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The Lost Story of Via Belle
Searching for a story to adapt for film, an aspiring screenwriter becomes captivated by a bestselling classic novel and the mysterious disappearance of the woman who wrote it.
1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.
2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.
Described as a “powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction” (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.
Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigueClean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan HenryIncludes discussion questions for book groups
1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.
2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.
Described as a “powerhouse in dual-timeline Christian fiction” (Library Journal), Melanie Dobson delivers another rich, atmospheric novel about the legacy of sacrificial love and the redemptive power of truth.
Standalone dual-timeline historical mystery filled with drama, faith, and intrigueClean, suspenseful historical fiction, perfect for fans of Susan Meissner, Lisa Wingate, or Patti Callahan HenryIncludes discussion questions for book groups
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2026
55 people are currently reading
998 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Dobson
52 books1,794 followersWriting fiction is a fun excuse for Melanie to explore ghost towns and old houses, travel to unusual places, and spend hours reading dusty books and journals. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction with threads of romance and suspense.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost thirty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The Winter Rose, and The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Five of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were both finalists for Christy Awards in historical fiction.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
Melanie is the award-winning author of almost thirty time-slip, historical romance, suspense, and contemporary novels including Catching the Wind, The Winter Rose, and The Wings of Poppy Pendleton. Five of her novels including Chateau of Secrets have won Carol Awards, Catching the Wind won the Audie 2018 Inspirational Fiction award, and Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana won Best Novel of Indiana. Catching the Wind and Memories of Glass were both finalists for Christy Awards in historical fiction.
Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon's work, the Dobsons have finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn't writing or researching, she enjoys line dancing, biking, and making up stories with her kids.
More information about her and her books is available on her website at www.melaniedobson.com. You can also connect with Melanie at www.facebook.com/melaniedobsonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
April 29, 2026
5 stars. WOW. That was SO unexpected and so intense—and so amazing! I've never read Melanie Dobson before, but I think this must be the best thing she ever wrote, because it is unbelievable. There's everything—suspense and danger, sweet romance, fury over wickedness, bittersweet redemption, and so many twists... I don't even know what to say without giving everything away. I loved Olivia—I related to her writing, of course—and it was nice to see an older widow as a FMC... just something a bit different. Izzy hurt my heart... she made bad choices, of course, but she was so naïve and trusting... but hey, she found one of the Peters I look for. (What is it with amazing MMCs named Peter?) Finally, I related to Harper again over the story-writing and the love of water, and I enjoyed watching her scrabble for the truth. She was such a fun FMC. There was a perfectly hateful villain, a really nice MMC (even if he didn't show up a ton) and a layered storyline with so many connections.
I don't think this review does the book justice—but I'm a little starstruck. This was so unusual—and I read it SO FAST because I don't think I've ever been so desperate to see how a story would turn out before. Nothing went as I expected... but I was perfectly satisfied at the end. 💙
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
I don't think this review does the book justice—but I'm a little starstruck. This was so unusual—and I read it SO FAST because I don't think I've ever been so desperate to see how a story would turn out before. Nothing went as I expected... but I was perfectly satisfied at the end. 💙
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
November 15, 2025
Wow, what an amazing story!
This well-written dual timeline tale expertly weaves together characters in a modern day situation with a backstory from the 1940's, pulling the story threads tighter with a mystery, some romance, and building suspense. It was hard to put down especially towards the end!
I love the nod the author gives to Grace Livingston Hill's books, with their tender romances and hope filled plots. The mentions of prayer and faith are brief but meaningful. It ultimately features an uplifting, redemptive theme that was encouraging and quite touching; also a longing for home, family connections, and finding a purpose in life.
There are some instances of peril and difficult circumstances because of a character's deception, but nothing too graphic. If anything, it kept me reading on, holding my breath as the tension grew, hoping for a good ending. It was definitely worth the angst and the wait. Have the tissues handy!
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy an inspirational story with a nostalgic feel, a good mystery, clean romance and brushstrokes of faith.
5 stars!
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
This well-written dual timeline tale expertly weaves together characters in a modern day situation with a backstory from the 1940's, pulling the story threads tighter with a mystery, some romance, and building suspense. It was hard to put down especially towards the end!
I love the nod the author gives to Grace Livingston Hill's books, with their tender romances and hope filled plots. The mentions of prayer and faith are brief but meaningful. It ultimately features an uplifting, redemptive theme that was encouraging and quite touching; also a longing for home, family connections, and finding a purpose in life.
There are some instances of peril and difficult circumstances because of a character's deception, but nothing too graphic. If anything, it kept me reading on, holding my breath as the tension grew, hoping for a good ending. It was definitely worth the angst and the wait. Have the tissues handy!
Highly recommend to readers who enjoy an inspirational story with a nostalgic feel, a good mystery, clean romance and brushstrokes of faith.
5 stars!
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
December 23, 2025
Absolutely stunning! Read for endorsement (full endorsement coming soon). My friends, you must add this book to your Goodreads must-read list immediately! I could not put this book down.
April 16, 2026
“A good story is strong enough to save a life.”
I am partial to dual-timeline stories and Ms. Dobson is an expert at weaving the two times together.
This is such a great story about a popular author Via Belle of the 1940s who goes missing after her second marriage.
Harper in the 2006 returns to a place she visted as a child and is caught up in the stories of Via Belle as she searches for a topic for a script that she wants to write. What she finds is a little romance and connections that are surprising.
Especially interesting is the historical look at the life of an author from the past and her struggles with her faith and her newfound love. The descriptions of the house, gardens and lake that were an inspiration to Via put you right in the story. I began to care about the heroines in both timelines and cringed at the duplicity of the villain. All the mystery and subterfuge made for an exceptional story.
You will want to put this on your list!
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
I am partial to dual-timeline stories and Ms. Dobson is an expert at weaving the two times together.
This is such a great story about a popular author Via Belle of the 1940s who goes missing after her second marriage.
Harper in the 2006 returns to a place she visted as a child and is caught up in the stories of Via Belle as she searches for a topic for a script that she wants to write. What she finds is a little romance and connections that are surprising.
Especially interesting is the historical look at the life of an author from the past and her struggles with her faith and her newfound love. The descriptions of the house, gardens and lake that were an inspiration to Via put you right in the story. I began to care about the heroines in both timelines and cringed at the duplicity of the villain. All the mystery and subterfuge made for an exceptional story.
You will want to put this on your list!
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Tyndale via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*
November 12, 2025
Goodness sakes. I read a lot of books each year but this one is one of the best, most compelling I’ve read so far this year. Melanie Dobson writes such beautiful descriptions and does a fantastic job of letting her reader see inside her characters’ emotions without overdoing it. This novel left me on the edge of my seat for hours, wondering how it would all be resolved. This story happens in two different times, the 1940s and the early 2000s. Via Bella is a writer of touching stories, in the 1940s. Her stories are well received by her fans but her personal life has been hard since the loss of her daughter and her husband. She ends up meeting Simon Farrow at an author panel and their relationship takes off, much to the chagrin of her aunt. Simon seems kind and loving but signs start to appear that something is off in their relationship. Izzy, a college student, is also in a relationship with a man whose stories start to feel off. In the early 2000s, Harper is an aspiring screen writer, looking for the story that will land her her big break. After a series of missteps in CA, she finds herself in PA, doggedly researching the life of Via Belle, the favorite author of her late mother, an orphan who never knew anything about her family. Finn, the caretaker of Via’s estate, closely guards Via’s home and secrets from those he perceives to be looking to take advantage of Via’s story. What proceeds is a story of love, heartbreak, redemption, and sacrifice, and much like the stories of Via Belle, wraps up beautifully at the end, in a way that brought tears to my eyes. I could not recommend this book more. I am super grateful to have been given the opportunity to read the ARC and the opinions expressed are my own.
November 25, 2025
I love dual time novels! They are probably my favorite way to enjoy historical fiction. :) It's like peeling back an onion as things get revealed.
In this novel, we are in the timeline of Via Belle, a famous romance author in 1940 and Harper Rayne, a wannabe screenwriter in 2006. Harper and Via Belle's stories intertwine when she decides to write a screenplay in the style of the stories she loves--those of her mother's favorite author Via Belle and gets lost in the mysterious story of Via Belle herself.
I love the mystery that was woven through the plot--what actually happened to Via Belle? We got layers peeled back slowly. Little tidbits given here and there. But the ending--the actual what happened came from left field. :) Isn't that always fun?
Harper grows so much in this story. And I love that she got her own redemption arc. The book was very good and I didn't want to put it down.
