I fell in love with this author when she wrote her last book. This one had me at "nurse". As one myself, I love reading about what nurses went through in other times and found this story to be heartbreaking and warm at the same time. I cannot fathom the great tragedy that the characters endured, but I enjoyed reading how they overcame the struggles of the time.

WWI feels like an invisible war. Beauty Among Ruins is set in Scotland and those returning from war, needing care, are terrified of an unseen enemy thanks to trench warfare. Overall, this was beautifully written.

American socialite Lily Durham is not quite the “perfect” American heiress that her parents had hoped she’d be. Banished to England in the hopes she will “settle down”, she, along with her cousin end up in Scotland to volunteer at a castle housing wounded soldiers. Unable to return home due to the looming Great War, she stays at the castle much to the dismay of several people working there.
Alec Macgregor, Lord Strathem, laird of Kinclavoch, is barely hanging on to his land. Huge debt left to him upon his father’s passing, has led him to consider selling off bits of his land to cover the debts. He lives in a castle that is on the verge of collapse and doesn’t have the money to fix it or help the tenants that live on his land.
This felt very much like a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. Lily is like a burst of sunshine. She doesn’t let much get in her way or get her down. She tries and tries to draw out Alec from the dark that seems to be clouding around him. She is vivacious, light-hearted, kind, and pretty. She seems to rush into things without thinking things through and that gets her into trouble but also brings happiness to those that she encounters.
Alec besides being devastatingly handsome, is the opposite of Lily. He must shoulder huge burdens which has made him gruff, reclusive, mysterious, and at times just plain mean. Can they overcome these differences to help each other and perhaps in the process, fall in love? Can they solve the mystery surrounding the strange things that are happening at the castle? Why are there so many secrets?
I wish that there had been a story told in between the time she left America and her arrival in Scotland. It picks up quite some time after being in England. It didn’t say how she adapted to life away from family. How her relatives responded in her coming, and what her life is like now that she is away from her family in America. I felt like I missed a bit of the story with that not being added in there. Because I believe that her time there certainly shaped how she saw things and why she felt the need to volunteer. The attention to detail of life in Scotland was captivating. I felt as though I were in Scotland, in this castle helping soldiers alongside Lily. The book was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. Mystery, romance, courage, and historical detail are spread throughout this novel. This was my first book by J’nell Ciesielski and will not be my last! I thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me an ARC of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

When the eyes of Heaven look down upon us, what do they see?

The author has taken us vicariously to an absolutely gorgeous area in Scotland. The scenery details bring you along out into the fields where Kinclavoch castle can be seen in all its glory! After reading this, a trip to that part of the world is a must. The plight of the old family estates is well documented and one can certainly understand why many have been sold.

In 1915, Kinclavoch has temporarily become a convalescent home for returning soldiers, wounded in the war. Lily, a debutante from New York, is there to help in whatever way she can, along with her cousin Bertie who is a nurse. I must admit to laughing out loud as well as being ready to scream as I read this fabulous book. Between poisonings, madmen, fire, kidnapping and other nefariousness you will NOT put this down until you have reached the final end.

This ARC was received through Thomas Nelson, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. These comments and impressions are my own and were in no way solicited.

Set in the scotland during World War One, we follow the journey of America Socialite Lily Durham. She ends up in Europe in hopes to settle her down into a proper lady. Only the war breaks out. Her cousin convinces her to join her in Scotland to help nurse the wounded. Lily is thrust into situations she never expected. I liked Lilly. She had determination and spunk. She brings joy to those around her. She was normal and someone I would have wanted for a friend. Alec is a great brooding scotsman who had so much on plate. I liked him. He definitely grew on me.
I loved watching Lilly and Alec interact with each other. All of the characters were well written and real. I found myself rooting for some of them and others I disliked immensely. I find that I learn something every time I read fiction. Especially historical fiction. I learned more about the houses turned hospital for the wounded. The difficulties of taking care of the soldiers. I could clearly picture this story well. It made me want to learn more about the time period.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Beauty Among Ruins, by J’Nell Ciesielski, is a Christian historical fiction story that takes place in Scotland during WWI. Lily’s parents sent her to England to live with her cousin’s family. But when the war started, she went with her cousin for nurses training and then to Scotland’s’ Kinclavoch Castle to care for injured soldiers. The family’s quarters are off limits, but Lily accidently went into the family’s quarters and met the bed ridden daughter and befriends her.

Alec took over the family home after his father’s death. The constant debts forced his to part with his family’s belongs. He also opened his home, Kinclavoch Castle to house injured soldiers. Alec struggled with keeping up with the bills and repairs to the home. But now things are happening that could force him to sell the beloved home.

