The Secrets of the Montebellis

Secrets #1

by Cheryl Colwell

Lisa Richards is caught in an abusive relationship and devises a clandestine plan to escape. In league with the secretive Montebelli Corporation, she grasps her one chance to gain financial freedom and fulfill her dream to help revive the town her ancestors helped settle in the Pacific Northwest. Imminent threats, at work to crush her efforts, thrust her to the edge of destruction.

Genres: Historical Romance

268 pages, Paperback

First published July 24, 2011

About the author

I love to drop characters into stunning locations, where devious contemporary and historical occurrences summon them to action. Each novel takes the reader on an adventurous quest popping with mystery, romance and suspense.

Reviews

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Richards is trapped in a loveless and unhappy marriage, her husband disrespectful and abusive. Miserable, insecure and unfulfilled, she creates a life of her own developing plans to rejuvenate a failing town in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. With the help of the Montebelli Corporation as financiers, a brilliant young architect who strengthens Lisa's vision, and her son part of the design team, Lisa's dream appears hopeful. As enemies surface and questionable circumstances appear to thwart her plans Lisa plummets into a quagmire of events that could destroy her. Her husband's threats cause concern for her life. His greed and jealousy reveal hostility and contempt.

This was a tough book to put down! There are mysteries and secrets that captured my attention throughout the book, and revelations that placed a new spin on the developing story. A mountain containing a mine where fire opals had been harvested, a mysterious tomb in the park at the base of the mountain, and stories of the past create suspense and intrigue throughout. This book contains numerous elements to keep the reader engrossed. Intrigue, mystery, romance, deception, and adventure are only some of the elements that make this a compelling novel.

Cheryl Colwell has brought the landscape to life with her pictorial detailing of the mountains and valleys in this beautiful setting. The characters she has created are credible and imaginative, colorful and mysterious, formidable and fascinating. The plot moves along at a pace that kept me interested and wanting to continue reading to the very end in one sitting. Unfortunately my schedule prevented me from doing that, but the author places enough breaks in the story to give the reader time to lay the book down and come back for more when time allows. I highly recommend this unpredictable, interesting and exciting book, and look forward to more from this very talented author!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheryl Colwell has the talent and ability to pen a wonderful story about family, romance, love, and yes, spousal abuse. I found myself starting the novel but was distracted, and so I stopped after a few chapters.
I was encouraged by my wife to stick with the story. I am glad I did, as it turned out to be a page-turner, and that doesn't happen very often for me.
The Montebelli family history is an interesting one filled with secrets and intrigue, revealed in the present life of Lisa Richards. She is heir to riches passed down to her, made possible from a family- owned Opal mine.
Lisa has a vision of creating a new town with the help of the Montebelli Corporation. Many people are in favor of the idea, and some are not. Family and business conflicts involve her to the Nth degree.
Cheryl Colwell gives us many twists and turns in a story that kept me reading non-stop.
I highly recommend this 5 star novel.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won my copy through the Goodreads FirstReads contest!

I'm going to review this one as I read it, so I will probably change my opinions as I go along.

Chapters 1 – 6

I am intrigued by the characters and the settings. I already hate the husband. I hated him from page one. Since much of the story so far is written from Taylor's perspective, I feel like I know him more. I am wondering what Lisa is up to and how she thinks whatever she's doing will get her away from the hateful husband. She's being a little too secretive for my taste at the moment, but with good reason. I know this is part of the plot design. Looking forward to seeing what happens with the rest of the story.

Chapters 7 – 10

The plot thickens and we get to the heart of it. The husband, Thomas, is a royal jackass, and that is being polite. Lisa's up to something. Taylor and Jesse want to protect her. Some secrets have been revealed, but we're just getting to the good stuff. Looking forward to it! And I am PRAYING that Thomas gets it in the end!

Chapters 11 – 16

So many secrets are out, and now we are working damage control. Thomas, ugh, the thought of him turns my stomach. I know this is going to turn out well in the end. I just know it. I LOVE Gale. She is absolutely fantastic. I really need this to work out for Lisa. I am pulling for her – a lot. Also, I love that God is laced all throughout this book, but He's not thrown in your face like a lot of other inspirational books. It's refreshing, since I personally feel that's how He works. He's there, even if you don't see Him. Looking forward to the rest!

Chapters 17 - END

What can I say? Thomas gets his in the end all right. I just didn't expect him to die by wild animal. LOL I love this story. It's a double romance with mystery and suspense. It's inspirational, so no cussing or actual sex, but lots of romance and just enough God. Like I said before, I think that's how He works anyway. Fantastic. When I say I couldn't put down the book, I mean it. The characters are well developed and you either love or hate them. And when you hate them, you REALLY hate them. I love the plot, the education about fire opals, and the ties to studying family trees – a particular interest of mine. This novel is well done and I will definitely be adding it to my “rereads” list one day. Bravo and well done.

[Dana Rongione · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Richards is far more than she seems. Despite her unfaithful husband's opinion of her, Lisa has dreams, goals and many secrets. With opposition meeting her at every turn, Lisa is determined to see her plans come to fruition no matter the cost. Unfortunately, she has no idea just how high the cost will be. In a story riddled with greed and mystery, treasure and history, The Secrets of the Montebellis tells the story of one woman's determination to be faithful to herself and her family while struggling to find out who she truly is. It is a tale of intrigue that will leave you reading long into the night.

When I first read the description of Cheryl's book, I knew it sounded right up my alley. Treasure hunts, abandoned mines, historical artifacts that point the way to solving the mysteries at hand. Definitely the kind of book I like to read, and I was not disappointed. From the very first chapter, I was drawn in to the story, feeling like another character immersed in the mystery.

I would have to say that the thing I loved most about the book was the character development. Cheryl did a fantastic job of portraying characters that you love and those that you love to hate. Not only were the characters realistic, but each had their own unique personality that set them apart in the story. At times, I found myself hurting so much for Lisa (the main character) that I just wanted to be able to reach out and give her a hug. As for her husband, well, let's just say a well-deserved slap would have certainly made me feel better.

Cheryl also did a fabulous job of weaving a complete history of Lisa's family into the story. Not only is the history fascinating, but each new fact that is revealed presents another piece of the puzzle in the grand mystery. I enjoyed keeping track of each tidbit and trying to solve the mystery before the characters did. While the reading process was a little more exhausting this way, it was still truly enjoyable.

The Secrets of the Montebellis is a wonderful blend of intrigue, romance, adventure, scandal and forgiveness, with Christian aspects and influences thrown in. Also, being a Christian book, it is free of foul language and other negative features, making this a refreshing read for me. If you're into mystery, then you'll love this book. But be warned, once you start, you won't want to put it down!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book! The Secrets of the Montebellis proved to be a real page turner for me. This book has it all – a beautiful setting, a damsel in distress, certain characters so full of hate and spite that they would try to tear down a woman and her family legacy. The story also contains wonderful character development and a plot that twists and turns in such a way that I wondered how anything could possibly end up working out in the heroine’s favor by the end of the book. There are also two sweet love stories that work their way through the novel. They are well done and a respite from the dark side of the storyline.

The book is primarily about a woman named Lisa Richards who is in an unloving and abusive relationship. The hatred that her husband shows her is painful to read about, but handled well by the author. Lisa has developed a plan to try to escape from this overbearing man who is jealous of her family history. That history and the lands related to it are a key part of Lisa’s hope for escape. But, when her plans start to crash down around her, Lisa will need the help of both new and old friends to weather the storm and come out on top. I really enjoyed the mystery and secrets that the author slowly revealed throughout the book. Her attention to detail in constructing these clues made for a very interesting read that I enjoyed from page one all the way to the end of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through BookCrash in exchange for my honest review, which I have given.

You can read this review on my blog at:
http://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.co...

[Marlena Smith-Burris · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets of the Montebellis is about Lisa Richards, who is the Guardian of Fire Mountain—a mine that used to contain precious fire opals. She is up against many people, some who are trying to steal the mountain from her family and some trying to keep her from reviving the small town of her ancestors. She could be risking a lot, including her marriage and even her life. Along the way, she meets Steven Taylor, who immediately notices there’s more to Lisa than she lets on. He may be the one to discover her secrets that she has been hiding from everyone else. It could either destroy her or help her.

This is a wonderful book, definitely deserving of 5 stars! There are so many good qualities about The Secrets of the Montebellis. From beginning to end, it keeps you guessing and in complete suspense. Add in a mixture of mystery, drama, and romance and you have the perfect book to escape in. The characters are dynamic and I immediately fell in love with them. Lisa is such a strong woman with so much against her, but she never gives up and is fortunate to have her family and friends there with full support. That being another nice touch—family and friends being very important throughout the book.

And, in all honesty, I don’t know how much research went into this novel. Or how much of it was based on truth. Regardless, I found myself fascinated in the history of Lisa’s family and the mine. It seemed so realistic and I think the history made the story that much more appealing.

[Terri Nighswonger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheryl Colwell hits a home run with Secrets of the Montebellis.