5 stars
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for my ARC of this novel. All opinions are 100% my own.
In this novel, we are in the timeline of Via Belle, a famous romance author in 1940 and Harper Rayne, a wannabe screenwriter in 2006. Harper and Via Belle's stories intertwine when she decides to write a screenplay in the style of the stories she loves--those of her mother's favorite author Via Belle and gets lost in the mysterious story of Via Belle herself.
I love the mystery that was woven through the plot--what actually happened to Via Belle? We got layers peeled back slowly. Little tidbits given here and there. But the ending--the actual what happened came from left field. :) Isn't that always fun?
Harper grows so much in this story. And I love that she got her own redemption arc. The book was very good and I didn't want to put it down.
5 stars
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for my ARC of this novel. All opinions are 100% my own.
April 18, 2026
Two women writers a couple generations apart are connected by coincidences and much more! This novel is a time/slip mystery romance novel. Olivia (pen name Via Belle), seen in the 1940s, has a resume of over 30 popular novels, all romances with happy endings. Harper, in the early 2000s, is a discouraged wannabe screen writer in Hollywood. She and her late mother were fans of Via Belle's books and had happy memories of reading them together. Coincidentally, Harper's mom grew up in Pennsylvania, near the home of Via Belle, who mysteriously disappeared in the early 1940s. When Harper becomes disillusioned with her prospects in Hollywood, she decides to return to her mom's hometown and find comfort with old friends. She also plans to search Via Belle's background, books, and perhaps track down the mystery of her disappearance. Harper also hopes that she will find a story to turn into a screenplay, in hopes of impressing a director who gave her a nod.
As Harper pursues Via Belle's books and backstory, so does the Reader. The pursuit involves romances, some suspicious motivations, a dark mystery, a surprising discovery, and connections beyond stories.
The book begins slowly with a bit too many unnecessary named characters and inconsequential dialog. But before the halfway point, the story catches fire with the introduction of another main character, and from then on, the novel is not easy to put down. The author neatly ties up all complex loose ends in a quite satisfactory bow, as Via Belle would have appreciated.
As Harper pursues Via Belle's books and backstory, so does the Reader. The pursuit involves romances, some suspicious motivations, a dark mystery, a surprising discovery, and connections beyond stories.
The book begins slowly with a bit too many unnecessary named characters and inconsequential dialog. But before the halfway point, the story catches fire with the introduction of another main character, and from then on, the novel is not easy to put down. The author neatly ties up all complex loose ends in a quite satisfactory bow, as Via Belle would have appreciated.
April 16, 2026
4.5 stars
November 1, 2025
This was my second book by this author. She is a gifted storyteller. A beautiful novel with rich characters. Get swept away in this novel.
May 2, 2026
“A good story is strong enough to save a life.”
Y’all. The Lost Story of Via Belle held me captive from beginning to end. I would have been clamoring to read it anyway – after all, Melanie Dobson wrote it and she’s long been one of my fave dual timeline authors – but learning that it was inspired by the life of Grace Livingston Hill elevated it above ‘must read’ status for me to… well… to whatever is a few levels above ‘must read’ haha. I gobbled up Grace Livingston Hill books when I was a tween and teen, and though it’s been many years since I’ve read one I still have a soft spot in my heart for these sweet stories. I knew absolutely zero about Hill’s life though, and after devouring The Lost Story of Via Belle, I researched her history and found it to be more bittersweet than I realized. A word that could be used for Via Belle’s personal life too, though there are several key differences that made fiction stranger than the truth in this case and kept me glued to the pages.
Two writers, sixty years apart. In the 1940s timeline, Olivia Ashe – whose pen name is Via Belle – is quickly running out of time to meet her publisher’s deadline for her next sweet inspirational romance. But story ideas seem to have died along with her husband… at least until an unlikely friendship with a young professor breathes new life into both Olivia’s dormant muse and her own heart. This timeline is full of scandal and drama and even a little danger but also lots of heart, and I could not tear myself away from any of it. Especially when… well, I won’t give anything away.
In 2006, we meet aspiring screenwriter Harper Rayne just as her life takes an unexpected turn that sends her to her mother’s hometown in Pennsylvania for a fresh start. Harper’s not there long before her curiosity about the town’s most famous resident – author Via Belle – and her mysterious disappearance six decades earlier sends Harper down a compelling rabbit hole that had me completely invested right along with her. It also didn’t hurt my feelings any that Harper’s questions about Via Belle put her in the crosshairs of the grumpy (and swoony) estate caretaker Finn who’s very protective of the enigmatic author and her legacy. And can we just take a moment to appreciate how this novel contains so many things that draw me to a book in the first place? A connected historical & contemporary timeline… a book on books… the 60-year-unsolved disappearance of an author… delicious twists… and a swoony lumberjack-type hero. Yes please, to all of it!
Bottom Line: Melanie Dobson’s talent for storyweaving is on full display in The Lost Story of Via Belle! Mystery, romance, and books form a richly-layered plot that had me devouring this novel as quickly as possible while Dobson’s warm writing voice also had me wanting to stop and savor every word. Both timelines and their shared threads unfold at the perfect pace, and I turned the final page immensely satisfied with how everything ended up. I loved getting to know both Olivia and Harper, as well as the people who were pivotal in their stories (except for a couple of notable exceptions who made those respective journeys more painful). I will be thinking about The Lost Story of Via Belle for a long time, and it’s a great next read for fans of Jaime Jo Wright, Michelle Shocklee, Joanna Davidson Politano… and, of course, Grace Livingston Hill.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Y’all. The Lost Story of Via Belle held me captive from beginning to end. I would have been clamoring to read it anyway – after all, Melanie Dobson wrote it and she’s long been one of my fave dual timeline authors – but learning that it was inspired by the life of Grace Livingston Hill elevated it above ‘must read’ status for me to… well… to whatever is a few levels above ‘must read’ haha. I gobbled up Grace Livingston Hill books when I was a tween and teen, and though it’s been many years since I’ve read one I still have a soft spot in my heart for these sweet stories. I knew absolutely zero about Hill’s life though, and after devouring The Lost Story of Via Belle, I researched her history and found it to be more bittersweet than I realized. A word that could be used for Via Belle’s personal life too, though there are several key differences that made fiction stranger than the truth in this case and kept me glued to the pages.
Two writers, sixty years apart. In the 1940s timeline, Olivia Ashe – whose pen name is Via Belle – is quickly running out of time to meet her publisher’s deadline for her next sweet inspirational romance. But story ideas seem to have died along with her husband… at least until an unlikely friendship with a young professor breathes new life into both Olivia’s dormant muse and her own heart. This timeline is full of scandal and drama and even a little danger but also lots of heart, and I could not tear myself away from any of it. Especially when… well, I won’t give anything away.
In 2006, we meet aspiring screenwriter Harper Rayne just as her life takes an unexpected turn that sends her to her mother’s hometown in Pennsylvania for a fresh start. Harper’s not there long before her curiosity about the town’s most famous resident – author Via Belle – and her mysterious disappearance six decades earlier sends Harper down a compelling rabbit hole that had me completely invested right along with her. It also didn’t hurt my feelings any that Harper’s questions about Via Belle put her in the crosshairs of the grumpy (and swoony) estate caretaker Finn who’s very protective of the enigmatic author and her legacy. And can we just take a moment to appreciate how this novel contains so many things that draw me to a book in the first place? A connected historical & contemporary timeline… a book on books… the 60-year-unsolved disappearance of an author… delicious twists… and a swoony lumberjack-type hero. Yes please, to all of it!
Bottom Line: Melanie Dobson’s talent for storyweaving is on full display in The Lost Story of Via Belle! Mystery, romance, and books form a richly-layered plot that had me devouring this novel as quickly as possible while Dobson’s warm writing voice also had me wanting to stop and savor every word. Both timelines and their shared threads unfold at the perfect pace, and I turned the final page immensely satisfied with how everything ended up. I loved getting to know both Olivia and Harper, as well as the people who were pivotal in their stories (except for a couple of notable exceptions who made those respective journeys more painful). I will be thinking about The Lost Story of Via Belle for a long time, and it’s a great next read for fans of Jaime Jo Wright, Michelle Shocklee, Joanna Davidson Politano… and, of course, Grace Livingston Hill.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
April 14, 2026
Solid 4 stars.
I enjoyed reading this story from start to finish. I felt the first half was slightly slow but it kept enough of my interest to keep me going. At halfway, that's when it starts to get incredibly interesting.
