Meg Pero has been assisting her photographer father since she was big enough to carry his equipment, so when he dies she is determined to take over his profession–starting with fulfilling the contract he signed to serve on an Army survey of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in 1871. What she doesn’t realize is that the leader of the expedition is none other than the man she once refused to marry. marry.
Captain Ben Coleridge would like nothing more than to leave without the woman who broke his heart, but he refuses to wait even one more day to get started. This survey is a screen for another, more personal mission, one he cannot share with any member of his team.
As dangers arise from all sides, including within the survey party, Meg and Ben must work together to stay alive, fulfill their duties, and, just maybe, rekindle a love that neither had completely left behind.
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They each want very different things…or do they?
So, I think the first thing that attracted me to A Distance Too Grand was the location where it is set. The Grand Canyon evokes a lot of mental images, even if you’ve never seen it in person, and I have to say that the dramatic and awe inspiring landscape really is a star in the book. It was another bonus that I’ve read some of Regina Scott’s shorter historical novels and really enjoyed them. Her touches of humor and some exciting moments of danger accenting the historical romance always makes for some delightful reading.
As I’ve read several suspense books lately it was nice to take a break and head back to what was essentially the Old West. Seriously, maybe I’ve watched one too many old John Wayne cavalry movies but those were the images that were running through my mind as I was reading this book.
A Distance Too Grand was altogether an enjoyable read. Regina Scott’s vivid descriptions of the Grand Canyon, the interesting historical tidbits about the early exploration of area, and her charming characters, well, except the villain as Old West villains are by nature very unpleasant, were nicely blended together. I was glad to find that this is the first book in the American Wonders Collection and I look forward to the next book in the series…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
A Distance Too Grand is the first in the new American Wonder Collection by Regina Scott.
Regina Scott captures the stark beauty of the Grand Canyon with her eloquent prose. The story takes you back in time to 1871 when expeditions were trying to find a way West through the Canyon. The perilous trip was so interesting as were the descriptions of early photography. The small band of explorers met several obstacles which were presented in an authentic way.
Captain Ben Coleridge is leading the group into unknown territory to take samples and chart the territory for a possible road and crossing point. Meg Pero is along to photograph the beauty and grandeur of the iconic landscape. She is fulfilling her deceased father’s contract with the Army to document the trip.
Meg and Ben have a shared history from their time at West Point, where her father took portraits of the cadets. It is now five years later and they have both changed. Meg is a feisty woman, determined to make her mark as a photographer in her own right. She is no shrinking violet debutante. Yet she seeks to please society’s matrons. Ben counsels her: “There’s only One who matters, Meg. And He forgives our mistakes freely. All we have to do is do our best. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”
This book is adventurous and compelling. It is more than pretty scenery. It is a solidly written historical story with romance and some mystery.
*A copy of this book was provided by Revell Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
Book 1 in the American Wonders Collection has left me eagerly awaiting Book 2! Author Regina Scott takes you to the Grand Canyon, teaches you about taking pictures in the 1800s, and introduces you to some very real people. Her research of history is intriguing, as she writes about things that just aren’t commonly written about, and in a very compelling manner.
This story isn’t just historical. There is intrigue and danger that comes from an unexpected source, as well as light romance. This book has something for everyone.
I thoroughly enjoyed it! Grab a copy if you like Christian historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
A Distance Too Grand is the first book in the America Wonders Collection and it is a wonderful first installment in this series. I was initially drawn to the gorgeous cover plus I like the authors writing but once I began reading this novel, I was completely caught up in the storyline.
Meg Pero is a self-reliant, courageous young woman who has been left on her own since the death of her father and she is fully prepared to forge ahead with her plans to take over her his profession of photography. After all, she had been assisting him since she was a child so it’s not like she was a novice. However, there are always some naysayers but after awhile Captain Ben Coleridge concedes and gives Meg permission to accompany the survey crew.
