The Girl in the Castle - Blog Tour Historical Fiction Review

About The Girl in the Castle

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks (September 27, 2016)

International sensation Santa Montefiore presents the first book in a trilogy that follows three Irish women through the decades of the twentieth century—perfect for fans of Kate Morton and Hazel Gaynor.

Born on the ninth day of the ninth month in the year 1900, Kitty Deverill is special as her grandmother has always told her. Built on the stunning green hills of West Cork, Ireland, Castle Deverill is Kitty’s beloved home, where many generations of Deverills have also resided. Although she’s Anglo-Irish, Kitty’s heart completely belongs to the wild countryside of the Emerald Isle, and her devotion to her Irish-Catholic friends Bridie Doyle, the daughter of the castle’s cook, and Jack O’Leary, the vet’s son, is unmatched—even if Jack is always reminding her that she isn’t fully Irish. Still, Jack and Kitty can’t help falling in love although they both know their union faces the greatest obstacles since they are from different worlds.

Bridie cherishes her friendship with Kitty, who makes her feel more like her equal than a servant. Yet she can’t help dreaming of someday having all the wealth and glamour Kitty’s station in life affords her. But when she discovers a secret that Kitty has been keeping from her, Bridie finds herself growing resentful toward the girl in the castle who seems to have it all.

When the Irish revolt to throw over British rule in Southern Ireland, Jack enlists to fight. Worried for her safety, Jack warns Kitty to keep her distance, but she refuses and throws herself into the cause for Irish liberty, running messages and ammunition between the rebels. But as Kitty soon discovers, her allegiance to her family and her friends will be tested—and when Castle Deverill comes under attack, the only home and life she’s ever known are threatened.

A powerful story of love, loyalty, and friendship, The Girl in the Castle is an exquisitely written novel set against the magical, captivating landscape of Ireland.

Purchase Links

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My Thoughts:

Santa Montefiore has a gift for transporting her readers right into her books with her vivid settings and flawed and dynamic characters.  Her book, Secrets of the Lighthouse, was one of my favorite books of 2014 so I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to read her newest book which is also set in Ireland.  I was not disappointed.  Castle Deverill, the village, 1920s New York, and all the other settings came to life before my eyes and I felt like I knew Kitty, Bridie and the the rest.

This is a tragic book set in a tragic time. The characters faced unbelievable hardship and at times that made it difficult to read because I felt like these were real people that I genuinely liked (well most of them - Maud and Michael win no prizes).  This has the feel of a family saga type novel and there is a lot of jumping from head to head but I never had trouble keep track of everyone.  My only complaint was that the ending felt very open ended but I just discovered that this appears to be Book 1 in a series so that is no longer a complaint.  Now I just have to wait for Book 2 to find out what happens with the Deverills, Jack, and Bridie.  4 Stars

About Santa Montefiore

Santa Montefiore was born in England. She went to Sherborne School for Girls in Dorset and studied Spanish and Italian at Exeter University. She has written sixteen bestselling novels, which have been translated into thirty different languages and have sold more than two million copies worldwide.

Find out more about Santa at her website, and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.