I think that I will say that The Socialite will always be my favorite. This author does have talent. I love her stories but somehow I was jest a little disappointed in this book.
All the ingredients the book had to offer was there but the way the Scots spoke kinda threw me off.
I did have a little trouble understanding the language they spoke.
I will say I learned a lot while reading this book. Historical fiction really is the best teacher.
I guess maybe it just wasn't for me
I don't know. I will try again later because I really do love this author. I love her other books jest fine.
I can relate to Alec in only one way and it's not for the same reason. I too have trouble with my leg and have to use a cane to walk.
The cover of the book is beautiful! It and the author was why I wanted to read it.
This is my honest opinion. I still recommend this book to others.
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I have had the pleasure of reading and enjoying books by J'nell Ciesielski previously. I was not disappointed with this one. It is by far my favorite that I have read by her to date. It was so very good. I loved Lily and Alec’s right from the start. It had a mixture of history, mystery, suspense, danger, adventure and romance. I devoured this book in just a few hours. I could not find myself putting it down until the very end.

Beauty Among Ruins will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars from me. I am eagerly waiting for more releases by J'nell Ciesielski in the future. I highly recommend this one for readers who enjoy reading clean historical fiction and romance. I do not think it should be missed.

I received Beauty Among Ruins from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Beauty Among the Ruins by J’nell Ciesieskli is a Beauty and the Beast retelling in the wilds of Scotland. With the familiar story playing in the back of my mind, I could see the parallels between the two stories. But this time, the story takes place during World War I. The heroine, Lilly, is a wild and crazy woman when the readers meet her at the beginning of the story. But of course, as the story trudges along, Lilly changes. She changes for the better. She wants to help others. She wants to better herself. Yet bring joy to the wounded soldiers and family. The only aspect of the story that I wished had more to it was the introduction to Lilly in New York at the beginning of the story. It was a quick flash. You are going to Europe and then the story progresses from there. As a reader, I do not understand what was so wrong with Lilly doing what she did. I wanted a couple more chapters to see this happening. Also the same thing at the ending, when Lilly was in England, I believe, dealing with the death of a cousin. A quick scene than back to Scotland. Alex, the hero, is the brooding wounded silent type. The stereotypical hero that will change and allow love to break down his walls. Predictable. Not original. The writing and the plot were well-written and captured my attention. I love the story of Beauty and the Beast. It rings true with loving people for their character, not their appearance. Overall, Beauty Among the Ruins is a must-read for fans of Beauty and the Beast or just a pure love story in a falling apart castle in Scotland. I recommend this novel to readers.

I received a complimentary copy of Beauty Among the Ruins by J’nell Ciesieskli from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Celebrate Lit. tours, but the opinions stated are all my own.

This book takes you to Scotland during the first world war.
I was really looking forward to reading this book, I really enjoyed the Socialite, this author has a way fo writing a plot that is engaging and characters that you want to root for.
There was something about this book that I had a hard time focusing on, it could have been because I have really enjoyed her books that are set in the action of the war. This book is set in the setting of a castle turned convalescent home for soldiers recovering.
I feel like some of the transitions between the scenes where a little choppy and I kept on loosing track of the setting.
The story has the bright and bubbly person that meets the dark and brooding person,so it has the opposites attract trope.
For me this book just didn't hold my attention, but that may just bee how my mood was.
This book had a bit of mystery as well.
I feel like someone who enjoys historical medical drama and romance might enjoy this story. I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are honest and completely my own.

Loooooved this book. I've always enjoyed books set in Scotland. The main characters are well thought out and the supporting characters are just as engaging. A well rounded story about two people who come together and build each other up despite what life throws at them.

This was my first read by this author and now I’m a big fan. The description of the book pulled me in because it promised a story filled with faith, love and history. And it did not disappoint. What I enjoyed most about this book was the character development and how the author was able to make me love both Lily and Alec and champion for them. Some pleasant surprises were the mystery woven throughout the plot,, the many varied characters, and the quality of the writing.

Lily Durham is an American heiress whose fun-loving personality often gets her into trouble. Her parents send her to England to stay with her cousin Bertie, hoping to teach her some discipline and even possibly make a good match. But soon war breaks out and it is too dangerous for Lily to return home with the u-boats patrolling the oceans. Bertie decides to train as a nurse and encourages Lily to train as an aide. Their first assignment is at Kinclavach castle in the Scottish highlands, a convalescent hospital for injured soldiers. Alec MacGregor, laird of the castle, suffers from an old injury that prevents him from joining the fighting. He offers the majority of his home for the hospital, becoming a recluse in the remaining portion reserved for his family. Until a certain flighty aide keeps accidentally intruding on his solitude and slowly wins his heart.
I loved the main character Lily with her bubbly personality, trying to bring happiness to the suffering soldiers under her charge, often against the strict regulations of the dour nurse matron. This almost seems like a beauty and the beast story with the crumbling castle, the reclusive ornery laird, and the woman that stumbles her way through life and into his heart. Thank you to J'nell Ciesielski and HarperCollins Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The views and opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Let me preface this by saying that romance isn't one of my usual genres, so this won't be from an experienced fan's viewpoint. Despite this, I've somehow found myself on the romance email lists, and of course I'll look at the blurb of every book that comes my way. I've had a little more success enjoying historical or paranormal romances, so between the cover and the description, I figured I'd give this one a try.

