The Lost Castle was an enjoyable read. I always love a good Christian romance that takes place in Europe. And this one even had a castle! The author does a great job of weaving three different timelines of quite-differing time periods together into one cohesive story. If I'm honest, it was still missing a "certain something" for me to have made it fantastic, but I would still recommend this to my friends and family, especially if they love being whisked away to Italy's wine country.

Compelling and thought-provoking, this engaging novel switches between three time periods: the present, World War 2, and the French Revolution. It is the story of a young woman determined to uncover the secrets of her dying grandmother's past, brought to light by the discovery of a forgotten photograph. Interwoven among the various plotlines are the elements of faith, rebuilding, and love. I highly recommend this book as an addition to any adult fiction collection.

"But then the brooch, the photo....the discovery of a lost love and the breaking open of a story she'd never known existed. As fairy-tale romances went, Ellie had to admit that finding him in the photo and giving him her grandmother's decades-long answer to a secret proposal was up there"

The three separate time periods --modern day, WWII and the French Resistance and the height of Revolutionary France are interwoven well with the crux of their action emblemized in a decaying castle in the Loire Valley. While the descriptions and historical verisimilitude are exceptional throughout, I found myself a little disappointed when it turned to the modern setting once more. Mostly because Cambron is such a superb historical writer and it is in these instances that her voice truly comes to life and the world is painted in such a deft and intricate way.

Personally, my favourite story was that of Avaline and Robert: the second son of a duke who manages the vineyard in the cottage adjacent the eponymous castle. Their love story was heart tugging and unfolded gracefully and naturally on the page as well as set during a time period I wish was involved more in CBA fiction. Fans (like myself) of the Alice Network will appreciate the tenacity and verve of Vi's mission as well as her budding relationship with Julien.

It is Ellie and Quinn's story that I felt the most detached from ( though Titus' link in the chain that binds the centuries was incredibly poignant. That being said, I fell deeply into this accessible and immensely readable tale. It just meant ( in a good way) that since the interlocking historical events were so heart-pulsing and fascinating, the modern counterpart became ( quite understandably) a duller shade in comparison.

Cambron did well at putting the ticking time of Alzheimers on her modern frame --- comparing its destruction to the wars that threatened the the preceding portions of the complex book.


And some of the words cultivated magic: "Spring was toying with them, keeping Paris under skies of a colourless gray, plaguing the streets with a chilling drizzle that refused to release its steadfast grip in winter."

All in all an exceptionally smart and well-plotted look at an enchanted castle shrouded in an enchanted wood with a keen eye for historical detail and a fresh fuse of imagination. 2 out of the 3 narratives get an A+ for me.


I would love to read more about Avaline and Robert--- that just deserved a novel of its own. Indeed, readers, go find Robert--- he is one of my favourite heroes this year.

read it!

This is a fantastic book by Ms. Cambron. This is the first book that I have read of hers, but it will definitely not be the last! This novel provides an in-depth look at three different time periods at one historical location. The reader is able to learn about three different main characters and how they are all connected. The book will have you guessing what is going to occur (or what did occur) throughout the entire book. This is a well-written novel that will not disappoint you as you read it. I highly recommend this book!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

Solid five along with a box of tissues. You ripped my heart with this one, girl!

I've been trying to compose myself to write a proper review but I've failed miserably. So I'm just gonna try to get some words out without giving away too much of the plot.

Kristy Cambron is one of my favorite authors and I first fell in love with her stories through her split-time WWII books, therefore I knew how masterfully she could write this type of story. Even so, I confess I warily started out "The Lost Castle" because we wouldn`t be taken through only two different time-settings but three...
But I should not have doubted. Right from the beginning, this book owned my heart.

When you see ruins, do you believe in a potential story there or do you just see a decaying useless place? Do you see possibilities or just waste?

The historical settings tell the stories of Aveline during the French Revolution and Viola Hart during WWII and how each one of these brave women came to a magnificent castle. Theirs is a world torn apart by wars challenging human beings to survive and to not treat each other with hostility. Still, once you've seen true devastation and once you've experienced desolation, how can you go back to a naive and protected life? I dived into these two stories from the beginning and held my breath many times. My heart also melted through sweet moments of tenderness woven here in there, which promised to be more than a calm before the storm, but an honest building of camaraderie to see through battles coming ahead.

Present day, we follow Ellie Carver in search for answers about her grandma, the one person who she used to think she knew best of all but who might actually have secrets never shared with her granddaughter. In the brisk of loss caused by Alzheimer, Ellie is willing to cross sea and valleys in search of a story before it is too late. I adored this setting with Quinn butting heads with Ellie and Titus's sense of humor adding the perfect spice to keep me turning the pages. Oh, and don't get me started on the descriptions of wine country France and small enchanting French villages - oh la la!
Nevertheless, I didn't put much faith in this part, didn't believe in its potential to add depth to the story or to make me connect and understand the characters. May I say I was so wrong, so very wrong. The author brought everything together so beautifully and organically that I shed tears through most of the last quarter of the book. I was (am) awestruck.

To be able to provoke such strong compassionate and thought-provoking feelings through the entire book, one, may I point out again, set during three different timelines, is a true work of art and surrender of a gift.

In sum, the past stories were about two women working alongside their people to persevere, maintain a legacy, keep hope alive and find contentment in not just being, but genuinely living. And so they (re)build a story greater than themselves. The present time story is also about restoration and the opening of eyes to the potential and gifts we each have been given. But, in addition, it is about rediscovering, reawakening, and knowing of an ever-present and ever faithful Love that overflows and exceeds understanding.