The Painted Castle

Bridging the past and present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is an enchanting, interwoven story of three resilient women connected by a storybook castle that stands witness to their lives. 1789: Aveline Saint-Moreau is a wealthy and beautiful young aristocrat preparing for her betrothal to the Duc et Vivay’s heir Philippe, but the French Revolution looms as the Bastille is stormed in Paris. 1944: Viola Hart is a Resistance fighter in France during World War II, desperately trying to root out the evil taking hold in her country as the Nazis occupy France. Present day: Ellie Carver is in a race against time to deliver a decades-overdue message as her grandmother fades into the shadows of Alzheimer’s. Embarking on a journey to France’s Loire Valley, Ellie can only hope to unearth the secrets of the mysterious castle before time silences them forever. As Ellie’s journey unfolds, so too do the journeys of the two other women, each of their stories woven together through their connection with the forgotten French castle—a castle that plays a part in saving each one of them. With tales of loves won and lost, battles waged in the hearts of men, and a legacy of faith spanning generations, The Lost Castle is a sweeping story of three strong women making history. Praise for The Lost Castle: “Spanning the French Revolution, World War II and today, Cambron masterfully carries us into each period with all the romance and danger of the best fairy tale.” —Katherine Reay “It’s been a long time since I’ve been so thoroughly engrossed in a novel . . . The Lost Castle kept me spellbound!” —Tamera Alexander Full-length split-time historical fiction Includes discussion questions for book clubs Part of The Lost Castle Series Book 1: The Lost Castle Book 2: Castle on the Rise Book 3: The Painted Castle

Three sweeping tales of art, long-buried secrets, and abandoned castles from bestselling author Kristy Cambron—now available in one collection. The Lost Castle Broken-down walls and crumbling stones seemed to possess a secret language all their own. What stories would they tell, if she finally listened? Bridging the past to the present in three 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 in the hearts of men, and of an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations. Castle on the Rise A storied castle. A band of rebels. A nation chasing a centuries-old dream of freedom. And three women who rise above it all . . . From the storied streets of Dublin to the shores of the Emerald Isle, Castle on the Rise unites the legacy of three women who must risk mending the broken places within for life, love, and the belief that even through the depths of our pain, a masterpiece of a story can emerge. The Painted Castle A lost painting of Queen Victoria. A library bricked off from the world. And three women, separated by time, whose lives are irrevocably changed. 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 unfolds a story of heartache and hope and unlocks secrets lost for generations just waiting to be found. Praise for the Lost Castle series: “Another page turner! Kristy Cambron will enthrall readers with this gripping tale of three uniquely troubled women from different centuries yet linked by secrets hidden behind the walls of an ancient English castle. Enjoy the ride as Cambron uses her trademark skill peeling away the mystery surrounding East Suffolk’s Parham Hill Estate and the answer to each woman’s heart—one tantalizing layer at a time. The Painted Castle is a story compelling, beautifully written, and sure to thrill a broad range of historical fiction fans!” —Kate Breslin, bestselling author of Far Side of the Sea “Enchanting and mesmerizing! Castle on the Rise enters an alluring land and time with a tale to be treasured. Ireland comes to life with as much vivid light as the characters of this dual-timeline tale of redemption and love. For those of us who love Ireland and its misty shores, its myths, and its mysteries, Kristy Cambron brings it all to life. More than once I wished to walk through the pages of Castle on the Rise and join Cambron’s magnificent women on a quest for the truth, and for love.” —Patti Callahan, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis “As intricate as a French tapestry, as lush as the Loire Valley, and as rich as heroine Ellie’s favorite pain au chocolat, The Lost Castle satisfies on every level. The three timelines weave and build upon each other, as the three heroines navigate dangerous times and unravel ancient secrets. Kristy Cambron’s writing evokes each era in loving detail, and the romances are touching and poignant. C’est bon!” —Sarah Sundin, award-winning author of The Sea Before Us and the Waves of Freedom series

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, 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

Emma and Ava have two ginormous cardboard boxes from Mrs. Carol. Time to turn those boxes into castles. Cardboard is hard. Really hard. Emma can't cut it with her scissors. Crayons and markers barely show up. Emma and Ava want to make their castles beautiful. But how? Join Emma and Ava on another adventure.

Spanning more than two centuries in Ireland, Castle on the Rise unites the legacy of three women who must risk mending their broken places for life, love, and the belief that even through the depths of our pain, a masterpiece of a story can emerge. When Laine Forrester travels overseas to attend her best friend’s vineyard wedding, she expects to find the bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks, it seems the storybook lives they’d imagined are suddenly ripping apart. With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending, Laine agrees to accompany the newlyweds to the groom’s home in Ireland—never expecting she’d be the one drawn in by its wide-open moors, backroads bordering the Irish Sea, and a mysterious castle that dares to keep its secrets hidden. From the storied streets of Dublin to the shores of the Emerald Isle, Laine is drawn in to the land and its rich history. The castle ruins whisper stories of Issy—a photojournalist battling through the 1916 Easter Rising, and Maeve—the castle’s lady of legend, fighting for survival through the 1798 rebellion that started it all. Praise for Castle on the Rise: “Enchanting and mesmerizing!” —PATTI CALLAHAN, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Mrs. Lewis “Castle on the Rise perfectly showcases rising star Kristy Cambron’s amazing talent! Perfect pacing, lovely prose, and an intricate plot blend together in a delightful novel I couldn’t put down. Highly recommended!” —Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author of Secrets at Cedar Cabin and the Rock Harbor series “Cambron’s latest is one of her best. Gripping and epic, this intricately woven tale of three generations seeking truth and justice will stay with you long after the last page.” —Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author Second in the Lost Castle series (The Lost Castle, Castle on the Rise, The Painted Castle) Can be read as a stand-alone, but best if read in order Sweet romance set in three time periods: present day, World War I/Easter Rising, and late 1700s Full-length novel (over 110,000 words)

"Excavations at Dryslwyn between 1980 and 1995 uncovered a masonry castle, founded in the late 1220s by Rhys Gryg for his son Maredudd ap Rhys, the first Lord of Dryslwyn. The first castle was a simple round tower and polygonal walled enclosure, within which were constructed a kitchen, prison and wood-framed, clay-floored great chamber beside a great hall. In the mid 13th century a second ward was added and the great chamber rebuilt in stone. This castle was greatly expanded in the period 1283-87 by Rhys ap Maredudd, the second and final Lord of Dryslwyn, who built an Outer Ward and gatehouse. He also rebuilt much of the Inner Ward, adding an extra storey to the great hall and great chamber, apartments and a chapel. At the end of the 13th century a large three-ward castle stretched along the eastern and southern edge of the hill while the rest of the hilltop was occupied by a settlement defended by a wall and substantial ditch with access through a gatehouse. This castle and its associated settlement were besieged and captured in 1287 by an English royal army of over 11,000 men following damage inflicted by a trebuchet and mining of the walls. Throughout the 14th century the English Crown garrisoned and repaired the castle, supervised by an appointed constable, before it was surrendered to Owain Glyn Dwr in 1403. During the early to mid 15th century the castle was deliberately walled up to deny its use to a potential enemy and it was subsequently looted and demolished. By the late 13th century, the castle had a white rendered and lime-washed appearance, creating a very dramatic and highly visible symbol of lordship. Internally, the lord's and guest apartments had decorative wall paintings and glazed windows. Evidence from charred beams still in situ, the sizes, shapes and distribution of nails, sheet lead, slates and postholes recovered during excavation has enabled some of the wooden as well as masonry buildings to be reconstructed. Waterlogged deposits had preserved a rich assemblage of seeds, birds, fish and animal bone which reveal evidence of the dining habits of Welsh lords, their guests and household. Of particular interest are the finds associated with the siege of 1287 which include a knop-headed mace, spearheads and armour-piercing arrowheads which indicates that the longbow was the weapon of choice. Damage and repairs to the castle walls correlate with historic accounts while three stone balls recovered by the excavation were undoubtedly thrown by the trebuchet recorded in contemporary accounts."