I'm a newer fan of Kristy Cambron. Having read the previous two in this series, I was glad to have the opportunity to read this one. Victorian England at it's finest. The perfect book to take your mind off of what is going on in our crazy world today. Escape to three different time periods!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for review based upon my honest opinion.

I loved this book. From the first page I was pulled into the rich and haunting story. The characters were so vivid in my memory the author did a fantastic job of portraying these people and involving you in their story. I have not read the other books in the series but do you want to bet they’re on my to read list now. The author tells an enchanting story over three different timeline; the three women in this book have such interesting stories. I was so wrapped up in this book I read long into the night because I need to finish it.

I have never been disappointed with any book by this author and will continue to read her books with gusto.

I enjoyed this one almost as much as the others. Once again we span three different times. This go around we have the 1800’s, the 40’s, and present. The 1800’s piece seem to lack a little in detail as we transition back into the story. Several times I went back to re-read to see if I missed something. This was not present in the other books in the trilogy.

Even with that, I still thoroughly enjoyed these romance stories centered, once again, around a castle. Especially with these stories being meatier than just a fanciful romance.

I do recommend this book and the series to other historical romance fans.

One of my favorite authors delivers yet another utterly delightful read. She seamlessly weaves both the past and the present together in such a delightful story. Loved all of the characters!

I have so enjoyed reading the Lost Castle trilogy and The Painted Castle was a wonderful way to conclude the series.

The Painted Castle tells the story of Keira Foley. She has been working at her family's pub after returning from the States. A mysterious stranger offers her a lucrative week-long job to survey a piece of art, and, Keira hopes, to put her life back in order. What Keira finds when she arrives at the castle catches her off guard and she is immediately drawn into the mystery behind the painting.

Equally compelling are the stories of Amelia and Elizabeth. Amelia is trying to manage the castle during World War II, following the death of her husband. The Allied Forces must lodge in the castle and that combined with the hundreds of children she is caring for at the castle turns things on end. Amelia is dealing with the grief of losing her husband and trying to live through these grim times, but should she open her heart to love again.

Elizabeth is a talented artist living in Victorian England. As a child, her father was murdered before her eyes and she has forever since been searching for his killer. Elizabeth finds herself betrothed to a viscount, not entirely of her own choosing, and the more she finds out about him, the more concerned she becomes.

It is very interesting to see how the separate plot lines come together, as well as concluding the stories of the Foley family. I love how the books in this trilogy can be read independently or as part of a series. I am glad to have discovered Kristy Cambron and look forward to reading more books written by her.

I received this book courtesy of Thomas Nelson through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

My heart is so full after reading this book. I loved every single second of this book. This was my first Kristy Cambron book but will not be my last! I hope I can convey just how much this book impacted me! First it includes a portrait of Queen Victoria. My all time favorite queen, so I knew this book would be good, I just didn't realize how much more it would it would be! This book told the story of 3 women. Elizabeth from the 1840's, Amelia from the 1940's and Keira from the present time. Each of these women are unique, deal with unique problems and trust God above all. I couldn't tell you that I have a favorite among these 3, because I grew to love them all within pages of the beginning of the book. As I write this review I am a little sad that the book is done but oh so glad that it exists to be read! It will definitely be added to my reread pile.

Keira - There was something about Keira from the start that you just were drawn to. She has such a love for the art. She has been jaded a little from the past, but is still soft too. Her love for Victoria made her an instant kindred spirit to me. I seriously would love to sit down with her and become friends.

Elizabeth - I instantly loved Elizabeth and wanted to know her story She had lots of bitterness and resentment from witnessing her father die as a child. That alone would cause more pain than one should ever know or learn how to deal with. I loved watching her grow and see her become an artist that she truly was!

Amelia - How much tougher can one get and yet still be gentle and caring enough to notice everyone around you? That would be Amelia. She had to deal with World War 2 at the Homefront in England countryside. She cared for children who were not her own and had American servicemen under foot too. I loved her story and really, really would like to meet her.

Kristy thank you for writing this wonderful heartfelt story. I will be definitely reading the rest of the series! I am not sure my words can correctly describe how much this book has impacted me!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron is the third book in the Lost Castle series and definitely worth reading if you love stories filled with history, mystery, suspense and stories set in multiple time periods.
Keira Foley is hired to authenticate a painting, but when she arrives at Parham Hall Estate and begins her work she is left with more questions than answers. Unraveling the mystery of the painting also leads her to find out the history of the estate along with two women, Elizabeth Meade and Amelia Woods, who are also linked to the estate and their stories.
This story is about heartache and hope and hidden secrets that you definitely don't want to miss out on.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Kristy Cambron in the future.

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone

Book Review–The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron
Book #3 of the Lost Castle series
I must say that this book was interesting because of its historical aspect and realistic romantic characters.
The story though intriguing with a mixture of romance and mystery kept my interest enough to keep me reading, yet being as I had not read the previous two books in this series, nor had ever read a time-slip novel before, I have to admit I was quite confused in the beginning.
There are three different time periods and three main female characters portrayed in this novel, modern day is Keira in Dublin, Ireland–mid-1940s World War II is Amelia at Parham Hill Estate in Framlingham, England, and mid-1840s is Elizabeth at Parham Hill Estate in Framlingham, England.
The main focal point is an intimate portrait that was painted of Queen Victoria in the 1800’s.
After I sorted out times and places and got used to the chapter transitions I really enjoyed reading each character’s story and how they all ended up fitting together in the end.
If you enjoy historical time-slip novels that are filled with mystery, suspense, romance then you will surely enjoy this book but you will most likely will want to begin with Book 1 in the series to help you set the stage more fully.
I received this book for free from Celebrate Lit in exchange for an honest review. This does not in anyway influence my opinion of the book or the content of my review, all comments are my own.
–Leona J. Atkinson

Three women from three different time periods connected by one castle and the secrets it contains. What does a painting of Queen Elizabeth have to do secrets the castle walls hold?

Do not be afraid of reading this book when you see that it's the third in a series. I haven't read the first two in the series, and to me it seems that you don't need to.

The Painted Castle is a very well researched historical fiction. With three different timelines, I never got confused because each timeline was distinct and well thought-out. This is not your typical historical fiction as it has one timeline in the 1840s, one in the 1940s, and one in the present day. Personally, my favorite was the one in the 1940s as WWII historical fiction is one of my favorite genres.

It was refreshing to read a historical fiction that didn't include espionage, but I am giving this four stars as I wish that the story between Kiera and Emory in the present day would have been more developed. If that third of the story would have been more developed, I would have given it the extra star.

I look forward to reading more of Kristy Cambron's work as I couldn't put this one down.

It’s rare that I enjoy a book so thoroughly that takes place in several different time periods, and author Kristy Cambron has exceeded my expectations in The Painted Castle. Focusing on a centuries old manor in the English countryside and the people who inhabit the beautiful spaces, three different time periods are covered: modern day, mid-1940s World War II, and the mid-1840s Victorian England. Tying all these together are the location and a portrait painted of Queen Victoria.

While this is the third and final book in the Lost Castles series, I had no problems reading The Painted Castle as a stand alone novel. Kristy Cambron ties in the rich setting, an obvious love for art. architecture, and history, all while weaving memorable and lively characters that I grew to love quite fast. Moving from one time period to the next was very seamless and kept the story moving, and I was eager to keep reading and uncover each set of characters’ secrets and motivations.

The modern day sees art historian Kiera Foley hired to authenticate a painting of Queen Victoria that has been found in a crumbling old Suffolk manor. Little did she know that she’d fall in love with the house and it’s history, as well as the mysterious possible art thief named Emory who has been tasked to help her with the restoration and investigation of the house. In World War II England, widowed Amelia is doing her part by opening up Parham Hill Manor to children that have been misplaced by the war, all while running the manor like her late husband would expect her to do while helping out the town with their honey production. But when a squadron of American airmen are ordered to move into the estate, Amelia’s life is upended once more–especially by the handsome Captain Wyatt Stevens. And in 1843, Elizabeth Meade has a mind for only two things: drawing and getting revenge for her murdered father. Her mother has marrying Elizabeth off to a wealthy man first on her mind, so Elizabeth is paired with the elusive viscount who owns Parham Hill–whom Elizabeth last saw ten years earlier at the seen of her father’s murder.

I give The Painted Castle a five out of five. Each time period’s heroine was strong, independent, and quite capable of whatever she put her mind to. The touches of romance between the heroines and their respective men were quite different yet sweet and complicated for each of the pairs. The setting and architecture were beautifully described, and I could easily imagine the places. I highly enjoyed the characters and I can not pick a favorite couple. The writing flowed well from timeline to timeline, and the stories fit together nicely as more was revealed throughout the book. I definitely recommend this book to historical fiction and romance readers alike.

This book is just so raw and gorgeous. I can't fathom how I'm going to write an adequate review. 💔

My heart is broken and weary, but yet whole. I can't even explain it.

Kristy Cambron has taught me to love historical fiction far more than I ever thought was possible. My heart hurts just thinking about the emotions and memories twisted within me. Her words flowed right off the page and turned me soft--connected with me--in the same way Andrew Peterson managed in his book Adorning the Dark.

