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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
Definitely appears to be religious fiction. Didn't read past 2nd chapter.
I liked this book a lot, although I do not enjoy first person POV
I would rate this book higher (the writing is superb - i fell in love with the hero and heroine and their romance) BUT the book just ends. No resolution to any of the story lines. Including the suspense. I don't mind a secondary story line left hanging for a sequel but I become very dissatisfied when a book leaves me with nothing resolved at all. I feel like I have just wasted the time it took me to read it. If you're like me, don't read this book unless you have all the subsequent books handy
Amazing!
I got this book for free on Kindle a while ago, but it took me a long time to finally get around to reading it....once I did, I was taken on a ride!
From start to finish, Bergren enraptures the reader with this exciting story and I found that every moment was interesting; that's not typical of all books.
I also found myself highlighting so many things because of the wise words that Bergren used! God has truly gifted her as a writer. I enjoyed this from start to finish and would definitely recommend it to anyone else- I can't wait until the next book comes out!
Cora is a young girl living in Montana who has worked hard for what she has her whole life. She's happy with her simple life with her parents and has one dream: to teach. But everything is disrupted when her father falls ill and a strange man comes into town who claims to be her real father. From that moment, Cora is thrown into a family that she's not sure she wants and who definitely does not want her. As they travel across Europe, Cora learns more about herself, gets to know her family, and discovers more about God all the time.
I got this book for free on Kindle a while ago, but it took me a long time to finally get around to reading it....once I did, I was taken on a ride!
From start to finish, Bergren enraptures the reader with this exciting story and I found that every moment was interesting; that's not typical of all books.
I also found myself highlighting so many things because of the wise words that Bergren used! God has truly gifted her as a writer. I enjoyed this from start to finish and would definitely recommend it to anyone else- I can't wait until the next book comes out!
Cora is a young girl living in Montana who has worked hard for what she has her whole life. She's happy with her simple life with her parents and has one dream: to teach. But everything is disrupted when her father falls ill and a strange man comes into town who claims to be her real father. From that moment, Cora is thrown into a family that she's not sure she wants and who definitely does not want her. As they travel across Europe, Cora learns more about herself, gets to know her family, and discovers more about God all the time.
This was a pleasant surprise as a well-written book with the unique setting of a Grand Tour and the premise of a guide-in-training and a new-heir to the Kensington fortune for the two main characters. Bergren is a talented author and I will be reading the second book in this series right away!
4.5 stars, but 5 will do!
Let me first start out by saying, “I HEART LTB!” I recently read her River of Time series and it fast became one of my favorite series ever.
When I had first read the synopsis to “Glamorous Illusions” I had a pretty good feeling I wanted to read it, but was still unsure. I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, but the early 1900s period has never really appealed to me. However, when this book became available on Netgalley I knew I had to snatch it up. And boy, am I glad I did!
Cora Diehl is a farmer’s daughter who hails from a small town in Montana. Upon returning home for the summer, she finds her father and her family’s farm both in a state of deterioration. It's not long before a stranger comes to call and announces that he is her true, biological father. Mr. Kensington, a wealthy man in the copper industry, invites Cora to spend her summer in Europe on a Grand Tour, in an effort to get to know her half-siblings and to gain her own independence. Over the next several weeks, we spend time with Cora as she travels alongside her companions, assisted by a pair of hired guides, Will and Stuart.
This book is wonderful! I’ve always been interested in Christian fiction, but am very wary of my selection, as I’ve read books by other authors who spout religious beliefs like Niagara Falls. But, Ms. Bergren’s writing doesn’t make me feel smothered by hardcore preachings in any way. There is just the right amount and it truly gets me thinking...
The pacing is perfect; I never found myself bored at all. The pages seemed to turn of their own accord. Additionally, I found that even though there are SO many characters introduced, each of their personalities is so distinct that I had no trouble keeping track of them in my mind.
Anyone who has read a series by Ms. Bergren knows that her books end too soon, and I am DYING to read book two. I have to know what happens in the second chapter of Cora’s adventures. I understand the books in the Grand Tour series were to initially be titled “From This Day Forward,” “To Have and To Hold,” and “As Long as We Both Shall Live.” They have since been changed to “Glamorous Illusions,” “Grave Consequences,” and “Glittering Promises.” I’m quite fond of the title revisions as they will certainly appeal to a wider audience.
