What do you think?
Rate this book
Ashmore Castle #3
The Mistress of Ashmore Castle
England, 1903.
Giles, the Earl of Stainton, has fled from his stifling duties to resume his research in Egypt, leaving behind his wife Kitty, and his infant son. Kitty, still reeling from Giles' sudden departure, struggles to keep spirits high in the castle and establish herself as the true mistress of the house, an impossible task given how many secrets the inhabitants are hiding from her...
The Earl's younger sisters, Rachel and Alice, are both pursuing forbidden romances, and his brother Richard begins a new business venture, spurred on by his clandestine lover. And below stairs, a shocking crime sends distrust rippling through the staff, more so when one of their own is accused.
Kitty must draw on her strength to keep the castle from crumbling around her, but with her marriage to Giles left uncertain, and a surprise of her own to conceal, can she ever take her rightful place as true head of her household?
The third novel in the Ashmore Castle historical family drama series, filled with heartbreak, romance and intriguing secrets waiting to be uncovered. The perfect read for fans of Downton Abbey , Bridgerton and rich period dramas.
Giles, the Earl of Stainton, has fled from his stifling duties to resume his research in Egypt, leaving behind his wife Kitty, and his infant son. Kitty, still reeling from Giles' sudden departure, struggles to keep spirits high in the castle and establish herself as the true mistress of the house, an impossible task given how many secrets the inhabitants are hiding from her...
The Earl's younger sisters, Rachel and Alice, are both pursuing forbidden romances, and his brother Richard begins a new business venture, spurred on by his clandestine lover. And below stairs, a shocking crime sends distrust rippling through the staff, more so when one of their own is accused.
Kitty must draw on her strength to keep the castle from crumbling around her, but with her marriage to Giles left uncertain, and a surprise of her own to conceal, can she ever take her rightful place as true head of her household?
The third novel in the Ashmore Castle historical family drama series, filled with heartbreak, romance and intriguing secrets waiting to be uncovered. The perfect read for fans of Downton Abbey , Bridgerton and rich period dramas.
528 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2023
80 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles
169 books495 followersCynthia Harrod-Eagles (aka Emma Woodhouse, Elizabeth Bennett)
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles was born on 13 August 1948 in Shepherd's Bush, London, England, where was educated at Burlington School, a girls' charity school founded in 1699, and at the University of Edinburgh and University College London, where she studied English, history and philosophy.
She had a variety of jobs in the commercial world, starting as a junior cashier at Woolworth's and working her way down to Pensions Officer at the BBC.
She wrote her first novel while at university and in 1972 won the Young Writers' Award with The Waiting Game. The birth of the MORLAND DYNASTY series enabled Cynthia Harrod-Eagles to become a full-time writer in 1979. The series was originally intended to comprise twelve volumes, but it has proved so popular that it has now been extended to thirty-four.
In 1993 she won the Romantic Novelists' Association Romantic Novel of the Year Award with Emily, the third volume of her Kirov Saga, a trilogy set in nineteenth century Russia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
August 24, 2025
Loved it!! A great addition to the series. It took me a while to get into it character wise, as there are so many and it's been a while since the last book. It was good to be back in the castle with all it's inhabitants. Kitty's mother-in-law, Maude, is as cold and unfeeling as ever. Thankfully she spends a good bit of this book in London, supervising Rachel's come-out. Giles has gone back to the dig, leaving Kitty to run the castle and estate.
All is upheaval below stairs with ill health to a main member of staff throwing everything into disorder. James, the horrible footman is central to the story this time round.
Giles is a weak character. He's running from life, even though he now has a wife and child. Richard, his brother, is coming into his own in this book. He starts a new venture and is proving to be a good business man.
There are lots of twists and turns and it does finish on a cliffhanger. It's a blockbuster having 511 pages but I read it in two days. Couldn't put it down!
24/8/2025
I enjoyed it very much. I do think this second reading of the series is better. Loved reading about the old country ways, especially the new milk run. The lorry going from farm to farm collecting the churns of milk from the stiles on the roadside was still happening in Ireland when I was growing up and it brought back great memories!
I love reading about the past and the way people lived but boy do I not miss how women were treated!! They had no say what so ever and had to do what they were told. Many, many unhappy marriages ensued.
Now, on to the latest in the series!!
All is upheaval below stairs with ill health to a main member of staff throwing everything into disorder. James, the horrible footman is central to the story this time round.
Giles is a weak character. He's running from life, even though he now has a wife and child. Richard, his brother, is coming into his own in this book. He starts a new venture and is proving to be a good business man.
