Publication Date: January 19, 2023
Millions are fans of Diana Gabaldon’s popular Outlander books and television series, but few know that Gabaldon’s fictional Castle Leoch was inspired by a real Scottish castle, Castle Leod. The two sisters who lived there at the turn of the twentieth century were among the most fascinating and talked-about women of their era.
Lady Sibell Mackenzie is a spiritualist, a believer in reincarnation, and a popular author of mystical romances. Petite and proper, she values tradition and duty. Her younger sister Lady Constance, swimming champion and big game hunter, is a statuesque beauty who scandalizes British society with her public displays of Greek-style barefoot dancing. The differences between the sisters escalate into conflict after Sibell inherits their late father’s vast estates and the title 3rd Countess of Cromartie. But it is the birth of Sibell’s daughter that sets in motion a series of bizarre and tragic events, pitting sister against sister and propelling Sibell on a desperate mission to challenge the power of fate.
Sisters of Castle Leod, by award-winning author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard, is the emotionally charged story of two sisters torn apart by jealousy and superstition, and the impossible leap of faith that could finally bring them together.
Lady Sibell Mackenzie inherits her father’s vast fortune and the title of Countess of Cromartie, which creates a conflict with her younger sister, Constance. With the historic Castle Leod in the background, author Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard pulls historical details together about these trailblazing young women in Sisters of Castle Leod.
At the turn of the 20th century, the two sisters are a study in contrasts. Separated in age by nearly five years, Sibell and Constance had grown apart as teenagers. Sibell, who serves as the narrator, immerses herself in spiritualism, which is reflected in her writings. As the older sister, she is determined to fulfill her duty and follow the Scottish traditions established by her family name. Constance, meanwhile, is the wild child. Her beauty and family name aren’t enough to shelter her against scandal.
Already at odds over the inheritance, the sisters are pitted against each other when Sibell’s supernatural beliefs clash with Constance’s actions in a devastating tragedy. Ghostly aspirations and reincarnation are only some of the themes that come to life within the story. The conflict also spills over into the sisters’ other relationships.
Sweeping across Europe, the Mediterranean, and the United States, the saga of the two sisters unfolds. While Constance is focused on her social life, Sibell throws herself in a search for answers regarding a spiritual dilemma. Ultimately, the two sisters are provided an opportunity for reconciliation, but it will require them to put aside the past.
Sisters of Castle Leod delves into a public sibling rivalry from the turn of the century with a side dish of the supernatural. It’s a richly authentic novel that delivers a realistic look at troubled family relationships.
Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard’s historical fiction has been recognized by the Eric Hoffer Book Award, National Indie Excellence Awards, Arizona Literary Awards, Book Readers Appreciation Group Medallion, Discovered Diamond award for historical fiction, and 5-star reviews from Readers’ Favorite. Her historical novel Sisters of Castle Leod (release date: January 19, 2023) is the haunting, emotionally charged story of two sisters torn apart by jealousy and superstition, and the impossible leap of faith that could finally bring them together. Her historical thriller The Beauty Doctor (2017) takes place in the early days of cosmetic surgery when the world of medicine was a bit like the Wild West and beauty doctors were the newest breed of outlaw. Temptation Rag: A Novel (2018) immerses readers in the bawdy atmosphere of vaudeville and early twentieth-century African American musical theater in a deeply human story about the price of freedom, the longing for immortality, and the need to find forgiveness.
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Amy, thanks for your terrific review of my historical novel, SISTERS OF CASTLE LEOD. I hope your followers will visit my website over the coming weeks for more background on the sisters and the story, inspired by true events.