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Fiction. Historical Fiction. HTML: Wealth cannot buy peace ... or direction. For Cora Kensington, the Grand Tour was to be the trip of a lifetime. She discovered the family she never knew she had, and may have even found the love she longs for in Will. And yet her life has just become infinitely more challenging ... Hounded by journalists chasing the beguiling story of the newest American heiress, Cora fights to remain true to her past, reconcile her present, and still embrace her future. But as Will struggles with her newfound wealth, she begins to wonder if their love is strong enough to withstand all that threatens to pull them apart. Complicating matters is the stubborn pursuit of Pierre de Richelieu and the increased demands on her time and attention. Cora must stand up for what she believes�??regardless of how that might challenge current family and cultural norms�??in order to remain true to who she really is. And as she glimpses the end of the tour, Cora knows it's time to decide Who and what defines her ... and who and what does not… (more)
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I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group and David C. Cook publishers in exchange for an honest review. A positive critique was not required. The opinions are my own.
Much has occurred during the Grand Tour that the Morgan and Kensington children have embarked upon. Cora has had to come to terms with the knowledge of her real identity along with sudden wealth. Finding her way among her family, new social status and love interests while visiting the great landmarks of Europe has proven daunting. But Cora relies not only on her upbringing but her faith in God to see her through.
Lisa Bergren has created a series fraught with danger, deception, and illusions amidst the backdrop of Europe of the early 1900s. Times certainly have changed — women’s rights, collapse of social barriers — but the truths of who we are in the world and God remain the same. Cora discovers the power of love and forgiveness as she embarks on the life she is carving out for herself.
If you like epic sagas, rich historical details, and a story to touch your heart, then check out The Grand Tour series. Be sure to start with Glamorous Illusions, then turn to Grave Consequences. Then you will be ready to begin Glittering Promises.
Recommended.
(Thanks to David C Cook for a review copy. All opinions are mine alone.)
All the characters come to life on the pages of the book and I felt as if I knew every one of them personally. The author does an excellent job in describing all the scenes as the group tours through Italy. I felt as if I were right in the middle of the group and seeing what they were seeing. There were several twists and turns to the plot but the author brought them all together at the end. There was a good deal of suspense in the story and I was kept guessing until the end exactly what would happen. I would think that I had the mystery solved and then something else would happen and I had to start over trying to solve the mystery. Just as in the first two books, the author’s extensive research was evident throughout this third book. In the end, things worked out as they should and there was a happy ending. I would like to see the author write a fourth book dealing with Cora’s life after the tour.
I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy a really good historical novel set in the early part of the twentieth century.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from David C. Cook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
The third book in the Grand Tour series by Lisa T. Bergren, Glittering Promises, begins rather slowly with pages of relating the feelings of the group of travelers. Once it picks up, the book really moves as Cora runs into problem after problem. She attempts
The final installment in this series finds us reading some very familiar characters. I like when we are able to spend time with people we feel like we already know. This book continues a lot of the themes and plotlines introduced in the earlier books. I found that made a few things feel a little repetitive, but overall there was enough new stuff to make it all feel fresh. Cora is still managing to find ways to grow, so I enjoyed that. She and Will are still working to know each other and work through their issues, and they are having more things throw at them with Cora's new placement as an owner of one of the mines. I found this part to be very realistic actually, and I think that they handled things in a good way.
There are a bit of a twist in the end, but I honestly wasn't too surprised. It seemed a bit telegraphed to me, but that's ok. It was still interesting. It definitely felt like a good payoff for reading the entire series. Things were wrapped up in an acceptable manner (to me anyway), so I couldn't really ask for me. Overall this was a great book in a great series, so be sure to check it out.
Book provided for review.
I waited very (im)patiently for Glittering Promises to come out. Now that it has, and I'm done reading it, I wish it hadn't finished so fast. I honestly can't believe that this is the end of Cora's story. I mean, it is the perfect conclusion and all, but I
So, let's just get on with the review.
I am amazed by Bergren's writing style. It is perfectly appropriate for the historical age of which she wrote. Sometimes I was bothered by the wording she (or rather the characters) used, but hey - just because we don't talk like that now, doesn't mean they didn't talk like that back in the day. In fact, I believe that Bergren has spent many hours researching speech, manners, societal norms etc. of the early 1900s so that Cora's story would become as convincing as it is. I was swept off my feet seeing how deep in the concept of that world the author has actually ventured into.
Each character acted according to their class, their place in society, their upbringing. Sometimes individual feelings were disregarded because of parental insistence. Sometimes the characters decided to stand up to their beliefs and understanding of all things important.
Undoubtedly, the most charismatic character is Cora Diehl Kensington. She is headstrong, independent and quite firm in making her decisions. Of course, being a new person in the high society, she feels a bit misplaced sometimes, misunderstood, spoken down to or flattered simply for the reason of her inheritance. Fortunately, she isn't vain, so mostly she doesn't care. I admire that in her. Especially when Andrew Morgan continuously put her down. I loved how she was beginning to open up to her father, to understand some of his reasoning.
William (the Bear) made me a tiny bit confused, to be honest. I was left with the impression that his heart was fully devoted to Cora. But then this Italian lady crossed his path and he got distracted. I understand that he felt insecure about Cora, whether she loved him, whether she really wanted him, but allowing flirting with someone else? That was way degrading. Then again, I did not come to like Will all that much to begin with. Sometimes he felt like the right one for Cora, sometimes not.
Pierre... *sigh* My sweet romantic Frenchman disappointed me way too much. I could've never expected him to fall so low in his pursue of Cora. He was always my favorite, my hero. And to slum it so bad! What a huge misfortune! I really can't talk much about him or I'm bound to say something spoilery.
Andrew on the other hand, surprised me not. He was such a jerk! I couldn't really understand why ANYONE would ever want his company. He definitely got what he deserved, and I'm so proud of Vivian and everyone really for sticking to what was right.
In the end of the great European journey, I can only say that blood is always thicker than water. Finally, finally Cora found her place in the world, and I can only congratulate her!
It’s hard to write a review about the second or third book in a series without letting some information out, so I do warn you...if you haven’t read the first two books in this series, please just take my word for it and go read them...this is an excellent series.
Cora Deihl Kenninston is surrounded by family and friends and bodyguards on this trip through Europe. At first you think all the troubles from Book 2 are over with, but never let down your guard! Cora is still searching for the right thing to do with her newfound position in life and her lady’s maid, Anna, had some very good advise for her. She said, “I’ve rarely seen money make anyone a better person, but I’ve seen it destroy many....happiness depends on how a body uses what the Lord gives them. Seek His will out, Miss Cora.” Sounds like pretty good advise for us too! Cora has tried all summer to fit in with her new family and new way of life, only to be miserable. Will she decide on Will or Pierre? Are the threats to her life over or really just beginning? Finally Cora realized something important, “about how grand it was of God, to sort out the glittering promises of my life and make it clear what was truth and what was a lie. What I could cling to, count on, and what I could not.”
God does work in mysterious ways and that is what happened with Cora on this Grand Tour. So many joyous moments, so many sad moments, and so many terrified moments. But God brought them all together to make sense of the whole trip and show her that her true heritage lies with Jesus!