I had to have this audiobook because I already had the ebook. I have to admit I love to read when I have got time and listen while I am busy. 
Beyond that J'Nell Ciesielski is an amazing storyteller that brings her thoughts on the paper beautifully
 the narration was also brilliantly done.  Although this was my first book that was narrated by Kate Rudd I truly enjoyed every character she has brought to life. She made the story even better in my ears.


Kinclavoch castle in Scotland, self struggling after being left with open debts by Alex McGreggor's father, has selflessly opened its doors for reconvalescence of injured soldiers of the WWI.  

But some hungry individuals have wanted the castle for themself, either for the title or because out of greed. 

Every effort to paying the debt off as being more difficult with time. The valuable items were less and less but before Alec would sell the Kinclavoch to greedy hands he would sacrifice everything he still has owned. It seemed like someone was sabotaging every step of the way.

Lilly Durham was sent to England to teach her more self-control and following rules. What her parents weren't expecting was that she landed as an Aide in Kinclavoch.

Although she wasn't the best at nursing she gave the soldiers so much more...her kindness and courage.

The grumpy Alex meets spirited and somewhat spoiled Lilly Durham and maybe just her good qualities were that has melted his heart. Although the existential worries were still devoted to his responsibilities the castle and his family. 

When you read Alec and Lilly's story you won't want it to end.  Lilly brightens all the bad at that time's world. I was cheering for the pair from the start and simply couldn't stop to read because I needed to know how their story will end. It was a beautiful book written with a heart full of emotions.

An American girl in a Scottish castle? What I would give...
Lily is an American Heiress and somewhat of a disappointment to her parents. They send her abroad in hopes that she will return ready to be the ladylike socialite they've raised her to be. Instead, as WWI intensifies, Lily finds her way to Scotland and finds work as a nurse tending injured soldiers. Her independence and drive to contribute endears her to the local lord and his sister.
The history of the time is woven through Lily's journey in an appealing way. I appreciate the unique setting and the beautiful descriptions.
The narrator's dictation is very clear and concise. I'm not new to Kate Rudd as a narrator, but she isn't a favorite when it comes to accents outside of "American" English. I am disappointed that the Scottish brogue did not come through to add more flavor to the overall tone of the story.
Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

American heiress meets Scottish laird during World War I 

Beauty Among Ruins is a unique novel. Set in the early 1900s, the story follows Lily Durham, an American socialite from New York, after her parents ship her off to England to "learn how to act like a lady." During Lily's stay, the war intensifies, scorching through Europe with a force that calls all the men to arms and the women to care for the wounded coming off the battlefield. 

Following her cousin, Birdy, to the Scottish Highlands, Lily finds herself in Kinclavoch Castle, where she is to be a nurse, though she is hardly qualified. Nevertheless, always up for a challenge, Lily plants her feet in the ground and gets to work, no matter how many lines she crosses or rules she has to break to prove her point. Quickly creating a name for herself, Lily is introduced to the castle's owner, Alec MacGregor, who seems just as cold and worn down as his home. Will Lily be able to melt Alec's cold heart, or will her American spunk bring more chaos than care? As accidents become all too frequent and Alec struggles to pay his father's debts, the future of the castle's ownership seems shaky. War and love change everyone, but will Lily and Alec learn how to speak one another's language before they too are torn apart? 

I was wildly surprised by Beauty Among Ruins! This was my introduction to J'nell Ciesielski's work, and I really loved her writing style and the narrative she created, though I was a little upset at how the chapters began to skip chunks of time towards the end. J'nell's words were charming and captivating; I found myself absorbed in the storyline and couldn't stop reading in anticipation of what would happen next. This is a great book for any historical fiction lovers as it adds a new approach to the war and sparks the reader's admiration for Scotland.

However, I will say that the audiobook was atrocious. I'm sure the narrator tried hard, but her Scottish accent was so bad I could feel my ears screaming in protest. If you are going to tell such a beautiful, elegant story based in Scotland, you need to have a narrator who can do the country proud! My father, a Scot, along with my Scottish friends, were appalled at the accent. So, I implore the publishers to please add a Scotsman to this book, giving readers another reason to fall in love with Alec and dream of one day meeting a Scottish prince!

Positive content: 4⭐️
Language: 1⭐️
Sexual content: 2⭐️
Violence: 2⭐️
Age: 12+

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a pre-release copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own!*

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my word....I loved it. 

I'm not normally big on historical romances but this one blew me out of the water. The setting was so interesting and I feel like I know a little more about Scottish history and customs. The characters were memorable and the reader of this audiobook really breathed life into the story through her masterful ways of narrating from different perspectives and different characters. I really do credit the narrator for making me like this book even more than I normally would have. 

This book is a must read for historical fans and for just readers in general. Highly recommended.

This book is appropriate for ages 13+.

I requested this book back when I was looking for something to listen to while sewing and then forgot about it until I was allowed access. By then I wasn’t ready for an audiobook but fell absolutely in love with the characters and storyline and couldn’t turn it off easily. As I listened to the story in bits and pieces here and longer snatches of time there I became invested and loved the happy escape. Glad I came across this book.

