- At its core The Painted Castle is a story of redemption for three women in very different life circumstances. All are navigating loss, battling to heal,
and learning to love again. What are the common threads of Elizabeth Meade, Amelia Woods, and Keira Foley’s stories? How do
their healing journeys differ?
- For more than a decade Elizabeth Meade believes seeking justice for her father’s murder will bring her peace. What happens
when the man she’s held responsible for her father’s death begins to unravel what she’s always thought to be true? How does
Keaton contradict the image she’d built of him in her mind?
- Through the generations we see a shift in the roles of women in society. Elizabeth’s expectations in a Victorian era are different
from Amelia’s during WWII and from Keira’s in our modern day. How have the roles of women changed from the nineteenth century
to now? How did each character navigate the social construct of her surroundings in order to use her gifts and talents to
benefit both herself and those around her?
- Amelia and Wyatt find themselves thrown together at Parham Hill during the last years of WWII, but it was books that really
began their journey to one another. How did their mutual love of books affect their ability to heal from past brokenness?
What books have impacted your own story?
- By accepting the commission to authenticate the painting of Victoria, Keira Foley hoped to find a quick fix to repair her
career and hide from a romantic life that had completely fallen apart. Instead, she finds herself thrown into the middle of
a situation that tests her in both areas. How does Keira begin to heal from both the pain of her childhood and her broken
engagement? Does learning of Emory’s past brokenness soften her heart toward him? What wisdom have you gained from being tested
romantically? Professionally?
- The Painted Castle turns a spotlight not just on main characters but on many beloved secondary characters—the most famous being real-life master
artist Franz Xaver Winterhalter and Queen Victoria herself. How important is weaving in secondary characters to the fabric
of a story? Whose stories affected the main characters the most and why?
- Each book in the Lost Castles series includes a castle or manor house—or beekeeper’s cottage—largely forgotten by time. Can
a character with no voice still affect the characters’ lives? How do the legacy and longevity of castles mirror God’s ever-present
involvement in our own stories?
- A constant theme in this novel is the beauty of creation: art is shown as paintings, books, or even a carefully preserved
library. How did each character view the art placed before him or her? Can artistic expression be used to glorify God—whether
it’s from the past, present, or future?