"The Lost Castle" by Kristy Cambron

About this 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.”


Series: Book #1 in the “The Lost Castle” series.


Spiritual Content- Isaiah 58:12 at the beginning; A few Prayers; A Chapel/Church & Seeing Stained Glass; A few talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of churches/chapels & church going; A few mentions of faiths; A few mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of Bibles; A mention of miracles;

             *Note: a ‘Judas!’ is exclaimed, and a ‘why in God’s name’ is said; A few mentions of evil people & their actions; A few mentions of calling others devils; A mention of something feeling hellish; A mention of a place being like an inner chamber of hell.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘stupid’ and two ‘blast’s; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); A mention of cursing someone; A bit of eye rolling; Seeing a loved one shot, bleeding, & dying (semi-detailed); An explosion & fires (up to semi-detailed); Bombs, Smoke, Gunfire, & Bodies (up to semi-detailed); Pain, Passing out, & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Taste testing wine (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of wars, violence, revolutions/uprisings, fighting, deaths, & bodies (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of explosions, bombs, fires, injuries, blood/bleeding, & deaths (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of those shot, injured, & killed (barely-above-not-detailed); Many mentions of Nazis, their guns, gunfire, executions, firing squads and hanging people; Mentions of prisons & attacks; Mentions of cowards to fled & wanting to hit them; Mentions of stealing & thieves; Mentions of threats; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of wine, winemakers, & drinking; A few mentions of a butcher & his bloody products; A few mentions of cigarettes; A couple mentions of jails; A couple mentions of animal & human waste; A couple mentions of pubs; A mention of dead cattle (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a snuff box;

             *Note: A few mentions of celebrities & singers; A few mentions of car brands; A mention of HGTV.

Sexual Content- a hand kiss, not-detailed kisses, six barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and two semi-detailed kisses; Touches & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of a misunderstanding of a man keeping a woman; A few mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of a kiss & kissing; A couple mentions of breakups; A mention of a man slowly looking at a young woman’s body; A mention of a crush; Love, falling in love, & the emotions (x3).

-Ellison “Ellie” Carver

-Viola Hart

-Aveline Sainte-Moreau
                                P.O.V. switches between them

                          Switches between 1788, 1789, 1790, 1941, 1943, 1944, & Present Day
                                           365 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

What an ending.

I have to say first, right off the bat, this cover is absolutely stunning. It definitely gets put in my Favorite Book Covers category.

For the story, I’ve mentioned before that I really am not a fan of books split in different time periods, going back and forth between them.

I think this author is trying to make me a fan, however.

I did get confused a bit at first about the three time periods and our main three ladies, but by the first third in, at the end of each chapter, I didn’t want to switch to someone else, I wanting to keeping following that heroine! But then, I would read the next chapter and not want to switch from her point of view! It was a never-ending cycle while reading this one. ;)

All the romances were very clean and sweet, and I liked all three young women. (I do have to think that Lady Vi in the 1940s was my favorite, though, which I think quite a few other readers will agree with me. ;) ) I wish there was a bit more faith content, but I do appreciate that it was all decently clean while being set during a major war and a revolution. 

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.

"The Ringmaster's Wife" by Kristy Cambron

About this book:

  “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.”


Series: As of now, no.


Spiritual Content- Psalm 146:8 at the beginning; A few Scriptures are mentioned & talked about; A few Prayers; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Church going; ‘Thank God’s are said; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, & ministers; A few mentions of faiths; A couple mentions of those in the Bible; A couple mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of sins; A mention of a Bible;

             *Note: A couple mentions of devils; A ‘for God’s sake’ is said.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘heck’, and a ‘stupid’; A mention of wanting to curse; Eye rolling & Sass; Pain, Blood, & Injuries (up to semi-detailed); Being attacked & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Nearly drowning (up to semi-detailed); Fires, explosions, & kerosene (up to semi-detailed); Being threatened; Mentions of a war, battlefields, fighting, & deaths (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a car accident & almost drowning (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths, injuries, fires, flames, smoke, & explosions; Mentions of threats, an attack, injuries, & bleeding; Mentions of illnesses & fevers; Mentions of pickpockets & stealing; Mentions of card games with betting, gambling, & debts; Mentions of social drinking, drinking, alcohol, & the Prohibition laws of making/selling it; Mentions of cigars & smoking; Mentions of an animal being put down; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of an accidental death (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of blackmail; A few mentions of tattoos; A couple mentions of coughing up blood; A couple mentions of someone in prison for selling alcohol; A mention of an attempted murder.

Sexual Content- three border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Hand Holding, Embraces, & Warmth (up to semi-detailed); Noticing (x2); a ‘vamp’; Mentions of a kiss & kissing; A few mentions of a man’s illegitimate birth; A few mentions of welcoming kisses & married couples kissing; A few mentions of reputations; A few mentions of blushes; A mention of cat calls & men gawking at women; Love, falling in love, & the emotions (x2);

             *Note: Mentions of a couple not able to have biological children; A couple mentions of scandalous belly dancing.

