A truly moving story! I love the way the author wove the story of different time periods together to create this story. The characters were very real and compelling. I love the addition of children's books and how they played an important part of the story. Hitler's invasion of Austria was a horrible time in history and this story portrayed it in a genuine way. Answers being sought through the book came to unexpected conclusion. Highly recommended!!!

Such an excellent, compelling story. This is quite an emotional ride. The heartbreak of the Jewish people during this time in history is heart-rending to read. The characters became very real to me and I truly cared what happened to them. I loved the “split-time”aspect of the book and thought the author did a fantastic job of connecting the past with the present. I also loved that the present day aspect of the story revolved around a children’s bookstore, and that a crucial part of the plot was connected to a first edition copy of a children’s book.

One of the best books I’ve read about the Nazi takeover of Austria. As I mentioned before, these characters came alive for me. I highly recommend this one.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

There are so many things I love about this cover.

It's a degrade blue, but it doesn't give me the impression of darkness. There's this light shining through that, added to the sweetness of the character's face, brings sweetness. And then there the Nazi flag... you know it won't be an easy story. In fact, it's like a stain threatening the lightness, threatening the dream like sensation the cover, specially the castle brings.

And a world of broken dreams that take you buy surprise at night seems to be what these characters are going through. From the start, we are presented to a noble population having their pride, their identity and their honor torn from them. Neighbors turning their back to each other and friends denying any kinship.
 Is this when we discover who is truly for us?
 Is it during these times that we find the meaning of steadfastness?

These questions haunt me as I read the first chapters of this book. There's a nation being torn apart and among this chaos we find brave hearts ready to stand. Theirs are hearts that can be called naive and wishful youthful, however they might also be the only hope for a chance of hope because they bring an important factor - purity and virtue. 

Ask the story of each character unfolds, I'm excited and dreading to see where the journey of these characters will take them?

Will Max's will to fight prevail or will his compassion lose fire?

Will Luzi continue to inspire through her music or will darkness overcome her gift?

And Annika, a riddle, the kind you know will be a key to the story.  Though not completely seen by others, she can be sneaky like a kitten, being the eyes and ears in a castle full of secrets. But with faithfulness remain unwavering despite heartbreak?

And the present thread... how will all these stories connect? How can these stories from the past, a list of seemingly unimportant objects written in a kids book help people scarred by grief feel safe again? Feel the courage to take a breath and make it count?

I invite you on this journey and expectation with me... to seek that light overcoming the darkness in midst of confusion, anxiety and restlessness. In rest we find peace, in rest we find confidence, in rest we find purpose.

I absolutely loved this story! Historical fiction is my jam and this fit the bill! Callie works in a book store that she and her sister own. She does a story hour for children while wearing a cape and stripped socks so she can remain hidden from the real world. The book store receives books on consignment and donations; one day an old copy of Bambi shows up with writing throughout the pages. What does it all mean? Callie sets out to solve the mystery. Something that takes her outside her comfort zone. The mystery takes her to Austria where she discovers that during the second world war, treasures were being hidden from the Nazis and the cryptic words in the book may lead to recovering items belonging to Austrian Jews, Hidden Among the Stars parallels two stories.; one of Callie and the other of Austrian citizens trying to survive the Nazi invasion. Melanie Dobson did a wonderful job of portraying the emotions of both the present and past characters. This book is about a time of war, although not too graphic, caution should be used when younger audiences are involved.

I received a complementary copy of Hidden Among the Stars in exchange for an honest review of its merits.

To begin with, it is best to establish that I am not one who fancies a romance novel when I am picking up a book to read. I don't mind romantic elements, and tend to include them in my own novels, but for me character motivation is most important.


That being said, I enjoyed the characters and their drives for the most part in this book. The time-slip nature of this tale involved two storylines, one in the present and one 80 years earlier during the opening days of World War II. As a former World History teacher, I appreciated the author's strong research into into pre-war Europe, as this helps the reader connect to the era. The development of the love triangle between Luzia, Annika and Max is well-crafted throughout the story, leading up to climatic reveal at the end. The idea of missing Jewish treasures is a fascinating sub-plot to the storyline.

