Oh, how it pains me to have to write this review. I have been an absolute fan of Kristy Cambron for a long while now, and a couple of her novels have received a spot on my all-time favorites shelf. Therefore, I have no idea what happened with Castle on the Rise, but not only did I dislike the book in general, I also lost some respect for this author's writing.

I adores the first book in this series, The Lost Castle. I fell in love with the intricate and beautiful storytelling, the lovable and well-written characters, and the incredibly woven, historically detailed tale between past and present. I felt zero love for any of those things in this one. The story was simply okay, the characters were nearly impossible to keep straight between the three, I repeat three, different storylines the reader has to keep track of, and I really didn't feel like any of the historical parts of the book were explained well. This is a huge bummer for me, because in the past it's what I've most highly praised with Cambron's writing. Yet in this book, I found that without doing further side research, there was just a lot left to confusion. About the only thing I truly came to enjoy (love?) was the atmospheric setting. Dreamy and absorbing.

Perhaps what ruined this book the most for me was how it almost felt disrespectful to the Christian faith. First of all, this author writes for Thomas Nelson, a Christian publisher, so you should expect clean, wholesome content. It's also what I've found in Cambron's past novels, so I went into this book with no reserve there. Sadly, I was very wrong to not go in cautioned. This book felt like an encouragement to drink all the beer and alcohol, and even took God's name in vain. What baffled me the most were the couple of swear words. WHAT!? Not at all what I expect from this author/Christian publisher.

I'm not sure going forward if I would be willing to pick up another of this author's books after the experience of reading this one, which devastates me. I will not be recommending this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Thomas Nelson for the free review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Castle on the Rise opens at the wedding of Ellie and Quinn, the characters from the first book., then takes us from Scotland to Ireland, where Jack and Cormac Foley have just inherited a castle. Laine Forrester has just traveled from the United States with her daughter Casey to be a part of her best friend's wedding. When she gets the opportunity to explore the castle, she'll uncover a mystery, historical secrets, and maybe some romance.



Laine and her daughter have just come through a painful time, including divorce and abandonment. She's not ready to open her heart to anyone just yet. But Cormac finds his way past her defenses, falling in love with her and her daughter over old books and hidden pianos.

But the best part of this novel is that it's really three connecting stories in one, as we learn the backstory of the castle. The three stories weave together seamlessly, revealing the story one piece at a time.

In 1916 Issy left the castle to go take photographs during the Easter Uprising. When her best friend--her brother's secret love--is accosted by an English officer, he sets out for revenge. Issy leaves their family's estate with him, hoping to find some adventure. She takes pictures to document from the rebels point of view, and then works as a courier for the leaders. But when she hears that the man she loves is in danger, she knows she must go to help him. But at what cost?

In 1798 Maeve finds an injured stranger on her family's estate. When she rescues him, she has no idea that she will be drawn into a rebellion that will last for centuries as a nation fights for its freedom. His family is the enemy of her family, but Maeve, left alone to care for her father's estate, feels she has no choice but to trust him. He'll be by her side as she works to rebuild trust with her tenants, but when his identity is revealed, will Maeve listen to her heart?

It can be confusing to read multiple stories at once, but I think Kristy does a great job of separating them out. Each one is unique (and I'm sure it's challenging to write three totally different stories!) and works with the others. While reading I couldn't even decide which story I liked the best.

I have to admit that eighteenth century fiction is not my favorite. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed Maeve's story. Actually, it may have been my favorite. Although I've always known there were tensions between England and Ireland, I never really knew why. It was interesting to read the backstory. I love when reading a novel helps me learn about history. Kristy Cambron's novels are well-researched and I always feel like I learn something while reading them.

Castle on the Rise is a great choice for your reading list, because it can fit comfortably into multiple genres, so your sure to find something there you like. It's a wonderful representation of how our choices and actions shape not only our own lives, but those around us, and even future generations. It's a story of strong women who faced turbulent times in history, but kept fighting for what they believed in and the people they loved, all while preserving the history and beauty of an old castle. I love this series and cannot wait for book three!

I have read every single Kristy Cameron book.
I have shed tears in every one.
I’ve e hugged them and reread them and they never seize to amaze me.
So I’m pretty sure I know what I’m saying: this is her best work yet.

Beautiful and superb writing alongside side a impeccable research draws you in to a beautiful country. But what captured me the most was the depth of the author’s respect and compassion for another country’s culture and history, alongside the humility to write about difficult topics such as grief, divorce, and uncertain future.

