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PRODUCT
The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic
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Price:
Original price was: $15.26.$9.35Current price is: $9.35.
Detailed description:
“Abé is an exquisite storyteller. Rich in detail and deeply moving.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace
“One of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever had the pleasure to read. A gorgeous, phenomenal novel I won’t soon forget.” —Ellen Marie Wiseman New York Times bestselling Author of The Orphan Collector
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Chiaverini and Marie Benedict, this riveting novel takes you inside the scandalous courtship and catastrophic honeymoon aboard the Titanic of the most famous couple of their time—John Jacob Astor and Madeleine Force. Told in rich detail, this novel of sweeping historical fiction will stay with readers long after turning the last page.
Madeleine Talmage Force is just seventeen when she attracts the attention of John Jacob “Jack” Astor. Madeleine is beautiful, intelligent, and solidly upper-class, but the Astors are in a league apart. Jack’s mother was the Mrs. Astor, American royalty and New York’s most formidable socialite. Jack is dashing and industrious—a hero of the Spanish-American war, an inventor, and a canny businessman. Despite their twenty-nine-year age difference, and the scandal of Jack’s recent divorce, Madeleine falls headlong into love—and becomes the press’s favorite target.
On their extended honeymoon in Egypt, the newlyweds finally find a measure of peace from photographers and journalists. Madeleine feels truly alive for the first time—and is happily pregnant. The couple plans to return home in the spring of 1912, aboard an opulent new ocean liner. When the ship hits an iceberg close to midnight on April 14th, there is no immediate panic. The swift, state-of-the-art RMS Titanic seems unsinkable. As Jack helps Madeleine into a lifeboat, he assures her that he’ll see her soon in New York…
Four months later, at the Astors’ Fifth Avenue mansion, a widowed Madeleine gives birth to their son. In the wake of the disaster, the press has elevated her to the status of virtuous, tragic heroine. But Madeleine’s most important decision still lies ahead: whether to accept the role assigned to her, or carve out her own remarkable path…
“A touching, compelling, and haunting love story that will delight fans of historical fiction and enthrall those of us for whom the Titanic will always fascinate.”
—Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author of When We Were Young and Brave
“An engaging novel told with both heartbreaking care and vivid detail. The Second Mrs. Astor is historical fiction at its gripping and irresistible best.”
—Patti Callahan , New York Times bestselling author of Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis
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Product group:
Categories: Women Writers
Product name:
The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic
Price:
Original price was: $15.26.$9.35Current price is: $9.35.
Deezee –
This book provided a lot of information about what it really might have been like to be a passenger on the Titanic. I could not put it down.
Gio –
I Like this book because it was a very deep story and heart breaking and therefore lovely to read. I reccomend it as it gives you many romantic moments and a feeling of deep relationships with different characters.
Delora Kirby –
This was an unexpected tale of a true historical event. It was so well written that I was drawn in from the beginning through the end. The love story between Madeleine and John Jacob Astor in the early 1900s was sweet and left me wishing I could one day experience a similar love, but with a better ending, of course. I’ve always been interested in history and the Titanic and this book is perfect for both. Some people may have a low opinion of JJ Astor because of Madeleine’s age, but we have to remember that times were very different then and the beautiful way he courted and loved her is commendable. The way he died with dignity while helping to save all the women and children, you can’t help but have respect for him.
Kindle Customer –
I just wanted to keep reading and reading until I was finished. Of course life’s mundane things got in the way and I had to keep putting it down! I have been fascinated with the Titanic since I first saw “A Night to Remember” when I was just a young girl. As an adult I happen to move to Rhinebeck NY and my last job before retiring was at Ferncliff (the site of the Astor estate in Rhinebeck). I love history and have been a history buff pretty much my whole life. Naturally when I came to Rhinebeck I started learning about a its history, which naturally included the Astors. Ms. Abe brought a little known person to life for me. It was sweet and beautiful and written in an alluring manner.
Amazon Customer –
This book will keep your attention. Wonderfully written. The author describes thing so well in the book you can actually visualize what is happening. Great author. I just bought another one of her books
Amazon Customer –
Although the story sounded like one I could enjoy, it did not hit the mark. It is about a 17 year old girl who marries a man almost 30 years her senior. You have to question why a man close to 50 years of age would marry a teenager, other than the obvious physical angle. A man of his stature in the early 1900’s required a wife who could represent him socially as well as support him emotionally, not exactly something a teenage girl would be experienced or qualified to do.
John Jacob Astor was one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time of his death on the Titanic. His 5-month pregnant child-bride survived. Outside of being a passenger on the ill-fated journey and that she married into fabulous wealth and luxury, her life was not very interesting. Madeleine and Colonel Astor were together for only a short time, and thus this fictionalized story of her life had little to offer. The author did not show that Madeleine accomplished much of anything, certainly nothing or not enough to base an entire book on.
If you are looking for a book about the Titanic, there are enough choices out there to satisfy any interest in the tragedy and the people involved, both real and fictionalized. Do not consider this book if you are making the purchase to learn about the Titanic – or if you are looking to read about an interesting person, for that matter, a person who has accomplished something, anything actually. You will be disappointed.
I googled Madeleine Astor after I finished the book, and much of the information Ms. Abe’ included was easily and quickly found. So I’m not sure just how much research was required on her part when trying to write about Madeleine. It couldn’t have been easy coming up with a story about a person that young who hadn’t done much or accomplished much outside of being the wife of one of the wealthiest men in the world and only for a very short period of time. I question why Ms. Abe’ chose Madeleine to be the focus of an entire book. Surely the choices the author had were endless. A better subject could have been… almost anybody!
Would not recommend.
Baiba –
I have no words that will show how wonderful this book is. Very emotional, i fell in love with the characters, i cried.
katherine ellithorpe –
I am a huge fan of the story of Titanic. This was amazing. True story of John Jacob Astor and his second wife. It’s a must read for every fan of Titanic.
SueH57 –
This novel provides a window into the lives of John “Jack” Astor and his wife Madeleine. A moving story of love. A tragic story of unexpected loss. An inside look at the opulent lifestyle of the wealthy society of the early 20th century. What moves this story is the love and devotion the Astors had for each other in spite of their age differences. Told from the pov of Madeleine, the reader is naturally pulled into her narrative. It was a welcome read for the new year.
PJ –
Loved this book and it’s telling if the Madeleine Astor story from before they tragically boarded the Titanic.
This author writes so beautifully that the story flows and just couldn’t put this book down. Very enjoyable and well-written story of love and tragedy.
As a rule, I steer clear of American historical fiction and prefer English history. I made this an exception due to its ties to the Titanic tragedy, and I’m so glad I did.
I enjoyed this book SO much that I’m now reading An American Beauty by the same author #shanaabe
Joan Jeffers –
This is a lovely book. The story is very interesting and I truly enjoyed having it told by Madeline. Wonderfully descriptive writing…many times I could see Jack. A great read.
Andy in Canada –
Abe helps you get past the somewhat cringy age gap of the main characters by writing Madeleine as a mature and thoughtful teenager. I had to set her age aside, and remember this was a different age, when 18 was older and more mature in some ways. A lovely story. I hope some of it was close to the truth and Madeleine’s heart was filled with enough love to last.
Beverley Greening –
Fascinating story of the lives of Mrs and Mrs Astor. She was 18 when they married. He was in his 40s and had been married then divorced. Sadly he was drowned when the Titanic sank but his wife was one of the many women and children who were survived in boats lowered to the sea. Four months later she gave birth to a son. Her husband had an older son whom I think inherited most of his father’s estate. Mrs Astor married twice after her first husband’s death but sadly died in her forties.