Review: Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A storied castle. A band of rebels. And a nation chasing the centuries-old dream of freedom . . . What legacy will they leave behind?

When Laine Forrester travels to France to attend her longtime friend's vineyard wedding, she expects to find a bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks--a devastating diagnosis, a castle restoration put on hold, and the emergence of deep-seated family dynamics that threaten to derail the new couple's fledgling marriage--it seems the storybook life Laine had imagined for her friend--and once, for herself--is suddenly crumbling before her eyes.

With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending for one of them, Laine throws support behind her friend and agrees to accompany the couple to the groom's family home in Ireland, where the merging of a mysterious inheritance, long-buried wounds, and a fractured family set out to upend the trip from the start. It's in the unlikely corners of a historic Dublin pub, and across the wide-open moors bordering Ireland's majestic Wicklow Mountains, that Laine is slowly drawn in by the land and the people, sparking hope for something she never imagined possible: the courage to heal. But with secrets of her own--and a heart afraid to trust again--Laine must determine how much she's willing to risk in mending the broken places within herself, and whether she believes that even through the depths of our pain, a beautiful story can emerge.

Set in three time-periods--the revolutionary era of the late eighteenth century, Ireland's turbulent Easter week of the 1916 Rising, and present day--Castle on the Rise weaves a story of legacy, conviction, and redemption against the backdrop of Dublin's storied streets, and the stretch of Ireland's stunning emerald shores. It raises the question: given the choice between the fairy tale or a life of truly anchored faith--which legacy would you choose?

My Review

Such an evocative telling of three different yet connected stories. I have to admit I struggled with the triple storyline in the first book The Lost Castle, but with this one I found the setting of Ireland so compelling and loved the history I discovered among its pages. I don't remember learning about Ireland's struggle for freedom in school, and I am especially grateful to the author for bringing it to life in such a meaningful way. It made me want to learn even more and follow up with my own research... a definite sign for me of an amazing book!

While I didn't feel connected to the characters' emotions in the way that I feel them as well, they were so interesting and I was filled with compassion as I read of their struggles and strength amid adversity. This isn't a book you want to read in spurts. I did better reading it in longer sittings so I could stay immersed and keep track of the three stories easier. As I got deeper into the book the stories began to converge with small details and links through history, and I couldn't wait to see the modern day characters discover the mysteries of the castle and its previous inhabitants. By the end my heart was full and I shed a few tears as each story wrapped up. There's something so earnest about war based in revolution, and the author did an excellent job portraying that passion and desperation for freedom from oppression. Highly recommend!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Raining Romance Giveaway Hop!

Romance is my favorite genre to read, and I love both historical and contemporary. This month I'm giving away a print copy of The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron, which has three story lines that weave together in a beautiful way. Enter below and check out some other giveaways along the hop!

Synopsis

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.

Entry-Form

Review: The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Launching a brand-new series, Kristy Cambron explores the collision of past and present as she discovers the ruins of a French castle, long lost to history.

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.

My Review

I love this author's evocative writing style, making it easy to get lost in a different era. The three different stories all focus on a strong female- Aveline, an aristocrat in hiding during the French Revolution, Vi, who is on a mission and also in hiding in Nazi-occupied France, and Ellie, our modern-day heroine who is searching for answers and connecting the secrets of the past. I have to admit that I really struggled with the triple timeline that gave each story equal attention, I generally prefer when one story is central and the other(s) are used to enhance it. I was fascinated by each character's journey, but felt drawn out of it too quickly with each shift. But I wouldn't let my personal hangup prevent you from reading this book- so many of my reader friends are raving about it, and it really is beautifully written!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Gratitude Giveaway Hop! Enter to win The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am grateful for the opportunity to read so many wonderful books and share my thoughts with you. Thank you for the support you give when you follow my blog! This is an easy giveaway to enter- just leave a comment with a book you are grateful to have read recently and a way that you follow Heidi Reads... (And be sure to submit your entry in the Giveaway Tools widget below) 

I'm giving away a copy of an amazing book I read and loved this year, The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron. Read my 5 star review here...

Synopsis

What is revealed when you draw back the curtain of the Greatest Show on Earth?

Rosamund Easling is no stranger to opulence. As the daughter of an earl, she’s grown up with every comfort money can buy. But when hard times befall the family’s Yorkshire estate in the aftermath of the Great War, Rosamund’s father sells her beloved horse, setting the stage for a series of events that would extend beyond even her wildest dreams.

