The Castle Keepers

3 wonderful stories. I enjoyed having the stories told from an outsider’s point of view. While written by three different people, the stories work well together. The romance portion was very predictable, but the rest of the plot was very intriguing.

The Castle Keepers is a slightly different collaboration that I've seen but fabulous not the less. This is not multiple interwoven timelines, but three consecutive novellas written about three generations that live in Leeswick Castle in Northumberton, England. Each author took one of the generations to write about. The first generation in the story, but not the first to live in the old castle, was the Marquess Charles Alnwick in the 1870s. He found a beautiful debutante, Beatrice, from New York City to marry and bring a dowry to help support the castle Then their descendant, Tobias, returned from WW1 with a facial disfigurement and he was hiding from everyone and everything. Elena, an artist, was hired to create a detailed mask to hid the scars. They eventually fell in love and married. Finally, the son of Tobias and Elena, Alec Alnwick returned from WW2 in 1945 with Brigitta. She was a psychology doctorial candidate. Together they were creating a safe space for other soldiers returning from the war with non-physical wounds. Each section of the book tells its own tale of that time frame, but there are threads that connect them to create a cohesive story. Family, love, mystery, and forgiveness are themes that bind the stories. There are characters to love and characters you may want to yell at as you read. If you love historical fiction, castles, English peerage, a little mystery and romance thrown in for good measure, then I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Harper Muse and Net Galley for an ARC of The Castle Keepers. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Most of the anthologies of novellas are generally light in substance and depth. That is not the case with The Castle Keepers. Three different generations of the Alnwick family are desperately trying to hold on to their castle that has been part of their family lineage for generations. In each of the stories there is a bit of intrigue in each of the stories, and a whole lot of PTSD in them. Each of the stories includes a wounded warrior who has a hard time putting what he saw in the war behind him. Each has a woman who is strong in her own right, but a little foreign to the aristocratic world. The women in these novellas seek to love the men in a way that goes beyond appearances and surface characteristics.

I found that each novella showed ways that the protagonists were trying to overcome negative connotations with the castle in the minds of the villagers surrounding it, how they were working to redeem the castle's poor reputation, how they were working to overcome their own hardships, and even how their faith, not only in God, but even in themselves was restored.

These authors have done such a great job in pulling these narratives together to make a cohesive whole, even though generations separate them. This is so very much a five star book. It's hard to put down while you are reading the stories, but after you finish one, you have to let it digest before jumping into the next one. The issues tackled are very real and common almost to every soldier or military man who has seen battle. Read it, that's all I can say.

Harper Muse provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Three wonderful love stories written during different time periods. All the stories have the same setting of Leedswick Castle. Each story is unique and all of the characters are wonderful! My favorite story is Elena and Tobias'.
A definite must read!
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really like how the three stories revolve around the same setting of Leedswick Castle through different generations.

The writing is very well done and all three stories give a different perspective of the castle at that moment in history. I also liked the family connection between the three generations and how we see each one take care of the castle with what they have. The three pairs of main characters were equally interesting to read.

It's an original take on a theme anthology and I really enjoyed it!

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

The Castle Keepers book review

Rate : 9/10
Authors : Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, Rachel McMillan
Publisher : Harper Muse
Genre : Historical Fiction, History, Women's Fiction

Pub date : 2n May 2023


The Castle Keepers, written by Aimie K. Runyan & J'nell Ciesielski & Rachel McMillan and published by Harper Muse, is a great book which tells stories of three women who lived at the same times.

I highly recommend you to read The Castle Keepers. It is an interesting novel.

(Thanks to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the ARC)

"The Castle Keepers" is an intriguing collection of novellas featuring generations of the Alnwick family, as they struggle to maintain their home Leedswick Castle, which boasts a curious "poison garden". Each unique story contains a sweet romance. Unsurprisingly, the poison garden plays a part in each tale.

Each novella has interesting characters and a compelling storyline. The "Dollar Princess" phenomenon is detailed in Aimie Runyan's offering. Her writing is beautiful and descriptive. J'nell Cielsielski presents an original WWI love story between the artist Elena and former soldier Tobias, whose face is terribly scarred, and for whom she's designing a mask. This actual practice was previously unknown to me. Cielsielski is one of my favorite authors, and her prose is lovely. Rachel McMillan's contribution centers around a WWII soldier and others who suffer from PTSD and the female doctor who is determined to help them. She gives us an emotional and heartfelt story.

This book as a whole is finely written, well-edited and clean. The historical aspects are thought-provoking and the characters engaging. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an ARC of this trio of enjoyable novellas.

