characters who rely on their faith and their relationship with God.
Congratulations to the graphic designer for a stunning cover – one of the best I’ve seen!
I was gifted this advance copy by Melanie Dobson, Tyndale House Publishers, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
1940s: Grace Tonquin is an American Quaker who’s been in Vichy France rescuing Jewish children from the Nazis. After a harrowing escape, she walks to safety and after the war returns all but a couple of the children to their families. Providing a loving home for two siblings in Oregon, Grace loves them as if they were her own. However, surviving war comes with a price and it continues to haunt her and the children, eventually affecting her new family.
2003: Addie Hoult is on a quest for her mentor Charlie. He’s battling a genetic disease and is searching for a donor. Addie believes that the Tonquin family can help save Charlie and attempts to find this elusive family who’ve ‘disappeared’ for 50 years. Can she find them in time to help Charlie?
“How did one explain the importance of truth to a child who'd had to deceive in order to survive? To lie in order to live?”
Dobson chose to focus on the effect of war on children, making it an emotional read. Each of her characters has lost someone close to them because of the war. They are all broken souls, yet they choose to continue to love and choose to be useful. I loved how the title reflected the characters; a winter rose booms despite the chill and snow and the characters bloomed in the place they were planted despite their circumstances. When trouble arises, I was brought to tears at how graciously it was handled by Grace and her husband. I loved the strong redemptive message about second chances and forgiveness and appreciated the warning about how choices made in the direst of circumstances have extreme potential to affect our future.
This is my first novel by this author and now I’ll willingly read anything she publishes. It’s refreshing to read a clean novel with references to characters who rely on their faith and their relationship with God.
Congratulations to the graphic designer for a stunning cover – one of the best I’ve seen!
I was gifted this advance copy by Melanie Dobson, Tyndale House Publishers, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 26, 2022
This was a wonderful fantastic read with such a strong faith theme. I was disappointed in the lack of one on my previous read. I certainly wasn’t disappointed in this one.
The historical tale and present day were both wonderful, filled with terrific characters,and God’s faith and hope. I truly enjoyed this read, and it was exactly what I needed.
Beautiful story telling, very human characters, and a faith theme that permeates it all. Highly recommend.
The historical tale and present day were both wonderful, filled with terrific characters,and God’s faith and hope. I truly enjoyed this read, and it was exactly what I needed.
Beautiful story telling, very human characters, and a faith theme that permeates it all. Highly recommend.
February 26, 2022
It’s hard to describe this story, it’s not an exciting adventure or a thrilling mystery or a passionate romance. It’s so gentle. Sad. Beautiful. An engrossing family drama. It felt quite different from Melanie Dobson’s other books, I think because her books usually centre are WWII but it was only a small part of this book, not the main focus. The story wasn’t so much about the events happening but more about each characters journey of faith and healing. It’s a story that lingers with you afterwards. The characters were beautifully flawed! They were full of doubt, anger, fear or hurt but through it all they still held onto their faith. Romance isn’t the main theme of this book but Melanie Dobson still wove some lovely romances through it.
I was gifted a copy of this book but all views and opinions shared are my own.
I was gifted a copy of this book but all views and opinions shared are my own.
July 18, 2022
What a heartbreaker! This story was complex and dug deep. The mysteries and characters and journey across the Pyrénées… My heart shattered and healed and broke again…
My favorite aspect of this book was how deep the faith thread went. It was embedded into the storyline until it was impossible to extract it. Truly, it was the key to the entire plot. I loved this so much and wish there were more books that had such well-written faith threads.
The found-family angle was right up my alley. I wept through certain parts, and most of that was either heartbreak or incandescent joy.
Content: replacement expletive, teen smoking, drugs, mind readers mentioned, an expletive or two, marital affairs mentioned, mythology, alcohol, tobacco, suicide mentioned or inferred a few times, teen drug use, teen drinking
My favorite aspect of this book was how deep the faith thread went. It was embedded into the storyline until it was impossible to extract it. Truly, it was the key to the entire plot. I loved this so much and wish there were more books that had such well-written faith threads.
