The Sleeping Beauty Castle is really the main character in this novel that follows the story of three generations of women and their association with this fairy tale place.
The first is Avaline, in the 18th century, whose betrothal ball in the castle is disrupted by a vicious attack. This takes place at the same time as the storming of the Bastille in Paris.
The second is Viola Hart, a British linguist who escapes the Nazis in Paris and joins the Resistance. Her part of the story takes part in 1944.
Ellie Carver's story takes place in present time as she travels to the Loire valley in order to find the truth about her Grandma Vi's past and her connection to the fairy tale castle.
The story is well worked out in the different time frames and it is interesting to see how it all fits together. The characters are well portrayed and the descriptions good.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Lost Castle is a good blend of the past and the present. She traces the lives of 3 different women and connects them with one common thread. A castle in France. I had a little trouble following the story as it switched time periods and character every chapter. Each chapters were marked with the date and place that the scene was happening at. I think having the character name at the beginning of each chapter would have helped. It got easier as I went along. Each story was well written and fun to read. I liked all the characters. They were interesting and believable. , History fascinates me and I loved learning about France in the 1700s and in the 1940s. I liked how Kristy Cambron weaves the Lord's truth of hope throughout this book.
I recommend this book to my family and friends.

I received this book from the publisher to read. This review is my honest opinion of the book.

I just finished this book last night and I just want to say...thank you Kristy Cambron! The Butterfly and the Violin is still one of my top favorite books of all time, but The Lost Castle is beautiful and moving in a way of its own. This novel sets itself apart from many others in that it connects the lives of three women across three time periods. I loved the way that each story wove itself into the other ones. The castle itself paralleled with the stories the main characters: each holding mysteries of who or what they were that gradually became revealed, representing courage, sacrifice, and love.

While I enjoyed Aveline's story, I felt most connected to Ellie and her grandmother. The love Ellie had that prompted her to travel to another country so that she could discover a piece of her grandmother's history was touching. The romantic tension seemed stronger in the writing of these two characters, which I also liked. All of the heroes helped bring about beautiful character development in their leading ladies, without it seeming forced or rushed. I loved the strengths that each character brought to the story without the typical plot lines. I think that's what makes this piece of fiction seem almost real.

I'm so excited to see how this series is going to continue. I would highly recommend this book!

Personal takeaway...Humbling yourself and sacrificing for others is the kind of love that Christ showed for us. It is the kind of love I want to give to those around me.

**I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my thoughts and opinions, which I did.**

Have a box of tissues handy before you start this read! The Lost Castle is the story of three women in different times but the same place. In the late 1780’s during the French Revolution, Aveline is expecting to have her engagement announced to the eldest son of Duc et Vivay but instead is rescued and taken away to one of his family’s estates following an attack on the castle. Injured and scarred from the events, she is hidden from the public for a time in hopes of protecting her. She learns that the man who rescued her is the younger brother of the man she is intended to marry. It doesn’t take long for her to feel at home at the estate, and plan for her future there once her intended should return.

Fast forward to 1941-44, and the story of Lady Vi picks up as Vi was trained as a linguist and worked to help the allies fight against the Nazi’s in WWII. On the run following an attempt on her life, she comes across a man named Julien in an abandoned castle. She pleas for his help to save her life. He takes her to his family home where she learns that he works for the resistance and puts her talents to work in helping the allies as well. All they need to wait for is the signal from the Allies that they are coming, and then they will fight to put an end to the war.

Now fast-forward to the present day, as Ellie is devastated as she watches her Grandmother Vi’s life deteriorate before her eyes from Alzheimer’s. In a moment of fogged clarity her grandmother shows her a picture of herself during the time of WWII that was hidden in a book, but Ellie is surprised to see the man in the picture with her is not her grandfather. Sent on a mission to “find her grandmother’s story,” Ellie is off to France to discover the truth behind her roots and what a castle ruins has to do with them.