There are faith themes but I wouldn't really say they're overly strong or excessive which personally I wouldn't have liked to see more of.
Olivia "Via" Belle, an author who always wrote about happy endings, was a strong character who suffered the loss of her husband and only child. As a result of this loss, Via struggled to write her next feel good novel. I appreciated the heartache she went through and the determination to keep writing and be independent through it all and even after her circumstances changed she still had resolve to remain self sufficient and had the wisdom to protect what was hers.
My heart broke for the character of Izzy. So young and deceived by someone she loved and trusted. She too, though young and naive, showed great determination and wisdom in her situation and I was rooting for her the whole time.
If you like mystery, historical fiction, Cleveland mafia thugs, love gone wrong but good overcomes evil in the end, then this book is for you.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
No spice and closed door however there is a baby out of wedlock situation.
No language.
I enjoyed reading this story from start to finish. I felt the first half was slightly slow but it kept enough of my interest to keep me going. At halfway, that's when it starts to get incredibly interesting.
There are faith themes but I wouldn't really say they're overly strong or excessive which personally I wouldn't have liked to see more of.
Olivia "Via" Belle, an author who always wrote about happy endings, was a strong character who suffered the loss of her husband and only child. As a result of this loss, Via struggled to write her next feel good novel. I appreciated the heartache she went through and the determination to keep writing and be independent through it all and even after her circumstances changed she still had resolve to remain self sufficient and had the wisdom to protect what was hers.
My heart broke for the character of Izzy. So young and deceived by someone she loved and trusted. She too, though young and naive, showed great determination and wisdom in her situation and I was rooting for her the whole time.
If you like mystery, historical fiction, Cleveland mafia thugs, love gone wrong but good overcomes evil in the end, then this book is for you.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
No spice and closed door however there is a baby out of wedlock situation.
No language.
April 28, 2026
Spectacular book by Melanie Dobson! It's a Christian historical fiction with a bit of a mystery thrown in.
Our FMC, Via Belle, lives in Pennsylvania. She is an author, and she's invited to speak at this Author panel where she meets this Professor named Simon Farrow. Mr Farrow and her hit it off, she's shocked that he's paying any attention to her at all. She had lost her husband and since that time had pretty much become a recluse. As Simon pursues her even more intentionally, her aunt who lives with her is very put off by his personality and isn't a fan of this relationship at all. As time goes on they do marry, but the marriage is based on secrets and lies unbeknownst to Via. Via eventually disappears leaving an unfinished manuscript, and noone knows where to find her. This takes place in the 1940's. The second POV is early 2000's in California and Harper, who is a conspiring screen writer. As she's looking for inspiration, she finds some Via Belle books in her mother's collection. She decides to take a trip to Pennsylvania to see if she can find out more about Via Belle and her disappearance. Harper is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and this leads her into a deep dive of the secrets and lies that surround Simon Farrow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale Fiction for this e-arc. This review is my opinion only.
Our FMC, Via Belle, lives in Pennsylvania. She is an author, and she's invited to speak at this Author panel where she meets this Professor named Simon Farrow. Mr Farrow and her hit it off, she's shocked that he's paying any attention to her at all. She had lost her husband and since that time had pretty much become a recluse. As Simon pursues her even more intentionally, her aunt who lives with her is very put off by his personality and isn't a fan of this relationship at all. As time goes on they do marry, but the marriage is based on secrets and lies unbeknownst to Via. Via eventually disappears leaving an unfinished manuscript, and noone knows where to find her. This takes place in the 1940's. The second POV is early 2000's in California and Harper, who is a conspiring screen writer. As she's looking for inspiration, she finds some Via Belle books in her mother's collection. She decides to take a trip to Pennsylvania to see if she can find out more about Via Belle and her disappearance. Harper is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and this leads her into a deep dive of the secrets and lies that surround Simon Farrow.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tyndale Fiction for this e-arc. This review is my opinion only.
April 17, 2026
Thank you to @meldobson @tyndalehouse and @uplitreads for the generous #gifted book!
This was my first time reading a book by Melanie, and it certainly won't be my last. I was completely captivated by the compelling writing, intriguing story, and unforgettable characters.
Set against the backdrop of 1940, Olivia, known as Via Belle, is a prolific author, while Isadore is a curious student. Their lives intertwine as they uncover dark secrets and lies that threaten to change everything. Fast forward to 2006, where Harper embarks on her own quest to unravel Olivia's mysterious past, uncovering revelations that will finally satisfy her long-standing curiosity and surprise her in ways she never expected.
The dual timelines, shifting between 1940 and 2006, added incredible depth and richness to the narrative. I loved how the stories of Olivia, Isadore, and Harper gradually began to weave together, building a tapestry of mystery surrounding Via Belle's true story. The writing is so immersive, I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing their joys, fears, and betrayals.
This book is a perfect blend of romance, intrigue, suspense, and heartfelt emotion. If you enjoy stories that keep you guessing and touch your soul, this is one you won't want to miss.
This was my first time reading a book by Melanie, and it certainly won't be my last. I was completely captivated by the compelling writing, intriguing story, and unforgettable characters.
Set against the backdrop of 1940, Olivia, known as Via Belle, is a prolific author, while Isadore is a curious student. Their lives intertwine as they uncover dark secrets and lies that threaten to change everything. Fast forward to 2006, where Harper embarks on her own quest to unravel Olivia's mysterious past, uncovering revelations that will finally satisfy her long-standing curiosity and surprise her in ways she never expected.
The dual timelines, shifting between 1940 and 2006, added incredible depth and richness to the narrative. I loved how the stories of Olivia, Isadore, and Harper gradually began to weave together, building a tapestry of mystery surrounding Via Belle's true story. The writing is so immersive, I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing their joys, fears, and betrayals.
This book is a perfect blend of romance, intrigue, suspense, and heartfelt emotion. If you enjoy stories that keep you guessing and touch your soul, this is one you won't want to miss.
April 14, 2026
The Lost Story of Via Belle is a dual timeline story which features the captivating story of two very talented women. I have to say as someone who recently took a liking to dual timeline stories I have to say this was a very impressive story. We two different women from different time periods both seatching for a purpose for moving forward in their career. Along the way they will experience all sorts of twists and turns which will keep readers engaged.
In the 1940's we are introduced we are introduced to Via Belle who is a housewife who takes pleasure in reading romance novels. Her first husband is deeply encouraging with her career. However, after his death and her sudden second marriage the spark of writing seems to disappear. Meanwhile in modern times we are introduced to Harper who is just trying to make it as a screenwriter. Will the work of Via Belle manage to pull her out of a slump. Could it possibly uncover a mystery to the past that everyone wants to know?
In the 1940's we are introduced we are introduced to Via Belle who is a housewife who takes pleasure in reading romance novels. Her first husband is deeply encouraging with her career. However, after his death and her sudden second marriage the spark of writing seems to disappear. Meanwhile in modern times we are introduced to Harper who is just trying to make it as a screenwriter. Will the work of Via Belle manage to pull her out of a slump. Could it possibly uncover a mystery to the past that everyone wants to know?
May 4, 2026
The BETRAYAL in this book, good heavens!
The Lost Story of Via Belle is a riveting dual timeline book about a famous author in the late 1930s and an up and coming screenwriter in 2006 who stumbles on the story of an old romcom author (Via Belle) and is on the hunt to solve her mysterious disappearance from society.
I had no idea of the wild ride I was in for! This historical fiction novel is deemed Christian fiction, and while there are light sprinkles of Christian faith mentioned in the book, the heavy themes in this book are anything but pure. I thought the story was heading in a completely different direction and was blindsided by the earlier timeline's chain of events. There is so much redemption in this book, and as much as I dislike dual timeline stories, I enjoyed this one.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.
Content warnings: alcoholism, death, assault, murder, harm to a child
The Lost Story of Via Belle is a riveting dual timeline book about a famous author in the late 1930s and an up and coming screenwriter in 2006 who stumbles on the story of an old romcom author (Via Belle) and is on the hunt to solve her mysterious disappearance from society.
I had no idea of the wild ride I was in for! This historical fiction novel is deemed Christian fiction, and while there are light sprinkles of Christian faith mentioned in the book, the heavy themes in this book are anything but pure. I thought the story was heading in a completely different direction and was blindsided by the earlier timeline's chain of events. There is so much redemption in this book, and as much as I dislike dual timeline stories, I enjoyed this one.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC. This review is voluntary. All thoughts are my own.
