What a wonderful book !! This is the first time that I had read a book by this author. I read this book in one day !!
Both stories where great !! I love reading these 2 stories about women who never gave up in what they believed in. I also love the secondary characters in the first story that showed up in the 2nd story as well,as the 2nd story was a continuation of the first one. I would love to read more stories about all of these charater's as well!!

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 by Frances Devine is a beautiful story of love for others and giving of oneself in unselfish ways.
Abigail James is the new teacher at the Cecilia Quincy School for the Deaf. She is a new teacher and not sure she is up to the challenge. She is from the north and living in the south is a completely new experience for her. The school is now owned by Dr. Trent Quincy who inherited the property from his father who was the son George Quincy whose widow freed all their slaves and started the school after George’s death. Several of the former slaves are now employed at the school or the home of Dr. Trent. Upon her arrival, she finds one child is blind which will be an additional challenge she is not sure she is up to. She does meet many challenges including butting heads with the school director, Mr. Carter. She soon finds the children are claiming their own spots in her heart. There are still challenges and what will happen when she meets a special man? Can she continue to teach and stay single or will she leave the children for love and a family of her own?
There is a bonus story called The Scent of Magnolia, that continues the story of Cecilia Quincy school with the focus being on another of the teachers, Helen Edwards. Molly Flannigan has been a student at the school for some time, since the death of her mother, and is making great progress. Her father is now in a better position to care for her and decides to take her home to live with him. Can Helen convince him it would not be in the child’s best interest to leave the school? There are many twists and turns as Molly, Helen and Mr. Flannigan try to come to an agreement on how best to handle the situation.
Both of these stories have a lot of action and move at a quick pace keeping the reader turning page after page. I did not want to put this book down. It is a solid 5 of 5 stars! There are issues of new teaching methods and different schools of thought on what might be best for the children and I found the discussions the characters have very interesting. I highly recommend reading this book.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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.