Title: Bellagrand
Author: Paullina Simons
Published: March 2014, William Morrow & Company
Format: ARC Paperback, 560 pages
Source: Publisher via TLC Book Tours
They gave up everything to be together, but love was just the beginning of their journey…
Italian
immigrant Gina, independent, compassionate and strong, desperately
wants a family. Boston blue-blood Harry, idealistic and fiercely
political, wants to create a better world, a better country. Bound
together by tormented passion, they rail, rage, and break each other’s
hearts, only to come face to face with a stark final choice that will
forever determine their destiny.Their journey takes them through
four decades and two continents, through triumph and turmoil, from the
wooden planks of the troubled, immigrant town of Lawrence,
Massachusetts, to the marble halls and secret doors of a mystical place
called… Bellagrand.From internationally bestselling author
Paullina Simons comes another compelling saga of heartbreak and
redemption, and the devastating love story that led to The Bronze
Horseman.
My thoughts: I first heard of Paullina Simons when I participated in a tour for her book, Children of Liberty, which was the prequel to her Bronze Horseman Trilogy. Now she’s back with a sequel to her prequel. I still haven’t read the trilogy, but now after reading this latest book, I’m more eager than ever to get to it!
I always find it so amazing how caught up you can get in a story and how some characters are so likeable and others so unlikeable. I found myself wanting to smack Harry for how selfish and self-absorbed he was throughout the whole book. It seemed that he only thought about himself and what he wanted, not really thinking about how his actions impacted those around him, especially not his wife or family. And as much as I liked Gina, I even found myself frustrated with her at times for sticking by him for so long.
It’s amazing what people will do for love. Gina loves Harry and is willing to stick by him no matter what. She believes in her vows and even though he seems to love his causes more than he loves her, she is unwilling to walk away from him. The emotion that Paullina Simons writes into her characters is strong throughout the book – the tensions that fly between Gina and Harry when they get into an argument over his ways and decisions are so life-like.
As I read this book, I wondered if I would have enjoyed it more had I already read The Bronze Horseman trilogy. Part of me thinks yes and part of me thinks no. I liked not knowing where things were headed, but then again, if I had read the trilogy, it would have been giving background on already familiar characters and/or events. I guess I will find out when I get around to reading the trilogy. Have you read this yet? Have you read the trilogy? What are you thoughts on the two new books?
To see who else is participating in Paullina Simon’s Bellagrand tour, click here.
GIVEAWAY DETAILS – CLOSED (US/CAN only)
Thanks to Trish at TLC Book Tours, I have one copy of Bellagrand to give away to my readers.
To enter…
- Leave a comment below & be sure to include your email address.
- Tweet, share on Facebook, or blog for 2 extra entries.
- You MUST include email address or entry will be invalid.
- I will contact winner at the conclusion of the giveaway & they will have 2 days to respond or I will pick a new winner.
This giveaway is open to US/CAN residents only and ends April 2nd.
Good luck!
This book looks great! Definitely adding it to my TBR pile! 🙂
kimbers10[at]yahoo[dot]com
I tweeted the giveaway as well!
twitter.com/histficobsessed/status/448837971085905920
thanks for this wonderful feature and giveaway. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com
This is a most fascinating and great novel. Many thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for this great giveaway. I will post it on my blog.
suko95(at)gmail(dot)com
I cannot wait to read this! I loved 'The Bronze Horseman' trilogy!
somanybooks.solittletimeblog[at]gmail.com
I also tweeted about the giveaway.
twitter.com/so_many_books/status/448900671081684992
I read The Bronze Horseman trilogy and really liked it. I did not know there was a prequel/sequel. If I really loved the book, I will read the prequel (doing so right now with Roses/Somerset).
These are absolutely my favorite books ever. Would love to meet Paullina and have them signed one day. I am so excited to read Bellagrand. Thanks for the chance! mmalavec(at)umuch(dot)edu
mmalavec(at)med(dot)umich(dot)edu
twitter.com/mmalavec/status/448954130875154433
twitter.com/mmalavec/status/448954130875154433
mmalavec(at)med(dot)umich(dot)edu
I need to read this, please!!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
cyn209 at juno dot com
shared on my FB wall: facebook.com/cyn209
cyn209 at juno dot com
No need to enter me in the giveaway. I LOVE the first two books in the trilogy but unfortunately was underwhelmed by Children of Liberty. I have this to read in the next couple of weeks but I have lowered my expectation for this book. I don't want to be realy disappointed by another book by Paullina Simons!
I'm with Marg. I read it on my Kindle in January so don't need a copy and I'm with her in sentiment as well.. I actually think for you reading them in the order you are reading them which is the true chronological order will build the excitement for you – because TBH and it's Sequel are two of the best books you'll ever read.. however for me, while Paullina is such a beautiful writer, I just didn't love these two prequels that much. Harry is not a character I connected with – whereas everyone connects with Tatiana and Alexander. I really felt for Esther in Bellagrand. The other Paullina Simons book that I really did love is: Girl in Times Square. I would definitely recommend reading that.
I've been reading mixed reviews on this…sounds like this is definitely an author I would enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Laura Kay
anovelreview(@)yahoo(.)com
I like to be surprised so I kind of want to read this book before the trilogy but at the same time I like to have all the background to a story so I might have to read the trilogy first. DECISIONS!!!
I'm glad you are continuing to enjoy these books. Thanks for being on the tour!
I loved the trilogy, they're amongst my all time favourite reads! Haven't read the prequel or this one, the mixed reviews for Children of Liberty made it less of a priority.