Nocturnal Book Reviews

I really enjoyed this book, not only because it beautifully shows Belle Epoque at its end, but because Lisa Tawn Bergren's writing is pretty vivid in itself. I remember her River of Time trilogy, and I have to admire her for massive amount of historical research of different eras she must have done for each of her books.

Cora is a strong-willed and lovely young woman who wants to be a teacher. Her family is poor, her dad just had a stroke and the drought in the region is so severe that the family is facing losing their farm altogether.

However, a visit from a copper mines king Wallace Kensington reveals that she is closely related to him, and he is willing to help her mom and dad to get medical help and send Cora on a Grand Tour around Europe with his 3 children, so she can receive marvellous education, expand her horizons and decide what to do with her life later on.

Cora doesn't want to leave her family but both sides beg her to take this opportunity and find out what she really wants in life. Wallace also hopes that she will influence his 3 spoiled kids and make them appreciate what they have more.

The Tour itself is planned and executed by two guides - Stuart and his nephew, William. William is quite taken by Cora, and despite mutual attraction tries his best to stay professional and keep his distance from her.

It's a lovely sweet story, where people despite the prejudices and differences in status stay nice to each other and learn from their experiences. Cora slowly gains respect and admiration from other Kensingtons, and when a charming rich French aristocrat, Pierre Richelieu, starts courting her... Well, things get really exciting and make her really question what it is that she wants from her life? What starts like an absurd dream for a farm girl from Montana becomes an even stranger reality.

This book was a sorely needed breath of fresh air among darker fiction which I usually read. Recommended.

Please, make a note that this is Christian fiction, so there will be plenty references to Lord and His ways. I don't mind reading it, but I know that plenty of people find it a bit irritating.

Other works by Lisa T. Bergren I recommend: Waterfall, Cascade & Torrent.