THE WEDDING TREE
National bestselling author Robin Wells weaves a moving epic that stretches from modern-day Louisiana to World War II-era New Orleans and back again in this multigenerational tale of love, loss and redemption.
Hope Stevens thinks Wedding Tree, Louisiana, will be the perfect place to sort out her life and all the mistakes she’s made. Plus, it will give her the chance to help her free-spirited grandmother, Adelaide, sort through her things before moving into assisted living.
Spending the summer in the quaint town, Hope begins to discover that Adelaide has made some mistakes of her own.
National bestselling author Robin Wells weaves a moving epic that stretches from modern-day Louisiana to World War II-era New Orleans and back again in this multigenerational tale of love, loss and redemption.
Hope Stevens thinks Wedding Tree, Louisiana, will be the perfect place to sort out her life and all the mistakes she’s made. Plus, it will give her the chance to help her free-spirited grandmother, Adelaide, sort through her things before moving into assisted living.
Spending the summer in the quaint town, Hope begins to discover that Adelaide has made some mistakes of her own. And as they go through her belongings, her grandmother recalls the wartime romance that left her torn between two men and haunted by a bone-chilling secret. Now she wants Hope’s help in uncovering the truth before it’s too late.
Filled with colorful characters, The Wedding Tree is an emotionally riveting story about passion, shattered dreams, unexpected renewal and forgiveness—not only for others, but for ourselves.
- Berkley
- Paperback
- December 2015
- 432 Pages
- 9780425282359
Buy the Book
$16.00
About Robin Wells
Before she became a full-time writer, Robin Wells was an advertising and public relations executive, but she always dreamed of writing novels—a dream inspired by a grandmother who told “hot tales” and parents who were both librarians. She is also the author of The Wedding Tree. Her books have won the RWA Golden Heart, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the HOLT Medallion, and numerous other awards. She now lives in Texas with her husband, but will always be a Louisiana girl at heart.
Praise
“Sympathetic, memorable characters, a touching story, gentle humor, and evocative writing.”—Library Journal
“A great, captivating read.”—A Journey of Books
Discussion Questions
We’re all shaped by family beliefs and the “rules” of society. The culturally acceptable behavior of women in particular was very limited in the1940s and 50s. How did the following characters of Adelaide, Charlie, Joe, and Hope react to their family’s expectations and societal rules of the day?
What were the different expectations that Hope’s mother and grandmother had of her?
What messages did you receive from your family? Have you accepted them or rejected them?
All of the characters lost or had to let go of something—objects, people, habits, emotions, plans, secrets, etc. Name some of the things each character gave up (voluntarily or involuntarily) and how it affected them. Was the loss ultimately a good thing or bad thing?
What are some of the things you’ve let go of in life? Is there anything you need to release in order to move forward?
How did following the characters grow and change over the course of the book? Adelaide, Charlie, Hope, Matt, Jillian
Do you believe people can genuinely change? Why or why not?
People often try to avoid confronting truths or situations that are potentially painful. What things did Adelaide want to avoid facing? What was Hope trying to avoid?
Each character needed to forgive someone and/or accept an unchangeable situation. Who or what did each character need to forgive or accept?
Who benefits most from forgiveness? Is there a person or situation in your life that you need to make peace with?