There are several instantly likeable characters in addition to Meg and Ben who made this well written, well paced and unique novel a joy to read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own..
This is the first book in a new series called American Wonders Collection. The author plans to write stories about various National Parks and the struggle to bring them into existence. Her first book in the series is about the Grand Canyon.
The novel begins in 1871 Ft. Wilverton, AZ Territory, where a survey crew is about to leave the fort and try to find a way to cross the Grand Canyon with a wagon. Their goal is to take samples of plants and soil and photograph the area to help future travelers. Meg has always worked with her father as a photographer and when her father dies, she shows up at the Fort with his contract to be the photographer on the survey in her dad’s place. Of course, all of the men are totally against taking a woman with them but the leader of the expedition turns out to be Ben, the man Meg almost married several years before and he agrees for her to be part of the group.
This book was excellent – there was mystery, romance and wonderful scenery that was so well described that you felt like you were there. I am looking forward to the next book in the series about Yellowstone National Park.
Thanks to Revell Books for a copy of this novel to read and review. All opinions are my own.
This was a fun read. I enjoyed hearing all about how photographs were taken. I also loved hearing about how they mapped out the new areas in the west.
The plot was fun and had plenty of humor mixed in. The characters were all to fun to get to know.
I listened to this book on audio and thought the narrator did a fantastic job.
I loved the authentic touches in the description of the early photography process and appreciated the way the romance progressed along with the story, instead of at the expense of the story.
When Meg’s father dies, she risks everything to fulfill the photgraphy contract he had made with the army. What she did not expect was to find the man whose proposal she had turned down five years earlier leading the expedition.
I was immediately drawn to Meg. She had a strong personality without being overbearing. I respected her desire to prove herself in her profession. The interesting thing is some of the attitudes reflected in the book still exist today.
Ben was a driven, focused character. He had the responsibility of carrying out multiple assignments from the army while also seeing to the safety if his team. What I liked about Ben was that he led his team without being domineering. In a time when the attitudes towards women was less than enlightened, he came across as someone with sensitivity and understanding.
The ending wrapped up a little too quickly for me but the sweetness of the couple’s happily-ever-after made up for it.
One of the themes in A Distance Too Grand was that God cares about us. There were times when Meg wondered if God really cared about her and the answer was always yes.
I enjoyed reading A Distance Too Grand and look forward to reading the next book in the series.
With a deftly conveyed atmosphere that conjures cinematic wagon trains and frontier vistas along with a varied and interesting set of secondary characters, Regina Scott has crafted a wonderful story of an Army surveying trip that finds former sweethearts thrown together as the expedition leader in search of a passable route through the Grand Canyon and the photographer contracted to capture it on glass plate negatives.
With backstories of grief from the Civil War, the more recent death of Meg Pero’s father and disappearance of Captain Ben Coleridge’s father, there is more at stake on this expedition than simply surveying and photographing a beautiful but treacherous part of the American frontier.
While there is danger and adventure aplenty, this is somehow a quieter and gentler story than one might expect. Betrayal, sabotage, and life threatening danger are present, but it is the characters and their relationships that take center stage.
A well researched second chance romance, that left me knowing a bit more about photography and surveying methods of 1871 and appreciating the way faith was shown as an integral aspect of this expedition. Recommended for those who enjoy Historical Inspiration Fiction and appreciate the grandeur of America’s national parks. I’m looking forward to reading more of Scott’s American Wonders Collection, though I’ll miss camp cook Dot and would not mind if the younger members of the expedition find themselves ordered to report in other areas of the country convenient for those future stories.
This review refers to a finished copy I voluntarily received from the publisher. A positive review was not required and these are my own honest opinions.
A Distance too Grand by Regina Scott takes readers to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon before it was a protected or navigable place. An accomplished photographer in her own right, Meg Pero is determined to take over her late father’s photography business. First order of business, fulfill a contract joining her to an Army survey team. The problem? Her almost-fiance is leading the team.