The love story in the present between Callie and Josh flows along at a natural, if halting, pace. There are significant barriers between the two and it is clear why her past rejection is crippling forward momentum in this area. I was intrigued by the brash actions of one of the clearly undesirable suitors. I was shocked by his behavior, but, sadly, did not find it unbelievable, just a highly disappointing example of my gender.

One of the most endearing aspects of this work is where Callie, the Story Lady, is often quoting famous lines from children books when she faces challenges in life. If she were spouting Bible verses, the story would seem too preachy, but the fact that she finds wisdom in the stories she shares with kids at her store every week gives the character an air of authenticity that rings true.

On the whole, Melanie Dobson weaves together two disparate time periods to deliver a well-told tale.

SPOILER ALERT - If you wish to remain in the dark about my thoughts on the ending, please stop reading here.





OK, since you are still with me, here we go…

The only aspect of the book that doesn't ring true is the climax. I get the noble nature of the sacrifice Annika makes so Luzia and her unborn child are not taken away, but, in my estimation, this makes her a weaker character, not a stronger one. She already has to give up on Max because he loves Luzia (we will look past her son's true parentage, which I thought was well, if painfully, told), but does she also have to give up on a relationship with Hermann just so she can play the "best friend ever" role. I would contend that she does act with honor but, in reality, passively sublimates her needs for someone who will never really understand her true feelings for him. There may a religious covering over the entire affair, but it seems a poor excuse for her actions.


Then again, all that is subjugated upon the assumption that authors direct the actions of characters, rather than characters doing what comes natural to them. In the end, the Dobson asks if I agree with Annika's actions. I, for one, do not, but maybe I am not supposed to. Just like Luzia is not supposed to end up with her first love either, which is the second of many tragedies in this story. The fact that I don't agree with the actions of a character may be exactly why Dobson allowed her character to do what she did.

In addition, the ending seemed overly sentimental but I tend to be much more forgiving of such endings on screen than in print, so that might be a wholly unfair criticism to make as well.

Excellent read! Melanie Dobson has written an excellent historical fiction novel set in both present day and WW II Austria. A present day bookstore owner finds an old German edition of Bambi that has extra text between the lines. This leads to research about the original owner, why the extra text, and WWII Austria. There are a number of books which center on concentration camps. This story focuses on personal items owned by the Jews and what happened to them, There is just the right blend of history, romance, suspense, and mystery.

I received an ebook copy from Tyndale through NetGalley.

It took a little longer than usual to get into this book, but I've read some of the author's work before and knew that if I stuck it out, it would pay off. It did! She really has an amazing way of weaving together several intricate stories to create one beautifully-intertwined story. We flip back and forth between 1938 and current day, with each set of characters experiencing their own struggles. While I had guessed where the story was going, I was not prepared for some of the surprises at the end! This isn't your typical 'dark' World War 2-era story...there is some allusion to the violence, but it is more focused on the strength and the faith of those who walked through that darkness.

This was one of the best books I've read recently. The story alternates between current day & 1938, intertwining the two times with people and facts that come together at the end of the book. Set in both Austia and the US, the stories of Max, Annika & Luzia in Austria alternate with the stories of Callie and her friends in the US. The book is long, but worth every minute. The details are incredible but not at all tedious. There is romance, suspense, history, family and friendship combined in every chapter. Fantastic read!

I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. The story was well told and flowed beautifully from past to present throughout the entire book. It was story not often told about WWII and I loved how it didn't focus on the concentration camps but rather on the lost treasures of so many families. It was a moving story about sacrifice, love, hope, and survival.

This is my favorite genre of historical fiction to read. I have read many books that take place during the Holocaust and this is one I will definitely recommend.

Thank you #netgalley and #tyndale for the eARC.

There are many books about WWII and to make another book on the subject stand out it has to bring something unexplored. What this book brings is an “ownerless treasure” and encrypted messages to record what belongs to whom. Encrypted messages were also used by partisans, they had to be creative in finding new ways of communication, be it through stamps or words inserted in poems. (Explored in the book The Lost Letter by Jillian Cantor).

