Description (from publisher):'The powerful, epic romance continues.
For Cora Kensington, the journey of a lifetime takes unexpected twists. And her future--her very life--depends on the decisions she'll make at each crossroad. As her European tour with her newfound family takes her through Austria, France, and Italy, an unseen enemy trails close behind. Meanwhile, a forbidden love continues to claim her heart, putting everyone's plans in danger.
And as Cora stays one step ahead of it all, what might need the most protections is her own heart, torn between the dramatic pursuit of a dashing Frenchman and a man who has been quietly staking claim to her affections all along. Love has dangers all its own. She must escape the bonds of the past and discover the faith to make the right choices, as each one has grave consequences.'
My thoughts:
If you plan to read this book, I strongly advise that you read its predecessor, Glamorous Illusions, first. If you don't you will seriously be lost and confused as the second book hits the ground running right where the first left off. Like the first one, I really enjoyed this book. I really like Cora and her humble beginnings and how she still remains grounded after discovering her new wealth and family. She is a character that is easy to like and is one the reader can connect well with. There are somewhat suspenseful moments in this book as Cora and her family try to elude some overzealous kidnappers.
The only thing that bothers me about this book and the one before it, is that all the suspense takes place right at the very end of the book. Most of the 'suspense' is easily figured out and anyone with a brain will be able to discern what will happen. The twists are pretty mundane and predictable and I personally think that it does the book a discredit. I like to read something that is going to keep me on the edge of my seat dying to know what is going to happen next. While this story is good, it lacks a lot of surprises and is pretty straightforward. I really enjoy the fact that this plot is centered around an European tour and the reader gets to travel to some different places. I feel like the author really portrays the scene and the atmosphere very well and it makes the reader seem like they are in the same place as the characters. It takes a seasoned author to be able to pull that off and this one definitely doesn't lack in that area.
A cute read for historical fiction lovers who like to read about travel and learn about different places in the world. I find that personally very interesting and that is what keeps drawing me back to these books. The third in this series should be released in the fall of this year, according to the author and publisher websites, and I will be continuing with the series because I would like to see where everyone ends up. This is considered 'christian fiction' but I didn't find it to be an overwhelmingly 'preachy' or condescending type of book. In fact it really didn't bother me at all. Nevertheless, I found this to be a quite entertaining read even if it does lack a bit of suspense.
Overall Rating: 3.5
Title: Grave Consequences
Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Series: Grand Tour #2
Publisher: David C. Cook
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Pages: 448
Genre: Historical Fiction
Get It: Amazon; Barnes & Noble
Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for my honest review. I reviewed this book without compensation of any kind. All thoughts and opinions are solely mine.
