Fragile Sanctuary

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. The novel blends a high-stakes thriller with a romance. Did you find this balance effective, or did one element overshadow the other for you?

2. What was your initial impression of Anson’s character, and did your opinion of him change by the end of the book?

3. This is the first book in the Sparrow Falls series. If you’ve read other Catherine Cowles books, like those in the Tattered & Torn series, how does this one compare in its setup of a small-town community and its central found family? If this was your first Cowles novel, did it make you want to continue with the series?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Rhodes finds sanctuary with the Colson family after tragedy. Have you ever experienced a “found family” that offered support in a way that was different from your biological family?

2. Anson copes with his grief by isolating himself and avoiding things that remind him of his loss, like color. What are some ways you’ve seen people, or perhaps even yourself, cope with difficult emotions by creating specific routines or avoiding certain triggers?

3. The Colsons’ home is described as a place of loud, supportive chaos. What kind of environment do you find most comforting or restorative when you’re feeling stressed?

4. How did you feel about Rhodes’s decision to restore her family home instead of tearing it down? What do you think this choice says about her approach to dealing with the past?

5. Fallon encourages Rhodes to pursue a “full life” rather than a “half-life” spent avoiding pain. What does living a “full life” mean to you?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel features a classic “heroine in peril” and a “brooding protector” hero. Do you think these character archetypes still resonate with modern audiences, and what makes them compelling? How does the novel complicate these archetypes?

2. The story highlights the theme of The Deceptive Nature of Appearances, where a charming local is revealed to be a serial killer, while more overtly threatening figures are revealed to be comparatively harmless. What does this pattern suggest about human nature?

3. In the book, Anson’s past as an FBI profiler gives him a unique lens for seeing danger that others miss. In what ways does our society rely on, or perhaps mistrust, the expertise of specialists when it comes to identifying threats?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What role does the dual first-person narrative play in building suspense and emotional connection? How did having access to both Rhodes’s and Anson’s private thoughts shape your understanding of their relationship and the unfolding mystery

2. The Victorian house is a central symbol in the novel. How does its physical restoration mirror Rhodes’s psychological journey?

3. The author populates Sparrow Falls with characters who serve as red herrings, like Davis, Felix, Owen, and even Thea. How did these misdirections affect your reading experience and your attempts to solve the mystery alongside the characters?

4. How does the recurring motif of color and its absence visually represent the emotional states of Rhodes and Anson? Did you notice specific moments where this contrast was particularly effective?

5. Fire is used to symbolize both destruction and passion. Can you think of other stories, like Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, where fire serves a similar dual purpose in the plot and character development?

6. How does Anson’s professional background as a fire-restoration expert and a former FBI profiler make him uniquely suited to help Rhodes heal from her past?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. If you were in charge of casting a film adaptation of Fragile Sanctuary, who would you choose to play Rhodes and Anson?

2. In the epilogue, Anson finds the original fairy wallpaper for the entryway to honor Rhodes’s mother. If you were restoring a meaningful place from your own past, what is one specific detail you would be determined to get just right, and why?

3. Imagine you are writing a short story about another member of the Colson clan. Which sibling would you choose, and what kind of personal challenge or mystery would they face in Sparrow Falls?