The Lost Lord of Castle Black (The Lost Lords Book 1)

I loved this book. It kept my attention pretty much the whole way through. My only problem with it was the ending. I really would've liked it to continue on for a while longer after the wedding.

For almost 20 years, Graham, a young boy, was believed lost at sea during a storm. But his heartbroken mother, Lady Agatha Blakemore, never gave up hope. With the death of her husband, Lord Nicholas, she is pressured by her nephew and younger son to have him declared dead. Her only supporter in the household is Miss Beatrice Marlowe, a ward of her husband since she was a child. Enter the handsome sailor, whose only memory is his first name Graham. But he is the image of Lord Nicholas and Lady Agatha immediately embraces him as her lost beloved son, but frail and weak from years of worry, the shock takes its toll. Graham is willing to leave it up to investigators to determine the truth, but with his memory gone, there are just glimpses of familiarity, like knowing the direction of rooms. Castle Black is the only home Beatrice knows and she is both drawn and leery by this new lord. Without courtly manners of a gentlemen and without the coarse manner of a sailor, he is somewhere in-between. But his honesty and horrific conditions he experienced made him a man to be admired and respected. But there is a conspiracy within the house, with the unexplained deterioration of the health of Lady Agatha, Graham's shooting accident, the unwanted advances of the married nephew towards Beatrice and her near death accident - only surviving because of her rescue by Graham. The mystery, intrigue, greed, betrayal and the unfailing loyalty overcome the odds and adversities thrown at Graham and those who believe in him. A wonderful can't put it down story of how love triumphs over evil and paves the way to a life of joy!

I loved this book, it had twists and turns from beginning to end. I do think Eloise got off a little easy, but I guess no money or status is a great punishment for her.

If you enjoy steamy historical romances sprinkled with mysterious and intrigue, Chastity Bowlin's books are definitely for you! I have read almost all of the books she has written, and I have never been disappointed.This story features Graham, the long-lost Lord of the manor, and Beatrice, his childhood playmate who is now a ward of the estate. Graham claims to be the son of the deceased Lord, a memory he regained after taking a hit to the head while working aboard a ship. While he recalls his name and title, he remembers little else, yet he spends the next few years after regaining his identity working his way back to England. Lady Agatha, Graham's mother, has held out hope for her son's return ever since he was lost to her at sea nearly 20 years earlier. Meanwhile, her scheming nephew and his wife have been doing their best to have Graham Black officially declared dead by Parliament so that Graham's younger brother can be named Lord Black as the nephew believes he can manipulate the new Lord and perhaps even "replace" him should he meet a tragic accident.Beatrice cares nothing for wealth or titles; she is an orphan who was taken in by the benevolent former Lord Black and was raised as a daughter by him and Lady Agatha. As a child, she knew Graham as nothing more than a entitled bully. When the handsome, damaged man appears on the doorstep 18 years later claiming to be that boy, she can hardly imagine it could be him as this man resembles nothing of the spoiled, and sometimes even cruel, boy she remembers. But she finds herself drawn to this new and improved version of Graham, and equally hopes that he is and isn't Lord Black --- if he is, she could never be his wife as she has no money or title to offer; if he's not, the estate would be handed over to those who would continue to run it into the ground, and Lady Agatha (who she regards as a mother figure) would have her heart broken once again.The story line was interesting; the main characters were likeable; the chemistry was sizzling; and the twists added to the gothic intrigue. I felt that there were a few things that weren't really explained well or tied up at the end, but overall, another good Bowlin creation.

France 1704. An English Lord, his wife and son are heading back to England to escape the Bonapartists who wanted sensitive information. When the ship is damaged in a violent storm and they attempt to launch a smaller boat, one of the crew is carrying their son. After the parents are in the small vessel, and before the boy can be past down to them, the ship starts to break up.Twenty years later, the widowed Lady Agnes still believes her son lives. As greedy relatives try to settle the estate and have a new Lord confirmed. When a stranger arrives , claiming to be the missing heir, problems arise. Add a large, rambling house and plenty of secret passages and a mysterious figure with plans of their own. By the time the identity of the mystery figure is revealed, there are a number of suspects. With twists and turns before all becomes clear and all ends well.

I purchased this book when it was first released but didn’t leave a review. It’s a fantastic read from a great author. It has romance, the return of a missing heir and dark deeds happening at Castle Black. If you’ve not read it, you are missing a great story. I have reread it several times

The hero is back for the dead, which complicates the villains plans. The heroine is the one with the memories that confirm the hero is who he says he is. Made for an enjoyable read on a wet day.

The thrill, the romance the adventure, I couldn’t recommend more. It’s all in there for a good page Turner. Looking forward to next read

I don't know what it was but there was something missing for me in this book.The murder mystery, in itself, was quite good but the romance side just lacked that pinch of something that keeps you reading til the wee small hours