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The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic by [Shana Abe]

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Shana Abe

The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic Kindle Edition

by Shana Abe (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.3 19,122 ratings

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"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

Print length

337 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Kensington Books
Publication date

August 31, 2021
File size

2867 KB
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Shana Abe
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Marie Benedict
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Amanda Skenandore
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Diane C. McPhail
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Donna Everhart
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Amanda Skenandore
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Popular Highlights in this book

What are popular highlights?

“I’ve always thought the best way to get the measure of a man is to observe how he treats his animals.”
Highlighted by 530 Kindle readers
“It’s plain as day Jack adores you. I think he adores you to the point that the thought of being without you terrifies him to the core. And for a man like Jack Astor, that is significant.”
Highlighted by 319 Kindle readers
Kinder hearts are stronger, her mother had once said. Maddy needed to be strong.
Highlighted by 241 Kindle readers

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Second Mrs. Astor

"Abé is an exquisite storyteller, gracefully transporting the reader from Newport to Egypt to the cold seas of the Atlantic. Rich in detail and deeply moving." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

"One of the most beautifully written books I’ve ever had the pleasure to read, THE SECOND MRS. ASTOR brings to glittering life the romantic love story between John Jacob Astor and his young bride, Madeleine. You’ll find yourself glued to every page, falling in love with this dazzling couple, and despite knowing better, hoping against hope that they avoid the tragedy that awaits them on the ill-fated Titanic. A gorgeous, phenomenal novel I won’t soon forget.” —Ellen Marie Wiseman New York Times bestselling Author of The Orphan Collector

“Through Madeleine, we see a young woman fall in love with America's wealthiest man, the society scandal that follows, a level of media intrusion not dissimilar to that endured by a young Princess Diana, and, of course, the tragic events that unfold during Titanic's maiden voyage...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

“The Second Mrs. Astor is an engaging novel told with both heartbreaking care and vivid detail. Shana Abé introduces us to the extraordinary Madeleine Astor and her profound love for the enigmatic and famous Jack Astor. Abé's intimate prose brings to life a fascinating and heartbreaking piece of history. A harrowing and yet ultimately hopeful tale of survival and courage, fate and love, and the ultimate question of who do we become after great loss. 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

About the Author

Shana Abe is the award-winning, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including the Sweetest Dark series and the Drakon series. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California, and currently lives in the mountains of Colorado.

Lauren Ezzo, an Earphones Award-winning narrator, is a commercial voice talent and Chicago-based actor and graduate of Hope College. She has acted in Peppermint Creek Theatre Company's world premiere of Or You Could Kiss Me. Her narrations have placed her on several "Best of the Year" lists, including AudioFile's Best Audiobooks of the Year list. In 2018, she was part of a full cast of narrators nominated for the prestigious Audie Award for Best Original Work.

--This text refers to the audioCD edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08PQ2T2F3
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington Books (August 31, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 31, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 2867 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 337 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #619 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #2 in Biographical Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #2 in Historical Biographical Fiction
- #2 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 19,122 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

19,122 global ratings

5 star		55%
4 star		30%
3 star		11%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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J. S. Ven

Captivating historical read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 9, 2023

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2021. 336 pages. Historical novel. This is the story of one of society’s wealthiest men in the gilded age. John Jacob Astor, IV‘s second marriage to Medeleine Force was controversial because she was not considered to be in his class. When Astor married Madeleine, he was 46 and she was 18. The upper crust society viewed her as a golddigger, and him as an innocent man. Madeleine was shunned by most of society with the exception of another controversial woman, Margaret (Molly) Brown. Margaret Brown was controversial because she was new money and not in the same class as old money. Madeleine, Margaret and John were on the Titanic on its fateful maiden voyage. Madeleine and her unborn child, and Margaret survived. John did not. After the Titanic disaster, society was more forgiving of Madeleine. I do wish the author had explained what was historically accurate, and what was conjectured. It would also have of interest to know what happened to Madeleine, Vincent, and the baby after the funeral. This book is a page turner, and left you wanting more.

9 people found this helpful

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Rebecca H. Augustine

Love, Luxury, and Tragedy

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 21, 2023

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Imagine living life on a grand scale with a man who is a legend in his time and then having it all end in the briefest of moments! Would you want it all over again? That is a question that only Madeline Force Astor would be able to answer.

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ShariFromTX

Wait…what?! it just ends like that?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 5, 2023

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I very much enjoyed the writing style and the focus of this Titanic novel. The ending, not so much. Although I think it’s rather creepy John Jacob Astor married a young woman of 18 to his 46, things were different in those days. Young women were often arranged in marriage to men quite older than themselves. Madeline and Jack apparently had a great love, at least for the short time they shared. The Second Mrs. Astor kept me wanting more and I finished this novel quickly. However I really feel the author should have at least given a little more about Madeline’s life after the Titanic. Perhaps she plans a sequel?

