Set in three time periods–the rapid change of Victorian England, the peak of England’s home-front tensions at the end of WWII, and modern day–The Painted Castle unlocks secrets lost for generations just waiting to be found. A lost painting of Queen Victoria. A library bricked off from the world. And three women, separated by time, whose lives are irrevocably changed. In Victorian England, … Victorian England, talented sketch artist Elizabeth Meade is engaged to Viscount Huxley, owner of Parham Hill. However, Elizabeth’s real motive for being at Parham Hill has nothing to do with art or marriage. She’s determined to avenge her father’s brutal murder–even if it means a betrothal to the very man she believes committed the crime.
A century later, Amelia Woods–a World War II widow who has turned Parham Hill and its beloved library into a boarding school for refugee children–receives military orders to house a troop of American pilots. She is determined the children in her care will remain untouched by the war, but the task is proving difficult with officers taking up every square inch of their world . . . and one in particular vying for a space in Amelia’s long-shut up heart.
When art historian Keira Foley is hired to authenticate a painting, she hopes this is just the thing to get her career and life back on track. But from the time she arrives at Parham Hill Estate and begins working alongside rumored art thief Emory Scott, she’s left with far more questions than answers. Could this lost painting of Queen Victoria be a duplicate of the original Winterhalter masterpiece, and if so, who is the artist?
Praise for The Painted Castle:
“A gripping tale of secrets hidden behind the walls of an ancient English castle.” –KATE BRESLIN, bestselling author of Far Side of the Sea
- A Sweet Historical Split-time Romance
- The third and final book in the Lost Castle series
- Books do not have to be read in order
- Full-length novel with three woman each finding her own happily ever after
more
There are three time periods to follow in The Painted Castle, as with the other books in the series. We have Elizabeth Meade and Keaton James, Viscount Huxley in 1843, Amelia Woods and Captain Wyatt Stevens in 1944-45, and Keira Foley and Emory Scott in present day. As Keira and Emory work at Parham Hill Estate in Suffolk, England to authenticate a painting of Queen Victoria and restore the manor, they dig into the history of the estate and the nearby village of Framlingham. As the reader we are privy to more details of the earlier stories than Keira and Emory, though they do discover how it all fits together. Though all the story lines are very interesting, my favorite was that of Amelia and Wyatt in wartime England. Amelia is the young widow whose husband, Arthur, Viscount Huxley owned Parham Hill. She has taken in several refugee children and is ordered to house American officers when there is no more room at the nearby airfield. Since Wyatt is the officer in charge they naturally have interaction but they also have their mutual love of books in common. Parham Hill boasts a wonderful library, which as a book lover, makes the story even more interesting. I also appreciated the epilogue that brought all the Foleys and the Lost Castle books together. I highly recommend Kristy Cambron’s Lost Castle series.
A wonderful ending to Kristy Cambron’s Lost Castle Series—I absolutely loved and savored each book! Highly recommend!!
There are very few authors whose books I absolutely have to read as soon as I can, making me willing to pay full-price instead of waiting to stretch my book budget further on the price of a used copy. Kristy Cambron is one of them.
Cambron is a master wordsmith, describing even inanimate objects with an attention to detail that turns them into subtle characters that animate the bygone worlds she’s effortlessly drawing you into – even when it’s three different eras at once. Each story is agonizingly beautiful, poignant, and simply exquisite, drawing back the curtain on human experiences, emotions, and interactions in a way that is both relatable and raw.
While the first two books seemed to race and reel at breakneck speed for me, I felt like this one slowed and dragged its heels between my not wanting the series to end and these stories being so fragile it took certain care to peel the layers back gently with every page. It was a reader’s kind of torture – appreciated and ultimately satisfying.
I know this review focuses more on the style than the story, but if the publisher’s synopsis doesn’t make your fingers itch to turn these pages, my hope is that the thought of them being so well-written and unforgettable will place this author at the top of your TBR pile where she deserves to be.
The Painted Castle (Lost Castle #3) by Kristy Cambron is a great finish to this series! Set in three different time periods (Victorian England, WWII and modern times) it’s hard to decide which setting and characters were my favorite. When reading one set of characters you are really enjoying then she will switch to another set and continues on throughout the book. In the modern era, Kiera discovers a hidden painting and an art thief that she has to work with to uncover the mystery of the portrait through each era. Great writing that keeps your interest and turning the pages. Ms. Cambron is a talented and descriptive writer. Looking forward to more books by this author.
I received this book from NetGalley/publisher and all opinions are my own.
