Rating: Beauty Among Ruins by J'nell Ciesielski
Genres: Historical Romance, Scottish
In Ciesielski’s latest sweeping romance, an American heiress finds herself in Scotland amid the fallout of the Great War, and a wounded Scottish laird comes face-to-face with his past and a woman he never could have expected.
American socialite Lily Durham is known for enjoying one moment to the next, with little regard for the consequences of her actions. But just as she is banished overseas to England as a “cure” for her frivolous ways, the Great War breaks out and wreaks havoc. She joins her cousin in nursing the wounded at a convalescent home deep in the wilds of Scotland at a crumbling castle where its laird is less than welcoming.
Alec MacGregor has given his entire life to preserving his home of Kinclavoch Castle, but mounting debts force him to sell off his family history bit by bit. Labeled a coward for not joining his countrymen in the trenches due to an old injury, he opens his home to the Tommies to make recompense while he keeps to the shadows. But his preference for the shadows is shattered when a new American nurse comes streaming into the castle on a burst of light.
Lily and Alec are thrown together when a series of mysterious events threatens to ruin the future of Kinclavoch. Can they put aside their differences to find the culprit before it’s too late, or will their greatest distraction be falling in love?
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I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. I receive no compensation for reviews.
I love reading any book that takes place in Scotland whether it is in the past or present. There is just something about it that makes romance all the better in my opinion. In this one we are in 1915 and Lily Durham has been sent to England in order to find a husband. However, Lily takes a position as nurse’s aid at Kinclavoch Castle convalescent home for WWI soldiers in Scotland.
While Lily is a socialite she isn’t the flighty woman the head matron thinks she is. She is determine to help regardless of being given the worst possible assignments. She is a breath of fresh air for the patients and does a wonderful job of keeping their spirits up.
In fact she is such a breath of fresh air that she is able to get Laird Alec MacGregor out of the despair over finances that he is in. Of course someone wants the estate to fail and when a patient goes missing Lily and Alex work together to find out what happened.
Lily is a great character and one who despite having been told her whole life that all she had to look forward to was finding a husband and making a good match is, determined to be more. To have a purpose beyond marriage. While Alex is the quintessential brooding Laird goes through a lot of emotional change as he gets closer to Lily.
As I said, I love Scotland, and putting Lily there gave her more challenges to overcome than she would have if she had stayed in England where she was sent. It gave her a chance to spread her wings and fly. The romance and the mystery are both so well written that this book checked every box for me. It was simply wonderful.
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Great review, I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for sharing.
This book is the exact genre that I love to read. I can’t wait.
Sounds like a very interesting story and I’d love to read it!
I love a good historical fiction book to read in the summer! I like that Lily and Alec both have good hearts in nursing the soldiers … hopefully they have a good ending together!
I love Scotland as a backdrop for novels. It’s such a lovely and unique locale.
Historical romances are one of my favorite genre’s of books & this one sounds like it’s one I definitely want to read. I want to see how Lily & Alec’s story unfolds. Thank you for your review.
sounds mysterious
I love a good Scottish romance! Scottish men are so sexy…I married one!
This book is just up my alley. Checks all the right boxes for me, too.
I love this genre this was the one that got me reading again.
This is a new author to me. I’ll definitely have to pick this one up.
Thank you so much for sharing your review of this book makes me want to sit down and read it too! Have a great day!
I had not heard of this author. Sounds like a great book.
This so sounds like my kind of read and I love the cover too.
This sounds right up my alley! Love the historical time period,
Love the title and the concept
I love romance books set in Scotland. I just think it is a beautiful, romantic area.
Sounds like a good romance. I’d love to read.
I love books that take place in Scotland. This book sounds very interesting. Lovely cover.
This looks like a good book for me. I particularly enjoy books (and films) that take place in the UK – a place I’ve always wanted to visit. I’m not familiar with this author, glad to be introduced to her work, thanks!
Sounds like a great historical romance! Thanks for sharing your review and have a spectacular holiday season!
Thank you for sharing your review of this book, it sounds like a wonderful read
This is right up my alley! Thanks for sharing!
Love that title and book cover
Love historical fiction! Sounds good.