This is an awesome story that shows a different side of the war than I have read before. I have not read a story based in Scotland before and enjoyed the descriptive writing that made it easy to imagine the breathtaking surroundings. The writing is so clear and the story has just the right amount of mystery, suspense and touch of romance. I was kept guessing to the end as to who could be causing so much trouble for Alec’s family and why. This is truly an amazing story and a very fun story to read.

I received a complimentary ebook copy of this book from Thomas Nelson, Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. This is my honest review.

If you haven’t read a book by J’nell, what are you waiting for? She writes great historical romance and you will learn more about history as well. I don’t know much about WWI so this book was interesting in that aspect as well.

You could definitely pick up on the Beauty and the Beast theme in this book.

Lily and Alec’s romance is full of tension and I just wondered how they could ever make it work with so many things fighting against them. And I knew there was something going on that they weren’t seeing, someone trying to sabotage Alec, but who exactly and what was their purpose?

If you like historical romance I highly commend this read.


A copy of this book was given to me through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

Beauty Among the Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski follows New York socialite, Lily Durham, on a journey across the ocean to her relatives in England. Her parents hope she gains a sense of direction and responsibility, but they never imagined how playing a role among war-torn men would change her forever. Alec MacGregor is giving all of himself to keep his family’s crumbling legacy--Kinclavoch castle and the abounding estate--from bankruptcy and ruin. But a bubbly American works her way under his skin and changes his perspective on almost everything, but especially himself.
The author has a special gift for painting a luscious landscape of the land surrounding Kinclavoch, to the point you can see the beautiful, rolling hills of the Scottish estate and wish to stroll beside the loch in the spring to see the wildflowers. The descriptions brought a vividness to the story and made you feel as if you were walking alongside the characters.
And those characters are wonderful. Lily may be flippant in her duties at Kinclavich castle at first, but she quickly comes to realize the value of what she is doing. I loved her optimistic attitude, and I am jealous of her ability to handle hostile situations with grace (and maybe a little venom).
Alec is a grumbly mystery, but it is impossible not to have respect for a man who tries so hard to provide for his family and his fellow countryman. He is part of the noble beauty of Kinclavoch, and it was both entertaining and heartwarming to watch Lily soften his heart little by little.
I listened to this book on audio, and I loved it! Hearing the Scottish brogue and Gaelic sayings made the story even more genuine.
Overall, I loved this story. The Scottish countryside. The witty quips from Lily. The brooding of Alec. This is a beautiful, historical romance that also has a twist or two of mystery. This is a novel you will devour but wish you didn’t have to reach the end! Any fan of historical fiction/romance will enjoy Beauty Among the Ruins.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

A light interesting, and charming story of Lucy, an American high society flighty girl sent to England to live with her cousin to learn to become more lady like. With the UK at war, she and her cousin do their bit by volunteering to train to serve as nurses in a convalescent home for wounded officers. They find themselves posted to the Highlands in a somewhat dilapidated castle of a Scottish Lord who was unable to be called up due to a leg injury. How she copes with, her job with her freewheeling ways, that clash with the dragon of a matron, while charming her patients and the taciturn Lord of the castile who is struggling with a bankrupt estate, under siege by creditors and dangers from others who covert the castile and plot for his demise. A most satisfying read.

J'nell Ciesielski does it again. She has written another great book, Beauty Among Ruins.

This book is set in Scotland at a castle which has become a rehabilitation place for solidiers during World War I. At times I did feel like I was in Scotland and there were lots of Scottish words and phrases but not too much that you needed to keep looking at the dictionary.

Lily, wild mixed with a bit of rebellion, needs mature and look beyond herself. At the beginning of the book I wasn't sure I would like Lily. She seemed spoiled. Slowly she begins to change until in the end I did love her. Now her parents were a different story.

One of the characters that I loved the most was the hospital matron. She was tough but to hear the praise at the end you realise how much Lily changed and how she did see what was happening.

Alec is hiding away but slowly Lily brings him out. She begins to show him all that is around him and as he looks beyond himself he can see things that he is able to do. Not focusing on what he can't do but on what he can do.

This was a great book. Thanks to Netgalley and CelebrateLit for a copy of this to review. The comments are all my own.

Who doesn’t love a Beauty and the Beast retelling? Not that this is a retelling per se, but it has all the essential points of the story, most importantly a beauty, a beast, and a castle! Alec and Lily are the kind of characters you can’t help but love, flaws and all, and they’re such opposites in personality that the tension is all kinds of wonderful. A big part of the enjoyment in this story was watching them grow to understand each other little by little—a process that was by no means smooth!

