Title: Shadows of Ladenbrooke Manor
Author: Melanie Dobson
Publisher: Howard
Market: Christian
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: --
Length: 352 pages
Pub. Date: June 16, 2015
Description (from Amazon):
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 sixty-year-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.
Sixty years
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.
My Review:
I have read
Melanie Dobson’s work before, so I was excited to read her newest book. I loved her book Chateau of Secrets, and I had high hopes for this book. Dobson is a master at her craft, and I
absolutely loved this book, too. In fact, it surpassed my expectations and was a real treat to read.
This novel
is a story within a story, and it is told from different points of view. I was a little confused in the beginning
because I didn’t know the characters. Once I figured out who everyone was
and what their relationship was to each other, it was exciting to read the different perspectives. I had no difficulty
knowing who was telling their story. The
dialogue was fresh and real, and I felt present in the story. I loved each of the characters, and I was
brought to tears by their pain. The
characters felt as real as Libby’s butterfly friends.
From the
very beginning, I was drawn into this story, and I did not want to put the book
down. The characters grow and change
over the course of the novel as the past and present collide. There were also a lot of surprising twists to
the story! The struggles reach a conclusion, and the romantic aspect was sweet if not a bit dramatic (in
a good way). The vivid imagery allowed
me to experience the cottage, gardens, and the manor home in my mind. I could smell the flowers and feel the cool
river on my toes. This is beautifully
written, and the words excite the senses.
Overall this family story is beautiful, heart wrenching, engaging, and
joyous.
Although many books address the topic of
forgiveness, this book presents the topic in an inviting way. It does not preach to the reader. Instead, the growth and maturing of
characters brings wisdom and revelation of a need to offer and accept
forgiveness.
I would
recommend this book to anyone who loves the historical fiction genre, whether
or not you like Christian books. The
Christian message does not overpower the story.
I would recommend parents read the book before younger teens read it due
to the subject matter. I would also
recommend it to anyone who appreciates characters with Autism. Although
the book doesn’t name the disorder, it’s quite clear to those who know people or work with
people who are on the Autism spectrum.
Thanks to
Edelweiss and Howard Publishers for providing a copy of the book in exchange for
my honest review.
Pros: Beautiful
story, engaging characters, fast paced
Cons: None
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