There are lots of twists and turns and it does finish on a cliffhanger. It's a blockbuster having 511 pages but I read it in two days. Couldn't put it down!
24/8/2025
I enjoyed it very much. I do think this second reading of the series is better. Loved reading about the old country ways, especially the new milk run. The lorry going from farm to farm collecting the churns of milk from the stiles on the roadside was still happening in Ireland when I was growing up and it brought back great memories!
I love reading about the past and the way people lived but boy do I not miss how women were treated!! They had no say what so ever and had to do what they were told. Many, many unhappy marriages ensued.
Now, on to the latest in the series!!
October 17, 2025
So many cliffhangers! 😅 Afton is the best! No more Hook, yay! The Christmas scene at the castle was sweet.
August 15, 2023
A comfort read. I am a loyal fan of Cynthia Harrod Eagles. This series is a slow burn and each book seems to end abruptly but I’m definitely invested and want the next instalment.
I was interested in the development of the dairy industry in this book. I’d not really thought before about the difficulties of getting fresh milk to London pre refrigeration and motorised transport.
Kitty, the Mistress of Ashmore Castle, is not a very prominent character so I’m surprised it was called that but otherwise no criticisms.
I was interested in the development of the dairy industry in this book. I’d not really thought before about the difficulties of getting fresh milk to London pre refrigeration and motorised transport.
Kitty, the Mistress of Ashmore Castle, is not a very prominent character so I’m surprised it was called that but otherwise no criticisms.
August 31, 2023
Waited almost a year to read this latest book in the series by my favourite modern movelist Cynrthia Harrod Eagles, and it didn't disappoint. I hated to finish it and I will be advance booking the next book as soon as invited to do so.
May 1, 2024
Location: Buckinghamshire & London, England 🏴
Conclusion: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this 3rd instalment of the Ashmore Castle series. It still feels like Downton Abbey to me and I enjoy that. This time the focus was a bit more on Alice which was good, as she is such an interesting and unconventional character. The book ended on a cliffhanger in my view and I’m excited and am hoping that there will be a 4th book.
Characters:
- Giles: is still a bit of a Peter Pan but finds his way into his role as Earl better than in the previous books.
- Kitty: matured over the course of the three books and is way less madly in love with Giles which makes her way more attractive to the reader. She stands her ground and especially as she brought the money to the estate.
- Alice: is Gilse’s sister and she is such a refreshing free spirit compared to what is custom to the time. She loves to paint.
What I liked: that the women of Ashmore Castle are standing their ground so nicely.
What I disliked: not much and nothing in particular.
Conclusion: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I enjoyed this 3rd instalment of the Ashmore Castle series. It still feels like Downton Abbey to me and I enjoy that. This time the focus was a bit more on Alice which was good, as she is such an interesting and unconventional character. The book ended on a cliffhanger in my view and I’m excited and am hoping that there will be a 4th book.
Characters:
- Giles: is still a bit of a Peter Pan but finds his way into his role as Earl better than in the previous books.
- Kitty: matured over the course of the three books and is way less madly in love with Giles which makes her way more attractive to the reader. She stands her ground and especially as she brought the money to the estate.
- Alice: is Gilse’s sister and she is such a refreshing free spirit compared to what is custom to the time. She loves to paint.
What I liked: that the women of Ashmore Castle are standing their ground so nicely.
What I disliked: not much and nothing in particular.
June 12, 2025
I went into this book thinking it was the third in a trilogy. Apparently, it’s going to be a series (there is definitely a book #4) and this author has multiple book series - in one series there are 35 books! Not sure how I feel about that, I like having endings and knowing how things turn out for the characters. That being said, I’m invested and will certainly read book #4. I hope it’s not too long coming out so I don’t forget everything! This book picked up right where the last one ended, and also ended on another cliff hanger. It’s like it should be a chapter ending, not a book ending. The story moves along slowly but I’m never bored. Recommend if you like historical fiction, family dramas and Downton Abbey. 4.5 stars.
August 12, 2023
Here's my review...
https://bookadept.com/2023/08/12/clan...
https://bookadept.com/2023/08/12/clan...
December 30, 2024
Way too many characters and you could never really relate to any of rhem. Story lines were overdramatized and shallow. No character development.
December 29, 2025
I found this third book much better than volume two, more emotionally layered and carried by particularly strong secondary characters.
Giles is undeniably selfish, and yet I cannot fully bring myself to hate him. He remains complex, human, and at times even touching, but he does not deserve Kitty. His behavior almost made me stop reading at one point, especially during an episode abroad where certain decisions and actions are hard to accept. I am being deliberately vague, but readers will understand.