But oh that last page. Tied with a green ribbon as exhuberant as the Irish mores and cliffs, redemption has the last word, forgiveness gives the sweetest kiss, and hope never seizes to restore.

I like stories told in two separate time frames. They were also of separate genres though a love story was also part of the main stories.

Laine is following her friend to France to participate in her wedding there. Unexpected and totally unforeseen circumstances force the friends to forsake a honeymoon and return to the groom's roots in Ireland. Bequeathed a castle in Ireland with a history no one really knows much about, Cormac turns to Laine to help him find out what are the secrets in the castle, and how it can bring about peace in the family.

Told alongside this and linked to this castle is the story of the Easter Rising of 1916. Bloody, violent and merciless. It pitted Irishman against the detested English and the Protestant faith and it was long and tore the country apart. In sheer numbers the Englishmen fought to maintain supremacy and in the best forms of a rebellious army the Irish proved to be equally adept at outmaneuvering their masters.

There was strong characterization of women who played major league roles in 1916 in Ireland. Not easy on the women at all. There were love stories and tales of treachery and death but it did not detract from the sheer story telling of both time lines.

The present and the past stories both wove stories of love and faith, survival and family so those were common to both stories.

This was a lovely read which has to be savoured rather than rushed through.

Kristy has a gift for transporting you to different eras in world history, whether to France, America or Ireland she makes you live the stories with the characters. You will walk along side 3 generations of families that fought for and lived for Ireland's independence and survival.

First of all thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the perusal of this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I did not read the first book in this series, thus I was a bit lost in the beginning. I found this to be a quick and very interesting read. I loved the juxtaposition of the three stories. I look forward to the third book in the series , while I go back and catch up by reading the first.

Castle on the Rise is a sweeping view of the political climate of Ireland thru the eyes of three women who lived in very different times. If you are a fan of the Emerald Isle, as I am, you will be enthralled by the characters and the rich portrayal of some very dark periods of Ireland's history.

This is the sequel to The Lost Castle. There are three storylines woven together: 1916 (with Issy), 1799 (with Eoin), and present day (with Ellie and Laine). Each one has a strong heroine who faces adversity. While I liked reading some of the historical info on Ireland, there seemed to be a bit too much going on at times. It took a bit for it to all come together for me. Overall, I found it easiest to connect with the present-day story.

Cambron’s books are always meticulously researched, and this one is no exception. I didn’t know much about Irish history prior to reading this, so I learned a lot along the way. The faith element isn’t as strong as I’d expected, but it is there. Be sure to check out the author’s note, as it’s quite interesting. The beautiful prose and cover make this a nice addition to the series.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

This book is a sequel to “The Lost Castle”. Once again, this book has three storylines of courageous women that weave together to tell the complete story of lives that revolve around a castle: Issy from 1916; Eoin from 1799; and Ellie and Laine from the present day. All of these ladies bravely face adversity in their lives with hope and love. I was glad to see the characters of Ellie, Quinn, and Laine and read more of their stories. Their storyline was my favorite part of the book, and I’m looking forward to reading more about them in the next book.

Kristy Cameron is an incrediblely gifted writer. Her research for this book was detailed and added so much to the story. But I have to admit: I almost gave up on this book after the first couple of chapters. Because of a lack of my knowledge of ancient Irish history, I felt lost at first in the 1799 section of the story and was not quite getting the 1916 storyline, either. I actually put the book down and was undecided if I wanted to finish it. But I was very interested in Ellie and Laine’s story, so I decided to give it another try. I am SO glad I did. As the book progressed, I finally got everything lined out in my mind and loved the story. The ending chapters were wonderful. It was well worth the second try.

This is a clean historical romance. It just barely squeaks in under the “Christian historical” category, but there is a small thread of faith that runs through it. This is not a drawback to the book, it’s just not as heavy on the “faith” aspect as some in that category. All in all, it’s an entertaining book and I’m glad to have read it.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

There is something so magical about a good story involving a castle. Reading through three stories that are tied together is even better. I love that this series is set in Europe as well.
You can really tell there is research done to bring some true historical facts in to the details.

I read The Lost Castle (book 1) back in the beginning of 2018, and since then I've been impatiently waiting for this one to release. Kristy Cambron has an impeccable way of taking readers on a journey into the past and making it come alive.

