Paradise of Glass, The (The Glassblower Trilogy, 3) MP3 CD – Unabridged, September 22, 2015

This is the final book of The Glassblower Trilogy. This one focuses on Wanda, Ruth’s daughter, and her continuing quest to find her place in the world. This book will make the most sense if you have already read the first two books in the series.Wanda is back in Lauscha with Marie’s daughter, Sophie. She is living with her father and Eva, and anxious to marry the glassblower, Richard. Unfortunately, Richard is deep in planning for a one-man show of his art glass, and won’t let Wanda help with any of the work or the planning, not even posting flyers or packing the pieces. Her cousin Anna is angry at her for stealing Richard, who Anna considered to be her own boyfriend. And, to top it all off, they find out that the local glass foundry is up for sale, and that the owner is thinking of selling it to one of the wholesalers.Wanda gets the idea of having the workers at the factory buy out the owner, and organizes a project to get this idea going. Eventually, they get together enough money to make a trip to Sonneberg to try to find a bank that will loan them the remainder of the money they need to finance the purchase. Wanda, of course, has to go with them, and there she meets David Wagner, a low-level employee of Grosse & Sons, the biggest bank in Sonneberg. David is anxious to make his mark in the banking world, and when he meets Wanda and the glassblowers, he is embarrassed to tell them he has to ask his boss for approval for the loan.Later we learn that he is also meeting with Friedhelm Strobel later the same day about a loan for the same purpose.This is the same Friedhelm Strobel who twenty years earlier had hired Johanna Steinmann as an assistant for his wholesale business and later raped her. Strobel has plenty of money by now and could buy the foundry without a loan, so naturally he qualifies for his loan with no trouble. Strobel has seen the other group of people leaving David’s office, including Wanda, who so forcibly reminds him of Johanna. He finds out from David what they were there for, and once he has discovered who Wanda is, he formulates a nefarious plan to ruin her and get her into his power. He pretends to be willing to help the Lauscha glassblowers in their attempt to buy the foundry.Strobel’s plan involves a stock swindle, and it very nearly works. He manages to ruin the glassblowers and buy the foundry (which he proceeds to run in a way that will be ruinous to the town). Wanda is utterly defeated, and it doesn’t help that Richard is completely caught up in his own ventures and Wanda’s cousin, Anna, has pronounced that she ruins everything she touches. David is embarrassed, but he actually gets a small promotion out of the deal, although it is for the wrong reasons. But then it occurs to them that the crime that has been perpetrated on them actually is a crime, and they begin to look for the person responsible, and how to prove it.

I love books of historical themes. I gave 5 stars because from the first book I felt a connection to these characters and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I felt elated with with each success and heartbroken with each catastrophe they had to endure. Although I realize some parts were changed for the historical parts the lives of these people and what they went through to produce their beautiful works in glass keep me glued to each page. What strong heart's and love that keep them going. Some out of desperation just to feed their families but others through also to keep the wolf at bay saw a future for their precious glass and and took it. The relationships that intertwined through the family's was addictive and lovely. It showed the best and the worst of human frailty. I was disappointed that Marie died and really didn't see the point of this. I would have much prefer she live and return home to her family. This one part I couldn't understand why it was necessary. But other than losing this strong character I truly loved it all and i highly recommend this to all lovers of romance and historical time periods !! You will not be disappointed!!!!!!

In this third release in the series, the Steinmann sisters get a visit from their American niece, Wanda. The glassblowing business is in trouble because the local glasswork is about to be sold and there is disturbing rumors about changes the new owner will make.Wanda is a bold young woman who steps on to the scene to help her aunts. Together with a handsome bank clerk, she comes up with a risky financial plan to help save the glasswork from being taken over.I highly recommend this work for anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction and to readers of Petra Durst-Benning’s other books in the Glassblower Series.(All opinions in this review are my own)

Petra Durst-Benning is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. After reading the first book in the trilogy, I just had to get the other two, and they didn't disappoint. Remembering those fragile glass blown Christmas tree ornaments from my own childhood, it was interesting to read about the glass blowing region in Germany. The author describes so well the village where the three sisters live, and you almost feel you're watching the glass blower at work. Loved the books!

The first book got my attention and held it through until the end of the novel; the second book was a little tougher - the characters less sympathetic and interesting. This third book dragged from the beginning almost until the end. Characters were not believable, plot was convoluted and you kept asking why? A book that revolves around one person bent on revenge, with a heroine who is so wishy washy does not make for good readingI cannot recommend this novel to anyone.

II purchased the entire Glassblower Trilogy. Enjoyed the first book, The Glassblower, very much. The second book, The American Lady, continued the story, but was less interesting. By the Third Book, Paradise of Glass, I had lost my interest in this Trilogy. This is only my take on the books, other readers may be delighted by all three books. I do not regret reading them, buy they are not books I will reread.

I loved book 1, liked book 2, and book 3 was not as good. This book was totally centered on Wanda and she seemed like such a flat character compared to the original three sisters who began the trilogy. The draw of this series was Lauscha and the glass blowing, and we get very little of that. The premise is just Wanda trying to save the glass foundry for the town, and of course predictably finding a love interest in the process. To me it was a disappointing ending to an amazing beginning.

The final book in the trilogy did not disappoint. As with the other to books the story follows the trials and tribulations of the Steinmann women. Wanda is a strong willed and creative young woman who does not deal with glass but has a good business mind. She leads the villagers in a quest to become their own masters and own the foundry. The journey is fraught with twists and turns, fights to settle old scores and romance blossoms as well.

I so enjoyed the first book i bought these together and so had a mammoth reading session. The first book created a wonderful world of a village of glass blowers, not an easy life but nevertheless one became part of the world where the sisters broke with tradition, this book continues that theme while dealing with a different generation and moving with the times.

I bought all three books and now up to the second one American Lady,. The Paradise of Class was a bit slow to start with but as the story of the 3 sisters unfolds it becomes irresistible reading.

Wanda visits German relatives in Lauscha, and finds love and sadness, turning the town upside down with her ideas and enthusiasm. A good final book in the easy reading trilogy.

I absolutely loved this trilogy and was sorry when it ended.Petra Durst-Benning is to be congratulated for a wonderful story re the three sisters and their uniece. I never knew what was going to happen next. A lot of research was done & it paid off.I have recommended these books to my friends, some of whom are in book clubs. I hope they enjoy the story as much as I did.

An enjoyable story. Interesting to find that Lauscha, the main setting of the book, is a real place where glassblowing still continues.

This is the third of the trilogy, whilst those who came to it before reading the first two may have needed background I didn't and found it a bit tedious.

The third book in the trilogy was a bit of a disappointment after the previous two books. Although the story revolved around the same family the story was a bit predictable. Nothing explained about the hardships of the glassblowers

Again I could not put the book down, read through most of the night and neglected the housework. But it was worth it!

It kept me thoroughly engaged from start to finish. I would recommend reading all of the books in this series.

This is the third book in the trilogy and, sadly, was rather disappointing. I'm not quite sure why, but maybe the main character wasn't very appealing and didn't hold my interest.

Still reading this but finding it more absorbing now than at the start. Would recommend the whole trilogy which is based around the area in Germany where glass was and still is blown

When the glassblowers of Laushca try to take control of their destiny it all goes awfully wrong; as they find they've been defrauded and lose their life savings. But can they figure out who, what, and why; and how to take their own revenge and regain control of their futures?

The third in the glass lowers series does not disappoint 8n any way. From beginning to end it ties the trilogy together and yet stands alone on its own merit. A great read

This is as good as the other two. Enthralling storyline. A great read