please read disclosures & policies

purchases via affiliate links offset the cost of this website. thank you!

about the book

A thirteenth century castle, Chateau de Doux Reves, has been forgotten for generations, left to ruin in a storybook forest nestled deep in France’s picturesque Loire Valley. It survived a sacking in the French Revolution, was brought back to life and fashioned into a storybook chateau in the Gilded Age, and was eventually felled and deserted after a disastrous fire in the 1930s.

As Ellie Carver sits by her grandmother’s bedside, she hears stories of a castle . . . of lost love and a hidden chapel that played host to a secret fight in the World War II French resistance. But her grandmother is quickly slipping into the locked-down world of Alzheimer’s, and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history.

Sparked by the discovery of a long forgotten family heirloom, Ellie embarks on a journey to French wine country to uncover the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty–the castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale–and unearth its secrets before they’re finally silenced by time.

Set in three different 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, and an enchanted castle that inspired the epic fairy tales time left behind.

goodreads | amazon | bookdepository | christianbook

 

my thoughts

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!

Since I am committed to writing spoiler-free reviews, I will just focus on our modern-day heroine and leave the rest for y’all to discover! Ellie’s love for her grandmother and desperation at the thought of losing her completely simply breaks my heart yet Ellie channels her worry, concern, and restless energy into a mission to uncover her grandmother’s secrets and know her on a deeper level.

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 fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller.

Her debut novel, The Butterfly and the Violin, was named to Library Journal’s Best Books of 2014 and nominated for RT Book Reviews’ Choice Awards Best Inspirational Novel of 2014 and for the 2015 INSPY Awards for Best Debut Novel.

Her second novel, A Sparrow in Terezin, was named Library Journal’s Pick of the Month (Christian Fiction) for February 2015 and a Top Pick for RT Book Reviews.

Kristy holds a degree in Art History from Indiana University. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three young sons.

website | facebook | twitter

 

also available

Have you ever learned something unexpected about a loved one
or discovered the history of a historic place?