Content warnings: alcoholism, death, assault, murder, harm to a child
December 8, 2025
This is a story across generations and initially I thought this may be leaning toward romance but that is not it. There is a mystery of the past being explored and we see that life journey running through the present as Harper feels intrigued and needs to know what happened to Via. I was hooked and thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is rarity to see faith presented in such thoughtful and respectful ways also - as a Christian woman who loves mystery, this was a great read and if you are not a person of faith, you will love the mystery and the plots also. I think this book could have a wide audience and I loved it!
Kept me up late last night when I was nearing the end. The ending is brought to a close well also, I think Via herself would approve.
Thank you to Net Galley and Tyndale House Publishers, for my copy of this book.
Kept me up late last night when I was nearing the end. The ending is brought to a close well also, I think Via herself would approve.
Thank you to Net Galley and Tyndale House Publishers, for my copy of this book.
April 11, 2026
Wow! This book is packed with twists, and the web of characters keeps expanding as the story unfolds! The beginning felt a bit slow, especially in the 2006 timeline, but after the first 100 pages, it really takes off and becomes incredibly engaging.
I loved that the author, Melanie Dobson, made her main character an author. It allowed her passion for storytelling to shine through in a very personal way. You can truly feel how much she loves creating meaningful, beautiful stories for both herself and her readers.
Highly recommend!
I loved that the author, Melanie Dobson, made her main character an author. It allowed her passion for storytelling to shine through in a very personal way. You can truly feel how much she loves creating meaningful, beautiful stories for both herself and her readers.
Highly recommend!
April 25, 2026
What a beautiful and redemptive book. Readers are taken on a twisty adventure through love and hope, heartbreak and betrayal, healing and redemption. There are so many stories within the story and they all come together at the end for a shocking and beautiful conclusion.
April 12, 2026
If you’re looking for page turning, sad to put down, can’t wait to pick back up, read, you have found it with this beautiful book!!
From start to finish I was completely captivated. So much so that I read this in a 24 hr span! 🫢
I have loved every one of Melanie’s books I’ve been able to read, all of them 5 ⭐️, but this one is my favorite yet.
I love a dual timeline novel, with a touch of romance, intrigue, suspense, and emotional pull. This has all of it in spades.
I wish I could give it more than 5 ⭐️!!
Melanie has a phenomenal writer.
This book is a must read.
From start to finish I was completely captivated. So much so that I read this in a 24 hr span! 🫢
I have loved every one of Melanie’s books I’ve been able to read, all of them 5 ⭐️, but this one is my favorite yet.
I love a dual timeline novel, with a touch of romance, intrigue, suspense, and emotional pull. This has all of it in spades.
I wish I could give it more than 5 ⭐️!!
Melanie has a phenomenal writer.
This book is a must read.
April 27, 2026
Wow! This story was a pleasant surprise. It was full of heart, suspense, and redemption. I loved the story and character development.
May 6, 2026
Melanie Dobson has proven she can write a gorgeous dual timeline story. The Curator's Daughter and Hidden Among the Stars are two of my favorites from her, and I always look forward to her new books. The Lost Story of Via Belle has plenty of strong elements, but it's also a mixed bag.
First and as always, the good stuff. Through Harper and Via, Melanie captured what it's like to be a writer, a lover of story and imaginary worlds. I've experienced the anxieties these women have. I've related to my characters, my "imaginary friends," as if they were real people. I've sought out "retreats" to write, just as Harper sought out Catawba and the lake. This relatable aspect of the protagonists kept my pages turning, and strengthened their character arcs outside of their professions and across time.
Speaking of character arcs, Via at least has some definite strong growth in this book. What I appreciated was, she's vulnerable. You could call her naive. Yet she isn't gullible. She's been hurt many times over, yet she clings to God and because of Him, is able to make a real difference in others' lives through her books and in real time. She holds her ground when people disparage her writing style, characters, and morals. In many ways, that makes it harder to watch her experience the deep grief she does. But Via Belle is one of those protagonists who, you don't root for her to be okay. You know she will be. It's just a matter of, how will she get there.
I also appreciated Harper's story and timeline. It has some structure issues, which I'll get to. Yet if Via is the older, more experienced writer who can still learn, Harper is the "rookie" who yes, does bungle a pitch (oh, honey, I've been there)! or feel out of place, yet is already becoming more grounded than she gives herself credit for. I particularly enjoyed her journey through Catawba, with all its quirky characters and unique locales. That kind of arc can feel cheesy, but Melanie gave Catawba the gravitas that made it authentic instead.
The problems in The Lost Story of Via Belle are mostly structural and pacing-related. For instance, looking back, I understand why we needed all the beginning Hollywood scenes. At least, I understand intellectually. For me though, the story doesn't truly "start" until Harper leaves Hollywood, until she has "reconnected" with Via Belle. That means the first third or so feels pretty out of place.
Similarly, the second half gives us a lot of revelations about Simon, Isadore, Harper's mother, Via's family, who's related to whom and how, in which I got tangled. Again, I understand some of it. The revelations Isadore and Via experience, for instance, don't work if we know too soon what Simon's really up to. But a lot of the rest of it? I kept thinking, "I should've known this sooner, or at least had solid clues." Or I would think, "Okay, if Harper's plot arc was going to involve finding the truth about her mom all along--why doesn't she start addressing that until the second half?"
Additionally, some of the secondary characters just didn't make sense. Finn Sterling is the big one; he pops in and out, and I kept thinking, "Do we need him?" Eli is another. I understood why he was needed, but he pops in and out as well. Until over 2/3 through, Via doesn't interact with him in any significant sense...yet we're supposed to believe he was vital to changing her life. Um, sorry, I needed a stronger thread for that to work.
Overall then, The Lost Story of Via Belle is a strange book. Of the books in Melanie's catalog, it's certainly one of the weaker ones. Then again, I'd say it's worth a read. As noted, there are stronger books from her you can try. I might also try something like Cathy Gohlke's This Promised Land for a book with a similar feel, yet better pacing. But as far as recommending this one...eh, it's a coin flip.
First and as always, the good stuff. Through Harper and Via, Melanie captured what it's like to be a writer, a lover of story and imaginary worlds. I've experienced the anxieties these women have. I've related to my characters, my "imaginary friends," as if they were real people. I've sought out "retreats" to write, just as Harper sought out Catawba and the lake. This relatable aspect of the protagonists kept my pages turning, and strengthened their character arcs outside of their professions and across time.
Speaking of character arcs, Via at least has some definite strong growth in this book. What I appreciated was, she's vulnerable. You could call her naive. Yet she isn't gullible. She's been hurt many times over, yet she clings to God and because of Him, is able to make a real difference in others' lives through her books and in real time. She holds her ground when people disparage her writing style, characters, and morals. In many ways, that makes it harder to watch her experience the deep grief she does. But Via Belle is one of those protagonists who, you don't root for her to be okay. You know she will be. It's just a matter of, how will she get there.
I also appreciated Harper's story and timeline. It has some structure issues, which I'll get to. Yet if Via is the older, more experienced writer who can still learn, Harper is the "rookie" who yes, does bungle a pitch (oh, honey, I've been there)! or feel out of place, yet is already becoming more grounded than she gives herself credit for. I particularly enjoyed her journey through Catawba, with all its quirky characters and unique locales. That kind of arc can feel cheesy, but Melanie gave Catawba the gravitas that made it authentic instead.
The problems in The Lost Story of Via Belle are mostly structural and pacing-related. For instance, looking back, I understand why we needed all the beginning Hollywood scenes. At least, I understand intellectually. For me though, the story doesn't truly "start" until Harper leaves Hollywood, until she has "reconnected" with Via Belle. That means the first third or so feels pretty out of place.
Similarly, the second half gives us a lot of revelations about Simon, Isadore, Harper's mother, Via's family, who's related to whom and how, in which I got tangled. Again, I understand some of it. The revelations Isadore and Via experience, for instance, don't work if we know too soon what Simon's really up to. But a lot of the rest of it? I kept thinking, "I should've known this sooner, or at least had solid clues." Or I would think, "Okay, if Harper's plot arc was going to involve finding the truth about her mom all along--why doesn't she start addressing that until the second half?"
Additionally, some of the secondary characters just didn't make sense. Finn Sterling is the big one; he pops in and out, and I kept thinking, "Do we need him?" Eli is another. I understood why he was needed, but he pops in and out as well. Until over 2/3 through, Via doesn't interact with him in any significant sense...yet we're supposed to believe he was vital to changing her life. Um, sorry, I needed a stronger thread for that to work.
