A View Most Glorious

I did not realize that this book was the third in a series, because it does so well as a stand-alone.  None of the books' characters seem to be repeated in the series, so the reader is not lost due to prior circumstances in the earlier novels.  

Coraline Baxter is a suffragette who wants to make her mark on the world in a way that does not include being arm-candy.  Her mother believes that standing is society for a woman is far more important than her brains. In fact, her mother believes that brains are a detriment to a woman, where Coraline believes that a woman has just as much intelligence as a man and can make sound decisions in business, politics, and life.  She is head-strong and quite argumentative, but not necessarily in a bad way.  Her suffragist friends entice her to climb Mt Rainier and show that women have just as much strength and ability as men do.  In order for her to make the climb, her mother makes a deal with her--if Coraline is successful, she can continue to live her life on her own terms: choosing her own husband, working at her stepfather's bank, and working toward the women's rights to vote. If Coraline is not successful, she must submit to marrying a man of her mother's choosing.  To fail is not something Coraline is willing to do.  And her stepfather will do whatever he has to do to help her succeed, and that includes hiring Nathan Hardee to guide them up the mountain.  

One thing that struck me in this book is the strength of Nathan's faith, the way he lived his faith in helping those around him, the way he showed his faith in how he did the job he was hired to do, and the very way he worshipped. It was more than  just lip service to him, and it impacts others around him. 

Regina Scott's handling of this novel and its incumbent quirks is nothing short of magical.  There isn't a bad guy, so to speak, in this book, but there is one sleazy character who is the character readers will love to hate (every story needs one).  The setting and the supporting cast of characters make this an extremely enjoyable read. 

Once again, five stars, two thumbs up, and an alpenstock to aid your climb. 

Revell Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review.  All opinions expressed are solely my own.