The Lost Castle: A Split-Time Romance

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. [em](Mar.) [/em]