Litfuse Blog Tour: Grave Consequences

Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Publication Date: March 1, 2013
Publisher: David C. Cook
Series: Grand Tour Series # 2

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 protection 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.

 
A shiver of fear ran down my back as I looked to the busy train platform outside my window. It’s only your imagination, Cora. Silently, I counted to thirty, watching businessman shake hands before parting. A young husband tenderly bussed his wife on the cheek as she anxiously wound a handkerchief in her hands. A man caught my eye in passing. He smiled and tipped his hat in my direction and I hurriedly glanced back to my lap. But when I lifted my eyes, the blue eyes of the dapper blond gent inside the train car with me were locked on my once again. He was clearly watching me over the top edge of his newspaper.

 

Even the memory of his wolfish eyes running over me from head to toe sent a shiver down my back.

 

‘What? A suffragette diver among us?’ Felix said in wonder, smiling at me. ‘Perhaps you’re more a Kensington that I imagined. Though heaven knows I can’t convince Lil to make the jump now that she’s stared down the executioner’s blade. And Vivian believes it to be the last thing you women should be doing.’

 

‘But the tour is what we make it, is it not? I want you to feel like you are in these places as they really are. Living them. Touching, smelling, hearing, absorbing them.’

Here we are again, back alongside the Kensington’s and back on tour across Europe. The opening scene starts with a rocky train ride and I knew that this book was going to hit the ground running, and I was right. First I would like to suggest that if you have not read the first book in this series that you do that before picking up a copy of this one. If you do not, you will be incredibly lost. Cora is the exact same character as she was when we left her in the first novel. Finding out that she actually comes from a position of stature and wealth has not changed our ever humble Cora at all, and I love that about her! This book takes us deeper into adventure, adds more suspense, and allows readers to get to know all the many characters they met in the first book a little better.

 

This book involves a lot of adventure and adds even more suspense than the first book. My only problem with this is that it took too long to get around to it all. As with the first book, which I adored, we are given a substantial amount of background information and really more than enough really. I love and appreciate the historical context greatly, but at certain points I found myself wanting to skip ahead to get to the “good stuff.” However, I will say that Cora and Will’s relationship was explored deeper throughout the novel and it was actually one of my favorite parts. I love both of their characters so much that it made the reading not seem so long and they bridged the gaps in between the suspenseful scenes.

 

I am a huge fan of Downton Abbey and am constantly reminded of the characters, wealthy lifestyle, and the various settings as I read this series. Part of the joy of being so connected and in love with this series is actually appreciating the historical content and the way the Lisa Bergren delivers it to readers. I become so lost in the descriptions of European delicacies and the brightest and latest fashions that I often have to remind myself of what story I am really reading. The descriptions are so rich and vibrant that you will feel as if you have been on a Grand Tour of Europe the entire time!

 

***A big thank you the publisher and Liftuse for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review***