Refuge on Crescent Hill: A Novel

by Melanie Dobson

Moving home after a recent job loss was supposed to reassure Camden Bristow and give her time to decide what to do next. But when she arrives in Etherton, Ohio, she discovers that her grandmother, who she hasn't talked to in years, has passed away and "home" is an empty mansion 150 years old. Not exactly the comfort Camden was looking for. What happened to the house she played in as a child, the bedtime stories that told of secret passageways and runaway slaves, and all those family memories? When antiques start disappearing and footsteps are heard, some of those memories start to creep back and Camden wonders if her grandmother's bedtime stories might actually be true. What really happened here . . . at Crescent Hill? How was her grandmother involved? Who still has access to the house? And for what purpose? As she works to uncover the past and present mysteries harbored in her home, Camden also uncovers secrets about her family that could change the town--and her life--forever.

Genres: Mystery, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Historical Fiction, Suspense, Contemporary

272 pages, Paperback

First published March 11, 2010

About the author

Writing 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.

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I scan others' reviews before writing my own, just to see how many folks felt the same way as I did about the book...this helps me to remember to heed caution when choosing whether or not to read a book based on reviews...we all have such different opinions on things!

What strikes me as strange as I read reviews on this book is how many negative reviews are given because it has christian views included in it. It is marketed as a Christian book. Shouldn't those that are that opposed to Christianity pay attention to such things before they open a book?? It's such a shame that a book of this quality should receive bad reviews for writing within it's own genre. Were it not labeled 'Christian' I would be in complete agreement with these folks views - I hate being 'hijacked' by an author's political, religious or special issues views on things without warning. But if the warning is there and you read it anyway....that's on you. Sorry for the speech...I'm just sayin...

Now, about the BOOK. I LOVED IT. It's one of those books that makes you walk away feeling all warm and fuzzy...strange, since it's not a romance, coming of age or chick lit...it's a mystery. How often do you get the warm fuzzies from a mystery? This book just makes you realize how important family is and how lonely we would be without our loved ones. It's about history and the intentions of people long gone...it's extremely well written and researched. Ohio was in a strange position during the years around the Civil War, I might have enjoyed learning more on that aspect, but still...this was a very interesting subject, an enjoyable story and I learned a few things too.

Totally 5 stars!!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refuge on Crescent Hill was full of surprises. Unlike Melanie Dobson’s other novels, Crescent Hill took two chapters of laying groundwork before I was fully sucked into the story. As the story progressed and the plot began to unfold, I found myself flipping back and forth between chapters, checking last names of characters trying to figure out how the dots connected. When my hunches were wrong, I gave up and immersed myself in the story. Much to my delight, Dobson connected the dots in suspenseful, unpredictable ways that kept me wondering and guessing with every turn of the page.

Refuge on Crescent Hill opens with Dobson’s modern day heroin, Camden Bristow, at the end of herself. Desperate and lonely, Camden turns to the only place that has ever seemed like home: her Grandma’s arms. But when she arrives in Etherton, Ohio, she discovers her Grandma has passed away leaving Camden her 150 year old, rundown mansion. The historical and eerie mansion is shrouded in mystery with rampant rumors of ghosts haunting the grounds and unexplainable lights and shadows dancing from the windows of the third floor. As Camden wrestles with how to handle her unexpected gift, she finds herself unraveling a complicated and dangerous story much bigger than herself.

Goosebump-inducing suspense, intrigue, romance, and an underlying theme of redemption and God making all things new… Refuge on Crescent Hill has it all. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put this wonderful story down.

