I adore Kristy Cambron's lyrical writing style. It flows well and her stories jump off the imagination and into the world. With her first novel in this series, The Lost Castle, I had a hard time with the three different time frames and point of views. They didn't really mesh well together. I believe Cambron was the first person I have read that has conquered such a feat. But with Castle on the Rise, I knew what to expect so the novel flowed easier.
Yes, this novel does feature three different point of views in three different time periods, but like I mentioned earlier, I was prepared for this and I think it worked better this time around. I had no problem waiting to see how the three storylines would intertwine. I knew they would, but I had to wait until Cambron showed me. The story appeared more balanced with the heroines. They showed their strengths in each other.
As for the plot, I really think the story shined a lot more this time. I loved the idea of the Irish rebellion that has occurred for over two hundred years. I enjoyed seeing how important each of the three heroines were to the rebellion from the beginning to the present. I flew through the story, and I couldn't wait to see how Cambron would tie them all together.
The romance occurred in all three timelines but nothing was too forced on the characters. I was lost in the treasure hunt in the present timeline and lost in the fight for Irish independence in the past two timelines. The romance appeared to flow naturally from the struggling, yet heroic females.
I don't remember much of a spiritual thread to the story. If there was one, it didn't jump out at me as the most important aspect of the novel. So if you don't want a story that preaches at you, then this might be the book for you. Cambron just informs the reader about the Irish Rebellion, which I enjoyed.
Overall, Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron definitely rose from the ashes and made me take notice. This time around, the three time periods flowed better and made more sense. I can't wait to read Cambron's final installment in this series. Fans of Melanie Dobson, Rachel Hauck, and Cambron's other works might enjoy this novel too.
I received a complimentary copy of Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Castle on the Rise absorbed me into 3 different time periods and 3 different worlds, there was a smooth transition between the 3 time frames and it was a good balance between 3 women and their stories. I liked the present day story the best since I could personally relate to Laine and her best friend. There was so much in the different relationships, again the bonds of the present day between brothers, between best friends, and between a mother and daughter, moved me the most. This is a fantastic book and great as well if you are a fan of Kate Morton and other authors that bridge the past and present.

I had a hard time putting this book down. Cambron has done an amazing job at taking historical events, weaving in fictional characters, and producing a story that moves smoothly. When I read her first book in this series, The Lost Castle, I had a hard time keeping the 3 stories straight, mostly due to the face that each story line jumped around in time. This time, Cambron keeps each of the 3 stories moving chronologically, and I was able to keep track, enjoying the overall story much more. The portrayal of various relationships is thought-provoking – fathers and daughters, fathers and sons, brothers, siblings, lovers past and present. I found this book not to be shallow and fluffy, but deep, wise and moving. I highly recommend The Castle on the Rise.

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