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Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake) | LP FICTION CAM | Searching... Unknown |
Searching... Wildwood Library (Mahtomedi) | LP FICTION CAM | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
"It's been a long time since I've been so thoroughly engrossed in a novel . . . The Lost Castle kept me spellbound " --Tamera Alexander, USA TODAY bestselling author of To Whisper Her Name and Christmas at Carnton
Broken-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.
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Cambron (The Ringmaster's Wife) once again makes smart use of multiple eras in her latest time-jumping romance. Ellie Carver travels to present-day France from Michigan after her grandmother, Vi, gives her cryptic messages about a medieval castle during a dementia-ridden bedside conversation. Armed with nothing more than an old photo and a reference to the "Sleeping Beauty" castle, Ellie engages Quinn Foley to guide her through the Loire Valley. Cambron entwines Ellie's quest, Vi's memories, and the story of Aveline Sainte-Moreau, a daughter of the privileged class engaged to the son of the Duc et Vivay, who owns the castle in the late 18th century. Aveline's formal introduction is interrupted by an insurrection on the castle grounds. Intrigue and wartime espionage create a vivid backdrop to a narrative that carefully details the toll of tyranny and the price of revolution. Vi's WWII resistance romance, however, lacks the flair and attention to detail of Aveline's and Ellie's stories. Cambron spins tales of resiliency, compassion, and courage, but the story ends up being more about the history of a region than the the characters, and the faith elements are light. (Mar.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Cambron (The Illusionist's Apprentice, 2017) masterfully intertwines centuries of history and romance in this picturesque novel. After visiting her grandmother Vi, who is suffering from dementia, Ellie finds a photo of young Vi at a castle. Ellie travels to France to find the castle and the truth behind her grandmother's mysterious past. The story illuminates the castle's history, beginning with the French Revolution and the strong young woman who fought for it and herself, alternating time periods with the French Resistance during WWII and the role the castle ruins play for the brave and courageous familial lineage. Between these chapters, Ellie's present-day travels uncover both the history of the castle and much about herself while investigating the land and origin of her grandmother's memories. Vivid visual descriptions will make readers want to linger in the character and time period of each chapter, but they will become quickly immersed soon after starting the next. Romance fans will appreciate how Cambron builds multiple loves stories within this richly historical, faith-based tale.--Borsa, Emily Copyright 2018 Booklist
Library Journal Review
A brooch, diary, and photograph are links to three women living in different periods-the French Revolution, World War II, and the present-in -Cambron's split-time romance. As the revolution breaks out, Aveline and Philippe, Duc Vivey, narrowly escape with their lives as their castle in the Loire Valley is sacked and burned. Ellie Carver watches Alzheimer's steal her grandmother's memories until discovery of a family heirloom and a journal sends Ellie to the ruins of a 13th-century castle in France on a journey of revelations about her grandmother, her family, and herself. Cambron's (The Illusionist's Apprentice) series launch combines the past and the present in a tale of secret loves, bitter losses, and hopeful beginnings. VERDICT Cambron's atmospheric settings, historical details, and ability to create well-rounded characters who wend their way into readers' hearts has garnered her many fans. They will be eagerly awaiting this title. [Previewed in Julia Reffner's "A Delicate Balance," LJ 11/15/17.] © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