“After the annexation of Austria in 1938, the Nazis began expropriating Austrian Jewish property to use for their war preparations. Many Nazi officials kept a portion of these assets for their own pockets.”

The story is presented through three characters.

Present day, Mount Vernon, Ohio. Callie Randall runs a bookstore with her sister and a blog for the store. She comes across a German edition of Bambi with owner’s name of Anika Knopf dated 1932, and with unique list inscribed on the pages. She makes a post on her blog in hopes of identifying the original owner or her family.

Schloss Schwansee castle on the banks of Lake Hallstatt, Austria, 1938. Annika’s father is the caretaker of the castle belonging to Darnbach family. One day, Anika stumbles upon photographs in a shoe box and a star necklace. A necklace her father confiscates. And he is a greedy man. Annika’s schooling falls short as after the death of her mother, her father needed her to take over the mother’s duties and according to him schooling was a waste of time. What gives her comfort is a book of Bambi gifted by her mom. She reads about the author, Felix Salten, in the papers. A Jewish writer who lived in Vienna. And she wonders if he left Vienna like many others.

Vienna, 1938. Max Dornbach of aristocratic bloodline sees growing antisemitism, and his eyes are on a talented violinist Luzi Weiss of Jewish bloodline. Her father is a doctor, who helps his Jewish patients hide their valuables with the help of Max.

As the story starts with introduction of three people, the pieces of the puzzle are spread. And as the story progresses, the pieces start coming together beautifully. And when you think you already see the whole puzzle together, it gets reshuffled again.

As I mentioned at the beginning, there are so many books on the subject of WWII that when I see a new book I’m skeptical if I want to read another book about WWII. But the cover grabbed my attention and the story turned out to be very engrossing with interesting well-developed characters.

What happened to Felix Salten and many other Jewish authors including German authors Margret and Hans Rey of the Curious George?

“Necessity demanded that Salten disappeared from Austria, but he left behind a treasure trove of stories for children and their parents to remember what might be lost today if we don’t stand against the evil in our midst.”

Felix Salten immigrated to Switzerland. Some were able to immigrate to the US, including Margret and Hans Rey.

Time-slip novels are becoming a popular way to combine a historical romance story with a contemporary timeline. Authors like Kristy Cambron, Rachel Hauck, Heidi Chiavaroli , and Melanie Dobson have used them in their writing. I do enjoy Dobson's stories because they take place during World War II and the present. As a fan of the horrors of World War II, I have come to adore these stories Dobson crafts. Her newest book, Hidden Among the Stars, is no exception.

I love the plot. A treasure hunt in a castle by a lake. How interesting. The past timeline captures my attention and doesn't let go. I love learning about Annika, Luzi, and Max as the story unfolds, showing their troubles and their dilemma. I loved each of the characters and enjoyed spending time with them as they moved through the issues arising during the Nazi's reign of terror. As for the contemporary timeline, I really love how Dobson introduces Callie and Brie with the bookstore. It reached out to my book-loving heart and made me want to visit a bookstore with a castle in the back. What would be better than to slide down a slide in a bookstore? I want to visit this bookstore in Ohio. The present story didn't disappoint either. It flowed nicely, and I loved following Callie as she hunts for answers from her copy of Bambi.

The romance in the past is a love triangle. Max loves someone. Annika loves someone. But does Luzi love someone? Have to read to find out. The romance wasn't overdone. It moved at a natural pace, even though there were plenty of roadblocks in the way. The present day romance is not too forceful either. I do think the ending was a little rushed for Callie and a certain someone, but I bought it because the story was leaning toward that way anyway.

Overall, Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson is a nicely woven together plot featuring a treasure hunt from World War II that affects the modern day timeline. The end result is a truly unforgettable story populated with heroic characters, a love of literature, and the God who holds the key to true beauty.

I believe fans of Dobson's other works, Sarah Sundin, Kristy Cambron, and Susan Anne Mason would love spending time lost in this story. I know I sure did.