This is a beautiful collection of three stories, all with the backdrop of a beautiful castle. Each story is captivating from start to finish. The characters were well-developed; complex, and intriguing. I highly recommend this stunning collection.. Many thanks to the authors, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

this was a really well done collection of stories, I enjoyed each story going on and loved the fact that they connected so well with each other. I loved getting to know the women in this and their story going on. Each author does a great job in telling the story that was needed to and look forward to another book like this.

"A habit of hers, Tobias was learning rather quickly, was her disregard for personal distance. Very un-British-like. It did, however, afford him a close-up of her eyes. One brown and one blue. One more unique feature in the makeup of this unusual woman."

THE CASTLE KEEPERS by AIMIE K RUNYAN, J’NELL CIESELSKI and RACHEL McMILLAN is a novel covering three generations of the Alnwick family, custodians of Leedswick Castle, and how war affected the Alnwick men who came back broken from their wartime experiences, but also how it affected the castle, which was said to be cursed along with the family. The book is very well written, with each of the authors blending seamlessly as they each write about a different generation. I found the novel thought provoking, with a depth to the stories that kept my interest throughout.
In 1870 Beatrice leaves New York in disgrace to find a titled husband during the London season. She is what is known as a “dollar bride”, who brings her father’s “new money” to the marriage market as a dowry. She has great strength of character as she faces her hateful mother in law and brother in law and supports her husband with all that is in her……
In 1917, artist Elena Hamilton, who works for the Tin Noses Shop in London, takes up a private position at Leedswick Castle to make a mask for Tobias Alnwick who had half his face and one eye blown off in the war. The Tin Noses Shop wants to give dignity to those who had lost a part of themselves, as they went “Onto the next chunk of masticated meat they called a soldier. Where the war had chewed them up and the world had spat them out.” Elena, with her bright colours and exhuberant character “healed the only way she knew how. With paint.” She feels that “people are worth fighting for and forgiving.” ……
In 1945 Alec Alnwick, who has been corresponding during the war with Dr Henrik Mayr and his neice Brigitta, Austrian psychoanalists, and having read the teaching of Dr Arthur Hurst, decides to turn the castle into a healing centre for those returning home who are unable to cope with life after the horrors of war. Brigitta agrees to be part of this experiment……
The book is exciting with murder, a poison garden and false accusations that turn the people of the village against the Alnwicks. Will this use of the castle to heal the wounded prove to be its redemption? As Alec says to Brigitta “You can help me understand myself a little bit better but also redeem the use of this place.”
I highly recommend The Castle Keepers as an excellent read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Harper Muse. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

** “I’m not here to fix you, for that would require you to be broken. Which you are not. A bit scratched and bent, perhaps, but then, who of us isn’t?” **

Authors Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan join forces to create three connected stories in “The Castle Keepers,” a story that follows several generations of the war-torn and seemingly cursed Alnwick family.

Runyan delivers the 1870 story of Charles Alnwick, injured in the Indian conflict. As his family’s beloved Leedswick estate faces financial instability, he meets Beatrice Holbrook, one of America’s “new rich.” Will they survive the village’s resentment of the family and Charles’ battle scars to find true love?

Ciesielski takes up the 1917 tale of Tobias, returned from World War I missing part of his face. When his family hires the quirky artist Elena Hamilton to create a facial mask for him, Tobias comes to learn to find life’s true beauty, love and self-acceptance.

The 1945 story of Alec, told by McMillan, reveals a man haunted by the memories of war. He decides to open the family’s estate as a retreat to other men suffering from mental and emotional battle scars, along with the help of psychoanalyst Brigitta Mayr. Will he find the healing he needs, as well as healing for his family’s decades-long struggle with acceptance?

The three authors expertly weave together the stories of three generations, as if one author wrote one cohesive story. They create wonderful characters that are incredibly relatable and flawed, as well as inspiring.

They also fill “The Castle Keepers” with several great themes, like facing one’s convictions; not dwelling in the darkness; people are worth fighting for and forgiving; find your joy and purpose; seeing potential in others; and “one bad weed can overtake a whole garden.”

Fans of authors like Katherine Reay and Kristy Cambron will love “The Castle Keepers,” which is due out May 2.

Five stars out of five.

Harper Muse provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

I loved this story collection. Three unique, wonderfully told stories, but with themes, a setting, and characters that carry throughout. I enjoyed that the stories built on the first, then second one, showcasing multiple generations of the same family. I haven't read much about Dollar Princesses, the use of facial masks after the wars, or rehabilitation centers for similarly wounded soldiers -- and I love the novelness of this collaboration!