Lisa Richards has a plan to break away from her abusive husband but it seems to all come crashing down as her plan begins to unravel. As guardian of her ancestors land, she is also threatened with losing everything her forefathers had worked to obtain. Will Lisa prevail in the end? Will the illusive Montebelli Corporation be her savior or her undoing? How does the handsome and kind Steven Taylor fit into the picture?

With a great setting, well written characters and a wonderful storyline, this one will most certainly keep you up reading until the wee hours of the morning. While one secret is revealed another is waiting in the wings. This book will keep you turning pages until the final secret is uncovered at the end. Good job Cheryl!

[Lelia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot to like in this book, from gorgeous scenery to gorgeous opals, from pleasant people to thoroughly unpleasant people who have understandable motives, from legal maneuvering to genealogy and puzzles. There were parts that were hard to read, as one could feel the oppression that comes from living with a husband who is always critical and controlling. I was glad that Lisa (the main character) was creative and strong enough to become a developer with a beautiful vision.The story was written from an omniscient point of view which let us know how nearly everybody was feeling and thinking, which I like. There was romance, which I don't like, but that's just me, and there was mild suspense. The book might contain some triggers for abused women, but I think most women will enjoy this book.

[Sheila Holmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5

Everything about this story made it a pleasure. There was mystery, suspense, tension, and of course, a love story.

However, personally I had a bit of difficulty over the main characters being somewhat too close during the time the female main character was still married (emotionally, not physically). They never stepped over propriety, but it seemed they didn't avoid each other as completely as they might have. (I will readily admit that perhaps this issue was mainly mine.)

I have to say, though, that the story kept me actively engaged throughout.

And, while I'm at it, I'll add that this story appears to have needed intense research. I stood amazed at the thoroughness of the author's knowledge of grants, trusts, and law.

I can certainly recommend this novel.

[Weiping Yin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predicable and easy

I have three main issues with this book: story line is old. There have been numerous movies and books withe similar plot. The location description is too puzzling. In the mountain range, mobile phone signal would not be that strong. The township took away private property, it is just too unbelievable.

[Christy Calhoun Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets

The characters come to life in this interesting mystery of tangled lives, old feuds, and hope. A wonderful glimpse into a town you want to stay in!

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was recommended to me by a friend who won it from Goodreads Giveaways.

The premise sounded promising: a battered woman (both physically and mentally) of a small town is leading a secret life of success as a business owner and developer of her namesake. And some sort of trouble leads to uncovering secrets of her family's past.

Lisa, the heroine, has all the "elements" of a good character. She is mature, yet spiritual; she is pleasant and kind to others, physically fit, active and loves the outdoors, loves progress and is still traditional, is wealthy in her own right yet still remains humble. Oh yeah, and she's also the mother of a handsome, young, successful, kind son (despite his abusive father) named Jesse. She sounds pretty perfect, right?

Taylor, our "hero", is a cycle (as in professional bicycling) sports writer. He has the glamorous gig of following tours and meets that race in different areas around the world, interviewing cyclists about the race and terrain, and also has the appropriate characteristics of an "everyday" hero: he's handsome, mature, patient and understanding, a professional success with all the right contacts (actually on the verge of retirement), well-traveled, and he still maintains an appreciation for the simple things in life like beautiful sunsets and cold air in your lungs.

But my review in brief: I was bored.

Don't get me wrong, all the "elements" were there. But what I need to really get into a story is passion. I don't mean just the bedroom kind (although that doesn't hurt). I mean the interplay between characters. I need an emotional connection so I feel invested in the outcome. What I don't need is to know every meal you had at the same restaurant when it has no effect on the outcome of the story.

I did feel some fleeting emotions during the excitement of Lisa's marriage falling apart, and when her secrets are revealed to the town, but for the most part I felt like I was entrenched in the "everyday" of "get up, go to work, go to the store, come home, make dinner, watch tv, go to bed."

Spoiler Alert: Taylor and Lisa do get together, but I felt the rise of Taylor's emotions came out of the proverbial "left field." I need a hero who is wracked with emotion when his love is suffering, and I didn't get any of that when Lisa is in the hospital. And seriously? Who wouldn't love a declaration of love that goes like this: "We know how we feel about each other and we're old enough to know the difference between love and infatuation." ... Seriously? I can't believe she didn't jump you right there.

Maybe I'm just too young to appreciate this book. Or maybe it was just meh. Either way, it's not one I'll be getting my own copy of. My recommendations: give your heroes some flaws to overcome, put in more character interplay, and cut out random character appearances and back story that are irrelevant (because baby, there's A LOT of that).