This is the first book I've read by this author, but you can bet I'll be looking for more! Beauty Among Ruins took me back in time to World War I, prior to the US involvement in the war. American heiress Lily Durham is banished to her aunt and uncle's home in England, when her latest embarrassing escapade proves to her parents that she needs to work on her decorum. They think she's squirreled away in an English manor house, safe from the ravages of the war that has just begun. She, however, tags along with her cousin to tend the wounded at Kinclavoch Castle, in Scotland. 

Alec MacGregor, laird of Kinclavoch, offers his home as a convalescent hospital. Badly injured as a youth, the army doesn't want him, so he does what he can with what he has. His father's death left the estate in dire straits, forcing Alec to sell off anything he can to keep things going. In constant pain, he doesn't want, or need, an American beauty sticking her nose into his family affairs, but when he finds Lily conversing with his sister in the "family wing", he escorts her out. His heart, however, can't keep her out. What could Lily ever see in a broken-down, penniless aristocrat like him?

I loved this book! Kate Rudd's narration was wonderful. I never had a problem telling one character from another, and I could see every scene as it happened. I also fell in love with Lily and Alec, both individually, and as a couple. Lily is spoiled and a bit headstrong, but she has such a kind heart. Alec is noble and doing his best to hold his family estate together, in spite of his father's gross mismanagement. The mystery of who is behind all of the attempts to sabotage Alec's efforts is gripping enough to keep readers turning pages. I know I was surprised when the culprit was unveiled.

Readers who enjoy historical romance will enjoy Beauty Among Ruins. If they love a bit of mystery added in, so much the better. I listened to the audio for most of the book, so I know I can recommend the audio. The bit I read was well done, so I don't have a problem recommending either one.

Beauty Among Ruins is beautifully written. The backdrop of war withered Britain is the perfect place for Lily - an aimless New York socialite. She matures under the circumstances of being a nurse’s aid, but her quick tongue is never lost. She is a heroine that never loses her essence, and it is easy to root for her. Alec has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Together, they make a beautiful mismatch. This is helped only by the beauty of the writing. It is easy poetry. The narrator’s omniscient nature captures the yearning of the characters. If you’re in need of a flush love story with complex characters and endless twists and turns, this is one for you. The audiobook form is almost faultlessly acted. 

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for allowing me to listen to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Beauty Among Ruins is about a wealthy American beauty, Lily Durham, who gets sent to her relatives in England during the onset ofWorld War I. Her and her cousin decide to become nurses to tend to wounded men. They get sent to Kinclavoch Castle in Scotland, that has been turned in part into a hospital. Lily accidentally wanders into the family wing of the castle and meets the owner, Alec MacGregor who has devoted his life to keeping the castle in the family. His debts force him to sell off everything he owns, which makes him not the kindest person to be around. Lily and Alec slowly become attracted to each other as they are forced to work together when various mysterious events happen at the castle. Will Alec be able to save the castle? Will Lily and Alec finally admit they love each other?

The book was really cute. I give it 3.5 stars as it was just okay. I don't know that I would recommend it to anyone but it was a cute love story. At first the narrator was okay but as I listened more, I enjoyed her voice more. I would have preferred a Scottish male to play Alec but the female narrator's male voice was fine. 

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for allowing me to listen to this early release.

Beauty Among Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski, 416 pages. Thomas Nelson, 2021. $17.
Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
After being sent from New York to her aunt’s home in England, WWI starts and Lily is kept from crossing the ocean to return home. Lily accompanies her cousin to Scotland to help care for wounded soldiers at Kinclavoch Castle. Her optimism and reckless ways are not encouraged by those in charge, but perhaps Lily can make a positive impact in the dreary circumstances and create an atmosphere of hope for the soldiers, herself, and maybe even the gruff laird who owns the castle.
Lily’s story plays out like a melodrama; everything that can go wrong does go wrong up until the final chapter when everything miraculously comes together for the main characters. This is not to say that it wasn’t an entertaining story nor that the character arcs for the main characters are shallow. I was amused by (and even laughed out loud at) the characters’ antics and cheesy lines as well as relieved when all the conflicts were finally resolved.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Narration

Kate Rudd had a perfectly pleasant speaking voice. However,  I did not think she did justice to the Scottish accent. Her voicing of Alec and the other male Scottish characters was distracting and affected my overall listening experience. I wish she would have abandoned the accent in favor of a clear interpretation of the characters in the story.  Narration Rating: 3/5

The Story

I enjoyed it. The setting, historical backdrop, and characters made this an enjoyable book for me.

The majority of the story takes place in Scotland at Kinclavoch Castle. The castle is the ancestral home of Laird Alec MacGregor. Kinclavoch Castle has been converted into a hospital for soldiers recovering from WWI battle wounds. When American socialite Lily Durham arrives as a volunteer nurse, the grumpy Laird and the American debutante are destined to collide.

Lily is the somewhat spoiled and clueless American blundering her way through a volunteer nursing assignment. I liked her character a little less because she came off as selfish. However, her sunny attitude was the perfect foil for grumpy Alec.