Very few books ever touch me so deeply; very few authors manage to make my heart break in this manner. Some mess with my feels and "break my heart" .... but this one. This one's different. This one is more personal, more real somehow? When I finished it, it was like saying goodbye to my heart.

My emotions shattered with these characters. I don't understand how Kristy Cambron does it....her words are just so raw and real and gorgeous. They hit you where it hurts and then heal you, but they never fail to leave their mark.

You need to read something by Kristy Cambron. Especially if you love historical fiction. You won't regret it. In fact, it will probably be one of the best things that you've ever read. I will one day own this heart-shattering trilogy on my shelf.

Enough rambling .... meet the characters.

Keira ~ Sister to Quinn and Cormac, who has a love of historical paintings. Her finance just dumped and fired her, sending her back home to Ireland with a broken heart. She has now decided to never again let her heart trust. However, when a mysterious man who knows some of her backstory shows up and requests her help with appraising a painting of Queen Victoria her interest is piqued. But is Keira ready to trust again or will she fail to continue the legacy those before have left behind?

Amelia ~ Widow and adoptive mother of hundreds of children, who treasures her library. When Allied soldiers suddenly show up on her property, requesting living quarters and threatening to upset the balance she's finally created, an inward war will break out. She's given up all hope of living happily-ever-after--besides in times of war you make no friends because the next day they're gone--so why would she trust again? But a brave young Yank continues to earn her trust and love as the days past, teaching her that maybe broken pieces are meant to fit together. Is she brave enough to make the leap when everything she loves is on the line?

Elizabeth ~ Fatherless artist, who seeks justice for her father's murder. She has a lead: a young man with grey eyes. However, life seems destined to toss at her the worst fate and prevents her from getting the answers she seeks. While her mother is determined to marry her off Elizabeth hunts down clues in the darkness--painting all the while. When the answers finally come to life (in a way she never expected), she's asked to trust someone she's always hated. How can she love when everything she's ever believed in crumbles beneath her?

Come on this journey through time, learn the lessons these women have learned. Feel their pain. Then take the leap of faith.

Times have changed, but the question remains the same for you. Will you leap in faith for love if it means leaving everything else behind?

**FTC DISCLOSURE** I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. My review is my personal opinion and has not been affected by outside opinions. If this review offended you, please don't take it personally. Everything stated was not meant to be offensive. Thanks NetGalley!! :)

The Painted Castle (Lost Castle #3) by Kristy Cambron is a great finish to this series! Set in three different time periods (Victorian England, WWII and modern times) it's hard to decide which setting and characters were my favorite. When reading one set of characters you are really enjoying then she will switch to another set and continues on throughout the book. In the modern era, Kiera discovers a hidden painting and an art thief that she has to work with to uncover the mystery of the portrait through each era. Great writing that keeps your interest and turning the pages. Ms. Cambron is a talented and descriptive writer. Looking forward to more books by this author.

I received this book from NetGalley/publisher and all opinions are my own.

Title: The Painted Castle

Author: Kristy Cambron

Series: Lost Castle Book 3

Pages: 381

Genre: Christian Fiction/dual time

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

The Painted Castle is third and final book in the Lost Castle series by Kristy Camron. This is a multiple time period novel. We have Kiera Foley in the modern day, sister to the heroes in the first two books in the series. Amelia Woods during WWII and Lady Elizabeth in Victorian England.
I love novels that take place in multiple time periods especially when the stories intertwine with each other like they do in this one. I also like that this book wrapped up the series as a whole at the end of the book. Even though each book focuses on different characters it is still best to read the books in order otherwise you will be spoiled for previous books.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I really enjoyed this split-time historical romance from Kristy Cambron. The characters were intriguing and the setting of the 'castle' was very well done in all of its time periods. The plot line that connected all the different periods which was the painting was a little tenuous and I would have preferred a more of a zing to that connecting thread but nonetheless the entire story was actually well thought out and quite realistic. I absolutely loved the heartbreaking story of the grand home being used as a home for orphans and the love story that arose from that era was so eloquent and touching. There were several themes going on in this novel that Cambron puts together with ease. Fabulous writing and wonderful plot lines..

We get three stories in one novel here. Such an interesting twist on a time-slip novel, where we usually get one historical and one contemporary story.

I was a bit lost at the beginning. I had somehow missed that this was the third in a series when I volunteered to read for review. You might consider reading books one and two, if you haven’t, before you tackle this one.

That said, each character’s world was engaging. The author has a strong voice. She built three distinctive worlds for this novel, each somewhat enchanting. In the early reader copy (ARC), I did find a spot where the modern heroine’s voice (POV) sounded much like the historical woman’s voice from the previous scene, which section may have been reworked before by publication.

