Chateau of Secrets: A Novel

By: Melanie Dobson

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson

A courageous young noblewoman risks her life to hide French resistance fighters; 70 years later, her granddaughter visits the family’s abandoned chateau and uncovers shocking secrets from the past.

Gisèle Duchant guards a secret that could cost her life. Tunnels snake through the hill under her family’s medieval chateau in Normandy. Now, with Hitler’s army bearing down, her brother and several friends are hiding in the tunnels, resisting the German occupation of France.

But when German soldiers take over the family’s château, Gisèle is forced to host them as well - while harboring the resistance fighters right below their feet. Taking in a Jewish friend’s baby, she convinces the Nazis that it is her child, ultimately risking everything for the future of the child. When the German officers begin to suspect her deception, an unlikely hero rescues both her and the child.

A present day story weaves through the past one as Chloe Sauver, Gisèle’s granddaughter, arrives in Normandy. After calling off her engagement with a political candidate, Chloe pays a visit to the chateau to escape publicity and work with a documentary filmmaker, Riley, who has uncovered a fascinating story about Jews serving in Hitler’s army. Riley wants to research Chloe’s family history and the lives that were saved in the tunnels under their house in Normandy. Chloe is floored - her family isn’t Jewish, for one thing, and she doesn’t know anything about tunnels or the history of the house. But as she begins to explore the dark and winding passageways beneath the chateau, nothing can prepare her for the shock of what she and Riley discover...

With emotion and intrigue, Melanie Dobson brings World War II France to life in this beautiful novel about war, family, sacrifice, and the secrets of the past.

©2014 Melanie Dobson (P)2020 Two Words Publishing LLC

so good

listening to booksis a new skill for me. awhole lot different than phisically reading a book. so bless that the reader is a very soothing voice. the book is hard to put down you want to know whats going to happen next, at the edge of my seat the whole book ! ,so most excelent for me. Thank you to the author and all the research that was done for this book much appreciated. Looking forward to more books like this.

Excellent.

Excellent throughout. Time frames easy to follow. Narration superb.

Offers insight into the minds of those who chose many different directions in response to the war and what was happening around them

Wonderful

This book is loosely based on a true story of a French women’s, heroic attempts, to save, innocent children, and Allied downed Airman. The story is well written and performed. I hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Excellent

Worth listening to or reading! Story adds to the other many narratives of WWII! Never forget!

Incredible!

Melanie outdid herself with this amazing story. I cannot wait to see what comes next!

Bravery under extreme circumstances

I love a good WW2 story, but it is even better when based on someone’s real story! I enjoyed the French prospective. The split time storyline enhanced the story. A clear message of leaning on your faith in God during extremely difficult circumstances. This is a must read for lovers of WW2 historical fiction.

Almost could not get my work done

I allow mys self to listen when I am working out or driving to work. This was so good that I took the long way to work everyday so I could listen to more of the story! Did not want it to end!! Excellent!!

Highly recommended

This book was beautifully written! I loved the story so much and didn’t want it to end! I liked that it was a clean book even though we know the horrors of Hitler! I learned so much about about the Nazis trying to take over France. I loved the courage of the characters in this story. The narrator was great !

Was hopeful

The stories didn't seem very cohesive. I enjoyed the flashbacks but the present day sounded like a romance novel.

Very Enjoyable historical fiction

I enjoyed this so much more than I expected. The background of the war means "we know what happened" on the large scale. The personal stories of each of these interesting characters makes the reader care about what happens to each on the individual level. Well-written, well-narrated. It was delightful to read of the Catholic social justice in action, and the prayer lives of some of the characters, which were likely to be part of the lives of such people in that place and time, without the scoffing that so often shows up in modern literature when religion comes into play. .