Ben Coleridge never got over Meg or the way she turned down his proposal. Now he’s forced to welcome her to his survey team because he has no time to find another photographer. Not that he doesn’t still like her, he does, too much. And that’s the problem. He’s concerned for her safety and journeying into the uncharted territory on the rim of the canyon is anything but safe. Especially considering his own secret assignment.
This was the first book I’ve read of Regina Scott and I loved it! I’ve wanted to read this particular story since it first released last year, but have only recently gotten the chance. It was as good as I hoped it would be. Add in a gorgeous setting and an artist-like photographer in Meg and it was a wonderful book.
I also liked how Ben treated Meg. I can’t go into too much detail without giving away the story, so I’ll just say that he struck a good balance thanks to wise input. Which brings me to the eclectic survey team, a collection of cavalrymen and civilians who add wonderful depth to the story.
The American Wonders Collection continues in book two: Nothing Short of Wondrous, which takes readers to Yellowstone National Park. My review of that book will come Saturday. In the meantime, have you been to the Grand Canyon? It’s on my list of places I want to visit someday.
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I purchased this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.
A great story. Full of historical facts I never knew, like mapping the frontier. The hope, dreams and emotions of the characters really come through. The hardships of expanding into uncharted territory is well written. Looking forward to the sequel.
I love our National Parks and thoroughly enjoyed this book about the original army survey of the Grand Canyon. Meg Pero had to have lots of spunk to follow through on her photographer father’s contract to capture photographs while traveling with the survey team! Meg and Dot, the cook and wife of one of the surveyors, travel with a small group of men led by Captain Ben Coleridge. Ben has never forgotten the girl he met and proposed to at West Point! The group faces dangers on the trip searching for a way to build a road across the Grand Canyon. I recommend A Distance Too Grand to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I look forward to the next book in the American Wonders Collection. I won my copy of the book from a Loraine Nunely giveaway. This is my honest opinion.
I loved this book! It is a page-turning adventure with a touch of danger and mystery. It is an easy to read narrative which shows evidence of extensive historical research on the Grand Canyon area and on the process of photography in the “olden” days. Vivid, descriptive language transports you to the wonders of the Grand Canyon. I have never been there but felt like I had been after I read the book! Strong, well-developed characters make the story work. I highly recommend this book
I always enjoy Regina Scott’s books, and I think this is my favorite one yet. She does a wonderful job describing this expedition to the Grand Canyon and the dangers the group faced. I very much admired Meg, who was courageous and caring. She is one of the very few lady photographers in the 1871, and her adventures on this trip of photographing the Canyon where not always easy ones. There’s just the right balance of a little bit of suspense and romance in this story. I also liked the “hero” and leader of the expedition, Captain Ben Coleridge. He and Meg were a good match and I loved how he supported her desire to be a photographer.
I’ve had the opportunity to take a photography trip to the Grand Canyon, and this book hits just the right note in describing the wonder of the Canyon during a sunset or storm. I’m looking forward to reading more of this “American Wonders Collection” series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
It took me a bit to adjust to the slower pace of the narrative which is rich with description and historical detail, but once I developed a connection to the characters I enjoyed their journey along the rim of the Grand Canyon. As a photographer I was fascinated by the arduous process Meg went through in order to take a picture. And the thought of being limited to such a small amount of photos! I loved her passion in capturing the expanse to share with the public. She has the determination and grit to succeed in a male-dominated industry, and is willing to take the risks necessary to get the shot.
Ben is an admirable hero who takes his responsibilities seriously. He is protective of Meg while at the same time resenting her earlier rejection. I loved how their friendship rekindled and he grew to trust and confide in her, deepening their relationship beyond what it had previously been. They face mundane tasks and hardships amidst the stunning beauty of the wilderness they are exploring, and the pace of the story picked up significantly as the danger increased. Perfect for readers of historical fiction, especially fans of Karen Barnett, Regina Jennings, and Carla Kelly.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Just love this book. I can’t wait for the next book in the series!
