The Winter Rose by Melanie Dobson, Tyndale House Publishers, 2022.

This unsettling book introduced me to the selfless work of Quakers in evacuating Jewish children from Nazi Europe during World War II. Grace Tonquin, as she led over a dozen children of assorted ages, on foot and inadequately dressed for winter, over France and Spain to safety, exemplifies courage as I have rarely seen it.
This story alternates between World War II, where we follow Grace and the children and sometimes Roland and present-day Addie is on a mission to find the Tonquin family, with some scarce hints of their lives before that.
For me, The Winter Rose was a bit of a tease in that it introduced a cast of intriguing characters, gave me glimpses of them at one or two points in their lives, most sharing great faith and reliance in God, then brought them together briefly at the end, leaving me wondering what came before that, that motivated them to do what they did. This is true for both main and supporting characters, though I feel some uncertainty even in labelling these. I was left wanting more though, especially about incredibly destructive Ruby. And wondering about the gorgeous cover: which character? what window?

In the end I realized that no one knew the whole story, at least until near the end, and that was the point.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Winter Rose for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. #TheWinterRose #NetGalley.

So I decided to lose sleep over this book last night. I just couldn't put it down. First, let me say that there is very little romance--as in ooey-gooey kisses and long, loving looks type of romance--in this book, but there are examples of deep, abiding love that lasts through the ages.

This is what is commonly known as a time-slip novel, where there are parallel plots that cover more than one era. In this case, it is World War II and present day. Grace Tonquin has seen too much of the evil of men and works to save children from the Nazi regime and spirit them into Spain, and ultimately, to Lisbon, Portugal, where they can be shipped out of Europe. Her whole raison d'etre is taking care of the children. Two of the children she is responsible for become as her own when she finds there is no uncle living in the United States to care for them. She takes them with her back to Oregon to her family's vineyard. Elias, soon to become known as Charlie, is a bundle of rebellion, anger, and regret. He's seen far more than a child of his age should see. His sister, Marguerite, is an artist from a very young age. She has synesthesia--an ability to see emotions as colors--and can tell at a glance where danger lies, even though she is quite young. She thrives with Grace's love and gentleness, where Charlie kicks at the goads hard and often.

Roland is the man who guided Grace and the children out of France, and who has fallen in love with Grace. He has promised he will find her and come back to her, and he does, but not until after he was interred at Dachau Prison Camp for the waning years of the war. Together they build a home for Elias and Marguerite and Louis--another child who was hidden away by Roland's aunt Helene. Louis never really connected to Grace and Roland, instead choosing to live with Grace's mother--a once upon a time movie star.

Addie is a protégé of Charlie and Emma, who ran the Sale Creek Home for Girls. She had gotten in trouble with the law and was offered this option or time in jail. She chose the Home for Girls. Afterward, she got a scholarship to a Bible College where she met her husband who was a pastor of not very high integrity. When Charlie gets sick and needs a bone marrow transplant, Addie goes looking for family members who might be a worthy donor. She finds more to Charlie's story than she ever knew before, and in the meantime finds a bit of herself in the process.

For having so many characters in the book, Melanie Dobson does a fantastic job of fleshing them out and making them come alive on the pages of the novel. The Winter Rose is the kind of book that will make the readers think, and feel, and take stock of themselves. Which is not a bad thing at all.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a hike over the mountains to safety.

Tyndale House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

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 the publisher 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.

Grace is a young Quakers who goes to Europe to help children escape from the Nazis across the Pyrenees during WWII. In the last trip she makes. she is aided by Roland, a young man she has grown to love. The trip is fraught with danger and the older boy, Elias, has to do things to save the other children that will haunt him the rest of his life.

Adeline is a young woman who had a troubled past. She ends up in a home in Chattanooga where Charlie and Emma help her turn her life around. She marries a minister who is more concerned with his reputation than God's word. After his death and Charlie's diagnosis of a rare blood cancer, Adeline goes on a quest to find Charlie's relatives so he can have a bone marrow transplant. As she makes this quest, she learns of Charlie's past and the role Grace and Roland played in it.

The Winter Rose, by Melanie Dobson, is the story of a young woman who's life is spent helping others. It is a story of forgiveness, leaving the past behind, and reconciliation. It tells of God's great love for his children and His ability to save. I was allowed to read this on #NetGalley.

WOW! Melanie Dobson held my attention from beginning to end in this gripping novel that combines history with present day. This balance of WWII time as American Grace helps Jewish children from France escape the Nazis and present day Addie who is searching for a relative of mentor Charlie, shares the emotional struggles of love, betrayal, loss, and forgiveness in day-to-day struggles of each generation. The author deftly ties together both ends of the story, providing new clues each chapter that continuously tie together both Grace and Addie's stories. Through the many twists and turns that life entails, Grace and Allie come alive on every page. You don't want to miss this incredible novel!