The Lost Castle

GIVEAWAY

CAMBRON, KRISTY
THE LOST CASTLE

Run-down walls and crumbling stones seemed to possess a secret language all their own. What stories would they tell, if she finally listened?

Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother's bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved woman begins speaking. Of a secret past and castle ruins forgotten by time. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French Resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret...

Each piece that unlocks the story seems to unlock part of Ellie too -- where she came from and who she is becoming. But her grandmother is quickly disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer's and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family's history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty - a castle so named for Charles Perrault's beloved fairy tale -- Ellie embarks on a journey to France's Loire Valley in hopes that she can unearth its secrets before time silences them forever.

Bridging the past to the present in three time periods - the French Revolution, World War II, and present day - The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged in the hearts of men, and of an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations.

My Review:

I'm well and truly bedazzled! Love the Sleeping Beauty tie-in -- not quite a fairy tale retelling but it creates a fascinating ambiance to this incredible story.

And three timelines?! Who does that? Kristy Cambron, that's who. And she does it well. At first I thought, are three time periods really necessary? Uh...oh yes, they are. Necessary and fascinating and makes for a completely compelling read. Just make sure to take note of the dates when the time period changes because each individual story isn't always in chronological order. Sometimes it skips back a year or two and that rattled my reader sensibilities until I caught on. lol So there's a friendly reader tip for you. :-)

So, we have three heroines -- Aveline (French Revolution), Vi ((World War II) and Ellie (present day) and a castle that captivates them all. Honestly, the castle has a life of its own -- and oh, the secrets it shelters! And the readerly joy of discovering those secrets with each heroine - and the way those secrets intersect and weave their way through each generation. I had so many 'aha' moments along the way.

Actually, I'm kinda speechless. This is the type of story you just have to experience for yourself. And enjoy every blessed minute of it because I'm in a funk now that's over. :-( However, I am substantially cheered by the fact that the next book in the series -- The Castle on the Rise -- is set in Ireland!!!! And it's another triple timeline. I'm so excited!!!!!!

.GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of The Lost Castle, comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday May 27 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!