MY REVIEW:
I enjoyed the first two books in Regina Scott’s American Wonders Collection so it was a given that I must read the final book of the series. I did enjoy A View Most Glorious also but probably would have enjoyed it more if I had not been trying to beat a deadline and found myself nearly unable to keep my eyes open long enough to read it. I’m afraid I may have over committed on review books recently and a few health issues have slowed down my reading pace.
It is always fun to visit other places alongside the characters in a story, especially when it is told through the eyes of history. A View Most Glorious allowed me to accompany Coraline Baxter on her journey to reach the summit of Mt. Ranier in order to prove that if she could do it, any woman was also capable. As a member of Tacoma, Washington society, Cora had many expectations placed on her by her mother but Cora had greater ambitions than to be a useless society woman. When her mother offered her to allow her to attempt to climb the mountain if she would marry a certain man if she failed, Cora was determined to succeed with the help of Nathan, her guide.
Populated with multiple multifaceted characters, both admirable and manipulative, this story moved along at a steady pace as it mostly documented the details involved in reaching the peak of the mountain. Personally, I found Cora’s mother to be quite tiresome in her attempts to run Cora’s life, even if her intentions were for Cora’s benefit. I enjoyed the author’s vivid descriptions of scenery encountered as they ventured up the mountain as well as the people they encountered along the way.
A View Most Glorious was a very satisfying read and I look forward to future books by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Reluctant socialite Coraline Baxter longs to live a life of significance and leave her mark on the world. When her local suffragette group asks her to climb Mount Rainier to raise awareness of their cause, she jumps at the chance, even though she has absolutely no climbing experience. If she can do it, any woman can do it. And after her mother issues an ultimatum–that Cora marry the man of her mother’s choosing if she fails–Cora must do it. But she can’t do it alone.
Noted mountain guide Nathan Hardee initially refuses to help Cora but has a change of heart when he sees what is at stake. He knows enough about the man Cora’s mother has chosen to know that the headstrong young woman should have nothing to do with him, much less marry him.
These unlikely partners may just discover that only together is the view most glorious.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Regina Scott is the author of more than fifty works of warm, witty historical romance, including A Distance Too Grand–named one of the top ten romances of 2020 by Booklist–and Nothing Short of Wondrous. She was twice awarded the prestigious RT Book Reviews best book of the year in her category. A devotee of history, she has learned to fence, driven four-in-hand, and sailed on a tall ship, all in the name of research. She and her husband of thirty years live south of Tacoma, Washington, on the way to Mt. Rainier.
