Beauty Among Ruins

A Tale of Love and Redemption During the Great War

De: J'nell Ciesielski

Narrado por: Kate Rudd

From bestselling author J'nell Ciesielski comes a captivating World War I romance where a spirited American socialite and a wounded Scottish laird find unexpected love amid secrets and sacrifice in war-torn Scotland.

With her signature blend of rich historical detail, heartfelt romance, and vivid storytelling, Ciesielski delivers "an atmospheric, engrossing tale perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and Somewhere in France." (Aimie K. Runyan)

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.

For Alec MacGregor, Kinclavoch Castle is both his legacy and his prison. With his reputation tarnished by whispers of cowardice and mounting debts threatening everything he holds dear, Alec opens his doors to wounded soldiers as a final act of duty. He prefers to remain in the shadows, a quiet guardian of the castle's crumbling walls--until Lily arrives, all energy and light, turning his ordered world upside down.

But Kinclavoch holds more than broken soldiers and bitter memories. As mysterious accidents threaten the castle's fragile future, Lily and Alec are forced into an uneasy partnership to uncover the truth. With every moment they spend together, their differences fade, replaced by a growing connection neither can ignore. Yet with the weight of war and duty pressing on their shoulders, love may prove the most dangerous distraction of all.

Beauty Among Ruins, with a romance at its center that reminds readers of Beauty and the Beast and a setting that immerses readers in World War I Scotland, masterfully blends all the elements that define historical romance. As such, it is highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, mystery, and romance alike.

Whether you're a fan of historical romance or simply seeking a story that lingers long after the final page, this captivating tale promises to enchant.

Couldn’t put it down

I’ve been waiting nearly a year for Tennessee Reads to have this available for me. Snapped it up and began immediately.

At first I didn’t care much for Lilly. She seemed arrogant and spoiled. But as her good heart came through in service to others I couldn’t help but care deeply for her.

And of course I didn’t much care for Alec at first either. He was gruff and unyielding. But his love for his sister and need to protect their dignity and home was just a glimpse into the man underneath.

Love, love Scottish settings and history. Books like this always make me want to go. Okay, not in the winter. Brrr.

This was an audio version and it was quite good!

An absolute joy of a book.

Nicely done

This is an enjoyable clean mystery romance set during the early years of WWI in Scotland. The narrator has a good story telling voice though her rendition of men’s voices aren’t the greatest. Yes, I will probably listen to this again.

Incredible Story!!!

Captivating Listen! Beauty Among Ruins by J'nell Ciesielski is incredible! I loved the vibrant imagery of the castle setting in Scotland during WW!. The characters the author wrote were intriguing in their wounded ways. Taking debutants and aristocrats and making them nurses or soldiers was a way of life back then. The author wove a great storyline where duty was above all else. There were several different storylines going on in this book that meshed together. There was also some added suspense in the book and some nefarious deeds. The main characters of Lilly and Alec were so compelling individually and their interactions together. They had great chemistry and banter. Kate Rudd performed this book flawlessly. She captivated my attention and I could visualize so many details. She really brought the characters to life with her voice. I loved the burr she put in her voice too. #Net Galley thank you so very much for the review copy audiobook, I loved it so much that I purchased a copy of it for myself. This is a fantastic listen! I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it.

i liked this one

it is basically the same story as "among the poppies" by the same author was, but I'm not complaining. i wanted something similar and this... is definitely that.
i really liked alec and his wound, it made him interesting.
the narrator was a bit meh. her Scottish wasn't very good and her male voices were very nasal: i understand it's hard to make a low voice, but all the men sounded like they had the flu.

Great light read

I love this book. It is light, romantic, but still worth its twists. It’s one you could read over and over again.

Bad narration of Scottish men

Story is okay - entertaining but not great. Narration was fine until she did the male voices. Terrible. Murdered the Scottish accent. Sad to have wasted my credit on this but if it’s ever free it’s a way to pass the time.

Poor choice of narrator

The story is good for its genre. However, when choosing a narrator for a story that takes place in Scotland, the producers need to find someone who can read with a Scots and British accent!

Cheesy and a little boring

Stuck up society type characters. Mostly one dimensional. No real passion in this book. I finished the book but would not use a credit this author again.

I give up….

This was awful - poor writing, bad narration, cardboard characters, predictable story. Don’t understand the good reviews.

Beauty in the Ruins

Between the prose & the narrator this book was very difficult for me to finish. The story was very slow & convoluted with too many villains & plots. Never truly felt the development of a deep relationship between MMC & MFC. Possibly if I read this book or if there was tolerable narration I may have enjoyed it.