Customer Reviews

Refuge on Crescent Hill: A Novel

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This latest book from Melanie Dobson is teeming with suspense, includes a well developed set of characters, and provides a multi-layered plot that will keep you turning pages as quickly as you can. I love how she tied events in history, both real and fictitious, into this contemporary story. I couldn't help rooting for the good guys and wishing ill on the bad guys, especially as things get tense near the end. I loved this book and am putting it on my best read books of 2010.

I am not a writer by any means, but, I too love to read. I got my book on a Thursday and finished reading it on Friday night.

This story is real, we have all faced times when we didn't know where to turn and just wanted to go back to where we had always felt safe. Where we were loved and accepted. This book also gives us the one true place that everyone can feel safe and loved and that is with God. Where even people that love the Lord still face problems, lack of fath or trust but He is still there waiting of us to call on Him.

The history that weaves the families together and the region makes you just need to keep going. You've got to see what happenes next and where you are going to travel. I loved this book and would recomend it to anyone to read.

Camden Bristow is feeling the effects of the economy. She is a free-lance photographer living in New York who finds herself without any job prospects or money. Being kicked out of her apartment with less than five hundred dollars left on her credit card she decides to return to the home where she spent many happy summers with her grandmother Rosalie even though its been years since she has spoken to her grandmother, but when she arrives in the tiny town of Etherton Ohio what she finds at the family mansion called Crescent Hill is that her grandmother has passed away and the mansion is falling into disrepair. Having no place else to go she stays at the family home anyway and quickly finds herself wondering if someone else isn't in the house. Camden has never believed in the rumors that ghosts haunt the mansion and when a few things start disappearing she is pretty sure someone is getting into the house, but how? Could it be true that there are underground tunnels that date back to slave days, and could Crescent Hill actually have been a stop on the Underground Railroad?

I really enjoyed the historical aspect of this story as well as the mystery and intrigue that surrounded the history of the Bristow family.While Camden was the primary story I loved the secondary stories that went on and how they all came together at the end. The characters were very easy to connect with, especially Camden. Crescent Hill was the only place where she ever felt like she belonged. It was nice to see her grow and watch her priorities change as the book progressed. I also felt empathy for Alex, as he continued to carry the blame for not doing enough to save his sister and nephew. I thought the christian themes woven into the story was well done, especially the message of helping others. I also got a few laughs from reading about the antics of the Sprague children especially Hailey, that little girl had a wonderful imagination.
Overall if your looking for a contemporary story that is firmly rooted in the historical era of the underground railroad, that weaves mystery, suspense, a bit of romance with a nice inspirational story then your certainly in for a treat with this story. Recommended!
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

I love how fiction can serve as a refuge I lost myself recently in this book. The main character, Camden Bristow, leaves New York to head to her grandmother's house on Crescent Hill in Etherton, Ohio. As she explores mysteries, both personal and historical, that she finds there, she discovers both her roots and a new sense of purpose.

Some of the relationship-related resolutions at the end left a bit to be desired, but the focus of the book was on the mysteries - which I cared about more - and that was resolved well. (To be honest, I think it deserves a rating of 3.5, but I rounded up since that's not an option! For me, few books earn 5 stars, books I love earn 4, and books I like a lot are threes.)

The mix of mystery and history and compassion, with a dash of romance, made for a story that I'll return to. Yes, I'll read it again. And again.

(Many thanks to Kregel Publications for offering me this novel for my escape, um, I mean for my review. They didn't ask for anything other than an honest review.)

After years of pouring her life into photography, Camden Bristow falls victim to the downturn in the economy. When her employer goes bankrupt, Camden turns to the only person she can think of and leaves New York to drive to her grandmother's house in Etherton, Ohio. However, when she arrives she discovers that her grandmother has recently passed away and, equally shocking, has left her the 150 year old mansion on Crescent Hill. Camden soon finds herself embroiled in threats from her step-sister to contest the will, a notice form the city that they are going to condemn the house, and a mysterious intruder who appears in the mansion. In an attempt to overcome these challenges and discover who is breaking into her home, Camden uncovers long-held secrets that may forever change her life.