The found-family angle was right up my alley. I wept through certain parts, and most of that was either heartbreak or incandescent joy.
Content: replacement expletive, teen smoking, drugs, mind readers mentioned, an expletive or two, marital affairs mentioned, mythology, alcohol, tobacco, suicide mentioned or inferred a few times, teen drug use, teen drinking
February 27, 2022
Another unforgettable WWII split time novel from one of my favorite authors. Raw, honest characters who sacrifice for others and learn to rely on God’s strength and guidance. I’m always encouraged in my faith by one of Dobson’s novels. Exquisite!
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
September 28, 2022
THE WINTER ROSE
● past storyline: Grace rescued Jewish children from the Nazi
● Grace Tonquin is an American Quaker
● Grace returns to Oregon with 2 of the children
-----
● 50 years later storyline: about some of those children who are now older
● Addie Hoult is trying to find the Tonquin family.
● Addie needs to find them because her elderly friend, Charlie Tonquin, is dying of a genetic disease and needs a donor
● mystery about what happened to the Tonquin family
-----
● dual timelines (starts in 1943 and then 2003)
● past storyline: Grace rescued Jewish children from the Nazi
● Grace Tonquin is an American Quaker
● Grace returns to Oregon with 2 of the children
-----
● 50 years later storyline: about some of those children who are now older
● Addie Hoult is trying to find the Tonquin family.
● Addie needs to find them because her elderly friend, Charlie Tonquin, is dying of a genetic disease and needs a donor
● mystery about what happened to the Tonquin family
-----
● dual timelines (starts in 1943 and then 2003)
Audiobook source: Hoopla
Narrator: Nancy Peterson
Length: 10H 19M
January 23, 2025
This was a story which started out slow but at the end held my attention in such a way that I didn’t care that I forgot to focus on what I was doing while listening to what is going on.
The author did not only provide historical details which taught me something new about WW2, but brought two lifetimes together in smooth and beautiful writing.
Sometimes dual-time stories can feel like two separate stories which only connects at the end, but for me the two stories would be incomplete without the other.
The narrator also had a beautiful voice and delivered the story to keep me invested.
*I listened to the audiobook on Everand.*
The author did not only provide historical details which taught me something new about WW2, but brought two lifetimes together in smooth and beautiful writing.
Sometimes dual-time stories can feel like two separate stories which only connects at the end, but for me the two stories would be incomplete without the other.
The narrator also had a beautiful voice and delivered the story to keep me invested.
*I listened to the audiobook on Everand.*
December 10, 2021
'She could endure, with God's help, for twenty-four hours.'
How do I begin a review for this book? Melanie Dobson's books always take me away to a different time and place, places filled with danger, great pain and heartache, populated with wonderful and heroic characters whose hearts shine through the dread darkness in which they live.
'How did one explain the importance of truth to a child who'd had to deceive in order to survive? To lie in order to live?'
Dobson's split time novels have brought me many hours of reading entertainment, great sadness, but redeemed with great joy as I watch her bring her characters through some of the darkest times imaginable. This time was no different. When I see a new book by Melanie Dobson, it's an automatic read. I don't even need to read the synopsis. I can without reservation highly recommend this author. Her stories are based on actual history that brings them so alive and she brings incredibly deep emotion for them that will remain with the reader a very long time after the book is finished. Well done!
My thanks to Tyndale House for a copy of this book. The opinion in this review is expressly my own.
How do I begin a review for this book? Melanie Dobson's books always take me away to a different time and place, places filled with danger, great pain and heartache, populated with wonderful and heroic characters whose hearts shine through the dread darkness in which they live.
'How did one explain the importance of truth to a child who'd had to deceive in order to survive? To lie in order to live?'
Dobson's split time novels have brought me many hours of reading entertainment, great sadness, but redeemed with great joy as I watch her bring her characters through some of the darkest times imaginable. This time was no different. When I see a new book by Melanie Dobson, it's an automatic read. I don't even need to read the synopsis. I can without reservation highly recommend this author. Her stories are based on actual history that brings them so alive and she brings incredibly deep emotion for them that will remain with the reader a very long time after the book is finished. Well done!