Overall then, The Lost Story of Via Belle is a strange book. Of the books in Melanie's catalog, it's certainly one of the weaker ones. Then again, I'd say it's worth a read. As noted, there are stronger books from her you can try. I might also try something like Cathy Gohlke's This Promised Land for a book with a similar feel, yet better pacing. But as far as recommending this one...eh, it's a coin flip.
April 6, 2026
Melanie Dobson’s The Lost Story of Via Belle made me emotionally spiral in the quietest, most unsettling way—like realizing the story you’ve been telling yourself might not actually be the truth.
Published by Tyndale House Publishers, huge thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy that absolutely took over my reading life in the best way.
This is the kind of dual-timeline story that doesn’t just switch between past and present—it pulls you under both and dares you to figure out which version of the truth you’re willing to believe. In the 1940s, Via Belle—real name Olivia Ashe—is a beloved romance author whose stories promise hope, love, and happy endings… while her own life quietly fractures behind the scenes. After the loss of her first husband, she’s vulnerable in a way that made me want to reach into the pages and shake her just a little (respectfully). And then there’s Simon… and listen, I did not trust that man for one single second.
In the present, Harper Rayne is trying to break into screenwriting while carrying her own grief and uncertainty, and what starts as research into Via Belle’s mysterious disappearance turns into something much more personal. Watching Harper piece together Via’s story felt like watching someone slowly realize that the past isn’t just history—it’s alive, it lingers, and sometimes it asks something of you.
And the way these two timelines weave together? Seamless. Haunting. A little bit addictive. I kept thinking I had it figured out, and then the story would gently shift and remind me I absolutely did not.
“There are stories we tell the world… and stories we barely dare to tell ourselves.”
That line lives rent-free in my head now, because that’s exactly what this book explores—identity, truth, and the quiet cost of the choices we make when we’re hurting. Via’s storyline carries this soft, aching tension—grief, hope, and the dangerous pull of wanting to believe in something (or someone) again. Harper’s story, on the other hand, feels like standing at a crossroads, trying to decide if you’re brave enough to rewrite your own ending or if it’s safer to leave things buried.
The atmosphere is rich without being heavy—think lakeside estates, moonflower gardens, small-town secrets, and that slow unraveling of truth that makes you say “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s way past your bedtime and you have zero regrets. The faith elements are present but woven in gently, more like a steady thread of hope rather than anything overwhelming, which honestly made the emotional payoff land even deeper.
What really stayed with me, though, was the women at the center of this story. They’re not perfect. They don’t always make the right choices. But they feel real—messy, searching, trying to hold onto something solid in seasons where everything feels uncertain. And that emotional honesty? That’s what made this book hit.
This is for readers who love layered, character-driven stories with a touch of mystery and a lot of heart. If you gravitate toward authors like Lisa Wingate, Susan Meissner, or Patti Callahan Henry—or if you want a story that feels both cozy and quietly devastating in the same breath—this one is absolutely for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)
Tell me—are you someone who chases answers no matter what… or would you leave the past buried if it meant protecting your peace?
#TheLostStoryOfViaBelle #MelanieDobson #HistoricalFiction #ChristianFiction #DualTimeline #WomensFiction #MysteryReads #Bookstagram #BookReview #ReadersOfInstagram #CozyReads #FaithBasedFiction #BookishLife #ComingSoonBooks #MustReadBooks #2026Releases
Published by Tyndale House Publishers, huge thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy that absolutely took over my reading life in the best way.
This is the kind of dual-timeline story that doesn’t just switch between past and present—it pulls you under both and dares you to figure out which version of the truth you’re willing to believe. In the 1940s, Via Belle—real name Olivia Ashe—is a beloved romance author whose stories promise hope, love, and happy endings… while her own life quietly fractures behind the scenes. After the loss of her first husband, she’s vulnerable in a way that made me want to reach into the pages and shake her just a little (respectfully). And then there’s Simon… and listen, I did not trust that man for one single second.
In the present, Harper Rayne is trying to break into screenwriting while carrying her own grief and uncertainty, and what starts as research into Via Belle’s mysterious disappearance turns into something much more personal. Watching Harper piece together Via’s story felt like watching someone slowly realize that the past isn’t just history—it’s alive, it lingers, and sometimes it asks something of you.
And the way these two timelines weave together? Seamless. Haunting. A little bit addictive. I kept thinking I had it figured out, and then the story would gently shift and remind me I absolutely did not.
“There are stories we tell the world… and stories we barely dare to tell ourselves.”
That line lives rent-free in my head now, because that’s exactly what this book explores—identity, truth, and the quiet cost of the choices we make when we’re hurting. Via’s storyline carries this soft, aching tension—grief, hope, and the dangerous pull of wanting to believe in something (or someone) again. Harper’s story, on the other hand, feels like standing at a crossroads, trying to decide if you’re brave enough to rewrite your own ending or if it’s safer to leave things buried.
The atmosphere is rich without being heavy—think lakeside estates, moonflower gardens, small-town secrets, and that slow unraveling of truth that makes you say “just one more chapter” until suddenly it’s way past your bedtime and you have zero regrets. The faith elements are present but woven in gently, more like a steady thread of hope rather than anything overwhelming, which honestly made the emotional payoff land even deeper.
What really stayed with me, though, was the women at the center of this story. They’re not perfect. They don’t always make the right choices. But they feel real—messy, searching, trying to hold onto something solid in seasons where everything feels uncertain. And that emotional honesty? That’s what made this book hit.
This is for readers who love layered, character-driven stories with a touch of mystery and a lot of heart. If you gravitate toward authors like Lisa Wingate, Susan Meissner, or Patti Callahan Henry—or if you want a story that feels both cozy and quietly devastating in the same breath—this one is absolutely for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)
Tell me—are you someone who chases answers no matter what… or would you leave the past buried if it meant protecting your peace?
#TheLostStoryOfViaBelle #MelanieDobson #HistoricalFiction #ChristianFiction #DualTimeline #WomensFiction #MysteryReads #Bookstagram #BookReview #ReadersOfInstagram #CozyReads #FaithBasedFiction #BookishLife #ComingSoonBooks #MustReadBooks #2026Releases
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson – Mixed Emotions – Interesting but Challenging
After reading the synopsis of The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson I wanted to read her newest book.
The Lost Story of Via Belle has two timelines, 1940’s and 2006, and three heroines. Olivia is a writer in the 1940’s. Her pen name is Via Belle, and she is much beloved by her readers. Izzy is a young college student at a university where Olivia was invited to speak about her writing. Fast forward to 2006 and meet Harper who currently working as a housekeeper for a Hollywood producer. Harper has ambitions to be a screenwriter and is hoping to get a break, if only someone will give her a chance. But when her plan falls apart, she packs up and goes to Pennsylvania to stay at her aunt’s home. Harper is hoping to find the right story that she can pore herself into and prove herself as a successful screenwriter.
The lives of these three women will intersect. The lives of both Olivia, an older, wise and mature woman, and Izzy, a young and naïve woman, are impacted by Simon Farrow. A man who may not be who he represents himself to be. As Simon’s life starts to unravel and he loses control, their lives will be upended. Sixty years later Harper starts digging into the mystery of what happened to Via Belle, hoping to find a story. What she finds may be a whole lot closer to home than she could ever imagine.
When I wasn’t reading, I found myself thinking about the characters and wondering how the story would turn out. The dual timeline in this book took a little time to get used to. My affinity for the various characters changed as the story progressed. The character I struggled with the most was Harper, perhaps because of her immaturity and self-focus. I was very surprised by the changes in Simon. I struggled to understand why Oliva and Izzy were so slow to wake up to the truth that was staring them in the face.
The story was interesting and there were some twists and turns I didn’t expect. The book seemed to drag at the beginning and the end. But in between I was drawn in by the story.
While there were aspects of faith in the story, it was not deep. I found that surprising since Olivia had been married to a pastor. At one point in the story, Oliva, “wanted to hear God’s whisper in the breeze. Words that spoke to her heart. Why had He stopped speaking to her?” Reading that concerned me because doctrinally that is not sound theology. Today, God has spoken to us through in the Bible, the word of God. If Oliva wanted to hear God speak, she should have opened the Bible and read it out loud.
There were aspects of the book that I liked and characters were interesting. Yet, I didn’t fully understand the characters Olivia and Izzy and even Harper. I would have liked to have seen the Christian faith better developed in the characters and storyline.
If you like mystery, intrigue, historical fiction, or are a fan of Melanie Dobson’s books, you may want to read The Lost Story of Via Belle. This book will be published on April 14, 2016.
