Beauty Among Ruins

Starred review from October 12, 2020
A Scottish lord and an American socialite discover love during WWI in this gorgeous historical romance from Ciesielski (The Socialite). Lily Durham’s parents send her to live with her cousins in England for the summer to curb her wayward behavior in New York. But once there, Lily absconds to Scotland with her cousin Bertie, hoping to meet handsome soldiers while working as aides at a convalescent home in Kinclavoch Castle. The castle’s brooding owner, Alec MacGregor, will do whatever it takes to keep possession of his ancestral home despite mounting debt. But when a soldier is kidnapped from an ambulance en route to Kinclavoch, the newspapers implicate Alec. As mysterious accidents continue at Kinclavoch, Alec seeks to clear his name and find the person responsible—and all the while he and Lily grow closer. Then Lily’s parents demand that she return home or lose her allowance, and Lily must decide if she can risk her financial stability for a chance at love. Lily’s transformation from a pampered party girl into a selfless nurse is riveting, and the blossoming romance between her and Alec is both electric and believable. The undercurrent of mystery and Ciesielski’s unflinching approach to the harsh realities of wartime only enhance the love story. Readers are sure to be impressed. Agent: Linda Glaz, Hartline Literary.