Even if one puts aside the Beauty and the Beast trope, this story has so much going for it. The Scottish setting comes alive both in Ciesielski’s descriptions and in the characters’ interactions with their surroundings, and the many facets of Lily’s winsome personality are reflected in her interactions with a varied cast of characters: her cousin Bertie, the dragonish Matron Strom; the catty nurse Esther Hartley; Alec’s frail and sickly sister, Viola; and a multitude of other characters from convalescing soldiers through to the slimy journalist Richard Wright.

My heart went out to Alec in his struggle to keep his family home amidst the other burdens weighing on him: his sister’s health, his own inability to enlist, a mother who sees what she wishes to see rather than the reality of her circumstances. There are a few other things I won’t mention here for spoiler reasons, but suffice it to say there’s a lot more going on in this story than just a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

I did feel as though everything came together in a bit of a rush at the end—or maybe it was simply that so many things fell into place at the one time, some of them quite coincidentally at the eleventh hour—but overall, a story I would readily recommend to historical romance lovers.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

This is my first book by this author and I thought it was great. I enjoyed learning more about what it was like for soldiers in WWI and what it looked like for a manor home to open its doors to recuperating soldiers.

Lily is a delightful woman. Her parents sent her to England to help her develop "a bit of self-control." They didn't count on her becoming a volunteer (gasp) working with recovering soldiers in Scotland. While her efforts may be bumbling at times, her personality is a much needed bright spot. It was lovely seeing Lily grow and come to understand her own worth and capabilities.

Alec is trying to do what he can for the war effort since his injury prohibits him from going. He is desperately trying to save his manor home but bad things keep happening. He either has the worst luck or there's a malicious saboteur. Throw in a nurse who wants to inherit a title by marriage to Alec and you've got a nice love triangle and a whole lot of complications.

There were plenty of mysteries to solve and a lot of witty banter. It was an enjoyable read. I'd recommend it. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

J’nell Ciesielski very quickly joined my must-read author list with her debut, Among the Poppies. Her writing style immediately hooks me every time and I adore her characters, even the baddies are intriguing. Beauty Among Ruins lived up to and surpassed my all my hopes and expectations for this author! I adored every minute of this story and could not get enough of it. Lily was one of the most charming heroines I’ve read in quite a while and her romance with Alec was truly beautiful. The setting was amazing, we really don’t get enough books set in the Scottish Highlands, and I could feel the disuse and disrepair of Kinclavoch Castle. The mystery was intriguing, and I honestly was surprised by the end. I cannot wait to see what Ciesielski has in store for us next!

Kate Rudd did an excellent job with her narration of the audiobook! Each character had their own distinctive “voice” that didn’t get lost and jumbled together and she really brought the story to life. A great production.

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

Ciesielski has created a story filled with beauty, love, and mystery. I love books where the setting is as much a character as the people. Beauty Among Ruins is a wonderful book to get lost in as you travel to the beautiful Scottish highlands and walk the hills and gardens. Lily, a delightful character, brings joy and charm to an otherwise sad situation. I love her spunk and fearless ways. Alec, the brave, strong, brooding Scot, fights to hang on to his beloved home. A variety of intriguing characters enhance the story of Lily and Alec as they try to solve the mysteries surrounding Kinclavoch Castle. If you enjoy stories set in the early 1900s with romance and intrigue, you'll love Beauty Among Ruins. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I just can't pass up a beauty and the beast tale set in the romantic wilds of Scotland and neither should you! This story has a lot slower pace than J'nell Ciesielski's previous works but is just as romantic! I loved the contrasting personalities of Alec and Lily and how they challenged each other to be better people. Another great story from J'nell Ciesielski!

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

American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming.⁣⁣
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This gorgeous book was just released on 1/12/2021 and was my first historical fiction of the year! It is probably more accurately categorized as a romance with a side of historical fiction. The historical elements are used more as a means of establishing the setting and background of the story. They are not the driving focal points.

I adored Lily! She's the "tell it like it is" friend with a heart of gold who ends up in all sorts of predicaments. Alec is brooding and a bit mysterious. You just know there is more to him than meets the eye. The setting and cast definitely gave me a few Downton Abbey vibes. Charming story!⁣⁣

The chemistry was palpable but all romance was closed door. It was a lovely, clean read.
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If you love romantic historical fiction and want to change things up from the typical WWII read, pick this one up.

Downton Abbey meets Beauty and the Beast in this enchanting WWI romance.

