Chateau of Secrets: A Novel Paperback – May 13, 2014

Chateau of Secrets was a very good read. The story was very authentic and I felt for the characters. I liked how the book alternated each chapter between the past, Gisèle's story, and present day, Chloe's story (Gisèle's granddaughter). It was a great way to actually show what had happened to Gisèle during World War II; instead of just knowing what Chloe found out, we got to learn it firsthand.

The stories blended together wonderfully and both were so good. There were several times I got a little frustrated at the end of a chapter because I had to change to the other timeline, when I just wanted to keep reading that one! But, then I'd start the next chapter and feel the same way about that one. ;) Thankfully the chapters were short, so it switched between the two frequently. As I said, both stories were very good and gripping.

Overall, I loved the story and recommend it to mature readers due to some content (near rape, in addition to other things). I think fans of historical and contemporary novels will enjoy Chateau of Secrets, since you kind of get both genres in this novel. :)

**Just a note: there was one swear word ("D") in my e-ARC copy. I don't know whether or not it's in the finished version, but just thought I'd mention it.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 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.*

[4.5 stars]

With my preference for a good dose of sweet romance in a book, it's a sign of wonderful writing when a story can engage me despite the fact that the romance doesn't really kick in for a while. Not to worry - it's certainly there in Melanie Dobson's latest, fellow romance fans! In fact, it comes in a double dose, but perhaps isn't as prevalent due to all the intriguing and devastating history and situations that rightly consume the characters' (and reader's) attention.

The first chapters introduce us to relatable heroines while setting them up for difficult times, and I was caught up in all of the uncertainty and dilemmas and danger. In the end, it's hard to say which story line interested me more: the historical (WWII) or the contemporary. Both had me curious for their own reasons.

While I'm a big fan of historical fiction, I really liked reading the contemporary plot. I think the first-person POV, as well as Chloe's internal battles regarding her future and the fact that it's in my own time, made me feel more invested in her story. I just wished for more...not necessarily in terms of word count, but just more depth to the latter portion of her scenes and relationships. I wouldn't have minded a bit more emphasis on the developing romance in this section. But the focal point seemed to be the past and how it reached into the present, and overall, I really was pleased with how things turned out.

As for the historical line, the third-person POV - in contrast to the first-person for the contemporary - created a bit more of a disconnect. That's not necessarily such a bad thing, though, as the different tenses help in making the voices of the alternating settings and scenes clear.Read more ›

Since I had just read Melanie Dobson's book The Courier of Caswell Hall and loved it, I was eager to read her newest book, Chateau of Secrets. History has always fascinated me and I love reading a good story. The fact that the historical part is inspired by actual events makes this story even better! The story is made interesting by going back and forth from the present to the past, and each chapter heading gives you a clue by the type of font used for the chapter heading.
I was disappointed with the use of some words that could of been left out ("damn" and "heck"). I do not use this language in my speech and I really don't care to read in my books either. It's one of the many reasons I like to read Christian fiction. Also, there is a lot of smoking, pre-marital affairs and an extra-martial affair talked about. (The affairs are really just mentioned and do not go into detail.) So take that in account to who you would let read this book. I would not give this novel to a teen, for instance.
But beside those few things, the storyline and plot were exciting to read and made the story interesting. It was hard to put down the book as I found out more and more of the mystery surrounding all that happened at the Chateau. Overall, I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

You can read more about the author and her other books here and make sure to visit her blog to explore more about the real story that inspired this book by clicking here.

***I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.