I very much enjoyed Downton Abbey and that definitely influenced me picking this one up. There's very much the same flavor here, given the same time period and similar setting. As described by the publisher, the book follows Lily and Alec as they deal with the War, financial hardships, and their growing feelings for each other. The 'mysterious events' provide a narrative framework for moving the story along, but I would have been just as happy without them, or if they were toned down a little. The characters are well developed, with definite growth in both Lily and Alec, the dialog is believable, and the author was kind enough to include a Gaelic and Scots glossary. Reading the publisher's description again, Lily's backstory could have stood with a bit more developing; the book opens with her sneaking up from a servants' party, but other than that there is little written on what was bad enough to send her away.


I really enjoyed this book, and I'm very glad I took a chance on it. I definitely recommend it for romance fans, and those who enjoyed Downton Abbey. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review originally published at Books You Can Die in the Middle Of: https://lookgoodifyoudie.blogspot.com/2020/11/beauty-among-ruins-by-jnell-ciesielski.html

When a story is set during one of my favorite time periods and in a country that fascinates me, you better believe I’m going to read it!
I wasn’t sure about Lily at first, she was walking a thin line between charming and annoying but thankfully the charm won out and her bright personality endeared her to me. I enjoyed watching her go from a bit flighty and frivolous to someone who wasn’t afraid to do hard things and truly saw and cared for the needs of those around her.
Alec started off gruff but Lily brought him out and their early interactions were some of my favorite scenes! I admired Alec’s dedication to preserve his heritage as well as the way he made sacrifices to aid those injured in the war.
Alec and Lily were such a fun pairing, a bit opposite but their differences complimented each other, providing what the other needed.
Now for the reasons that kept this book from hitting that fifth star. I wasn’t a big fan of how the “villains” of the story were portrayed, their motives seemed a bit of a stretch and they made me eye roll a lot. I also had some moments where I felt like the story dragged just a bit and it seemed a little longer than it needed to be. That being said I still really enjoyed this story, especially the romance between the characters and I am looking forward to what the author has in store for us next

This book was the perfect escape. It was lovely and fun. It was my first book by this author and I will definitely be on the look out for more!!

A lively American nurse brings joy to a decrepit Scottish castle used as a hospital during the First World War.

Beauty Among Ruins by J'nell Ciesielski is a lovely historical romance between a wealthy American nurse and an impoverished Scottish Laird during the First World War.

Lily was a young and wealthy American sent to England by her parents to spend time with her aristocratic relatives. They hoped the time away from home would help curb her wild personality and make her behavior more ladylike.

During her stay in England, the First World War started, and she could not return home.

When her cousin Beth decided to take a nursing course, Lily went with her, and when Beth was sent to a military hospital based on a castle in Scotland, Lily followed.

Kinclavoch Castle was an imponent building that had clearly seen better days. Its owner, Alec MacGregor, Lord Strathem, was a young but recluse man that did not interact much with the nurses and soldiers.

Vivacious and innocent, Lily was great with the ailing soldiers. The matron despaired of her lack of discipline, and some fellow nurses were jealous of her sparkle.

Lily's light and Alec's dark clash and mingle, and a lovely emotion grows between them. But jealousy, ambition, social standing, and honor would stand in their way.

This is my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed her writing style and character building.

Alec was adorably grumpy but also honorable and principled. Lily was sweet, strong, and lovely.

I especially loved that Alec could understand and appreciate Lily's personality and that she never gave up on helping him.

As a backdrop for the romance, the book brings the harshness of the war by the eyes of its wounded and the vital role played by the voluntary nurses.

Beauty Among Ruins is a romantic and inspiring story about being loved for who you are and finding a place to belong.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

*This review will be posted on https://lureviewsbooks.com on 01/11/2021*

Lily Durham's parents are among the rich, social elite in New York in 1914 , but Lily is a nonconformist. Her parents exile her to a cousin's in England for the summer hoping she will develop a bit of self-control. Before she can return home, World War I erupts. Lily and her cousin Bertie go to serve at a convalescent home at a castle in Scotland. Bertie completed her nursing course, but Lily did not. She is volunteering as an aide. Even though Lily is a disaster at nursing, she brings sunshine and joy to the Tommies and to the Laird of Kinclavoch, Alex McGregor.

Kinclavoch is deep in debt, and someone is trying to ruin Alex McGregor. Alex is not able to serve because of an injury to his leg, so he stays away from the soldiers and has built a wall around his heart. He is desperately trying to protect the estate for his mother and sister. In Beauty Among Ruins, J'nell Ciesielski tells the story of the soldiers, the Laird, the nurses, Lily, and those who make up their community. It is an insight into what was going on in England & Scotland during WWI. It is a story of tradition, pride, and love. I highly recommend it. I was allowed to read this on #NetGalley. It is scheduled for release January 12, 2021.

