By Kelly Bridgewater
The year is 1938, and as Hitler’s troops sweep into Vienna,
Austrian Max Dornbach promises to help his Jewish friends hide their most
valuable possessions from the Nazis, smuggling them to his family’s summer
estate near the picturesque village of Hallstatt. He enlists the help of Annika
Knopf, his childhood friend and the caretaker’s daughter, who is eager to help
the man she’s loved her entire life. But when Max also brings Luzia Weiss, a
young Jewish woman, to hide at the castle, it complicates Annika’s feelings and
puts their entire plan―even their very lives―in jeopardy. Especially when the
Nazis come to scour the estate and find both Luzia and the treasure gone.
Eighty years later, Callie Randall is mostly content with her quiet life, running a bookstore with her sister and reaching out into the world through her blog. Then she finds a cryptic list in an old edition of Bambi that connects her to Annika’s story . . . and maybe to the long-buried story of a dear friend. As she digs into the past, Callie must risk venturing outside the safe world she’s built for a chance at answers, adventure, and maybe even new love.
Eighty years later, Callie Randall is mostly content with her quiet life, running a bookstore with her sister and reaching out into the world through her blog. Then she finds a cryptic list in an old edition of Bambi that connects her to Annika’s story . . . and maybe to the long-buried story of a dear friend. As she digs into the past, Callie must risk venturing outside the safe world she’s built for a chance at answers, adventure, and maybe even new love.
 |
| From Amazon |
My Thoughts:
Time-slip novels are becoming a popular way to combine a
historical romance story with a contemporary timeline. Authors like Kristy
Cambron, Rachel Hauck, Heidi Chiavaroli , and Melanie Dobson have used them in
their writing. I do enjoy Dobson's stories because they take place during World
War II and the present. As a fan of the horrors of World War II, I have come to
adore these stories Dobson crafts. Her newest book, Hidden Among the Stars, is no exception.
I love the plot. A treasure hunt in a castle by a lake. How
interesting. The past timeline captures my attention and doesn't let go. I love
learning about Annika, Luzi, and Max as the story unfolds, showing their
troubles and their dilemma. I loved each of the characters and enjoyed spending
time with them as they moved through the issues arising during the Nazi's reign
of terror. As for the contemporary timeline, I really love how Dobson
introduces Callie and Brie with the bookstore. It reached out to my book-loving
heart and made me want to visit a bookstore with a castle in the back. What
would be better than to slide down a slide in a bookstore? I want to visit this
bookstore in Ohio. The present story didn't disappoint either. It flowed
nicely, and I loved following Callie as she hunts for answers from her copy of Bambi.
The romance in the past is a love triangle. Max loves
someone. Annika loves someone. But does Luzi love someone? Have to read to find
out. The romance wasn't overdone. It moved at a natural pace, even though there
were plenty of roadblocks in the way. The present day romance is not too
forceful either. I do think the ending was a little rushed for Callie and a
certain someone, but I bought it because the story was leaning toward that way
anyway.
Overall, Hidden Among
the Stars by Melanie Dobson is a nicely woven together plot featuring a
treasure hunt from World War II that affects the modern day timeline. The end
result is a truly unforgettable story populated with heroic characters, a love
of literature, and the God who holds the key to true beauty.
I believe fans of Dobson's other works, Sarah Sundin, Kristy
Cambron, and Susan Anne Mason would love spending time lost in this story. I
know I sure did.
I received a complimentary copy of Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson from Tyndale Publishing,
but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Melanie Dobson's Author Bio:
 |
| From Goodreads.com |
Writing fiction is Melanie Dobson's excuse to explore abandoned
houses, travel to unique places, and spend hours reading old books and
journals. The award-winning author of twenty novels, Melanie enjoys
stitching together both time-slip and historical stories including
Catching the Wind, Enchanted Isle, Beneath a Golden Veil, and the Legacy
of Love novels. Chateau of Secrets received a Carol Award for
historical fiction, Catching the Wind's audiobook won the 2018 Audie for
Inspirational Novel, and The Black Cloister was ForeWord's Book of the
Year for Religious Fiction. Her next time-slip novel, Hidden Among the
Stars, comes out in September.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobson family has finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, dancing, and reading stories with her girls.(From Amazon)
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobson family has finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, dancing, and reading stories with her girls.(From Amazon)
Connect with Melanie Dobson:
Where to purchase Hidden Among the Stars:
No comments:
Post a Comment