This is my favorite novel by Ciesielski by far. If your book has a Downton Abbey vibe, I will definitely be intrigued. And if your book has a Beauty and the Beast theme, I am there. So when you add the two together, and then set the story in a crumbling castle in Scotland, my mind will be blown!

There are so many charming elements to this book, but let me start with the characters. Lily was a true delight. Like a sprite, she swept into the castle and breathed fresh, sparkling life into its dusty depths. She was a fun heroine to follow and is a character readers will have no trouble rooting for as she faces adversity. And Alec was a perfect match for her, with his grumbling and his guarded heart.

The Scottish setting is resplendent throughout the book. Ciesielski’s descriptions made me want to book a trip to this magical country filled with folklore ASAP. The author also paints a vivid and realistic portrait of life in a convalescent home during the Great War.

This book is a total winner. If you love historical romance, then you must needs read Beauty Among Ruins!

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

I really enjoyed this book it had romance and also some mysterious happenings which kept you guessing would you discover what happens.

We have Lily Durham who is a American socialite and as her parents can’t really control her they send her to England to be with her relations where she might mature.

Then there is Alec who is the owner of Kinclavock it unfortunately he has an large amount of debt and he is trying to sell of paintings and valuables to keep the estate he loves.

Lily’s cousin Bertie decides to become an nurse and where she goes Lily goes so they end up at Kinclavock looking after the soldiers who are injured in the War. Whatever happens without fail Lily ends up in trouble with the things she does. Lily does seem to have such a bubbly personality the soldiers all love her.

There is mysterious things happen at Kinclavock which does not help will we discover who are doing them.

It get me guessing what was happening and it kept me engrossed. Well done.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Beauty Among Ruins by J'nell Ciesielski.

I loved the Scottish setting of this novel. While it was a little slow in the beginning and took me a while to get into the book, I enjoyed the book. The descriptions of Scotland were my favorite part of this book!

If you are a fan of historical fiction, this story is for you. So much history in this book! English, Scottish, American, it's all in there! The vivid imagery of the Scottish countryside and the rundown castle Kinclovach will leave you wanting to plan a visit asap. Such beauty!

The characters in this story are so diverse because of the many settings. I wish I were good with accents because this entire book had me wanting to read aloud and hear how each person would have spoken. Lily is a strong-willed, but not exactly self assured young lady who gets sent from America to England because she's always wreaking havoc. Her mother wishes her to mature and realize she must fall into the life for which she was born. Then when the war breaks out, Lily and her cousin Bertie, go to Scotland to a convalescent home to care for the soldiers. There she meets the laird of the castle, Alec who has a leg injury that prevents him from fighting in the war. Alec is embarrassed by this and the state of his castle, so he keeps to himself and has far from a sunny disposition. Lily works to crack that shell of his, and it gets her into trouble more than once. Lily is a charming, lovable character and as she gets closer to Alec he becomes loveable as well!

This was my first J'nell Ciesielski book...and it will not be my last!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

New York socialite Lily Durham finds her glamorous life dull and oppressive—concepts her dour parents don’t seem to understand. Lily wants more out of life than acting as eye candy for shallow men, and she avoids serious relationships at all costs. Instead, she’d rather live a real life, and if that means attending parties with the servants, so be it.

Her parents despair of Lily’s disregard for their social standing, so they ship her off to visit her cousin in England. Not realizing Europe hovers on the brink of war. Once across the pond, Lily joins her cousin in training to become a nurse. They end up in Scotland at a castle-turned-convalescent home.

The matron in charge despairs of Lily’s disregard for protocol, solemnity, and procedure. Hours scrubbing bedpans does nothing to diminish Lily’s joie de vie, and she slowly begins to understand how her special talents have a place in helping the wounded soldiers.

Alec MacGregor, the laird of Kinclavoch Castle, has spent his life trying to make up for the sins of his father. Due to an old injury, Alec can’t enlist. Instead, he opens his home to the wounded, and in doing so opens his life to the machinations of a vindictive newspaperman. He sets strict boundaries around the family wing and interactions between the strangers and his family.

When an irrepressible American heiress gets lost in the family wing, Alec realizes he’s stumbled upon the one person who might understand his angst and his great love for his people. But will their fragile friendship survive mysterious events that threaten to strip the castle from the MacGregor’s forever?

What I Loved About This Book

Ciesielski’s lush descriptions of Scotland and meticulous historical details provide a rich backdrop for a love story of two misunderstood souls who long to make connections. Replete with humor, suspense, and tender scenes, readers will linger over passages and close the book with yearnings for more.

If you’re a fan of Roseanna M. White, Kristy Cambron, and Kristi Ann Hunter, you’ll love this book.