The Painted Castle
The Lost Castle #3
By Kristy Cambron
Keira Foley finds herself working in her family’s Dublin pub rather than making use of her skills as an art authenticator. But when Emory Scott starts making a nuisance of himself hanging out in the pub Keira finds herself running interference with American and her overprotective brother Cormac. But Emory has a proposition for Keira that requires her art knowledge. But it will take her to East Suffolk and Parham Hill Estate.
Parham Hill has a history that has a bearing on the mysterious painting that Keira has been hired to authenticate.
1843 finds Elizabeth Meade in search of her father’s killer. Ten years have passed since he died before her eyes and she is determined to find the man she thinks responsible. When a possible match with Viscount Huxley brings her to Parham Hill she becomes acquainted with portrait artist Franz Winterhalter and the man she believes she has been searching for. But what Elizabeth thinks she knows is far from the truth she never knew.
1944 finds Parham Hill caught up in the midst of a world at war. Amelia Woods has lost her husband to the war and grieves the life she will never have. Parham has been turned into a boarding school for refugee children when most unexpectedly they are ordered to offering housing American pilots who have no room on the nearby base.
What ties these three women together is Parham Hill, a painting of Queen Victoria, and hearts that are hurting from loss. As with the previous Lost Castle novels, this book is a delightful blending of three stories into one. As the story progresses every third chapter focuses on a different character/timeline in a seamless fashion. One knows that the story is changing but it is not a sudden and abrupt departure that leaves the reader wondering what happened. This is the perfect read for those who love contemporary and historical fiction with a generous pinch of mystery and romance. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a book-getaway that ends well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher through Amazon’s Vine Program with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion.
When it comes to time slip novels, Kristy Cambron consistently ranks as one of my favorites. In this book, The Painted Castle, 3rd in her Lost Castle series, she outdid herself. And while I enjoyed the previous 2 novels, this one captivated me most of all. Featuring 3 different women, across 3 different time periods, all connected by one manor and a journey of discovery, I couldn’t wait for each chapter to unfold and reveal – or in some cases mystify further – the truth. And as is often the case both in reality and fiction, this truth unveiled layers, heartache, and the unexpected.
A stunning story of sacrifice, discovery, courage, and endurance. You will want to clear aside a chunk of time to delve into this one. I guarantee you will not want to put it down!
I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I like stories that link two time periods, but this one works with three time periods and all the characters. It is a little hard to follow, and doesn’t sync until the very end. But I did enjoy the book. It kept me interested until the end.
A gripping story that winds through three different time periods. They are all linked by a painting of Queen Victoria and a charming castle, Parham Hill. Kristy Cambron takes three women, separated by time, and links them through stories of loss and then riveting renewal. All three women face tragic sorrows and lost loved ones in their pasts, trying to move forward with limited success.
Cambron skillfully moves the story between all three time lines. Questions in the present are slowly answered as each story unfolds. The library is bricked up, why? The Queen Victoria painting should have a famous signature on it and does not, who did it? Why is the cozy bee cottage so important? And can each woman put her trust in the man in front of her? I loved getting glimpses into the different time periods. This charming English castle shares it’s history one brick and painting at a time. Stories of love, strength, and endurance show three women the path God has laid out for their lives, if they have the faith to take the first step. I look forward to more books by this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this reviews are completely my own.
Follow the threads across the centuries to solve the mystery:
Another captivating and intriguing book that was clearly well researched and written. It is set in 3 different time periods which I enjoyed getting glimpses into; however this did make the book feel a little disjointed. Just when I was getting into the characters and plot the book would switch to another time period and I found it a bit challenging keeping all of the timelines straight. It also meant that it was a bit difficult to really connect with the characters on an emotional level. I felt the most connected to the characters set during WWII but wished there had been more time exploring the relationship with the modern day characters especially. I also felt that the ending was a little rushed and the final connections between all of the time periods was just briefly mentioned so that I felt I was still trying to tie all of the threads up in order to make sense of it all. There is a light Christian theme of trusting in God’s sovereignty however I would have preferred a greater Christian emphasis.
It was still however a beautiful novel that I enjoyed reading and I would certainly read more by this talented author, but would prefer these to be set in just 1 or perhaps 2 time periods at a time. It may be read as a standalone however reading them in order would probably enjoy the reading experience.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
I loved this book! I had a little trouble in the beginning because it is three different storylines in three different time periods. However, once I got the stories straight in my head, it was a real page-turner! I fell in love with the characters and the settings. Ms. Cambron’s descriptions are so vivid, the reader is just pulled right into the book.
I recommend this story for lovers of history, clean fiction, Christian fiction.