Each of our heroines has a tough challenge to overcome. I liked that they were all strong heroines. Two of them were in art, which is always a fun topic. I enjoyed watching their romances unfold with the heroes of their world. We only get a little time with each, since this novel is divided into three story lines. I admit, given how long the novel is, though I was still interested, I had to move on to another book in my queue before finishing. I think I’d prefer two story lines and a shorter book overall, where we get to dive into each character’s world and enjoy their romance with more layers.

I loved the author’s descriptions. She has a way with her historical voice, with the prose, pacing, and descriptions. I lost myself more easily in the historical story lines. The modern story line seemed to have holes, but that may be because the characters were introduced in earlier books.

These heroines are looking for redemption or vindication or reassurance in a broken world. These are relatable themes, part of the human condition. They don’t see their own courage, though readers will.

If you’re looking for a novel to get lost in, this is it. Overall, the journeys are strong and enjoyable.

Again, late to the party? So it would seem. This third and final book of author Kristy Cambron's "Lost Castle" series was my own introduction to her exquisite writing. Her love for art and history is evident in the lush descriptive prose of the three time periods represented in this book (Victorian, World War II and present day). Her historic research - impeccable. Each character is well fleshed out and seemingly real as each holds a personal secret of brokenness. The reader, as witness, observes the slow guarded removal of barriers of the heart as characters connect with one another in their respective time. The book is history with mystery and a touch of chaste romance.

The present day story centers around the discovery of a mid-19th century painting found hidden in an old manor house in Sussex, England. Keira Foley, a talented art historian is brought in to authenticate the painting's provenance in anticipation of a public reveal. The 19th story provides us the background material for the painting's creation and the WWII story sets the stage for its sequestering.

All in all, this was a wonderful interweaving of three lovely stories deftly created by Ms. Cambron. She knows her art and her history well and reveals her love for both through her highly descriptive writing. The images her words painted were as elegant as as an highborn lady and as scenic as the rise of sun across a mist-covered meadow. I eagerly look forward to reading the first two books of this beautiful series by a gifted writer.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As the book opens, the reader is introduced to a young girl named Elizabeth. I was pulled in quickly with the vibrant emotions all while viewing this opening scene from her young eye. Many details are brought to light in that little snippet of time of Elizabeth's life. From there the reader finds themself racing across an English countryside, transported to Ireland in a well-known pub with a storm brewing outside, then once more transported to an English countryside on a beautiful sunny day while war rages around. All three of these locations are set in different time periods and have a history and connection between them that will take the reader time to discover.

A beautiful conclusion to this series, and quite possibly my favorite of the three. I truly enjoyed all of the books and the rich history of them, but this one, stole my heart. I also think that with each book in the series you come to know more about the modern day characters. The first two books are about the Foley brothers and this one is about their sister Kiera. I always enjoy when I can continue reading about characters that I've grown to love in other books of a series. I really enjoyed that we were able to have more from the Foley family as well as a fabulous ending.

I don't think I could pick which of the three stories within this story was my favorite. I loved them all, especially the more I learned about them and the more I learned of their connection to each other. There is heartbreak and sorrow in each story. Challenges and struggles from the heroines' pasts. Then there are hopes and dreams, and yes, tender love and healing.

I'm not going to go into details about the book. I will tell you that I struggled closing the book anytime I had to pause or take a break. I was drawn into the heroines' (and heroes') stories that I felt like I was there sharing in their journey. I will tell you that I loved the library and was immensely jealous of it. Hee Hee! I think I could hide away in there and never emerge again. And no, not just for the books, but for the beauty of it all. Or maybe I would emerge and go to the beekeeper's cottage as well. It's a tough choice.

If you haven't read the previous books in this series, I think you would be ok reading this. Thinking back, the author provided back information for the Foley family to help the reader enjoy it if they chose to read it as a stand alone. But I highly recommend reading the whole series, especially if you love history, if you love multiple time periods in a story, and most especially if you enjoy a beautiful and tender love story. I guess I should also include if you love captivating writing.

I will miss more books coming from this story but I can always go back and enjoy them again and again. I look forward to seeing what Kristy Cambron has in store for her readers next.

Content: Clean. There are a few kisses throughout the book but nothing further. There are several moments of peril and suspense, one of the time periods is during WWII so that is to be expected. There is talk of death and loss.

