By
Kelly Bridgewater
Back Cover Copy:
When
Heather Toulson returns to her parents’ cottage in the English countryside, she
uncovers long-hidden secrets about her family history and stumbles onto the
truth about a sixty-year-old murder.
Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.
Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history.
Libby, a free spirit who can’t be tamed by her parents, finds solace with her neighbor Oliver, the son of Lord Croft of Ladenbrooke Manor. Libby finds herself pregnant and alone when her father kicks her out and Oliver mysteriously drowns in a nearby river. Though theories spread across the English countryside, no one is ever held responsible for Oliver’s death.
Sixty years later, Heather Toulson, returning to her family’s cottage in the shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor, is filled with mixed emotions. She’s mourning her father’s passing but can’t let go of the anger and resentment over their strained relationship. Adding to her confusion, Heather has an uneasy reunion with her first love, all while sorting through her family’s belongings left behind in the cottage. What she uncovers will change everything she thought she knew about her family’s history.
My Review:
I,
personally, have never read anything by Melanie Dobson, but Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor cover
grabbed my attention and paired with the synopsis on the back drew me into the
story. I truly enjoyed this story and want to read Chateau of Secrets.
Unique
and thrilling, Dobson’s story of showing that light can shine through darkness
gripped me from the first chapter. I am interested and couldn’t wait to read
more about Maggie and Walter. While the story reminded me of the Biblical story
about the shame of the fathers following their children for the next seven
generations, I originally thought it would be a long time to break the “curse”
on the family members. But Dobson explored a story that amplified God’s love
and power through restoration through the generations. It was unique and
lovingly written.
The
story does have two timelines. The first timeline features the story of Maggie
and Walter as they raise Libby, the child who loves to sit in the gardens and
hangs out with butterflies. On the other timeline, I am introduced to Heather,
who has returned to England to settle her parents’ estate four months after his
passing. The timelines were distinguished from each other, yet complimented
each other.
Dobson’s
writing drew me in. I struggled with Maggie, Libby, and Heather as they were
trying to figure their way through their pass issues and how to handle them in
their present state. There is an even balance between the prose and dialogue.
Even when Dobson handled the spiritual issues, she isn’t preachy or demanding
attention. The character’s spiritual side strengthens them, not weaken them.
The
only issue I had with the timelines is the timeline that takes place first. For
some reason every time the story would slip back into that time period, which
was the nineteen-fifties and sixties, I imagined the story taking place a
hundred years earlier. Maybe because of the servants and living in a thatched
cottage behind the Lord and Lady Croft’s Manor. Using those words made the era
appear from a different time. Even though I imagined the characters in a
different century, it didn’t ruin the story for me. I clung to every word and
truly enjoyed the story.
Overall,
Melanie Dobson’s story, Shadows of
Ladenbrooke Manor, drew me in with God’s love and power for restoration.
The sad, love stories between the various couples kept me glued to the page
that I didn’t want to put the book down. I can’t wait to read Dobson’s Chateau of Secrets.
I
received a complimentary copy of Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor from Howard Books
through Netgalley and the opinions stated are all my own.
Where to connect with Melanie Dobson:
Where to purchase Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor:
Do
you enjoy reading stories that feature different timelines? Why or Why not?
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