I would like to thank Tyndale Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.
After reading the synopsis of The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson I wanted to read her newest book.
The Lost Story of Via Belle has two timelines, 1940’s and 2006, and three heroines. Olivia is a writer in the 1940’s. Her pen name is Via Belle, and she is much beloved by her readers. Izzy is a young college student at a university where Olivia was invited to speak about her writing. Fast forward to 2006 and meet Harper who currently working as a housekeeper for a Hollywood producer. Harper has ambitions to be a screenwriter and is hoping to get a break, if only someone will give her a chance. But when her plan falls apart, she packs up and goes to Pennsylvania to stay at her aunt’s home. Harper is hoping to find the right story that she can pore herself into and prove herself as a successful screenwriter.
The lives of these three women will intersect. The lives of both Olivia, an older, wise and mature woman, and Izzy, a young and naïve woman, are impacted by Simon Farrow. A man who may not be who he represents himself to be. As Simon’s life starts to unravel and he loses control, their lives will be upended. Sixty years later Harper starts digging into the mystery of what happened to Via Belle, hoping to find a story. What she finds may be a whole lot closer to home than she could ever imagine.
When I wasn’t reading, I found myself thinking about the characters and wondering how the story would turn out. The dual timeline in this book took a little time to get used to. My affinity for the various characters changed as the story progressed. The character I struggled with the most was Harper, perhaps because of her immaturity and self-focus. I was very surprised by the changes in Simon. I struggled to understand why Oliva and Izzy were so slow to wake up to the truth that was staring them in the face.
The story was interesting and there were some twists and turns I didn’t expect. The book seemed to drag at the beginning and the end. But in between I was drawn in by the story.
While there were aspects of faith in the story, it was not deep. I found that surprising since Olivia had been married to a pastor. At one point in the story, Oliva, “wanted to hear God’s whisper in the breeze. Words that spoke to her heart. Why had He stopped speaking to her?” Reading that concerned me because doctrinally that is not sound theology. Today, God has spoken to us through in the Bible, the word of God. If Oliva wanted to hear God speak, she should have opened the Bible and read it out loud.
There were aspects of the book that I liked and characters were interesting. Yet, I didn’t fully understand the characters Olivia and Izzy and even Harper. I would have liked to have seen the Christian faith better developed in the characters and storyline.
If you like mystery, intrigue, historical fiction, or are a fan of Melanie Dobson’s books, you may want to read The Lost Story of Via Belle. This book will be published on April 14, 2016.
I would like to thank Tyndale Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson. I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.25 stars
It was a pleasure to read this before it comes out. I really am thankful I got an ARC of this.
When I started reading this book, I took some time. The story was building up pretty slowly but with good reason. It seemed like a happy-go-lucky tale about a widow finding a new love. Then after about 100 pages in, something shifted. It turned into a tale of mystery and intrigue. I needed to know more and more.
This story takes on the perspective of several people, though mainly three (there is a fourth about one time later on in the book).
First this story takes on mainly Olivia's perspective. Olivia has suffered a lot of loss. She is an author in the early 1940s (with the pen name Via Belle), writing hit fiction novels that women tend to love. She lives at home in Pennsylvania with her aunt. Olivia has been widowed for a few years and is still greatly mourning the loss of her dear husband and the child they had lost long ago earlier. They were married for over 20 years and didn't have any other children. She meets a man named Simon who starts to make her heart beat in a way she didn't know could happen again. They don't get to see one another too often, but something is growing between them.
In 2006, Harper is trying to write a screenplay for a film. She goes to Via Belle's old town to gain inspiration. She always loved her books and knows that her mom had lived briefly in that area in an orphanage. She wants to write a screenplay based off of one of Via Belle's novels but has to get approval from those in charge of Via Belle's rights (and estate). There is a man named Finn who is a bit stubborn and doesn't really like her being on the property.
Isadore is a young college student who meets Olivia in passing and gets her signature on a book. She loves reading Via Belle's books. Her story slowly comes out as you read the book but it was so very good. I won't say more about her.
This story turned out to be so incredibly moving for me. As I read it, I started to form attachments to characters. There were shifts in my thoughts as I read it and really lovely situations that turned out to be incredible. I loved learning about the leading ladies of the story.
Yes, there is a lost story. While this story is Christian, there are no actual overly Christian themes in it or strong faith issues, but it is in it slightly. I do wish there was more, but I feel the story taught some lessons in faith and how God can watch out for people.
content: deceit, pregnancy out of wedlock brought up, death mentioned, death of a loss of a child briefly brought up (and is not a main focus of the story at all), and theft.
It was a pleasure to read this before it comes out. I really am thankful I got an ARC of this.
When I started reading this book, I took some time. The story was building up pretty slowly but with good reason. It seemed like a happy-go-lucky tale about a widow finding a new love. Then after about 100 pages in, something shifted. It turned into a tale of mystery and intrigue. I needed to know more and more.
This story takes on the perspective of several people, though mainly three (there is a fourth about one time later on in the book).
First this story takes on mainly Olivia's perspective. Olivia has suffered a lot of loss. She is an author in the early 1940s (with the pen name Via Belle), writing hit fiction novels that women tend to love. She lives at home in Pennsylvania with her aunt. Olivia has been widowed for a few years and is still greatly mourning the loss of her dear husband and the child they had lost long ago earlier. They were married for over 20 years and didn't have any other children. She meets a man named Simon who starts to make her heart beat in a way she didn't know could happen again. They don't get to see one another too often, but something is growing between them.
In 2006, Harper is trying to write a screenplay for a film. She goes to Via Belle's old town to gain inspiration. She always loved her books and knows that her mom had lived briefly in that area in an orphanage. She wants to write a screenplay based off of one of Via Belle's novels but has to get approval from those in charge of Via Belle's rights (and estate). There is a man named Finn who is a bit stubborn and doesn't really like her being on the property.
Isadore is a young college student who meets Olivia in passing and gets her signature on a book. She loves reading Via Belle's books. Her story slowly comes out as you read the book but it was so very good. I won't say more about her.
This story turned out to be so incredibly moving for me. As I read it, I started to form attachments to characters. There were shifts in my thoughts as I read it and really lovely situations that turned out to be incredible. I loved learning about the leading ladies of the story.
Yes, there is a lost story. While this story is Christian, there are no actual overly Christian themes in it or strong faith issues, but it is in it slightly. I do wish there was more, but I feel the story taught some lessons in faith and how God can watch out for people.
content: deceit, pregnancy out of wedlock brought up, death mentioned, death of a loss of a child briefly brought up (and is not a main focus of the story at all), and theft.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Melanie Dobson’s The Curator’s Daughter is a novel about stories themselves—the ones we tell the world, the ones we hide, and the ones that quietly shape us long after their authors have disappeared.
Dobson moves between timelines, following Via Belle, a beloved novelist whose life unraveled after personal tragedy, and Harper Rayne, a modern-day screenwriter searching for a story worth telling. The structure is ambitious, and at times, uneven. The early chapters require patience. The narrative unfolds slowly, and the introduction of multiple perspectives—especially the addition of a third narrative thread—can feel awkward before the reader finds firm footing.
But Dobson is doing something deliberate here. She is asking the reader to experience mystery the way Harper does: gradually, imperfectly, and with incomplete information.
What ultimately sustains the novel is its atmosphere. The stone estate above the lake, the gardens, the small Pennsylvania town—all are rendered with care and texture. The setting is not merely a backdrop but a presence. It holds memory. It keeps secrets. It becomes, in many ways, the quiet center of the story.
Dobson also succeeds in crafting characters whose past and present lives are meaningfully intertwined. While the emotional depth is not fully accessible in the early chapters, the connections strengthen as the story progresses. By the halfway point, curiosity takes hold. Questions accumulate. The mystery element becomes compelling enough to carry the reader forward.
The faith thread is mostly subtle, woven into the characters’ interior lives rather than stated outright. In a few moments, it emerges more directly, which can feel somewhat abrupt against the otherwise restrained tone. Still, the underlying themes—sacrificial love, loss, redemption, and the possibility of healing—are handled with sincerity.
This is ultimately a novel about perseverance: the perseverance required to love, to forgive, and even to finish a story when the ending is uncertain.
Much like Via Belle’s own novels, Dobson’s story resolves in a way that feels both complete and earned. The scattered pieces settle. The long-held questions find answers. And the reader is left with the quiet satisfaction of having witnessed not just a mystery solved, but a life understood.
