Book Review: Beauty Among Ruins

J’nell Ciesielski
Thomas Nelson, 2021
414 pages

Amazon Description: 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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Thanks to TLC Book Tours for sending me a review copy so I could participate in this tour! All opinions in this post are honest and my own.

This is something that not everyone knows about me: I am a sucker for stories set in Scotland. I love the castles, the kilts, the accents — everything about this type of story appeals to me, so when the opportunity to review this one came through my inbox I did NOT hesitate to say yes.

The other reason I expected to love Beauty Among Ruins is because I so enjoyed The Socialite, the second most recent book from this author that came out last year. I think J’nell Ciesielski does such a great job with detailed, realistic feeling historical fiction, and this book did not disappoint.

The main theme running through Beauty Among Ruins is recognizing that every person has worth and purpose. People see Lily as a shell of a person, a social butterfly with nothing of meaning to contribute, but Alec recognizes her kind heart and desire to bring joy to people. In turn, Lily reassures Alec that he is a man of honor and integrity, and that the leg injury that prevents him from fighting does not diminish his other desirable qualities. This romance has beauty and the beast vibes (Lily is so bubbly and optimistic, while Alec is gruff and guarded) and is full of witty banter and touchingly vulnerable moments.

I really enjoyed Beauty Among Ruins. I thought it was simultaneously fast-paced and humorous while also being thoughtful and poignant. Two thumbs up from me!