The Paradise of Glass

It is Checkers Day!  I think everyone has played checkers at least once!  I found something wonderful at the hardware store the other day.  I am going to paint our kitchen cabinets.  My mother wanted chalkboard paint on a couple of them and I did not.  I found clear chalkboard paint!  I can put it right over the paint color on the cabinets.  Perfect solution and a great compromise!  

The Paradise of Glass by Petra Durst-Benning is the third (and final) book in the Glassblower Trilogy.  Wanda has returned to Lauscha from Italy with little Sylvie (her Aunt Marie’s daughter).  Wanda is looking forward to being home and preparing for her marriage to Richard Stamme.  Richard, though, is preoccupied with a showing he will be having in the fall.  It has taken his total attention (he ignores Wanda).  The rest of the town is upset of the sale of the Grundler Foundry.  It is being sold to an outsider and it has all the glassblowers and workers in an uproar.  Wanda finally asks why they don’t buy the foundry themselves. 

After some thinking, some of the men decide it is a good idea.  They put Wanda in charge of the finances (much to Richard’s dismay).  They come up with 11,000 marks towards the purchase of the foundry.  The owner gives them time to come up with the money to purchase it.  If the glassblowers can raise the money in time, the owner will sell the foundry to them.  They try Grosse and Sons to get a loan for the remainder of the funds they need.  David Wagner is the loan officer at the bank.  He knows that the loan will not get approved since the bank handles the finances of the person wishing to person the foundry.  Wanda convinces the group to raise the money via the stock market.  With the right stocks, they can might be able to raise the money in time.  Unfortunately, things do not go as smoothly as Wanda anticipates.  Someone is working behind the scenes to make sure they do not raise the money in time.

What is going to happen to the foundry?  Will Richard and Wanda get married?  Who is the other buyer for the foundry?  You do have to read the first two books in the series in order to understand what is happening in The Paradise of Glass.  I loved the first book in the series, the second one was okay, and this one was just fine (so-so).  The book is very slow throughout the middle of the book (like the author ran out of things to put into the book).  Wanda comes across as a very selfish, spoiled, self-centered girl who has no business raising a child nor getting married (I would never trust her with money).  Wanda is always coming up with ideas, but she rarely follows through with them (or wants someone else to).  I give The Paradise of Glass 3 out of 5 stars.  The writing is good, but the content (story) was deficient.  I was very disappointed with this final book in The Glassblower Trilogy.  The Paradise of Glass is available on Kindle Unlimited.

I received a complimentary copy of The Paradise of Glass from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am currently reading The Amish Christmas Sleigh (multiple authors).  If you like my reviews and blog, please make sure to become a member (link on the right in sidebar).  Have a great Wednesday and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader