Melanie Dobson

Wow! The Lost Story of Via Belle kept me riveted! It’s definitely a new favorite from Melanie Dobson. I loved the intriguing dual-time period mystery, beautifully crafted with endearing characters, romance, betrayal, & a lovely homage to the writing process.

In 1940, Via Belle is searching for inspiration. After her husband’s death, the spark behind her bestselling romances seems to have died with him. Under a tight deadline, she accepts an invitation that changes her life. She meets a show more man who rekindles her imagination, & she’s writing again. But before her latest book is published, she suddenly vanishes from her beautiful Pennsylvania home & moonflower garden.

In 2006, screenwriter Harper Rayne’s hoping for her big break. When her employer’s daughter gives her a chance to pitch her idea, she’s caught off guard & believes she’s blown it. And, on top of that, loses her job. Returning to her mother’s roots to find a story worth telling, she embarks on a fascinating journey to uncover what happened to Via Belle, whose books inspired both her & her late mother.

I don’t want to say too much more because most of the enjoyment comes from unraveling each clue. Olivia (Via) is such a dear character, & I loved traveling back to the early ’40s with her, seeing her get lost in her stories & finally uncovering the truth. I also loved learning about the moonflowers & how they’re creatively woven into the story. When another POV is introduced, I was on pins & needles. Even with my suspicions, the ending still surprised me.

I thoroughly enjoyed Harper’s story as well, especially her verbal sparring with Finn, the handsome caretaker of Via Belle’s estate. I enjoyed following right along with her as she investigates the mystery. Like Via, Harper gets lost in storytelling, & I loved watching her finally find her story to tell.

All the stars for this dual-time period mystery! Highly recommend to inspirational, historical mystery fans. I received an advanced copy with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are completely my own & provided voluntarily. show less

The Wings of Poppy Pendleton is a wonderful read. It is truly original; I have never read another story quite like it. Author Melanie Dobson peels back the many layers of Poppy's story through the interplay of Poppy's childhood and coming of age story with the contemporary story of Chloe and Emma who now reside on the island that was for a short while Poppy's home. Dobson highlights the drug epidemic that has haunted our nation for many years through the legal sale of opium during the Gilded show more Age to both the legal and illegal sale of opioids and narcotics during contemporary times. The impact of addiction and those who profit from it is devastating to individuals, families, and society in general. While incorporating this into The Wings of Poppy Pendleton, Dobson doesn't allow her readers to get bogged down there. The mystery of Poppy's disappearance that Chloe and investigative reporter Logan Danford must solve carries the story. There are many surprises in store.

I highly recommend this book to fans of dual-timeline stories and mysteries. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Tyndale House Publishers via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. show less

Wow, what an amazing story!
This well-written dual timeline tale expertly weaves together characters in a modern day situation with a backstory from the 1940's, pulling the story threads tighter with a mystery, some romance, and building suspense. It was hard to put down especially towards the end!

I love the nod the author gives to Grace Livingston Hill's books, with their tender romances and hope filled plots. The mentions of prayer and faith are brief but meaningful. It ultimately features show more an uplifting, redemptive theme that was encouraging and quite touching; also a longing for home, family connections, and finding a purpose in life.

There are some instances of peril and difficult circumstances because of a character's deception, but nothing too graphic. If anything, it kept me reading on, holding my breath as the tension grew, hoping for a good ending. It was definitely worth the angst and the wait. Have the tissues handy!

Highly recommend to readers who enjoy an inspirational story with a nostalgic feel, a good mystery, clean romance and brushstrokes of faith.
5 stars!

(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.) show less

“Bent but not broken.” The Winter Rose is a story of love, loss, redemption, and the inescapable injuries of war. Set during both WWII and the present, this dual time period novel follows Grace and her daring attempt to rescue Jewish children from Nazi occupied France and the aftermath that follows. In the present day, Addie is a young widow working hard to save the life of the man who saved her in her youth. Charlie is suffering from MDS and needs a bone marrow transplant. Addie is show more desperately searching for any long lost relative who might be a match, but Charlie is reluctant to talk about his family or his past. Both stories lead to Oregon and the tragedy that occurred there.

Told with beautiful prose and and an inspirational message, this book really drew me in. I loved the metaphor of the winter rose and the willow tree which allude to surviving despite circumstances that normally would break someone. Both Grace and Addie’s stories were compelling and I enjoyed figuring out the mystery involving these two. The historical aspects of the novel were interesting and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough especially as Grace is trying to lead the children over the mountains into Spain. I loved references to the old comic TinTin and the concept of synesthesia and Marguerite’s ability to detect people’s emotions through color.

With romance, drama, suspense, and mystery, this story is one that will keep you turning the pages as each chapter reveals more and more of the mystery. The inspirational messages were enjoyable and deftly woven into the story. The characters were interesting and relatable, and I especially loved the romance between Grace and Roland and Addie and Caleb. Definitely recommend this to those who enjoy historical Christian fiction. I received an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review. show less