Review: "Hidden Among the Stars" by Melanie Dobson

In the last several years, split time (time-slip, dual timeline) novels have become quite popular. When done well, the combination of contemporary fiction with historical feels like it's the best of both worlds! One author who writes excellent split time fiction is Melanie Dobson, so I was quite eager to get my hands on her new book, Hidden Among the Stars.

best books of 2015: honorable mention

2015 was a banner year for lovers of inspirational fiction. I can't remember another year when I've had such a difficult time choosing a top 10 list—I read so many phenomenal books this year that I couldn't limit myself to 10. (Goodreads tells me I read 104 books this year—crazy!) We'll start with the honorable mentions today (which were hard to narrow down, too!) and then move on to my 10 favorite books of the year tomorrow. Keep in mind that these are books I read in 2015; a few of them were published in previous years.

One Enchanted Christmas by Melissa Tagg (my review) 

While I loved all three of Tagg's novels/novellas that I read in 2015, One Enchanted Christmas takes the top prize for its humor and adorability.

The Girl From the Train by Irma Joubert (my review) 

Always a fan of World War II-era fiction, I devoured this novel about a German orphan who is adopted by a South African couple.

A Table by the Window and Reservations for Two by Hillary Manton Lodge (my reviews) 

I couldn't read these novels quickly enough, and I can't wait for the third to release! They contain a love triangle that is rare in the fact that I have no idea which man the main character should choose.

Falling Like Snowflakes by Denise Hunter (my review) 

I always love Denise Hunter's novels, and Falling Like Snowflakes marks a great start to her new Summer Harbor series.

Somebody Like You by Beth Vogt (my review)

Somebody Like You is the first book I read in 2015, and it remains one of my favorites. The premise—an identical twin the widow didn't know about shows up and falls in love with her—could have been ripped from a soap opera, but the book is not even slightly soapy.

Shadows of Ladenbrook Manor by Melanie Dobson (my review) 

I simply adored this dual timeline story that shows how one secret can affect a family for generations.

How to Catch a Prince by Rachel Hauck (my review)

This final book in Hauck's Royal Wedding series is cute, romantic, and thought provoking. It's a definite winner!

I'm sure there are many more books I could list here, but I have to cut myself off somewhere! Check back tomorrow for my top ten list, and be sure to let me know in the comments if you loved any of these books, too!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

"shadows of ladenbrooke manor" by melanie dobson

A delightful mix of family drama, intrigue, and romance make Melanie Dobson's Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor the perfect summer read.

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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 decades-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.

Decades 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.

Award-winning author Melanie Dobson seamlessly weaves the past and present together, fluidly unraveling the decades-old mystery and reveals how the characters are connected in shocking ways.

Set in a charming world of thatched cottages, lush gardens, and lovely summer evenings, this romantic and historical mystery brings to light the secrets and heartaches that have divided a family for generations.

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I've read several of Melanie Dobson's novels, and they seem to just get better and better. I opened up Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor expecting to like it, but I had no idea just how invested I would become in this novel!

The book is told from multiple perspectives in both the present and the past. While this could get confusing, it does not, and it also allows the reader to view events from multiple perspectives, causing characters who could seem like villains (like Libby's boyfriend Oliver) to come across as more sympathetic and relatable.

The portion of the story told in the past begins when Maggie, pregnant and alone, accepts Walter Doyle's offer of marriage. Maggie's decision to allow Walter to believe Libby is his sets off a cycle of lies and deception that is not broken until their younger daughter Heather returns to the family cottage following Walter's death. The novel powerfully shows how secrets and lies can affect families for generations.

Beautifully written with an intriguing and thought provoking plot, Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor is unlike any other book I've read. I almost wish I hadn't finished it yet, just so I could still have the pleasure of discovering how everything turned out for the Doyle family. 5 stars.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Dobson's The Courier of Casewell Hall (5 stars), Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan (3.5 stars), Refuge on Crescent Hill (4 stars), and Where the Trail Ends (4.5 stars).

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Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of thirteen historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels. Two of her novels won Carol Awards in 2011, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana in 2010. Melanie lives with her husband Jon and two daughters near Portland, Oregon.

Find Melanie online: website, Twitter, Facebook

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the courier of caswell hall" by melanie dobson

About the book (from Litfuse): An unlikely spy discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution.