[Sherry Sharpnack · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel really held promise as an interesting mystery tying together two different plotlines. In the main plot line, Camden is a world-traveling photographer who has lost everything but her car and one camera b/c of the bankruptcy of her last employer. Her only hope is her grandmother back in Ohio at the family mansion, Crescent Hill. In the secondary plot line, Stephanie is writing a research paper based on her family's mystery of the missing plantation-era jewelry: did a runaway slave abscond w/ them? What ever happened to him?
Camden goes to Ohio and finds out that she barely missed her grandmother's funeral; that her grandmother left Crescent Hill to her; and that Camden's estranged half-sister wants the mansion. Who knows why as it is crumbling down, and is supposedly haunted. Alex Yates works for the city and has to bring new income into the town or lose his job. He thinks buying Crescent Hill and turning the land into an economic driver would be great for the town, maybe something to do w/ its history as a stop on the Underground Railroad? He didn't count on actually liking Camden. And then there's no-good Jake Paxton and his conniving grandfather, ALSO wanting Crescent Hill...b/c of the legend of the hidden treasure in the house.
This all sounds great, doesn't it? And parts of it work really well. Someone is making Camden think she's crazy, and the lead-up to the climax is VERY gripping; I honestly couldn't stop reading. BUT, the tying together of the two story lines, and the resolution of the novel are both so anti-climactic as to leave the reader feeling really flat. There is also the possible budding romance between Alex and Camden, which simply takes too long to develop. And Jake is SUCH a bad guy that he is merely a stereotype, not sympathetic in the least. But what really dropped my rating on this book was the overtly evangelical Christian message that I wasn't expecting. All the typical evangelical tropes are there: girl has fallen away from the God of her grandmother, but turns to Him in an hour of need; man is hoping God will help him heal over the loss of family members; and really annoyingly after last week's SCOTUS ruling: abortion is murder, and no self-respecting woman would do it, not even an abused teen-ager. Deep, DEEP sigh. This drops the book into the high 2-star to low 3-star range, but b/c of the great lead-up to the disappointing climax, I'll give it 3.4 stars, rounded down to 3.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camden Bristow has lost her job, is out of money, and decides that going home to her grandmother whom she has seen in a couple of years is her best solution. Only when she arrives in small town, Etherton, she finds her grandmother has died and no one informed her. The mansion is falling apart that has been in the Bristow family for over 160 years, and it is now belongs to Camden. Will long ago secrets bring this family home to destruction or development with Alex Yates, a town councilmen, along to help?

Dobson has created a wonderful plot that combines history and suspense into one lovely package. This is a character driven mystery that revolves around an historic mansion, what will be done with it, and the young, new owner who is at a crossroads in her own life. Filled with a handsome hero, Alex Yates, and a couple of villains, Edward and Jake Paxton, who were also long time original family, the characters were well developed. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was that the thread with Stephanie felt awkwardly placed a couple of times and didn't appear to be woven in well. But still an enjoyable read.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Camden received her grandmother's mansion as an inheritance. She soon discovered that others were interested in the house as well, some with ulterior motives. As she dug into the history of the house, she uncovered a lot of mysteries, including those of her own family

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this either for free or for really cheap through Amazon. It was a good story and worth reading but I wouldn't recommend someone go out of their way to get ahold of this book.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid 3.5 stars - a good clean mystery with a Christian perspective. The story starts a little slow but then picks up steam about halfway in. I think the author's recent books are more beautifully written than this one, but this is still enjoyable.

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. It had a lot of suspense. There are a lot of characters to keep track of but I liked how it all tied together at the end.

[Mybucklingbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Heather ~*dread mushrooms*~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through First Reads. I found this a light and refreshing read, although I didn't ever get emotionally involved with the story. I was interested enough to keep reading until the end, wondering what would happen, but the conclusion was rather anticlimactic and the characters were far from dynamic. Still, I can see why people would enjoy this book. It's solidly written.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, there is history, characters that you really start caring about as well as a mystery that keeps the pages turning. The ending was a bit to quick and rushed but still a good book.

[Dustin the wind Crazy little brown owl]

I won this through the goodreads first reads giveaway program.