This book is hands down being added to my favorites pile. It was nearly impossible to put down with each chapter ending with moments of suspense that left you needing to know more. Despite the book taking place during war-times, the reader is spared many gruesome details. The eminence of danger is clearly felt throughout the entire story without the graphic details needing to be shared. Although the book is a work of fiction, the author shares in the acknowledgements that many of the events and characters were based on real-life. (The main characters were purely fiction). The author does an amazing job of blending fiction and reality and you will find yourself being sucked right in until the very last page. I’m very glad I read this book, and hoping a sequel comes out soon!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Lost Castle is brimming with emotion. Both intricate and detailed, this story is an adventure that you won’t soon forget! Kristy Cambron expertly weaves together three poignant stories into an elegant masterpiece that will tug at the heartstrings of even the most stoic reader.

Ellison (Ellie) Carver’s parents died when she was 11-years old, and she was raised by her Grandmother Viola. Now her Grandmother is slipping away, slowly losing her memories and Ellie longs to know more about “La Bell au bois dormant – The Sleeping Beauty”, a castle in France that seems to hold secrets her Grandmother can no longer remember. A journal, handwritten in French and a photo from June 5, 1944, are the only clues that Ellie has to go by. She feels compelled to travel to France to uncover the mystery that is locked behind the Alzheimer’s walls in her Grandmothers’ memory. Will she be able to discover the mystery of The Sleeping Beauty castle, or only find more unanswered questions?

I honestly couldn’t pick a favorite time period in the story. Every time the story progressed to another time jump, I would think “Oh, just a few more paragraphs, I’m not ready to move on.” However, within a few words, I was fully engaged and happy to be in that time setting.

If you are on the fence about reading a time-slip story with three different time periods, don’t let it hold you back from reading this amazingly well-written story. Just take a piece of advice and pay close attention to the date at each section, that way you can quickly know where you are in time. I’d also add, that you may wish to set aside time to enjoy this book because once you start, you won’t want to put it down!

With a robust theme of faith and a resilient hope for the future, this story is one that will linger with you long after you read the last words on the page. I give this story 5 stars and encourage you to find a copy of this wonderful book to enjoy for yourself.

(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

I sometimes get lost when the author goes from one time period to another. That was not the case with Kristi's “The Lost Castle”. There are three different characters from three different time periods. During the French Revolution, we have the story of Avaline. During World War II French Resistance we meet Grandma Vi. And in present day we meet the Granddaughter Ellie. I have a hard time reviewing Kristi's novels. Why, because I want to say the same things for each of them. This is one of the best books I have read. She has a way of grabbing me from the start and when I turn the last page, I am disappoint because I want it to go on and on. This one I found I was shedding more tears than normal, her books always make me cry, at least a little. My mom and dad have recently been placed in a facility, she is suffering from Alzheimer's. So the part that told Viola's present day situation and her fading health, was difficult. But it wasn't long and I was taken away to France's picturesque Loire Valley. The story about the castle The Sleeping Beauty was incredible. I love the way Kristi weaves true facts with Fairy tale. Her descriptions are so explicit. I could almost taste the French pastries she sampled at the market. I may have said this before but I truly feel this is the best book I have read of Kristi's. I highly recommend it. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson though NetGalley, Opinions express in this review are completely my own.

Instead of a mystery wrapped in an enigma (not that the reference to Enigma doesn’t turn out to be appropriate) this is a fairy tale wrapped in a war story tied up in a romance. Also not that there isn’t romance throughout – just different romances.

Because this lovely story is a “timeslip” tale that is spread over three very different time periods; the French Revolution, World War II, and the present day. And if the reference to the French Revolution wasn’t enough of a clue, most of the story takes place in France during those periods, specifically in the Loire Valley wine region.

And there’s plenty of wine involved and not just by drinking it. The fates of three very different women are tied together by the wines, the vines, and the castle that hides in the middle of it all.

