At 95, reclusive celebrated painter Gabriel Lambert, lives quietly with his beloved wife, Annie, and family at their beach home in the Hamptons. Annoyed and ignoring requests for an interview from Sophie Cass, a writer for the New York Times, he hopes she will go away and leave him and his memories safe. There is a vague family connection with Ms. Cass which results in a telephone call from her mother requesting an interview for Sophie with Lambert. He dodges but Sophie in persistent and continues to pester him for a story. Gabriel is not anxious to bring up anything about his buried past. He has many dark secrets that he will do anything to keep in order to protect his family. Sophie keeps mentioning a picture of him taken with her Aunt Vita. Has Sophie discovered something he prefers to remain concealed after so many years? What could she do with that story?

THE HOUSE OF DREAMS is a saga which unfolds in two time periods: 1940 in Europe, and 2000 In long Island, NY. In the earlier time frame, we are introduced to Varian Fry, a hero who rescued thousands of artists and creative minds from the Nazis and certain death during World War II. Fry, an American journalist in Marseilles is working for the American Relief Team of New York, with a team of colleagues who courageously help Fry with his dangerous mission of smuggling these refugees to America and safety.

The team rents a country house, called Villa Air-Bel which soon becomes the hang-out for those waiting to be sent to safety. On Sunday afternoons many writers and artists gather there, their paintings hung outside in the trees, to be auctioned off to pay for more refugees to escape. Many famous artists and writers attend and the scenes are beautifully depicted by Ms. Brown. She is very adept at weaving fiction along with factual events and offers a well researched and absorbing read with a great plot twist. It is interesting to note that the Emergency Rescue Committee of New York, headed by Fry became the International Rescue Committee which presently operates in over 30 countries, continuing to help those refugees of oppression wherever it is needed. His legacy lives on.

THE HOUSE OF DREAMS is an exciting read with many characters you find yourself rooting for. Some sweet romances will also tug at your heart strings and a lot of action will keep you turning those pages to a bittersweet ending. All that and a beautiful cover that adds to a very pleasant reading experience. Bravo!

Book Summary

In 2000, Gabriel Lambert is a celebrated painter who hides a dark secret. Sophie Cass, a journalist struggling to begin her career and with a family connection to Lambert, is determined to find the truth about his past and the little known story of the real Casablanca.

In 1940, an international group of rescue workers, refugee intellectuals, and artists gather in the beautiful old Villa Air Bel just outside Marseilles. American journalist Varian Fry and his remarkable team at the American Relief Center are working to help them escape France, but "the greatest man-trap in history" is closing in on them. Despite their peril, true camaraderie and creativity flourishes - while love affairs spring up and secrets are hidden. At the House of Dreams, young refugee artist Gabriel Lambert changed the course of his life - and now, sixty years later at his home in the Hamptons, the truth is finally catching up with him.