Christmas in the Castle Library ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell

Nice Cover

G👀dreads

Ellie Sawyer has always felt more comfortable with books than people, which explains why she's a PhD history student neck deep in research and trying to complete her doctoral dissertation in time to graduate. But the final books she needs are half a world away in the tiny European kingdom of Lethersby, and the only time she can access the secretive Royal Castle Library is during the Christmas holiday.

Ellie is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery that has eluded Lethersby scholars for more than 100 hundred years by figuring out what happened to their long-lost queen, a young royal who disappeared shortly after the outbreak of the First World War. With the help of Mark, a handsome castle staff member who shares her love of history, she might be able to unravel the queen's story. But Mark is keeping his own secret from her, and what they discover together could change everything for Ellie—and the entire kingdom.

Genre: Christmas, Christian Fiction, Mystery, Romance, Holiday

Day 2: Half way through and this has the makings to be my favorite Christmas story yet. 

Day 3: I love this story. Be aware it is VERY religion forward. It's not preachy, but she's reconnecting in her Faith so there is a lot of prayer and her analyzing scripture as it relates to her. If you don't like that than this book is not for you, but I would hope you'd still read it for the core of the story. 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐  

🎉 Overall Enjoyment? 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes ➕

🕮 Would I want a sequel? Yes ➕ Definitely would follow their love story and discoveries of more Royal secrets. 
STOP THE PRESSES. There is a Castle Library Book 2. Love in the Castle Library. The main characters are the Castle Stewardess from Book 1 and a new Library Researcher guy.  I would imagine Ellie and Mark will some bit parts along the way.
There is an estimated 26 week hold on Libby so check back in June! 

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author?  Yes ➕

💣💥 📢Trigger Warnings? None

🌶 Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Good

💻 Tidbits ~ This was my favorite Christmas Story this year. It reads like Historical Fiction although it is entirely fictional. Ellie is a researcher looking to find clues from a 100 year old mystery in the limited time she has access to the Castle and it's Library. It is very religion forward as she reconnects with her Faith. 
The only part I didn't like was Ellie's constant negative attitude about herself. I almost deducted a star for that but the rest of the story didn't deserve the deduction. 
I typically have a favorite character but not this time. I enjoyed Ellie and Mark as well as Delphine (Castle Stewardess), Thomas (Staff Member-Driver-Tour Guide), Mara (Ellie's Sister), and Abby (Ellie's Best Friend). 
I'm looking forward to Book 2, Love in the Castle Library where Delphine takes the center stage. 

🎧Marni Penning - Good. She also narrates Book 2. 

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