Timeslip stories, as the sub-genre is now termed, are stories that “slip” between multiple time periods. Sometimes by having one of the characters themselves slip between those periods, but sometimes by having the narrative simply move between the periods for reasons that become clear at some point in the story.

The Lost Castle is one of the latter types. We follow three women in the same place but at three different time periods. We begin by meeting Ellie Carver, whose beloved grandmother has slipped into the fog of Alzheimer’s, and is now also slipping away physically. Lady Vi raised Ellie after her parents died, and Ellie feels like her grandmother is all that she has in the world. She is heartbroken and scrambling. Also emotionally scrambled.

Lady Vi’s fog lifts just enough to send Ellie scrabbling through her grandmother’s books to discover a WWII vintage photo of her grandmother, showing her that in the midst of the life that Ellie knew of her grandmother, there is at least one chapter that she was never told. Lady Vi seems to be looking for closure for this part of her life, and in a mad quest to do something, anything, Ellie hares off to the site of the picture, the “Sleeping Beauty” castle tucked away in the Loire Valley in France.

As the story continues we follow Ellie in the Loire, as she discovers the site of the photo, and unearths the history of when it was taken. We also follow Lady Vi’s history as a semi-trained British Intelligence operative who finds herself on the run from the Nazis in the Loire Valley in 1944. When Lady Vi is rescued by the local Resistance, she finds relative safety, purpose, and love.

We also see glimpses of an earlier history of the area, during the French Revolution, through the eyes of Aveline, a French aristocrat for whom the most famous wine of the region comes to be named.

All three women become integral to the past, and the future, of this storied place. And as Ellie uncovers the truth, we learn why. And it is bittersweet, but as delicious as the wine.

Escape Rating A-: Before I say anything else, let me say again that this is a truly lovely book. If you enjoy timeslip stories, I think you’ll really love this one.

As I read The Lost Castle, I did wonder how Aveline was connected to Vi and Ellie. It’s obvious from the beginning that it isn’t a matter of ancestors and descendants – there’s definitely no relation. And it’s not that Aveline’s story isn’t either interesting or important, it’s just that we don’t discover why and how until the very end.

I haven’t read a lot of timeslip stories, at least not under that label, so I’m not sure whether this is a bug or a feature, but neither Aveline’s nor Vi’s stories are told in chronological order. The chapter headings do say where and when each bit takes place, but the slipping forward and backwards within each of their times always took a paragraph or two to adjust to. This was particularly true with Aveline’s story, as we start in the middle and then work both backwards and forwards from that point, sometimes almost at random. The same thing happens with Vi’s story, but she doesn’t flash backwards nearly as much, and proceeds in a straight line from that middle, except for the flashbacks.

All three women are in the midst of great change, and that’s what makes each of their stories so fascinating. Aveline is an aristocrat during the Revolution, but she is a woman who is already uncomfortable with the life that she is supposed to lead. The Revolution provides her with an opportunity to forge a new path for herself, and she takes it.

Vi’s story takes place during World War II. We only get glimpses of her wartime exploits before she reaches the Loire, but they are enough to chill the bones. We do get a fairly complete portrait of her life in the French Resistance, and that comes at a critical time – it is 1944 and the Allied invasion is rumored and imminent, while the Nazis are desperate to hold onto France at all costs, with Vi, her new found friends and the Loire Valley itself caught in the terrible crossfire.

These are also all romances, and the romances are tied together not through the women, but through the place and the family that occupies it, through the men. The Vivay family owns and operates the winery that makes the region famous. Their signature wine, developed by Robert Vivay in Aveline’s time, is named for her. During Vi’s time, it is Julien Vivay who protects the land and is master of the vineyard, using that same signature product to keep the Nazis at bay. And it is Titus Vivay who lived to remember it all, and his grandson who leads Ellie to the answers that she is seeking.