Three generations of a family in a castle in Northumberland. The male heirs bring in entirely different women to the castle. Each such uniquely different relationships but all responsible for the castle through the years, which is in different states of repair and upkeep. Each generation going through unique personal circumstances. Interesting, intriguing book.

I received this book free from the authors, publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #TheCastleKeepers #AimieKRunyan #JnellCiesielski #RachelMcMillan #BooksYouCanFeelGoodAbout #FiveStarNovel #HarperMuse

The Castle Keepers spans almost a century and gives sweeping sagas of three different branches of the same family in the north of England. Each saga is written by a different author, but each storyteller provides the same emotionally charged connections with their characters, it is almost difficult to distinguish between them all.

In the first installment, an American heiress must flee New York's society scandal to find a husband in England. It doesn't take long, but then another scandal finds the couple almost immediately after their quick marriage. Husband and wife are portrayed as genuine and not over the top. This story shows a true testament to the bond of marriage and promise.

The second installment finds an artist visiting the famed English family after WWI to complete an odd task to help a son hide his disfigurement. Readers will be sympathetic to the situation and will no doubt fall in love with how this tale is portrayed.

Finally, in the third installment, the family heir has returned from WW2 with a partner to help heal hidden scars from those who suffered major atrocities. The family castle remains a staple through all three novellas, and each group find a way to be the perfect keepers of such an important family treasure.

If you love historical fiction, these sweeping sagas will transport you to the past and ensnare your heart.

Thank you to Harper Muse and NetGalley for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A delightful collection of generational stories that connect through the beauty of an old family estate. The stories center on the Alnwick family, beginning in 1870. I loved all the stories, but this one was truly special as it kicked it all off. I love the tenacity of Beatrice to overall her hardships. I especially enjoyed the love story that built between Beatrice and Charles. A very tender tale that truly drew me in and captivated me. The continuation with Elena and Tobias was uplifting and fun. Yes, there were difficulties to overcome, but Elena’s free spirit and her ability to see the true heart of people, no matter their outward appearances, was genuinely special. I loved seeing her draw out Tobias and Tobias return to a fully living version of himself under her unconditional love. Lastly, Brigitta and Alec show how true change, transformation, and redemption are possible. Both are willing to take a risk to try something new and, in the process, learn that new paths can be forged beyond old stories and curses. I love how this generational tale captures various personalities, love stories, and the hope of better things to come.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

"These walls were not meant to be a prison but a refuge."⠀
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The Castle Keepers⠀
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The Castle Keepers by Aimie K. Runyan; J'nell Ciesielski; and Rachel McMillan is a set of three historical fiction romances that revolve around the grand and mysterious Leedswick Castle in Northridge, England. The tales follow the women and men of the castle as they navigate love, loss, trauma, and hope. ⠀
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My favorite of the three stories was that of Elena Hamilton and Tobias Alnwick. Set in 1917, artist Elena is hired to provide a mask for veteran and heir to the Leedswick Castle Tobias, to disguise his facial disfigurement from a war injury. Elena is a likeable character with an artist's eye that makes her dialogue almost poetic. Tobias is a strong, kind man who is fascinated with the enigmatic woman who has entered his life. Their search to unravel the mysteries of the castle and it's poison garden brings a nice bit of action to the romance and everything comes to an exciting end as they discover a devious plan that threatens to ruin both of their lives. ⠀
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All of the stories have sweet period romances intertwined with the difficulties of war and the pressures of society. The couples find solace in each other as they attempt to maintain the their home and bring it's mysteries to light. I enjoyed all of the historical aspects of the book and the fade to black romance was beautiful and inspiring. I'd recommend The Castle Keepers to anyone who loves cozy historical fiction and period dramas! ⠀

"The Castle Keepers" is an amazing collaboration of three authors, Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciessielski, and Rachel McMillan describing three time periods 1870, 1917, and 1945 at Leedswick Castle, in England, where the Ainwick family resided.

I am a fan of Aimie K. Runyan's novels, and I loved her novella taking place in 1870. Both J'nell Ciessielski and Rachel Mcmillan are new authors for me to read, and I also enjoyed their novellas. Besides the family name, the common thread is the curse of war and the belief that the castle is cursed because of the family. Three different women from three timelines have to show their bravery and courage.

The genres for this book are Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction, and Romance. The location for this story is mostly in England, at Leedswick Castle. Do you believe that a castle can be cursed? The authors, in their own way, vividly describe their colorful and dramatic characters as complex and complicated. Some are brave and courageous. Some are greedy and ruthless. There is loyalty, betrayal, danger, and death. All wars are tragic and devasting and cause the devastation of the people and their properties.