The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron is the third book in her A Lost Castle series. Art historian Keira Foley is hired to authenticate a painting of Queen Victoria. What she finds is more questions than answers. Emory Scott, rumored art thief, is there to help her unravel the mystery’s behind the painting and Parham Hill Manor. They find a rich and warm history. This book follows the stories of three women, woven together by time. The author takes you on a journey from Victorian England to the ending of World War two and then to present day England. Weaving the three different stories together so beautifully that you don’t mind rotating from one story to the next. Immersed in the English countryside, with romance, castles, and history was a great way to spend a rainy afternoon.
I received this book from Celebrate-Lit for my honest review.
The Painted Castle is a decorative historical fiction novel about one painting having an effect on three women in different time periods. The Victorian era, WWII, and the present time. It was portrayed with elegance, dramatization, and intelligence.
I thought it was so clever of Kristy Cambron to tie the story together with a painting of Queen Victoria. This one painting gives her room to introduce the three female characters in the story. We meet Kiera and she is tasked with investigating if the painting is authentic or fake. The painting leads us to perspectives of different women and the author depicts each time period with intelligence and great research.
I fell in love with Kristy Cambron’s imagery. I felt like I was with the characters as they lived their lives and made observations.
This is the final book in the series and I didn’t read the previous books yet, so I think it can be read out of order. I have become a fan of this author and can’t wait to read more.
I give The Painted Castle 4 stars. I was amazed by the detail and imagery of the story. Kristy Cambron wrote a well-researched novel about the history of art and families. She used three different time periods to showcase the identifiable ups and downs of family secrets.The Painted Castle Kristy Cambron
The book was written in 3 time periods about the lives of 3 women who lived in Parham Hill Manor.
Reading this book was an absolute delight. It is rich in a lot of history, art works and WWII. It captivated my attention till the last word.
I love reading about how each story of the 3 women, their lives and the men they came to love in the most direst of situations were woven together. It felt like each prepared the way for the one coming after her even though they never met. But their actions paved the way for the other women to take up from.
Elizabeth in the oldest time period was present when a great calmity befell her father and she took up a personal vendetta again the culprit. Untill a series of events led to an uncovering of truths and secrets she never knew about and a painting that was never forgotten. To me she was the most Regal of the women.
Amelia Viscountess Huxley. I fell in love with her sweet disposition. Despite her standing she was so down to earth. Her love story with the Captain Wyatt was my favorite. I enjoyed reading her love for books, taking care of people during the war, and the Castle taking care and preserving it in dire situations of bombing and air raid during WWII.
Keira disgraced out of the halls of her passion, resigning herself to a routine life until she met the delightful Emory who had his own secrets. A journey into Parham Hill Castle changed their lives forever
I received a copy of this book for my honest opinion. all opinions expressed here are mine.
The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron is the third book in the Lost Castle series and definitely worth reading if you love stories filled with history, mystery, suspense and stories set in multiple time periods.
Keira Foley is hired to authenticate a painting, but when she arrives at Parham Hall Estate and begins her work she is left with more questions than answers. Unraveling the mystery of the painting also leads her to find out the history of the estate along with two women, Elizabeth Meade and Amelia Woods, who are also linked to the estate and their stories.
This story is about heartache and hope and hidden secrets that you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by Kristy Cambron in the future.
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
What I think you should know:
The Painted Castle is the third book in The Lost Castle Series, the modern story does include updates on characters in the previous books, but can be read as a stand alone. I personally enjoyed the previous books so much that I recommend you reading them prior to this. As in the previous book there are three stories, the first one is in the present day, the second story is set during WWII and the third starts in 1843. All three of the stories are centered around one estate.
What I enjoyed about this book:
Kristy Cambron, the author has written another captivating novel. I don’t know if I could choose a favorite story-line as I enjoyed each of them. While each of their stories is completely different Cambron writes heroines who are so strong and endearing, that I find myself caught up in their stories and cheering them one. I truly enjoyed this book and hope that there is another in the series after this one.
I received a complimentary copy for this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own
Kristy Cambron excels at the split-time novel, a form I have always enjoyed, but even more so in Cambron’s talented hands. Each of her novels has been a masterpiece, but the Lost Castle series has especially resonated with me. While The Painted Castle beautifully concludes the series, I wish it could go on and on.
The Painted Castle enveloped me in three time periods – Victorian England, World War II, and current day. Three strong women captured my heart and imagination as they journeyed through painful loss with the determination to heal, and then learned to love again. This is such an evocative, atmospheric novel, with each era realistically and vividly conveyed. The three time periods are seamlessly connected, not only through the richly developed characters, but through an English estate, beekeeper’s cottage, library, and an intimate painting of Queen Victoria. I was fully invested in each era, with my favorite being whichever one I was reading at the time. Cambron has crafted a story rich with emotion and chemistry between each hero and his leading lady.
