"Castle Keepers" by Aimie K. Runyan and J'nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan is a captivating historical novel that transports readers to a bygone era with rich detail and vivid characters. The collaborative effort brings depth to the narrative, creating a compelling story set against the backdrop of history. The attention to historical accuracy is commendable, and the characters are well-developed, drawing readers into their world. While the pacing may have occasional lulls, the overall experience of "Castle Keepers" earns it a solid four-star rating.

This book was good! I liked the characters and the setting. The author writes good too!!
I hope to read more by this author in the future! Looking forward to it!

While listening to this, my phone stopped working. Once I received my new phone and downloaded the Netgalley app I lost all my downloaded audiobooks. I was unable to finish. I was deep in the middle of it when this happened, so I'm very sad I couldn't finish the audio.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did... I did enjoy the three timelines of the same family. However, I felt like the last generational tale fell flat. I do want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio arc!

Three different stories set in 1870, 1917, and 1945, all revolving around a castle in England and its inhabitants. Three different novellas, written by three different authors - all weaving the stories of the Alnwick family who have owned the castle for generations. The stories will transport you back in time and carry you through history.

I enjoyed listening to the audio version of The Castle Keepers and thought it was a good read. I will be giving it four and a half stars.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this ARC!

I did not finish this book and May circle back at a later date.

I got through the first story of three. And while I didn’t hate it, I just wasn’t super invented. I’m not sure if this was a writing style or the narrator, but I’d try the ebook next time if I go back to finish the other two. I also felt like things just happened and there wasn’t as much of a focus on development of characters.

All in all, I will give this 3 stars in my review because I am open enough to give it a second shot down the road.

I really liked the concept behind this, and despite having multiple authors, the book flows pretty well from start to finish as a cohesive story.

As is always the case with multi-author novels, there is some difference in writing quality between the three stories, though nothing egregious. I liked the first story significantly more than the next two, though this is probably more about subject preference than quality.

I appreciated that the authors kept a common thread aside from just the setting from one story to the next, and though the first story was, again, the best for this, there’s some consistency in structure and character development from one to the next as well.

Setting obviously a hugely important component of this book, and the fact that each author used the castle well to tell their tale went a long way toward both cohesion between the different timelines and my enjoyment of the story.

This was a strange listen. I was expecting it to be a single book, as most books are however this was actually 3 separate books in one. I'm very much used to the flipping back and forth between generations, but for each to have it's own prologue and epilogue before moving to the next was a little strange.

Overall, I only really enjoyed the first part. The other two I found very bland and repetitive, so much so that I gave up halfway through the last. It's one thing to show generations and how similar they are, it's another to copy and paste but change the names. The narrator was certainly fine, but I also find it could have been better were the materials a little more exciting.

I will certainly have to read other reviews on this, I definitely feel like it was a rather forgettable book.

Thank you for this ARC!

I’ve only read a handful of novellas, but really enjoyed this collection, written by multiple Historical Fiction authors.

The story follows three generations of the Alnwick family and focuses on each heir to the Leedswick Castle over the years.

*many thanks to Netgalley and publisher for the audiobook for review

The Castle Keepers was a story written in three parts by three different authors about a cursed castle. I enjoyed the first part very much but the second and third parts fell slightly flat for me. I did enjoy the romance by each couple and thought that the stories were well written and flowed together quite well.
I appreciated the attention drawn to mental health after war times as this isn't often written about.
I also loved the story lines intertwining the poisonous garden and the journals and how they tied into one another.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I adored the Castle Keepers! Crossing 3 different generations of a family living in the same grand British estate, we meet 3 very different heroes and 3 captivating heroines in 3 very different timelines. From the dawn of the Gilded Age to WWI to post WWII, each couple has their own challenges and collectively, they have to deal with the "Curse of Alnwick Castle" while navigating very complex feelings, the aftermath of wars, and difficult family members. Each timeline was fascinating in its own way, and I loved how the backdrop of the castle was always present. I listened to the audiobook and found it to be very well done, and loved the narration by Ann Marie Gideon. I really felt as if I was right there along with Beatrice & Charles, Elena & Tobias, and Brigitta & Alec. I especially loved how these courageous women were determined to fight for their men but weren't' afraid to make their own mark on the world. Lovers of historical fiction, romance, and the English countryside will love it! I received an advance copy of the audiobook from the publisher & was under no obligation to post a positive review.