As with the first book in the series, this is a triple-timeline story. The timelines begin in 1797, 1915, and present day. The historical pieces are unique to this story, but the present day is a continuation from The Lost Castle. Although the "leading role" has now shifted from Ellie to her best friend Laine, she is still highly present in this story. It's the same case for the leading male role--from Quinn to his brother Cormac. While the historical pieces could be read as stand-alone I think the present story would be more confusing if you attempted to read the books out of order.

I will admit that I don't know much about the Irish and their fight for independence other than the fact that it's been a "hot topic" for years. Reading this story makes me wish I knew more. Kristy weaves fact and fiction together in her stories by adding real people to her fictional tales. She shares a bit about her research in her author's note. (Yes, my ever-present plug for reading the author's note ;))

One thing I love about Kristy Cambron's writing is that she is often unpredictable. She will lead you on a journey that you're not sure where you're headed until suddenly she brings it all together to make sense. The characters are so deeply developed that you are able to imagine their lives even outside of the pages.

I still have to say that the first book in the series is my favorite, but this one was intriguing as well. I believe it's at least in-part due to my lack of knowledge of the Irish history. I also struggled to keep track of all of the different characters between the timelines and their connections. I still thoroughly enjoyed the story though and fully intend on reading the next book when it releases.

*I received a copy of this book from the author through Celebrate Lit. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and publisher Thomas Nelson. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

My heart cries to have to write a negative review for this book. Please know this was excruciating to put voice to.

The following content broke my heart.

The first third was basically an advertisement for Guinness beer, and there were a plethora of other alcoholic references throughout. Only one of these was presented as a negative thing. This could definitely present issues for recovering alcoholics. This line in particular was abrasive and offensive to my faith: “Not hard to find a welcome here—both in the pubs an’ with the Almighty.” I did not appreciate the comparison of the completely holy God who created the entire universe to a building in which beer is served.

While I’m not Catholic, I thoroughly researched a possible inaccuracy and confirmed that research with a guy who's done seven years' worth of research into Catholic hierarchy. Catholic priests and vicars are not permitted to marry unless they were married prior to becoming a priest or vicar. If the Anglican priest/vicar was intended, I wish that had been made clearer, as it's possible they are allowed to marry even after taking up their position.

At one point, Laine flat-out lied to someone, yet she never experienced remorse over it. Lying is not okay, according to Ephesians 4:25.

There were at least two swear words and two additional uses of an apostle’s name as a curse word, but the most devastating thing was the numerous and various ways in which the Lord’s name was taken in vain. Between “swear[ing] to the Almighty,” swearing by “heaven’s name,” and swearing by “all that’s holy,” many of the word choices directly rebelled against Matthew 5:33-37, in which Jesus cautioned us to “not swear at all,” let alone by His name or God's throne {Heaven} (which He addresses in those verses).

Other content: baby out of wedlock (though this was represented as a sin) and tobacco usage

Now, there were some things I enjoyed in this book. The romance between Maeve and her man was sweet. I could really believe that one and found myself eagerly awaiting her scenes once I was drawn away from one to join back up with Laine or Isolde.

The atmosphere of Irish cliffs and castles was amazing. I felt that I was right there in the battles along with the leading ladies and their friends because of the vivid descriptions of places and events.

I liked that the Easter Rising was featured. I haven’t heard much about this event in Ireland’s history, but this story really brought the tragedy and bravery of it all to life for me. It was really reminiscent of the American Revolution between newborn United States and Great Britain, so it hit home a bit for me, as I’m an American who appreciates her freedoms gained by that particular war so many generations ago.

I won’t be continuing this series, as the bad language has gotten significantly worse from book one to book two.

This review has been incredibly difficult to write. I have previously enjoyed books by Kristy Cambron, including my favorite of hers, The Butterfly and the Violin, and I've recommended them to family, friends, and acquaintances looking for a really great book to read. I had eagerly been looking forward to this book since the moment I finished The Lost Castle, and even more after I saw the beautiful cover. My heart aches to have been so disappointed in the meat of it. I’ve cried while jotting notes for this review, because my heart always breaks when my Lord’s name is taken in vain.

I enjoyed this book, with it's different time periods, especially with learning more about Ireland. I almost felt like, at times, there was too much going on though. None the less, it was a wonderful story.

