The Story of Grenville King by Jean Grainger is not a book I would normally choose for Maria's Book Banter since it’s the third book in a series. I usually blog about standalone books. However, after reading its summary, it didn’t seem like a continuation of a story.
About a year ago, I read the first book in this series, The
Tour. I absolutely loved it for its wit and overall cheeriness. So, I'm
happy to give The Story of Grenville King a try.
Here, we meet Conor O’Shea again. He is now married to
Anastasia and they have twin boys. Conor is still leading bus tours of Ireland
when one of his former tourists, Corlene Holbrooke, convinces him to buy and
renovate Castle Dysert turning it into a hotel. Conor would be running the
place once it’s opened for guests. With his charm and experience working in the
tourism industry, he would be perfect for the job.
This story takes us through the tragic history of Castle
Dysert and its ghost haunting mysteries, its restoration process, the hotel’s advertising
and publicity campaign, as well as the general business of launching an upscale
resort.
For me, The Story of Grenville King doesn’t have
the same delightful spirit that The Tour had. There isn’t an assortment
of fun characters with life stories and situations that keep the reader engaged
and wanting to read more. Much of it deals with Conor’s marital and family
concerns, which wasn’t what I had in mind when I picked this book. That said,
there is a story arc involving Corlene and her son that is compelling,
worthwhile reading.
It’s hard to find books to read with enthusiasm. At
least, it is for me. That is part of the reason for the long delay since my
last post. If you have any book recommendations for Maria's Book Banter,
please send them to the e-mail listed below.
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