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Shana Abe

The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic Paperback – Aug. 31 2021

by Shana Abe (Author)

4.3 18,310 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 Lions of Fifth Avenue

"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

336 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Kensington
Publication date

Aug. 31 2021
Dimensions

13.72 x 2.29 x 20.83 cm
ISBN-10

1496732049
ISBN-13

978-1496732040
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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

Product description

Review

Praise for The Second Mrs. Astor

“An engaging tale. Abé richly describes the scenery. Everything is opulent, decadent, rich. We’re taken from the shores of Maine to bustling New York City, Egypt, and eventually, aboard the Titanic where their romance meets a tragic end in the icy waters. As the story crescendos to that fateful night, readers will remain captivated by both the imagery and the plot… This is more than another tale about the Titanic, it’s a love story, a drama, and a fine historical novel. Recommended.”
—Historical Novels Review on 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 Abé 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 Drákon Series. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California, and currently lives in the mountains of Colorado. Visit her online at ShanaAbe.com.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington (Aug. 31 2021)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496732049
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1496732040
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 318 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.72 x 2.29 x 20.83 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #96,368 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #282 in Biographical Historical Fiction
- #357 in Biographical Fiction (Books)
- #4,322 in Historical Romance (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 18,310 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

18,310 global ratings

5 star		52%
4 star		32%
3 star		12%
2 star		3%
1 star		2%

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Top reviews from Canada

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L C

captivating

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 15, 2022

Verified Purchase

Loved the book, it was written in a compassionate way reflecting on how a young woman was pulled into the ultra rich world of the Astors and the trauma of losing one’s love so tragically.

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.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Joanne

It taste the same!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 23, 2022

Verified Purchase

Taste the same as I was a kid and my granddaughters likes it now, so there you have it!

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Ellen

Informative and Interesting

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 4, 2022

Verified Purchase

I don’t know what to say other than that I enjoyed this book very much. I am always interested to read about the Titanic and this gave a slightly different slant to it. I liked the author’s writing style and will look for more of her books.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

nickie

For fans of the Titanic and passengers

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on December 28, 2021

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I enjoyed this as I have always been fascinated by stories about the Titanic.

2 people found this helpful

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Winter

Well written and a wonderful story!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on June 2, 2022

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This wonderful story moved so smoothly and seemed so very real you forgot it was fiction!

One person found this helpful

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Barbara Wood

Facts I never knew

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 3, 2022

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I love reading historical fiction and this was absolutely fascinating

One person found this helpful

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DGKaye

A beautifully written story about love and tragedy

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 30, 2022

This book was most beautifully written with great details of characters and settings, taking us right into the times of the early 1900s – the ‘gilded age’, in this fictionalized telling about the true love story between two wealthy socialiates – Colonel John (Jack) Astor, and Madeleine Force. The elite travel in similar circles, which gave young Madeleine the opportunity to meet divorced Colonel Jack Astor – twenty-nine years her senior. The age difference didn’t seem to be a problem back then, as long as there was money mixing with money.

Jack and Madeleine were equally drawn to each other, and theirs became a beautiful and tragic love story. Once Madeleine turned eighteen they could and finally did marry, and with that brought the media press always hounding them. Jack decided to take his bride abroad to visit Europe and Egypt to escape the cold New York winter – and the press, where they shared a most beautiful long vacation, with rich, picturesque descriptions. On their journey back to America they sailed back from Europe on the brand new Titanic on its maiden voyage, and by this time, Madeleine was already with child.

The author does an amazing job of recreating the incident of the Titanic hitting the iceberg.The story will take us right into the lives of these elite families, making us feel we are right there observing the action. Abe did a wonderful job recreating scenes, and as one could imagine, there was a wealth of research done on this period, in fact, the author cites where she did a lot of the research, at the back of her book.

The love shared between Jack and Madeleine both, a pleasure and a heartbreak to read. Jack was a handsome, divorced, rich man who could have had anyone he wanted, but all his love was only for Madeleine. It’s their beautiful love story that keeps us engaged in the story, but later in the book when they embark back for their journey home, our hearts will sink along with the Titanic as we learn what was happening with the ship, what was happening with the passengers, and most of all, what would happen to Jack and Maddie? Would they make it to safety? No spoilers here, but we all know what happened to the Titanic.

After returning home and giving birth to her son Jack Junior – Jakey, young widow Madeleine must decide where her life will take her now. Does she keep her Astor status, will Jack’s eldest son from his previous marriage finally find common ground with Madeleine? You will have to read this beautiful and heartbreaking book to find out.

One person 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

Verified Purchase

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

Gio

The Second Mrs Astor

Reviewed in Italy 🇮🇹 on February 5, 2022

Verified Purchase

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.

See all reviews

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Shana Abe

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