Kitty, on the other hand, remains incredibly endearing. You want to protect her, to see her finally chosen and loved without hesitation. She embodies a gentleness and loyalty that painfully contrast with Giles’s emotional instability.
The characters of Alice and Richard are a real success. Their respective stories are beautiful, sensitive, and deeply human. You genuinely want to believe in a happy ending for them, even though everything seems to stand in their way, particularly their social status and the fact that they are drawn to people without fortune, which in this context makes everything more complicated. Their storyline provides a much-needed emotional breathing space.
My main frustration lies in what is missing. I would have loved a true glimpse into Giles’s inner thoughts at a crucial moment in the story, when Kitty goes through a serious ordeal. Without giving anything away, this is a moment when you desperately want to know what he truly feels, whether he loves her or is simply staying out of habit. This absence creates an emotional gap that feels frustrating, perhaps intentionally so, but still unsettling.
Overall, this is a more controlled and compelling installment, driven by strong and moving female characters, but also by a male protagonist who is deeply irritating. A novel that provokes strong reactions, sometimes even pain, and that lingers long after finishing it, even when you disagree with its choices.
Giles is undeniably selfish, and yet I cannot fully bring myself to hate him. He remains complex, human, and at times even touching, but he does not deserve Kitty. His behavior almost made me stop reading at one point, especially during an episode abroad where certain decisions and actions are hard to accept. I am being deliberately vague, but readers will understand.
Kitty, on the other hand, remains incredibly endearing. You want to protect her, to see her finally chosen and loved without hesitation. She embodies a gentleness and loyalty that painfully contrast with Giles’s emotional instability.
The characters of Alice and Richard are a real success. Their respective stories are beautiful, sensitive, and deeply human. You genuinely want to believe in a happy ending for them, even though everything seems to stand in their way, particularly their social status and the fact that they are drawn to people without fortune, which in this context makes everything more complicated. Their storyline provides a much-needed emotional breathing space.
My main frustration lies in what is missing. I would have loved a true glimpse into Giles’s inner thoughts at a crucial moment in the story, when Kitty goes through a serious ordeal. Without giving anything away, this is a moment when you desperately want to know what he truly feels, whether he loves her or is simply staying out of habit. This absence creates an emotional gap that feels frustrating, perhaps intentionally so, but still unsettling.
Overall, this is a more controlled and compelling installment, driven by strong and moving female characters, but also by a male protagonist who is deeply irritating. A novel that provokes strong reactions, sometimes even pain, and that lingers long after finishing it, even when you disagree with its choices.
August 1, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and await the next in this series. Varied characters, the gentry and the servants and all the pomp and splendour of Downton Abbey.
Kitty the young wife ( who has brought her family fortune to the family) waiting for her husband Giles to return from his time in Egypt on an archaeological dig. Her imperious and controlling mother in law whose main concern is obtaining suitable husbands for her daughters, Rachel and Alice. Her elder daughter Linda is a miserable person who always feels badly done by. Romance, many ‘forbidden’ abound. The servants have their own strict hierarchy, Moss the head butler, Hook the conniving light fingered footman, Cook, Rose, Ada and several others, all lives intertwined.
Kitty the young wife ( who has brought her family fortune to the family) waiting for her husband Giles to return from his time in Egypt on an archaeological dig. Her imperious and controlling mother in law whose main concern is obtaining suitable husbands for her daughters, Rachel and Alice. Her elder daughter Linda is a miserable person who always feels badly done by. Romance, many ‘forbidden’ abound. The servants have their own strict hierarchy, Moss the head butler, Hook the conniving light fingered footman, Cook, Rose, Ada and several others, all lives intertwined.
November 1, 2025
It was nice to read a book with classic themes and tales of the castle, a very comfort read.
Poor, young Kitty, Countess of Stainton, as she struggles to manage the household and family secrets after her husband, Giles, abandons his duties to conduct research in Egypt.
The other households involved in forbidden romances makes the story move without the novel being bland. A lot of heartbreak, romance and secrets in this novel and would certainly recommend this.
A large book with many pages but certainly a thrill.
Poor, young Kitty, Countess of Stainton, as she struggles to manage the household and family secrets after her husband, Giles, abandons his duties to conduct research in Egypt.
The other households involved in forbidden romances makes the story move without the novel being bland. A lot of heartbreak, romance and secrets in this novel and would certainly recommend this.
A large book with many pages but certainly a thrill.