The Curator’s Daughter asks something of its reader—patience, attention, trust—but rewards that investment with a story that lingers beyond its final page.
Dobson moves between timelines, following Via Belle, a beloved novelist whose life unraveled after personal tragedy, and Harper Rayne, a modern-day screenwriter searching for a story worth telling. The structure is ambitious, and at times, uneven. The early chapters require patience. The narrative unfolds slowly, and the introduction of multiple perspectives—especially the addition of a third narrative thread—can feel awkward before the reader finds firm footing.
But Dobson is doing something deliberate here. She is asking the reader to experience mystery the way Harper does: gradually, imperfectly, and with incomplete information.
What ultimately sustains the novel is its atmosphere. The stone estate above the lake, the gardens, the small Pennsylvania town—all are rendered with care and texture. The setting is not merely a backdrop but a presence. It holds memory. It keeps secrets. It becomes, in many ways, the quiet center of the story.
Dobson also succeeds in crafting characters whose past and present lives are meaningfully intertwined. While the emotional depth is not fully accessible in the early chapters, the connections strengthen as the story progresses. By the halfway point, curiosity takes hold. Questions accumulate. The mystery element becomes compelling enough to carry the reader forward.
The faith thread is mostly subtle, woven into the characters’ interior lives rather than stated outright. In a few moments, it emerges more directly, which can feel somewhat abrupt against the otherwise restrained tone. Still, the underlying themes—sacrificial love, loss, redemption, and the possibility of healing—are handled with sincerity.
This is ultimately a novel about perseverance: the perseverance required to love, to forgive, and even to finish a story when the ending is uncertain.
Much like Via Belle’s own novels, Dobson’s story resolves in a way that feels both complete and earned. The scattered pieces settle. The long-held questions find answers. And the reader is left with the quiet satisfaction of having witnessed not just a mystery solved, but a life understood.
The Curator’s Daughter asks something of its reader—patience, attention, trust—but rewards that investment with a story that lingers beyond its final page.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.
This book created many emotions in me there were times I didn't want to read cos I didn't want what I knew would happen to happen. But I did keep reading. In fact, yesterday I had a bus trip 2 and a half hours both way and read over 50% of the book on this trip. I finished it last night because I couldn't stop. Even though at times I didn't want to read the next part. This is a good book.
The book starts with Olivia who writes under the name Via Belle a romance author set in the 1940's. Olivia has writers block after the passing of her husband about 18 months prior but needing to write to keep her house. She is living there with her Aunt Hattie. She is invited to a college as part of a panel of authors as a college. As a romance author she is belittled for what she writes although she handles this with dignity. From this trip she meets Simon Farrow a college professor who is also a widower.
We then jump to 2006 where we meet Harper Rayne who is an aspiring screen writer who is working as a housekeeper for a wealthy Producer. She finds herself at a crossroad and goes to Pennsylvania where a good friend of her mother's lives. Her mother loved Via Belle novels, and this is where she lived. This starts her wanting to learn more about Via Belle and what happened to her.
In 2006 we know there is a mystery surrounding Olivia and the two-story lines eventually come together to what is a great ending. But coming to this conclusion there is a lot of twists and turns. Early on we know what part of the mystery is. It's not a spoiler to mention Simon as the blurb mentions her second marriage. I had a feeling there was something about him I just didn't like.
As I mentioned I really did dislike one of the characters even early on something wasn't right which is why there were times I didn't want to read the next chapter knowing something could happen, but I did. It was interesting how the two storylines told the story. In the current storyline Harper is reading Via Belle stories and is researching the author and as she is we see more of Olivia's story.
I have so much I want to say about the story, but I don't give away spoilers. This book would make an excellent book club read as there is so much do dissect. If you enjoy dual time books I am sure you will enjoy this book and if you like a story with a mystery but haven't read a dual time line before this would be a good start.
This book created many emotions in me there were times I didn't want to read cos I didn't want what I knew would happen to happen. But I did keep reading. In fact, yesterday I had a bus trip 2 and a half hours both way and read over 50% of the book on this trip. I finished it last night because I couldn't stop. Even though at times I didn't want to read the next part. This is a good book.
The book starts with Olivia who writes under the name Via Belle a romance author set in the 1940's. Olivia has writers block after the passing of her husband about 18 months prior but needing to write to keep her house. She is living there with her Aunt Hattie. She is invited to a college as part of a panel of authors as a college. As a romance author she is belittled for what she writes although she handles this with dignity. From this trip she meets Simon Farrow a college professor who is also a widower.
We then jump to 2006 where we meet Harper Rayne who is an aspiring screen writer who is working as a housekeeper for a wealthy Producer. She finds herself at a crossroad and goes to Pennsylvania where a good friend of her mother's lives. Her mother loved Via Belle novels, and this is where she lived. This starts her wanting to learn more about Via Belle and what happened to her.
In 2006 we know there is a mystery surrounding Olivia and the two-story lines eventually come together to what is a great ending. But coming to this conclusion there is a lot of twists and turns. Early on we know what part of the mystery is. It's not a spoiler to mention Simon as the blurb mentions her second marriage. I had a feeling there was something about him I just didn't like.
As I mentioned I really did dislike one of the characters even early on something wasn't right which is why there were times I didn't want to read the next chapter knowing something could happen, but I did. It was interesting how the two storylines told the story. In the current storyline Harper is reading Via Belle stories and is researching the author and as she is we see more of Olivia's story.
I have so much I want to say about the story, but I don't give away spoilers. This book would make an excellent book club read as there is so much do dissect. If you enjoy dual time books I am sure you will enjoy this book and if you like a story with a mystery but haven't read a dual time line before this would be a good start.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Lost Story of Via Belle by Melanie Dobson
4 Stars
Blog Review Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
What a good book! I was very interested in both storylines here. Melanie tied it all together so well. The mystery had me on the edge of my seat in the end!
If you like books about authors, screenwriters, books, with a historical fiction mystery - check this out!
1940 + 2006:
In 1940, we follow Olivia Ashe - Via Belle is her pen name for her romance books. Her books have been beloved by readers for years but she has grieved the loss of her husband and child...Her and her husband were married for 20 years so since he passed, she lives in Pennsylvania with her aunt. She meets Simon at an author panel she goes to.....they have a romance....but is all that it seems?
In 2006, we follow Harper who aspires to be a screenwriter and finds herself in Pennsylvania researching the life of Via Belle, who was her late mother's favorite author. She finds her books, a biography all about Via and starts to learn more about her life and secrets. Harper has her own grief she is working through after losing her mother as well. She really pieces the past together so well and learns so much about Via.
We have some other characters we follow too but the primary story is as mentioned above.
This was my first Melanie Dobson read and I really want to try her other books now! I liked how she weaved these characters, timelines and mystery together more than anything. While I would have liked a bit more faith and Christian elements, there were some good moments of hope and lessons learned. I think this is a book you really want to take some time to sit with because of the layers Melanie weaves in. Lots of twists and turns!
Thank you to Uplit Reads, Tyndale House Publishers and Melanie Dobson for a gifted copy of this book to read for review. All thoughts are my own.
Content/Trigger Warnings: death of a child and spouse mentioned but not a focal point of the book, grief from loss, death of a parent mentioned but also not a huge focal point of the book, no language, clean romance, pregnancy out of wedlock mentioned, death in general.
4 Stars
Blog Review Post: https://bookloveramanda.blogspot.com/...
What a good book! I was very interested in both storylines here. Melanie tied it all together so well. The mystery had me on the edge of my seat in the end!
If you like books about authors, screenwriters, books, with a historical fiction mystery - check this out!
1940 + 2006:
In 1940, we follow Olivia Ashe - Via Belle is her pen name for her romance books. Her books have been beloved by readers for years but she has grieved the loss of her husband and child...Her and her husband were married for 20 years so since he passed, she lives in Pennsylvania with her aunt. She meets Simon at an author panel she goes to.....they have a romance....but is all that it seems?
In 2006, we follow Harper who aspires to be a screenwriter and finds herself in Pennsylvania researching the life of Via Belle, who was her late mother's favorite author. She finds her books, a biography all about Via and starts to learn more about her life and secrets. Harper has her own grief she is working through after losing her mother as well. She really pieces the past together so well and learns so much about Via.
We have some other characters we follow too but the primary story is as mentioned above.
This was my first Melanie Dobson read and I really want to try her other books now! I liked how she weaved these characters, timelines and mystery together more than anything. While I would have liked a bit more faith and Christian elements, there were some good moments of hope and lessons learned. I think this is a book you really want to take some time to sit with because of the layers Melanie weaves in. Lots of twists and turns!