-Rosamund Easling

-Armilda “Mable” Burton

-Colin Keary
                                P.O.V. switches between them

                                     Set in 1926-1929 (Also skips to 1885, 1892-1893, 1904-1906, 1911-1912, 1920, & then the Epilogue is in 2002)
                                                        353 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Very clean and set in an interesting environment, “The Ringmaster’s Wife” was a light and easy read. I enjoyed the light romance and all the historical facts about the Ringling Brothers’ circus.

This was my second book by this author and I definitely can feel her writing style. The places are always described in a winsome fashion and the characters always meet unique people through out the book. It was overall a very nice read and I enjoyed it. :)

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

"The Illusionist's Apprentice" by Kristy Cambron

About this book:

  “Not all illusions happen on the stage.

  Wren Lockhart, apprentice to master illusionist Harry Houdini, uses life on a vaudeville stage to escape the pain of her past. She continues her career of illusion after her mentor’s death, intent on burying her true identity.

  But when a rival performer’s act goes tragically wrong, the newly formed FBI calls on Wren to speak the truth—and reveal her real name to the world. She transfers her skills for misdirection from the stage to the back halls of vaudeville, as she finds herself the unlikely partner in the FBI’s investigation. All the while Houdini’s words echo in her mind: Whatever occurs, the crowd must believe it’s what you meant to happen. She knows that if anyone digs too deep, secrets long kept hidden may find their way to the surface—and shatter her carefully controlled world.

  Set during one of the richest, most vibrant eras in American history, this Jazz Age novel of illusion, suspense, and forgotten pasts is perfect for fans of The Magician’s Lie, challenging all to find the underpinnings of faith on their own life’s stage.”


Series: As of now, no.   


Spiritual Content- 1 Corinthians 15:55 at the beginning; Prayers; A mini-talk about a gift Wren has received (salvation); A couple ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & His light; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of faiths & religion; A few mentions of thanking God, the Almighty & Providence; A few mentions of miracles;

*Note: Nearly all about mentions of mediums, séances, spells, talking to/summing spirits, & bringing a dead person back to life; Many mentions of spiritualists, spiritualism & defrauding them; Mentions of magic & mysticism; A mention of bad press being damning.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: two ‘blasted’s, two ‘darn’s, and two ‘stupid’s; A bit of eye rolling; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Pain, blood, passing out, being shot at, injuries, guns aimed, gunfire, almost drowning & kidnappings (up to semi-detailed); An explosion & smoke (semi-detailed); Punching someone (up to semi-detailed); *Spoiler* Wren’s mother died protecting Wren & her sister (she was pushed down the stairs by her abusive husband indirectly, both girls saw it and we see flashbacks of that day, up to semi-detailed) *End of Spoiler*; Many mentions of wars, deaths, graves, bodies/corpses, killing, murders & bringing a dead person to life again; Mentions of hit men, gunfire, being shot, blood & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of hangings; Mentions of physical abuse & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of a drug & someone poisoned; Mentions of threats; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of gamblers, debts, loan sharks & cons; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, bootleggers, spiked drinks, the Prohibition & a mean drunk; Mentions of pubs, pints & drunks; Mentions of cigarettes & smoking; Mentions of lies, liars & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of thieves; A few mentions of jail & prison; A few mentions of blackmail; A few mentions of punching someone; A few mentions of a stuffed big-game cat (up to semi-detailed); A couple mentions of a hostage situation & murder; A couple mentions of crime scenes; A couple mentions of knifes; A couple mentions of a hangover.

Sexual Content- a cheek kiss, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and two semi-detailed kisses; Touches, Nearness & Embraces (up to semi-detailed); Noticing; *Spoiler* Wren was conceived out of wedlock *End of Spoiler*; Mentions of flirts & flirting; Mentions of slang for different women & their occupations; A few mentions of kisses & touches; A few mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of men’s appreciating women’s looks; Love, falling in love & the emotions;

             *Note: A couple mentions of a woman’s only talent being to shimmy around on a stage.

-Wren Lockhart, age 26

-Elliot Matthews
                                P.O.V. switches between them & her mother (twice)

                                              Set in 1926-1927 {Flashbacks to 1907, 1910, 1916 & 1924}
                                                        351 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

What an interesting book. This was my first book by this author and it had an almost a poetic style of writing. I'm not quite sure where to start on these final thoughts, so let's just jump in.

Wren. At first, I was thinking she might be a little over-the-top or very much like a suffrage woman of that time period, but she was very different. And I liked that about her. She didn't wear a men's suits to shock people, she did it to keep up her act. She was dedicated to what she was doing. She had that mysterious, independent, intriguing vibe about her. She has to be one of the more unique heroines I've read about in Christian fiction—especially as one that wasn’t set one way or another on the suffrage movement. Her personal story was quite sad though. (And mentions of the abuse brought down the ratings.) She kept her wit about her though and it was quite entertaining. I actually wasn't aware this would be a romance story, so Elliot came out of left field for me. He was interesting as well, but I would have liked to learn a bit more about him.

There wasn't an over whelming amount of faith content in this novel, but what was there came more towards the end and it was nicely done. :)

Some might take sensitivity towards all the mentions of magic, mediums, and bringing someone back to life from the dead—as those were all topics talked about and mentioned often.

Overall, in my opinion, it was a very intriguing and interesting plot. I'm curious to read some of the author's other books.

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!

*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Thomas Nelson) for this honest review.