Lily is a young, American woman who often gets into trouble, so her parents decide to ship her off to stay with relatives in England. She decided to volunteer with her cousin, Bertie, and they are both sent to work in Scotland at a castle being used as a place for soldiers to recover from their injuries received while fighting in WW1.

She accidentally finds here way to the family portion of the castle where she meets the grumpy owner, a man named Alec who can't fight in the war due to an old injury and he's trying to save the castle from financial ruin. Lily befriends his sister, an invalid, which helps him to see her in a different light.

Note: It's a clean romance with plenty of mystery and intrigue and these events keep throwing Lily and Alec together.

An honest review was given in exchange for receiving an ARC from Netgalley.

The author has created a historical romance centred in Scotland during WW1. The main character, Lily, is an American heiress and socialite who is sent to England to live with family to try and cure her careless ways. She and her English cousin sign up to become nurses to help the wounded soldiers of the war. They are sent to work in a convalescent home in Scotland. The home is in actual fact a great estate-Kinclavoch Castle- that belongs to Lord Strathem. Lily finds herself entangled with the Lord as they try to determine who is trying to sabotage Kinclavoch Castle.

The book was engaging and the characters were likable and believable. The main characters were spunky and at times humourous. Beautiful descriptions of Scotland and stories about what it was like to be at the front during WWI were interwoven throughout the book. It was a book that was hard to put down.

Thanks to Net Galley for this preview copy in return for my honest review. These opinions are my own.

I recently read Beauty Among Ruins, by J’Nell Ciesielski. I was excited to read this historical fiction set mostly in Scotland. The beginning of the story was very good and pulled me into the story. As the story continued, it began to drag and was confusing. At one point, I considered just stopping. I continued. The last third of book returned to the captivating story from the beginning. The strong ending changed my rating from 3 to 4 stars.

I absolutely loved this book! I was immediately hooked by the setting of an old castle falling into disrepair and its mysterious lord. While banished from the States, young Lily Durham finds herself trapped by the developing war in Europe. She accompanies her cousin to serve as a nurse's aid at a Scottish castle that has been transformed into a convalescent home for soldiers. While at first I thought the heroine was rather frivolous, I found her heart and irrepressible spirit engaging. The story trope of a young socialite growing up and finding purpose in life is a familiar one, yet I found this story refreshing in so many ways.

This is a story that will cause the reader to laugh as well as tug at their hearts. It is a wonderful blend of expertly crafted characters, pacing, mystery and romance. The author paints a picture of hope and beauty that can be found in the ruins amidst the frailties and despair of the human spirit.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Set in the highlands of Scotland during WWI this had all the elements of good story, a beautiful setting, a wounded Laird and an American debutante.
The Laird, Alec, is struggling to hold on to his family estate and is morose and brooding at the best of times.
Into this doom and gloom comes Lily, the flighty American with no regard for rules and a love of fun.
When these two clashed sparks were obviously going to fly.
It didn't quite turn out that way for me. The beginning of the book dragged. Alec's scowling countenance and mental self flagellation got very tiring after a while. There was an awful lot of brooding. The 'protagonists' were not really effective. I didn't feel the tension that the story suggested.
However, about sixty five per cent in, it picked up a bit. I liked Lily, a lot. The romance was a bit skimpy up to this but things started to come together. It was all quite rushed towards the end.
This is a character driven story with a thin plot. The book could have been quite a few chapters shorter without any distortion to the story.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson-Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this early.

I loved this book. Lily's growth throughout the book was beautiful. She goes from a self absorbed socialite to a compassionate person who wants to help any way she is able. Alec also has wonderful growth. He is gruff and hurting but blooms under the sunshine of Lily's influence. This book has romance, mystery, heartache and triumphs. It brings the Scottish lands to life. I would highly recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book! Ms Ciesielski is an excellent author, and her books never disappoint. This was no exception! Set during World War I, this book brings us away from the battle. I love reading about WW1, and this author is SO good at the topic. One of my favorites!

The character growth in this book is excellent. Easily some of the best I have read in a long time. For both main characters.

I received a copy of this book to help facilitate a review. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.

This book follows the adventures of Lily, an American heiress who defies the ornamental accessory kind of life that is expected of her in New York, and volunteers to nurse injured soldiers with her English cousin in Scotland at the castle of the elusive laird Alec. There is great banter between them when they at first dislike each other and the romance unfolds beautifully between these two very realized characters. I found Lily to be very like-able and enjoyed the story immensely. There is intrigue at the castle, mysterious events that damage Alec’s reputation and ability to keep his family castle—not one, but two villainous subplots that I had to suspend my disbelief for, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the story. I was very satisfied reading how these two overcame their odds to find happiness in their own lives and with each other. A fun, sweet, and beautiful romance set in war-time Scotland with a bit of intrigue, a plucky heroine and a very appealing, grumpy hero.