Although the blurbs for this book talk about a “legacy of faith” and as this book is published by Thomas Nelson, a publisher who specializes in Christian faith-based works, one might think that the “faith” being mentioned in those blurbs is religious faith and of a specific type. But it isn’t, or at least it doesn’t seem to be to a reader who is not looking for such. Instead, the faith at the heart of this story seems more like faith in the land and faith in its people. In all three time periods, its the way that the people pull together to defend their lives, but more importantly the lives of those they love, and to defend the land and the work that sustains them, than it is about any belief in a diety.

Your mileage on this subject may definitely vary, but as someone who does not read books that are marketed as “inspirational” fiction this book does not read like part of that tradition.

It reads like excellent historical fiction, because that’s what it is.

Ok, I am a new Kristy Cambron fan. I stumbled upon The Lost Castle as it was coming out and ended up binge reading The Illusionist's Apprentice and Ring Master's Wife before I got my hands on The Lost Castle. Wow! Just Wow! I was extremely impressed with the first two books, the detail the passion on the pages all so amazing but the The Lost Castle. Completely blown away! I am recommending this book to everyone!!!!

Favorite Quotes:

“Don’t borrow trouble,” Grandma Vi had always said. “Don’t borrow— but be sure you don’t set out to buy it either.”

Tears, the real kind— the ones that meant everything was about to change and she must weather it all with newfound courage— refused to leave them be.

My Review:

The Lost Castle was not an easy or relaxing read, as the storylines were active and highly eventful while taut with tension, peril, infirmities, family drama, and three unexpected and inconvenient romances. Ergo, it required additional effort and attention to keep it straight; however, it was well worth the time and cranial investment. The book covered three different timelines and involved a French vineyard, the family who operated the vineyard, a ruined castle, and three different feisty females who made all the difference. I cannot imagine the staggering amount the research required to pull this one together.

The first two timelines were rife with wartime stressors occurring during the French Revolution and WWII, while the final timeline involved solving those lingering mysteries during the present day. The writing was atmospheric, highly emotive and deeply felt, scenically descriptive, and so vividly detailed that I fell right into each story feeling as if I could smell the flowers feel the vibrations of the bombs, and hear the gunfire. The characters were uniquely appealing, endearing, enticing, heroic, and continually intriguing to me. Their tales frequently squeezed my heart, although near the end it also stung my eyes, burned my throat, and had my chin quivering.

I enjoyed my time in France but I also picked up a few new words to add to my British Isles Vocabulary List, as one of my favorite characters was Irish. My first new addition was “chancer” a British term for an opportunist who takes advantage or manipulates others to their own benefit; then “olagonin’” meaning moaning/complaining; and finally “craicing” an Irish word for having fun. It’s always a bit of craic to pick up new slang.

I loved this book. The cover was enough to get my attention. But the story...my goodness, it was amazing! I gravitate to these types of books, but adding a third period to the plot was a wonderful idea.

The plot itself unravels slowly, moving between three periods in the Castle's history: the French Revolution, World War II and the resistance in France and the current time. I was briefly concerned that I would be confused, but that was not the case.

The central story revolves around Ellie, a young woman whose grandmother is in a nursing home afflicted with Alzheimer's Disease. She asks Ellie to travel to France to find the lost love of her life. Well the story had me there. I was hooked. As it continues, we meet Ellie's grandmother as a young woman and a cast of characters who originally inhabited and visited the Castle many years before.

I devoured this book. It had everything I was looking for: a great plot full of history, a castle, great characters and an author who knew how to write.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A historical novel doused heavily in the christian religion wkth three different POVS. it wasnt my cup of tea.

I just finished this amazing book about an hour ago and I have so many emotions and thoughts. I'm not sure how I will put all of my feelings into words.

I am trying to remember if I have read a book that had three time periods like Kristy Cambron's latest book, The Lost Castle has, and I can't. I am a huge historical fiction fan, and this book not only hits the mark historically, I adored the Sleeping Beauty twist.

