Hidden Among the Stars

By: Melanie Dobson

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson

Length: 10 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the award-winning author of Catching the Wind, which Publishers Weekly called “unforgettable", comes another gripping time-slip novel about hidden treasure, a castle, and ordinary people who resisted evil in their own extraordinary way.

The year is 1938, and as Hitler’s troops sweep into Vienna, Austrian Max Dornbach promises to help his Jewish friends hide their most valuable possessions from the Nazis, smuggling them to his family’s summer estate near the picturesque village of Hallstatt. He enlists the help of Annika Knopf, his childhood friend and the caretaker’s daughter, who is eager to help the man she’s loved her entire life. But when Max also brings Luzia Weiss, a young Jewish woman, to hide at the castle, it complicates Annika’s feelings and puts their entire plan - even their very lives - in jeopardy. Especially when the Nazis come to scour the estate and find both Luzia and the treasure gone.

Eighty years later, Callie Randall is mostly content with her quiet life, running a bookstore with her sister and reaching out into the world through her blog. Then she finds a cryptic list in an old edition of Bambi that connects her to Annika’s story...and maybe to the long-buried story of a dear friend. As she digs into the past, Callie must risk venturing outside the safe world she’s built for a chance at answers, adventure, and maybe even new love.

©2018 Melanie Dobson (P)2018 Two Words Publishing LLC

A stirring Christian time-slip

I really like the opening of this story, and the smooth audio narrator’s voice adds much. Sometimes, an audiobook narrator speaks so slowly that I wish to speed them up, but not in this story—her speech tempo matches the pacing. The cover art is interesting but doesn’t grab my attention as much as some of the author’s other stunning covers (e.g. Catching the Wind.)

I love time-slip novels, allowing me to follow two different time periods and stories that are entwined together and give a satisfying end. Though I enjoyed both time periods (WWII and Contemporary) the war-time era intrigued me more. I love when a story causes me to experience a time and place so clearly.

The characters are unique and the story is moving and pulled me through many emotions. I love the infusion of children’s books and the Christian vision, which enhances the meaning and impact of these stories in distinctive ways.

There was a time or two the story stride slowed, but overall this is a stirring, nicely paced time-slip.

Audio Narration: I was introduced to Nancy Peterson in the audiobook Catching the Wind. She has a pleasant voice that offers ample emotion to the story. Her character switches and German accents are well-defined and convincing, even when she’s portraying male voices.

Audio Production Quality: The production quality of this audiobook is clear, without any distracting sounds etc.

Overall: Hidden Among the Stars is a moving and edifying story with captivating characters and with mystery, romance, and spiritual themes.

#hiddenamongthestars
#twowordspublishing

Source: I received this audiobook at no cost from the publisher. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

Please don't end the story!

Melanie Dobson is a mastermind at capturing your entire attention and heart! I didn't want the book to end, fell in love with the characters and continued my education on World War II. The atrocities are appalling and we must never forget as to repeat. One of the greatest things I love about this author is that God is always mentioned, Bible versus spoken. This is absolutely crucial to all of us as God is our Creator, knows all and loves us more than anyone. This completes the story and gives purpose, meaning and hope. The narrator is fabulous! Bravo to this novel and I can't wait to read another!

5 Stars plus all the way!!!

A beautiful and heartwarming story that took place
in WWII Austria. I was shocked at the negative comments as I couldn’t put this book down. All, or at least most, of those negative reviews criticized the religious overtones. Well, dear readers, that period was about persecution of the Jewish citizens. The people that helped the Jews most were Christians.
I’m not sure how the story could be told without the reference to religious beliefs. Great story with superb (and close to perfect) narration. I would recommend this book with enthusiasm!!

Faith, Kindness in Contrast to Pure Hatred

This story of the kindness and faith of children against the backdrop of Hitler’s third Reich in 1938 is one of the most amazing, yet unsettling books I’ve come across. Told in two different time periods, with intertwined stories linked by an old book belonging to Annika Knopf, the author does an amazing job of telling the story of three children. Hitler began the takeover of Austria in 1938, and a book store owner bought the book some 80 years later in the United States. Over and over I was reminded of the words of Jesus, who told us that, lest we humble ourselves and become like little children, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven. When Annika Knopf’s and Max Dornbach’s fathers easily embraced the ideology of Hitler, their children refused. Max, (of aristocratic bloodlines, whose father owned a castle), had a kind heart and love for all animals. Annika, his young friend (daughter of the caretaker of the castle) helped Max bury them when he couldn’t save them and secretly dreamed of one day marrying the handsome Max. Luzia Weiss, the young Jewish teen and violin virtuoso, however had captured Max’s heart. She was the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Weiss, Jewish physician, who believed that Luzia would escape Austria with her violin and move to America. None of the three hopeful young people could foresee the horrors ahead of them or their families. Some 80 years later, Callie Randall about to celebrate her birthday with her sister in the book shop that they run together, is gifted with a very old copy of Bambi, by Austrian author, Felix Salten. I learned a lot about the book and its author, who was Jewish. The fact that Bambi (and all of Salten’s books) was banned during WWII by Hitler’s regime was absolutely ridiculous to me, and evidence of what can happen when freedoms are taken from a people. The parallel story of Callie, Josh, the university professor who is researching the stolen Jewish treasure from WWII and his sweet daughter, Ella brings the tale full circle, and healing to them all. BRAVO! Once again, the author delivers a first-rate book!

Hidden Among the Stars

This book captivated me from the beginning to the very end. The narrator was spectacular. I have been entranced with reading stories about WWII and it’s effects on those that lived during that time. I based my decision on downloading this book by the reviews, which were all very good!

Moving Story

Hidden in the Stars is a beautifully written story with many twists and turns. Melanie Dobson is a master with time split stories. She made WW2 Austria come to life. Very well done and highly recommended.

Seriously, skip it.

Perhaps the paper book would’ve been better. Too much about God, highly predictable and saccharine .

Terrific book, wonderful performance!

I absolutely loved this book and performance. Bravo to the narrator in making the story come alive!

Couldn't Put This Down!

This story was so good I am now listening to another book by the same author! Very suspenseful and while I guessed at the outcome (OK,parts of it were a little predicatible) it was such a great story I couldn't put it down. The interplay between WWII and present day was great! Maybe I'm a sucker for a good story with a happy ending, but I really loved this, even tho in a couple short sections the religion was a little overwhelming. #WWII #mystery #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

Amazing Read

it got slow at times and I actually hate when authors switch between times in history, but I love the way it connected. It wasn't easy to figure out the plot and that was nice.

A Good Listen

There's a lot of novels with the WW2 in the synopsis There's the brilliant ones Some atrocious romantic or just lame this was in the middle A good listen well narrated just short of being totally unique