11 people found this helpful

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Booklover

Good story of the Titanic and its passengers.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 6, 2023

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This historical novel is very emotional. You will feel happiness, anger, and sadness. A man falls in love with a young debutant and exposes her to the world of the very, very wealthy. Their love is true and deep. Then the married couple board the Titanic

4 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

gripping romantic fairy tale with an unsettling ending

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 3, 2023

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The plot and good writing in this book kept me hooked all the way through. The unlikely love affair of a young woman and a much older man traverses many years of the golden age of the rich, where everything is possible and adventure abounds.

2 people found this helpful

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Andrea Price

The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 3, 2023

Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, enjoyed getting to know the characters, most especially Jack and Madeleine. Their deep love captured my heart as it was described. It all felt very real and I imagined being right there with them in their happiness and in their sorrow.

3 people found this helpful

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Liz

a heartbreaking story

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 3, 2023

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Very well written except for the end chapters which switch tense from a first person narrative recounting events to a third person perspective for a few chapters. There is no indication who the third person is and then an abrupt ending back in the first person.

I loved the story but hated the last few chapters.

6 people found this helpful

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LJ

not as dreadfully sad/tragic as the one-liner reviews would have you believe

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 10, 2023

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I don't particularly like books that are very sad or make me cry or cringe and the one-liner reviews on the back cover made it sound like that. I didn't think it was a tear-jerker. This one is just a lovely story of the courtship and short marriage of Madeleine Force to John Jacob Astor IV. Of course they both sail on the Titanic and he dies but you know that before you start the book. It was a tragedy that anyone died on that voyage. But it's more a story of the enduring strength you get from a marriage of true hearts. The author builds the story very nicely from the perspective of Madeleine leaving a record for their child and it's just a realistic feeling portrayal of young girl meets interesting man.

The only thing I wish I had understood earlier in the books is why she was the "second" Mrs. Astor. I thought maybe it was because her mother-in-law (whom she never met) was the most famous and she was second most famous but I think it's because she was the second wife of John Jacob Astor IV. There were certainly SEVERAL Mrs Astors (I, II, III) before her.

25 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Helena Halme Author

If you're watching The Gilded Age, you'll love this novel

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 1, 2022

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Those of you who are already looking forward to watching Julian Fellows‘ The Gilded Age on TV, should read The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe. This novel, set in New York in the early 1900s follows a young socialite, Madeleine Force, as she meets and falls in love with a much older man, Colonel Jack Astor. (His mother, Mrs Lina Astor, is featured in the TV series). Causing a scandal, the two marry and go on an extended honeymoon to Egypt.

If you know your history well, it won’t be a spoiler to tell you that this is also a story of the sinking of the Titanic – in fact, the book’s subtitle mentions the fated cruise liner. The novel is, however, so much more than just another book about the Titanic. This story is about love, tolerance (or the lack of), equality and humanity.

Madaleine is acutely aware of her inadequate social standing compared to the Astors’ Knickerbocker ancestry. What’s more, Jack Astor is more than 25 years her senior and the richest man in the country. After their marriage, Madelaine is shunned by society and haunted by the press. To escape the scandal – and the freezing New York winter – the pair decide to take a trip to warmer climes. Having met the Chairman of the White Star Line, Bruce Ismay, during their journey, Jack is keen to travel home on the maiden voyage of the new Olympic-class ocean liner. Needless to say, it’s a fated decision.

The Second Mrs. Astor is a very engaging read and one that kept my mind off our own troubles at sea.

Dotty P

A bit boring

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 5, 2022

Verified Purchase

I love stories based around The Titanic so I was really looking forward to reading this. However I was very disappointed - it turned out to be written on the basis of a letter from a mother to her son who was born after their father (albeit the most wealthy person in the US) perished on the aforementioned Titanic. I first of all found myself skipping through paragraphs, hoping it would have more "punch" but then I gave up completely as it seemed more of the same. Disappointing.

MegaReader

Very Well Researched

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 11, 2022

Verified Purchase

A well-researched, enjoyable biography about the young Madeleine Force and her courtship and marriage to John Jacob Astor IV, a man 30 years her senior. The book follows their year-long honeymoon and ill-fated journey back to New York on RMS Titanic's maiden voyage.

One person found this helpful

Essexgal

moving

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

Unbelievably sad but so poignant. Madeleine came to life for me, she and John were just names on a list of passengers before this book and now the author has brought them to such vivid life. I cried for Madeleine but willed her on. A worthy heroine, you won’t put it down!

2 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Great Book, true to the times

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on June 9, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book is well written and well researched. It very much helps me understand the times, the roles in society and how women fit in. I thought because I likely knew the ending I would loose interest but i loved every page and still found the story all consuming as the Titanic began to struggle. The book club questions were thought provoking and useful with our book club. Everyone enjoyed this book.

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