Ms. Cambron does a wonderful job intertwining all three time periods with each of their intricacies into one flowing, engaging, swoon-worthy story set around a lost castle in Loire Valley.

The female characters that we meet in the time periods of present day, WWII, and in 1789 during the French Revolution are strong, and courageous. Their male heroes are valiant, and romantic, everything you want in a hero.



My Bottom Line:

The book is about love, faith, hope, loss but most of all victory in the midst of all the trials that swirl around us. I easily could have read this book in a day. Being a huge fan of Ms. Cambron's work I savored each word. Ms. Cambron has a way to make you feel as though you are apart of the story, and I did. I laughed, cried, and had heart skipping a beat moments. All the emotions that make reading an experience. I highly recommend this book and it will go on my keeper shelf next to the rest of Ms. Cambron's books.

The Lost Castle is a beautifully written masterpiece. Kristy Cambron writes fiction that feels like you're reading a classic. Her beautiful descriptions paint a lovely picture for me. I say it often—I crave beautiful words on paper. Kristy's books give me that and more. She is one of the few authors of modern day that possesses a melodic quality to her writing—the same tone and romantic aura that seeps from the literary greats like Dickens or Austin.

Here's what I loved about this book!
Do you ever consider your legacy? Will you make a difference in this world? These are things I consider often. Now that I'm nearly middle-age, I wonder if people will remember me when I'm gone. Will my words or actions have an impact on anyone? Will I leave a legacy? The Chateau de Doux Reves is a thirteen-century castle that is steeped in history. We are taken on a journey with Ellie as she pieces together her grandmother's connection to the castle.

The story is unique in that there are three timelines, modern-day, WWII era and the French Revolution. For each age, there are three strong women that readers are introduced to.

This book made me smile at times and cry at others. The author captured the uncertainty of life in a heartbreaking beautiful way. She captured life—with all of the ups and downs.

Everything about this book was on point. The cover. The love. The loss. The heartbreak. And most of all—the triumph.

Do I recommend this book? Absolutely. Preferably with a good cup of coffee (or wine—read the book to find out why) and definitely a box of tissues.

This book was provided to me by The Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

How to describe this amazing book?
The writing is vivid and descriptive.
The setting of the castle with its crumbling walls and wild violets grabs your imagination from the beginning of the story.
The intricate storylines involving three different time periods (1789, 1944, present day) come together perfectly in one wonderful story of love, bravery, and sacrifice. The main characters ( Aveline, Lady Vi, and Ellie) are memorable and well-defined.
You’ll discover the uplifting principle of God’s faithfulness during difficult times.
This book will not only find a place on your “favorites” bookshelf, it will find its place in your heart. Have a box of tissues beside you as you read. You’ll need them.
Please don’t miss reading this one.

This is one of the best books I've read in months. It's not easy to string three storylines together and make them fit well, and I think this book is the most successful one to do this that I've read so far. Parts of the book are based on historical facts, but most of the book is fiction.
This book follows three characters: Ellie Carver in the present day, her grandmother Viola during WWII, and Aveline during the French Revolution. These three characters have one thing in common, which is an ancient castle in France, and their desire, split over time, to restore the castle and maintain the estate it rests on. Aveline is set to marry into French nobility at the beginning of the French Revolution, but on the evening of her engagement ball, something goes terribly wrong and she must make a decision to stand up for what is right. Almost two hundred years later, Viola becomes part of the French Resistance during WWII after escaping from the Nazis. She comes to the ruins of the castle and falls in love with the people and the land, and she comes up against her hardest fight yet as they try to hold the estate against the Nazis. Decades later, Viola is suffering a physical decline while battling Alzheimer's disease, and Ellie must find out why her grandmother is so obsessed with a brooch and a castle in France. Ellie takes a trip to France to find out. Through all three stories, the women fight for something that matters to them and stick close to the people they love.
I love how all three characters' stories fit together and the beautiful way each part of the story unfolds. I could visualize the French countryside and the castle ruins as I read. I loved how brave and steadfast the characters were, and I cheered for them as they fought their separate battles. Parts of the book were so sad, but I'm glad there was a happy-ish ending, though it was bittersweet. It's hard to find the words to express how this book impacted me and how much I enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book, and I think it's safe to say you won't regret reading it.
I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Lost Castle is an achingly exquisite tale about love, loss, and family. Cambron’s ability to paint pictures with words will entrance readers and take you on a journey you will never forget.