My thanks to Tyndale House for a copy of this book. The opinion in this review is expressly my own.
March 27, 2022
I love anything this author writes and this book was no exception.
I enjoyed some of the scenes that Dobson wrote and even the not so good ones.
The way this author writes really draws you into the story without you even realizing it. I love that! I didn't want to come back to the present.
This is a book that has all kinds emotions and I felt that in all of the characters that I met. I'm like wow!
Especially the children. I feel in a way they got the rotten end of the deal.
This was a beautiful story about love, sacrifices and second chances. I love stories like this.
The nuns were a wonderful edition and very supportive of the children for as long as they could. I found myself holding my breath to see what would happen to them.
Actually I held my breath in several scenes and I loved the ending.
This story will melt your heart in more ways than one. You'll not want to put this beautiful story behind and it will stay with you for a very long time.
5 stars for the excellent writing and research.
I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed some of the scenes that Dobson wrote and even the not so good ones.
The way this author writes really draws you into the story without you even realizing it. I love that! I didn't want to come back to the present.
This is a book that has all kinds emotions and I felt that in all of the characters that I met. I'm like wow!
Especially the children. I feel in a way they got the rotten end of the deal.
This was a beautiful story about love, sacrifices and second chances. I love stories like this.
The nuns were a wonderful edition and very supportive of the children for as long as they could. I found myself holding my breath to see what would happen to them.
Actually I held my breath in several scenes and I loved the ending.
This story will melt your heart in more ways than one. You'll not want to put this beautiful story behind and it will stay with you for a very long time.
5 stars for the excellent writing and research.
I highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2022
The cover of this book is stunning. The story within even more so. Dobson writes dual timelines like no other. Loved this story and I can't wait to read what she writes next.
January 12, 2022
“None of us deserve the good that comes to us. But this life is a gift.”
And this book is such a gift. I’ve always loved Melanie Dobson’s beautiful writing and her captivating time slip plots and this newest book again showcases what a masterful storyteller she is. Seamlessly weaving between 1943 and 2003, the tangled, complicated, and heart-breaking Tonquin family history comes to life in all the brokenness, sorrow, grief, hope, and grace. There is also a bit of mystery as past and present collide to provide answers to questions that all the characters are asking. Above all the horrors during WWII and after, above all the wrongs committed during the present time, there is perseverance, forgiveness, grace, and mercy that prevail and become the guiding light for those floundering in guilt and shame. I loved Addie and Caleb as well as Grace and Roland. They’re real, down-to-earth characters who will stay with me for a long time. Be prepared with a box of tissues - this book will make you cry tears for injustice, suffering, and heartbreak but will also bring tears of joy and wonder.
I received the book via Edelweiss/Above the Tree Line and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
And this book is such a gift. I’ve always loved Melanie Dobson’s beautiful writing and her captivating time slip plots and this newest book again showcases what a masterful storyteller she is. Seamlessly weaving between 1943 and 2003, the tangled, complicated, and heart-breaking Tonquin family history comes to life in all the brokenness, sorrow, grief, hope, and grace. There is also a bit of mystery as past and present collide to provide answers to questions that all the characters are asking. Above all the horrors during WWII and after, above all the wrongs committed during the present time, there is perseverance, forgiveness, grace, and mercy that prevail and become the guiding light for those floundering in guilt and shame. I loved Addie and Caleb as well as Grace and Roland. They’re real, down-to-earth characters who will stay with me for a long time. Be prepared with a box of tissues - this book will make you cry tears for injustice, suffering, and heartbreak but will also bring tears of joy and wonder.
I received the book via Edelweiss/Above the Tree Line and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
October 22, 2022
Goodreads, get with it and start offering half stars! I think for me that this book was a 3.5. (But leaning closer to a 4.)
This is my first Melanie Dobson book. I was impressed by her research and the story as a whole. However, I’m really hard on WW2 historical fiction because I’ve read SO MUCH of it. It all starts to run together. To earn high marks from me, it has to be especially memorable. And while I liked this plot line, I didn’t find it gripping me. I read the book with dedication, but not eagerness.