Best of all was the way the faith element was woven into the threads of this story, coming across as a natural part of their lives. This quote is so very true: “What lasts isn’t what we build on our own, but the stories He builds within and around us.”
Highly recommended.
I received a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and Thomas Nelson. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Kristy Cambron closes out her Lost Castle series with The Painted Castle, the story of Kiera and Emory. Reminiscent of an old movie, the accused art thief and the art historian/evaluator work together until the fire of rumors and truth gets too hot and combustion takes place.
Happily, we are simultaneously fed snippets of the survival of the castle manor and its inhabitants during WW II, plus another possible love development.
To make things even better, if not more complicated, Cambron weaves in and out yet a third tale of a young girl who sees her father murdered and grows up vowing to get revenge.
This is one tapestry that shows the immense skill of the author, working so many different strands seamlessly together into a beautiful, satisfying and educational product. Authors like Cambron are opening my eyes to the world of WWII. I have always avoided reading about this time due to the great pain and terror it produced, but Cambron shows there is life between the times of terror. Love, kindness, and a desire to help others can flourish like a determined weed between cracks of cement in an otherwise ugly, resistant world of hate and war. I love seeing the best of humanity come out and shine forth brightly when it seems the worst of humanity is winning for a season. I especially saw this in Amelia and Wyatt’s story, which takes place at Parham Hill during the Great War.
My recommendation? You can read this book as a stand-alone. If you do, hurry and get the first two books like I plan to, and find out the riches you ‘ve missed out on.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. This in no way affected my opinions, for which I am solely responsible.
My Thoughts on The Painted Castle:
At first, I wasn’t sure what to think. I was sucked into the story but the story kept changing! There are three stories within this one book that all combine and rotate around one painting. But each story is a different period in time.
I’m not sure which story is my favorite. If I had to choose one it would be that of Elizabeth. I love her character. She’s so full of passion and drive and yet she can admit when she’s wrong. Plus of course she gets to fall in love and she’s also seeking a murderer.
Good mysteries always get me. This one has a mystery in two of the three storylines. Well, you could say there is one big mystery that overpowers the whole story. And then there are two sub mysteries that work within two of the smaller storylines.
Of course, each of the subplots also has a romantic story going on too. Because what would a book be without a good romance going on. Here you get three.
Because there are three different plots it can get a little bit confusing at times. I also really would have liked to hear more about the WWII storyline for after the war. It’s hard to tell you what I want to know without giving stuff away though so guess I’ll keep those thoughts in my head.
I highly recommend this book but be prepared to give it your full attention or you’ll get lost in the time changes.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
An epic finale to The Lost Castle series that cinches it for a top ten spot on my reading list this year. The sheer beauty of the storytelling makes you fall in love with all three of the split time storylines. The words flow like a gentle river changing course effortlessly and snowballing into a spectacular ending. I found myself thirsting for more and couldn’t put it down. I needed tissues at times and found myself smiling at others. Keira, Amelia, and Elizabeth are all strong women from different eras that are struggling to find their way after loss and devastation in their lives. Healing comes to each in its own way. My favorite quote that sums the totality of the book is, “Don’t be afraid. It’s never about the end of a road, is it? ……
This one will leave you astounded and wishing it didn’t have to end. Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
This story is an enchanting journey through three different time periods. I love these kind of time slip stories where we travel to faraway places. I love the historical concept of the story and especially the art world. I enjoy going to Art museums and gazing at the breathtaking displays of perfection.
It amazes me how an author can write a story of three different eras and weave them seamlessly into a best seller. The vivid descriptions of the destinations were easy to understand and made me want to learn more about them. Each woman in the story plays a part in connecting the dots and making the story mesmerizing. It is hard to say which character I liked more because each one had qualities that intrigues me.
Elizabeth was very gifted and I liked the mystery surrounding her father’s death. Will she be able to identify him and bring him to justice? To witness such a tragedy must have left scars in Elizabeth’s life and I liked how she never gave up.
Keira was a person I admired. I loved her keen eye for the arts and how precise she was in determining a fake. It must take a lot of studying and attention to detail for someone to be an expert. Her story had mystery and surprises and takes us to the very depth of the art world.
Amelia was a very caring person who opened her home for children who have been displaced. I did laugh when she is invaded by soldiers who take up residence at her home as well. It is a full house and leads to a story rich in history and trust.
Throughout each story in this book we can find one common thread. I won’t say what it is because you the reader will have an adventure as you travel throughout history and see how gifted the author is in writing emotional, historical and memorable characters. I love how the author uses her research to make the story more realistic and give us a book that flows with ease. This is the last in the series and I think the best.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.