Filled with ever-building suspense and plot twists, Refuge on Crescent Hill is a fast-paced read that is sure to please any reader who loves a good suspense novel. The pacing is spot-on, and each chapter leads deeper into a mystery that is resolved in a highly satisfying manner. Camden and Alex are likeable characters who I was sad to leave by the end of the book, and their interactions provide humor and even a touch of romance that was well-handled without being over the top. Camden's journey of faith was also blended perfectly into the story and did not at all detract from the plot in any way. I loved the line in the book where one of the character's states, "I'm learning that life isn't about me anyway, nor is it about what I want out of it. Following Christ is about surrender and faith and about God working through me instead of me working for God". Now that is a thought worth thinking about.

I greatly enjoyed this book from start to finish and give it a high recommendation of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book provided courtesy of the publisher, Kregel, for the purposes of this unbiased review.

Refuge on Crescent Hill
by Melanie Dobson
Kregel Publications

A great story with lots of suspense and emotion.

I would highly recommend this book. The author is very thorough and descriptive. It read like a movie. You feel very emotionally attached to the characters and would like to read more about them.

There is a great storyline without bad language or immoral scenes. The book keeps you guessing. I would like to read more books by this author.

I was given a review copy from the publisher, but a positive review was not required.

Where do you run when you have nowhere else to turn? Melanie Dobson's novel, Refuge on Crescent Hill, made me think about this question. As I did, I remembered the places and people God has provided over the years to be refuges of His love, protection, and peace for me. And I took a moment to thank Him for the many times He has covered me with His wings.

Refuge on Crescent Hill combines mystery and romance in an inspirational story that kept me turning pages. The main character is a woman named Camden Bristow, who inherits a one-hundred-fifty-year-old mansion on Crescent Hill from her grandmother. Since Camden is jobless, homeless, and broke, this gift comes at a perfect time in her life. As Camden researches her mansion's past, she discovers the place had played a part in the Underground Railroad. When she stumbles upon a present day mystery, the role of the mansion as a refuge looms large in her life and the lives of those around her.

This novel weaves an encouraging message of hope and forgiveness throughout an interesting, well-plotted mystery. The moments of suspense and romance that lead to the happy ending are sure to please every reader.

Refuge on Crescent Hill is a Christian mystery written by Melanie Dobson. Set in a small town called Etherton, the story revolves around Camden Bristow, a broke, homeless and jobless photographer who decides to return to her grandmother with the hopes that things will get better for her. Crescent Hill, a mansion on a crescent-shaped hill, is where her grandmother lives. When Camden arrives home and finds that her grandmother has died and she's the estate beneficiary, she finds that the situation is not as easy as she thought. When mysterious sounds and a mysterious woman are found in the house and items turn up missing, Camden finds herself in a tailspin to figure out what's going on. What she doesn't realize is that she's not who she thinks she is, and that another family in town is just dying to get a hold of treasure that is supposedly hidden on the property.

Alex Yates, in charge of bringing new businesses (and profits) to the small town, finds himself involved when the city decides that Crescent Hill mansion was falling apart and is in need of condemning. Drawn by Camden and her family's history (and moved by Alex's own sad family history), he decides to help her in any way that he can, even if it means he loses his job.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat, and the characters drew me in. The intrigue was really good; at times when I thought I had the story figured out, I later discovered I was wrong. I love it when that happens! Refuge on Crescent Hill also was inspired by a real mansion. You can view the pictures at Ms. Dobson's website.

Refuge on Crescent Hill is a wonderful novel with forgiveness being woven into a wonderful suspense plot as the main lesson. There is a lot to take away from Refuge on Crescent Hill and there is a lot to enjoy from it while reading it.