I received a copy from the publisher, Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

The Painted Castle
by Kristy Cambron

Thomas Nelson--FICTION

Thomas Nelson

Christian , Historical Fiction


Pub Date 15 Oct 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Painted Castle through Netgalley and Thomas Nelson:



How do a lost painting of Queen Victoria, a library bricked off from the world, and thank Green women separated by time, whose lives are forever changed connect?


Librarian Keira Foley is hired to authenticate a painting at a centuries old East Suffolk manor. She hopes that this will be the thing that puts her life and career back on track. The problem is that from the time she arrives at Parham Hill Estate and begins working alongside rumored art thief Emory Scott, she’s left with far more questions than answers. Is it possible that this lost painting of Queen Victoria be a duplicate of the original Winterhalter masterpiece, and if so, who is the artist?



When Keira begins to unravel the mystery of the painting, two women from the estates forgotten past begin to emerge. In Victorian England it was talented sketch artist Elizabeth Meade who was engaged to the owner of Parham Hall at the time, Viscount Huxley. But Elizabeth’s real mission at Parham Hall has nothing to do with art or marriage She’s determined to avenge her father’s brutal murder even if it means a betrothal to the very man she believes committed the crime.



Skip ahead a century and there was Amelia Woods who was a World War 2 Widow whi turner Parham Hall and it’s beloved library into a boarding school for Refugee Children, and receives military order to offer shelter to a troop of American Pilots, she remains determined that this children’s lives will remain untouched by the war, but it is proving to be hard while officers take up every square inch of their world . . . and one in particular vying for a space in Amelia’s long-shut up heart.




The Painted Castle is a beautifully told story, set in three time periods, the rapid change of Victorian England, the peak of England’s home-front tensions at the end of WWII, and modern day. In this book stories of heartache and hope are told, and secrets lost for generations are brought to light!




I give The Painted Castle five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

The year is 1843, the year is 1944, the year is present-day, the lady is Elizabeth or Amelia or Keira, the man is Keaton or Wyatt or Emory. Take your pick on which characters you want to root for or if you want to root for all of them. Yes, this book jumps back and forth between three different timeframes and, of course, three different sets of people. Because of this, I think, it took me a while before the story pulled me in. You have to read a lot more of the book before you get a handle on each character and what is happening, but when the story pulled me in, I was hooked.

Often in these kinds of books that flip back and forth between time periods, I really am interested in only one story and endure the others. And I thought this would be the case again: what interest was I really going to have in 1843, but I was so very wrong. By the time, the book was done, I was interested in all three time periods and really, really wanted to know what happened to each character. And the endings were so deeply satisfying. I like a happy ending as much as the next person, but when the happy endings come on the heels of pain and personal loss, there is so much more satisfaction to be found in them. The joy just seems to be greater and deeper, the characters more developed and mature, and the endings just so much more realistic as well.

A few quotes I liked from the book. The first one is from the 1944 time period. "Books are a completely personal kind of journey. On the first page they ask us not only to be willing but to be moved, changed, persuaded, even made new by the time we reach the end. Everyone's walk through is different. It has to be. What if I choose the wrong sort of journey for you?" I love this quote because of my own love of books and because I recognize that a book I love someone else may hate.

And this quote is from the present-day time period: "Life can sometimes be that, yes, but it can have a bring-you-to-your-knees beauty too. Grief isn't always a loss of any one person or thing. I think it's the loss of who we might have become had life not taken an unexpected turn. That needs some time to work out."

I really enjoyed this book. This was the third in her lost castle series featuring the Foley family. You can read them as stand-alone books, I have only read two out of the three, but I do think they would make more sense if read in order.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This review is going to take a look into the world of historical fiction and castles. The Painted Castle is the third and final novel in Kristy Cambron's Lost Castle series. I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It was published October 15th and I highly recommend readers pick up a copy.


Kiera Foley had been working on a PhD in Art History when she was ostracized from the art world. She retreated back to Dublin and we find her working in the family pub when a dark and mysterious man shows up and makes her an offer. Little does she know, it's an offer that she can't refuse. She arrives in the English countryside and is delivered to a rundown manor housing a painting of Queen Victoria the she must study for authenticity.


This book tells the story of the manor and those that lived there in three different points in history. The life of the viscount and artists in the 1840s, the widow of the viscount and a base full of soldiers during World War II, and that of Keira in modern day, as they work to restore the honey cottage and beautiful library that was found bricked up on the premises.


Cambron does an outstanding job of using the three couples' stories to create the big picture of one place throughout time. And although this book is categorized as Christian fiction, it is not as heavily based on the Christian faith as some. I think those that love to get lost in the English countryside and read about art would thoroughly enjoy this book. I will definitely be going back to read the first two books in the trilogy to learn more about Keira's mysterious brothers.


Happy reading :)