This book is enthralling.
The cover is what first captured my attention.
But then there's also the fact that I've loved every single book written by this author.
Her talent with words is unrivaled.
I was so excited to hear about this newest series she was writing, on castles in Europe (on my bucket list to visit, someday....)
This book. This Lost Castle. It is so intriguing. The linking of three different time lines. All tied to the same castle.
Three different girls. Three very different eras. And I love it!
It captured my attention from the very beginning.
I've been prolonging my finishing of this story for the simple reason that once I finish it, it's over. And I hate for that to happen. So I keep reading a few chapters each day, and then spend the rest of the day pondering over what I just read.
If you like history, castles, and a bit of romance, I'm sure you will love this book!

I loved this book. There are three different stories that tie in together at the end very well. The stories are three different woman in three different time periods (Gilded Age, WW2, Present day) all based around the castle, nicknamed “The Sleeping Beauty”. They all find healing, love, and refuge in different unique ways.
It was fairly clean as well (mild violence). It was a little slow at times, but I would recommend it. I look forward to reading the next.

I received a free copy from the publisher via Net Gallery for my honest opinion.

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

"Crumbling walls were rare, beautiful things."  So begins "The Lost Castle", a wonderful historical Christian fiction by Kristy Cambron.  Her story follows three women, three different time periods, and showcases the effect a castle had on each of their lives.

Aveline, who lived during the French Revolution knew the castle best by it's French name, the Château de Doux Rêves. Vi, whose work was important during World War II, lived the castle's translated name, The Castle of Sweet Dreams.  Then there is Ellie, whose grandmother has Alzheimer's. Ellie lives in the present and she begins a quest to relay a message and to understand more about the photo her grandmother shows her. Ellie comes to know the castle as The Sleeping Beauty, of which she says, "...She's every bit of both, don't you think?"



Aveline, Vi, and Ellie each have unique personalities and they develop into steadfast women who use their gifts for God's purpose. Wanting to know more about the characters and imagining them as real people is what great fiction does for the reader and Kristy Cambron succeeded in bringing a realness to these women.  With that said, she did the same for the main attraction, the Château de Doux Rêves. She gave it a life and made me want to know more.

The Sleeping Beauty is based upon a real castle found 200 miles from Paris called, the Chateau La Mothe-Chandeniers. This castle has been lying in ruins and many people have joined together to try to restore it. (See the video below this full review). Knowing that Cambron's idea for "The Lost Castle" came from an existing place make the characters even more memorable and their stories more loved.

This book tore at my heart and made me cry.  It inspires faith when all hope seems gone, love when loveless people hurt one another, and courage to live through whatever you face. "It is the constancy of God, in His time and in the very heartbeat of the land, by which our stories will live on. That is where roots grow deepest."

I highly recommend this book for anyone.  It won't disappoint those who love historical fiction and the questions at the end of the book make it a great candidate for reading clubs.

Personal Rating: 4.78            Star Rating:

This was my first Kristy Cambron book. I was intrigued by the title, since I love castles. This one takes place in the Loire Valley (a place I have visited) surrounding the Sleeping Beauty Castle. Three stories over three time periods all with the same castle. All three have great characters and storylines. If you love reading about castles, history, romance, then I recommend this book to you.

A beautifully written Historical fiction novel. I really enjoyed this one.

I really enjoyed this book! It’s told in three different time periods about three different women, and revolves around a castle named sleeping beauty in France. One story takes place during the French Revolution, another during WW11, and one present day. At first I wasn’t sure about reading a book with 3 different stories going on, but I found myself immersed in each story, and liked how the author linked the stories together by the end. Each story has a sweet love story involved, and the author leaves you guessing as to what happens to all the characters. My favorite was reading about Aveline during the French Revolution, and found myself wishing the book revolved more around her story. I’m so happy to have received an arc of this book from netgalley, and really excited it’s going to be a series!

The Lost Castle is not your average dual time period book, because this book has three time periods. The Sleeping Beauty is a 13th century castle with many stories to tell.

The Chateau de Doux Reves survives the French Revolution but not a fire in the 1930’s. Left abandoned the French resistance uses its shell to hide in. The current day story centers around Ellie and her quest to unravel the story behind a mysterious picture of her grandmother taken at the ruins.

The synopsis above does a great job of descibing the stories here without me going into more detail. Suffice to say I really enjoyed this book. Each of the characters were unique, their journeys played out nicely and the landscape was easy to visualize. As each women searches for meaning in different ways they battle through war, whether physically or through another their lives are changed because of it.

The Lost Castle is a story of love and loss, strength and determination. The author’s passion for this story was evident with vivid descriptive detail and an interesting story where all the pieces fit together nicely.

This looks to be the first book in a new series called The Lost Castles, a series I will continue to read. This is my second book by Kristy Cambron and my favorite so far.

Thanks to TLC Tours and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.

Thsnks to Netgalley for the advanced copy..

Oh wow!! What a delighted story turned out to be!!

I really loved that book so much!!

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.

The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron takes place within three time lines. Sleeping Beauty, a ruined castle in France, ties all the time periods together. Avaline, Viola, and Ellie are the heroines who make up the castles history during Present day, WWII and the French Revolution, Each storyline centers around strong women.
I enjoyed the theme of family, following your heart and faith through turmoil, but most of all, I loved the romance in each time period. This novel provides a lot of history and mystery in a very interesting way. It delves into the lives of all three heroines and their tenacity and bravery. I highly recommend this read.

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.