Ms. Dobson has done a wonderful job crafting a suspenseful story with a lesson and meaning in it. Refuge on Crescent Hill is not all about the lesson. It's really a suspense novel first and foremost, but it has wonderful truths and lessons that can be taken home from it. And I love that they are done in subtle ways, not in "in your face" ways that turn some people off.

First let me talk about the characters. Camden is the main character in the story, but there is a subplot going on as well that I found fascinating that follows a college student (from Clemson - I went there!) named Stephanie who is also very interesting. But Camden is still the main character. Camden has come to Etherton to visit her grandmother only to find she has passed away. Camden is at a place in life where she is just kind of floating freely and not sure where she should be. She just wants to belong somewhere and when she comes home to Crescent Hill she finds that there are problems there as well and she has to fight her urge to run as she usually does when there are problems. In Etherton, Camden meets Alex. Alex has settled into Etherton and now calls it home. He was running from his problems but has come to terms with them. He's trying to help revitalize the town but having a hard time when the town council fights all his recommendations. He and Camden have an attraction to each other, but that is really secondary to the mystery in the book. I felt Camden and Alex were decently developed. I did get to know them and their motivations, but felt I could have known them just a little bit better. But this is a suspense novel so more of the emphasis is on the plot.

The plotting was mostly well-done. Only the ending seemed a little rushed. Up until that point I though the book was plotted excellently, then all of a sudden everthing starts happening and it all just seemed too rushed. I was happy with the outcome of the book and felt like everything was tied up well so this wasn't too big a deal, but it's one of those things that bugs you a little bit, especially with a book as well done as Refuge on Crescent Hill. Ms. Dobson did an amazing job weaving the two present-time plots together with the past plot as well. That part of the story-telling was superb and had me enthralled. I loved the older people in the story that could tell the stories. They were fascinating and I love that she added them to the story. It's a reminder to talk to the older people we know, hear their stories so we can continue to pass them down to our children. It's important.

The underlying message of the book was beautifully done. Forgiveness being the lesson and it is shown in amazing ways in this book. I really though if these people could forgive, then I can surely forgive people that I need to. And it wasn't just about forgiving other people, it also touched on forgiving yourself. We all carry a lot of guilt around and really we need to take the time and forgive ourselves as well. God will forgive us if we ask so shouldn't we forgive ourselves (and we talked about that in Sunday School class this past Sunday so I found that really coincidental). This aspect of the boo was subtle but there and done so well I can't stop thinking about. Yes this is a Christian book, but it's not a beat you over the head Christian book. I think Ms. Dobson did a wonderful job making this a book that could be read in the mainstream while still representing Christian morals and values (and really just any good morals and values).

In summary - while there are some flaws in Refuge on Crescent Hill, I still feel it is a very worthwhile book to read. The characters are interesting and down to earth. The plotting is fast-paced and holds your attention well and the story has a meaning that will stick with you for quite a while.

I love to read. I read all the time, every day. Okay, I don't spend every day all day reading, but given the opportunity I would! I read various genres but sometimes I get stuck in a rut. I find myself pulling out my favorites and re-reading them. I enjoy a good story. I like to escape in to another world for a time.

I thoroughly enjoyed Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson for that reason. In fact, it had me neglecting a lot of things around the house as I couldn't put it down. I really like books that weave mystery and suspense throughout the story line.

The main character, Camden Bristow, finds herself at the bottom. She has lost her job, her apartment, and has very little money left. She turns to the one constant in her life, her Grandmother, but she hasn't spoken to her grandmother in a while. She arrives to find out that her dear Grandmother has passed away. However, she left Camden the family home. It seems as if life is getting a bit easier, but that's when the mystery begins.

There are rumors that the house she has inherited is haunted. There are rumors that there is a treasure hidden on the property. There are also rumors that her ancestors helped runaway slaves - that the house on Crescent Hill was a station on the Underground Railroad.

What I really liked was how all the characters were interwoven. It really is a small world out there and I found it quite plausible in how all the characters were interconnected. The connection to the Underground Railroad was also very interesting and it's peaked my interest to find out even more in this time period of US history.