I am not fond, however, of the new release dates! All three were meant to be released by Spring 2013, following a similarly quick timeline as her River of Time series, except it seems the publishers at David C. Cook got smart and are making us fans wait in AGONY until Spring 2013 for “Grave Consequences” and Fall 2013 for “Glittering Promises.”
Regardless, I will be counting down the months until then!
Let me first start out by saying, “I HEART LTB!” I recently read her River of Time series and it fast became one of my favorite series ever.
When I had first read the synopsis to “Glamorous Illusions” I had a pretty good feeling I wanted to read it, but was still unsure. I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, but the early 1900s period has never really appealed to me. However, when this book became available on Netgalley I knew I had to snatch it up. And boy, am I glad I did!
Cora Diehl is a farmer’s daughter who hails from a small town in Montana. Upon returning home for the summer, she finds her father and her family’s farm both in a state of deterioration. It's not long before a stranger comes to call and announces that he is her true, biological father. Mr. Kensington, a wealthy man in the copper industry, invites Cora to spend her summer in Europe on a Grand Tour, in an effort to get to know her half-siblings and to gain her own independence. Over the next several weeks, we spend time with Cora as she travels alongside her companions, assisted by a pair of hired guides, Will and Stuart.
This book is wonderful! I’ve always been interested in Christian fiction, but am very wary of my selection, as I’ve read books by other authors who spout religious beliefs like Niagara Falls. But, Ms. Bergren’s writing doesn’t make me feel smothered by hardcore preachings in any way. There is just the right amount and it truly gets me thinking...
The pacing is perfect; I never found myself bored at all. The pages seemed to turn of their own accord. Additionally, I found that even though there are SO many characters introduced, each of their personalities is so distinct that I had no trouble keeping track of them in my mind.
Anyone who has read a series by Ms. Bergren knows that her books end too soon, and I am DYING to read book two. I have to know what happens in the second chapter of Cora’s adventures. I understand the books in the Grand Tour series were to initially be titled “From This Day Forward,” “To Have and To Hold,” and “As Long as We Both Shall Live.” They have since been changed to “Glamorous Illusions,” “Grave Consequences,” and “Glittering Promises.” I’m quite fond of the title revisions as they will certainly appeal to a wider audience.
I am not fond, however, of the new release dates! All three were meant to be released by Spring 2013, following a similarly quick timeline as her River of Time series, except it seems the publishers at David C. Cook got smart and are making us fans wait in AGONY until Spring 2013 for “Grave Consequences” and Fall 2013 for “Glittering Promises.”
Regardless, I will be counting down the months until then!
I found the concept of a "Grand Tour" of Europe to be fascinating. The author focuses on the emotional and relational development of her character, Cora. The ending, though not a cliff hanger, left many story lines to be continued in the additional books--ones that I am looking forward to reading!
This series has been on my to-read list for a couple years. This is an interesting series about a poor young woman in a small town is suddenly thrust into the aristocratic would when at age 20 the truth of her parentage is revealed and she finds out her biological father is a copper magnate with wealth and power beyond her wildest dreams. Within a matter on days she is on a Grand Tour of Europe with 3 siblings she barely knows, leaving everything familiar behind. The story is intriguing, the locales fantastic and some twists and turns I didn't see coming. A good read that I enjoyed.
I really liked this book (more than the author's River of Time YA books, in any case) - but I hate how nothing was solved at the end of this. Not even one of the smaller plotlines... you have to read the sequels for any sense of closing at all.
Which I'll do, but only because I liked this one so much.
Otherwise, it had a good solid plot, and I liked that the two leading men who are vying for Cora both seem like genuinely nice people. We all know who she'll end up with, but I appreciate that the third angle of the love triangle isn't a secret dastardly villain (or he better not be, or that's taking the easy way out.)
Which I'll do, but only because I liked this one so much.
Otherwise, it had a good solid plot, and I liked that the two leading men who are vying for Cora both seem like genuinely nice people. We all know who she'll end up with, but I appreciate that the third angle of the love triangle isn't a secret dastardly villain (or he better not be, or that's taking the easy way out.)
Well-written, sweet, found family trope with a really interesting plot premise. It was an enjoyable read until the sort of love triangle appeared. Not my favorite trope so that affected my enjoyment of the story. There is plenty of great imagery of the time period, a Titanic-era ocean liner and Europe.
Romantic Content: Kisses
Romantic Content: Kisses