My favorite part of the book was learning about what the Quakers did to aid Jews in France during WW2. It was fascinating, and it led me down several research rabbit trails.
I loves the strong Christian themes of faith and forgiveness.
Melanie Dobson created two really unique characters in Addie and Margereuite. I loved reading how Addie organized her thoughts into groups of three, in alliterations.
Friends. Family. Forgiveness.
Margereuites ability to see colors in people added such a creative perspective. I really liked it, and how she transferred that as an artist to the canvas.
This isn’t a romance, and I appreciated that. There is love and marriages, but it isn’t the focus of the story.
I liked how the book focused on a different aspect of hard in the historical time frame: recovery from those years during WW2. I can’t imagine how hard healing was after all that you had seen and been through.
One small annoyance: Dobson consistently uses the word “kids.” For some reason in the historical part, it just seemed casual and modern. She used “children” only once or twice. I don’t know when kids became the more commonly used term historically, but for some reason it kept bugging me as the reader.
Neither Grace or Addie particularly endeared themselves to me. I liked them, I just didn’t really love them. In fact, I was pretty annoyed with Addie when she just barged into to Louis’ home and reading his private paperwork. And I was kind of annoyed with Grace when she hid that letter from her husband.
I know most of my fellow readers loved this book. I feel disappointed that I just… didn’t. I was drawn in by certain aspects of Melanie Dobson’s writing though, so I’ll pick up another. I’ll have to look to see if she has any that aren’t WW2.
This is my first Melanie Dobson book. I was impressed by her research and the story as a whole. However, I’m really hard on WW2 historical fiction because I’ve read SO MUCH of it. It all starts to run together. To earn high marks from me, it has to be especially memorable. And while I liked this plot line, I didn’t find it gripping me. I read the book with dedication, but not eagerness.
My favorite part of the book was learning about what the Quakers did to aid Jews in France during WW2. It was fascinating, and it led me down several research rabbit trails.
I loves the strong Christian themes of faith and forgiveness.
Melanie Dobson created two really unique characters in Addie and Margereuite. I loved reading how Addie organized her thoughts into groups of three, in alliterations.
Friends. Family. Forgiveness.
Margereuites ability to see colors in people added such a creative perspective. I really liked it, and how she transferred that as an artist to the canvas.
This isn’t a romance, and I appreciated that. There is love and marriages, but it isn’t the focus of the story.
I liked how the book focused on a different aspect of hard in the historical time frame: recovery from those years during WW2. I can’t imagine how hard healing was after all that you had seen and been through.
One small annoyance: Dobson consistently uses the word “kids.” For some reason in the historical part, it just seemed casual and modern. She used “children” only once or twice. I don’t know when kids became the more commonly used term historically, but for some reason it kept bugging me as the reader.
Neither Grace or Addie particularly endeared themselves to me. I liked them, I just didn’t really love them. In fact, I was pretty annoyed with Addie when she just barged into to Louis’ home and reading his private paperwork. And I was kind of annoyed with Grace when she hid that letter from her husband.
I know most of my fellow readers loved this book. I feel disappointed that I just… didn’t. I was drawn in by certain aspects of Melanie Dobson’s writing though, so I’ll pick up another. I’ll have to look to see if she has any that aren’t WW2.
March 29, 2022
We all make choices that damage our life and those around us, but God has given us the greatest gift in His son to start again.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart.
Where history is redeemed by the present and with a long suffering love. Addie is at a turning point in her life. She is now a widow who survived a sham of a marriage and is on a journey to save the life the of the one man who never gave up on her. Charlie and his wife took her in when she was young and set her life to a life of faith. Charlie had survived World War 2 as a young boy and was saved by his rescuer Grace. His story and Addie search for his family is narrated as Addie search deepens. There are many questions to Charlie past. A past he seems to want to forget. Addie is determined to find a living relative in Washington State. What she finds is redemption for herself and for Charlie.
There is many underlying characters to this historical fiction. It was gripping and heart wrenching. The pain that Charlie brought on to himself as a young man because of shame, guilt, can resonate with any reader that struggles with faith. How we look to ourselves instead of the good work of Christ. How we need others and how God places those people in our life for a reason. Being aware of the work of God strengthens our faith in many ways. I loved the natural way that this book revealed that.
