Shana AbéRecensioni

As I had never heard of Arabella Huntington, I found it extremely difficult to believe this story of a struggling young woman saved by a wealthy gentleman. The book does not say Collis Huntington moved her and family from Richmond, Virginia to New York City and set them up in the lap of luxury.

Arabella lived as her former boss's wife but tongues still wanted about her friendship with Mr. Huntington. Bell was never accepted into New York society but that did not stop.her for becoming the richest woman in America.½

It was a good book.

"An American Beauty" is the story of Arabella Huntington, from her impoverished beginnings thru to her arrival on the scene of New York's Gilded Age. While this is historical fiction, I became enthralled with Arabella's tale and how she navigated the circumstances of her life. The author writes so beautifully and descriptively. Her atmospheric writings puts you right in the center of a glittering gathering hosted by Mrs. Astor at Delmonico's, the ancient Aztec pyramids in Mexico, the rough and tumble wildness of Texas, and the grace and beauty of Europe. The story keeps surprising, and I found myself doing parallel research as I read.

A wonderful way to wile away the hours.½

This was a pretty interesting book! I liked that it was historical fiction. Based on the viewpoint from Madeline Astor, it recounts the sinking of the Titanic and the aftermath. I will definitely read more books by this author!

Collis Huntington is a multimillionaire, railroad baron. When he encounters young Arabella, he is immediately smitten. Collis is married but that does not stop him from moving Arabella and her whole family to New York. Arabella is a shrewd young lady. She begins to buy property and eventually amasses her own fortune.

Well, I put this book WAY on the back burner. I was given a preview copy and, yes, I started it. But I swear…I could not get into it. And it just sat there and sat there. I finally started it back up after months of it staring at me on my must read list. And y’all, it is a pretty dad blame good read. I am so glad I picked it back up! (I almost didn’t!). I would have missed a true gem!

I really enjoyed Arabella. She is smart, unique and tough. She does what she has to do to insure her family will be safe and never be hungry again. She was raised very poor. So when she saw a chance to escape, she took it. And this did not come without trials and tribulations, especially in this time period.

The narrator, Gail Shalan, is a wonderful asset. I am not sure if I have ever listened to a book narrated by her. I will be on the lookout for more.

Need a very good historical fiction about a woman who does not stop…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

http://lbrychic.blogspot.com

Enjoyed this story. Great descriptions. Lora and Armand's attraction is rather one-sided. She still has feelings for Jesse, who she lost recently. I loved the interaction between them and hoped they would become closer. I did get confused for a bit when it switched POVs between Lora, Mandy and Jesse. I believe I would have understood it better if I had read the first book, The Sweetest Dark. I still give the book 5 stars. I will track down the first and anxiously await the next.

First, I want to say I loved how the last chapter in An American Beauty brought the story full circle to the scene in its prologue. When I reread the beginning I saw the main character, Arabella Huntington, in a wholly new light. What unfolded between the first and last pages was a lushly rendered account of one resourceful woman’s rise from rags to riches during the Gilded Age. Believe me, this girl worked hard for the money. The fact that the book was based on a true-life character wasn't the only reason I found it so interesting; the main thing was that it's one of the most story-rich works of biographical fiction I’ve come across. My thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and the publisher for a copy to review.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Second Mrs. Astor, so I was excited to read the latest historical novel by Ms. Abe. This was interesting and well written too, though it had a different feel than the previous novel.

For one thing, I would not call this a romance or a love story. Although Belle's relationship with Collis was certainly a predominant element here, it was not the primary focus. First and foremost, this was the story of how Belle pulled herself and her family out of a life of poverty (and, yes, Collis played a major role in that).

Second, while The Second Mrs. Astor had a heartbreaking ending, this one had a sad feel all the way through. While still a teenager, Belle was chosen by her mother to be the provider for and savior of her family. Belle seems to have taken this responsibility very seriously without becoming resentful about it. She did end up living a life of luxury, but that life was not without its sacrifices.

The author's note makes mention of Belle's philanthropy. I would have been interested to read more about that, but I can see how it didn't fit more into the narrative here.

This would be a good read for anyone interested in the Gilded Age or in historical fiction featuring determined women.

Arabella Huntington is approached by a woman who wants to get money from her about a story which will be published. Belle turns her away. So begins the book. Arabella then recounts her story, growing up very poor during the Civil War, working in a gambling parlor. There, in Richmond, VA, she caught the eye of Collis Huntington, and became his mistress. The story follows Arabella as she does what she does to keep her family housed and fed. She often refers to things being different when you live through a war.
The story details the sacrifices she made, the love she had for her child, and her husband. It also shows that when she gained wealth, she used money to care for her family, and also to build an extensive art collection. She did so much good with her wealth, even while being shunned by the society women due to her background. I had never heard of Arabella Huntington, nor her husband, but was interested to read about her and her life. Amazing how she overcame so much.

*I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.*

I hadn't encountered Arabella Huntington prior to this novel, but she's definitely a fascinating woman with a rags-to-riches story that suites the Gilded Ages perfectly. I do wish the author had focused a little more on Arabella's business ventures, but I still enjoyed the story overall. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in historical fiction set in the Gilded Age.

Deliciously addictive. This work is a historical novel set right before and during the gilded age as a sort of fictional biography. The author exemplifies strength through many female characters, from the impressive MC to the numerous supporting female characters (mother, stepdaughter). The time period is exquisitely illustrated right down to the mores and locales and feelings. I'm pleasantly surprised. I will definitely read more by this writer. For women's fiction and historical fiction fans.

Publisher Provided Copy
Kensington Books Between the Chapters

I really enjoyed this book and it is a wonderful historical romance.

This was such a good read - told from Mrs. Astor's perspective to her new baby boy who never got to meet his dad. I couldn't put it down.

Another five star read, what goes on here? I loved this fictionalised account of Madeleine Astor, the young bride and widow of John Jacob Astor, and mother of his 'Titanic baby', born four months after she survived the tragedy and her husband did not. At first, I thought, 'Well, there's not much of a story there, apart from the Titanic', but how wrong I was.

Madeleine Force was an eighteen year old socialite, while Colonel Astor was nearly thirty years her senior, with a recent divorce to add to the scandal. The press hounded them, like modern day royals and celebrities - 'chipping away at any thought she might have had of privacy, of control of her own face or figure or destiny' - and they were engaged and married within a year of meeting (once Madeleine had turned eighteen). The Titanic was part of their honeymoon tour and Madeleine was five months pregnant. The novel covers Madeleine's sheltered youth in Bar Harbor, Maine, her first meeting with Jack at a society gathering and the sweet but sporadic courtship that followed, the private wedding ceremony and the start of Madeleine's married life in the draughty New York Astor mansion, snubbed by the 'Four Hundred'. Along with the 'unsinkable' Molly Brown - and I didn't know the two famous Titanic names were friends! - the Astors travel to Egypt, beautifully pictured by the author, and then onto the final, fateful voyage.

I found the narrative a little confusing at first - Madeleine recalls her memories of Jack and the Titanic in letters to her newborn son 'Jakey', and then the story switches to standard third person, which seemed an odd choice - but fell in love with the writing and the characters from the first chapters. Madeleine is lost in the shadow of her elder sister Katherine until she captivates the famous Colonel Astor, and I was both convinced by her love for him, and his for her eventually, while not entirely trusting his motives. I'm not one to be thrown by generation gap romances in novels, but (barely) eighteen and nearly fifty? I could easily understand his son Vincent's attitude towards his new 'stepmother'! The way Astor courted the press without respecting her wishes also put me off, reminding me of Prince Harry's memoirs - 'I have learned that you do not have to speak to the press at all. You owe them nothing', the widowed Mrs Astor finally realises. The Colonel also abandons his new bride to the gaudiness and rigidity of his New York mansion, like a scene out of Rebecca, but I had to laugh at Madeleine's judgement of his mother's horrendous decoration: Gold-leafed sconces, pilasters, cherubs, medallions. Gold-leafed tables and chairs, cabinets and commodes. There were still rooms in this hulking home that Madeleine had barely explored, but it seemed to her that Lina Astor had not spared her hand at gilding every lily she’d ever seen'. The only difference between the social strata in America is money, apparently, which does not buy taste!

Madeleine's story and Shana Abe's writing really made me emotional, from Jack's poor dog Kitty getting lost in Egypt and then staying with her master to the end, to Madeleine's deep and beautifully rendered grief. The final night on board the Titanic was also incredibly powerful, which isn't always the case (I'm going to watch A Night To Remember again, which is the best film about the infamous ship!) Madeleine's realisation that the lifeboats are surrounded by icebergs and her words to her son about his father's smile ('Oh, I hope you have his smile. I hope I get to see his smile again, through you') were two particularly poignant moments that really got to me.

Madeleine Astor went onto to marry again, twice, and had two more sons before dying relatively young in 1940. Her son with Colonel Astor, Jakey, contested the will of his elder half-brother, Vincent, claiming that he was an alcoholic when he died in 1959 and that his wife had forced him into cutting Jakey from the Astor fortune, but he only received a settlement. Would Madeleine and Jack have had a long and happy marriage had they not honeymooned on the Titanic? Did he really love his child bride, or was she a passing fancy, as Vincent claimed? I would love to believe in the romance of this novel, but reality was probably a lot less magical!

Full Review on NetGalley

All I knew about the Astor family is that they were extremely wealthy. I was not aware of the love between Madeleine Force and Jack Astor, the wealthiest man in America. I didn't know he was divorced, and nearly 30 years older than Madeleine. Madeleine was just 18 when they married, and sadly, the newlyweds were shunned by the elite class. They traveled to Europe and Egypt for an extended honeymoon, and Madeleine became pregnant. Sadly, on their return trip to America, they were on board the Titanic. Jack got his wife to a lifeboat safely, but sadly, he was not allowed on the lifeboat.
This is a tragic story. I found the last few chapters the most interesting, less so the earlier chapters. But, all in all, an interesting history of a love that was true, but cut too short.

"The Second Mrs. Astor" by Shana Abe, was an informative and very enjoyable read. A lot of detail was included on how Madeleine Force and John Jacob Astor met and fell in love. Their adventures were grand and what dreams are made of. Even though their time together was short lived, they enjoyed a whirlwind life together.
The novel recounts Madeleine's memories as she shares them with her infant son, John Jacob Astor VI.
"The Second Mrs. Astor", is a novel that I definitely recommend adding to your tbr list!

I thought this book was very well written. A novel centering on Madeleine Force Astor is definitely something right up my alley. The narrative was beautifully written. The descriptions of the surroundings brought everything vividly to life.

I've read reviews where people were complaining that this was heavy on foreshadowing. Chances are if you know anything about the Titanic, you know about the Astors. So, I don't think the foreshadowing complaint holds water. You go into this book knowing the outcome.

As an aside, in the "Acknowledgements", the author lets it be known that when she was first approached with the idea for this book, she jumped at the chance because Madeleine Astor was "a 1912 version of a young Princess Diana if there ever was one". I think the only similarity we can draw from the lives of Mrs. Astor and the late Princess of Wales was the press intrusion. There, the similarity ends.

This was excellent reading. Put it on your summer reading list and enjoy.

531 d. C.: Se dice que la pequeña isla de Kell está encantada y habitada por una criatura extraordinaria que da consuelo a marineros que han naufragado en su camino al otro mundo. El Príncipe Aedan de las islas no cree en esa leyenda hasta que despierta en la misma isla de Kell y encuentra a la sensual sirena que lo rescató del mar.