Happy Reading!

[Edythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Richards is in an abusive marriage with psychiatrist Dr. Thomas Richards who controls Lisa and what she does to keep his standing in the community looking good. Lisa is more than a homemaker who cleans and cooks without the knowledge of Thomas who thinks she is only capable of keeping house and napping all day. Lisa is working for a real estate company to rebuild the Tangle Grove community her family of ancestors built through the Dutchman’s mine of fire opals. With this project, Lisa believes it will free her from Thomas and the financial control over her life.

Steven Taylor is a sports writer for USA Cycle Magazine covering the The Summit Challenge Bicycle Ride for his magazine article. He meets Lisa and Thomas by chance while dining with his daughter and asks Thomas for an interview after learning he participated in the bicycle ride and witnessed an accident involving the cyclists. Taylor immediately senses the control Thomas has over Lisa and wonders why she stays in such a relationship. As Taylor learns more about Lisa, he knows the project she is coordinating for the real estate company is not quite what it seems.

The Secrets of the Montebellis is about a woman who goes to great lengths to keep a secret about her family fortune and the Dutchman’s mine of fire opals. I enjoyed the back-stories explaining who the ancestors were and what they did to preserve their control over the family mine. The theme has suspense, romance, and adventure for readers who love dabbling in mystery and ancient stories.

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest opinion in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission Guidelines.

[Angie Fehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I needed to pick this book up because I was recently sent its sequel for review and I hate starting series in the middle. Gotta say, for a book that's only just over 250 pages, this story moved SO SLOOOOW for me. It picked up some 4-5 chapters in, and it did get more interesting near the end when Lisa has the final big confrontation with her enemies and reveals big family history and secrets to people close to her but for the most the pace just felt bogged down by something...it might have just been the fact that nothing particularly gripping seemed to be going on.

Thomas, Lisa's husband, is described as abusive, but I didn't find him nearly as dark and scary as he could have been written. His behavior seemed to be largely made up of scowling at his wife, interrupting her or loudly talking over her and acting unfaithfully. He struck me as being more of a tool with with a modicum amount of influence from his money and connections than an actual major threat, but that's just me.

I also felt that the romance between Jesse and Asia suffered from a case of Insta-Love and the romance between Lisa (Jesse's mom) and Taylor (Asia's father) got SO sappy at times I was actually cringing and groaning.

I DID like the history written for the town of Tangle Creek and Lisa's family background, and I found the character of Lisa's father a really sweet and generous soul. As a whole though, I found this one a little lackluster. Hoping the pace picks up in the sequel.

[Joleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book.
Lisa stays with her controlling and emotionally abusive husband because she has a plan to develop her ancestors little town into a thriving quaint village again. Her husband would destroy her efforts and ruin everything if he ever found out, and take it all away.
So for years she keeps this secret. It's a good plan, and an honorable one, but is she ready for the hardships if he finds out?
Well, lots of things happen along the way and around every turn it seems like Lisa can't catch a break.
It's a good plot, with a few unbelievable parts...like how it was that, with all the people she was socializing with at the time who knew what she was doing, that the topic never came up while her husband was there. It was not plausible.
But still, lots of intrigue, and frustrating situations that any ordinary person would throw up their hands over and just give up.
Recommend, yes, just be warned, it does seem like it drags on, but is still pretty interesting, even in the dragging areas.

[Barbara Derksen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her debut novel, Cheryl Colwell has achieved the perfect blend of great characters with an intriguing mystery. Historical in flavor, this story is set in the mountains of Oregon. Lisa Richards, the guardian of her families secrets! battles not only an abusive husband but also the jealousy from extended family members who are determined to wrest the family secrets from her. Working for a cycling magazine, Steven Taylor, arrives on the scene to cover a local cycling event and gets drawn into the family intrigue when his attraction for Lisa grabs hold of him. This well written narrative had me hooked from the beginning and one I will highly recommend to anyone who loves a great family mystery.

[Julie Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reviewer as well as an author, I'm not always sure what I'll read next - this story, however, was very good.

It had believable characters, brought to life to fit into the story well - those good and bad - the story itself having enough twists and turns to keep me interested.

I don't give spoilers but will say that this was a good read, well written and filled with tantalising mystery.

[Cheryl Colwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Of course it is my book, so I had to give it 5 stars! It is suspenseful, full of mystery, intrigue, and great villains. And love...ahhhh. :D

[Hillary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed this book... until the end. The characters felt real. It was worth reading!

[S. Audrey Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read! Takes you on a great adventure. You'll be asking yourself what you would do in the character's place. Fun and entertaining.