A special thank you to Tyndale Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart.
Where history is redeemed by the present and with a long suffering love. Addie is at a turning point in her life. She is now a widow who survived a sham of a marriage and is on a journey to save the life the of the one man who never gave up on her. Charlie and his wife took her in when she was young and set her life to a life of faith. Charlie had survived World War 2 as a young boy and was saved by his rescuer Grace. His story and Addie search for his family is narrated as Addie search deepens. There are many questions to Charlie past. A past he seems to want to forget. Addie is determined to find a living relative in Washington State. What she finds is redemption for herself and for Charlie.
There is many underlying characters to this historical fiction. It was gripping and heart wrenching. The pain that Charlie brought on to himself as a young man because of shame, guilt, can resonate with any reader that struggles with faith. How we look to ourselves instead of the good work of Christ. How we need others and how God places those people in our life for a reason. Being aware of the work of God strengthens our faith in many ways. I loved the natural way that this book revealed that.
A special thank you to Tyndale Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Read
December 17, 2021The Winter Rose by Melanie Dobson
This review by librarian Christine Barth was first published in the Dec. 2021 issue of Library Journal.
Addie Hoult is widowed, pregnant, and about to lose the only father figure she has ever known. The search for a bone marrow donor for her beloved Papa C leads her to the coast of Oregon and down a rabbit hole of dusty genealogy records and decades old secrets. Meanwhile across the ocean and the years, Quaker Grace Tonquin feels called to save Jewish children from Nazi Germany-- no matter the personal cost. One little girl named Marguerite, who can see the colors of people's emotions, finds a special place in Grace's heart. Grace realizes that though she can carry the children over the Pyrenees Mountains to physical safety, the things they have seen and done to survive will haunt their dreams even in America.
VERDICT: Dobson (Memories of Glass) is quickly establishing herself as a new powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction. This is a potent examination of redemption after scars, and, more simply, a good story, told well. Readers of Kristy Cambron, Rachel Hauck, and Heidi Chiavaroli will welcome this historical timeslip novel.
This review by librarian Christine Barth was first published in the Dec. 2021 issue of Library Journal.
Addie Hoult is widowed, pregnant, and about to lose the only father figure she has ever known. The search for a bone marrow donor for her beloved Papa C leads her to the coast of Oregon and down a rabbit hole of dusty genealogy records and decades old secrets. Meanwhile across the ocean and the years, Quaker Grace Tonquin feels called to save Jewish children from Nazi Germany-- no matter the personal cost. One little girl named Marguerite, who can see the colors of people's emotions, finds a special place in Grace's heart. Grace realizes that though she can carry the children over the Pyrenees Mountains to physical safety, the things they have seen and done to survive will haunt their dreams even in America.
VERDICT: Dobson (Memories of Glass) is quickly establishing herself as a new powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction. This is a potent examination of redemption after scars, and, more simply, a good story, told well. Readers of Kristy Cambron, Rachel Hauck, and Heidi Chiavaroli will welcome this historical timeslip novel.
January 13, 2022
This is a wonderful time split novel that I am sure will be one of my favorites of 2022. The historical time period focuses on Grace Tonquin who is part of a Quaker group escorting stranded Jewish children from Nazi occupied France into Portugal and Spain. The current thread focuses on Addie Hoult who is trying to find a bone marrow match for the man who saved her from herself and has become a father figure, Charlie. Will her search for Charlie's elusive past take her back to World War 2 France to find a connection between Charlie and Grace?
This book was filled with danger, sadness, heartache, and persistance. Brimming with wonderfully in depth characters and a plot that kept the entire story moving and the reader entranced, I was captured from start to finish.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
This book was filled with danger, sadness, heartache, and persistance. Brimming with wonderfully in depth characters and a plot that kept the entire story moving and the reader entranced, I was captured from start to finish.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
July 2, 2023
THIS is how to write a time-slip novel! Each time period was so woven in with the other; the chapters fit together wonderfully. I didn’t want to stop reading. A beautiful story of restoration. I highly recommend!
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