Chateau of Secrets: A Novel
A courageous young noblewoman risks her life to hide French resistance fighters; seventy 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.
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Community Reviews
Oh my goodness! This book deserves all the stars!! I might of had some tears in my eyes at the end. Highly recommend!
Don't judge me, but if I had known this book was Christian fiction, I would have left it on the shelf at my local Half Price Books. I grew up reading Christian fiction among other things, and I just typically don't care for it. I don't feel like it's real. OK, the word "fiction" means that it isn't real, but somehow, I find the portrayal of people and their behavior unreal in Christian fiction. It always feels more like a sugar-coated pill to me. That was harsh...sorry.
All that said, this Christian fiction book was all right. The 2 main plots, the time period and the setting were quite well-done. The book moved me to tears and made me think, which is always a good thing. The story had depth and feeling.
Best of all, I learned something new, which I really do appreciate. I learned that Hitler had Jews in his army...an estimated 150,000 Jews served in Hitler's army. That baffles me. I want to read more about this "phenomenon." What would cause a Jew to join Hitler?
All that said, this Christian fiction book was all right. The 2 main plots, the time period and the setting were quite well-done. The book moved me to tears and made me think, which is always a good thing. The story had depth and feeling.
Best of all, I learned something new, which I really do appreciate. I learned that Hitler had Jews in his army...an estimated 150,000 Jews served in Hitler's army. That baffles me. I want to read more about this "phenomenon." What would cause a Jew to join Hitler?
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