I love that there are three different storylines and timetables in this novel. I highly recommend this intriguing, memorable, and thought-provoking book to others.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins and authors Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan for the chance to read an ARC of The Castle Keepers. This is my unpaid and honest review of the book. This was such a nice read. I love the short stories about different generations of the same family and they way they intertwine to the castle's history. Each story was unique but there was a continuity in setting that helped the book flow together as though it was written by one author. I really enjoyed this and hope these authors will write together again!

Three novellas written by three historical fiction authors to collaborate this book.
The Castle Keepers is three novellas about the Alnwick family that lives in Leeswick Castle in Northumberton, England. Three different generations of women , Beatrice, Elena, Brigitte who made an impact on the lives of the Alnwick family.
I loved the settings, interesting characters and the poison garden that was in all three novellas.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a sweet and entertaining collection of 3 novellas. Rather than interspersed narratives, the 3 novellas are presented in sequential order. I really liked this fresh approach.

Much of the focus is on romance. While it wasn't necessarily what I was looking for, the love stories are nicely done.

I also appreciate the theme of finding your purpose and finding joy in dark times. The characters do a wonderful job of seeing the best in others and making the best of trying situations. Their resilience is also admirable.

Recommended for fans of historical romance.

Three favorite writers. Three timelines. Three gorgeous novellas linked by one British castle and a family cursed for generations, impacted by war and maybe, just maybe, the power of love to heal.

1870: Beatrice, an American Dollar Princess, marries Charles, a British Marquess with ailing Leedswick Castle, a poison garden, and an even more toxic family. Will the couple find love despite secrets, murder, and a village that hates them?

1917: Tobias is left with terrible facial scars during WWI. His parents hire Elena, a free-spirited artist with blazing red hair, to paint a mask to hide his injuries. Will she be able to release him from his self-imposed internal prison and equally imposing castle walls?

1945: Alec survives WWII but is crippled by shell-shock and seeks help from a famous Austrian psychoanalyst and his niece, Brigitta. He opens a convalescent center in the castle for those similarly afflicted, and hires Brigitta as a therapist. Will her treatments heal them, especially Alec, who may feel more than respect for her, as she might feel for him?

Highly recommended for lovers of historical romance and women's fiction that flow like honey and long stay with you.

I absolutely loved The Castle Keepers. The story is written by three authors, each dealing with one period in the family history of the Alnwick family, starting with Charles in the 1870s, followed by Tobias in the last year of WWI, and finally Alec at the end of WWII.
The common thread through these stories is a supposed curse placed on the family after Charles returned from war in Bhutan but his batman Francis, beloved local villager, did not. Diaries written by Charles and his wife Beatrice help to link the stories.
The story is set almost exclusively at the family’s country estate, Leedswick Castle, in Northumberland. The castle itself is crumbling and in desperate need of funds for repairs and maintenance, but it is still intriguing and I enjoyed wandering its halls with the various characters.
In each storyline there is intrigue, whether murder or attempted murder. There is also love, which nicely balances things.
I couldn’t put this book down. The overarching plot drew me quickly through each storyline and on to the next. Definitely a gripping read!

A castle. A journal. A curse. A poison garden. The Castle Keepers is a collection of three novellas spanning several generations of the Alnwick heirs. It is gothic, romantic, intriguing, and best of all surprising.

Each story was wonderfully executed. The characters were endearing and relatable. I loved Beatrice’s fierce loyalty, Elena’s lightheartedness and how she embraced life and beauty that was more than skin deep, and Brigitta’s calm demeanor and insightfulness. Each woman was a strong, compassionate, and supportive. And of course, I’m a sucker for broody, grumpy physically and emotionally wounded veterans, so I adored each MMC. They have so many layers and vulnerabilities, broadening your scope of empathy and respect for the sacrifices they made. I was fascinated to learn about the Tin Noses Shop and the work they did in helping disfigured soldiers. A definite bonus was that I was always wrong in picking the villain in each instance. Not usually one to be fooled, so it was a treat to be surprised.

Great collection of stories, with sweet romances and surprising mysteries.

#thecastlekeepers #jnellciesielski #aimiekrunyan #rachelmcmillan #cleanromance #gothicromance

The Truth Keepers by Aimie K Runyan

The first of three books set at Leedswick Castle. After Beatrice is shunned from New York society after a very unfortunate incident, she goes to London to be introduced there. While Charles is the bachelor with the highest title, he also is surrounded by scandal and appears rather odd. Shortly after arriving to the castle, tragedy strikes and the scandals surrounding the family grow. Will Beatrice be able to save her husband and the family name? A novella about bravery and being yourself.