I received a complimentary copy of Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

I will cheerfully admit I love World War II fiction, but this book is one of the best WWII books I've ever read. It is what is called a "time slip" story, that is connected through characters in 1939 Austria, and current day Ohio, and a book by Felix Salten. It is when Callie finds writing between the lines of the book that sends her on a hunt for the treasures in the book.

Callie and her sister Brie work in a bookstore that was owned by their very good friend, Charlotte. Charlotte has a book with a name written inside the front cover: Luzia Weiss. Callie is given the book, Bambi, from her sister, with Annika's name written inside. Every Saturday, Cassie promotes a story time for the children of the customers. This is where she meets Ella and her father, Josh. Because Josh needs to make tenure at his college teaching, he goes to Europe to find the treasures hidden by the Jews before Hitler rounded them up. The more research into this project, the more Annika's and Luzia's names come up, connected with Max Dornbacher and another local farmer.

Melanie Dobson is one of my favorite authors and she has risen a number of points with this book. Melanie has described the movement of Hitler against the Jews in Europe, how the Jews managed to hide their treasures and hide from the Gestapo as long as possible, and how some people helped the Jews right under the Germans' noses.

Melanie has also described some beautiful countryside. Her settings have the power to let the reader escape the mundanity of real life go to castles, lakes, and forests.

This is a five star read, two thumbs up, and a diamond star of David necklace.

Tyndale House provided the galley I read through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.

A beautifully romantic world (in all senses of the word) is crafted with Dobson's pragmatically lovely style. 1930s Austria--from opulent Vienna to the wooded sea-side Halstatt, spired with castles and surrounded by alps--- are a portrait in immaculate grace tested by the onslaught of war.

The treasures hidden in the pages are of grand historical interest and I couldn't wait to seep deeper into the world Maximillian will fight (with his allies) to uphold. For as long as there is art and history, nothing, not even Hitler and the encroaching Anschluss, can sully the spirit of a nation.


Unfortunately, the modern frame of this piece did not resonate with me as deeply and I found myself eager to get back to the expertly woven historical.

While Dobson holds a competent pen in both history and contemporary narratives, the reader easily realizes that her passion is infused in the historical portion.


Nonetheless, a great, romantic read with a lush and lasting history.

With thanks to Tyndale for the review copy.

Hidden Among The Stars by Melanie Dobson is both a fascinating and a horrifying Christian contemporary and historical novel. It has dual timelines of 1938 Austria and present day America. It covers the most evil and brutal periods in history as the Nazis march into Austria. Characters and the reader get caught up in the depravity. There are no levels to which man will not sink to do evil. The reader is reminded of the famous words of Edmund Burke "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." In 1938 it felt like the world had gone mad. Evil lurked around every corner but there were good and brave men and women who were prepared to take a stand. "There's always a cost for standing up against evil."
At first people were ignorant of the evil. "Hitler would hardly concern himself with the Jewish Austrians who lived in these Alps." Far too soon the innocents were caught up in the madness. " 'I've done nothing wrong'... 'Innocence is secondary in this Reich.' "
The novel shows the search for justice. To right the wrongs as present day collides with the past.
There is a mystery to be solved - an ancient children's novel, Bambi holds a secret but what is the key to unlocking it?
We all want to know our roots. There is a search for ancestry as identity is important.
How far would you go to keep a secret? How far would you travel to unravel the past? What would you do in the name of love?
The novel has some difficult to read scenes as it concerns anti Semitism and the Holocaust. "How could anyone hate another person because of their ancestry?" With a time frame of 1938, the reader witnesses Kristallnacht.
In present day we meet a young woman passionate about children's books. Several are referenced which is a joy for the modern reader.
Family is important. Families were fractured by the Nazis as people were forced to choose the Party above all things.
Melanie Dobson has written a fabulous novel that educates, entertains and horrifies. As a historian with a passion for keeping the memory alive of the six million innocents, I found Hidden Among The Stars a marvelous read that highlights the sacrifices of the few and the suffering of the many. May we never repeat the evils of the past. May we always remember the six million men, women and children who perished. And may we salute the brave people who stood up for what is right in the face of pure evil.
Thank you Melanie Dobson for your marvelous story.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" John 15: 13.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.