As the British and Continental armies wage war in 1781, the daughter of a wealthy Virginia plantation owner feels conflict raging in her own heart. Lydia Caswell comes from a family of staunch Loyalists, but she cares only about peace. Her friend Sarah Hammond, however, longs to join the fight. Both women's families have already been divided by a costly war that sets father against son and neighbor against neighbor; a war that makes it impossible to guess who can be trusted.

One snowy night Lydia discovers a wounded man on the riverbank near Caswell Hall, and her decision to save him will change her life. Nathan introduces her to a secret network of spies, couriers, disguises, and coded messages—a network that may be the Patriots' only hope for winning the war. When British officers take over Caswell Hall and wreak havoc on neighboring plantations, Lydia will have to choose between loyalty and freedom; between her family's protection and her own heart's desires.

As both armies gather near Williamsburg for a pivotal battle, both Lydia and Sarah must decide how high a price they are willing to pay to help the men they love.

Part of the American Tapestries™ series: Each standalone novel in this line sets a heart-stirring love story against the backdrop of an epic moment in American history. This is the fifth book in the series.

My take: In The Courier of Caswell Hall, Melanie Dobson takes the reader into the Revolutionary War. In the acknowledgements at the back, she thanks a friend for reminding her when the story needed to be "felt" as well as told—and she certainly accomplished it! In the opening pages, set at the 50th Anniversary celebration for the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this novel comes alive. I was pulled completely into the story ... even though I knew the Patriots would come out on top, I still worried about the outcome!

As a born and bred American, I've always believed the colonists were right to fight for freedom. After reading this novelization of the Revolutionary War, my opinion is only strengthened.  I felt like I was at Caswell Hall while the British soldiers wreaked havoc on the surrounding community, with Sarah as she risked her life to save men held captive by the British, and hiding out with Nathan as he longed to deliver an urgent message. Dobson does a wonderful job of pulling the reader directly into the action.

I also appreciated the historical details included. For example, one of the characters becomes diabetic, which was an automatic death sentence in the 1700s. As someone with an extensive family history of diabetes, I'm so thankful for modern medicine! My dad has lived more than 40 years as a diabetic; the character in this novel lived only a short time following the diagnosis. I had never before taken time to consider how diseases we just live with today would have been a death sentence in the past.

I enjoyed The Courier of Caswell Hall more than I expected to—more than I've enjoyed a book in quite a while. A word of caution, though: read with a box of Kleenex nearby! (And, preferably, don't read it in a room full of teenagers. I made the mistake of reading the last quarter while monitoring a study hall. I don't think any of the students noticed my tears!)

My rating: 5 stars

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Dobson's Where the Trail Ends (also part of the American Tapestries series), Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan, and Refuge on Crescent Hill.

About the author: Melanie Dobson is the author of twelve novels; her writing has received numerous accolades including two Carol Awards. Melanie worked in public relations for fifteen years before she began writing fiction full-time. Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides with her husband and two daughters in Oregon.

Connect with Melanie at http://melaniedobson.com.

About the giveaway: Melanie Dobson's latest release, The Courier of Caswell Hall, is a riveting story you won't want to miss. The newest offering in the American Tapestries™ series, it follows an unlikely spy who discovers freedom and love in the midst of the American Revolution.

Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book!

  Five winners will receive:

• The Courier of Caswell Hall by Melanie Dobson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 5th. All winners will be announced October 7th at the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 7th to see if you won one of the books!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"where the trail ends" by melanie dobson

About the book (provided by Litfuse): A young woman traveling the Oregon Trail in 1842 must rely on a stranger to bring her to safety. But whom can she trust with her heart?

For two thousand miles along the trail to Oregon Country, Samantha Waldron and her family must overcome tremendous challenges to reach the Willamette Valley before winter. Together they weather autumn storms, hunger and thirst, and the dangers of a wild and unfamiliar country. But when their canoe capsizes on the Columbia River, they must rely on handsome British exporter Alexander Clarke to rescue them from the icy water.

Alex escorts Samantha and her young brother, Micah, to Fort Vancouver. There Samantha is overwhelmed with men vying for her affections, but the only one who intrigues her-Alex-is the one she cannot have. When his betrothed arrives unexpectedly from England to escort him home, Samantha becomes determined to create a home for herself and Micah in the fertile valley far away from the fort. But how will an unmarried woman support herself and her brother in the wilderness alone?

Then Micah disappears into the wilderness one rainy night, and Samantha must rely on the man she loves-the man she’s trying desperately to forget-to rescue her brother before it’s too late.

