The Lost Castle ~ Review

The Lost Castle
A Split-Time Romance #1
By Kristy Cambron

This is a story that is told on three fronts - the present day, World War II (1940s), and Revolutionary France (1780s).  And taking center stage is a castle - one known as The Sleeping Beauty. And this castle is what Ellie Carver is on a mission to find before it is too late. Her Grandmother Vi has sent her on a quest for a long-hidden piece of her past, one Ellie was unfamiliar with. With her Grandmother's mind slowly losing its battle to Alzheimer's Ellie's time is short.

But finding the secrets that The Sleeping Beauty is keeping may be more difficult than Ellie anticipated. First off there is a very protective and somewhat unfriendly Irish young man who is less than thrilled that Ellie has shown up in France on his family's doorstep. But Ellie won't take his word that she should move on as a plan of action and pleads her case further up the family line. Quinn's grandfather Titus confirms that Ellie's stay has his approval.

The portion of the 1940s story tells Vi's story - a story that Ellie is about to discover. A story of courage, war, and love. A hidden refuge that has made claim to the castle and it is here that Vi's hidden life, the part of her grandmother that she never knew existed.

The 1780s find France in the midst of political and class upheaval, and this is the world in which Aveline Sainte-Moreau must determine her future - a future that her father has decided for her - a future of nobility and self. A life in which she is expected to have no opinions and be a producer of heirs.

These three timelines progress weaving together a beautiful story one that is worthy of the cover that graces it. This is perfect for those who love both historical and contemporary fiction as it offers the best of both. The characters are ones that the reader can relate to and empathize with their unique and at time complex situations. This would make an excellent book club selection and as an added bonus there are discussion questions in the back of the book. This is an enjoyable read and a welcome escape at the end of a long day that is not to be missed.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through the BookLook blogger program with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother’s bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved woman begins speaking. Of a secret past and castle ruins forgotten by time. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French Resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret . . .

Each piece that unlocks the story seems to unlock part of Ellie too—where she came from and who she is becoming. But her grandmother is quickly disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer’s and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty—a castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale—Ellie embarks on a journey to France’s Loire Valley in hopes that she can unearth its secrets before time silences them forever.

Bridging the past to the present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged in the hearts of men, and of an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations.