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The Castle Keepers: A Novel Paperback – May 2, 2023

by Aimie K. Runyan (Author), J'nell Ciesielski (Author), Rachel McMillan (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 109 ratings
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“A fascinating story of love’s ability to overcome family curses, scandals, and even war. Told in three parts, this multi-generational tale is wonderfully heartwarming!” —Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London

Leedswick Castle has housed the Alnwick family in the English countryside for generations, despite a family curse determined to destroy their legacy and erase them from history.

1870. After a disastrous dinner at the Astor mansion forces her to flee New York in disgrace, socialite Beatrice Holbrook knows her performance in London must be a triumph. When she catches the eye of Charles Alnwick, one of the town’s most enviably titled bachelors, she prepares to attempt a social coup and become the future Marchioness of Northridge. Then tragedy and scandal strike the Alnwick family, and Beatrice must assume the role of a lifetime: that of her true, brave self.

1917. Artist Elena Hamilton arrives in Northumberland determined to transform a soldier’s wounds into something beautiful. Tobias Alnwick’s parents have commissioned a lifelike mask to help their son return to his former self after battle wounds partially destroyed his face. But Elena doesn’t see a man who needs fixing—she sees a man who needn’t hide. Yet secrets from their past threaten to chase away the peace they’ve found in each other and destroy the future they’re creating.

1945. Alec Alnwick returns home from the war haunted but determined to leave death and destruction behind. With the help of Brigitta Mayr, the brilliant young psychoanalyst whose correspondence was a lifeline during his time on the Western Front, he reconstructs his family’s large estate into a rehabilitation center for similarly wounded soldiers. Alec’s efforts may be the only chance to redeem his family legacy—and break the curse on the Alnwick name—once and for all.

Three beloved authors share stories of the Alnwick family through the generations, revealing how love and war can change a place—but only its people can unshackle it from the misdeeds of the past.

  • Multiple historical timelines following generations of one family
  • Stand-alone collection of connected stories
  • Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Previous page
  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Harper Muse
  4. Publication date
    May 2, 2023
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.3 x 8.45 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0785265325
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0785265320
  8. See all details
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From the Publisher

The Castle Keepers
The Castle Keepers

Editorial Reviews

Review

'The Castle Keepers is a fascinating story of love's ability to overcome family curses, scandals and even war. Told in three parts, this multi-generational tale is wonderfully heartwarming!' -- Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Bookshop in London

'A trio of talented storytellers skillfully brings to life three eras in The Castle Keepers. I found myself yearning to walk the halls of Leedswick Castle to soak up the secrets the walls held, and also the whispers of love. Intrigue, a poison garden, and a long-standing curse make for a colorful and rich read.' -- Heather Webb, USA TODAY bestselling author of Strangers in the Night

'Take one castle and the dramatic tales of three generations of fascinating characters who reside there, and you're in for a treat with The Castle Keepers by Aimie K. Runyan, J'nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan. Every generation has its challenges, but for the owners of Leedswick Castle, their actions will affect their descendants over and over again. Filled with sweet romances, a little humor, and touches of intrigue, this novel written in three parts is sure to delight readers!' -- Eliza Knight, USA TODAY bestselling author of Starring Adele Astaire

Three time periods. Three sets of characters. Three separate writers . . . The Castle Keepers weaves a unifying tale of love and war . . . The story features strong female characters in relationships beset by external conflict as well as intimate emotional struggles. It shifts smoothly across time, depicting the confining culture and class-consciousness women faced in the late 1800s, the lingering and uncomfortable attitudes toward women pursuing a profession in the early 1900s, and a growing appreciation of women as professional as well as personal partners in the 1940s. -- Historical Novel Society

About the Author

Internationally bestselling author Aimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate unsung heroines. She has written six historical novels (and counting!) and is delving into the exciting world of contemporary women's fiction. She has been a finalist for the Colorado Book Award three times, a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' 'Writer of the Year,' and a Historical Novel Society's Editors' Choice selection. Aimie is active as a speaker and educator in the writing community in Colorado and beyond. She lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her wonderful husband, two adorable (usually) children, two very sweet cats, and a pet dragon. Visit her online at aimiekrunyan.com; Instagram: @bookishaimie; Facebook: @aimiekrunyan; Twitter: @aimiekrunyan.



Bestselling author J’nell Ciesielski has a passion for heart-stopping adventure and sweeping love stories while weaving fresh takes into romances of times gone by. When not creating dashing heroes and daring heroines, she can be found dreaming of Scotland, indulging in chocolate of any kind, or watching old black and white movies. She is a member of the Tall Poppy Writers and lives in Virginia with her husband, daughter, and lazy beagle. Learn more at www.jnellciesielski.com.



Rachel McMillan is the author of The London Restoration, The Mozart Code, the Herringford and Watts mysteries, the Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries, and the Three Quarter Time series of contemporary Viennese romances. She is also the author of Dream, Plan, Go: A Travel Guide to Inspire Independent Adventure. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada. Visit her online at rachelmcmillan.net; Instagram: @rachkmc; Facebook: @rachkmc1; Twitter: @rachkmc; Pinterest: @rachkmc.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Muse (May 2, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0785265325
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0785265320
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.3 x 8.45 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 109 ratings

About the author

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Rachel McMillan

Rachel McMillan

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Rachel McMillan is the author of the Herringford and Watts mysteries, the Three Quarter Time series of contemporary romances set in opulent Vienna, and the Van Buren and DeLuca mysteries praised for bringing an authentic 1930’s Boston world to life while normalizing the fictional conversation surrounding mental illness. She is also the author of Dream, Plan and Go: A Romantic's Guide to Independent Travel and A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide: which explores her love of made-for-TV Christmas movies. Her upcoming historical romances The London Restoration and The Mozart Code (Harper Collins) take readers deep into an atmospheric look of post-war London, Vienna and Prague. Rachel lives in Toronto, Canada.

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
109 global ratings
Disappointed
3 Stars
Disappointed
Leedswick Castle has housed the Alnwick family in the English Countryside for generations, despite a family curse determined to destroy their legacy and erase them from history.What I expected: A multiple-timeline story surrounding three generations of the same family.What I got: Three novellas bound together into one book.I don’t think the novella concept worked here. The stories felt rushed and the characters were underdeveloped. Sadly, I didn’t care about any of them but I will say the first story, The Truth Keepers, set in 1870, was the best.This one would have worked better, in my opinion, as three separate full-length novels or as an alternating timeline story.
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Top reviews from the United States

Mindy Allred
4.0 out of 5 stars Obscure History
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
Loved having a close up of 3 unique historical periods. Thought provoking in some ways, how does a woman who prepared her whole life for marriage find purpose after the wedding? Fascinating to learn about the Tin Noses Shop. The final story was confusing, but it was interesting to get a glimpse into early mental health treatments.
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Holly
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed it
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
I enjoyed this book. I liked how each of the three stories connected to the same family and went over different times. I also liked how each story showed how war effected each of the characters. I thought the stories were engaging and well told. I found myself wanting to know what happened next. I also liked having the opportunity to read a story by all three of these authors since I have not had the opportunity to read anything by them. It helped me know that I would enjoy other stories by them.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.
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Avonna
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining Historical Romance Novella Anthology
Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
THE CASTLE KEEPERS by Aimie K. Runyan, J’nell Ciesielski, and Rachel McMillan is an enchanting novella anthology of historical romances featuring three generations of Alnwick heirs and is set at the “cursed” Leedswick castle in rugged Northumberland England.

Each novella, besides the historical romance plot, had an interesting hook that made them more than just a romance. The first set in 1870, The Truth Keepers, set up the premise of the “curse” that runs through all three novellas. It also had a heroine that was a “Dollar Princess” and a mystery plot involving the castle’s Poison Garden. In the 1917 setting, The Memory Keepers, the heroine is an artist who paints masks for disfigured Tommies returning from WWI. The last novella set in 1945, The Dream Keepers, has a heroine with psychological training who works with the returned heir to help soldiers covalence in the rural castle setting and offers psychological analysis. Wars and the “Curse” have affected each Alnwick heir, and each will find a love that may be what they need to heal, learn to love, and break the curse.

I really enjoyed each novella in this anthology. The authors were able to pull me right into each romance and time period with well developed characters and interesting and varied heroines and plots.

I recommend this enjoyable historical romance anthology.
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Jan
3.0 out of 5 stars Sadly...disappointed.
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
I had been looking forward to this book since I ordered it in January!
I especially enjoy J'nell Ciesielski's books, and for that reason I purchased this one.
And she did not disappoint.

However, the third story in this book is quite the opposite.
It's difficult to figure out, hard to follow, the whole idea of the heroine in the story being so enamored and enthralled with Freud was a put off for me.
So much so, that there is no reason for me to finish the book. This is the second book by this author that I would not finish reading.
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pengie
5.0 out of 5 stars Castle Keepers
Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2023
Most of the anthologies of novellas are generally light in substance and depth. That is not the case with The Castle Keepers. Three different generations of the Alnwick family are desperately trying to hold on to their castle that has been part of their family lineage for generations. In each of the stories there is a bit of intrigue in each of the stories, and a whole lot of PTSD in them. Each of the stories includes a wounded warrior who has a hard time putting what he saw in the war behind him. Each has a woman who is strong in her own right, but a little foreign to the aristocratic world. The women in these novellas seek to love the men in a way that goes beyond appearances and surface characteristics.

I found that each novella showed ways that the protagonists were trying to overcome negative connotations with the castle in the minds of the villagers surrounding it, how they were working to redeem the castle's poor reputation, how they were working to overcome their own hardships, and even how their faith, not only in God, but even in themselves was restored.

These authors have done such a great job in pulling these narratives together to make a cohesive whole, even though generations separate them. This is so very much a five star book. It's hard to put down while you are reading the stories, but after you finish one, you have to let it digest before jumping into the next one. The issues tackled are very real and common almost to every soldier or military man who has seen battle. Read it, that's all I can say.

Harper Muse provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
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M. Torres
4.0 out of 5 stars 2/3 AMAZING
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
I was drawn to this book because of my love of Ciesielski’s work. While I don’t know who wrote which parts, I can say I absolutely LOVED the first two parts. They were so well written and flowed together seamlessly. The, third, not so much. I like the plot, but the writing of the third was hard to follow, often jumpy and not finishing a thought before moving abruptly to a new scene.
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Top reviews from other countries

pkmm
5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved these 3 stories!!!
Reviewed in Canada on June 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
I only wish each story didn't end! I really became connected with the characters and enjoyed the story lines. Each one flows into another, so don't worry you do hear more about the characters. They just jump ahead several years. Truly a great read. Please write more like this :)
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Diane McKewin
5.0 out of 5 stars The Castle Keepers
Reviewed in Australia on May 14, 2023
Verified Purchase
Three beautiful novellas from three authors whose books I have come to love. Story one is set in 1870 at a time after the American Civil War and at the time of the gilded Age. Charles returns from war in India and faces a hostile village. Story two is set in 1917 as the Great War is still raging. Tobias's story is heartbreaking and brave when he returns from the conflict facially damaged to confront an unforgiving world. Story three is set in 1945 when Alec returns from WWII emotionally broken and suffering from what we now know as PTSD. Beside all three men are the women who love them.
Behind them all is the Castle that holds and sustains them. I love all three stories and thank you to three wonderful authors. I highly recommend this book to other readers.
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