This was a delightful collection of short stories following a family through three generations. I loved each of the heroines, and enjoyed seeing how the stories intertwined to create a broader story of the family and Leedswick Castle.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The three different time periods were interesting, and I felt like I learned a little bit more about WWI with the second story. I had not heard about the efforts to provide soldiers with prosthetics, especially during WWI. Some of the plot points were a bit far-fetched, but this is historical fiction, after all. Having three different authors gave each story a different voice, but they were all still connected. I would have liked a small epilogue at the end of each story, although the second and third gave some updates on the previous story's characters. Overall a delightful book!

3 generations, 3 mysteries, 1 castle and... a curse? The Castle Keepers is a set of three novellas by Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan. I absolutely love historical fiction and mysteries and both together is the hight of perfection! All three are well written but the first story is my favorite!

One grand old castle, three generations of family and multiple wars all bound/burdened by the castle. Add the inheritance laws of Great Britain and family power struggles to work around them. Reminiscent of "Downton Abbey" and the lifestyle changes the Crawley Family went through as time went on, this story opens with a young American heiress being married into an old and titled family. She is unprepared for the murder and intrigue that follow. Is the family truly cursed? The characters are smart, ahead of their time and very likable. The story gets bogged down in places and is a little fluffy in others, but this is a fine piece of historical fiction.

Leedswick Castle in the English Countryside, has been home to the Alnwick family for generations. It is cursed! But this does not stop future generations from giving their all to overcome tragedy and adversity. And to give a little of themselves and the estate to help others.

This could almost be considered short stories. Each time period is separate, with different characters and different tales.

The first time period of 1870 is my favorite. I enjoyed Beatrice. But, that is not to say that 1917 is to be left out. I had no idea about masks that were made to help soldiers. These masks were to cover the injuries to the face and make it appear normal. Very interesting indeed! Then there is 1945. Alec definitely is shell shocked. But this does not stop him from helping others and possibly finding healing for himself.

The narrator, Ann Marie Gideon, is a great asset. She made all these time periods and characters separate and unique.

Need a tale about love and war with a wonderful estate as the backdrop…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review

In the 1870s the future of our estate Leedwick Castle is in the hands of the heir, Charles and Beatrice. He is a vilified man after the war, and she is a ruined New York socialite. Will this pairing lead to a match and the future of the Alnwick family?

Post WWI our next heir has been badly damaged and a portrait painter is coming to create a mask for him. Will he regain his confidence ? Will her secrets ruin them?

And finally post WWII we return to the castle with the heir and psychologist in tow.
Will they continue to be able to mend the spirits of those in the castle and beyond?

A collaboration between 3 authors for three elaborate and thoughtful stories of the threats and uncertainties tied to English properties and castles. This made me want to learn more about the English Dutchies and their functions over time. Well done, all.

Thank you for this opportunity #NetGalley!

Good things seem to happen when my favorite authors collaborate! I loved how the history of Leedswick Castle and the Alnwick family was written anthology style, with three separate stories linking one generation to the next. Each story felt appropriate to its time period and was rich with historical details. The couples involved each have obstacles to overcome and the fact that each of the heroes were veterans carrying burdens of their own, made their proper romance realistic and satisfying. This was a very enjoyable audiobook with fantastic narration.

The Castle Keepers is a beautiful, emotional story I will never forget. I loved the connection to the castle and the different generations in the family. This story perfectly portrays the destruction of war and the healing power of love, which is one of the reasons I love historical fiction so much. We can see how trauma is passed down from generation to generation and how the only way to truly overcome it is through love and support.

I also loved each love story, especially the story of Charles and Beatrice and the portrayal of American and British life at the time. Their love was just so perfect and real.

Ann Marie Gideon does a great job of narrating the audiobook. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the audiobook galley. This is a perfect beach read for the summer, and I would definitely recommend it to those who love historical fiction with a dash of romance.