Chateau of Secrets

Lately it seems I've been coming across a lot of really exceptional novels involving true stories based on the lives of people who lived during World War II in France. It shows that we don't always know everything about what went on, until these stories make their way to the light and we find ourselves completely captivated by their words as we sit back as silent observers as they take us back in time.

In her latest novel, Melanie Dobson, shares the story of one such remarkable woman, Gisèle Duchant, who found herself dealing with the occupation of German soldiers as they invaded her childhood home in France just as World War II was taking place. She had never dreamed that this could happen because of the secrets that lay buried in the tunnels below her home Chateau d'Epines. All she knew is that whatever happened, she would need to do all she could to ensure the survival of her brother Michel who was part of the resistance fighters assembling in France, while Germany continued to claim more land in Europe.

Fearing that Hitler would crush any type of rebellion on France's behalf, Paris willingly gave up instead of resisting his advances. Those Jewish people living among the French were being deported to camps outside the city as Hitler's demands continued to grow. Gisèle soon discovered that even her friends couldn't hide from the soldiers and when she discovered they had left their infant daughter hidden behind, she vowed she would take care of her until they were reunited as her own.

In Chateau of Secrets, the novel alternates chapters between the present day and 1940 as Gisèle fights to keep her secrets hidden despite being surrounded quite literally by German soldiers living in her home. She only prays that each day, the Allies will arrive and set her free. In the present day chapters, Chloe Sauver is asked by her father to go back to France to the family's chateau to aid a reporter, Riley Holtz with his research of Jews that were forced into Hilter's army as a way of protecting those they loved that were Jewish from being sent away to deportation camps. Chloe is in the process of planning her wedding to an upcoming soon to be youngest governor in Virginia, but soon discovers a few secrets of her own that force her to return to France as she uncovers her grandmother Gisèle role in saving lives during the war.

I received Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is such a phenomenal novel in how well it was woven together, past and present into one captivating story of survival, sacrifice and love. It's what happens to those willing to risk their life to rescue others and what happens to those who betray innocent people in an attempt to save themselves. The Bible says, "There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." and that is just what you will discover by the conclusion of this novel. Easily worth every bit of 5 out of 5 stars and I can't wait to add this novel to its permanent home in my personal library. Being a huge fan of WWII history, I absolutely fell in love with this one!

For more information about Chateau of Secrets, Melanie Dobson or where you can pick up a copy of this novel, please click on the links below:

Chateau of Secrets by Melanie Dobson

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To read more reviews on Chateau of Secrets, please visit Howard Book's website. 

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Howard Books (May 13, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1476746117
• ISBN-13: 978-1476746111
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1 inches