The Memory Keepers by J'nell Ciesielski

I love learning new things when I read historical fiction. Did you know in 1917 the Third London General Hospital had a department that hired artists and sculptors to make masks for those disfigured during the battle? It was called the Masks for Facial Disfigurement Department otherwise known as Tin Noses Shop. This story follows Elena, an artist hired to create a mask for the Alnwick heir and her subject as she creates his mask. Trouble seems to follow Elena even though she has left London behind for now. Will Elena be able to escape her past? Will Tobias Alnwick ever feel comfortable being in public? A novella about finding oneself and embracing who you are.

The Dream Keepers by Rachel McMillan

Set at the very end of WWII, Alec Alnwick heads back to Leedswick Castle. After reading journals by a psychoanalyst and corresponding with him and his niece during the war, Alec decides to open up the castle to returning soldiers to help them acclimate back to society. Brigitta, the psychoanalyst's niece and budding psychoanalyst herself, joins Alec in his endeavor. The unexpected appearance of Alec's cousin seems to put everyone on edge. Will his appearance derail all the work Alec and Brigitta have worked to accomplish with the men? A novella about finding truth and overcoming one's own mind.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I could gush about how much I love each of these authors and their individual books, but that would take too long and I want to focus on the masterpiece created by these three ladies.

I love this book because these authors are using their unique voices to tell three different stories which are separate but also have threads of sameness.

The sameness in each story is a cursed English castle, the scars from war, a poison garden, and three strong women.

This is historical fiction and each story has romance and a hint of mystery.

Aimie’s timeline is 1870. She tells about an American Dollar Princess that marries for convenience. Once she gets to Leedswick Castle she encounters her new in-laws’ ire.

J’Nell’s timeline is 1917. She tells about an artist that goes to Leedswick Castle after being commissioned to make a realistic mask for an injured soldier.

Rachel’s timeline is 1945. She tells of an Austrian psychoanalyst who helps Leedswick Castle become a haven for men trying to successfully bridge the gap between the war’s end and their lives post war.

I loved all the stories. They were perfectly different! I think one of the most interesting parts of the book is in the 1917 timeline where a mask is made for a disfigured WWI soldier. I went online and learned more about how this was accomplished in real life.

I've not read a book about one story, written by three authors before. It was incredibly well written, and stayed cohesive. I liked the thread of the castle, the house in London, the journals, the garden, the wars. A very good fictional read.

Sometimes three authors get together to write a novella each, and then combine them into a novel. It doesn't always work, and I have been disappointed many times. But this book - wow! I don't know how they did it, but every transition was smooth and streamlined, each character and story held my interest, and the writing was of such high quality that it seemed that only one person was writing, instead of three. All three novellas were wonderful, and I found myself turning the pages quickly because I wanted to see what would happen. This book was unputdownable, and has something for everyone: love, history, WWI, WWII. I highly recommend this book! Do yourself a favor, and buy this! You will be in for a treat!! Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley. This was a wonderful experience and I only wish there were more!!

As someone who spent last summer traipsing around England and visiting castles and manor homes galore, I absolutely adored this book!

I loved all three storylines and how they focused on unique aspects of history, from the “dollar princesses” of the Gilded Age to the masks made for disfigured WWI soldiers to the PTSD suffered by WWII soldiers. All three love stories were romantic and sweet, proving that love conquers all.

If you’ve missed the world of Downton Abbey, this is the book for you!!

The Castle Keepers by Aimie K. Runyan-Vetter J'nell Ciesielsky and Rachel McMillan is full of mystery and taunt with suspense! The story flows effortlessly through the generations! Absolutely a great story and I had the delightful pleasure of listening to the audio! #fivestars

Three different generations of women in 1870, 1917 and 1945 and their connections to the Alnwick family and Leedswick castle in Northumberland. Beautifully written descriptions of the gardens and filled with intrigue and drama. The historical elements were well researched and each story keep me enthralled.

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The Castle Keepers
by Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski, Rachel McMillan

Release Date: May 2, 2023

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I truly enjoyed this book!

Each author had their own writing style and brought depth and interesting characters to the book.

I am interested in finding more books by each of these authors. 



The Truth Keepers ~ 1870

by Aimie K. Runyun

• Bea & Charles 



The Memory Keepers ~ 1917

by J’nell Ciesielski 

•Elena & Tobias 



The Dream Keepers ~ 1945 

by Rachel McMillan

• Brigitta & Alec

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

I have loved books by all three of these authors separately. So to put them together is a trifecta of amazing writing! Loved these stories and I really hope these authors will collaborate again in the future!