Thank you to Uplit Reads, Tyndale House Publishers and Melanie Dobson for a gifted copy of this book to read for review. All thoughts are my own.
Content/Trigger Warnings: death of a child and spouse mentioned but not a focal point of the book, grief from loss, death of a parent mentioned but also not a huge focal point of the book, no language, clean romance, pregnancy out of wedlock mentioned, death in general.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
** “Why had He stopped speaking to her? Even if she no longer heard Him, she knew He was near. She could feel the warmth of His being. A presence that reordered chaos.” **
Melanie Dobson delivers a thrilling time-slip novel in “The Lost Story of Via Belle,” a story about survival and resiliency spanning more than 60 years.
In 1940, widow Olivia Ashe is facing writer’s block while trying to write her 31st novel. When she’s invited to an author’s panel, though, her life takes an unanticipated turn she never saw coming. As the handsome and younger Professor Simon Farrow sweeps her off her feet and seemingly encourages her in her career, she soon faces situations she can’t comprehend, including a connection to a young student, Izzy, she meets at the conference that will shock her to the core.
In 2006, Harper Rayne is trying to finalize her groundbreaking screenplay. She even works for her actress best friend’s father who is a director, but she just can’t seem to wrap up her story. So when she faces an opportunity to head to Pennsylvania, near the home of her mother’s favorite author Via Belle, she quickly learns there’s mystery to the author’s life and Harper hopes to solve it.
Filled with many twists and turns, Dobson brilliantly creates two interwoven worlds filled with mystery and intrigue. She develops great characters that are inspirational and purely evil. She also fills “The Lost Story of Via Belle” with several great themes, like God is always near, even if we can’t hear Him; we must continue to live even when we lose all that’s dear to us; goodness still reigns in this world; we must write from our heart, sharing our stories; how detrimental envy is; and the concept of Romans 8:28, that God works all things for good.
Fans of dual-timeline novels, as well as authors like Jaime Jo Wright and Kate Morton, will love “The Lost Story of Via Belle,” which is due out April 14.
Five stars out of five.
Tyndale Fiction provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
Melanie Dobson delivers a thrilling time-slip novel in “The Lost Story of Via Belle,” a story about survival and resiliency spanning more than 60 years.
In 1940, widow Olivia Ashe is facing writer’s block while trying to write her 31st novel. When she’s invited to an author’s panel, though, her life takes an unanticipated turn she never saw coming. As the handsome and younger Professor Simon Farrow sweeps her off her feet and seemingly encourages her in her career, she soon faces situations she can’t comprehend, including a connection to a young student, Izzy, she meets at the conference that will shock her to the core.
In 2006, Harper Rayne is trying to finalize her groundbreaking screenplay. She even works for her actress best friend’s father who is a director, but she just can’t seem to wrap up her story. So when she faces an opportunity to head to Pennsylvania, near the home of her mother’s favorite author Via Belle, she quickly learns there’s mystery to the author’s life and Harper hopes to solve it.
Filled with many twists and turns, Dobson brilliantly creates two interwoven worlds filled with mystery and intrigue. She develops great characters that are inspirational and purely evil. She also fills “The Lost Story of Via Belle” with several great themes, like God is always near, even if we can’t hear Him; we must continue to live even when we lose all that’s dear to us; goodness still reigns in this world; we must write from our heart, sharing our stories; how detrimental envy is; and the concept of Romans 8:28, that God works all things for good.
Fans of dual-timeline novels, as well as authors like Jaime Jo Wright and Kate Morton, will love “The Lost Story of Via Belle,” which is due out April 14.
Five stars out of five.
Tyndale Fiction provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.
April 16, 2026
Has a novel ever left you with mixed feelings? That's how I feel about The Lost Story of Via Belle. I don't know if I'm happy, or sad or horrified or just numb. I'm not sure if I like it or not. I think I do....It's certainly not my type.
One thing I know for sure, it will stay with me for sometime. It was hard to read, and yet you wanted to know more. The subtle tension was maintained and skilfully ratcheted up and brought down again, as needed.
It's so well written and immersive that you feel for the main female characters - Olivia (Via) Belle, Izzy and Harper. The happy ending felt rather surreal because I was so caught up in the horror of betrayal, sacrifice, a mother's love, a father's pain, love and despair, and plain creepiness and fear. Or was it that the FMC experienced such betrayal when you think her up to snuff that was so surreal? I don't know.
I felt like I was watching it all unfold from outside and yet fully immersed in the story, understanding it all after some confusion, but unable to warn Olivia of what awaited her... You feel along with her.
Causing the reader to feel along with the character rather than just for the character is the hallmark of a skilled and truly great writer. Ms. Dobson did that for me in her novel about a well known early 20th century Christian romance writer, Olivia Belle Ashe aka Via Belle. Not only is Via Belle a supremely successful author, she also lived a fairy tale life that had its share of horror.
It's a far too common theme (I won't tell you what it is), that could have been much worse, but wasn't because of God. And yet there's a lingering sense of betrayal and horror at what did happen and what almost did happen.
I give it a full five stars because it's so well written. I'll even recommend it to you, but I don't think I will ever reread it.
I was given an ARC copy to read by the publisher via NetGalley, but the opinions expressed here are my own.
One thing I know for sure, it will stay with me for sometime. It was hard to read, and yet you wanted to know more. The subtle tension was maintained and skilfully ratcheted up and brought down again, as needed.
It's so well written and immersive that you feel for the main female characters - Olivia (Via) Belle, Izzy and Harper. The happy ending felt rather surreal because I was so caught up in the horror of betrayal, sacrifice, a mother's love, a father's pain, love and despair, and plain creepiness and fear. Or was it that the FMC experienced such betrayal when you think her up to snuff that was so surreal? I don't know.
I felt like I was watching it all unfold from outside and yet fully immersed in the story, understanding it all after some confusion, but unable to warn Olivia of what awaited her... You feel along with her.
Causing the reader to feel along with the character rather than just for the character is the hallmark of a skilled and truly great writer. Ms. Dobson did that for me in her novel about a well known early 20th century Christian romance writer, Olivia Belle Ashe aka Via Belle. Not only is Via Belle a supremely successful author, she also lived a fairy tale life that had its share of horror.
It's a far too common theme (I won't tell you what it is), that could have been much worse, but wasn't because of God. And yet there's a lingering sense of betrayal and horror at what did happen and what almost did happen.
I give it a full five stars because it's so well written. I'll even recommend it to you, but I don't think I will ever reread it.
I was given an ARC copy to read by the publisher via NetGalley, but the opinions expressed here are my own.
May 6, 2026
What a delicious story! THE LOST STORY OF VIA BELLE is the first novel I've read by Melanie Dobson, and after this experience, I am eager to explore more of her work. If her other stories are anything like this one, consider me a devoted fan and a future reader.
THE STORY: [provided by publisher] 1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.
2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.
5 STARS BECAUSE: I am especially drawn to time-slip novels that weave together historical and contemporary timelines, offering the best of both worlds. Dobson’s novel beautifully balances elements of suspense and mystery with a strong journey of faith, making the reading experience both engaging and meaningful. Add a bit of romance and this is a pure delight—as well as being a page-turner.
I received an ARC from Tyndale House Publishing for my honest review.
THE STORY: [provided by publisher] 1940. Via Belle’s sweet romance novels made readers believe in happily ever after. But Via’s reality was much more complicated. While her first husband was alive, her creativity thrived in a beautiful stone estate situated above a pristine lake and moonflower garden. After his tragic death and a whirlwind second marriage shrouded in secrets, Via vanished from public life, leaving behind a shadow of scandal . . . and her final story.
2006. Screenwriter Harper Rayne is desperate for a breakthrough, if only she can find the right story to tell. But when she digs into the life of her late mother’s favorite novelist, she never expects it to become personal. Drawn to the quaint Pennsylvania town where both her mother and Via once lived, Harper discovers more than a mystery to solve—she finds echoes of her own longing for love, healing, and home. As long-buried secrets come to light, Harper must decide if she’ll protect the past or rewrite this particular ending.
5 STARS BECAUSE: I am especially drawn to time-slip novels that weave together historical and contemporary timelines, offering the best of both worlds. Dobson’s novel beautifully balances elements of suspense and mystery with a strong journey of faith, making the reading experience both engaging and meaningful. Add a bit of romance and this is a pure delight—as well as being a page-turner.
I received an ARC from Tyndale House Publishing for my honest review.
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