November 22, 2025
A good read. SPOILERS
Spoilers- In this the third book of the Ashmore family we see that each member is married or to be married unhappily. Giles loves Nina who is married to Mr Cowling. Kitty loves Giles but he's always happier away from the Castle. Rachel is launched for her season but has fallen in love with a cousin. Linda's husband dies with loads of debt, Alice is in love with Axe. None of them are happy. Richard is in love with Molly Sands, his father's mistress. Maud Tallant also receives an offer of marriage.
As usual well written and good characters.
Spoilers- In this the third book of the Ashmore family we see that each member is married or to be married unhappily. Giles loves Nina who is married to Mr Cowling. Kitty loves Giles but he's always happier away from the Castle. Rachel is launched for her season but has fallen in love with a cousin. Linda's husband dies with loads of debt, Alice is in love with Axe. None of them are happy. Richard is in love with Molly Sands, his father's mistress. Maud Tallant also receives an offer of marriage.
As usual well written and good characters.
December 28, 2023
The books in this series run seamlessly together, as we grow more and more immersed in the lives and dreams of the Ashmore Castle characters, from the aging butler, Moss, to Giles Lord Stainton himself. A tragedy, a new baby, a new business venture, and a wedding are all key events in this latest installment. And as usual the book ends abruptly, whetting the reader's appetite for the next chapter. Highly recommended to historical fiction fans, Downton Abbey fans, and anglophiles. Adult.
November 25, 2024
I’m still enjoying this series although Alice’s storyline is what interests me the most. Her romance with Axe Bramdon did not get enough screen time in this third book even though the previous book left off on a huge cliff hanger centered on her. The more I read, the less interested I get in the other characters and their issues. No one deserves Kitty, not her mother in law, not Nina and certainly not her husband.
November 27, 2023
I devoured this book every moment that I had to read. I must admit I do this with all of thi author's books. KUDOs for another great book. I cannot wait fro the next book in the series. IF you love Historical /family sagas and have not read Cynthia Harrod Eagles you must rectify that! Do you self a favor and pick up one of her many books. I esp. love her Morland Dynasty Series.
February 6, 2024
While I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, the title is a bit misleading as it is not mainly about either Kitty, the new countess, or her mother-in-law, the dowager countess. Instead the story follows the entire family, along with their servants, and a variety of friends through the year of 1904, as changes occur, some good, others not so good. But time goes by . . .
August 12, 2023
Oh no! Now I've got to wait until the next book comes out!! Love these books - and I know that my aunt would have enjoyed this one, too.
NB - my copy is not the kindle edition but has been signed by CHE to me!
NB - my copy is not the kindle edition but has been signed by CHE to me!
January 26, 2024
Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has a wonderful way of interweaving multiple stories together seamlessly. Each character feels like a real person and her descriptions of each person is amazing. This story is the 3rd part in the series. Definitely worth a read and cannot wait for the next one.
January 30, 2024
The 3rd book in the series was worth the wait. Rachel has her season, Maud has a suitor, another baby for Kitty and even more exciting is that Richard starts to develop a dairy industry. There is lots going on downstairs as well. I can't wait for the 4th.
June 16, 2024
Flew through this one too. These three books have been excellent at snapping me out of my reading slump. I’m just really bummed now that I have to wait however long for the next one! One star deducted for ending on a cliffhanger (again), though I understand why.
October 15, 2023
This series gets better with each book.
November 1, 2023
OH NO!!! CLIFFHANGER!!
Not again I love Ms. Harrod-eagles' series they are so great & interesting every time!! Now I will have to wait another year to find out what happens. Oh my!
Not again I love Ms. Harrod-eagles' series they are so great & interesting every time!! Now I will have to wait another year to find out what happens. Oh my!
January 3, 2024
The book would have been more aptly titled The Tedium of Ashmore Castle.
March 6, 2024
This series is perfect! I can't wait for book 4!!
March 15, 2024
she is a very gifted writer draws you into the family dynamics love these books waiting for the next one
April 15, 2024
Sweeping drama. I love this time period. Just a wonderful get away. Hoping there will be a fourth book. The author left a few things open-ended so hopefully there will be.
July 25, 2024
I really enjoy this series. It's a comfortable slow burn. Although I hated the cliffhanger ending and will have to wait for the next one to be released!
July 29, 2024
The story unfolds
With all of the characters well develops the story now unfolds and our favorite author continues to surprise in between the charm of growing relationships.
With all of the characters well develops the story now unfolds and our favorite author continues to surprise in between the charm of growing relationships.
August 17, 2024
08/17/2024
Read
September 23, 2024did not finish this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews