At a glance
Beauty Among Ruins
Historical fiction
Beauty Among Ruins
416 pages · First published 2021
Sent from New York to England to curb her frivolous behavior, American socialite Lily Durham finds her visit transformed by the outbreak of World War I. She joins her cousin caring for wounded soldiers at Kinclavoch Castle in Scotland, where her sunny disposition unsettles its reserved owner, Alec MacGregor. An old injury has kept Alec from military service, and mounting debts threaten the ancestral home he has opened to convalescing soldiers. As mysterious incidents endanger the castle’s future, Lily and Alec discover unexpected strengths in one another. Scottish scenery, a crumbling estate, and a warmhearted heroine meeting a brooding laird offer an atmospheric escape for readers who enjoy opposites attracting amid mystery and healing.
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Jump to the pours ↓Avalon Rose Tea + Heather Honey Highball
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
War injuries and recovering soldiers; post-traumatic stress; death, grief, and loss; kidnapping and threats to safety; mysterious accidents and minor violence; physical disability and accusations of cowardice; mild romantic kissing.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Avalon Rose Tea
Delicate rose and honeyed tea complement the castle’s faded beauty and Lily’s hopeful influence on its inhabitants.
What you'll need
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How to mix it
- Steep the tea and any herbs or whole spices in hot water according to the tea type, then strain. Stir in sweetener and juices. Serve hot.
- Garnish: Citrus peel, herb, or fruit from the recipe, if applicable.
- Glassware: Mug.
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Mug ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Heather Honey Highball
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
Scotch softened by honey mirrors Alec’s reserved exterior and the warmth Lily brings to his troubled Scottish estate.
What you'll need
- 2 oz Scotch whisky
- 3/4 oz fresh lemon juice ↗
- 1/2 oz honey syrup ↗
- 3 oz soda water ↗
- Ice
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How to mix it
- Shake whisky, lemon juice, and honey syrup with ice. Strain into a highball glass over fresh ice and top with soda water.
- Garnish: Lemon wheel.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
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