1721: Ronan MacMurray, Conde de Kell, es el blanco de un insólito criminal: Leila, una mujer misteriosa oriunda de una tierra exótica. Pero su posible asesina, irresistiblemente bella, está en peligro al igual que Ronan cuando se enamora de este hombre con magia propia.

2004: ¿Qué se hace cuando uno hereda una isla escocesa que ni siquiera sabía que existía? ¿Y si uno se ve perseguido por un apuesto extraño que desea comprarla? Eso es lo que le ocurre a Ruri Kell cuando acepta la invitación de Iain MacInnes de visitar la propiedad que heredó y oye una proposición tan pecaminosamente tentadora como todo el resto de su persona.

A historical fiction account of the second marriage of John Jacob Astor. Descriptions of the wealth is opulent and decadent. Scenes of the Titanic's sinking and aftermath may be difficult to read. Some readers are critical of Madeleine's lack of strength, yet one must remember she was just a teenager (17 yrs. old) falling in love with a much older man (30 yrs. older.) She hadn't yet developed the wisdom and skill set to deal with the press or wealthy women ready to snub her every chance they can get.

Enjoyed the story and the little twists. Can't wait to read the other 2 I have

I'm not certain why I hadn't encountered a historical novel about Madeleine Astor, the much younger second wife of John Jacob Astor IV and who was widowed by the sinking of the Titanic, long before now. Madeleine's life is the stuff of romance - as a young woman she falls in love with the wealthiest man in the world, they marry and have an extended honeymoon which is cut short when the Titanic sinks, leaving Madeleine a pregnant widow. Much of this book is about Madeleine and John's relationship before they set foot on the famous ship and I appreciated a novel which followed a happy couple until fate separated them. I would have liked the book to have continued - I know the historical Madeleine remarried - but the conclusion does leave one satisfied. This book is a must-read for those fascinated by the Titanic and the stories of its passengers.

This was as in depth read about the Astor's and their fate on the Titanic. I really have not read much about them and this novel did a great job at peeking into their lives and everything that happened leading up to and a little after the horrendous event that took so many. Madeleine has been sought out by Jack Astor and there are a lot who are not too fancy on the whole debacle as she is seventeen and he is in his forties with a grown son himself. But the two just click and after her father gives his blessing, the two get married and off they go on their honeymoon and Madeleine is quickly thrown into a world of her every move, gesture and voice being recorded and put to print for the whole world to see whether they skewed what really happened or not. The Astor's sell papers and she soon learns how to live in this role as Jack's second wife. Then the ultimate tragedy happens, and she goes from the snooty little girl who snagged Jack, to a grieving widow of the Titanic and now everyone wants a piece of her for a different reason. The author did a great job telling the story of the Astor's and it really was interesting the life they had been living.

This is a heavily romanticized account of the courtship and marriage of John Jacob Astor and Madeline Force, ending with Astor's tragic death on board the Titanic.

The writing is exquisite. The author does an amazing job with atmosphere, painting scenery with the tiniest of brushes, so that each Atlantic breeze, every soft-petaled pink rose, each lick of flame from the fireplace or cold draft from marble floors touches the reader and brings to life the sounds, tastes and smells of Madeline's life.

There isn't much novelistic story here, but somehow the reader is swept up in the day-to-day dramas and conflicts that Madeleine experiences. It's hard to imagine, and the author has to remind us occasionally, that this very real person lived through these experiences as a teenager.

Overall a very (surprisingly) engrossing read, thanks mostly to the author's deft craft and skill.

“At the beginning of the story, Madeline is a sheltered seventeen-year-old socialite who just graduated from finishing school. By the end of the novel, her world is radically different.”
Madeline falls headlong in love with the richest man in the world. She became the press’s favorite target, the Princess Diana of her time.
This historical fiction presents a view into the lives of American Royalty and the sinking of the titanic. I loved the way the author made the characters come alive and presented the sinking of The Titanic is a new light!