At its heart (and oh wow does this book ever have a heart!) THE LOST CASTLE is about perseverance and hope. Readers who enjoy multiple timelines are sure to enjoy the three we have here: Ellie in present-day, Aveline in the French Revolution, and Viola in WWII. I liked all three and was especially drawn to Ellie and her soul searching and the way she wants to discover her grandmother's story. What she learns ultimately is truly inspirational. Cambron's language is a bit flowery but the descriptions are lovely and the story, especially toward the end, is injected with heartwarming and genuine emotion. A clean, cozy, inspirational novel. Can't wait for the rest of the series.

This story is set in three different time periods. The pace starts very fast and once all three stories connect at the same castle, it slows down drastically to a point that I lost interest in reading it. It gets very stagnant and unengaging.

Set during the French Revolution in the Loire Valley, Aveline is about to celebrate her engagement to the Duc et Vivay and is about to become the “mistress of a grand chateau and multiple estates, and become a social princess in the top ranks of the beau monde: France’s most elite nobility.” But right before her engagement party, she receives a missive by carrier. A warning to leave the Loire Valley as violence is spreading due to populace starvation. The poor and hungry are revolting by attacking estates and burning them. While she tries to retrieve her mother from the party, the windows shatter and fire explodes inside.

In present time, Ellie cares for her ailing grandmother Vi at a nursing facility in Michigan. At her recent visit, she sees a photo of a man she has never seen before and questions her grandma about the man. Vi relates her story to Ellie, which slips into third time period of WWII. After hearing her grandma’s story, she rushes to Loire Valley in search of the man in the photo.

Set in 1944, the end of WWII, Vi recollects her story as she was trying to hide from SS officers in the Loire Valley. As she is searching for a place to hide, she comes upon the ruins of a castle. She takes refuge in an old chapel nearby. As she is enjoying a moment of peace, she hears an intruder. A uniformed man asks her to leave for the safety of the villagers as they are carefully watched by SS officers. But instead of leaving, she asks him to hide her.

And this is where three stories connect at the ruins of the same castle and slow down with an uninteresting dialogue not moving the story forward.

Not my type of book, so did not read. Requested it by mistake.

A castle in a forest inspires the stories of three women, scattered across centuries. Adeline is engaged to a Duke in 18th century France, though her opinions are more aligned with the “rabble” than the wealthy aristocracy to which she will belong. But when the Duke’s castle is burned by angry serfs, and Adeline as well, on the night of her engagement party, she must hide and find a new identity until her fiance returns.

Viola was witness to a bombing at her office in London during WWII and has also decided to also subvert conventionalities and the expectations for women and join with Allied forces in France to stop the Germans from taking over. She is a linguist who will summon her deepest courage, and meet the most unfathomable man, and carry a story with her to the brink of Alzheimer’s for her granddaughter to find.

Ellie has no one left but her Grandmother, Lady Vi, and is shocked to discover she knows little about the most dominant and enchanting period of her life. Ellie flies to a French chateau beside a winery, where she meets a delightfully obstinate old man, his amazing cook of a wife, and their Irish grandson, who will, often reluctantly, help her unravel the secrets of the Sleeping Beauty Castle, and the brazen women who brought it back to life. The Lost Castle is part historical drama, part women’s empowerment, part love story, surrounding a fairy-tale castle where “the stories were written in generations of weathered stone."