[Lauren Acosta · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[SK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Synopsis & Review with Spoilers (4.2): Camden Bristow is a freelance photographer. She uses her photography to highlight people in compelling situations around the world. This type of life allowed her to avoid putting down roots or connections to people or places. Her family is broken and connections with each other all but severed, except for her memories of her Grandmother Rosealie. A few times during her childhood, she was able to experience love and connection to her Etherton, Ohio Grandmother, to her town, her faith, and her home. Camden wrote the occasional letter to her Grandmother, but she had not seen her in person for years.
But suddenly Camden’s life implodes; the bills for her recent photo junket to Asia are not paid by Grant Haussen, the businessman that hired her, in fact, his business was closed, their doors chained, and even Grant had to look for other work. Her credit card has reached its limit and her apartment rent is past due. She is slated for eviction. With no options left, she puts her meager possessions into her car and heads for the mansion on Crescent Hill and her Grandmother.
She arrives at Crescent Hill, but cannot find her Grandmother, but is able to connect to her old friend Jenny and Jenny’s husband Dan. She finds out that her Grandmother just died the week before after a battle with cancer. Dan, the attorney for her Grandmother meets with her and lets her know she is now the owner of Crescent Hill. Before she falls asleep that night in her old bedroom in the mansion, she reads her Grandmother’s letter. Her grandmother writes that her prayer for Camden is that she would embrace the future and the purpose that God planted in Camden’s heart. Grandma Rosealie said she recognized that Camden loved people even as a child and that love is seen current in how she photographs people. She tells Camden to love, serve, protect, fight for people and then give them to God (LOC 570-573). This proves to be somewhat prophetic. Grandma Rosealie’s verbal trust to Camden ties the story together. It swings the book into the mystery of Crescent Hill, the mystery of Etherton, the mystery of the strange lights, noises, & happenings on the third floor of the mansion, the mystery of the jewels, and how it all connects to the Underground Railroad and the purpose that her Grandmother Rosealie entrusts to Camden.
We met Alex Yates, a man who wants to do the best for the city in the job he was hired to do. We meet nefarious characters, such as Edward, Jake, and Lisa who are part of Camden’s extended family. We meet Louise Danner who is the mayor of Etherton, but seems to be somewhat unfocused concerning what is good for Etherton. We meet a university student researcher, Stephanie Ellison, who is doing a paper on the missing Ellison jewels. She traces some leads to the underground railroad and Crescent Hill. Past and present meet in this story, good and evil, as well as altruistic motives versus selfish, materialist motives. It is a good story, with themes of forgiveness. I would read more from this author.

[Jennifer Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refuge on Crescent Hill by Melanie Dobson is a story of family secrets and one woman’s journey home. Camden Bristow was a photographer who traveled the world taking photos of amazing sights and documenting tragic events. Until one day when the calls for her work stopped. Left destitute, her only option is return to her grandmother’s home on Crescent Hill. As she heads there, she has no idea what awaits her or what secrets will be revealed once she gets there? Alex Yates is the charge of the economic development for the same town of Etherton but every one of his ideas has been shot down by the city council and he is desperate for the next idea. Alex is running from his own past and a secret he’s desperate to keep hidden. Stephanie Ellison-Carter is a student writing a research paper about the Ellison family. She learns that her family had some jewels stolen and the theft could be linked to the disappearance of one of the Ellison’s slaves. As their journeys began to merge, their own personal secrets will be revealed. Will Camden finally find a home? Is there someone who is trying to sabotage Alex’s attempts to boost the town? How are Camden, Alex and Stephanie linked to the Crescent Hill?
I thoroughly enjoyed Refuge on Crescent Hill. Having read Ms. Dobson’s books before, I was eager to dive into this one and it did not disappoint. From the opening page to the closing epilogue, the story is driven family secrets, evil plots and twists and turns of a great mystery. I enjoyed all the characters, even the villains fit well especially the ones you wouldn’t suspect. When the connection between the three characters are revealed, it is an emotional moment for the characters as well for the reader. It reminds you that we might be strangers but our family pasts may be connection through an amazing story of strength, courage and bravery. Even though I wanted to strangle Camden at times for being an idiot, I cheered for her by the end. I highly recommend Refuge on Crescent Hill.

Refuge on Crescent Hill
is available in paperback and eBook

[Kav · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like the hint of a Gothic vibe (aka classic Phyllis A. Whitney) then ‘Refuge on Crescent Hill’ is the read for you. So atmospheric right from the opening page with Camden in desperate straits, heading to her childhood haven and the warmth of her grandmother’s arms. Only her grandmother is dead and the ‘home’ she remembers is a decaying mansion as broken as she feels.