CASTLE ON THE RISE by KRISTY CAMBRON is a novel that takes place in three time frames, all tied to the ruins of Castle Chryn and Ashford Manor in County Wicklow, Ireland, namely 1797, 1915/16 and the present day. The author has obviously done a great deal of research into Ireland's history and has cleverly mixed fictional characters with historical facts.
It is a beautifully written book with truly memorable characters who draw us into their joys and sorrows, making us really relate to them. We see how Laine and Cormac deal with their individual brokenness, determined to rise above the past. All the main characters show tremendous fortitude in fighting against circumstances that could easily have destroyed them. This is against the backdrop of the people of Ireland's fight for freedom from tyranny.
The novel starts with a quotation from Isaiah 43:2, which is God's promise to never leave nor forsake His people and to be with them in every trouble. I love how this truth is understood and taken hold of by those who are fighting for freedom, for their country, but also for themselves.
I would actually call this novel an epic story and can highly recommend it.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely adored this book! I loved how all three storylines were unique but all tied together at the end. I have not read much Irish history and therefore had no background knowledge of the events depicted in the story but I found the historical parts very informative and gave you a good sense of what was happening through the characters eyes. Before starting this book I did not realize it was book 2 in a series but found it read like a standalone. I will definitely be picking up book 1 though because I want to read more from this author!

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Once again, Kristy Cambron amazes me with her ability to weave together not two, but three storylines in three separate time periods. And it's not only that she's done the research or found a way to tie each story together...but she's made all three compelling and interesting! Throw in her usual beautiful writing and...just...wow.

I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favorite from the three heroines and their journeys, but Maeve and Eoin's story might be my fave...I love Maeve's strength and spirit! From a historical standpoint, Issy's storyline was riveting. I didn't know much about this period in Ireland's past so my history-loving heart and I were glued to the page. And Laine's story is so full of heart and hurt-turned-to-hope.

I really, really loved this book, and I'm continually blown away at Kristy Cambron's masterful storytelling. Highly recommended! (Also, oh my goodness...that cover! 😍)

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A fantastic read, full of life and love, grounded in Irish history. Strong, well developed characters all fighting their own battles--from personal, familial to political--with deep convictions. A triple timeline that intricately connects and makes the story feel three dimensional, layering present day on top of 1798, and 1916, with family and historical threads tying it together. Ellie and Quinn's story also continues from book one, but this easily reads as a stand alone.

"...bravery could be as simple as a yes when she was at her most afraid."
The women in all three timelines were brave and loyal, courageously reaching out to help others, hoping to make a difference. The history was fascinating too, and well researched, brought to life by the vivid descriptions and some real scenes. I was holding my breath at times when the action got intense, particularly in Issy's story during the Easter Uprising. Three love stories emerge from rocky circumstances. Maeve and Eoin's was my personal favorite. Prejudice, forgiveness, faith and freedom are important themes and work in well given the history of unrest in Ireland.
"God is not absent in our pain. Nor is He indifferent to our questions. He’s only ever as far as we turn our back an’ walk away from Him.”

Highly recommend for anyone looking for an engrossing story steeped in history, with strong characters. Solid 5 star read!

A good book, full of emotions and great characters.
I loved the description of Ireland and the well researched historical background.
Even if this is the second instalment in a series I had no problem in understand what was going on.
The book was engaging and entertaing, the characters well developed, and the three storylines were working really well.
I look forward to reading the other instalment in this series.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for this ARC

I’ve loved Ireland for as long as I can remember but I’m not as familiar with its history as I should be, so fair warning that this story is mired in the fight for Irish independence. Unfortunately, I felt it did a poor job of explaining the history and I had to do some research on my own to really understand what was going on, why it was happening and the significance of it all. Told in present day as well as the late 1700s and the early 1900s, it jumps back and forth with no real rhyme or reason, in a fairly obvious non-chronological order. For an orderly person, it drove me mad. Even so, I connected with our 3 ladies from each period and enjoyed getting to know them and their story.

Overall, a nice story if not executed very well.

I was provided an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kristy Cambron’s latest novel picks up where her last one left off. Lainey has flown to France with her adopted daughter, Cassie, to attend Ellie and Quinn’s wedding. Laine leaves the states for the spur of the moment wedding, relieved to escape the emotions and memories of her failed marriage. She hopes to find healing in her best friend’s fairytale castle.

But unexpected news sends her, along with Cassie, Ellie, and Quinn to Ireland to help Quinn’s brother Cormac sort through an unexpected inheritance—a castle on the rise in Warwick, near Dublin.

Interwoven throughout the modern story, Cameron weaves the tales of two other generations of fierce, independent women—Maeve from the 18th century, and Lady Isolde from the early 20th century. These two women, and the men they come to love, provide the history of the mystery that shrouds Castle Chyrn today.

Another beautiful mystery full of flawed characters who seek answers to their true identity by seeking the One who made them.