Though expected to marry for a title instead of love, Rosamund feels called to a different life – one of adventure outside the confines of a ladies’ parlor. She abandons all she’s known and follows in pursuit as her horse is shipped to the new owner – an American entertainer by the name of John Ringling. Once introduced to the Ringling Brothers’ circus and knowing she has much to learn, Rosamund agrees to a bareback riding apprenticeship in the shadow of the Ringlings’ winter home—Ca’D’Zan. It is at that mansion, in what would become the last days of the enigmatic Mable Ringling’s life, that Rosamund finds a deeper sense of purpose in the life she’s been given, and the awakening of faith in her heart.

With a supporting cast of characters as mysterious and dazzling as the Ringlings’ big-top world, Rosamund’s journey takes her from the tradition of the English countryside to the last days of America’s Roaring ‘20s—a journey that forever changes what one life might have been.

Entry-Form

Review: The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

What is revealed when you draw back the curtain of the Greatest Show on Earth?

Rosamund Easling is no stranger to opulence. As the daughter of an earl, she’s grown up with every comfort money can buy. But when hard times befall the family’s Yorkshire estate in the aftermath of the Great War, Rosamund’s father sells her beloved horse, setting the stage for a series of events that would extend beyond even her wildest dreams.

Though expected to marry for a title instead of love, Rosamund feels called to a different life – one of adventure outside the confines of a ladies’ parlor. She abandons all she’s known and follows in pursuit as her horse is shipped to the new owner – an American entertainer by the name of John Ringling. Once introduced to the Ringling Brothers’ circus and knowing she has much to learn, Rosamund agrees to a bareback riding apprenticeship in the shadow of the Ringlings’ winter home—Ca’D’Zan. It is at that mansion, in what would become the last days of the enigmatic Mable Ringling’s life, that Rosamund finds a deeper sense of purpose in the life she’s been given, and the awakening of faith in her heart.

With a supporting cast of characters as mysterious and dazzling as the Ringlings’ big-top world, Rosamund’s journey takes her from the tradition of the English countryside to the last days of America’s Roaring ‘20s—a journey that forever changes what one life might have been.

My Review

I first fell in love with the circus in literature when as a teenager I read the book "The Long Way Down" by Robb White about a runaway turned trapeze artist and the performers that become her family. The Ringmaster's Wife has the same sense of family, that in the midst of the enchanting and chaotic existence in the circus, relationships based on kindness and compassion are what really bring happiness and belonging. The pace of the book was somewhat slow for me, but I appreciated that since the author's words painted vivid pictures of the environments and experiences. The timeline also stretches over a couple decades, weaving back and forth as lives are intertwined and echoed, and facets of the past are revealed. I don't always relate well to older characters, but Mable is introduced to us when she was young, and she always felt that way to me throughout the later years of her story. Her compassion and wisdom learned from life are inspiring. My favorite quote from the book is spoken by Mable to Rose:

"This building up of what we want doesn't have to be a tearing down of who we are. It's the worst kind of extravagance to think we're above adversity. Isn't that what God calls of us, to acknowledge that we are moving with this undercurrent of something that is always at work around us? Something bigger than we could ever be as just one person?"

Rose finds herself embracing her new life in the circus, but still feels adrift and uncertain at times. The support she receives from her new family is invaluable and helps open her eyes to the importance of love. Colin is a complex hero, with several sides to him- competent manager, teasing friend, vulnerable and grieving. Even though their romance isn't at the forefront of the plot, the special moments between him and Rose are that much more poignant. There is a sense of anxiety as mysterious threats pose danger to Rose during a time when she feels most susceptible, and I didn't expect some of the twists that made her story touching. This is not a book to breeze though, but one to savor. Highly recommend!

(Thank you to Litfuse Publicity and Thomas Nelson Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)

E-book sale: 99 cents for The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron

Download The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron for only 99 cents!

I've heard this is an amazing book. It has so many 5 star reviews on Goodreads and a personal recommendation from my cousin Marisa who has excellent taste :)

Synopsis

A Mysterious painting breathes hope and beauty into the darkest corners of Auschwitz--and the loneliest hearts of Manhattan.

Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the altar two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl--a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes.

In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover--the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul--who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting's subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron.

A darling of the Austrian aristocracy of 1942, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire.

As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: the grim camps of Auschwitz and the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.