Hidden Among the Stars
From the award-winning
author of Catching the Wind, which Publishers Weekly called
“unforgettable” and a “must-read,” comes another gripping time-slip
novel about hidden treasure, a castle, and ordinary people who resisted
evil in their own extraordinary way.
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.
MY REVIEW:
An
author who crafts her work with exquisite care and meticulous detail,
Melanie Dobson blends fiction with facts and combines them with hope and
faith. With "Hidden Among the Stars", she takes her readers and her
characters on an 80-year journey, back and forth from Vienna, Austria of
the WWII Era and the Holocaust to a small bookstore in Ohio in our
present-day world. Callie Randall owns and runs Magic Balloon Shop with
her sister, Brianna. The discovery of mysterious notes in an old
children's book will lead Callie on a search through history to discover
a long-silenced truth which which may affect someone she holds dear. As
Callie turns the pages of the past, we get to know Max Dornbach of
Hallstatt, Austria, a young man who, along with his childhood friend,
Annika Knopf, covertly aids his Jewish friends by hiding their
belongings on his family's estate to prevent the Nazis from confiscating
the valuables. When Max also hides a young Jewish woman, Luzia Weiss,
at the castle, the danger of discovery threatens them all. "Hidden Among
the Stars" is a wonderfully poignant and involving tale of heartache,
hope, and history--an important reminder of the majesty of the human
spirit and the beauty of abiding faith in the face of unimaginable
tragedy.
Book Copy Gratis Tyndale House Publishers
PRAISE FOR MELANIE DOBSON AND "HIDDEN AMONG THE STARS":
"Hidden Among the Stars is a glorious treasure
hunt, uniting past and present with each delightful revelation. Dobson
celebrates faith and the strength of human spirit in immersive settings,
high-stakes decisions, and heart-gripping characters." Mesu Andrews, author of Isaiah's Daughter
"Star-crossed,
forbidden love and the disappearance of family members and
hidden treasure make a compelling World War II story and set the stage
for modern-day detective work in Dobson's latest time-slip
novel.Exquisitely penned, with strong faith elements, Hidden Among the Stars is Dobson at her best." Cathy Gohlke, Christy Award-winning author of Until We Find Home
"With great skill and grace, Melanie Dobson weaves the past and present together in a beautiful story. Genuine to the core, Hidden Among the Stars
captures the painful plight of Austrian individuals beneath the
Nazi regime and blends them seamlessly with equally-compelling present
day characters, who, amidst their own turmoil, seek answers from the
past. A master at storytelling, Melanie leaves readers with an
unpredictable and completely satisfying ending. This may be my favorite
book of hers so far!" Heidi Chiavaroli, award-winning author of Freedom's Ring and The Hidden Side
"Hidden among the pages of Melanie Dobson's Hidden Among the Stars are
treasured bits of everyday life, ephemera which, like those found in the
books in her heroine's bookstore, hide meaningful clues that unravel a
stunning family mystery. Dobson's master craftsmanship breathes life into
her characters as she builds the plot and wields words in such away as
to remind readers that yes, there are still beautifully written novels.
A silver thread of the love-of-others entwines with a golden thread of
the love-of-God, tying past and present storylines. This novel is
poignant, resonant, and with a breathtaking twist that--long after the
last page--will have you asking yourself, 'What would I have done?'" Sandra Byrd, author of Lady of a Thousand Treasures
MELANIE DOBSON
Writing fiction is a fun excuse
for Melanie to explore ghost towns and old houses, travel to unusual
places, and spend hours reading dusty books and journals. She writes
both contemporary and historical fiction with threads of romance and
suspense.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost twenty
time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels
including Catching the Wind, Beneath a Golden Veil, and The Silent
Order. Three of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol
Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction
award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana.
Melanie
and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times
with Jon's work, the Dobsons have 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 or researching, she enjoys
line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
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