My take: When I was a kid, I played the computer game Oregon Trail at every opportunity. I almost always bought way too many supplies at the mercantile before the journey began, and my people frequently died of dysentery. But that game started my fascination for the Oregon Trail, and when I saw that an Oregon Trail book was up for review, I jumped at the chance to read it. I'm glad I did, as this has turned out to be my favorite of all the Melanie Dobson books I've read!

I absolutely devoured Where the Trail Ends, reading it from start to finish in just a few hours. It's a great historical novel with a healthy dose of romance mixed in. Samantha and Alex are both likable characters, and I didn't even mind that they didn't meet until chapter 17—their individual journeys were just as compelling as their romance. Where the Trail Ends is a book that both historical fiction lovers and romance lovers will enjoy! 4-1/2 stars.

See what other bloggers are saying.
Buy the book.
See my reviews of Dobson's books Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan and Refuge on Crescent Hill. 

Melanie Dobson Talks About from novelcrossing on GodTube.

About the author: Melanie Dobson has written ten contemporary and historical novels including five releases in Summerside’s Love Finds You series. In 2011, two of her releases won Carol Awards: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (for historical romance) and The Silent Order (for romantic suspense).

Prior to her writing career, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and a publicist for The Family Channel. She later launched her own public relations company and worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for more than fifteen years.

Melanie and her family enjoy their home in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Dobson family loves to travel and hike in both the mountains and along the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn’t writing or playing with her family, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

Find out more about Melanie at http://www.melaniedobson.com.

About the giveaway: Celebrate with Melanie by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson
• Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 17th. Winner will be announced at the American Tapestries Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/18. Connect with authors Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson for an evening of book chat, trivia and fun! There will also be gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Where the Trail Ends and  Queen of the Waves and join Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson on the evening of the October 18th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"love finds you in mackinac island, michigan" by melanie dobson

About the book (from the back cover): As the Gilded Age comes to a close, Elena Bissette's once-wealthy family has nearly lost its fortune. The Bissettes still own a home on fashionable Mackinac Island, where they will spend one last summer in the hope of introducing Elena to a wealthy suitor. But Elena is repulsed by the idea of marrying for money.

Quickly tiring of the extravagant balls, Elena spends most evenings escaping back into Mackinac's rugged forest. There she meets Chase, a handsome laborer who shares her love for the night sky. The two begin to meet in secret at an abandoned lighthouse, where they work together to solve a mystery buried in the pages of a tattered diary.

As Elena falls in love with Chase, her mother relentlessly contrives to introduce her to Chester Darrington, the island's most eligible bachelor. Marriage to the elusive millionaire would solve the Bissettes' financial woes, and Elena is torn between duty and love.

My take: In Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan, author Melanie Dobson presents a heartwarming story of mistaken identity, romance, and mystery.

While I struggled to get into the story at the beginning (and probably would have given up had I not agreed to review the book), once Elena and Chase met, I couldn't put the book down. Though I had a pretty good idea of where the story was going, I definitely enjoyed the journey. Instead of this book being solely a romance, Dobson spends much time dealing with Elena's struggle between duty and her dreams and developing the relationship between Elena and her mother, a woman I disliked very much at the beginning of the book but grew to appreciate by the end. I also enjoyed reading about the various inventions Chase was interested in financing, and I adored Elena's father.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read, and I'll definitely keep Dobson on my list of authors to watch! 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Buy the book.
See what other bloggers are saying.
See my review of Dobson's Refuge on Crescent Hill.

About the author: Melanie Dobson has written ten contemporary and historical novels including five releases in Summerside's Love Finds You series. In 2011, two of her releases won Carol Awards: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa (for historical romance) and The Silent Order (for romantic suspense).

Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. Prior to her writing career, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family and a publicist for The Family Channel. She later launched her own public relations company and worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for more than fifteen years.

Melanie and her family enjoy their home in the Pacific Northwest. The entire Dobson family loves to travel and hike in both the mountains and along the cliffs above the Pacific.

When Melanie isn't writing or playing with her family, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.

For more about Melanie Dobson and her books, visit www.melaniedobson.com.

About the giveaway:
Celebrate with Melanie by entering her Kindle Fire Giveaway!

Find out what the reviewers are saying here!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire
• Signed copies of Melanie’s Love Finds You books: Love Finds you in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa, Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana.

But hurry, the giveaway ends on 8/4/12. The winner will be announced on 8/6/12 at Melanie's blog!

Just click one of the icons below to enter! Tell your friends about Melanie's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."