A riveting adventure of romance, sabotage, and forgiveness, set against the breathtaking wonder of the Grand Canyon.
Meg Pero grew up assisting her photographer father, and after his death she is determined to fulfill his contract with the Army as part of the surveying team mapping the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. But the man leading the expedition is none other than her ex-fiance, Capt. Ben Coleridge.
Meg grew up on the road, following her father wherever his job took him, now that he’s gone she’s fighting to blaze a trail for herself as a photographer. She is a strong heroine, who must stand up for herself in a world of men, and an uncertain future. Meg is smart, and spunky, willing to do what it takes to prove her mettle as a photographer worthy of her position.
I loved the friendship and camaraderie among the surveying crew, which adds to the tension of who could be behind the mysterious events plaguing their crew. Meg finds a fast friend in Dot, the wife of the cartographer, who also cooks and serves as a chaperone. Dot has a strong faith, that encourages Meg and others on their journey.
Overall, a highly entertaining read with well developed characters who grow over the course of the book as they deal with sabotage, betrayal, and a second chance at love. I liked Ben’s strong faith and how he finds ways to reconnect with Meg on their journey. There is a lot going on, with compelling characters, and a lot going on that kept me guessing where the story would go next. I also enjoyed learning about the Grand Canyon during the discovery/mapping phase, before it became a National Park. Very well-written read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I very much enjoyed this historical novel set just after the Civil War that takes place at the Grand Canyon. The author does an amazing job at describing the beauty of the Grand Canyon, painting vivid pictures in my imagination as I read the story. The book has a lovely blend of romance, mystery and a breathtaking setting. The mystery aspect kept me engrossed the growing romance between Meg and and Ben was sweet. I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this new series, and I hope Ben’s sister, Diana gets her own story!
I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews.
A Distance Too Grand was an absolutely delightful historical romance. I was pretty sure I was gonna like it, but I’ve gotta say, I enjoyed it even more than I thought I would. It kept me fully invested all the way through. The characters were wonderful and the setting really came to life. I’ve never been to the Grand Canyon, but after reading this book I feel like I have.
Meg’s got some serious spunk. She’s very independent, outspoken, and takes great pride in her job as a photographer, always making it her first priority. She’s set to be the photographer on a survey of the Grand Canyon. Well, actually, her father was supposed to do it, but with his recent passing, she plans to take his place. But roadblocks abound when she reaches the base and they refuse to employ a woman for the job. Plus the man in charge of the survey, Ben Coleridge, is the man who’s heart she broke years ago. But with a tight deadline, no time to find a replacement, and against his better judgment, Ben has no choice but to take her. She vows to do her very best to prove it’s not a mistake. Danger and mystery follow the team, though, making the trek even more perilous.
I can’t even express just how much I loved this book. The premise was really interesting and not something I’ve read about before. I loved learning about all the photography and cartography elements. That was so cool. I had no idea what all went into a survey like that back in the day. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical romance. I can’t wait for book two!
The striking cover and the setting drew my interest in this historical fiction novel by Regina Scott. The Grand Canyon is truly awe-inspiring, and Scott captured the beauty, vastness, and danger of it well. The characters are well-drawn and engaging. I enjoyed Meg’s spunk and independence and Ben’s leadership and protectiveness of his team. Dot and Hank were favorites of mine, and their obvious love for each other was evident throughout the story.
I learned much about the photography process in 1871, the flora and fauna of the Grand Canyon area, and Army life during that time. The history aspect was interesting, and Scott’s descriptions painted a beautiful picture of the area. There were a few parts where I felt the story dragged a bit, and parts where I felt it could have benefitted from deeper plot points, but on the whole it was a satisfying read. 3.5 stars
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Revell through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions are my own.