The Lost Castle: A Split-Time Romance

Kristy Cambron

Feb 2018 · A Lost Castle Novel Book 1 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

Bridging the past and present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is an enchanting, interwoven story of three resilient women connected by a storybook castle that stands witness to their lives.

1789: Aveline Saint-Moreau is a wealthy and beautiful young aristocrat preparing for her betrothal to the Duc et Vivay’s heir Philippe, but the French Revolution looms as the Bastille is stormed in Paris.

1944: Viola Hart is a Resistance fighter in France during World War II, desperately trying to root out the evil taking hold in her country as the Nazis occupy France.

Present day: Ellie Carver is in a race against time to deliver a decades-overdue message as her grandmother fades into the shadows of Alzheimer’s. Embarking on a journey to France’s Loire Valley, Ellie can only hope to unearth the secrets of the mysterious castle before time silences them forever.

As Ellie’s journey unfolds, so too do the journeys of the two other women, each of their stories woven together through their connection with the forgotten French castle—a castle that plays a part in saving each one of them.

With tales of loves won and lost, battles waged in the hearts of men, and a legacy of faith spanning generations, The Lost Castle is a sweeping story of three strong women making history.

Praise for The Lost Castle:

“Spanning the French Revolution, World War II and today, Cambron masterfully carries us into each period with all the romance and danger of the best fairy tale.” —Katherine Reay

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been so thoroughly engrossed in a novel . . . The Lost Castle kept me spellbound!” —Tamera Alexander

• Full-length split-time historical fiction
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs
• Part of The Lost Castle Series
  • Book 1: The Lost Castle
  • Book 2: Castle on the Rise
  • Book 3: The Painted Castle

Ratings and reviews

I'm a historical Christian fiction lover, but sometimes I find the multiple time lines hard to follow. However, reading this beautifully moving novel by the very talented Kristy Cambron was so easy to follow and was absolutely captivating. This book has what I call "all the feels". It's incredibly detailed, with characters that are chiseled magnificently. Each time line brings the reader to a character that will make way into your heart and stay their long after the book is finished. The beautiful ruins of the castle that Ms. Cambron describes come to life for me. I could feel myself transported to the heart of France, finding the castle and living the life of these three women, Avaline, Vi and Ellie. I loved that feeling! It's not often that a multi timeline can do that and I was so pleased that it did. Watching Ellie deal with her grandmother, brought back memories of my own dealings with Alzheimer's with my grandfather. It was a bittersweet time for me! This incredible story is filled with longing, hope, faith, and finding love. I turned page after page of this 4 star novel until I reached the final one. I shut the novel, sat back and reflected on all I felt through this book, from smiles, to sadness, to butterflies in my stomach. Ms. Cambron has created another keeper in my opinion. This book will be one that I recommend to all, and have already asked my local libraries to carry it for others to read! Well done, Ms. Cambron! Well done! *I received a complimentary copy of this book from Book Look Bloggers/Publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

I sometimes get lost when the author goes from one time period to another. That was not the case with Kristi's “The Lost Castle”. There are three different characters from three different time periods. During the French Revolution, we have the story of Avaline. During World War II French Resistance we meet Grandma Vi. And in present day we meet the Granddaughter Ellie. I have a hard time reviewing Kristi's novels. Why, because I want to say the same things for each of them. This is one of the best books I have read. She has a way of grabbing me from the start and when I turn the last page, I am disappoint because I want it to go on and on. This one I found I was shedding more tears than normal, her books always make me cry, at least a little. My mom and dad have recently been placed in a facility, she is suffering from Alzheimer's. So the part that told Viola's present day situation and her fading health, was difficult. But it wasn't long and I was taken away to France's picturesque Loire Valley. The story about the castle The Sleeping Beauty was incredible. I love the way Kristi weaves true facts with Fairy tale. Her descriptions are so explicit. I could almost taste the French pastries she sampled at the market. I may have said this before but I truly feel this is the best book I have read of Kristi's. I highly recommend it. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson though NetGalley, Opinions express in this review are completely my own.

Modern-day Ellie Carver, WW2’s Lady Vi, and the French Revolution’s Aveline each have compelling storylines which are powerful enough to stand on their own yet the way these three lives are interwoven with The Sleeping Beauty castle across the centuries elevates this book to extraordinary literary heights! Engaging, authentic, and enchanting, this story nestled deep within my reader heart and graced my spirit with the gentle reminder of God’s grace and its restorative power to resurrect beauty from ashes. This book completely knocked my socks off with rich, vivid storytelling and I highly recommend it. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

About the author

Kristy Cambron is a vintage-inspired storyteller writing from the space where beauty, art, and history intersect. She’s a Christy Award–winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling novels, The Butterfly and the Violin and The Paris Dressmaker. Her work has been named to Cosmopolitan Best Historical Fiction Novels, Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal’s Best Books, and she received a Christy Award for her novel The Painted Castle. Her work has been featured at Once Upon a Book Club Box, Frolic, Book Club Girl, BookBub, Country Woman magazine, and (in)Courage. She holds a degree in art history / research writing and spent fifteen years in education and leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation before stepping away to pursue her passion for storytelling. Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three basketball-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.