And the house is either haunted or invaded by someone other than herself though no one takes her seriously. And there are so many secrets! Decades of them, all surrounding Camden’s family. And strangers eager to buy the house and the land…some for altruistic reasons, some for nefarious ones. And the town watching every move Camden makes. Sooooooooo scrumptiously mysterious. Layers of villainy to unmask and family history to uncover. Plus a light romance to swoon over. The perfect escape read.

https://kavsbestreads.ca/2024/06/20/r...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this storyline. It flowed well after the 1/2 way point, a bit slow in the beginning as it is setting up the characters and setting. There are 4+ points of view so that gets confusing at first.
The characters are well thought out and have distinct traits.
I think it is more of a mystery than a suspense though there are a few suspenseful times.
It is clean: romance and language (thank you very much)
The Christian element was there but not overbearing.
A satisfying ending. (though there was one point in the end that I did not feel was explained and jumped there)
There are several typos, formatting issues and grammatical errors that had me double checking.
Overall a worthwhile read.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating story of a mansion in a small town in Ohio with a history dating back to the Civil War. Our heroine seeks peace and a place of refuge so she sets out to find her grandmother, the only person who has shown her genuine affection. Unfortunately, she is no longer alive and so now Camden has to decide to stay and make a new life for herself or return to New York City. Many plots interweave as the story goes on. The past seems to enter into the future. Her grandmother was a loving person who carried out her generosity in marvelous ways. Camden feels compelled to continue her work.
A very enjoyable read.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quaint story for light reading. It was a little slow early on, but interesting enough to keep me turning the pages to finish in 3 days. The novel was fairly realistic and believable except maybe for the death at the end of the book, that seemed a bit out of character, and stupid when you're about to get caught. The Christian parts did not bother me at all, most of us have seen people live their faith and shouldn't be surprised when we read about it. Even if you haven't believed yet, the parts relating to the Christian faith make up such a small part of the book, you'll still enjoy the story.

[Jennifer Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed in the end of this. We had a decent little mystery/drama through the book, with the play at romance between the two main characters. That romance wasn’t really fully developed and then suddenly at the end...they’re engaged...ehh not believable. Entertaining and fun read, but I had some issues.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and engrossing story, though with some areas of storytelling that I wanted to know more about. Stephanie was a bit of an awkward insertion and while the romance element started off strong with a solid meet-cute, it floundered in the realm of tell without enough show as their friendship and attraction grew mostly off-page. Excellent mystery with twists, though!

[Kathy Barter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery, love story

The story started slowly but I have read books written by this author before so I kept reading, being rewarded with a good mystery story. I think this book is really a 4 and 1/2 stars. Clean, no foul language.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this book, it talk about history and present time and mystery within the story is very interesting and I didn't figure it out until the end of the story. Melanie Dobson is a good writer.

[Tara | Mercyandgracereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a book that has a mix of a cozy mystery and American history; this is the book. The characters lines were well told and wove together well. The inner dialogue could drag at times which is the reason I didn’t give this book five stars. This was a perfect read for a getaway.

[Pat Raab · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely have strong leanings towards books about historical places and things. An intriguing tale about finding one's roots and the connection between slavery in the Southern states and a lost treasure.

[Karen R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story overall, suspenseful towards the end, with interesting ties between the characters revealed later on. Some may like the inclusion of the Underground Railroad history thread and family links. 3.5 stars

[Kathryn Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about Camden that highlights the underground railroad. In Ohio, her grandma's mansion has guarded its secrets for yrs. This is the 2nd time I've read this Christian (mostly mystery) light romance. Very enjoyable.

[Julia Rossen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery story of an old mansion with secrets, supposed hidden treasures, and light romance. Refers to history from the days of U.S. slave history, the subject of battered women, and dysfunctional families.

[Veronica Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery about treasure and the underground railroad.

[Denise Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kindle-Free-Faithful Reads. An enjoyable read with a mystery about a mansion that was a part of the Underground Railroad