I really enjoyed the character of Alec because he is trying his best to protect his family, deal with an old injury to his leg, and save his crumbling ancestral home. He is a true grumpy leading man and it was fun to see how he deals with cheery and positive Lily.

Story rating: 4/5

American socialite Lily Durham has never lacked for anything in her life. When her headstrong ways cross her mother one too many times, Lily is sent to Great Britain in order to spend time with her English cousins. But with the beginning of the Great War, Lily and cousin Elizabeth end up serving as nurses at a castle-turned-convalescent-home in Scotland.

Alec MacGregor, laird of Kinclavoch, cannot serve in the war because of an old riding injury. Something of a recluse, he hides away and attempts to recover from the sorry financial straits his father left him in.

This is normally the kind of book I would like, but Lily is one of my least favorite types of heroines. She does what she wants with little regard to the consequences. When she's confronted about her behavior, she denies, obfuscates, and doesn't learn anything. Even when she does it out care for others, manipulation is still manipulation, and is never the way to go. The story also lacked any kind of faith element, and I always find that disappointing.

However, if you don't mind those things, the book has a lot going for it. There's the Scottish highlands setting, plenty of intrigue, a plot full of twists and turns, and plenty of suspects for the mysterious events happening around Kinclavoch. I can see why many readers would enjoy this story. 

I received my copy of the book from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own.

Beauty Among Ruins is a great audiobook option for those that are reluctant to try the modality. Set in Scotland, it is a sweeping tale of love, war, and honor. While the female protagonist was sometimes infuriating in her constant defiance of every. single. rule, the story as a whole was solid and engaging. It felt like a PG version of Outlander, and left me hoping for a little more heat. 

Thank you to NetGalley, author, publisher, and narrator for the opportunity to listen to this advance audiobook copy. The opinions in this review are entirely my own. 
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I was able to read this book as a Galley prior to release, evn though this is not my normal genre of novel.

This takes place in Scotland during World War I at a castle in Scotland being used as a hospital and rehabilitation center for injured soldiers. The Lord of the castle, a recluse, has stringent rules about the volunteers entering the private wings. Enter a naïve American debutant who is a nurses aid ... 

Great story line, conspiracy theory book with many surprises!

Beauty Among Ruins follows Lily, an American girl who is sent by her family (who finds her too reckless for her own good) to England where she will aid as a nurse to help men coming back from the war. There she meets the owner of the castle, Alec MacGregor who even though he encounters financial difficulties, is trying his best to keep his land and property in his family. 

Overall, this was a nice story but it didn't grab my attention like I wanted. I didn't fell in love with the romance which made me a little disappointed in the end. 

<i>(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

This book was so much fun. I loved the main character- she had so much spunk and optimism. I loved hearing about the soldiers- all they went through during the war and all the mental and physical scars that they were left with.  I also loved that this book was set in Scotland. 
I was able to listen to an audio version of this book and the narrator was awesome. She did a Scottish accent, English and American.  She also did a great job with the male voices.

I listened to the audiobook of Beauty Among Ruins. I enjoyed the story of a young, flighty American who is sent to England so that she doesn't ruin her chance on the marriage mart with her reckless behavior. She travels to Scotland to work as a nurse and love ensues. The romance was a little slow for me but overall it was a nice story.

New York heiress, Lily Durham feels lost in the society parties and matchmaking.  She slowly begins to find herself among the wild countryside of Scotland. Where she becomes a nurse to the wounded British soldiers of WWI who find themselves at Kinclavoch Castle. There she also meets the Laird of this castle, Alec MacGregor who is desperately trying to save his family home and history from his father’s past debts.  I thoroughly enjoyed this story of adventure, mystery, and most of all love. ⁣

Lily Durham sent away for high society in New York to England after breaking all the rules. As the start of WWI Lily goes to Scotland to help at in a convalescent home for injured soldiers.  During this historical romance book you can see bits of the fable Beauty and the Beast. J’nell Ciesielski weaves you into a magical world set in the Lowlands of Scotland. This book drew  me in from the start and kept me wanting more. I high recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.

I had received an audio AVC of this book from Net galley. Narration of the book was beautifully done. I will look forward to hearing more from Kate Rudd.

Captivating Listen!  Beauty Among Ruins by J'nell Ciesielski is incredible!  I loved the vibrant imagery of the castle setting in Scotland during WW!.  The characters the author wrote were intriguing in their wounded ways.  Taking debutants and aristocrats and making them nurses or soldiers was a way of life back then.  The author wove a great storyline where duty was above all else.  There were several different storylines going on in this book that meshed together. There was also some added suspense in the book and some nefarious deeds. The main characters of  Lilly and Alec were so compelling  individually and their interactions together. They had great chemistry and banter. Kate Rudd performed this book flawlessly.  She captivated my attention and I could visualize so many details. She really brought the characters to life with her voice.  I loved the burr she put in her voice too. Net Galley thank you so very much for this fantastic listen!  I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it.

Review for the audiobook: 

The narrator is perfect for "Beauty Among Ruins!" She did a splendid job of pulling me into the story and made me want to know each and every detail of the story.

Content review to come soon.